Clyde McPhatter, The Dominoes, The Drifters, December 1953

   December 1953-Clyde McPhatter leaves the Dominoes after three years and 9 huge hits to form the Drifters for Atlantic Records who will hit #1 out of the box with "Money Honey" that Christmas.

  en.wikipedia.org Clyde McPhatter   Billy Ward and his Dominoes   The Drifters

Money Honey-Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters - Atlantic 1006

The Dominoes, top - Billy Ward, Bill Brown (bass), bottom - Joe Lamont (baritone), 

Clyde McPhatter (lead tenor), Charlie White (tenor), 1951

The Dominoes, 1953.  Milton Merle, Cliff Givens, Billy Ward, 

James Van Loan and Jackie Wilson

August 1953, The Drifters in New York City, NY. (L-R) Bill Pinkney, Willie Ferber, 

Clyde McPhatter, Andrew Thrasher, Gerhart Thrasher

The Drifters studio, posed with Clyde McPhatter as lead vocalist. (L-R) Bill Pinkney, 

Gerhart Thrasher, Clyde McPhatter, Willie Ferbee, Andrew Thrasher. 

Hits included Money Honey, Such a Night, Bip Bam, White Christmas.

billboard.com

Billy Ward & His Dominoes
1953
01/1953
The Bells - 3 R&B
03/1953
Pedal Pushin' Papa - 4 R&B
06/1953
These Foolish Things Remind Me of Love - 5 R&B
09/1953
You Can't Keep a Good Man Down - 8 R&B
11/1953
Rags to Riches - 2 R&B


Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters
1953
10/1953
Money Honey - 1 R&B
1954
03/1954
Lucille - 7 R&B
03/1954
Such a Night - 2 R&B
06/1954
Honey Love - 1 R&B

Bill Haley, The Dominoes, 1952-1953

   In June 5, 1953 the first major integrated rock 'n' roll show is staged in Cleveland Music Hall, Cleveland, OH, USA with headlining co-stars The Dominoes and Bill Haley & His Comets.

  en.wikipedia.org Dominoes   Bill Haley & His Comets

The Dominoes

Bill Haley & The Comets

   September 1952 - 

Stop Beatin' Round The Mulberry Bush / Real Rock Drive - 

Bill Haley with Haley's Comets - Essex 310

  This is one of the first photos of Bill Haley & The Comets 1952 Sep-Dec.

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The Five Keys, The Clovers, The Dominoes, 1951

   A wave of young black vocal groups spring up with variations of the style popularized by the Orioles.

   The Five Keys smooth harmonies hit with "The Glory Of Love"... 

   The Clovers combine tougher harmonies with southern-inflected blues and hit with "Don't You Know I Love You" and "Fool, Fool, Fool", kicking off a string of 15 straight Top Ten hits... 

   The Dominoes gospel-based singing and racy lyrics land them the biggest hit of the decade with "Sixty Minute Man" which sells in such high numbers that it makes #17 on the Pop Charts as well.

   en.wikipedia.org The Orioles  en.wikipedia.org The Five Keys  

 

   en.wikipedia.org The Clovers  en.wikipedia.org The Dominoes

July 1951 The Glory Of Love-The Five Keys Aladdin 3099

4 weeks at #1 on R&B charts

Don't You Know I Love You-The Clovers Atlantic 934

2 weeks at #1 on R&B charts

Fool, Fool, Fool-The Clovers Atlantic 944

6 weeks at #1 on R&B charts

Aug 1951  Sixty Minute Man-The Dominoes  Federal 12022

14 weeks at #1 on R&B charts

The Dominoes, debut in 1951, (top l to r= Billy Ward, Bill Brown; bottom l to r= Joe Lamont, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie White; photo by Kriegsmann)

billboard.com

The Dominoes

02/1951

Do Something For Me - 6 R&B

05/1951

Sixty Minute Man - 17 US, 1 R&B

11/1951

I Am with You - 8 R&B