The Debonairs (1) (Long Beach, CA)
aka The Debonaires (2) aka The Jades (4)
Personnel :
Arthur Holly (Lead)
David Kelly
Joe Sprewell (Tenor , Piano)
Willie "Hootie" Melvin
Bobby Miles (Bass)
Discography :
The Debonairs (1)
Singles :
1957 - Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are / The Bill Collector (Combo 129)
1957 - Cause Of A Bad Romance / For The Woman I Love (Combo 149)
Unreleased :
1957 - In My Memories (Combo)
1957 - Christmas Time (Combo)
1957 - Crazy Santa Claus (Combo)
1957 - Nita (Combo)
The Debonaires (2)
Singles :
1959 - Every Once In A While / Mama Don't Care (Dore 526)
1961 - Every Once In A While / Gert's Skirt (Dore 592/702/795)
1962 - Hold Back The Dawn / Mama Don't Care (Dore 654)
1964 - Everybody's Movin' / Mama Don't Care (Dore 712)
Unreleased :
1959 - Dorothy (Dowley)
1959 - Laura (Dowley)
1959 - Fare Thee Well (Dowley)
The Jades (4)
1963 - Hold Back The Dawn / Mama Don't Care (Dore 687)
Biography :
The
Debonairs from Long Beach, California, evolved through numerous line-up
changes into an accomplished amateur vocal group in the early 50s. They
recorded some material for Johnny Otis' Dig label in 1956 and for
Dootsie Williams in 1957 but this was shelved. Jake
Porter was one of the select group of independent record company owners
who gave us the best of West Coast R&B and doo-wop music. Starting
in the early 50s and persevering until the early 70s, Jake recorded
numerous groups, duos and R&B outfits for his Los Angeles-based
Combo label. Jake Porter recorded the Debonairs and released "Why Can't
We Be As Other Lovers Are" b/w "The Bill Collector" and "Cause Of A Bad
Romance" b/w "For The Woman I Love". When these failed to sell, they
split up.
![The Jades (4) aka The Debonairs (1) aka The Debonaires (2)](https://ekladata.com/n3MaQmY1lvC3MmJ07umEr_ccpYM@609x387.jpg)
Reforming
in 1959 with different personnel, the Debonaires laid down some tunes
for the Downey label, run from a record store in the LA suburb of that
name but, yet none of this was issued. Their next stop, a session for
Dore on 17 June 1959, 'Every In A While', an outstanding ballad
featuring Joe Sprewell on lead. It became such a favourite of Bedell's
that he issued it four times between 1959 and 1967. In an attempt to
update the arrangement, some extraneous overdubs including strings were
added to the 1967 pressing .
Songs :
The Debonairs (1)
Cause Of A Bad Romance The Bill Collector
Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are For The Woman I Love
Crazy Santa Claus Christmas Time
Nita In My Memories
The Debonaires (2)
Doroyhy Every Once In A While / Gert's Skirt
Hold Back The Dawn Mama Don't Care
Everybody's Movin'