The Egyptian Kings : top : Morris Wade - bottom (L to R): William Suber, Leo Blakely & Paul Moore
The Four Pharaohs (Columbus, Ohio)
aka The King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)
aka The Columbus Pharaohs
aka The Egyptian Kings
Personnel :
Morris Wade (Lead)
George Smith (First Tenor)
Ronnie Wilson (Baritone)
Robert Lowery (Bass)
Discography :
The Columbus Pharaohs
1958 - Give Me Your Love / China Girl (Esta 290)
The Four Pharaohs
1958 - Give Me Your Love / China Doll (Ransom 101)
1957 - Pray For Me / The Move Around (Ransom 100)
Morris Wade & music by Manhattans bb The Four Pharaohs
1959 - Is It Too Late / It Was A Nite Like This (Ransom 102)
King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)
1961 - By The Candlelite / Shimmy Sham (Federal 12413)
The Egyptian Kings
Single:
1963 - Give Me Your Love / I Need Your Love (Nanc 1120)
Unreleased :
1963 - School days (Nanc)
1963 - Summertime (Nanc)
Biography :
The
Four Pharaohs were a top R&B vocal group in Columbus, lasting for
more than 10 years and several name changes. The group started as the
Columbus Pharaohs by four teenagers, Morris Wade (on lead), Benard
Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, and Robert Taylor The Wilsons were brothers who
attended Central High School. Taylor attended East High, while Wade had
moved between the two schools. The group recorded a 45 for Esta records
in Hamilton, singing two original songs, "Give Me Your Love" and "China
Girl".
King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (L to R) Leo Blakely, Morris Wade, Paul Moore, Ronnie Wilson & Harold Smith
On
the recording session, they were backed by Tommy Wills and his band,
and the recording was done at King. At the time, the band was managed by
Howard Ransom in Columbus, and shortly after the Esta record was
released, he released the songs on his own Ransom, changing the title
from China Girl, the correct name, to China Doll. To make things even
more confusing, the Esta 45 had the group name as Columbus Pharaohs.
Possibly, Ransom wanted the record to come out under the group's correct
name as Four Pharaohs. The record had some sales but only in the
Columbus area.
King Pharaoh & The Egyptians with Harold Smith
After a couple years, Robert Taylor left, replaced by George Smith,
and Bernard Wilson was replaced by Robert Lowery, both from Columbus.
This new lineup recorded a second 45 on Ransom, the ballad "Pray For Me"
and the uptempo "The Move Around". When the record was released, the
label name was mispelled as Ranson. Although being on a local label,
this record seems to have sold more copies than the first one as plenty
of used copies turn up.
King Pharaoh & The Egyptians with Harold Smith The Egyptian Kings
About a half year later (mid 1959), Ransom released a third 45. The
artist was credited as Morris Wade with music by the Manhattans. The
Four Pharaohs sang, and the backing band was hired by Ransom. The band
was a working band that had backed up Sonny Til, Ransom gave them the
Manhattans name, presumably to make people think they were a
sophisticated group from NYC. The songs were "Is It Too Late"(mispelled
'To' on the label) and "It Was A Nite Like This". Around the time of
this release, the group's first 45"Give Me Your Love"/:China Girl" was
rereleased on the Paradise label from NYC. During the time these records were coming out, the group spent a lot of time on the road, playing standard chitlin circuit venues in Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. In 1961 the group was reorganized as King Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
The Egyptian Kings (L to R) : Forest Porter, Leo Blakely, Paul Moore, Harold Smith & Morris Wade
The group added a
guitarist, Harold Smith, and George Smith left. Then, Robert Lowery left
and was replaced by Paul Moore, who brought Leo Blakely with him.
Harold Smith was "King Pharaoh". During this time, they recorded a 45 on
Deluxe, using their usual style of a ballad "By the Candle Lite" and
the uptempo "Shimmy Sham". In 1959 or 1960, Howard Ransom had moved
to California where he continued in the record business. In 1963, with
Pete Oden having replaced the last original member (other than Morris
Wade) Bernard Wilson, the group decided to move to Los Angeles. They
reconnected with Ransom, who had a new label, Nanc. The group, now known
as the Egyptian Kings - without Harold Smith - recorded a 45 on Nanc,
featuring a remake of "Give Me Yout Love".
The Egyptian Kings - (L to R) : Paul Moore, Leo Blakely, William Suber & Morris Wade
After
a couple years in LA, the group wasn't going anywhere so they returned
to Columbus. William Suber replaced Pete Oden. The group tried to get
something going with Way Out records in Cleveland, and performed there
at clubs like the Music Box, but nothing came of that. There were no
more recordings done. Finally, Morris Wade decided to relocate for good
to Los Angeles, and that was the end of the Egyptian Kings (and their
ancient Egypt inspired outfits!). When he was settled in LA, Morris
joined a touring group that did USO shows. He joined fellow Columbus
native Bobby Hendricks in a version of the Drifters in 1983. Back in
1974, he had an appearance as a hit man in the movie "Baby Needs a New
Pair Of Shoes", later retitled "Jive Turkey", which was produced by
Howard Ransom. Robert Taylor relocated to Vancouver, BC and became Bobby
Taylor who recorded the hit "Does Your Mother Know" for Motown.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Pharaohs/4pharaohs.html
Songs :
The Columbus Pharaohs
Give Me Your Love China Girl
The Four Pharaohs
Give Me Your Love Pray For Me / The Move Around
King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)
Shimmy Sham By The Candlelite
Morris Wade & music by Manhattans bb The Four Pharaohs
