Billy Wells & The Crescents (2) (Cleveland, Ohio)
ref : The Wigs
Personnel :
William Burrell "Billy Wells" (Lead)
Al Banks (Tenor)
Leroy McQueen (Baritone)
Garfield Jackson (Bass)
Discography :
Billy Wells & The Crescents (2)
1956 - Julie / I Love Only You (Reserve 105)
Clark Vaden & The Crescents (2)
1961 - Irene / You Can Make It If You Try (Dolly 5577)
Biography :
Inspired
by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, four teenagers from the Outwaithe
Housing Projects in Cleveland, OH, formed a group similar to the New
York sensations. Al Banks (tenor), Leroy McQueen (baritone), Garfield
Jackson (bass), and 13-year-old William Burrell (lead), and christened
themselves the Crescents. Al, Leroy, and Garfield were 18 years old and
had graduated from school, while Burrell, who sung under the stage name
of Billy Wells, still attended Kennard Jr. High. The group was making a
name for themselves in the greater Cleveland area when Al Banks got the
ear of Sid Friedman, who owned and ran All-Star Theatrical Agency. Sid
had them audition for Henry George, who quickly signed them to Reserve
Records, with Sid becoming their manager and booking agent. From the
studio came "Julie," written by member Garfield "Buddy" Jackson, and the
flip, "I Love Only You," composed by Billy Wells. Reserve had a unique
way of promoting its recordings, they gave the Crescents a few boxes of
records and told them to drive to different R&B concerts, at which
Friedman had booked them, to promote "Julie." Their recording had gotten
airplay in the North and the South.
Lawyer
"Henry" Curtis (tenor) replaced Wells and they continued to dazzle
audiences. This version of the group do the background vocals for Clark
Vaden's 45 release, "Irene," and "You Can Make It If You Try," on Dolly
Records. Other members left for various reasons which left an opening
for Arthur Blakey to join in 1963. Arthur Blakey did most of the
Crescents' leads in his readily identifiable, boisterous, shouting,
country preacher style. Other artists were amazed that the Crescents
could do with four voices what some groups had difficulty achieving with
five. Once again they approached Sid Friedman, their previous manager
and booking agent, who after hearing their exciting sound, signed them
to contracts and proceeded to launch them in a new direction. The motive
was to cash in on the Beatles, the latest rage, who were coming to
America. To be different, they decided to jettison the Crescents and
renamed themselves the Wigs, after the Whig Political Party.
Songs :
The Crescents (2)
Julie I Love Only You
Clark Vaden & The Crescents (2)
Irene You Can Make It If You Try