Anthony Gourdine started out singing legit pop songs on the "Startime
Studio Shows" but by his mid-teens wanted to be doing what other teens
in Boys High School were doing: singing with a group. Anthony put
together a quartet with William (Doc) Dockerty (tenor), William Delk (
baritone), and William Bracy in 1954.
Anthony's
group performed at local shows that offered $5 prizes to the winners
and on one such show ran up against a young Harlem group named Frankie
Lymon & the Tennagers. At that point Anthony's quartet was called
the DuPonts, having seen a sign for DuPont textiles. Doc Dockerty's dad
knew a writer/producer named Paul Winley (who had written for The
Clovers and Joe Turner and was the brother of the Clovers' Hal Winley).
Alan Freed Show at the New York Paramount with the the Duponts, February 1957.
After hearing the DuPonts he committed to record them for his own
Winley label — which didn't even exist until after he recorded the
group. He put out their first single "You" in August 1955 . Promotion by
the fledgling label was insufficient and the DuPonts' first single
never got a shot. Once again Doc's dad took things in hand and
introduced the boys to songwriter Otis Blackwell, who brought them to
Alan Freed's manager Jack Hook.
Jack signed them to Royal Roost Records in February 1957 and by March
"Prove It Tonight," a pop/R&B rocker, hit the streets and stayed
there. Hook then arranged for the DuPonts to do Alan Freed's Easter Show
at the New York Paramount, and the group became the opening act for The
Cleftones, Ruth Brown, The Platters... Three days into the show Anthony
came down with laryngitis, so the group covered his parts. When the
Paramount shows ended so did the DuPonts. They did re-form in 1958
without Anthony for one single on Roulette called "Screamin' Ball at
Dracula Hall". During 1957 Anthony connected with a neighborhood
foursome looking for a lead singer. The new quintet became the Chesters.
Jay Warner (American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today)
