The Marigolds (Nashville, Tennessee)
aka The Solotones
Personnel:
Johnny Bragg (Lead Tenor)
Edward Lee Thurmon (Tenor)
William Stewart (Baritone)
John Edward Drue (Tenor)
Harold Hebb (Tenor)
Willie Wilson (Bass)
Discography
The Marigolds
Singles :
1955 - Rollin' Stone / Why Don't You (Excello 2057)
1955 - Two Strangers/ Love You - Love You - Love You (Excello 2061)
Unreleased :
1955 - Don't Say Tomorrow (Excello)
1955 - Rollin’ Stone (alt. take) (Excello)
Johnny Bragg & The Marigolds
1956 - It's You Darling, It's You / Juke Box Rock And Roll (Excello 2091)
The Solotones
1955 - Pork And Beans / Front Page Blues (Excello 2060)
Johnny Bragg (solo)
1956 - Foolish Me! / Beyond The Clouds (Excello 2078)
Biography:
The
Prisonaires, as the name suggests, were a group of inmates led by
Johnny Bragg, at the State Penitentiary in Tennessee who were in for a
variety of reasons but, through their singing, were touted as evidence
of the prison’s successful rehab program. Sam Phillips took notice and
brought the group to record at Sun where the group cut “Walking In The
Rain” written by member Robert Riley and Johnny Bragg, which was a
sizable hit even being covered by Johnny Ray. The group was allowed day passes to tour, even becoming a favorite of
the Governor while continuing to record during their imprisonment.
Henry Dishrag Jones (piano) Harold Hebb, Johnny Bragg, John Drue, L.B. McCollough(guitar), Alfred Brooks, Willy Wilson
After the third single, several members of the group were paroled, so Bragg formed a new Prisonaires renamed the Sunbeams that included Harold Hebb (brother of Bobby Hebb, "Sunny," #2 Pop, #3 R&B, 1966), William Stewart, Willy Wilson, and Henry "Dishrag" Jones . Meanwhile,
in July 1954, Sun issued the last Prisonaires single "There Is Love In
You," which Billboard described as a "pretty ballad sung skillfully,
sparked by a baritone lead. This is one of the group's best to date."
Al Brooks joined the group later, replacing William Stewart. In 1955 the
Sunbeams became the Marigolds and recorded in Nashville for Excello
Records.
The Excello-released "Rollin' Stone" became a number eight R&B
hit while the group was still based in the Tennessee penitentiary.
After the Marigolds Bragg changed names again recording the Solotones
and then under his own name before spending some additional time in
prison for parole violations eventually hanging up his recording career
though he continued to sing, as do many, in church.
Songs :
The Marigolds
It's You Darling, It's You / Juke Box Rock And Roll Don’t Say Tomorrow
The Solotones
Front Page Blues / Pork And Beans
Johnny Bragg (solo)
Foolish Me! Beyond The Clouds