Clarence Basset, Bobby Ward, Ronnald Cuffey & Mickey Owens
The Five Sharps (New York)
Personnel :
Ronnald Cuffey (Lead)
Clarence Basset (First Tenor)
Bobby Ward (Second Tenor)
Tommy Duckett (Baritone)
Mickey Owens (Bass)
Discography :
1952 - Stormy Weather / Sleepy Cowboy (Jubilee 5104)
Biography :
The
Five Sharps were a short-lived vocal group from the Jamaica housing
projects in Queens, NY, and are best known today for their "Stormy
Weather" (Jubilee), which is today considered one of the most
collectible doo wop singles ever released. In 1952, this young quintet
-- led by first tenor Bobby Ward -- recorded an original "Sleepy Little
Cowboy" and "Stormy Weather," a hit ten years earlier for Lena Horne.
The Five Sharps' version was much slower in pace, crudely harmonized and
recorded, and had cheap sound effects of clapping thunder. The
recording session took most of the day and the quintet were paid in hot
dogs and soda pop. Jubilee 5104 was the Five Sharps' only release and
appeared in stores in 1953. Not long afterward, the Five Sharps broke up
and a couple of the members joined the army. End of story.
Two of the Sharps, Clarence Bassett and lead singer Ronald Cuffey,
later recorded in 1958 for Casino Records as the Videos and had a small
hit with "Trickle Trickle." Bassett then joined Shep & the
Limelights and sang background on the 1961 hit "Daddy's Home" (number
two on the pop charts that May). In 1964, Jubilee hired another group of
Five Sharps and recorded a new version of "Stormy Weather" (Jubilee
5458). Cuffey was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in the early
'60s. After leaving the Limelites, Bassett joined late-period
incarnations of both the Drifters and the Flamingos, and later, formed
the '70s band Creative Funk.
Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide
http://www.uncamarvy.com/5Sharps/5sharps.html
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/stormy.html
Songs :
Stormy Weather Sleepy Cowboy