The Sheiks in 1961
The Sheiks (1) (Norfolk, Virginie)
Personnel :
Kenneth Kimball (Lead)
Johnny Wilson
Horace Jenkins (Second Tenor)
William Collins
Alton Parker
Discography :
Biography :
The Sheiks (aka the Five Sheiks) of Norfolk, VA were an R&B harmony vocal group, originally called the Five Pearls. In 1954, the quintet -- consisting at that time of Kenneth Kimball, Johnny Wilson, Horace Jenkins, William Collins, and Alton Parker -- crossed paths with aspiring producer Frank Guida, who had lately relocated to Norfolk from New York City. He liked their sound enough to set up a recording session at a local radio station, which yielded a pair of songs, "Give Me Another Chance" and "Baby Don't You Cry," released as the Five Sheiks but label pics say Sheiks only. As it turned out there was already a group using the Five Pearls name.
Guida released it on his own, newly founded Ef-En-De label, and it did well enough that Atlantic Records ended up releasing the group's second single, "Walk That Walk" b/w "The Kissing Song," in December of 1954. The group went on to enjoy a solid recording career in association with Guida. A couple of members became part of The Sheiks group who had a couple of singles on Legrand records in 1961-62. The Sheiks were the vocal backing group on many of Gary US Bonds' early Legrand Records