The Swans (2) (St Louis, Mo.)
aka The Swans Quartet
Personnel :
Leroy Boyer(Tenor)
Ernest Washington(Baritone)
Walter Harper (Falstto)
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Discography :
The Faith Douglas Trio bb The Swans Quartet
1953 - For Dreams To Come True / Happy (Ballad 1000-1001)
The Swans (2)
1954 - You May Forgive Yourself / It's A Must (Ballad 1002/1003)
1955 - How Sentimental Can I Be / I’m Dressed Up To Cry (Ballad 1004/1005)
1954 – Night Train / It’s A Must (Ballad 1006)
1955 – Happy / Santa Claus Boogie Song (Ballad 1007)
Biography :
By
the early 1950's Oscar Douglas Washington was working in St. Louis,
Missouri, as a school teacher, guitar player and poet. He collaborated
with saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and the composition "Night Train" become a
number 1 R&B hit in 1952. Washington wrote many other songs and
recorded under the name Faith Douglas. In 1953 he started the small
independent Ballad record label. The label released a series of doo-wop
singles, which had some regional success.


The
first release in mid 1953 was Ballad #1000/1 by The Faith Douglas Trio
bb The Swans Quartet "For Dreams Come True". This was followed by "You
May Forgive Yourself" b/w "It's A Must " by The Swans on #1002/3. The
Swans then recorded "How Sentimental Can I Be " and "I’m Dressed Up To
Cry " for #1004/5, "It's A Must" with "Night Train" for #1006 and the
seasonal "Santa Claus Boogie" b/w "Happy" was released as Ballad #1007.
When the group Broke up, Leroy Boyer, Walter Harper, and Ernest
Washington join the "Rex Middleton's Hi-Fi's."
Songs :
It’s A Must / Night Train For Dreams To Come True / Happy
It's A Must How Sentimental Can I Be
Santa Claus Boogie Song