`The Best Of The Moonglows' Features Doo-Wop Classics `Sincerely,' `See Saw,' `Most Of All' and `The Ten Commandments Of Love'.Entertainment Editors & Music/Retail Writers LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 22, 2002 In 2000, the enduring influence of The Moonglows was honored by their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in , which called them "among the finest black harmony Black Harmony was released as a demo tape self-financed by Thyrane in early 1998 and later as an mcd by Woodcut Records, in the same year. It was recorded and mixed at Tico-Tico Studios in Finland. groups of the Fifties" and the ensemble that "heralded the (rock `n' roll) revolution that was to come." Now the legendary group's 12 best-loved classics (six R&B Top 10s, three of them pop Top 40s) have been digitally remastered and brought together on "The Best Of The Moonglows" edition of "20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection" (MCA/Chess/UME), released July 2, 2002. Spanning their heyday of 1954 to 1958, the compilation spotlights the group and the sound that bridged the smooth style of the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers The Mills Brothers were a major African-American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century producing more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and garnered at least three dozen gold records. and the earthier sounds of rock `n' roll. The Moonglows first gained notice in 1952 after disc jockey disc jockey (DJ) Person who plays recorded music on radio or television or at a nightclub or other live venue. Disc jockey programs became the economic base of many radio stations in the U.S. after World War II. Alan Freed, whose "Moondog Rock 'n' Roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. Party" program on Cleveland's WJW WJW Washington Jewish Week was a powerful influence, renamed the group and created the Champagne label for them. After a label change, Bobby Lester (lead), Pete Graves (tenor), Harvey Fuqua (baritone) and Prentiss Barnes (bass) signed to Chess. Their first session for the label in 1954 resulted in their biggest hit, a lush, romantic rendition of "Sincerely," frequently cited as the definitive example of "blow harmony," a sensuous elongation of vowel sounds that became a Moonglows' trademark. "Sincerely" went #1 R&B/#20 pop and, like their follow-up, "Most Of All" (#5 R&B), was co-written by Fuqua and, nominally, Freed. After "In My Diary," they hit in summer 1956 with a double-sided single of "When I'm With You  This article or section is written like a personal reflection or and may require .Please [ improve this article] by rewriting this article or section in an . " (#15 R&B) and "See Saw" (#6 R&B, #25 pop). That same year, "We Got Together" reached #9 R&B, and in 1957 Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone To Love "Please Send Me Someone to Love" is a blues ballad, written and recorded by Percy Mayfield in 1950, on Art Rupe's Specialty Records label. It was on the R&B chart for 27 weeks and reached the number one position. " peaked at #5 R&B. Broadening their audience, The Moonglows also released a gorgeous rendition with string section of "Blue Velvet" and a surprisingly up-tempo treatment of "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over." "The Best Of The Moonglows" also includes "Over And Over Again" and "Sweeter Than Words." For 1958's "The Ten Commandments Of Love," their final charter (#9 R&B/#22 pop), the billing was changed to Harvey and The Moonglows. The original quartet then broke up, and Harvey Fuqua brought in a group called The Marquees from D.C. as the "new" Moonglows. This last edition of the `50s Moonglows included a young Marvin Gaye, but the group disbanded in 1960. Gaye became a star at Motown, and Fuqua served as a major producer and songwriter there. An early `70s reunion followed, as have stellar performances which continue today as shining reminders of the influence of The Moonglows. The series "20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection" features new "best of" albums from the most significant music artists of the past century. |
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