The Blue Jays
Encyclopedia
The Blue Jays were a short-lived American doo wop ensemble from Venice, California.
The Blue Jays formed in 1961, and after performing at an amateur's night at the Fox Theatre
, they were asked by Werly Fairburn
to sign to his Milestone Records
. Their debut single was "Lovers Island", written by group members Leon Peels and Alex Manigeault, and it became a hit in the U.S., reaching #31 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1961. Later singles included "Tears are Falling" (1961) and "The Right to Love" (1962), but the group saw no further success and broke up in 1962.
Leon Peels briefly launched a solo career later in the 1960s.
The Blue Jays formed in 1961, and after performing at an amateur's night at the Fox Theatre
Fox Theatre
Fox Theatres was a large chain of movie theaters in the United States dating from the 1920s either built by Fox Film Corporation studio owner William Fox, or subsequently merged in 1929 by Fox with the West Coast Theatres chain, to form the Fox West Coast Theatres chain.-Architectural styles:Many...
, they were asked by Werly Fairburn
Werly Fairburn
Werley Fairburn was an American rockabilly musician.Fairburn listened to the Grand Ole Opry and played guitar as a youngster, learning to play from a local blues musician alongside the hillbilly music he heard on the radio...
to sign to his Milestone Records
Milestone Records
Milestone Records is a United States based jazz record label, founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz in New York City. The company was incorporated into Fantasy Records in 1972, since then it has been used for reissues as well as for new recordings....
. Their debut single was "Lovers Island", written by group members Leon Peels and Alex Manigeault, and it became a hit in the U.S., reaching #31 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1961. Later singles included "Tears are Falling" (1961) and "The Right to Love" (1962), but the group saw no further success and broke up in 1962.
Leon Peels briefly launched a solo career later in the 1960s.
Members
- Leon Peels (b. 1936, Newport, ArkansasNewport, ArkansasNewport is a city in Jackson County, Arkansas, northeast of Little Rock, on the White River. In 1900, 2,866 people lived in Newport, Arkansas; in 1910, 3,557. The population was 7,811 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County....
) - Van Richardson
- Alex Manigo/Manigeault
- Leonard Davidson