History
The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
, with members Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the "Four Clovers", with Bailey on lead. In perfecting their sound, the group pushed Shelton and Woods out in 1948, and brought in Matthew McQuarter and Harold Winley.
Their break came in 1950, when they were introduced to Lou Krefetz, who became their manager. They signed to
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's
Rainbow RecordsRainbow Records was a record label based in the United States of America in the 1920s which featured recordings of Christian gospel music, hymns, and spirituals....
and released one single, "
Yes Sir, That's My Baby"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" is a U.S. popular song from 1925.The music was written by Walter Donaldson and the lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was a hit for Ace Brigode in 1925 and for Eddie Cantor in 1930. It was later a hit for Rick Nelson in the 1950s and Frank Sinatra in the 1960s...
" backed with "
When You Come Back To MeWhen You Come Back To Me is a single by Edyta Górniak from the album Edyta.-Background:The song was written by Christopher Paul Pelcer, Nicol Smith and Robert White Johnson and produced by Christopher Neil....
". Soon after, Krefetz brought them to
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
'
Ahmet ErtegünAhmet Ertegun was the Turkish American co-founder and executive of Atlantic Records and chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum, described as "one of the most significant figures in the modern recording industry"...
, and they were signed to Atlantic in 1951. At this point,
Bill HarrisBill Harris may refer to:In arts*Bill Harris , American painter*Bill Harris , American jazz trombonistIn sports:*Bill Harris , New Zealand soccer player...
was added as their guitarist. Their first appearance came in February of that year at the
Apollo TheaterThe Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with African-American performers. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the home of Showtime at the Apollo, a...
.
Their very first Atlantic session produced their first big hit, "
Don't You Know I Love You"Don't You Know I Love You" is the 1951, debut single by The Clovers. The single was the first of three singles top make the top spot on the R&B charts...
", which hit #1 on the national charts in June of 1951. "
One Mint Julep"One Mint Julep" is a rhythm and blues song written by Rudy Toombs that became a hit for The Clovers. It was recorded by Atlantic Records in New York City on December 19, 1951 and released in March of 1952. It was one of the first "drinking songs" to become a hit and one of the first to feature a...
" (written by
Rudy ToombsRudolph "Rudy" Toombs , born in Monroe, Louisiana, was a black songwriter who wrote "Teardrops from My Eyes", Ruth Brown's first number one R&B hit song...
) and "
Fool, Fool, Fool"Fool, Fool, Fool" is a 1951 song by The Clovers. The single was their second number one on the R&B chart and their most successful song on that chart, spending six weeks at the number-one position.-References:...
" also went #1 in September. Bailey was drafted in 1952, and
John PhillipJohn Phillip was a Victorian era painter best known for his portrayals of Spanish life. He was nicknamed "Spanish Phillip"....
was brought in to replace him. He stayed for just a few months, before leaving and being replaced by
Charlie WhiteCharlie White is a Los Angeles-based artist.-Bio:Charlie White is a Los Angeles-based artist. White received his BFA in 1994 from the School of Visual Arts, New York, and received his MFA from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, in 1998...
, who had been in the Dominoes and the Checkers.
With personal problems, White was fired near the end of 1953. His replacement was Billy Mitchell. The group continued recording with Atlantic, without as much success as they'd previously seen. Buddy Bailey was discharged from the
ArmyAn army An army An army (from Latin armata "armed (things)" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based Military of a nation. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in May 1954, and rejoined the group, making them a quintet. They continued in recording, and in 1955, found moderate success with "Devil or Angel".
Mitchell left in 1957 to do solo work, but rejoined shortly thereafter, opting to do both solo work
and work with the Clovers. Their Atlantic contract expired, and Krefetz moved them to his own label, Poplar Records. Poplar was purchased by
United Artists RecordsUnited Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1958 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
shortly thereafter. The group's work with United Artists put them in contact with
Jerry Leiber and Mike StollerJerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller are among the most influential American songwriters and music producers in post-World War II popular music....
. After a few recordings there, they had their biggest hit, "
Love Potion #9"Love Potion No. 9" is a song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by The Clovers.The song describes a man seeking help finding love, so he talks to a gypsy, who determines through palm reading that he needs "love potion number 9". Her shop is located on...
", which came in July of 1959, and featured Mitchell on lead.
They recorded two versions of Love Potion #9 on UA. For the album of that name a new final verse was created referring to "love potion #10". In fact this version became played more often on radio than the single at the time.
After Love Potion #9
Their UA contract expired in 1961, and they moved to
Winley RecordsPaul Winley Records Inc. was a doo-wop label founded in 1956 that in 1979 became one of the earliest hip hop labels. It was situated on 125th Street, Harlem, New York City. Winley released doo-wop by The Paragons and The Jesters, and hip hop records by Paul Winley's daughters, Tanya and Paulette,...
. With little success there, the group split. Lucas and Mitchell brought in new members James "Toy" Walton and
Robert Russell-Politics:*Bob Russell , British Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester*Bob Russell , former leader of the Liberal Party of Alberta and municipal councillor in St. Albert, Alberta*Robert B...
, and recorded shortly for Atlantic. John Bailey recorded with his own Clovers group in 1962 for Winley (owned by Harold's brother Paul).
Mitchell left in 1962, and was replaced by Roosevelt "Tippie" Hubbard. They recorded as "Tippie and the Clovermen" and "Tippie and the Clovers" for Tiger Records, a subsidiary of Rust Records. John Bailey's group, by this time consisting of Nathaniel Bouknight, Peggy Winley Mills (sister of Paul and Harold), and Ann Winley, Paul's wife, recorded for another Paul Winley label, Porwin records. Near the end of 1963, the two groups came back together, into a Clovers trio featuring Harold Lucas, John Bailey, and the returning Harold Winley.
Following
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' remake of "Love Potion #9" in 1965, some of the old Winley and Porwin tracks were leased to Pickwick International Records, who released them as the album The Original Love Potion #9 By The Clovers. This version of the song was not the same as the UA. Winley left for the second time in 1965. Bailey and Lucas recorded briefly for Atlantic with the returning Robert Russell and
Jimmy TaylorJimmy Taylor is a rugby league player for the Leigh Centurions in National League One. He plays in the second-row or at loose-forward.-External links:**...
. The sides were sold to Port Records and released with little success. Lucas and Bailey split that year.
Lucas and Russell brought back Tippie Hubbard and Toy Walton and, with fifth member Al Fox, recorded as "Tippie and the Wisemen" for Washington D.C.'s
Shrine RecordsShrine Records was a Washington DC soul music and R&B record label.Shrine Records was founded in 1964 by songwriter Eddie Singleton and his wife, Raynoma Gordy Singleton, also known as Miss Ray, who had previously cofounded the legendary Motown Records with her first husband, Berry Gordy. Its...
. With Fox out, they changed back to The Clovers. John Bailey also formed a Clovers group, who re-recorded "Devil or Angel" and "Love Potion #9" for Lana Records in 1965. To add to this confusion, Harold Winley started a third Clovers group in 1968, with members Bobby Adams, Johnny Taylor, and Ray Loper, and recorded for
Josie RecordsJosie Records was a subsidiary of Jubilee Records in New York and was active from 1954 through to 1971. Single records were numbered from 760 through to 1031.Their best sellers were The Cadillacs, Bobby Freeman and The Meters.-Notes:
...
.
Robert Russell died in 1969 and Lucas replaced him with
John BowieJohn Bowie is an American football cornerback who is currently free agent. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.-Early years:...
. They released a
discoDisco is a genre of dance music that that had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, psychedelic and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
tune, "Bump Jive!", on D.C. based Alladin Records in 1975. Shortly after the recording, Toy Walton died, and was replaced by Johnnie Mason. Tippie Hubbard died in 1980 and was replaced by Steve Charles.
A reunion was planned in 1988 in
Austin, TexasAustin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 15th-largest in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in the nation...
. Lucas brought his Clovers, as well as reuniting with John Bailey, Matthew McQuarter, and Harold Winley. Lucas' group also performed at a
benefit concertA benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
later that year for
Bill HarrisBill Harris may refer to:In arts*Bill Harris , American painter*Bill Harris , American jazz trombonistIn sports:*Bill Harris , New Zealand soccer player...
, the groups long-time guitarist. Also in 1988, Lucas' group recorded for
Ripete RecordsRipete Records is a small, independently distributed record label specializing in the reissue of Carolina Beach Music compilations for shag dance enthusiasts, mainly in the Southeastern US, as well as providing an outlet for newer recordings by legendary R&B artists, such as the Drifters, Clovers,...
, in Elliott, South Carolina.
Chuck Battle replaced Charles around 1990. Harold Lucas became ill and stopped touring around 1993. His place was taken by Richard Merritt. Battle left in 1992 and was replaced by Preston Monroe, who was later replaced by David Warren. King Raymond Green was added to the group from
The FlamingosThe Flamingos were a doo wop group from the United States, most popular in the mid to late 1950s.-Early quintet:Cousins Jacob Carey and Ezekial Carey , bass and 2nd tenor, respectively, formed the group in Chicago, Illinois, after meeting cousins baritone Paul Wilson and first tenor John E....
in 1998 to join Johnnie Mason, David Warren, and Richard Merritt. The group performed on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51 in 2000.
John BowieJohn Bowie is an American football cornerback who is currently free agent. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.-Early years:...
died in 2002, but the group continued to work under the leadership of Johnnie Mason. The Clovers Were inducted to the Doo Wopp Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
Richard Merritt left the group in 2002; his last performance was the VGHOF induction ceremony. David Warren departed soon after. Mason currently leads a new group featuring former Flamingo Ron Reace, William Rawlings, and Antwan Drayton.
In 2006, King Raymond Green left Johnnie Mason's group to form a new group of Clovers (sanctioned by Steve Charles who co-owns The Clovers Trademark along with Johnnie Mason). The new group formed by King Raymond Green recruited Harold Winley (now the only surviving founding member) and new members Franklen Poole, Tyrone Burwell, Juan Hawkins, and guitarist Tye Lovell. This group is managed by Powerhouse Productions, and still tours the U.S and Europe. Following the 1988 reunion, Winley and Buddy Bailey had joined Jimmy Nabbie's
Ink SpotsThe Ink Spots were a popular African American vocal group that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm & blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
; Winley still performs in that group from time to time. Prior to his death, Bailey also performed solo, sometimes backed up by The Calvanes, who feature former Bailey-Clovers member Bobby Adams. No remnants of the former Bailey groups exist.
Awards & Recognition
Rhythm and Blues Foundation, Pioneer Award, 1988; inducted into The Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2001, inducted into The
Vocal Group Hall of FameThe Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor what they term "the Greatest Vocal Groups in the World". The Hall of Fame is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum.It was originally organized in 1998...
in 2002, inducted in the United in Group Harmony (UGHA) Hall of Fame, 2002.
External links