Air Week: November 5-11, 2018

The Clovers Pt. 2: 1953-56

The Clovers were the most successful rhythm & blues vocal group from 1951 to 1955, racking up 16 top 10 R&B singles during that time-frame. Three of those singles went to #1. Though they didn’t have a huge career defining hit, like The Dominoes did with “Sixty Minute Man,” The Clovers claim to fame was consistency. You always knew what you were going to get with a Clovers record. Most of their songs were mid-tempo with tight, limited instrumentation, beautifully blended harmonies and catchy, memorable lyrics. This week, “Juke In The Back” presents part 2 of a 3 part feature on this ground-breaking pre-rock n’ roll group. In part 2, we’ll cover EVERY Clovers’ release (both A and B sides) from mid-1953 to the beginning of 1956. During this time, lead vocalist Buddy Bailey was drafted, so Charlie White, formally of the Dominoes and The Checkers was brought in to sing on “Good Lovin’,” which hit #2 on the R&B charts as well as the classic “Lovey Dovey.” When things didn’t work out with White, the group hired Billy Mitchell, who lends his versatile voice to “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” and “In The Morning Time,” until Buddy Bailey was discharged and could return to lead the group. It’s part 2 of 3 on the amazing Clovers, this week on the “Juke In The Back.”

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