The Clovers

Formed:

1946 (Washington, DC)

Genres:

R&B, Doo-wop, Rock and Roll, Pop Vocal

Principal Members:

• John "Buddy" Bailey (born December 27, 1931, in Washington, DC; died February 1994, Washington, DC): lead vocals (tenor)
• Billy Mitchell (born Washington, CD; died December 19, 2002, Washington, DC): lead vocals (tenor)
• Harold "Hal" Lucas, Jr. (born 1923, Washington, DC; died January 6, 1994, Washington, DC): vocals (tenor / baritone)
• Harold Winley (born, May 13, 1933, Washington, DC): vocals (second tenor)
• Matthew McQuater (born 1924, Washington, DC; died November 6, 2002, Washington, DC): vocals (bass)
• Bill Harris (born April 14, 1925, Nashville, TN; died December 10, 1988, Washington, DC): guitar

Contributions to music:

• The most popular R&B vocal group of the early Fifties
• The first to introduce raw R&B to vocal groups, inspiring the birth of doo wop
• A major influence on all early rockers
• Responsible for the original versions of "Love Potion #9," "Devil Or Angel," and "One Mint Julep," among others
• The first act to put Atlantic Records on the map as a major R&B label
• The first vocal group to include a saxophone in their songs
• The first vocal group to utilize twin lead tenors

Early years:

The Clovers began as a four-piece group of students at Washington, DC's Armstrong High School who covered pop standards in the manner of their heroes, the Ink Spots. Soon, however, the group that was then known as the "Four Clovers" (in order to bring them luck) were suggested to the fledgling Atlantic Records by Washington record store owner "Waxie Maxie" Silverman, and label head Ahmet Ertegun put them to work on original R&B songs, inspired by the success of the early Dominoes -- in fact, the Clovers were the first to cover one of Ahmet's tunes.

Success:

That song was "Don't You Know I Love You," which went straight to Number One in 1951, putting the label on the map. With a steady succession of bawdy, comic singles (the formula that would work so well later on the pop charts with Coasters, but considerably dirtier), the Clovers racked up an incredible 19 top ten hits through 1956. In 1954 they were one of the acts on DJ Alan Freed's original "Moondog Coronation Ball," his first big event and, some say, the true birth of the rock and roll movement. Bailey and Lucas (later Mitchell) served as the group's twin lead tenors, with occasional leads by Charlie White.

Later years:

By 1956 they'd had a few pop hits, and the rock and roll trend was in full swing. But the group was too raw for the pop charts, and Atlantic still hadn't figured out how to cross over, so the group was signed to United Artists to work with Lieber-Stoller, who provided them with "Love Potion #9." But by 1961, the decade-old group, not well-versed in gospel, had trouble adjusting to the sounds of soul -- and though they soldiered on through the end of the decade, their glory days were over. Today the sole surviving member, Harold Winley, leads a Clovers revival group that tours the country.

Other facts:

• Other members included Charles White (born 1930, Washington, DC): lead vocals (tenor); Billy Shelton, Thomas Woods
• In his 1974 hit "The Joker," Steve Miller quotes the "really love your peaches" line from the Clovers' "Lovey Dovey"
• Ray Charles had his first hit for ABC-Paramount with a jazzy instrumental version of "One Mint Julep"
• "Devil Or Angel" was an unsolicited demo mailed in from an unknown songwriter who never had another hit
• The sax solo in "Don't You Know I Love You," the first in the genre, was only included because the sax player insisted on being paid for being at the session

Awards/Honors:

• Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2002)
• Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award (1998)

Recorded work:

#1 hits:
R&B:

"Don't You Know I Love You" (1951)
"Fool, Fool, Fool" (1951)
"Ting-A-Ling" (1952)

Top 10 hits:
R&B:

"One Mint Julep" (1952)
"Middle Of The Night" (1952)
"Wonder Where My Baby's Gone" (1952)
"Hey, Miss Fannie" (1952)
"I Played The Fool" (1952)
"Crawlin'" (1953)
"Here Goes A Fool" (1953)
"Good Lovin'" (1953)
"Comin' On" (1953)
"Lovey Dovey" (1954)
"Little Mama" (1954)
"I've Got My Eyes On You" (1954)
"Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash" (1954)
"Nip Sip" (1955)
"Devil Or Angel" (1955)
"Hey Doll Baby" (1955)
"Love, Love, Love" (1956)

Other important recordings: "Skylark," "Needless," "Yes, It's You," "The Feeling Is So Good," "I Confess," "Alrighty Oh Sweetie," "Blue Velvet," "If You Love Me," "Love Bug," "In The Morning Time," "If I Could Be Loved By You," "Hey Doll Baby," "Love, Love, Love," "Your Tender Lips," "From The Bottom Of My Heart," "Bring Me Love," "Baby Baby, Oh My Darling," "A Lonely Fool," "Here Comes Romance," "You Good Looking Woman," "I I I Love You," "So Young," "Down In The Valley," "There's No Tomorrow," "Wishing For Your Love," "All About You," "The Gossip Wheel," "Please Come On To Me," "The Good Old Summertime," "Idaho," "Old Black Magic," "Rock And Roll Tango," "Love Potion #9," "Stay Awhile," "One Mint Julep," "Lovey," "Easy Lovin'," "I'm Confessin' That I Love You," "Yes It's You," "Burning Fire," "Have Gun," "The Honeydripper," "Wrapped Up In A Dream," "Let Me Hold You," "The Bootie Green"

Covered by: Elvis Presley, Steve Miller, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, Bobby Vee, The Searchers, Ray Charles

Appears in the movies: "Rock 'n' Roll Revue" (1955), "Basin Street Revue" (1956)