"Флеймингос: Америкалық ду-уоп тобының тарихы"

American doo wop group
the doo wop group

The Flamingos are an American doo wop group formed in Chicago in 1953. The band became popular in mid to late 1950s and are known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You". They have since been hailed as one of the finest and most influential vocal groups in pop and doo wop music history.

Jacob "Jake" Carey (bass) and Ezekiel "Zeke" Carey (second tenor) formed the group in Chicago, Illinois, United States, after meeting cousins baritone Paul Wilson and first tenor Johnny Carter at a Hebrew Israelite congregation. Earl Lewis (not the Channels lead) soon joined, and after a series of name changes ("The Swallows", "El Flamingos", "The Five Flamingos"), wound up being known as the Flamingos. Sollie McElroy soon replaced Lewis (who joined the Five Echoes). The Flamingos' first single (for Chance Records), "If I Can't Have You", was a moderate local success, as was the follow up "That's My Desire", but it was Johnny Carter's composition of "Golden Teardrops", with its complex vocal harmonies and Carter's soaring falsetto, that cemented their reputation as a top regional act of the day. Pat Boone's cover version of the song, complete with revised lyrics ("My mind's made up" replacing "My time's about up"), was a hit on the pop charts. The group also had moderate success for the label with other chestnuts like "A Kiss from Your Lips", "The Vow" and "Would I Be Crying". The Flamingos also appeared in the 1956 Alan Freed movie Rock, Rock, Rock. Both Zeke Carey and Carter were drafted that year (Carter was drafted in September).

In 1958 the Flamingos began recording for George Goldner's End Records in New York City, where they had several national hits. and the Tavares would later credit the group as major influences.

The group began to come apart at the turn of the decade. Tommy Hunt left for a solo career in 1960. Nate Nelson and Terry Johnson split to form the "Modern Flamingos" in 1961, and went on to record as the Starglows on Atco Records in 1963. (The Modern Flamingos name was used later; the group would include members of the defunct Del Knights in the late 1960s). New members were brought in, making the group Zeke Carey (tenor), Jake Carey (bass), Paul Wilson (baritone), Billy Clarke (tenor), Eddie Williams (tenor), Alan Fontaine (guitar), and Julien Vaught (saxophone). Also Johnny Carter left in 1960 to join the Dells. Around this time, the Flamingos formed their own label, Ronze, and produced many of their own recordings. The group continued recording into the 1970s. A new album was released in 1972 on Ronze, entitled The Flamingos Today. By this time, the group was the Careys, McClure, Fontaine, the returning Billy Clarke, and former Limelite Clarence Bassett, Jr. New member Frank "Mingo" Ayers joined soon after. More mildly successful recordings came in this decade, including the uptempo "Heavy Hips", and "Buffalo Soldier". Ayers left around this time, joining the Del Vikings. In 1984, two new members joined: Bennie Cherry and Archie Satterfield. In 1988, the group was featured at the 1988 Grammy Awards. Paul Wilson died on May 6, 1988. By the early 1990s, the group was the Careys, Satterfield, Ron Reace and Kenny Davis. Jake Carey died in 1997. The group recorded a new album, Unspoken Emotions, under the Ronze label in 1999. It featuring re recordings of "Ain't Nothing But A Party" and "I'll Be Home", led by Zeke Carey. The group appeared on the PBS television special Doo Wop 50 that same year. The lineup was Zeke Carey, J. C. Carey, Ron Reace, King Raymond Green, and Larry Jordan. Zeke Carey died on December 24, 1999. King Raymond Green and Ron Reace left around that time and were replaced by Earnest "Just Mike" Gilbert and former Dynamic Superior George Spann. James Faison entered shortly thereafter. Tommy Hunt has flown in from England (where he has lived since 1970) to perform with this group twice since 2001. The group split up in late 2005 due to money disputes. Spann, Jordan, Gilbert, and Faison grouped together to reform Spann's old group, The Dynamic Superiors. J. C. Carey brought in new members, and toured with Tommy Hunt starting in April 2007. Terry Johnson is the owner of the "Flamingos" federal trademark and Doo Wop Cavalcade: The Definitive Anthology. In 2013, the Flamingos released the Diamond Anniversary Tour CD. They continue to perform in concerts across the country. Doug McClure died on July 6, 2018.

J. C. Carey, Jr., Terry Johnson, Tommy Hunt and descendants of Nate Nelson and Paul Wilson sued PepsiCo for having used "I Only Have Eyes For You" in a 1998 television commercial, allegedly without having consulted the group. The group was awarded $250,000.

The Flamingos received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 1996 (where Terry Johnson, Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter performed) and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Doo Wop Hall of Fame in 2004. The group that performed at the Rock Hall ceremony included Terry Johnson on lead, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter. In 2003, the Flamingos' recording of "I Only Have Eyes For You" was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame.

Year Titles (A side, B side)Both sides from same album except where indicated Chart positions AlbumUSUS R&BCANUK1953"Someday, Someway"b/w "If I Can't Have You" — — — —The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows (On the Dusty Road of Hits)"That's My Desire"b/w "Hurry Home Baby" (Non album track) — — — —"Golden Teardrops"b/w "Carried Away" — — — —"Plan for Love"b/w "You Ain't Ready" — — — —Non album tracks1954"Cross Over the Bridge"b/w "Listen to My Plea" (Non album track) — — — —The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows (On the Dusty Road of Hits)"Dream of a Lifetime"b/w "On My Merry Way" — — — —Flamingos"Jump Children"b/w "Blues in a Letter" — — — —Non album tracks"I Really Don't Want to Know"b/w "Get with It" (Non album track) — — — —Flamingos (1976 reissue only)1955"I'm Yours"b/w "Ko Ko Mo" (from Flamingos) — — — —Non album tracks"When"b/w "That's My Baby" (from Flamingos) — — — —"I Want to Love You"b/w "Please Come Back Home" — — — — 1956"A Kiss from Your Lips"b/w "Get with It" (Non album track) — 12 — —Rock Rock Rock (soundtrack)"I'll Be Home"b/w "Need Your Love" (Non album track) — 5 — —"The Vow"b/w "Shilly Dilly" (from Flamingos) — — — —"Would I Be Crying"b/w "Just for a Kick" (Non album track) — — — —1957"The Ladder of Love"b/w "Let's Make Up" — — — —Non album tracks"Helpless"b/w "My Faith in You" — — — — 1958"Where Mary Go"b/w "The Rock and Roll March" — — — — 1959"Dream of a Lifetime"b/w "Whispering Stars" — — — —Flamingos"(They're Writing Songs of Love) But Not for Me"b/w "I Shed a Tear at Your Wedding" (Non album track) — — — —Flamingo Serenade"Ever Since I Met Lucy"b/w "Kiss A Me" — — — —Non album tracks"I Only Have Eyes for You"Original B side: "Goodnight Sweetheart"Later B side: "Love Walked In" 11 3 — —Flamingo Serenade"Love Walked In"Original B side: "At the Prom" (Non album track)Later B side: "Yours" 88 — — —"Lovers Never Say Goodbye"b/w "That Love Is You" 52 25 — —Non album tracks 1960"I Was Such a Fool (To Fall in Love with You)"b/w "Heavenly Angel" (from Flamingo Favorites) 71 — — —Requestfully Yours"Mio Amore"Original B side: "You, Me and the Sea" (from Requestfully Yours)Later B side: "At Night" (from Requestfully Yours) 74 27 — —Flamingo Favorites"Nobody Loves Me Like You"Original B side: "You, Me and the Sea"Later B side: "Besame Mucho" (from Flamingo Favorites) 30 23 — —Requestfully Yours"Besame Mucho"b/w "You, Me and The Sea" (from Requestfully Yours) — — — —Flamingo Favorites"Beside You"b/w "When I Fall In Love" — — — —Requestfully Yours"Your Other Love"b/w "Lovers Gotta Cry" 54 — — —Non album tracks 1961"Kokomo"b/w "That's Why I Love You" (from Flamingo Favorites) 92 — — —"Time Was"b/w "Dream Girl" (from Flamingo Favorites) 45 — — —Flamingo Serenade"Golden Teardrops"b/w "Carried Away"Vee Jay reissue 108 — — —The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows (On the Dusty Road of Hits)"My Memories Of You"b/w "I Want to Love You" — — — —Non album tracks1962"It Must Be Love"b/w "I'm No Fool Anymore" — — — —"Near You"b/w "For All We Know" — — — —1963"I Know Better"b/w "Flame of Love" 107 — — —The Sound of the Flamingos"(Talk About) True Love"b/w "Come On to My Party" — — — —Non album tracks"Ol' Man River"—Part Ib/w Part II — — — —The Sound Of The Flamingos 1964"Lover, Come Back to Me"b/w "Your Little Guy" — — — —Non album tracks"Goodnight Sweetheart"b/w "Does It Really Matter" (Non album track) — — — —Flamingo Serenade 1965"Call Her on the Phone"b/w "Temptation" — — — —Non album tracks1966"The Boogaloo Party"b/w "The Nearness of You" 93 22 94 26Their Hits Then and Now"Brooklyn Boogaloo"b/w "Since My Baby Put Me Down" — — — —"She Shook My World"b/w "Itty Bitty Baby" — — — —Non album tracks 1967"Koo Koo"b/w "It Keeps the Doctor Away" — — — —"Oh Mary Don't Your Worry"b/w "Do It, to It" — — — — 1969"Dealin' (Groovin' with a Feelin')"b/w "Dealin' All the Way" — 48 — —Color Them Beautiful 1970"Buffalo Soldier" (Short version)b/w "Buffalo Soldier" (Long version) 86 28 54 —Non album tracks 1971"Welcome Home"b/w "Gotta Have All Your Lovin'" — — — —Color Them Beautiful 1974"Think About Me" Part 1b/w Part 2 — — — —Non album tracks 1975"Someone to Watch Over Me"b/w "Heavy Hips" — — — — 1976"Love Keeps the Doctor Away" (Long version)b/w Short version of A side — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.