The Clovers

The Clovers , is a vocal group of Rhythm and Blues, Doo-wop and American Rock' roll, formed with Washington in 1946. They are one of the most popular groups of doo-wop of the Années 1950 and creators of Love Potion Number Nine , become a standard of the rhythm & blues.

Biography

The group was formed around the baritone Harold Lucas, still high-school pupil. It chooses the name of The Clovers (“the clover”) in the hope that their door chance. Soon joined by the tenor John " Buddy" Bailey which replaces singer soloist, the 2ère tenor Matthew McQuatter, low Harold Winley, and the guitarist Billy Harris, they start initially by interpreting a repertory close to that of the Ravens and Orioles.

They leave for New York where they leave a first disc in 1950 for the Rainbow firm, then sign at the beginning of 1951 at Atlantic where they record their first tube Don' T You Know I Coils You , written by Ahmet Ertegün. It is the first song of doo-wop accompanied by a saxophone. Each one of their titles will be classified in the first places of charts R&B: Fool, Fool, Fool , One Mint Julep (which will be taken again by Ray Charles), Hey Miss Fanny , I Played The Fool , Ting-A-Ling , Crawlin' … From 1953, Clovers change tenor and twice singer soloist, which does not change anything with their success. They triumph with Lovey Dovey , Blue Velvet , Your Cash Ain' T Nothing But Trash (written by Charles E. Calhoun), etc

Clovers take part in the itinerant show of Alan Freed and turn in all the the United States. They also appear in film of 1955: Rock'n'roll “Roll Re-examined . They cross a new course in June 1956 with the hit Love, Love Coils which is classified with the 30ère place of the classification of the best record sales all public. They finally manage to allure the white public, but in return are forsaken by the black public. Their following discs do not arrive any more at the best places of classification R&B. They leave Atlantic for the Poplar label then created especially for them by their manager, then at United Artists in 1958.

Paradoxically, it is at that time that they record their larger success. The composition of Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller Love Potion No.9 is classified n°23 pop charts and R&B in 1959. It is however their last tube. Swept by the vagueness of the Twist, Clovers separate in 1961. Bailey vainly tries to launch New Clovers and Lucas assembles Tippie & The Clovers with Roosevelt " Tippie" Hubbard.

The original members will reform themselves in 1964 the time in one concert to the Apollo Theater of Harlem, then last once in 1988. Bailey and Winley will join what remains Ink Spots.

In 1965, The Searchers took again Love Potion No.9 , and the disc of Clovers was republished on this occasion.

Sources

Nick Tosches, Heroes forgotten of the rock' roll , Combined, 2000.
article of Philippe Auclair in Dictionnaire of the Rock'n'roll , under the direction of Michka Assayas, 2000.

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