Active from 1953 | Genres R&B/soul, Pop | |
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Albums Love Needs, Echoes Of A Rock Era Members Willie Winfield, Raoul Cita Awards Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award Similar The Moonglows, The Cleftones, The Cadillacs, The Chantels, The Spaniels | ||
The harptones life is but a dream 1955
The Harptones are an American doo-wop group, which formed in Manhattan in 1953.
Contents
- The harptones life is but a dream 1955
- 1951 1954
- Early 1955
- Late 1955
- Early 1956
- 1956 movie Rockin The Blues
- Early 1957
- Late 1958
- 1959 1963
- Early 1964
- Late 1964
- 1970 1972
- 1972mid 1990s
- Mid 1990s 1999
- 2000 2008
- 2008 2014
- Awards and recognition
- Songs
- References
The group never had a top forty pop hit, or a record on the US Billboard R&B chart, yet they are known for both for lead singer Willie Winfield and their pianist/arranger, Raoul Cita. The Harptones recorded for various labels, including Coed Records. The Harptones may have been the first doo-wop group to number a full-time arranger among their members, and Cita knew how to work to Winfield's strengths. Their best-known recordings include "Sunday Kind of Love" (1953), "Why Should I Love You?" (1954), "Life is But a Dream" (1955), and "The Shrine of St. Cecilia" (1956).
In 1956, they recorded some songs for the film Rockin' the Blues: "Mambo Boogie", "Ou Wee Baby", and "High Flying Baby".
The song "Life is But a Dream" was featured in the 1990 film GoodFellas, and can be found on the film's soundtrack.
1951-1954
Early 1955
Dicey Galloway was drafted in November 1954.
Late 1955
Early 1956
1956 movie Rockin' The Blues
Early 1957
Billy Brown died of a drug overdose in spring 1957.
Late 1958
Dicey Galloway left in October and was replaced for Milton Love of The Solitares for a short time, before splitting.
1959-1963
Nicky Clark left after a few months, to be replaced by Wilbur "Yonkie" Paul, who was in turn replaced by Hank "Pompi" Jernigan.
Early 1964
Late 1964
1970-1972
1972–mid-1990s
Mid 1990s-1999
This line-up appeared on Doo Wop 50. Linda Champion left due to health problems around 2000.
2000-2008
2008-2014
Marlowe Murray died of cancer in 2008.
Raoul J. Cita died on December 13, 2014, from liver and stomach cancer, aged 86. The death of Cita leaves Winfield and Dempsey as the only original Harptones, with Winfield present at every version.
Awards and recognition
The Harptones were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
Songs
Life Is But a DreamGoodfellas · 1990
My Memories of YouSongs From the Heart · 1955
That's the Way It GoesSunday Kind Of Love · 2011