The Chords (American band)

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The Chords
The Chords vocal group.jpg
The Chords c. 1955
Background information
Origin The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1951–1980
Labels
Past members
  • Carl Feaster
  • Claude Feaster
  • Jimmy Keyes
  • Floyd McRae
  • William Edwards
  • Rupert Branker
  • Joe Dias
  • Arthur Dicks

The Chords were an American doo-wop vocal group formed in 1951 in The Bronx, [1] known for their 1954 hit "Sh-Boom", which they wrote. [2] It is the only song they created that reached mainstream popularity.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Career

The group was formed by friends from a high school based in the Bronx, New York City, United States. [3] The initial members were the brothers Carl and Claude Feaster, plus Jimmy Keyes, Buddy McRae, and William Edwards, with support from the pianist Rupert Branker. The Chords were one of the early acts to be signed to Cat Records, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records. [3]

Their debut single was a doo-wop version of a Patti Page song "Cross Over the Bridge", and the record label reluctantly allowed a number penned by the Chords on the B-side. [2] That track was "Sh-Boom", which quickly became the more popular side. [2] The record reached the top 10 of the U.S. pop chart, which was then a unique occurrence for an R&B number. [2] The track was covered by The Crew-Cuts, who took the song to the top of the charts, arguably registering the first U.S. rock and roll number one hit record. [3]

The enthusiasm doo-wop fans had for the Chords' music was dampened when Gem Records claimed that one of the groups on its roster was called the Chords; consequently, the group changed their name to the Chordcats. [2] Their success was a one-off as subsequent releases, including "Zippity-Zum", all failed to chart. [2] A round of personnel changes and recordings on a variety of labels all failed to reignite the public's interest. [3] [4] [5] [1]

Members

Pianist Rupert Branker was murdered on July 3, 1961. [7]

Later bass singer Joe "Ditto" Dias, who replaced William Edwards, died sometime in the 1960s. [7]

Later tenor/baritone Arthur Dicks, who briefly replaced Buddy McRae, died in 2001. [7]

Buddy McRae, the last surviving original member, died on March 19, 2013, at a nursing home in the Bronx at the age of 85. [6]

Discography

Compilation albums

Title [8] Details
The Best Of The ChordsReleased in 2005 by Cat

Singles

1950s

Title [9] YearPeak chart positions
US R&B
[10] 		US
[11] 		US CB
[12]
"Cross Over The Bridge"1954———
"Sh-Boom"251
"Zippity Zum (I'm In Love)"———
"A Girl To Love"———
"Could It Be"1955———
"Don't Want To Set The World On Fire"1957———

1960s

1960 – "Blue Moon"

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Chords | Biography & History". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 45. ISBN   0-85112-733-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 71. ISBN   1-85227-937-0.
  4. 1 2 David Hinckley (April 12, 2011). "Resolution would rename Bronx street in honor of 'Sh-Boom' group The Chords". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  5. ↑ R.I.P. Floyd ‘Buddy’ McRae, Last Surviving Member Of The Chords Archived November 6, 2023, at the Wayback Machine - VVN Music, March 21, 2013
  6. 1 2 David Hinckley (March 21, 2013). "Floyd 'Buddy' McRae, the last living member of the Chords and a singer on the song 'Sh-Boom' dies in Bronx hospital". Daily News . Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  7. 1 2 3 "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks – CHORDS". Uncamarvy.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-16. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  8. ↑ "The Chords". Discogs.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  9. ↑ "The Chords [New York]". 45cat.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  10. ↑ "Billboard" (PDF). August 14, 1954. p. 41. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  11. ↑ "Billboard" (PDF). July 31, 1954. p. 30. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-11-10. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  12. ↑ "The Cash Box Best Selling Singles". August 7, 1954. Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
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