The Jewels

Last updated

The Jewels
Also known asThe Impalas, The Four Jewels
Origin Washington, D.C., United States
Genres Pop, R&B
Years active1961–1968, 1985
Past membersSandra Bears
Grace Ruffin
Margie Clarke (deceased)
Carrie Mingo (1961–1963)
Martha Harvin (1963–1968)

The Jewels (initially The Impalas, later The Four Jewels) were an American girl group from Washington, D.C., United States. [1]

Contents

Overview

The group began singing as The Impalas in 1961; [1] its members had attended Roosevelt High School and sang in Trinity AME Zion Church. [2] Early on the group began performing in Bo Diddley's basement, and Diddley recorded their debut single "I Need You So Much", which was released on Checker Records. The record never caught on, and in 1962 producer Bob Lee changed the group's name to The Four Jewels. The single "Loaded with Goodies" next appeared on Start Records, a local D.C. label, followed by Chess single "That's What They Put Erasers on Pencils For". They also sang backup vocals for member Grace Ruffin's cousin, Billy Stewart. Carrie Mingo left the group around 1963 and was replaced by Martha Harvin; at this time the group became simply The Jewels. The group went on to record for Dynamite Records, Federal, Tec Records, and King over the next few years.

In 1964 the group signed to Dimension Records and released the single "Opportunity". Late in 1964 the tune peaked at #64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 [1] but climbed all the way to #2 on KRLA 1110. [3] This was followed by the single "But I Do" b/w "Smokey Joe", which missed the national charts and marked the end of their association with Dimension. Beginning in 1965, the group toured across the U.S. as backing vocalists with James Brown. They intended to record at Motown Records when the tour stopped in Detroit, but the studios were closed the day they were in town. [2] Brown produced two more singles for the group, but they did not sell, and the group disbanded in 1968. [1]

Martha Harvin changed her stage name to Martha High and went on to tour with Brown for some thirty years, in addition to releasing a solo disco album in 1979. [2] The original four members reunited in 1985 and released an album of their singles re-recorded, entitled Loaded with Goodies. [1] On August 3, 2017, Sandra Bears came onstage for a cameo during a set by the Hall Monitors at Hill Country in Washington, D.C., singing "A Fool in Love" and "Opportunity."

Clarke (born Marjorie Elizabeth Clarke on February 23, 1945) died on September 21, 2019, at age 74. [4] [5]

Discography

Albums

Singles

No.Title (A-side / B-side)Label and no.YearPeak chart positions
US Hot 100
[6]
US R&B
[6]
1"Loaded with Goodies" b/w "Fire"
(credited as the Four Jewels)
Start 6381962
2"Loaded with Goodies" b/w "Dapper Dan"
(credited as the Four Jewels)
Checker 10391963
3"Baby It's You" b/w "She’s Wrong for You Baby"
(credited as the Four Jewels)
Tec 30071964
4"Time for Love" b/w "That's What They Put Erasers on Pencils For"Checker 1069
5"Opportunity" b/w "Gotta Find a Way"Dimension 10346418
6"But I Do" b/w "Smokey Joe"Dimension 10481965
7"Papa Left Mama Holding the Bag" b/w "This Is My Story"Dynamite 2000
8"This Is My Story" b/w "My Song"Federal 125411966
9"Lookie Lookie Lookie" b/w "Smokey Joe's"King 60681967
10"Baby Don't You Know" b/w "Never Find a Love like Mine"
(credited as the Brownettes)
King 61531968
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

[7] [8] [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 5th Dimension</span> American popular music vocal group

The 5th Dimension is an American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire includes pop, R&B, soul, jazz, light opera, and Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam & Dave</span> American soul and R&B duo

Sam & Dave were an American soul and R&B duo who performed together from 1961 until 1981. The tenor (higher) voice was Sam Moore and the baritone/tenor (lower) voice was Dave Prater (1937–1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha and the Vandellas</span> American vocal group

Martha and the Vandellas were an American vocal girl group formed in Detroit in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Brown (singer)</span> English singer and songwriter

Samantha Brown is an English singer, musician and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben E. King</span> American musician (1938–2015)

Benjamin Earl King was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me"—a U.S. Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986, a number one hit in the United Kingdom in 1987, and number 25 on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century—and as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group The Drifters, notably singing the lead vocals of one of their biggest global hit singles, "Save the Last Dance for Me". Besides "Stand By Me”, his songs "There Goes My Baby" and "Spanish Harlem" also appeared on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiki Dee</span> English pop singer

Pauline Matthews, better known by her stage name Kiki Dee, is an English singer. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals, she was the first female singer from the UK to sign with Motown's Tamla Records.

Jocelyn Lorette Brown, sometimes credited as Jocelyn Shaw, is an American R&B and dance singer. Although she has only one Billboard Hot 100 chart entry solely in her name, she has an extensive background in the music industry and is well known in the world of dance music. Brown sang on 23 hit singles from the Official UK Singles Chart, 8 of which have reached the top 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caron Wheeler</span> Musical artist

Caron Melina Wheeler is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and musician. Born and raised in London, she performed in various singing competitions as a teenager and began her recording career as one of the founding members of Brown Sugar. She was also one of the founding members of the female backing vocalist group Afrodiziak. She officially rose to fame in the late 1980s as lead singer of R&B group Soul II Soul. Managed by her bandmate, Jazzie B, the group became one of the London's best-selling groups in the 1990s. Their debut album, Club Classics Vol. One (1989), which established them as a global success worldwide, earned two Grammy Awards and featured the UK and Billboard number-one singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Wash</span> American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer

Martha Elaine Wash is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer. Known for her distinctive and powerful voice, Wash first achieved fame as half of the Two Tons O' Fun, who sang backing vocals for the disco singer Sylvester including on his signature hit "You Make Me Feel ". After gaining their own record deal, they released three consecutive commercially successful songs which all peaked at number two in the dance charts. The duo was renamed The Weather Girls in 1982 after they released the top-selling single "It's Raining Men", which brought them to mainstream pop attention. The Weather Girls released five albums and were heavily featured on Sylvester's albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Wilson (singer)</span> Musical artist

Allen LaMar Wilson was an American soul singer known for the million-selling #1 hit, "Show and Tell". He is also remembered for his Northern soul anthem, "The Snake".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan Clarke (singer)</span> Musical artist

Harold Allan Clarke is an English rock singer, who was one of the founding members and the original lead singer of the Hollies. He achieved international hit singles with the group and is credited as co-writer on several of their best-known songs, including "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "Jennifer Eccles" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress". He retired from performing in 1999, but returned to the music industry in 2019. Clarke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Blossoms</span> American girl group

The Blossoms are an American girl group that originated from California. During their height of success in the 1960s, the group's lineup most famously consisted of Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Jean King.

Terence Sylvester is an English musician and songwriter. He is a former member of the Escorts, the Swinging Blue Jeans (1966–1969), and the Hollies. In the latter role, he took on the high parts formerly sung by Graham Nash, who had left the band in December 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha High</span> American singer

Martha High is an American female vocalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Tops</span> American vocal quartet

The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Love Me (Willie Cobbs song)</span>

"You Don't Love Me" is a rhythm and blues-influenced blues song recorded by American musician Willie Cobbs in 1960. Adapted from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "She's Fine She's Mine", it is Cobbs' best-known song and features a guitar figure and melody that has appealed to musicians in several genres.

Hollis Brown is an American rock band from Queens, New York, formed in 2009 by singer and guitarist Mike Montali and guitarist Jonathan Bonilla. Named after Bob Dylan's song "Ballad of Hollis Brown", the band has become noted for their songwriting. Their music has been described as sounding "just as alive today as it would’ve in 1966 and will 40 years from now."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piney Brown</span> American singer

Columbus S. Perry, better known as Piney Brown, was an American R&B and blues singer and songwriter, who has been described as a "fine, big-voiced shouter". He released a string of singles between 1948 and 1988 and issued two albums late in his career. His songs have been recorded by Little Milton and James Brown.

The Capris were a 1950s doo-wop group from Philadelphia who started out in their teens. They consisted of four males and a female. They recorded singles for the Gotham Records label. The song that they are most known for is "God Only Knows".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borderline (Tame Impala song)</span> 2019 single by Tame Impala

"Borderline" is a song by the Australian psychedelic music project Tame Impala. It is the third track on the 2020 studio album The Slow Rush, and was released as a single on 12 April 2019 through Modular Recordings. The song was written by Kevin Parker, who performed all instruments and vocals. The song was influenced by yacht rock and disco, and the lyrics explore nihilism and insecurity. It was debuted during the band's performance on Saturday Night Live on 30 March; Parker ad-libbed much of the initial lyrics since he had not yet finalised them.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ankeny, Jason. "Artist Biography". AllMusic .
  2. 1 2 3 Hamilton, Andrew. "Martha High - Biography". AllMusic.
  3. "krla641025". Oldiesloon.com.
  4. Kiviat, Steven (October 14, 2019). "A DC Jewel: Memorial service today to celebrate the life and music of R&B singer 'Little Margie' Clarke". The DC Line. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. "Marjorie E Clarke February 23, 1945 - September 21, 2019". popefh.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "The Jewels Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. "OTHER GROUPS SINGLE DISCOGRAPHY". Jb-escape.sakura.ne.jp.
  8. "The Jewels". Soulful Kinda Music.
  9. "45 Discography for King Records - 6000 series". King Promotional.
  10. "45 Discography for Federal Records". Federal.