The Monotones

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The Monotones
Origin Newark, New Jersey, United States
Genres Doo-wop, rock and roll
Years active1955–1962, 1980–2005
LabelsMascot
Chess Records
Past membersCharles Patrick
Warren Davis
George Malone
Frankie Smith
John Ryanes
Warren Ryanes
  • Carl Foushee
  • Tommy Reed
  • Victor Hartsfield
  • Bernard Brown
  • Bernard Ransom
  • Joseph Eaton

The Monotones were a six-member American doo-wop vocal group in the 1950s. They are considered a one-hit wonder, as their only hit single was "The Book of Love", which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1958. [1]

Contents

Biography

The Monotones formed in 1955 when the seven original singers, all residents of the Baxter Terrace housing project in Newark, New Jersey, [2] began performing covers of popular songs. They were:

Charles Patrick's brother James was originally a member, but he left soon after the group's formation. John Ryanes and Warren Ryanes were also brothers.

They all began singing with the New Hope Baptist Choir, directed by Cissy Houston, who was related to the Patrick brothers. [12] The group launched their career with a 1956 appearance on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour television program, winning first prize for their rendition of The Cadillacs' "Zoom". Soon afterwards, Charles Patrick was listening to the radio and heard a Pepsodent toothpaste commercial with the line "wonder where the yellow went." From there he got the idea for the line, "I wonder, wonder, wonder who!, who wrote the book of love", later working it up into a song with Davis and Malone. [13] In September 1957, they recorded "The Book of Love", which was released on the Mascot label in December that year. [1] The small record company could not cope with its popularity, and it was reissued on Chess Records' subsidiary Argo label in February 1958. [1] It became a hit, eventually reaching No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 5 on the pop chart. [2] The record sold over one million copies. [14] It also reached No. 5 in Australia; [12] in the UK, the hit version was a cover version by The Mudlarks.

The Monotones recorded a series of novelty follow-ups including "Zombi", and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", but they were not successful. [1]

The Monotones disbanded in 1962. Surviving members met to revive "The Book of Love" several times after the break-up. John Ryanes died in 1972, aged 31, and his brother Warren died in 1982. [6] By 1994, the Monotones consisted of Frankie Smith, George Malone, Carl Foushee, Bernard Ransom, Bernard Brown (died in 2009, aged 62), and Victor Hartsfield. [2] Frankie Smith died in 2000, and George Malone in 2007. [13]

Singles

(listing incomplete)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 293. ISBN   1-85227-937-0.
  2. 1 2 3 "Marv Goldberg's R&B; Notebooks - MONOTONES". Home.att.net. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Charles Patrick, rocker, Monotones... September 11 in History". Brainyhistory.com. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Cool Oldies 96 - Very sad to hear that Charles Patrick, the original lead singer of The Monotones "Book Of Love" passed away on his 82nd birthday. He was believed to be the last surviving member from the original lineup. R.I.P. Charles Howard Patrick (September 11, 1938 - September 11, 2020) | Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - MONOTONES". Uncamarvy.com. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Monotones Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2000". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1970s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Halls of Hysteria > This Day In History". Thehallsofhysteria.com. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "The Monotones | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  13. 1 2 "George Malone, singer in original Monotones". Web.archive.org. p. 189. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  105. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
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