The Tymes
The Tymes | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S. |
Genres | R&B,soul |
Years active | 1956–present |
Labels | Cameo-Parkway,Columbia,RCA,MGM,ABKCO |
Members | Al "Ceasar" Berry Norman Burnett
|
Past members | Donald Banks George Hilliard George Williams Charles Nixon Isabelle Coles Jerry Ferguson Wade Davis Ron E. Richardson Terri Gonzalez |
The Tymesare an Americansoulvocal groupwho enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom and in their homeland. They are one of the few acts to have one and only onechart-topperin both the US and UK with different songs.[1]
Early career
[edit]The group was formed inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,in 1956 as the Latineers, by Donald Banks (bass), Albert Berry (first tenor), Norman Burnett (baritone), and George Hilliard (second tenor).[2]After a four-year stint on Philadelphia'sclubcircuit, they recruited a new lead vocalist, George Williams in 1960, and changed their name to the Tymes.[2]
The Tymes hadhitsin the UK in the 1960s with songs such as "So Much in Love",a USchart-topperand million-seller in 1963,[3]"Wonderful! Wonderful!"(a remake of the Johnny Mathis hit from 1957)," Somewhere ", then in the 1970s with" You Little Trustmaker "and"Ms Grace".The last of these became the group's biggest UK hit, reaching number one on theUK Singles Chartin 1975,[3]but barely dented theBillboardHot 100,long after the success of "So Much in Love".[4]"Ms Grace", while only charting modestly in the US, was and remains a regional hit with theCarolina Beach Musicscene. By 1976, Albert Berry and George Hilliard had been replaced with female singers Terri Gonzales and Melanie Moore. Gonzales later recorded a solo album withNile Rodgerswhile Moore worked as session vocalist withKleeerand artists likeChaka Khan.
The Tymes were also the Jewels (obviously not to be confused with the R&B girl groupthe Jewels), as inBilly Abbott and the Jewels,whose only Hot 100 andCashboxTop 100 entry was "Groovy Baby" in July 1963.[5][6]
In 1963,American Bandstandsigned the Tymes toDick Clark'sCaravan of Starsnational US tour.[7]
Later career
[edit]In 1980, a single, "Brothers And Sisters" bw "Louise" was released in the UK onHammerHS 311. It was credited to The Tymes Featuring George Williams. The A side was very much in the Drifters' UK period vein.[8]
Their song "So Much in Love" was elected to theSongs of the Centuryin 2001. In 2005, the Tymes were inducted into theVocal Group Hall of Fame.[9]The Tymes continue to perform with surviving original members Berry and Burnett. The group appeared on the 2003 PBS specialMy Music: Love Songs of the 50s and 60s,one of the last times all five original members performed live.
Deceased members
[edit]- George Williams - born George Reginald Williams Jr, December 6, 1935, Philadelphia — died July 28, 2004,Maple Shade,New Jersey-lead vocals[9]
- Donald Banks - died October 7, 2011, aged 72 - bass[10][11]
- George Hilliard - died September 24, 2014, age 73 - second tenor[12]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]Year | Album | Chart positions | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US 200 [4] |
US R&B [4] | ||||||
1963 | So Much in Love | 15 | — | ||||
1964 | The Sound of the Wonderful Tymes | 117 | — | ||||
Somewhere | 122 | — | |||||
1969 | People | — | — | ||||
1974 | Trustmaker | — | 46 | ||||
1976 | Turning Point | — | — | ||||
Tymes Up | — | 40 | |||||
1977 | Diggin' Their Roots | — | — | ||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
1960s singles
[edit]Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Album | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Hot 100 [4] |
US R&B [4] |
US Adult [4] |
UK [3][13] | ||||
1963 | "So Much in Love" b/w "Roscoe James McClain" (Non-album track) |
1 | 4 | — | 21 | So Much in Love | |
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" b/w "Come With Me to the Sea" (fromSomewhere) |
7 | 23 | 2 | — | |||
"Somewhere" b/w "View from My Window" (fromTymes Biggest Hits) |
19 | — | — | — | Somewhere | ||
"Isle of Love" b/w "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" |
— | — | — | — | |||
1964 | "To Each His Own" b/w "Wonderland of Love" |
78 | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
"The Magic of Our Summer Love" b/w "With All My Heart" |
99 | — | — | — | |||
"Here She Comes" b/w "Malibu" |
92 | — | — | — | |||
"The Twelfth of Never" b/w "Here She Comes" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | So Much in Love | ||
1966 | "Pretend" b/w "Street Talk" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
"A Touch of Baby" b/w "What Would I Do" |
— | — | — | — | |||
1967 | "This Time It's Love" b/w "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" |
— | — | — | — | ||
1968 | "People" b/w "For Love of Ivy" |
39 | 33 | — | 16 | People | |
1969 | "God Bless the Child" b/w "The Love That You're Looking For" (Ain't Gonna Find It Here) |
— | — | — | — | ||
"If You Love Me Baby" b/w "Find My Way" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album track | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
1970s singles
[edit]Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Hot 100 [4] |
US R&B [4] |
AUS [14] |
UK [3][13] | ||||
1970 | "Most Beautiful Married Lady" b/w "Love Child" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
1971 | "She's Gone" b/w "Someone to Watch Over Me" |
— | — | — | — | ||
1974 | "You Little Trustmaker" b/w "The North Hills" |
12 | 20 | 57 | 18 | Trustmaker | |
"Ms Grace" b/w "The Crutch" |
91 | 75 | 59 | 1 | |||
1975 | "Someway, Somehow I'm Keepin' You" b/w "Interloop!" |
— | — | — | — | ||
"God's Gonna Punish You" b/w "If I Can't Make You Smile" |
— | — | — | 41 | Tymes Up | ||
1976 | "It's Cool" b/w "Good Morning Dear Lord" |
68 | 3 | — | — | ||
"Only Your Love" b/w "Goin' Through the Motions" |
— | — | — | — | |||
"Savannah Sunny Sunday" b/w "Love's Illusion" |
— | — | — | — | Turning Point | ||
1977 | "How Am I to Know(The Things a Girl in Love Should Know)" b/w "I'll Take You There" |
— | — | — | — | Diggin' Their Roots | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
See also
[edit]- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one in Ireland
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of performers onTop of the Pops
References
[edit]- ^Rice, Jo (1982).The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits(1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 164.ISBN0-85112-250-7.
- ^abWynn, Ron."The Tymes | Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 31,2014.
- ^abcdRoberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 572.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^abcdefgh"The Tymes | Awards".AllMusic. Archived fromthe originalon March 15, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 31,2014.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (2003).Top Pop Singles 1955 - 2002.Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Records Research. pp.vii, 4.ISBN0-89820-155-1.
- ^Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffmann, Frank W (1994).Cash Box pop singles charts, 1950–1993.Libraries Unlimited. p.1.ISBN978-1-56308-316-7.
- ^"Clark Show Off to Big Openers".Billboard.Vol. 75, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 23, 1963. p. 6.ISSN0006-2510.RetrievedJanuary 1,2022.
- ^Soul Express -The Tymes, The complete Tymes Story including an interview with Al "Caesar" Berry and the discography By Heikki Suosalo, GEORGE WILLIAMS
- ^ab"The Tymes Page".Soulwalking.co.uk.RetrievedJanuary 1,2022.
- ^"The Dead Rock Stars Club - 2011 July To December".Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2015.RetrievedOctober 9,2011.
- ^"Donald Banks, 72, vocalist with the Tymes".The Philadelphia Inquirer.November 1, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 31,2014.
- ^"Have You Heard?".Beachmusic45.com. Archived fromthe originalon June 9, 2015.RetrievedOctober 10,2015.
- ^ab"TYMES - full Official Chart History".Official Charts Company.RetrievedJanuary 1,2022.
- ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 282.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^"Tymes - Ms Grace".bpi.co.uk.RetrievedJanuary 15,2022.
External links
[edit]- Soulexpress.net biography
- The Tymesdiscography atDiscogs