THE FLAMINGOS
Os primos Jacob Carey e Ezekial Care - baixo e tenor, respectivamente, foram os criadores do grupo em Chicago, Illinois, juntamente com o barítono Paul Wilson e primeiro tenor John E. "Johnny" Carter,ensaiando inicialmente nos fundos de uma sinagoga de judeus negros messianicos. Depois de uma série de mudanças de nome (The Swallows, El Flamingo, The Five Flamingos), optaram por The Flamingos.
Sua primeira gravação,"If I Can't Have You", foi um sucesso local e moderado, mas o estilo do grupo evoluiu e suas complexas harmonias vocais sedimentaram a sua reputação como um dos melhores conjuntos de "doo-wop"de todos os tempos.
A formação do grupo passou por grandes modificações ao longo de sua carreira e seria enfadonho citar todas elas.
O conjunto The Flamingos, desde cedo se viu envolvido em dissidências internas e demandas que acabaram nos Tribunais de Justiça.
O grupo começou a se desfazer no final da década de 50, com alguns membros iniciando carreiras individuais ou para formarem outros grupos e ainda assim se manteve por longo tempo, sempre com inúmeras desavenças, abandonos e substituições. Talvez tenha sido o conjunto vocal mais desunido da história e o motivo sempre foi DINHEIRO!
(Comprovando que são bons de briga, os Flamingos e os herdeiros dos membros falecidos, ganharam, recentemente, uma ação contra a PEPSI, pelo uso de "I only have eyes for you", sem autorização, num comercial de TV.)
Apesar das divergências, brigas e dissidências de ordem interna, a grande qualidade foi sempre mantida, não importando quem fossem os componentes e a excelência do seu trabalho é inegável e mundialmente reconhecida.
Mantivemos no texto em inglês, adiante transcrito, o conteúdo integral, das alterações por que passaram os Flamingos, para aqueles que , eventualmente, se interessem por detalhes minuciosos.
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THE FLAMINGOS
Cousins Jacob Carey (Jake) and Ezekial Carey (Zeke), bass and 2nd tenor respectively, formed the group in Chicago, Illinois, after meeting baritone Paul Wilson and first tenor John E. "Johnny" Carter at a black Messianic Jewish synagogue. Earl Lewis (not the Channels lead) soon joined, and after a series of name changes
(The Swallows, El Flamingos, The Five Flamingos) wound up being known as The Flamingos. Sollie McElroy soon replaced Lewis (who joined The Five Echoes).
The Flamingos' first single (for Chance Records), "If I Can't Have You", was a moderate local success, as was the follow-up "That's My Desire", but it was Johnny Carter's composition of "Golden Teardrops," with its complex vocal harmonies and Carter's soaring falsetto, that cemented their reputation as a top regional act
of the day (and for all time among group harmony aficionados and record collectors).
The Flamingos left Chance Records sometime after their December 1953 session and signed with DJ Al Benson's Parrot Records. Sollie McElroy was on their first Parrot session, but left the group in December 1954, to be replaced by tenor Nate Nelson (who was on their second Parrot session; he's lead on "I'm Yours," released
in January 1955). In early 1955, the Flamingos signed with the resource-rich Chess Records, to record for their new Checker subsidiary. At Chess/Checker, the Flamingos achieved their first national chart hit with "I'll Be Home", which went to #5 on Billboard's R&B charts (Pat Boone's cover version, complete with incorrect lyrics, was a hit on the pop charts). The group also made moderate noise for the label with other chestnuts like "A Kiss From Your Lips," "The Vow," and "Would I Be Crying", which to this day hold up as some of the finest R&B records of all time. The Flamingos also appeared in the 1956 Alan Freed movie Rock, Rock, Rock. In 1956, both Zeke Carey and Johnny Carter were drafted. (Johnny in September).
Nate Nelson, Jake Carey, and Paul Wilson continued the group with new member Tommy Hunt (added in October of 1956). Another new member, tenor/lead, guitarist, and arranger Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, joined in late December of that year. This group (Nate Nelson, Tommy Hunt, Terry Johnson, Paul Wilson, and Jake Carey) began recording for Decca Records in April 1957. Their most notable single was Johnson's arrangement of "The Ladder of Love", but legal entanglements between Checker and Nate Nelson ruined any chance of commercial success. Zeke Carey returned to the Flamingos in 1958, making the group a sextet. (When Johnny Carter was discharged, he joined The Dells; he has been with them for almost 50 years.)
In recent times, the group has seen time in the courtroom. Current Flamingos member J.C. Carey, along with Terry Johnson, Tommy Hunt, and descendants of Nate Nelson and Paul Wilson, sued PepsiCo for allegedly using "I Only Have Eyes For You" in a 1998 television commercial without consulting the group. The group was awarded $250,000.
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FLAMINGO'S SERENADE
Neste álbum o grande destaque é o repertório - uma impecável seleção de 12 grandes standards da canção norte americana.
Vale registrar que a gravação de "I only have eyes for you" foi um sucesso mundial, um verdadeiro "blockbuster" que elevou os Flamingos ao topo da fama, na época.
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Twelve long-time favorites, designed for dancing, listening pleasure and dreaming when you're in a romantic mood, make up the "Flamingo Serenade".
You'll like these gently-styled offering that tame the rocking beat with soft, tender solos and sweet harmonies.
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FLAMINGOS SERENADE
Áudio CD (November 25, 1991)
Original Release Date: 1959
ASIN: B0000008SI
THE FLAMINGOS nesta gravação, têm a formação de sexteto, cujos componentes são:
THE FLAMINGOS (sextet) members in this recording, are:
Nate Nelson
Tommy Hunt
Terry Johnson
Paul Wilson
Jake Carey
Zeke Carey
FAIXAS/TRACKS
1. I Only Have Eyes For You
2. I'm In The Mood For Love
3. As Time Goes By
4. Where Or When
5. Yours
6. But Not For Me
7. Love Walked In
8. Music Maestro Please
9. Begin The Beguine
10. The Breeze And I
11. Time Was
12. Goodnight Sweetheart
DOWNLOAD : AQUI
