The Jarmels
Encyclopedia
The Jarmels are a doo wop/rhythm and blues
group officially formed in 1959 in Richmond
, Virginia
. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff (1939-1990s), Paul Burnett (1942-23 March 2001), Ray Smith (born 1941), Earl Christian (1940-1960s), and Tom Eldridge (1941-19 June 2000).
They met while attending Armstrong High School and while some sang at nearby Mount Olivet Baptist Church (Richmond, VA) services. They first in 1957 named themselves The Cherokees, "because we liked the name," said Smith -- the last surviving member, through and including Jan. 8, 2011.
The start of their big break came in 1960 when, attending a local (Richmond) venue where Ben E. King was appearing, they met with the legendary R&B singer. King invited them to travel to New York
and meet with various record companies, including Laurie Records. Marking the first African American group that Laurie had signed, the Cherokees impressed Laurie after auditioning with King's signature song, Stand By Me
. The group, now called The Jarmels, was renamed after a street in Harlem
, NY.
Jim Gribble, who had previously worked with The Mystics
and The Passions, was assigned manager
of The Jarmels. In early 1961 they released the single
"Little Lonely One", which did not find much success outside New York.
However, their second single, "A Little Bit of Soap
", reached number 12 in America
on the Billboard chart in June of the same year.. The flip side of the 45 RPM recording was "The Way You Look Tonight" a song featured in the film Swing Time
and originally performed by Fred Astaire
. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936.
"Soap" proved to be the only hit single
for The Jarmels; the next four singles, including "Just The Way You Look Tonight" and a remake of the 1935 Bing Crosby hit "Red Sails in the Sunset
". did not chart
at all.
The group continued throughout the 1960s, after recording
a remake of "Come On, Girl" in 1963. Several personnel changes, notably the addition of Major Harris
, who would later go on to join the Delfonics.
Smith, the last surviving original member, continues to tour as of January 2011 with four new members as the Jarmels. Included is his longtime Richmond, VA friend, Tyrone Thomas, who founded in 1975 the funkadelic band Tyrone Thomas and the Whole Darn Family, which in 1976 charted "7 Minutes of Funk".
In December 2010, as part of the group's plan to extensively tour the following year, Thomas successfully recorded, with The Jarmels, 10 original songs that he wrote and composed on a CD titled Fifty Years, commemorating the golden anniversary of "A Little Bit of Soap". The CD's release was to be January 16, 2011, on Smith's 70th birtday.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group officially formed in 1959 in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff (1939-1990s), Paul Burnett (1942-23 March 2001), Ray Smith (born 1941), Earl Christian (1940-1960s), and Tom Eldridge (1941-19 June 2000).
They met while attending Armstrong High School and while some sang at nearby Mount Olivet Baptist Church (Richmond, VA) services. They first in 1957 named themselves The Cherokees, "because we liked the name," said Smith -- the last surviving member, through and including Jan. 8, 2011.
The start of their big break came in 1960 when, attending a local (Richmond) venue where Ben E. King was appearing, they met with the legendary R&B singer. King invited them to travel to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and meet with various record companies, including Laurie Records. Marking the first African American group that Laurie had signed, the Cherokees impressed Laurie after auditioning with King's signature song, Stand By Me
Stand by Me (song)
"Stand by Me" is the title of a song originally performed by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller, based on the spiritual "Lord Stand by Me,", plus two lines rooted in Psalms 46:2-3...
. The group, now called The Jarmels, was renamed after a street in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, NY.
Jim Gribble, who had previously worked with The Mystics
The Mystics
The Mystics is an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici , Albee Cracolici , George Galfo , Bob Ferrante , and Al Contrera...
and The Passions, was assigned manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
of The Jarmels. In early 1961 they released the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Little Lonely One", which did not find much success outside New York.
However, their second single, "A Little Bit of Soap
A Little Bit of Soap
"A Little Bit of Soap", written by Bert Berns , was a song, first sung in a bluesy soul style by The Jarmels, who reached #12 with it in September 1961....
", reached number 12 in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the Billboard chart in June of the same year.. The flip side of the 45 RPM recording was "The Way You Look Tonight" a song featured in the film Swing Time
Swing Time
Swing Time is a 1936 RKO musical comedy film set mainly in New York City and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore, Eric Blore and Georges Metaxa, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields...
and originally performed by Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936.
"Soap" proved to be the only hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
for The Jarmels; the next four singles, including "Just The Way You Look Tonight" and a remake of the 1935 Bing Crosby hit "Red Sails in the Sunset
Red Sails in the Sunset (song)
"Red Sails in the Sunset" is a popular song.Published in 1935, its music was written by Hugh Williams with lyrics by prolific songwriter Jimmy Kennedy...
". did not chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
at all.
The group continued throughout the 1960s, after recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a remake of "Come On, Girl" in 1963. Several personnel changes, notably the addition of Major Harris
Major Harris (singer)
Major Harris is an American R&B singer, associated with the Philadelphia soul sound.-Career:...
, who would later go on to join the Delfonics.
Smith, the last surviving original member, continues to tour as of January 2011 with four new members as the Jarmels. Included is his longtime Richmond, VA friend, Tyrone Thomas, who founded in 1975 the funkadelic band Tyrone Thomas and the Whole Darn Family, which in 1976 charted "7 Minutes of Funk".
In December 2010, as part of the group's plan to extensively tour the following year, Thomas successfully recorded, with The Jarmels, 10 original songs that he wrote and composed on a CD titled Fifty Years, commemorating the golden anniversary of "A Little Bit of Soap". The CD's release was to be January 16, 2011, on Smith's 70th birtday.