The Monotones
Encyclopedia
The Monotones were a six-member African 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 #5 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1958.
The Monotones formed in 1955 when the seven original singers — all residents of the Baxter Terrace housing project in Newark, New Jersey
— began performing covers of popular songs. The members of the Monotones were:
Charles Patrick's brother James was originally a member, but he left soon after the group's formation.
They all began singing with the New Hope Baptist Choir, directed by Cissy Houston
, who was related to the Patrick brothers. 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. In September 1957, they recorded "Book Of Love", which was released on the Mascot label in December that year. The small record company could not cope with its popularity, and it was reissued on Chess Records
' subsidiary Argo
label in February 1958. It became a hit, eventually reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B chart and #5 on the pop charts. The record sold over one million copies. It also reached #5 in Australia; 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.
The Monotones disbanded in 1962. Surviving members met to revive "Book of Love" several times after the break-up. John Ryanes died in 1972, aged 31, and his brother Warren died in 1982. By 1994, the Monotones consisted of Frankie Smith, George Malone, Carl Foushee, Bernard Ransom, Bernard Brown, and Victor Hartsfield. Frankie Smith died in 2000, and George Malone in 2007
Don McLean
, in his 1971 song "American Pie", made reference to "The Book of Love" as a symbol of the innocence of 1950s rock and roll culture.
In 1988, "Book Of Love" was used as the Theme Song for The Newlywed Game
when Paul Rodriguez
took Bob Eubanks
' place.
In 1990, Ben E. King
and Bo Diddley
featuring Doug Lazy
recorded a revamped rap version of the song "Book of Love" for the soundtrack of the movie Book of Love
.
The Monotones (Beat group from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, active 1957 to 1965, released four singles on Pye record label)
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
vocal group in the 1950s. They are considered a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
, as their 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...
was "The Book of Love
The Book of Love (song)
"The Book of Love" is a rock and roll song, originally by The Monotones. It was written by three members of the group, Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick, and it peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.Lead singer Charles Patrick heard a Pepsodent toothpaste commercial with the line...
", which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1958.
The Monotones formed in 1955 when the seven original singers — all residents of the Baxter Terrace housing project in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
— began performing covers of popular songs. The members of the Monotones were:
- lead singer Charles Patrick (born September 11, 1938)
- first tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Warren Davis (born March 1, 1939) - second tenor George Malone (January 5, 1940 – October 5, 2007)
- bass singer John Smith (born May 13, 1938)
- second bass singer John Ryanes (November 16, 1940 – May 30, 1972)
- his brother, baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
Warren Ryanes (December 14, 1937 – June 16, 1982)
Charles Patrick's brother James was originally a member, but he left soon after the group's formation.
They all began singing with the New Hope Baptist Choir, directed by Cissy Houston
Cissy Houston
Emily "Cissy" Houston is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a very successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist...
, who was related to the Patrick brothers. 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
The Cadillacs
The Cadillacs were an American rock and roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York; active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo", which was instrumental in attracting White audiences to Black rock and roll performers.-History:...
' "Zoom". Soon afterwards, Charles Patrick was listening to the radio and heard a Pepsodent
Pepsodent
Pepsodent is a brand of toothpaste with a minty flavour derived from Sassafras. The brand is owned by Unilever, but in 2003 the rights to the brand in the United States and Canada were bought by Church and Dwight....
toothpaste
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush as an accessory to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it serves as an abrasive that aids in removing the dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing...
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. In September 1957, they recorded "Book Of Love", which was released on the Mascot label in December that year. The small record company could not cope with its popularity, and it was reissued on Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
' subsidiary Argo
Argo Records
Argo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Initially, Argo offered a...
label in February 1958. It became a hit, eventually reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B chart and #5 on the pop charts. The record sold over one million copies. It also reached #5 in Australia; in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the hit version was a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by The Mudlarks
The Mudlarks
The Mudlarks were an English pop vocal group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. They had two Top 10 UK hit singles in 1958.-Career:They were a family group from Luton, Bedfordshire, originally comprising Jeff Mudd , Fred Mudd , and Mary Mudd...
.
The Monotones recorded a series of novelty follow-ups including "Zombi", and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", but they were not successful.
The Monotones disbanded in 1962. Surviving members met to revive "Book of Love" several times after the break-up. John Ryanes died in 1972, aged 31, and his brother Warren died in 1982. By 1994, the Monotones consisted of Frankie Smith, George Malone, Carl Foushee, Bernard Ransom, Bernard Brown, and Victor Hartsfield. Frankie Smith died in 2000, and George Malone in 2007
Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, in his 1971 song "American Pie", made reference to "The Book of Love" as a symbol of the innocence of 1950s rock and roll culture.
In 1988, "Book Of Love" was used as the Theme Song for The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is an American television game show that pits newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other. The program, originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir The Newlywed Game is an American...
when Paul Rodriguez
Paul Rodríguez
Paul Rodriguez is a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor.-Personal life:Rodriguez was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, México to Mexican agriculture ranchers.. His family migrated to East Los Angeles, where he enlisted in the military; he was stationed in Iceland and Duluth, Minnesota...
took Bob Eubanks
Bob Eubanks
Robert Leland "Bob" Eubanks is an American television/radio personality and game show host, best known for hosting the game show The Newlywed Game on and off since 1966, where he was known for using the catchphrase, "Makin' Whoopee"...
' place.
In 1990, Ben E. King
Ben E. King
Benjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S...
and Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
featuring Doug Lazy
Doug Lazy
Doug Lazy is an American hip hop and dance music producer and DJ from Washington, D.C. Lazy scored a number of hip house hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including three #1s: "Let It Roll", "Let the Rhythm Pump", and "H.O.U.S.E." In 1990, Ben E...
recorded a revamped rap version of the song "Book of Love" for the soundtrack of the movie Book of Love
Book of Love (1990 film)
Book of Love is a 1990 romantic comedy film directed by New Line Cinema producer Robert Shaye. It is based on the autobiographical novel Jack in the Box by William Kotzwinkle .The film was originally PG-13, but subsequent DVD releases have been the R-rated Director's Cut Book of Love is a 1990...
.
Recordings
(listing incomplete)- Singles / 45s
- The Book of Love / You Never Loved Me (Mascot 124 1957/Argo 5290) 1958
- Tom Foolery / Zombi (Argo 5301) 1958
- The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow / Soft Shadows (Argo 5321) 1958
- Tell It To The Judge / Fools Will Be Fools (Argo 5339) 1959
- Reading The Book Of Love / Dream (Hull 735) 1959
- Daddy's Home, But Mamas Gone / Tattle Tale (Hull 743) 1961
Other bands under the same name
- Monotones (Garage/Rock'n'Roll band from Leeuwarden, The Netherlands)
- The Monotones (West Midlands)
- The Monotones (Indie Rock band from West Berkshire, UK)
- The Monotones (Blues/Funk/Rock band from Bendigo, Australia)
- The Monotones (Funk/Rock band from Nürnberg / Germany)
The Monotones (Beat group from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, active 1957 to 1965, released four singles on Pye record label)