The Reflections
Encyclopedia
The Reflections was the name of a number of musical groups.
Perhaps the best known were a blue-eyed soul
/doo-wop
group
from Detroit, Michigan
. They had one hit single
in 1964 called "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet", written
by Bob Hamilton and Freddie Gorman. The song
was produced
by Rob Reeco on Golden World Records
. The disc
reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart
and #9 on the Cash Box magazine
chart. The record was even more popular in rhythm and blues locations, reaching #3 on that Cashbox chart. After a few more records that were moderate successes on the national charts, Ray Steinberg left the group for other interests. As a foursome, The Reflections continued recording and making TV appearances. In 1965, they made their one-and-only movie appearance in Winter-A-Go-Go, performing "I'm Sweet On You".
They were signed to the same Detroit R&B label, Golden World Records
, as their blue-eyed soul
peers, The Flaming Ember
and The Shades Of Blue
.
Today, The Reflections are one of many popular groups touring various oldies venues throughout their home state of Michigan and all over the States. Original members Tony Micale and John Dean are now augmented by three other members from various regional doo-wop groups: first tenor Joey Finazzo, baritone Gary Benovetz, and first tenor Sal Prado.
A third group with the same name had a regional hit with In The Still of the Night/Tic Toc (Tigre 602, 1962) before changing its name to Stark Naked & The Car Thieves .
There was yet another group called The Reflections, a black four-piece from Harlem, New York, formed in 1971, comprising Herman Edwards, Josh Pridgen, Edmund "Butch" Simmons and John Simmons.
Discovered by Melba Moore, they were her backing band in 1972. They released four singles, all
on Capitol. John Simmons died on 16 March 1989, aged 45.
Three Steps From True Love (BB 94, R&B 9)/ How Could We Let The Love Get Away - 4078 - 6/75
Love On Delivery (L.O.D) (R&B 58)/ One Into One - 4137 - 10/75
Day After Day (Night After Night) (R&B 37)/ Are You Ready (Here I Am) - 4222 - 2/76
Gift Wrap My Love (R&B 66)/ She's My Summer Breeze - 4358 - 12/76
Perhaps the best known were a blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
/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...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. They had one 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...
in 1964 called "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet", written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Bob Hamilton and Freddie Gorman. The song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Rob Reeco on Golden World Records
Golden World Records
Golden World Records was a record label owned by Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton . The recording studio was located in Detroit, MI., first on 11801 12th Street , and then on 3246 West Davison, within the area of the present-day Davison Freeway...
. The disc
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
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....
and #9 on the Cash Box magazine
Cash Box magazine
Cashbox magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industries in the USA which was published from July 1942 to November 16, 1996...
chart. The record was even more popular in rhythm and blues locations, reaching #3 on that Cashbox chart. After a few more records that were moderate successes on the national charts, Ray Steinberg left the group for other interests. As a foursome, The Reflections continued recording and making TV appearances. In 1965, they made their one-and-only movie appearance in Winter-A-Go-Go, performing "I'm Sweet On You".
They were signed to the same Detroit R&B label, Golden World Records
Golden World Records
Golden World Records was a record label owned by Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton . The recording studio was located in Detroit, MI., first on 11801 12th Street , and then on 3246 West Davison, within the area of the present-day Davison Freeway...
, as their blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
peers, The Flaming Ember
The Flaming Ember
The Flaming Ember was an American white soul band from Detroit, Michigan, who found commercial success starting in the late 1960's.The group originally formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1964. At that time, they were known as The Flaming Embers...
and The Shades Of Blue
The Shades of Blue
The Shades of Blue was an American blue-eyed soul vocal group from Livonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Their biggest hit was their 1966 song "Oh How Happy", written by Edwin Starr, which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #7 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and the Top 10 in Canada. ...
.
Today, The Reflections are one of many popular groups touring various oldies venues throughout their home state of Michigan and all over the States. Original members Tony Micale and John Dean are now augmented by three other members from various regional doo-wop groups: first tenor Joey Finazzo, baritone Gary Benovetz, and first tenor Sal Prado.
Original group members
- Tony Micale—lead vocals, born August 23, 1942 in Bronx, New York
- Phil Castrodale—first tenor, born April 2 in Detroit, Michigan
- Dan Bennie—second tenor, born March 13, 1940 in Johnstone, Scotland. Died in 2008
- Ray Steinberg—baritone, born October 29, 1942 in Washington, Pennsylvania
- John Dean—bass born November 9, 1941 in detroit
Singles
- Helpless / You Said Goodbye - Kay-Ko 1003—1963
- (Just Like) Romeo & Juliet (BB #6, CB #9) / Can't You Tell By The Look In My Eyes—Golden World 8/9—3/64
- Like Columbus Did (BB #96, CB #83) / Lonely Girl—Golden World 12—6/64
- Talkin' About My Girl / Oowee Now Now—Golden World 15—8/64
- (I'm Just) A Henpecked Guy (BB #123) / Don't Do That To Me—Golden World 16—9/64
- Shabby Little Hut (BB #121, CB #80) / You're My Baby (And Don't You Forget It) -- Golden World 19—11/64
- Poor Man's Son (BB #55, CB #55) / Comin' At You—Golden World 20—2/65
- Deborah Ann / Wheelin' & Dealin' -- Golden World 22—6/65
- Out Of The Picture / June Bride—Golden World 24—7/65
- Girl In The Candy Store / Your Kind Of Love—Golden World 29—9/65
- Like Adam & Eve / Vito's House—ABC-Paramount 10794—1966
- You're Gonna Find Out (You Need Me) / The Long Cigarette—ABC-Paramount 10822—1966
Album
- (Just Like) Romeo & Juliet—Golden World GW LPM-300
-
- (Just Like) Romeo & Juliet / Talkin' About My Girl / Can't You Tell By The Look In My Eyes / Deborah Ann / On Broadway / Don't Do That To Me / Like Columbus Did / June Bride / Gonna Turn The Place Out / Lonely Girl / Oowee Now Now / Couldn't Make It Like That
Other groups with the same name
A different doo-wop group called the Reflections (from New York) recorded the 45s I Really Must Know/Maybe Tomorrow (Crossroads 401, 1961) and Rocket To The Moon/Because Of You (Crossroads 402, 1962). This group still performs today with four original members.A third group with the same name had a regional hit with In The Still of the Night/Tic Toc (Tigre 602, 1962) before changing its name to Stark Naked & The Car Thieves .
There was yet another group called The Reflections, a black four-piece from Harlem, New York, formed in 1971, comprising Herman Edwards, Josh Pridgen, Edmund "Butch" Simmons and John Simmons.
Discovered by Melba Moore, they were her backing band in 1972. They released four singles, all
on Capitol. John Simmons died on 16 March 1989, aged 45.
Three Steps From True Love (BB 94, R&B 9)/ How Could We Let The Love Get Away - 4078 - 6/75
Love On Delivery (L.O.D) (R&B 58)/ One Into One - 4137 - 10/75
Day After Day (Night After Night) (R&B 37)/ Are You Ready (Here I Am) - 4222 - 2/76
Gift Wrap My Love (R&B 66)/ She's My Summer Breeze - 4358 - 12/76
See also
- List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of doo-wop musicians
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand