The Tymes
Encyclopedia
The Tymes are an American
soul
vocal group, who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom
as their homeland. They share the distinction of being one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the U.S.
and UK
with different titles.
, in 1956 as the Latineers, by Donald Banks, Albert Berry, Norman Burnett, and George Hilliard. After a four year stint on Philadelphia's club
circuit, they recruited a new lead vocalist, George Williams in 1960, and changed their name to The Tymes.
The Tymes had hits
in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s with song
s such as "So Much in Love
", a U.S. chart topper and million-seller in 1963, "You Little Trustmaker" and "Ms Grace
". The last of these became the group's biggest UK hit, reaching Number One in the UK Singles Chart
in 1975, but barely dented the Billboard Hot 100
after the success of "So Much in Love". "Ms Grace", while only charting modestly in the U.S., was and remains a regional hit with the Carolina Beach Music scene.
The Tymes were also The Jewels, as in Billy Abbott and The Jewels, whose only Hot 100 entry was "Groovy Baby" in July 1963.
in 2001. In 2005 The Tymes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
. , they were still performing, with three of the original five group members; they appeared on the PBS special My Music: Love Songs of the 50s and 60s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
vocal group, who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom
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...
as their homeland. They share the distinction of being one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 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...
with different titles.
Early career
The group was formed in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in 1956 as the Latineers, by Donald Banks, Albert Berry, Norman Burnett, and George Hilliard. After a four year stint on Philadelphia's club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
circuit, they recruited a new lead vocalist, George Williams in 1960, and changed their name to The Tymes.
The Tymes had hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s with 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...
s such as "So Much in Love
So Much in Love
"So Much in Love" is a popular song sung by The Tymes that was a #1 song in the United States during the year 1963. It was The Tymes first hit single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on August 3, 1963, and remaining there for one week...
", a U.S. chart topper and million-seller in 1963, "You Little Trustmaker" and "Ms Grace
Ms Grace
"Ms Grace" was a popular single by The Tymes.Written by John Hall and Johanna Hall and produced by Billy Jackson and Mike Chapman, "Ms Grace" was their sole number one single in the UK, spending a single week at the top of the chart in January 1975...
". The last of these became the group's biggest UK hit, reaching Number One in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1975, but barely dented 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...
after the success of "So Much in Love". "Ms Grace", while only charting modestly in the U.S., was and remains a regional hit with the Carolina Beach Music scene.
The Tymes were also The Jewels, as in Billy Abbott and The Jewels, whose only Hot 100 entry was "Groovy Baby" in July 1963.
Later career
Their song "So Much in Love" was elected to the Songs of the CenturySongs of the Century
The "Songs of the Century" list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America , the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" in American schools...
in 2001. In 2005 The Tymes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
. , they were still performing, with three of the original five group members; they appeared on the PBS special My Music: Love Songs of the 50s and 60s.
Deceased members
- George Williams - born George Reginald Williams Jr, December 6, 1935, Philadelphia — died July 28, 2004, Maple Shade, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
- Lead vocalistSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Donald Banks - died October 7, 2011 - bassist
Billboard Hot 100 singles chart
- "So Much in LoveSo Much in Love"So Much in Love" is a popular song sung by The Tymes that was a #1 song in the United States during the year 1963. It was The Tymes first hit single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on August 3, 1963, and remaining there for one week...
" (1963) - U.S. Number 1 - "Wonderful! Wonderful!Wonderful! Wonderful!"Wonderful! Wonderful!" is a popular music song written by Sherman Edwards, with lyrics by Ben Raleigh. The song was first published in 1957....
" (1963) - U.S. Number 7 - "Somewhere" (1963) - U.S. Number 19
- "To Each His Own" (1964) - U.S. Number 78
- "The Magic of Our Summer Love" (1964) - U.S. Number 99
- "Here She Comes" (1964) - U.S. Number 92
- "People" (1968) - U.S. Number 39
- "You Little Trustmaker" (1974) - U.S. Number 12
- "Ms GraceMs Grace"Ms Grace" was a popular single by The Tymes.Written by John Hall and Johanna Hall and produced by Billy Jackson and Mike Chapman, "Ms Grace" was their sole number one single in the UK, spending a single week at the top of the chart in January 1975...
" (1974) - U.S. Number 91 - "It's Cool" (1976) - U.S. Number 68
Billboard 200 albums chart
- So Much in Love (1963) - Number 15
- Somewhere (1964) - Number 122
- The Sound of The Wonderful Tymes (1964) - Number 117
UK singles chart
- "So Much In Love" (1963) - UK Number 21
- "People" (1969) - UK Number 16
- "You Little Trustmaker" (1974) - UK Number 18
- "Ms Grace" (1975) - UK Number 1
- "God's Gonna Punish You" (1976) - UK Number 41
See also
- 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 on Top of the Pops
External links
- The Tymes Official Website
- [ The Tymes biography at Allmusic.com]
- Soulexpress.net biography