Thurston Harris
Encyclopedia
Thurston Harris was a male American
singer, briefly popular in the early to mid 1950s.
as the featured vocalist recording
with the Lamplighters in 1953 one of the many groups on the early R&B
scene in South Central Los Angeles, during that time. The group later evolved first into the Tenderfoots then the Sharps. The Sharps, without Harris, went on to become The Rivingtons
, who achieved fame with the single "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
".
Harris is widely regarded as a one-hit wonder
, who popularized the song
"Little Bitty Pretty One
", written
by Bobby Day
, and sung by Harris in 1957, with the Sharps. It reached #6 on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100
. The track sold over one million records
, achieving gold disc
status and remains popular to this day.
Unusually, "Little Bitty Pretty One
", Aladdin Records
(Aladdin 3398) was released on three different colored labels; purple, blue and maroon. His version was also later released on Imperial, Intro & UA.
The song appeared on the soundtrack
s to film
s or television
dramas, such as Telling Lies in America
, Matilda, Lipstick on Your Collar
, and Christine.
In 1958, Harris scored a Top 20 R&B hit with "Do What You Did," but he failed to have any chart
success afterwards. His other best known song was "Runk Bunk", recorded in 1959, and released by Aladdin Records
(Aladdin 3452).
Harris later recorded on Cub, Dot, Imperial, Intro, Reprise & United Artists.
in Pomona, California, at the age of 58.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, briefly popular in the early to mid 1950s.
Career
Harris first appeared on recordGramophone 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...
as the featured vocalist 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...
with the Lamplighters in 1953 one of the many groups on the early R&B
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...
scene in South Central Los Angeles, during that time. The group later evolved first into the Tenderfoots then the Sharps. The Sharps, without Harris, went on to become The Rivingtons
The Rivingtons
The Rivingtons were a 1960s doo-wop group. The group members were:lead vocalist Carl White , tenor Al Frazier , baritone Sonny Harris, and bass singer Turner "Rocky" Wilson Jr.. Frazier was replaced by Madero White for a period in the late 1970s.-History:Their first hit was "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow"...
, who achieved fame with the single "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" is a 1962 novelty nonsensical doo-wop song by The Rivingtons. The song peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #35 on the Cashbox charts.-Cover versions:...
".
Harris is widely regarded as 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:...
, who popularized 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...
"Little Bitty Pretty One
Little Bitty Pretty One
"Little Bitty Pretty One" is a rock and roll song written and originally recorded by Bobby Day, and popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957. His version reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It has most notably been covered by Frankie Lymon in 1958, Clyde McPhatter in 1962, the Jackson Five in...
", 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 Bobby Day
Bobby Day
Bobby Day , was an early African American rock and roll and R&B musician.Born Robert James Byrd, , in Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to Los Angeles, California, at the age of 15...
, and sung by Harris in 1957, with the Sharps. It reached #6 on the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. The track sold over one million records
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...
, achieving gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
status and remains popular to this day.
Unusually, "Little Bitty Pretty One
Little Bitty Pretty One
"Little Bitty Pretty One" is a rock and roll song written and originally recorded by Bobby Day, and popularized by Thurston Harris in 1957. His version reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It has most notably been covered by Frankie Lymon in 1958, Clyde McPhatter in 1962, the Jackson Five in...
", Aladdin Records
Aladdin Records (US)
Aladdin Records was a post-World War II United States record label, with headquarters in Hollywood, California. The label was founded in 1945 by brothers Eddie, Leo, and Ira Mesner and was originally called Philo Records, before changing to its better-known name in April 1946.Aladdin Records...
(Aladdin 3398) was released on three different colored labels; purple, blue and maroon. His version was also later released on Imperial, Intro & UA.
The song appeared on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s to film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s or television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
dramas, such as Telling Lies in America
Telling Lies in America (film)
Telling Lies in America is a 1997 drama film directed by Guy Ferland and written by Joe Eszterhas.-Plot:Karchy Jonas is a 17 year old high school student trying to find his way in the world. He meets radio personality Billy Magic who takes him under his wing...
, Matilda, Lipstick on Your Collar
Lipstick on Your Collar
Lipstick on Your Collar is a 1993 British television serial written by Dennis Potter, originally broadcast on Channel 4 expanded from Potter's earlier play Lay Down Your Arms...
, and Christine.
In 1958, Harris scored a Top 20 R&B hit with "Do What You Did," but he failed to have any 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....
success afterwards. His other best known song was "Runk Bunk", recorded in 1959, and released by Aladdin Records
Aladdin Records (US)
Aladdin Records was a post-World War II United States record label, with headquarters in Hollywood, California. The label was founded in 1945 by brothers Eddie, Leo, and Ira Mesner and was originally called Philo Records, before changing to its better-known name in April 1946.Aladdin Records...
(Aladdin 3452).
Harris later recorded on Cub, Dot, Imperial, Intro, Reprise & United Artists.
Cover versions
- Frankie LymonFrankie LymonFranklin Joseph "Frankie" Lymon was an American rock and roll/rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of a New York City-based early rock and roll group, The Teenagers. The group was composed of five boys, all in their early to mid teens...
's highest charting soloSolo (music)In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
hit was a cover of "Little Bitty Pretty One", which peaked at number 58 on the R&B charts in 1960. - The Jackson 5The Jackson 5The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
covered the song on their 1972 album Lookin' Through the WindowsLookin' Through the WindowsLookin' Through the Windows was the fifth studio album released by The Jackson 5 on the Motown label in May 1972. The album would go on to sell 3.5 million copies worldwide.-Production:...
. - A coverCover versionIn 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...
of "Runk Bunk" was one of the first songs recorded by the UKUnited KingdomThe 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...
popPop musicPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
starCelebrityA celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
, Adam FaithAdam FaithTerence "Terry" Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith was a Teen idol English singer, actor and later financial journalist. He was one of the most charted acts of the 1960s. He became the first UK artist to lodge his initial seven hits in the Top 5...
.
Death
In 1990, Harris died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Pomona, California, at the age of 58.
External links
- Complete discography of Thurston Harris
- [ Thurston Harris biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...