In early 1951, the Moonglows, mostly featuring Fuqua on lead vocals, began recording, first for Freed's Champagne record label and then for Chicago's Chance Records, achieving local success in the midwest with a bluesy sound. By mid 1954, the group had become more polished (as evidenced by their Lester-led cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love"), and signed with the bigger Chess Records label. Their first Chess record was also their first R&B hit, the Fuqua-penned "Sincerely" (1954), with a lead vocal by Lester (and covered for the pop market by The McGuire Sisters). "Sincerely" was followed by a series of original R&B hits in 1955 and 1956, including "Most of All", "In My Diary" (later recorded by The Spinners), "When I'm With You" (all led by Lester) and the uptempo "See Saw" (featuring Fuqua). 1957 saw the release of the Fuqua led "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (originally by Percy Mayfield in 1950).
Through this period, the group perfected their patented, breathy, "blow harmony," which inspired countless 1950s doo-wop groups and 1960s soul groups, and even the 1970s The Chi-Lites.
Generally, Fuqua sang lead on the uptempo and blues-based tunes, while Lester was the group's romantic lead. Occasionally, on songs like "We Go Together" (1956), they sang a duet lead. Fuqua and Lester also "Moonlighted" on the Checker Records label as the "Moonlighters", recording a local hit "Shoo-be-doo (My Lovin' Baby)" in 1955. The group appeared in Rock Rock Rock a movie produced by, and starring Alan Freed. The last recording by the original five was the hit "10 Commandments of Love" (released in early 1958). It featured Fuqua on lead, with Billy Johnson doing the spoken recitation. By 1957, Fuqua had begun to re-assert himself as lead vocalist and manager, with Lester being pushed to the background. This created a great deal of friction within the group.[citation needed]
Also in 1957, a Washington, D.C. based group known as The Marquees was struggling to make it. The members were Marvin Gaye, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and James Knowland. They decided to give an impromptu audition to Fuqua, as the Moonglows had come to town for a concert. Fuqua was so impressed with them that he decided to fire the entire group and take on the Marquees as the "New Moonglows." Fuqua recorded with these four (later including fifth member Chuck Barksdale), as Harvey & The Moonglows through 1960, when the group dispersed. Gaye went on to a huge solo career.
Fuqua produced the Spinners in the early 1960s, even singing on a few of their records (but not 1961's "That's What Girls are Made For", which featured Bobby Smith imitating Harvey's style). Fuqua became a staff writer and record producer for Motown Records through the 1960s, and later road-managed Smokey Robinson. Lester returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and opened a nightclub. Barnes moved to Mississippi and retired from professional singing after an automobile accident in 1969.
Meanwhile, in 1964, Pete Graves restarted the Moonglows with Doc Green of The Drifters, George Thorpe, and Bearle Easton. This group recorded briefly for Lana Records, Times Square Records, and Crimson Records.
Yet another new Moonglows formed in 1970, featuring Lester and a Louisville group called the Aristocrats, who consisted of Lester's cousin Gary Rodgers, plus Albert Workman, Robert Ford, and Billy McPhatter (son of Clyde McPhatter). This group performed once in 1971 at a show in New York, but the Aristocrats decided to return to Louisville. Dallas, inspired by the reception his group received, reunited with Harvey Fuqua and Pete Graves, plus new members Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis, and the Moonglows were back.
They recorded an LP released on RCA Records in 1972, charting their last single, "Sincerely '72", a funky re-working of their 1954 hit.
This line-up split up after 1972, and Lester began singing with local Louisville singers again, including at times Rodgers, Ford, Robert Lee Davis, Bruce Martin, and Peter Lawford. This group recorded a mostly a cappella, live album Moonglows in 1979.
Lester died in his hometown of Louisville from cancer in 1980, and Billy McPhatter returned to the group, with Rodgers taking over most of the leads in what was now billed as "Bobby Lester's Moonglows." McPhatter was later replaced by Bobby Lester, Jr. Harvey reunited with the remainder of his 1972 Moonglows in 1983 for a Grammy performance (minus Lester, and Barksdale who had rejoined The Dells, and plus guitarist Johnson), and they toured until 1986 as Harvey & the Moonglows.
In 2000, Bobby Lester's Moonglows, consisting of Rodgers, Martin, Lawford, and Gene Kelly, appeared on the PBS special Doo Wop 50, backing up Harvey Fuqua on "Sincerely" and "10 Commandments of Love." Fuqua, now in his mid-70s, still sings occasionally, sometimes backed up by Lester's Moonglows, sometimes a 50s R&B group called the Magnificents, and sometimes by local "pick-up" groups. Fuqua also produces and manages gospel acts. Reese Palmer is a member of The Legendary Orioles, as well as leading a new version of The Marquees. Chuck Barksdale is still with the Dells. Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles in 1987, Gary Rodgers died in 2005, and Prentiss Barnes died in 2006.[1].
Harvey Fuqua passed away in 2010.
The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
Sincerely
The Moonglows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba
Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba
Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba
Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba
Sincerely, oh yes, sincerely
'Cause I love you so dearly, please say you'll be mine
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that girlie so
She doesn't want me
But I'll never never never never let her go
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that girlie so
She doesn't want me
But I'll never never never never let her go
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Oh say you'll be mine
Oo-eee, oo-eee-oo, ooi-ooi-ooo
The Moonglows’ song “Sincerely” is a classic love song that speaks about the deep love and desire that the singer has for their lover. The lyrics are simple but effective, expressing the singer's love for someone who doesn't want them back, but they still refuse to give up on the relationship. The use of repetition at the beginning of the song and throughout the choruses emphasizes the depth of the singer’s feelings. The repetition of the phrase “Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba” creates a hypnotic effect that gives the song an enduring appeal.
The lyrics suggest a longing for a relationship that is not reciprocated. The use of the phrase “She doesn’t want me, but I’ll never let her go” speaks to the desperation of the singer to hold onto something that may never be. Despite the fact that the singer is in a position of unrequited love, the chorus “Sincerely, oh you know how I love you” is a symbol of pure, honest, and deep affection.
In conclusion, The Moonglows’ “Sincerely” is an enduring love song that speaks of the depth of longing and desire in relationships. The use of repetition, simple lyrics, and choruses make the song very memorable, while the message of love, even in the face of rejection, is very relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Ba-ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba
The song begins with an upbeat, nonsense vocalization that sets the tone for the rest of the song.
Sincerely, oh yes, sincerely
The singer professes his sincerity in the love he feels for the girl he is addressing.
'Cause I love you so dearly, please say you'll be mine
The singer pleads with the girl to reciprocate his love and agree to be his.
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
The singer reiterates the depth of his love for the girl.
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
The singer continues to plead with the girl to agree to be with him, promising to do anything for her in return.
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
The singer addresses a higher power in a moment of desperation, asking why he loves the girl so much even though she doesn't love him back.
I love that girlie so
The singer repeats the sentiment that he loves the girl very much.
She doesn't want me
The singer acknowledges that the girl does not return his affections.
But I'll never never never never let her go
Despite the girl's lack of interest, the singer is determined to hold onto his love for her and not let her go.
Oh say you'll be mine
The song ends with one final plea to the girl to agree to be the singer's.
Oo-eee, oo-eee-oo, ooi-ooi-ooo
The song concludes with a repetition of the nonsense vocalizations that opened the song, concluding the upbeat yet melancholy tune.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, SONGBOOK MUSIC LLC D/B/A QUAZICAL MUSIC
Written by: Harvey Fuqua, Alan Freed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind