Billy Ward and the Dominoes were one of the top American R&B groups of the 1950s, and launched the careers of both Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson.
Billy Ward (b Robert Williams, 19 September 1921, Los Angeles – d. 16 February 2002, Inglewood, California) grew up in Philadelphia, and was a child musical prodigy, winning an award for a piano composition at the age of 14. Following military service he studied music in Chicago, and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. While working as a vocal coach and part-time arranger on Broadway, he met talent agent Rose Marks, who became his business and songwriting partner.
The pair set out to form a vocal group from the ranks of his students. The group was at first called the Ques, and comprised Clyde McPhatter (lead tenor), Charlie White (tenor), Joe Lamont (baritone), and Bill Brown (bass). Ward acted as their pianist and arranger. After the group made successful appearances on talent shows in the Apollo Theater and on the Arthur Godfrey show in 1950, Rene Hall recommended them to Ralph Bass of Federal Records, a subsidiary of King, where they were signed to a contract and renamed the Dominoes. Their first single release, "Do Something For Me", with McPhatter’s lead vocal, reached the R&B charts in early 1951, climbing to #6.
After a less successful follow-up, the group released "Sixty Minute Man", on which Bill Brown sang lead, and boasted of being able to satisfy his girls with fifteen minutes each of "kissin'" "teasin'" and "squeezin'", before "blowin'" his "top". It reached #1 on the R&B chart in May 1951 and stayed there for a near-record 14 weeks. It was an important record in several respects – it crossed the boundaries between gospel singing and blues, its lyrics pushed the limits of what was deemed acceptable, and it appealed to many white as well as black listeners, peaking at #17 on the pop charts. In later years, it became a contender for the title of "the first rock and roll record".
The group toured widely, building up a reputation as one of the top R&B acts of the era, and an audience which crossed racial divides. However, Ward’s strict disciplinarian approach, and failure to recompense the singers, caused internal problems. The name "The Dominoes" was owned by Ward and Marks, who had the power to hire and fire, and to pay the singers a salary. Clyde McPhatter was being paid barely enough to live on, and often found himself billed as "Clyde Ward" to fool fans into thinking he was Billy Ward's brother. White and Brown both left in 1951/52 to form the Checkers, and were replaced by James Van Loan and David McNeil.
In March 1952, the Dominoes were chosen to be the only vocal group at Alan Freed's "Moondog Coronation Ball". The hits continued, with "Have Mercy Baby" topping the R&B charts for 10 weeks in 1952. However, in early 1953, McPhatter also decided to leave, and soon formed a new group, the Drifters. His replacement in the Dominoes was Jackie Wilson, who had sung with the group on tour. Lamont and McNeil also left and were replaced by Milton Merle and Cliff Givens. With Wilson singing lead, singles such as "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" continued to be successful.
In 1954, Ward moved the group to the Jubilee label and then to Decca, where they enjoyed a #27 pop hit with "St. Teresa of the Roses". However, the group were unable to follow that success in the charts, and there were a succession of personnel changes. They increasingly moved away from their R&B roots with appearances in Las Vegas and elsewhere. In late 1956, Wilson left for a solo career, replaced by Eugene Mumford, of The Larks. The group then got a new contract with Liberty Records, and had a hit with "Star Dust.” "Star Dust" made #13 on the Top 100 in the summer of 1957 and sold for 24 weeks. This proved to be their last major success, although various line-ups of the group continued recording and performing into the 1960s.
Rags to Riches
Billy Ward and His Dominoes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you would only say you care
And though my pocket may be empty
I'd be a millionaire
My clothes may still be torn and tattered
But in my heart I'd be a king
Your love is all that ever mattered
So open your arms and you'll open the door
To every treasure that I'm hopin' for
Hold me and kiss me and tell me you're mine ever more
Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you
Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you
The lyrics of Billy Ward and His Dominoes's song "Rags to Riches" express the yearning of a lover to be accepted and loved by his beloved. The song signifies that the only thing that matters to the singer is the love of his partner, not the materialistic things that he lacks. The song is a classic rags-to-riches tale in which the singer hopes for a better future with his partner's love.
The lyrics depict the singer as someone who has nothing but his dreams of moving from rags to riches. He longs for acceptance from his partner and believes that he can achieve anything with their love. The singer emphasizes that his love is unconditional, and he would trade his current poverty for riches if his partner would only say she cares. The singer also mentions that his tattered clothes are not a reflection of his true value, and in his heart, he is already a king.
At the end of the day, the singer's fate is in his partner's hands. He could either remain a beggar with unfulfilled dreams or go from rags to riches with his partner's love. The song ends with a plea for his partner to accept him, hold him, and kiss him, reassuring him that they are forever his.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I'd go from rags to riches
I believe that my life would change for the better if you show me affection.
If you would only say you care
If you express and demonstrate your love for me, I will be wealthy in happiness and success.
And though my pocket may be empty
Although I may have little to no money or possessions, I am hopeful and content because of the love I feel for you.
I'd be a millionaire
The love and affection that you give me is worth more than any amount of wealth I could acquire.
My clothes may still be torn and tattered
Although my physical appearance may show that I have very little, my heart and spirit are rich with love and positivity.
But in my heart I'd be a king
The love and affection that you show me makes me feel like royalty and brings me great joy and happiness.
Your love is all that ever mattered
More than anything else in the world, I value your love and affection towards me.
It's everything
Your love is the most important thing in my life and brings great meaning and purpose to everything that I do.
So open your arms and you'll open the door
If you embrace me with love and affection, you will open the door to all the wonderful experiences and possibilities that life has to offer.
To every treasure that I'm hopin' for
Through your love, I have hope for all the good things and treasures that life has to offer.
Hold me and kiss me and tell me you're mine ever more
Through your physical touch and verbal affirmation of love, I feel secure and confident in our relationship and my role in your life.
Must I forever be a beggar
I don't want to continue living a life of poverty and lack; I want to experience the wealth and abundance that comes with your love.
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
I fear that my dreams of happiness and success will never be achieved without your love and affection in my life.
Or will I go from rags to riches?
I am hopeful and optimistic that through your love and affection, my life will change for the better and I will experience great wealth and abundance.
My fate is up to you
Whether or not I will achieve my dreams and experience great love and abundance is in your hands; I trust that you will love and support me towards that fulfillment.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY (US ROSS, RICHARD ADLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scouseronthewirral
The Song is Based on a famous Russian tune called “Volga Melody” by Yuri Shchetkov.
Written By Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
The First recording and Hit Single Version was Tony Bennett on 17 March 1953, released on 3 August, it peaked at #1 Pop.
Billy Ward & His Dominoes (Jackie Wilson on Lead Vocals) recorded a version on 12 October 1953, it peaked at #3 R&B & #2 Most Played in Jukeboxes Charts.
Jackie Wilson also recorded a Solo version on 8 June 1965, released in September.
The 19th cover came 17 Years after the original and that came from Elvis Presley who recorded his version on 22 September 1970 and was influenced By the 1953 Billy Ward & His Dominoes it Peaked at #45 on pop chart.
@Xian127
know I'd go from rags to riches
If you would only say you care
And though my pocket may be empty
I'd be a millionaire
My clothes may still be torn and tattered
But in my heart I'd be a king
Your love is all that ever mattered
It's everything
So open your arms and you'll open the door
To every treasure that I'm hopin' for
Hold me and kiss me and tell me you're mine ever more
Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you
Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you
@StagPreston
I saw Jackie Wilson live in a small club (Leo's Casino) in about 1965. I sat 5 feet away from him, and he was on a stage that was only about 6 inches off the ground. At one point, he got the women so excited, they jumped up on the little platform and started undressing him -his coat, his tie, etc. Jackie was laughing and everyone was having a great time. Jackie looked straight at me and gave me a smile and a wink as though he was saying, "Don't you Wish You Were Me?", A great entertainer.
@kentaylor7044
wished i'd had the chance to see jackie. the only "live" album that i've heard was "jackie at the copa"and i think his only bad album---but i am of the opinion it was the fault of the editing and production and i think to have seen him live would have been an incredible experience. i envy you. unfortunately i didn't see my first live "rock"performance til '67.
@catherineconnelly9580
Jackie was only 19 when this incredible version was recorded in 1953 - astonishing...
@Irishman10704
Clyde was 18 when he joined and Jackie was 19 when he replaced him. 2 men who started as “babies” In the industry went on to be R&B legends.
@lscarver5
Jackie really sang this one. I could imagine him making the ladies scream at the Apollo theater in Harlem.
@landocalrissian6778
What a wonderful experience sir you’re so lucky
@PRYNCESSJO
Every time he appeared at the Murray the K shows at Brooklyn Fox he tore the house down! And every time we would leave out of there with sore throats! ❤️🎵❤️🕯 Great incredible memories.
@quickworks9720
@@PRYNCESSJO Oh yeah! The Murray the K shows! Remember you could see them twice? Good times!
@amyharry4337
This turned me to tears, goosepimples all over. Stunning.
@bradly2007
Gorgeous JACKIE WILSON version is a keeper!