Donnie Elbert (May 25, 1936 – January 26, 1989) was an American soul singer… Read Full Bio ↴Donnie Elbert (May 25, 1936 – January 26, 1989) was an American soul singer, who had a prolific career from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s. His US hits included "Where Did Our Love Go?" (1972), and his reputation as a Northern soul artist in the UK was secured by "A Little Piece of Leather", a performance highlighting his powerful falsetto voice.
Elbert was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but when aged three his family relocated to Buffalo, New York. He learned to play guitar and piano as a child, and in 1955 formed a doo-wop group, the Vibraharps, with friend Danny Cannon. Elbert acted as the group's guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and background vocalist, making his recording debut on their single "Walk Beside Me". He left the group in 1957 for a solo career, and recorded a demonstration record that earned him a recording contract with the King label's DeLuxe subsidiary. His solo debut "What Can I Do?" reached #12 in the U.S. R&B chart, and he followed it up with the less successful "Believe It or Not" and "Have I Sinned?", which became a regional hit in Pittsburgh.
He continued to release singles on DeLuxe, but with little commercial success, and also played New York's Apollo Theater and toured the chitlin' circuit of African-American owned nightclubs. After completing an album, The Sensational Donnie Elbert Sings, he left DeLuxe in 1959, joining first Red Top Records, where in 1960 he recorded "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)", and then Vee-Jay Records, where he had another regional hit with "Will You Ever Be Mine?," which reportedly sold 250,000 copies in the Philadelphia area but failed to take off nationwide. His career was also interrupted by a spell in the US Army, from which he was discharged in 1961. He then recorded singles for several labels, including Parkway, Cub and Checker, but with little success. However, although the 1965 Gateway label release of "A Little Piece of Leather" failed to chart in the US, the record became a #27 pop hit when released on the London label in the UK several years later in 1972, and remains a Northern soul favorite.
Elbert relocated to the UK in 1966, where he married. There, he recorded "In Between The Heartaches" for the Polydor label in 1968, a cover version of The Supremes' hit "Where Did Our Love Go?". and an album of Otis Redding cover versions, Tribute To A King. His 1969 Deram release "Without You" had a rocksteady rhythm, and went to the top of the Jamaican charts. He returned to the US the same year, and had his first US chart hit in over a decade with the Rare Bullet label release "Can't Get Over Losing You," which reached #26 on the Billboard R&B chart. Following the success of that record, "Where Did Our Love Go?" was released on the All Platinum label, and became his biggest hit, reaching #15 on the US pop charts, #6 on the R&B charts, and (in 1972) #8 in the UK. Its follow-up "Sweet Baby" reached #30 on the R&B chart in early 1972.
Elbert then signed with Avco-Embassy, where he entered the recording studio with the successful production team of Hugo & Luigi. Although his cover of The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" reached #14 on the R&B chart, Elbert balked at the label's insistence that he record material associated with Motown. He returned to All Platinum and had a run of minor R&B hits, but left after he claimed authorship of Shirley & Company's R&B chart-topper "Shame Shame Shame" which was credited to label owner Sylvia Robinson. For 1975's "You Keep Me Crying (With Your Lying)," Elbert finally formed his own label, and "I Got to Get Myself Together," appeared on an imprint bearing his surname, but it was among his final recordings.
By the mid-1980s Elbert had retired from performing, and became director of A&R for Polygram's Canadian division. He suffered a massive stroke and died in 1989, at the age of 52.
Elbert was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but when aged three his family relocated to Buffalo, New York. He learned to play guitar and piano as a child, and in 1955 formed a doo-wop group, the Vibraharps, with friend Danny Cannon. Elbert acted as the group's guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and background vocalist, making his recording debut on their single "Walk Beside Me". He left the group in 1957 for a solo career, and recorded a demonstration record that earned him a recording contract with the King label's DeLuxe subsidiary. His solo debut "What Can I Do?" reached #12 in the U.S. R&B chart, and he followed it up with the less successful "Believe It or Not" and "Have I Sinned?", which became a regional hit in Pittsburgh.
He continued to release singles on DeLuxe, but with little commercial success, and also played New York's Apollo Theater and toured the chitlin' circuit of African-American owned nightclubs. After completing an album, The Sensational Donnie Elbert Sings, he left DeLuxe in 1959, joining first Red Top Records, where in 1960 he recorded "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)", and then Vee-Jay Records, where he had another regional hit with "Will You Ever Be Mine?," which reportedly sold 250,000 copies in the Philadelphia area but failed to take off nationwide. His career was also interrupted by a spell in the US Army, from which he was discharged in 1961. He then recorded singles for several labels, including Parkway, Cub and Checker, but with little success. However, although the 1965 Gateway label release of "A Little Piece of Leather" failed to chart in the US, the record became a #27 pop hit when released on the London label in the UK several years later in 1972, and remains a Northern soul favorite.
Elbert relocated to the UK in 1966, where he married. There, he recorded "In Between The Heartaches" for the Polydor label in 1968, a cover version of The Supremes' hit "Where Did Our Love Go?". and an album of Otis Redding cover versions, Tribute To A King. His 1969 Deram release "Without You" had a rocksteady rhythm, and went to the top of the Jamaican charts. He returned to the US the same year, and had his first US chart hit in over a decade with the Rare Bullet label release "Can't Get Over Losing You," which reached #26 on the Billboard R&B chart. Following the success of that record, "Where Did Our Love Go?" was released on the All Platinum label, and became his biggest hit, reaching #15 on the US pop charts, #6 on the R&B charts, and (in 1972) #8 in the UK. Its follow-up "Sweet Baby" reached #30 on the R&B chart in early 1972.
Elbert then signed with Avco-Embassy, where he entered the recording studio with the successful production team of Hugo & Luigi. Although his cover of The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" reached #14 on the R&B chart, Elbert balked at the label's insistence that he record material associated with Motown. He returned to All Platinum and had a run of minor R&B hits, but left after he claimed authorship of Shirley & Company's R&B chart-topper "Shame Shame Shame" which was credited to label owner Sylvia Robinson. For 1975's "You Keep Me Crying (With Your Lying)," Elbert finally formed his own label, and "I Got to Get Myself Together," appeared on an imprint bearing his surname, but it was among his final recordings.
By the mid-1980s Elbert had retired from performing, and became director of A&R for Polygram's Canadian division. He suffered a massive stroke and died in 1989, at the age of 52.
A Piece Of Leather
Donnie Elbert Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Donnie Elbert:
A Little Piece of Leather Armstrong Louis C'est Si Bon Dream A Little Dream Of Me star…
A Love Of Your Own Love Is Here, And, oh my darling, Now You're Gone, Love…
Back In My Arms Again (Oooooh!) All day long, I hear my telephone ring Friends ca…
Can What can I do To hold your hand What can I say To…
Can't Get over Losing You I said, baby, baby, baby Things ain't like what they used…
Come See me I've been crying 'Cause I'm lonely (for you) Smiles have all…
Everything To Me All of my life I waited for someone exactly like…
Free Free like the river Flowin' freely through infinity Free t…
Get Ready I never met a girl who makes me feel the…
I Can't Help Myself Sugarpie, honeybunch You know that I love you Lord, I can't …
I cant help myself Sugarpie, honeybunch You know that I love you Lord, I can'…
If I Can What can I do To hold your hand What can I say To…
If you love me Tonight you're mine, completely You give your soul so sweetl…
Love Is a Treasure Love Is Here, And, oh my darling, Now You're Gone, Love…
Never Again Never again Will the tears fall from my eyes Never again Wil…
Our Love Baby, baby, baby don't leave me. Ooh, please don't leave me…
Please Love Me Tonight you're mine, completely You give your soul so sweetl…
Sweet Baby [Chorus:] Hey, sweet baby I just can't get you off my mind H…
What Can I Do What can I do To hold your hand What can I say To…
Where Did Our Love Go Baby, baby, baby don't leave me. Ooh, please don't leave me…
Will You Love Me Tomorrow Tonight you're mine, completely You give your soul so sweetl…
You You can come as you are With just your heart…
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing You've got a cute way of talking You got the…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@motherbaynus
wonderful wonderful music, brings back memories, love it.
@docludiTWISTEDSOUL
Think of the Twisted Wheel club and this song is close to the surface in the minds eye. I personally rate Donnie one of the top Soul voices .. love how he can slip into falsetto in the wink of an eye.
@TDSouledOut1
Wanna spread the gospel of sweet soul music to the next generation? Start with Donnie Elbert.
@Sheven718
she's the apple of my eye, she is my sweetie pie, yea yea ! ha ha what a banging tune eh ? played loads in the " last chance saloon " 65 , this and his other sue release about the same time, " you can push it or pull it " went on to become a northern anthem still goes down a storm and sounds as fresh all these years on, many thanks for sharing this little memory jerker with us all ! you've posted a classic, regards
@grahamd4764
A different version made the UK charts in the early seventies. This original rocks!
@aceform11
It's a fantastic sound
@neilbolton158
fantastic memories love this
@jackiechurchill836
thanks for posting i was delighted to find this gem lovely northern sound love it
@sx200ab
Still rockin' to this tune at the Wheel a classic
@liliansotratti5331
Muito legal...