In 1975 Street Corner Symphony released its first single "Earth Angel" (B-side: I'm Not Ready (To Let You Go)) on Bang Records (B-719). The single was followed by the groups album "Harmony Grits", released also on Ban Records (BLP-406) in 1976. The album was produced by Jerry Love and Michael Zager.
In 1976 Street Corner Symphony released its hit album "Little Funk Machine" on ABC records. The album was produced by none other than Willie Hutch.
Essentially a vocal quintet, three of its members, (Jesse Harris, Milton Hayes and Lawrence Miller) had started out in Los Angeles group The Marvellos (aka The Sons Of Watts) during the sixties. Lead singer Morris Chestnut, formerly of the Attractions, The Sound-Masters and The Vows, recorded solo both under his own name and that of James Washington Lee.
The second, soon to be disbanded, Street Corner Symphony was founded as a birthday present for Mark on May 28, 2010. It began with six talented fellows–Jeremy & Richie Lister, Jon & Mark McLemore, Ben Dixon, and Sean Saunders–who had worked together, but not as a single group. In fact, Ben and Sean met Jeremy and Richie the day before SCS’s first gig.
Three weeks later, the group broke up. Citing reasons of some sort, Ben and Sean left void the high and low ends of Street Corner Symphony’s frequency spectrum. Within days, however, Mark had contacted two friends in his extensive network of talented people and restored balance. Welcome, John Martin and Adam Chance. Street Corner Symphony commenced the dominating.
The members of Street Corner Symphony are from all over the Southeast US and are proud to call Nashville TN their home base. The group was formed in May of 2010 for the sole purpose of winning the Sing Off. SCS brings a unique laid back southern soul to the competition, demonstrating notable influences from artists like Take 6 and Alison Krauss. While SCS offers a diverse repertoire, the group has a rich heritage in gospel music. Two of the members are grandsons of the legendary southern gospel tenor Bill Shaw of “The Blackwood Brothers.” In addition, five of the six members were preacher’s kids and grew up singing and learning music in church. SCS is made up of two sets of brothers and two other unrelated guys, and each brings a unique background and character to the group. One member is a pilot, one is a major label recording artist, one is an operatic baritone, one is a dichromat, one has indeed met Chuck D., and one has a serious phobia of fruit. When not singing together, the group is actually still just trying to get acquainted!
Adam Chance was born on the Florida Panhandle and grew up in southern Alabama just north of the beautiful, once oil-free, Gulf Coast beaches. His childhood home was two miles down a dirt road and he spent many summer days fishing in the Gulf. He is the only member of Street Corner Symphony that is not a minister’s son. He learned to sing in the shower, learned music theory in marching band and plays a number of instruments. He once met Chuck D. Adam studied journalism and music at the University of Alabama and is also a songwriter. He enjoys watching american and association football, wearing vests and ties, and would prefer not to die by sword or gunshot. Although he sings bass in the group, he is afraid of spiders.
John Martin is the high tenor for SCS, a native of Marianna FL and is probably shorter than you. His dad was a chaplain in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religion and Music in 2009 from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. John is honored to have been selected as a winner of the state National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) auditions for Alabama, as well as to have been chosen as a two-time finalist in auditions for the world renowned Chanticleer. John is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in voice performance at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He enjoys cooking beef and once made a cheese soufflé just to prove he could. His favorite movies are the original Star Wars trilology, and his favorite actor is William H. Macy. He is red-green color blind and has a fear of upside down traffic lights.
Mark McLemore (The Plethora) was born in Alabama to a banjo pickin’ preacher and is Jon’s younger brother. He recently earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. He received two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) in 2008 for his work on the McLemore Brothers record ‘Sunday Drive.’ He is the group’s resident operatic baritone and he can read music faster than he can read text. His wife, Meredith, is an archivist for the state of Alabama, and taught Mark the importance of making the bed. He also helps out with the vocal percussion duties from time to time. Mark enjoys baking bread and making puns. He once rode a motorcycle from Alabama to California and back in 8 days, danced in the Nutcracker, and engineered his own ping-pong paddle. His favorite actors are Sean Connery and Christopher Walken. He still plays with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from time to time; his favorite is Raphael. He is afraid of poor intonation.
Richie Lister grew up the son of a minister in Mississippi. Although he primarily sings baritone, Richie has a tremendous range and can sometimes be heard singing the highest part. He moved to Nashville 7 years ago and is Jeremy’s older brother. He learned to sing from his parents and from church music and could match pitch with his dad at age 2. He is the grandson of renowned southern gospel tenor Bill Shaw of “The Blackwood Brothers”. Richie is a keyboardist and songwriter and has spent the last 15 years playing in various rock bands, most notably for Jeremy’s solo career. He majored in Music Composition at Mississippi College and has a dream of one day composing music for film. Richie is often told that he has an uncanny resemblance to John Lennon. He is afraid of fruit.
Jeremy Lister began singing and learning harmonies in church at the age of two. When his dad wasn’t looking, Jeremy would sneak into his guitar case and start picking out chords. He grew up collaborating and writing songs with his older brother Richie. At ages twelve and thirteen, he traveled through Europe with his parents. The trip changed his perspective on life and music, and upon returning to the States, he began exploring different musical outlets, ranging from an a cappella quartet to a progressive rock band. Setting out on his own in 2003, Jeremy moved to Nashville bringing his first EP “Shooting Star” with him. Here he began playing writer’s nights and passing his CD along to anyone who would listen. In 2005, he released his second EP, “So Far,” and quickly gained the attention of Warner Bros. Records. The label put him in the studio, where he wrote and recorded songs during ’06. In the spring of ’07, Lister signed a record deal with WBR. His debut release, the “Just One Day” EP, was released digitally on November 20, 2007. More recently, Jeremy has toured with Brett Dennen and Colbie Caillat as well as selling out his own headlining shows in and around the Nashville area. He is currently working on songs for his full-length album to be released later this year. Jeremy sings tenor and lead for SCS, and has a fear of flying with Jon.
Jon McLemore (A Cappella Morpheus) was born in North Alabama and is Mark’s older brother. He began his lucrative career in a cappella at age 19 and over the following four years, performed in all 48 of the contiguous U.S. At age 23, while on tour in Montana with Four Shadow, he met and married Mandy after she was brought on stage to help the group sing ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’ Following marriage, Jon came off the road, got a real job and had five kids. He recently earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Ministry from Amridge University in Montgomery, AL. Jon has received numerous Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA) and nominations as a solo artist, as a member of Four Shadow, No Joe, and the McLemore Brothers. He sings tenor and lead for SCS and does vocal percussion for the group when needed. Jon is an instrument rated pilot and enjoys motorcycles, fishing, and family time. He is afraid of driving over a bridge, having it collapse under him, plummeting to the depths of a mighty river and being trapped in his vehicle until he drowns.
Down on the Corner
Street Corner Symphony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
just around suppertime
over by the courthouse
starting to unwind
four kids on the corner
tryin' to bring you up
one kid picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
down on the corner
willy and the poor boys are playin'
bring a nickel tap your feet
you dont need a penny
just to hang around
but if you have a nickel
won't you put your money down?
over on the corner
there's a happy noise
people come from all around
to hear the magic boys
oh! down on the corner
out here in the street
willy and the poor boys are playin'
bring a nickel tap your feet
down on the corner
out in the street
down on the corner
street corner symphony
down on the corner
out in the...
bring it and bring it again
yeah yeah yeah yeah
down on the corner
out in the street
willy and the poor boys are playin'
bring a nickel tap your feet
down on the corner
out in the street
willy and the poor boys are playin'
bring a nickel
tap your feet
yeah
The lyrics to Street Corner Symphony's song "Down on the Corner" depict a group of kids hanging out on a street corner, listening to a band called Willy and the Poor Boys play music. The song creates an atmosphere of playful, carefree joy, with the upbeat tempo and catchy melody combining to make a toe-tapping tune. The lyrics themselves convey a sense of community, with people coming together to listen to the music and forget their worries.
The repeated refrain of "bring a nickel tap your feet" emphasizes the simplicity and accessibility of the music, with anyone able to enjoy it regardless of their financial status. This idea ties in with the broader theme of the song, which is the power of music to bring people together and create a sense of collective happiness. The joyful noise coming from the corner represents a welcome reprieve from the struggles and hardships of daily life.
Overall, "Down on the Corner" is a celebration of the simple joys of life, and the ways in which music can bring people together and create a sense of unity and community.
Line by Line Meaning
early in the evenin'
The time of day is evening, but still relatively early.
just around suppertime
It's close to dinner time, typically between 5 pm and 7 pm.
over by the courthouse
The setting of the song is near a courthouse.
starting to unwind
People are beginning to relax and let go of their workday stress.
four kids on the corner
There are four children hanging out on the street corner.
tryin' to bring you up
These kids want to lift your spirits and make you happy.
one kid picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
One of the kids is playing music on a harmonica and improvising a tune.
down on the corner
This entire scene is taking place on the street corner.
out in the street
The people and music are outside on the street.
willy and the poor boys are playin'
The band playing on the street corner is called Willy and the Poor Boys.
bring a nickel tap your feet
If you come and listen to the music, you only need to pay a nickel, and you'll be sure to dance and groove to the beat.
you dont need a penny
You don't need to pay any money to hang around and listen to the music.
just to hang around
You can simply come and listen to the music for free.
but if you have a nickel
If you do have a nickel, you can toss it into the hat to show your appreciation.
won't you put your money down?
Please consider contributing the nickel you have to the band's hat, located on the street corner.
over on the corner
The scene is still happening on the street corner.
there's a happy noise
The music being played is joyous and puts people in a good mood.
people come from all around
The band's music is so good, people are coming from other places to listen.
to hear the magic boys
The band is so talented, they are considered magical in their music-making.
oh! down on the corner
The excitement of the scene is emphasized, as if the artist can't help but express the fun they're having.
bring it and bring it again
The music is so good that people are encouraged to keep coming back for more.
yeah yeah yeah yeah
This joyous exclamation emphasizes the happiness of the people in the scene.
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mistertee
Still my favourite Sing-Off performance! Perfect from note-to-note. Your harmony is insane.
novaman
This performance put these guys up at the top of the leader board. Wow! At the beginning of the competition I didn't think they had a chance.....
Nick Rogers
Not as "polished" as some groups on this show, but f*cking spectacular. Their blend, their energy. Fantastic. Such fun to watch/listen to.
Sally MJ
Fantastic performance.
And love they inserted name of the band.
Their best performance IMO.
manduhify
i never thought i would memorize this song let alone like it. THIS is what music is all about.
nolamkp09
this song just worked so freakin well for them from start to finish...so awesome
sonyahannah
This has long been one of my favorites -- thanks for sharing your energy and harmony.
Debra Morter
The bass - Adam Chase - is now the baritone/bass for Home Free. Pretty darned awesome... <3
Caleb Dyson
i love that last chord at the end. it gives me goosebumps every time
vicfunny
i love your work and your voices ... i like how in every performance you enjoy it so much .... thank you street corner symphony (: