Billy Ward and His Dominoes were one of the top American R&B groups of the … Read Full Bio ↴Billy Ward and His 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 (born Robert L. Williams, 19 September 1921, Savannah, Georgia—died 16 February 2002, Inglewood, California) grew up in Philadelphia, the second of three sons of Charles Williams and Cora Bates Williams, 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 recording contract and renamed themselves 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 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 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 to form The Checkers, and were replaced by James Van Loan and David McNeil (previously of The Larks).
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 and was replaced by Gene Mumford of The Larks. The group then got a new contract with Liberty Records, and had a #13 pop hit with "Stardust". This proved to be their last major success, although various line-ups of the group continued recording and performing into the 1960s.
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006.
Former members
Billy Ward
Clyde McPhatter
Charlie White
Joe Lamont
Bill Brown
James Van Loan
David McNeil
Jackie Wilson
Milton Merle
Cliff Givens
Billy Ward (born Robert L. Williams, 19 September 1921, Savannah, Georgia—died 16 February 2002, Inglewood, California) grew up in Philadelphia, the second of three sons of Charles Williams and Cora Bates Williams, 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 recording contract and renamed themselves 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 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 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 to form The Checkers, and were replaced by James Van Loan and David McNeil (previously of The Larks).
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 and was replaced by Gene Mumford of The Larks. The group then got a new contract with Liberty Records, and had a #13 pop hit with "Stardust". This proved to be their last major success, although various line-ups of the group continued recording and performing into the 1960s.
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006.
Former members
Billy Ward
Clyde McPhatter
Charlie White
Joe Lamont
Bill Brown
James Van Loan
David McNeil
Jackie Wilson
Milton Merle
Cliff Givens
Hoochie Coochie Man
The Dominoes Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Hoochie Coochie Man' by these artists:
Alexis Korner The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
B.G. & J.W. The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Banderas Blues Band / New Yeah, hoochie coochie Gypsy woman told my mother Before I w…
Blindside Blues Band The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Blue Cheer Gypsy woman told my mama 'while 'fore I was born Got…
Blue on Black Laakh Roka, Par Ruka Na Ishq Yeh Sar Zor Hai Apni Chahat…
Blues Gypsy woman told my mama 'while 'fore I was born Got…
Buddy And The Juniors The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Buddy Guy & Eric Clapton Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born…
Chuck Berry Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born You got…
Citizen Cope & Eric Clapton Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
Dion The gypsy woman told my mother, while fore I was…
Dr. Feelgood Gipsy woman told my mother before I was born You got…
Eric Clapton Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
George Yanagi タフなやつだぜ Groovin' 倒れてもすぐ 立ちあがる 運も強いぜ Gamblin' 1ドルあれば Get The …
Groundhogs The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Guy Davis Corey Harris Alvin Youngblood Hart Phil Wiggins The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Herbert Sumlin The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Howlin Wolf & Muddy Waters The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Jeff Healey Gypsy woman told my mother 'Fore I was born She said, you…
Jimi Hendrix The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Joe Williams / Muddy Waters / T-Bone Walker The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
John Kay & Friends The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
John Kay And The Sparrow The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
John Mayall Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Eric Clapton & Chris Barber The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers feat. Eric Clapton Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
John Mayall The Bluesbreakers Eric Clapton & Chris Barber The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
John mayall's bluesbreakers - feat. eric clapton Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
Johnny Winter / Muddy Waters The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Johnny Winter Muddy Waters James Cotton & Pinetop Perkins The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Korner Alexis The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
Lenny Henry The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born You got…
Lil Jimmy Reed The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Livin' Blues The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Long John Baldry Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born You got…
Manfred Mann Gypsy woman told my mother Just a while 'fore I was…
MAYALL JOHN & THE BLUESBREAKERS Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
Memphis Slim The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Motörhead Gypsy woman told my mother, before I was born Got a…
Muddy Waters The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Muddy Waters & Memphis Slim The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Muddy Waters Blues Band The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Muddy Waters/Various The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Muddy Waters㘰ㄭ The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
New York Dolls Yeah, hoochie coochie Gypsy woman told my mother Before I w…
Perkins Pinetop The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Pinetop Perkins & Hubert Sumlin The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Pinetop Perkins - Hubert Sumlin The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Rolling Stones & Muddy Waters The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Stacy Mitchhart & Blues-U-Can-Use Gypsy woman told my mama 'while 'fore I was born Got…
Steppenwolf The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
The Allman Brothers Band Gypsy woman told my mama 'while 'fore I was born Got…
The Artwoods The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born You got…
The Blues Band The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
The Blues Project Gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born She said "You…
The Graham Bond Organisation The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
The Jeff Healey Band Gypsy woman told my mother 'fore I was born, You got…
The Jimi Hendrix Experience The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
The Jimi Hendrix Experience & Alexis Korner The gypsy woman told my mama On the day I was…
The Rolling Stones & Muddy Waters The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I…
Udo Lindenberg The gypsy woman told my mother Before I was born I got…
Viticus Gypsy woman told my momma, before i was born you got…
Willie Dixon Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born You got…
Willie Dixon (and Guests) Gypsy woman told my mama, 'fore I was born Got a…
Willie Dixon and Friends Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born You…
Willie Dixon Muddy Waters Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born You…
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We have lyrics for these tracks by The Dominoes:
60 Minute Man Sixty-minute man, sixty-minute man Look a here girls I'm t…
Above Jacob's Ladder Three coins in the fountain, Each one seeking happiness. T…
Carry Go Bring Come This carry go bring come, my dear, brings misery This carry…
Christmas In Heaven It's Christmas in Heaven And it's Heaven here with you And d…
Deep Purple Woo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo When the…
Give Me You Give me the sun give me the moon give me the stars with…
Have Mercy Baby Somewhere on the hill? Chasing some poor criminal And I gues…
I Am with You I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
Little Lie I'd wait for you I'd slave for you I'd be a beggar…
Little Things Mean A Lot Blow me a kiss from across the room Say I look…
Love Love Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
One Moment With You I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
Over the Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Rags To Riches I know I'd go from rags to riches If you would…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Sixty Minute Man Sixty-minute man, sixty-minute man Look a here girls I'm te…
Solitude In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days gone …
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Star Dust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Tenderly The evening breeze caressed the trees tenderly The trembling…
These Foolish Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
Three Coins In The Fountain Three coins in the fountain, Each one seeking happiness. Thr…
Until The Real Thing Comes Along I'd wait for you I'd slave for you I'd be a beggar…
When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano When the swallows come back to Capistrano That's the day you…
You Can't Keep A Good Man Down You Can't Keep A Good Man Down Luther King was a…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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