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
I Am with You
The Dominoes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!
I thought at last I'd found you, but other lovers surround you
And "I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!"
If you'd surrender just for a tender kiss or two
You might discover, that I'm the lover meant for you
And I'd be true, but what's the good of scheming
I know I must be dreaming
The Dominoes's song "I Am with You" is a beautiful ballad with heartfelt lyrics that speak to the common human experience of unrequited love. The singer is deeply in love with someone who does not reciprocate their feelings. They express their intense longing for the other person, admitting that they need their love so badly and love them so madly, but acknowledging that they don't stand a ghost of a chance with them.
The singer thinks they have found the person they are meant to be with but laments that other lovers surround them, making it impossible for them to win their love. Despite this, they hold onto hope, imagining that if the other person would only give them a chance, they would discover that the singer is the lover meant for them and that they would be true. However, the singer admits that they may be dreaming and that their scheming is futile.
The lyrics are poignant and relatable, capturing the feeling of loving someone who is unattainable. The Dominoes's soulful rendition of this song only intensifies the emotion behind the lyrics, making it a timeless classic that listeners can still connect with today.
Line by Line Meaning
I need your love so badly, I love you, oh, so madly
I'm deeply in love with you and I crave your affection with a strong intensity.
But I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!
Despite my strong feelings for you, I know that I have no chance of being with you.
I thought at last I'd found you, but other lovers surround you
I believed that you were the one for me, but it seems like you already have many other love interests around you.
And 'I don't stand a ghost of a chance with you!'
Despite my hope and desire to be with you, I am fully aware that it is unlikely to ever happen.
If you'd surrender just for a tender kiss or two
If you were willing to give me a chance and engage in a romantic moment or two with me, it could change everything.
You might discover, that I'm the lover meant for you
By giving me a chance, you might realize that I am the perfect partner for you.
And I'd be true, but what's the good of scheming
I would be loyal and faithful to you if we were together, but there's no point in trying to manipulate or plot to win your affection.
I know I must be dreaming
I am fully aware that my hopes of being with you are likely just a dream and not a reality.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Bing Crosby, Ned Washington, Victor Popular Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ed Chow
HOW MANY VOICES LIKE THIS COME ALONG? SO PURE AND NATURAL! WHAT A SHAME IT ENDED SO QUICKLY! CLYDE'S VOICE WAS GREAT!
Charles Larocco
A real classic!
It would have been so great if Clyde and the early Dominos in their prime had recorded some gospel tunes.
John Benn
What a glorious sound----WONDERFUL--WONDERFUL
Mary Denise
love it...
BuzzMeloon
Great music!
Stanley Sims
My favorite of all of the great Clyde numbers. I believe he was a teenager when he joined this group. There are stories about how Billy Ward was really cheap.
Bob
Clyde is terrific.
SIR BEN MARX
This is my great great great uncle Clyde! He is a wonderful singer I inspire to be like him!!!
Mark Shark
Probably Clydes first group. He sure did go on to bigger and better things from here.
BuzzMeloon
Great music! Thanx for posting