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
Lucille
The Dominoes Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Lucille' by these artists:
@ Rock-Weekend: B.B. King The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
Al Kooper What am I gonna do I cannot live my life like…
Alan Ladd In a bar in Toledo across from the depot On a…
André Lamberz and Hill's Angels Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Anthony Hamilton My old lady's on the other side of town With…
Art Tatum and His Band Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Arthur Greenslade Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
B.B. King The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
B.B. King & T-Bone Walker The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
Barefoot Jerry Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
BB King I've got a good mind to give up living, and…
Be-Bops The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
Ben Selvin and His Orchestra Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Big Joe Turner Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Billy Currington In a bar in Toledo, across from the depot, On a…
Bobby Powell Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Bobby Vee Lucille, you won't do your sisters will, Lucille, you won't …
Bobby Vee And The Crickets Lucille, you won't do your sisters will, Lucille, you won't…
BP vs. Effcee Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you …
Brian Protheroe Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Canadian VIPs Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Carl Perkins Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Chris Chameleon Omdat jy beter weet is ek geneig om my te…
Cliff Richard Lucille You don't do your daddy's will Lucille You don't do …
Clyde McPhatter Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't d…
Clyde McPhatter; The Drifters Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't …
Crescent City Gold Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Currington Billy In a bar in Toledo, across from the depot, On a…
Cœur de Pirate In a bar in Toledo Across from the depot On a bar…
Daniel O'Donnell In a bar in Toledo across the depot On a barstool…
Days Like These How many times do I have to apologise for nothing…
Dean Reed Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Deep Purple Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Didjits Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Eddy Mitchell J'me rappelle qu'y avait dans ma ville Une fille qui s'appel…
Elektradrive The sound of the wind, in the silence of the…
Everly Brothers Lucille, you don't do your daddy's will Lucille, you don't …
Fatal Charm Lucille, you′re not laughing today Why not, no way Lucille, …
Fats And His Cats Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Favourite Sons Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
freak out muzik vol.1 Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Fred Eaglesmith Well, Lucille was a woman and I was a boy And…
Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Gene Ammons Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Gillan Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
HILL JONNY Ich trank in der Bar so für mich einen Whisky, Da…
Holm Michael Ich trank in der Bar so für mich einen Whisky Da…
Ian Gillan Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Ian Gillan Band Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Jack Greene Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Jerry Lee Lewis Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Jerry Lee Lewis & Little Richard Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
Jimi Hendrix Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Jimi Hendrix & Little Richard Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Joe Turner Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
John & Paul All day long I stare at a computer screen All night…
John Entwistle Lucille, you don't do your daddy's will Lucille, you don't d…
John Lee Hooker Lucille, ya don't do your sister's will Well, Lucille, ya do…
John Lennon and Paul McCartney Lucille, please, come back where you belong Lucille, please…
John the Conqueror I can still recall that call telling me to come…
Johnny Hallyday Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Johnny Winter Lucille... ya don't you do your sister's will... Well Lucil…
Jonny Hill Ich trank in der Bar so für mich einen Whisky da…
Jontez Lucille, won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you won't…
Keith Richards and Jerry Lee Lewis Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Kenny Rogers In a bar in Toledo across from the depot On a…
Kieran Goss It's a never ending story It's a way to make amends In…
King Herbert & The Knights Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Kings And The Queen The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
L. RICHARD Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
L.C. Donatto In a world filled with so much Misery and pain She had…
Laurel Aitken Lucille, Lucille, Lucille, Can you hear me calling you Come …
Lennon-McCartney Lucille, please, come back where you belong Lucille, please,…
Les Trois Accords Lucille quand tu t'approches de moi La chaleur de ton coeur …
Lila Blue I am made of flesh, blood and bone And I know…
Liquorice John Death Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Little Bob Story Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Little Richard Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
Little Richard and His Band Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you …
Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
LIVING ROOM - B.B. King The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
Lonnie Mack Well, I'm going to the doctor, somethings wrong with me I…
Los Waffles Puedo volver borracho y sin plata al hogar Espero que…
Lucille My Lucille Step by step, on a carpet of roses Silk petals…
Matt Hurter In a bar in Toledo Across from the depot On a barstool,…
Meadow Meadow I woke up from a dream There were blackbirds falling from…
Memphis Slim Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Michael Holm Ich trank in der Bar so für mich einen Whisky Da…
Michael Paul Lawson All day long I stare at a computer screen All night…
Michaj Burano Lucille ja ciągle widzę Ciebie tu Lucille ty może do mnie…
Michel Jonasz J'm'en rappelle y avait dans ma ville Une fille qui s'appel…
Mick Underwood Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Midwest Dilemma There was a statue of Mary on the dresser top…
Mind Garage Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Naama Guggenheim Long, long, long I'm Nowhere I gotta big fat belly I gotta b…
Nat Stuckey Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Normaal Lucille, wat maak i-j mien now weer kloar Lucille, wat maak…
NRBQ Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
O'Donnell Daniel In a bar in Toledo across the depot On a barstool…
Otis Redding Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
P.J. Butler Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Patrick Norman Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Paul McCartney Lucille, please, come back where you belong Lucille, please,…
Pee Wee Crayton Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Peter And Gordon Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Pink Fairies Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Planet ANM Nie trzeba ci się bać synu weź się nie stresuj Bo…
Professor Longhair Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Queen Lucille, you won't do your sisters will Lucille, you won't d…
Ready Men Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
Richard Little Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
Rivets The Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Rock And Roll Music Te busco en cada cuerpo Yo temí no verte mas Llegaste a…
Rockets Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Roger Bowling In a bar in Toledo across from the depot On a…
Sisyfuss You are dressed in all my clothes Sucks to see them…
Sonohra Se mi chiedi cosa scelgo Studio quello che non voglio E di…
Status Quo Lucille, won't you do your daddy's will? Lucille, won't you …
Stef Eikemann and Band Lucille,high on the feeling you given me,girl know it so tru…
Steve Hofmeyr In a bar in Toledo Across from the depot On a bar…
Susie Suh Lucille, you know how I feel Put me behind that wheel Luci…
Tall Ships Lucille, do you feel how I feel? Is there something going…
Tex Lecor Au bar des cheminots à deux pas du Dépôt elle jeta…
The Animals Lucille, you won't do your sisters will, Lucille, you won't …
The Animals feat. Eric Burdon Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The B.B. Street Band The sound that you're listening to Is from my guitar…
The Beat Farmers Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Beatles䈀 Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The Blues Flagships featuring Jimmy Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Canadian V.I.P.'s Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The Canadian V.I.P`s Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Cross Lucille don't you do your daddy wrong Lucille don't you do…
The Datsuns â??Hey thereâ?? she said â??Looking goodâ?? â??What you doi…
The Drifters Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't d…
The Drifters (with Clyde McPhatter) Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't …
The Drifters feat. Clyde McPhatter Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't d…
The Esquires (Surf) Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The Everly Brothers Lucille You don't do your daddy's will Lucille You don't do …
The Favourite Sons Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
The Fireballs Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Hentchmen Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The Highlifes Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Hollies Lucille, you don't do your daddy's will Lucille, you don't …
The Legendary Blues Band Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Little Richards Lucille, you won't do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, you w…
The Pete Best Band Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The Ready Men Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won't…
The Readymen Lucille, won't you do your sister's will? Oh, Lucille, won'…
The Rivets Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Rock And Rollers Te busco en cada cuerpo Yo temí no verte mas Llegaste a…
The Rockets Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Rockets (US) Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
The Shadows Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Vasco Era I smoked everything out I did it just like you…
The Ventures Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
The Wailers (Vocal Kent Morrill) Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Tom Astor Ich trank in der Bar so für mich einen Whisky, da…
Tom Jones Somebody, please, if somebody will Let them take a letter to…
Tony Christie In a bar in Toledo Across from the depot On a bar…
Turnpike Troubadours Well, the neons were new and robin egg blue And brandin'…
U2 Lucille (Hampton, 12-12-87) Lucille (Los Angeles, 11-18-87) …
V.A. La la la la la la la la la la…
Waylon Jennings Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Oh, Lucille, you jus…
Wee Willie Harris Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
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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