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
Please Please Please
The Dominoes Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Please Please Please' by these artists:
-Miyavi- Nee Darlin' puri-Zu, puri-Zu oitekanaide, onegai Zutto zutt…
Andrew Combs Sun goes up, sun goes down, another day, another night…
ANT I can't stop thinking that I could've killed us both Or some…
Aretha Franklin & James Brown Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Don…
Beau and the Arrows Please don't throw my heart away Let's just try another day …
Blues Brothers & James Brown Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Don…
Brian And The Nightmares Exclusively it's you and me Tell me that you got the…
Brown James & The Famous Flames Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
Cats on Trees I can feel you in the night Everywhere you go I come…
clyde mcphatter Lover please, please come back Don't take a train coming dow…
David Shaw and The Beat I have seen the most impressing Doctors, nurses working hard…
Delbert McClinton Please, please, please, please (baby, please don't go) Ple…
Diana Ross and the Supremes Wait! Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman Wai ai ai ait…
East Side Story Vol.1-12 Long time ago The times we had were so and so It…
Final Fantasy Ask yourself, are you a slut? - No you're not! Did you…
Fiona Apple Please, please, please No more melodies They lack impact, th…
Fiona Apple(피오나 애플) Please please please No more melodies They lack impact, th…
George Michael Some people said, if I could only care for you Some…
globe amazing! and welcome event! 涙の意味はそれぞれで 一緒に流した その理由 「戦い」…
Head Automatica You scream louder than fiction and get down on your…
Hi-Standard You're the only mirror for me When you comfort me I realiz…
Ike & Tina Turner I heard church bells ringing, I heard a choir singing. I saw…
James Brown Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Don…
James Brown His Famous Flames Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
James Brown & The Fabulous Flames Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Don…
James Brown & The Famous Flames Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
James Brown & The Famous Flames The James Brown Band Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) P…
James Brown (w/ The Famous Flames) Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
James Brown/Musicfire.in Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Don…
James Brown/The Famous Flames Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
Johnny Logan everyday i think of you in every way i'm missing you and…
Josh Rouse Waiting on my angel to count my woes Waiting on my…
Julienne Taylor Good times for a change See, the luck I’ve had Can make…
Juncker undskyld mig lige hvis jeg trænger mig på det var…
K.b. 세상 속에 살 수 없기를 간절히 바라는 너의 맘을 느낀뒤에 허락하지…
Lashes The Look out, they're coming to get us. Nevermind it's a…
Lee Olivier-Hall I ain't seen my baby since a week ago today That's…
Marvin Gaye Stay baby, please stay Don't go away, baby Please stay, plea…
MIYAVI Nee Darlin' puri-Zu, puri-Zu oitekanaide, onegai Zutto zutt…
MR. AWESOME You asked me to love you But I have always loved…
Muse Good times for a change See, the luck I've had…
Ohm Guru Good times for a change See, the luck I've had Can make…
Otis Rush & His Band Baby, please don't go Baby, please don't go Baby, please don…
Prince Time and time again girl I promise I'll be there All…
Rob S. I was in the city thinking yeah I should called…
Rockwell So there's this thing It's called the theory of planned beha…
Ronnie & the Pomona Casuals If I got on my knees and pleaded with you Not…
Sasha Everybody's talking but I'm out of attention. I can only fe…
Shout Out Louds Long time ago And the times we had were so…
ShoutOutLouds Long time ago The times we had were so and…
Sleeper Going straight has never been easy Close my eyes don't look…
Stevie Wonder Please please please Please please please Honey, please don'…
Syl Johnson Please don't give up on me, baby Please don't give up…
The 60's Pop Band Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
The Cheers Help me please, Doctor Doctor, won't you please I need your …
The Famous Flames Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) Ple…
The J.B.'s band We've been together for a long time baby Do you have…
The JB's James Brown Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) P…
The Lashes Look out, they're coming to get us. Nevermind it's a…
The Shout Out Louds Long time ago The times we had were so and…
The Who Please, please, please, please me (You don't have to go) Bab…
Tina Turner I heard church bells ringing, I heard a choir singing. I saw…
V.A. Yeah I've never been a soft type If ya wana' speak…
Various Artist Long time ago The times we had were so and so It…
Wigelius Nobody sees you the way that I do. Ooh yeah! Uh! That's righ…
William T. & The Black 50's Please, please Please, please, baby Just come and see me ton…
yawners The first thing in the morning was to come right here,…
ジェームス・ブラウン & The J.B.'s Please, please, please, please (Please, please don't go) P…
雅-MIYAVI- Nee Darlin' puri-Zu, puri-Zu oitekanaide, onegai Zutto zutt…
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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@Hevesh5
next, watch SANTA CLAUS in Dominoes! https://youtu.be/qysno5XkPc8
wishing you and your family a fantastic holiday season! 🌟 I had so much fun making this video and really hope you enjoy! Feel free to share this video with a friend to wish them a happy holiday :)
@denvobroncos9852
Cool
@DanTDMFan
K
@richardvelez3151
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. I am so glad I found your channel this year. I love your creativity and spirit. Very excited for what's to come for you in 2020. Thank you, Lily! 👍🤟🤗
@002hkrss5
Please Make Sure You Making A Domino Videos, Give A Like, Share And Subscribe To You! And Keep On Building!
@003hkrss5
Let's Turn Everything Smile! :)
@DominoGirl
Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! Awesome video!
@Hevesh5
thank you! you too!
@2011yourlife
To the person that reads this, I ask the Lord to bless them and their family, to cure them of every sickness and pain, to fill their emptiness with love joy and peace, to rebuke the enemy from their lives. " ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND SAVE YOU, AND TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS, FOR WE GIVE THANKS AND GLORY TO THE LORD. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AMEN!
@user-gy1nl1tp1j
You’re right everyone should listen to you