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
Rags To Riches
The Dominoes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you would only say you care
And though my pocket may be empty
I'd be a millionaire
My clothes may still be torn and tattered
But in my heart I'd be a king
Your love is all that ever mattered
So open your arms and you'll open the door
To every treasure that I'm hopin' for
Hold me and kiss me and tell me you're mine ever more
Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you
Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you
The lyrics to The Dominoes' song "Rags to Riches" tell the story of a person who dreams of going from poverty to prosperity, and their fate lies in the hands of the person they love. The singer believes that if this person would only express their care and love, their life would transform. They acknowledge their current state of having an empty pocket and torn clothes, but they believe that in their heart, they would feel like a king if they had the love and affection of their desired partner.
The singer emphasizes that love is the most important thing in their life, expressing that it is all they truly need. They long for their loved one to open their arms, open the door to a brighter future, and bring them the treasures they hope for. They desire to be held, kissed, and claimed by their partner, feeling their love is essential for their happiness.
The song raises the question of whether the singer will forever remain a beggar, only dreaming of their golden dreams coming true, or if their fate will change and they will indeed go from "rags to riches." This fate is in the hands of their loved one, as their care and love would lead to a transformation of their life.
Overall, "Rags to Riches" explores the theme of love's transformative power, suggesting that true wealth lies in the affection and care of a person rather than material possessions or societal status. It begs the question of whether love can provide a path towards a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I'd go from rags to riches
I believe that my life would improve dramatically
If you would only say you care
If only you express your love for me
And though my pocket may be empty
Even if I have no money
I'd be a millionaire
I would feel incredibly wealthy
My clothes may still be torn and tattered
Although my attire is worn and damaged
But in my heart I'd be a king
Within my heart, I would feel royal and powerful
Your love is all that ever mattered
The affection you have for me is the most important thing
It's everything
It means the world to me
So open your arms and you'll open the door
If you embrace me, you will provide me with opportunities
To every treasure that I'm hopin' for
To achieve all the things I desire
Hold me and kiss me and tell me you're mine ever more
Embrace me tightly, kiss me affectionately, and assure me of your everlasting love
Must I forever be a beggar
Am I destined to always be in a state of neediness
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Whose aspirations for success will remain unfulfilled?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
Or could I transform my life from poverty to great wealth?
My fate is up to you
The decision lies in your hands
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jerry Ross, Richard Adler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind