The Five Satins are an American doo wop group, best known for their song, "… Read Full Bio ↴The Five Satins are an American doo wop group, best known for their song, "In the Still of the Night".

The group, formed in New Haven, Connecticut, consisted of leader Fred Parris, Lou Peebles, Stanley Dortch, Ed Martin and Jim Freeman in 1954. With little success, the group reorganized, with Dortch and Peebles leaving, and new member Al Denby entering. The group then recorded "In the Still of the Night", which was originally released as the b-side to the single, "The Jones Girl". The single was released the following year, and "In the Still of the Night" ended up charting at number three on the R&B chart and number 25 on the pop charts. Parris entered the Army soon after, and the group reorganized again, with Martin, Freeman, Tommy Killebrew, Jessie Murphy and new lead Bill Baker. This lineup hit with another highly successful song, Billy Dawn Smith's "To The Aisle".

Upon Parris' return from the Army, a new lineup was assembled, consisting of Parris, Lou Peebles (who was in a previous incarnation of the Five Satins), Sylvester Hopkins, Richie Freeman and Wes Forbes. The group would be briefly known as "Fred Parris and the Scarlets", until the Baker-led group split up. At this point, they reverted to the Five Satins name, but had little success on the charts.

By the early 1970s the group was Parris, Peebles, Richie Freeman, Jimmy Curtis and Corky Rogers, and they continued recording into the 1980s, with Parris, Richie Freeman, Curtis and Nate Marshall. Meanwhile, Bill Baker started his own Five Satins group in 1981, with former Satin Sylvester Hopkins and Hopkins' brothers Carl and Frank. By the late 1980s, this group consisted of Baker, Harvey Potts, Jr., Anthony Hofler and Octavio DeLeon.

Fred Parris continues to perform. Bill Baker died in 1994.

Awards and recognition:
In 2003, the Five Satins were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Present day:
One of the original members of the Five Satins now works in the cafeteria at the University of New Haven. Jim Freeman lives in Norwalk, Iowa and owns a pest control company. Wes Forbes is a psychologist in the State of California, currently employed with Alliant International University as a Training Director

Fred Parris passed away in January of 2022.

Dirty Dancing
The Five Satins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the still of the night
I held you
Held you tight
'Cause I love
Love you so
Promise I'll never
Let you go
In the still of the night

I remember
That night in May
The stars were bright above
I'll hope and I'll pray
To keep
Your precious love
Well before the light
Hold me again
With all of your might
In the still of the night

So before the light
Hold me again
With all of your might

In the still of the night
In the still of the night

Overall Meaning

The Five Satins classic hit 'Dirty Dancing' is a timeless masterpiece that has been enjoyed by generations over the years. The song has a melodic, soothing, and romantic tune that is beautifully dope with timeless lyrics that speak of love, commitment, and passion. The first verse of the song "In the still of the night, I held you, held you tight 'Cause I love, love you so, promise I'll never let you go" is a testament to the deep love that the singer harbors for his lover. Despite the impermanence of life, the singer is committed to loving and holding his loved one close, forever enjoying the bond shared.

The second verse "I remember that night in May; the stars were bright above. I'll hope and pray to keep your precious love. Well, before the light, hold me again with all of your might" goes on to describe a magical moment that he shared with his partner in May. The mesmerizing beauty of the 'star-studded skies' and the profound joy shared between the lovers proves to be a moment that has left an indelible impact on the singer. The lyric emphasizes the importance of cherishing such moments of love and making the most of every second.

Overall, The Five Satins's Dirty Dancing is an ode to love, passion, and commitment. The song describes the joy that the singer feels being able to hold his loved one close in the stillness of the night, and the memories that remain etched in the mind featuring the magic of such moments.

Line by Line Meaning

In the still of the night
The night is quiet and peaceful, and there is calmness around.

I held you
I embraced you warmly while we were together.

Held you tight
I held you firmly and affectionately in my arms.

'Cause I love Love you so
My love for you is so deep and unconditional, and it's the reason we are together.

Promise I'll never Let you go
I assure you that I will never leave, abandon or forsake you at any cost.

I remember That night in May
I have a clear recollection of that particular evening during the month of May in the past.

The stars were bright above
The sky had a myriad of shining stars that illuminated the darkness of the night.

I'll hope and I'll pray To keep Your precious love
I'll pray and wish for us to maintain the precious and valuable love we have between us.

Well before the light
When the morning comes early, and the sun starts to rise.

Hold me again With all of your might
Hugging me again with all your strength and showing me your love again before the light comes in.

In the still of the night
The night is the perfect time for us to express our love for each other with an undisturbed environment.