Jacob Carey (Jake) and Ezekial Carey (Zeke), bass and 2nd tenor, respectively, formed the group in Chicago, Illinois, after meeting cousins baritone Paul Wilson and first tenor John E. "Johnny" Carter at a Hebrew Israelite congregation. Earl Lewis (not the Channels lead) soon joined, and after a series of name changes, (The Swallows, El Flamingos, The Five Flamingos), wound up being known as The Flamingos. Sollie McElroy soon replaced Lewis (who joined The Five Echoes). The Flamingos' first single (for Chance Records), "If I Can't Have You", was a moderate local success, as was the follow-up "That's My Desire", but it was Johnny Carter's composition of "Golden Teardrops," with its complex vocal harmonies and Carter's soaring falsetto, that cemented their reputation as a top regional act of the day.
The Flamingos left Chance Records sometime after their December 1953 session and signed with DJ Al Benson's Parrot Records. Sollie McElroy was on their first Parrot session, but left the group in December 1954, to be replaced by tenor Nate Nelson (who was on their second Parrot session; he's lead on "I'm Yours," released in January 1955). In early 1955, the Flamingos signed with Chess Records, to record for their Checker Records subsidiary. At Chess/Checker, the Flamingos achieved their first national chart hit with "I'll Be Home", which went to #5 on Billboard's R&B chart (Pat Boone's cover version, complete with incorrect lyrics, was a hit on the pop charts).[citation needed] The group also had moderate success for the label with other chestnuts like "A Kiss From Your Lips," "The Vow," and "Would I Be Crying". The Flamingos also appeared in the 1956 Alan Freed movie, Rock, Rock Rock. Both Zeke Carey and Carter were drafted that year (Carter was drafted in September).
Nate Nelson, Jake Carey, and Paul Wilson continued the group with new member Tommy Hunt (added in October 1956). Another new member, tenor/lead, guitarist, and arranger Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, joined in late December of that year. This group (Nate Nelson, Tommy Hunt, Terry Johnson, Paul Wilson, and Jake Carey) began recording for Decca Records in April 1957. Their most notable single was Johnson's arrangement of "The Ladder of Love", but legal entanglements between Checker and Nate Nelson ruined any chance of commercial success.[citation needed] Zeke Carey returned to the Flamingos in 1958, making the group a sextet. (When Johnny Carter was discharged from the service, he joined The Dells, performing with them for almost 50 years until his death in 2009.)
Zeke and Jake Carey were not blood-related, but were considered cousins, because of Zeke being adopted by Jake's aunt and uncle.
That year, the Flamingos began recording for George Goldner's End Records in New York City, where they had several national hits. Almost immediately, the group had their first pop chart hit with "Lovers Never Say Goodbye", written by Terry Johnson, who shared lead chores on the song with Paul Wilson. The formula was a winner as Terry and Paul also led three of the 12 songs selected for their first album Flamingo Serenade - George Gershwin's "Love Walked In", "But Not For Me" and "Time Was". The Flamingos would have their biggest seller in 1959 with another old standard from that LP, on which Nate Nelson handled lead chores. "I Only Have Eyes for You" (written in 1934 by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin for the film Dames) became their biggest seller, and has been featured in dozens of movies and TV shows. A long series of hits followed, including the Johnson-penned "Mio Amore", Doc Pomus' composition "Your Other Love", "Nobody Loves Me Like You" (written for the group by Sam Cooke), and "I Was Such a Fool". LP cuts "Love Walked In" and "Time Was" were also issued as singles.[citation needed] That same year, they appeared in the Alan Freed movie, Go, Johnny, Go, singing a frenetic version of "Jump Children" (originally recorded for Chance Records in the early days). The group became known almost as much for their stage show and choreography as for their harmonies. Groups including The Temptations and The Tavares would later credit the group as major influences.
The group began to come apart at the turn of the decade. Tommy Hunt left for a solo career in 1960. Nate Nelson and Terry Johnson split to form the "Modern Flamingos" in 1961, and went on to record as The Starglows on Atco Records in 1963. (The Modern Flamingos name was used later; the group would include members of the defunct Del-Knights in the late 1960s). New members were brought in, making the group Zeke Carey (tenor), Jake Carey (bass), Paul Wilson (baritone), Billy Clarke[disambiguation needed] (tenor), Eddie Williams (tenor), Alan Fontaine (guitar), and Julien Vaught (saxophone). Also Johnny Carter left in 1961 to join The Dells. Clarke and Williams took duties on most new lead vocals.
A sixth vocalist, Doug McClure, was added in 1962. Shortly afterwards, Clarke and Williams left the group. Founding member Paul Wilson left in 1964, new member Sidney Hall joined in 1966, and Jacob Carey's son J.C. Carey joined in 1969. They recorded several uptempo songs through the 1960s, peaking at #26 in the UK Singles Chart with "The Boogaloo Party". Around this time, the Flamingos formed their own label, Ronze, and produced many of their own recordings.
The group continued recording into the 1970s. A new album was released in 1972 on Ronze, entitled The Flamingos Today. By this time, the group was the Careys, McClure, Fontaine, the returning Billy Clarke, and former Limelite Clarence Bassett, Jr.[8][9] New member Frank "Mingo" Ayers joined soon after. More mildly successful recordings came in this decade, including the uptempo "Heavy Hips", and "Buffalo Soldier".
By 1980 the group was Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Frank Ayers, and Jerome Wilson. Ayers left around this time, joining the Del Vikings. In 1984, two new members joined: Bennie Cherry and Archie Satterfield. In 1988, the group was featured at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
By the early 1990s, the group was the Careys, Satterfield, Ron Reace, and Kenny Davis. Later, it was the Careys, Reace, and King Raymond Green. Jake Carey died in 1997. The group recorded a new album, Unspoken Emotions, under the Ronze label in 1999. It featuring re-recordings of "Ain't Nothing But A Party" and "I'll Be Home", led by Zeke Carey. The group appeared on the PBS television special Doo Wop 50 that same year. The lineup was Zeke Carey, J.C. Carey, Ron Reace, King Raymond Green, and Larry Jordan. Zeke Carey died in 2001. King Raymond Green and Ron Reace left around that time and were replaced by Earnest "Just Mike" Gilbert and former Dynamic Superior George Spann. James Faison entered shortly thereafter. Tommy Hunt has flown in from England (where he has lived since 1970) to perform with this group twice since 2001.
The group split up in late 2005 due to money disputes. Spann, Jordan, Gilbert, and Faison grouped together to reform Spann's old group, The Dynamic Superiors. Carey brought in new members, and toured with Tommy Hunt starting in April 2007.
Terry Johnson is the owner of "The Flamingos" federal trademark and leads the current incarnation of the group. The current lineup is Johnson, Starling Newsome, Stan Prinston and musical director Theresa Trigg. The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson appeared on two PBS specials: Rock and Roll at Fifty (in which they were the only group to have more than two songs featured) and Doo Wop Cavalcade: The Definitive Anthology. In 2013, The Flamingos released the Diamond Anniversary Tour CD. They continue to perform in concerts across the country.
J.C. Carey Jr., Terry Johnson, Tommy Hunt, and descendants of Nate Nelson and Paul Wilson, sued PepsiCo for having used "I Only Have Eyes For You" in a 1998 television commercial, allegedly without having consulted the group. The group was awarded $250,000.
The Flamingos received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 1996 (where Terry Johnson, Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter performed) and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Doo-Wopp Hall of Fame in 2004. The group that performed at the Rock Hall ceremony included Terry Johnson on lead, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter. In 2003, The Flamingos recording of "I Only Have Eyes For You" (co-written by Walle (Walter) Dillard) was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame.
Golden Teardrops
The Flamingos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember when
You fell from the eyes of my love
You made me reconsider what a fool I've been
And swear to God, I'll stray no more
My heart, the stars above
You haunt my memories
The reason you came was because of me
You made me sit right down
And hang up this ghost
So go back where you came from
She won't need you anymore
I never realized that I was unfair
To allow that was really sincere
I never knew how much you really cared
So, darling, put away your tears
'Cause I'll remember no matter where you'll be
In a crowded room or a busy street
Or a cottage by the sea
But until the end of time
And throughout eternity
I'll remember (I'll remember)
To chose (and to chose)
Those golden teardrops for me
Those golden teardrops for me
Those golden teardrops for me
The Flamingos’s “Golden Teardrops” is a classic doo-wop ballad about a man realizing his mistakes and learning to appreciate someone’s love. The lyrics describe the remorse he feels after his lover sheds “golden teardrops” and how he wants to make amends for his mistakes. The phrase “golden teardrops” refers to the value and beauty of his lover’s tears, as they represent the pain and suffering she has gone through because of his actions. This song is about him realizing the error of his ways and promising to do better so that his lover will not have to cry anymore.
Throughout the song, the Flamingos convey the deep realization of the singer about the importance of the woman in his life. He realizes that he has been a fool and has taken her love for granted. The golden teardrops are a symbol of how much he has hurt her and how much he wants to make it right. He promises to never hurt her again and to choose her over anyone else. The lyrics are full of emotion and heartbreak, but the melody is uplifting and hopeful.
The Flamingos’s “Golden Teardrops” is a testament to the power of love and redemption. The song has touched the hearts of millions of people and has become a classic of the doo-wop genre. This song is a reminder that it's never too late to make amends for mistakes and that true love is worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
Golden teardrops
These tears are special and held with great importance
I remember when
Looking back, I recall a specific moment
You fell from the eyes of my love
Her tears caught my attention and made me realize the error of my ways
You made me reconsider what a fool I've been
Her tears made me realize I was foolish to have hurt her
And swear to God, I'll stray no more
Making a commitment to change my behavior toward her
My heart, the stars above
The depth of my love for her
You haunt my memories
I cannot forget what her tears represented
The reason you came was because of me
I was the cause of her pain
You made me sit right down
Her tears forced me to face my actions
And hang up this ghost
To let go of the past and move on
So go back where you came from
The tears are no longer needed as I have learned my lesson
She won't need you anymore
Her tears were caused by my actions, and I vow to change
I never realized that I was unfair
I was not treating her properly
To allow that was really sincere
She was genuine in her feelings for me
I never knew how much you really cared
I didn't appreciate her fully
So, darling, put away your tears
I promise to not cause her any more pain
'Cause I'll remember no matter where you'll be
I will always be aware of the impact of my actions on others
In a crowded room or a busy street
Even with distractions, her tears will not be forgotten
Or a cottage by the sea
Regardless of location, the memory of her tears will remain
But until the end of time
Forever and always
And throughout eternity
For all of existence
I'll remember (I'll remember)
The memory will not fade
To chose (and to chose)
To learn from my mistakes and make better choices in the future
Those golden teardrops for me
Her tears taught me a valuable lesson and will not be forgotten
Those golden teardrops for me
Her tears are a reminder of the need to be more thoughtful and considerate
Those golden teardrops for me
Her tears represent a turning point in my behavior and outlook
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: J. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindadee2053
Back around 1963 I found an album called The Unavailable Sixteen and purchased it without really knowing any of the 16 rare songs on it. I believe this was cut #1 on side #1. It also had Red Sails In The Sunset by The Spaniels and Dreams Of Contentment from the Dells. That's all I can recall right now, but I still have that album. It was wonderful and it was the first time I ever heard this beauty from The Flamingos, Golden Teardrops. What a find that was!
@boomerang905
My goodness, this is about the prettiest. My big sister used to play this for me when I was a kid. Takes me back to the days a friend and I were just talking about and he mentioned this.....I love this. Yes, I am glad to be a Boomer, I even got to see these gentle in person at the Regal Theater on 47th street.
@MRDOOWOP1
One of the best Doo-wop Ballads ever made!! These guys could really put a song togethor ...Take a Bow.....The smooth Flamingos.
@bigarnie41
Great early Flamingoes with a Sollie McElory lead still blows me away 57 years later
@lindadee2053
It's now over 70 years old and still as beautiful as ever. May 2023.
@thedoowopden
Just fantastic, nectar to the ears and utterly sublime
@SuperCharlie41
The Flamingos made a lot of great doo wop's, this is one of their best, I have it on a cd.
@boomerang905
The beauty in these songs was not just in the beautiful melodies, harmony, but just listen to how clear and articulate they express their words. I never understood a thing Anita Baker sang, for example. The guy that introduced this to my older sisters and brothers (who used to have all the new cuts) passed on and this reminds me of my family, him back in the real day of Artistry! Yes, I agree....I know where the Temps got their style from and made all the money.
@themightydells
Lead: Sollie McElroy
Tenor: Johnnie Carter - 'Worlds greatest tenor'
Co-Writer: Johnnie Carter (of The Dells)
@djay3635
This is an amazing song. When I get in my '56 Bel Air Conv and play this, I'm literally swept away in my mind.