His first move was for a name change to the Four Knights. He took them to New York and they started appearing on Arthur Godfrey’s radio show in 1945. Lang-Worth was a company that made what were called transcriptions, actually early albums containing four to six songs on each side of an eight inch disc that played at 33-1/3 rpm. These discs were not sold to the public; most all were sent to radio stations, allowing a local disc jockey to give the impression the group was right in the studio. The Knights did a number of these recordings. Between this type of exposure and the Godfrey show the group became fairly well-known. In 1946 they signed with Decca Records and in April of that year they released their first single, “Just in Case You Change Your Mind.” After four singles featuring Gene’s mellow lead, Oscar’s broad bass, and usually incorporating Gene’s whistling over the instrumental section, the group was moved to Decca’s Coral affiliate for three more 78s through 1949. They toured with dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and got a shot s regulars on the Red Skelton radio show in 1948. They spent two years doing Skelton in Los Angeles and performing in clubs across the country. The Knights lost the Skelton job in 1950 when their manager wanted more than the show could pay, and so he pulled the group. They then discharged him for losing what they considered to be a prime exposure medium.
In 1951 they brought their soft harmony to Capitol Records and began with “I Love the Sunshine of Your Smile” (#23). They also began covering R&B and pop artists on songs like “The Glory of Love” (THE 5 KEYS), “Sin” (THE FOUR ACES), which they took to number 14, and their biggest pop cover record at number eight in 1953, “Oh Happy Day” (Don Howard). The group’s biggest hit came in 1954 when “I Get So Lonely When I Think About You (Oh Baby Mine)” reached number two and ran for 24 weeks, even becoming a smash in England at number five, a tough thing for a black American group to do in 1954. The Pat Ballard-penned original was so popular in England that when it fell off the charts it resurfaced the following month (July), reaching number 10.
Toward the end of 1953 George Vereen began subbing on studio work and singing lead at live shows for Gene Alford, whose epilepsy was affecting his ongoing involvement with the group. Vereen was replaced in 1955 by ex-DELTA RHYTHM BOYS member Cliff Holland as Alford retired. Prior to their 1952 recordings the group sang with only a guitar backup, but Capitol soon had them working with full orchestras. By 1953, tours for the four were in full swing, and they played clubs from Las Vegas to Rio de Janeiro while appearing on the TV shows of Perry Como, Ed Sullivan, and of course Red Skelton. On August 27, 1954, they headlined at the famed Apollo in New York.
During the mid-‘50s the reigning king op Capitol’s roster, Nat King Cole, ran into the group and liked their style; he asked Capitol to have the Knights back him on some recordings. Their first collaboration, in early 1955, was titled “A Blossom Fell.” Though it didn’t chart, Nat and the Knights tried agin in January 1956, and by September their ”That’s All There Is to That” was number 16 on the pop char and number 14 R&B, the first time the Knights had ever appeared on the black charts. The next time out with Nat was the last: a ballad, “My Personal Possession,” released in May 1957 and reaching number 21 (#3 R&B). The only pop charter of the mid-and late ‘50s for the group by themselves was “O Falling Star” (#83, 1959) after they’d re-signed with Coral in late 1957. Capitol stayed with them for 39 45s throughout the ‘50s. In 1960 Gene Alford died. Clarence left the act in 1963 and the Knights disbanded three years after his departure. John Wallace died in 1978. Dixon and Broadway moved to the suburbs of Los Angeles in retirement.
I Love the Sunshine of Your SM
The Four Knights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love the sunshine of your smile
I love the laughter in your eyes
In every dream I dream of you
You are the one I idolise
Nobody thrills me like you do
You turn the grey skies into blue
For you always make my life worthwhile
(Alan)
I love the sunshine of your smile
I love the laughter in your eyes
In every dream I dream of you
You are the one I idolise
Nobody thrills me like you do
You turn the grey skies into blue
For you always make my life worthwhile
With the sunshine of your smile
(Musical Break)
(First four lines whistled)
(Chorus)
Nobody thrills me like you do
You turn the grey skies into blue
For you always make my life worthwhile
With the sunshine of your smile
The Four Knights's song "I Love the Sunshine of Your Smile" is a beautiful love letter in the form of a melody. The lyrics describe the way the singer feels about their significant other, with a focus on how their presence brings joy and light into their life. The chorus repeats the sentiment, "I love the sunshine of your smile, I love the laughter in your eyes," which emphasize the specific physical features of their partner that bring the singer happiness. The second person pronoun, "you," is used throughout the song, which creates a personal and intimate tone.
The lyrics also reveal a sense of idolization towards the partner, with the line "you are the one I idolise." This shows that the singer holds their significant other in high regard and values their worth. The final lines of the chorus "nobody thrills me like you do, you turn the grey skies into blue" suggest that the partner has the ability to improve the singer's mood and make them feel happy regardless of the circumstances. Overall, the song is a declaration of love and appreciation for the sunshine that the partner brings into the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I love the sunshine of your smile
I adore the warmth and happiness your smile brings me
I love the laughter in your eyes
I cherish the joy and mirth that sparkles in your eyes
In every dream I dream of you
You are always on my mind, even in my dreams at night
You are the one I idolise
You are my ultimate inspiration and admiration
Nobody thrills me like you do
No one else excites and delights me like you do
You turn the grey skies into blue
You bring color and brightness to my gloomy days
For you always make my life worthwhile
Because of you, my life is filled with meaning and purpose
With the sunshine of your smile
Your smile is like a ray of sunshine that brightens up my day
Lyrics © M.T.S. MUSIC PUBLISHING CO
Written by: JACK HOFFMAN, JIMMY MACDONALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheJonaco
This melody is also the fight song of Canadian football's B.C. Lions. It was adapted by legendary Vancouver band leader Dal Richards, who passed away just recently at 97.
nonstopdoowop1
you definitely turn the gray skies into blue CatsPjamas1...xo