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 smile
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 lyrics of The Four Knights’s song “I Love The Sunshine Of Your Smile” are a declaration of love and desire. The singer expresses his strong emotions towards the person he loves, highlighting the impact that their smile and laughter have on him. He declares his admiration towards them and considers them the one he idolises. The chorus is a repetition of his feelings as he describes how the person makes his life worthwhile and turns his grey skies into blue. The song can be interpreted as a love ballad expressing a strong romantic and emotional connection.
The lyrics also evoke the idea of happiness and the power of positivity. The singer portrays the person's sunshine-like presence as an essential factor in his life, indicating that their mere presence affects his mood positively. The line, ‘you turn the grey skies into blue’ also reinforces this positive sentiment.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of love, positivity and admiration, with the lyrics weaving a story that makes the listener feel a strong sense of emotion towards the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
I love the sunshine of your smile
I adore the radiant energy that emanates from your heartfelt grin
I love the laughter in your eyes
I cherish the joyous twinkle that sparkles in the depth of your gaze
In every dream I dream of you
In each slumbering moment, the essence of your being colors my subconscious
You are the one I idolise
My admiration for you surpasses all others as you embody the epitome of my ideals
Nobody thrills me like you do
No one else excites me or brings me as much pleasure as you do
You turn the grey skies into blue
Your presence has the power to transform dreariness into a bright, optimistic outlook
For you always make my life worthwhile
Because of you, my life is meaningful, fulfilling, and enriched
With the sunshine of your smile
Your smile is a source of warmth and happiness that shines light into my world
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