The group formed in Brooklyn, New York in the late 1950s with Eugene Pitt, Jerome Hanna, Richard Harris, Thurmon Prophet, and Norman Johnson. The group found success in 1961 with "My True Story" on Beltone Records, which reached No. 3 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart.
The group reorganized following the death of Hanna in 1962 with Pitt, Johnson, Hanna's replacement Andre Coles, Casey Spencer, and Beatrice Best. They recorded "What Time is It" and "These Golden Rings" for Belltone, before switching to United Artists Records, where they had a hit with "I'm a Happy Man". In 1970 the group moved to Decca Records and recorded as "The Jyve Fyve", with Pitt, Spencer, Richard Fisher, and Richard Harris's brother Webster. They had a minor hit with this name, "I Want You To Be My Baby", on Decca. They also recorded briefly for Avco Records. They made a 1974 recording for Chess Records as "Shadow", and a 1975 recording for Columbia Records as "Ebony, Ivory, and the Jades".
They changed back to "The Jive Five" in 1978. At this time the line-up was Pitt, Spencer, and the returning Beatrice Best and Richard Harris. The group reorganized in 1982, with Pitt, Best, Charles Mitchell, and Pitt's brothers Herbert and Frank. In the late 1990s, the group was Pitt, Best, Harold Gill, Maurice Unthank, and Art Loria. Daniel Loria came in for Best at times, who was in and out with health issues.
In 1985, Eugene and The Jive Five were introduced to New York cable TV branding consultants Fred Seibert and Alan Goodman (and their company Fred/Alan, Inc.) by their latest producer, Ambient Sound's Marty Pekar. Together with Fred/Alan producer Tom Pomposello they embarked on an almost ten-year relationship, creating and singing the a cappella signature sound of the American kids' television network Nickelodeon, one of the first popular "network" specialized cable television channels. They used the group to write and record some of the most memorable advertising jingles of their day with the catch phrase, "Nic-Nic-Nic", performed in a doo wop style. They were part of the popular "Kid's Choice" awards, and later, they worked on ID's for HBO Family in 1999.
The group performed on the PBS special Doo Wop 50. The line-up was Pitt, Spencer, Richard Harris, Best, and a fifth member. Between 2000 and 2006 the line up was led by Pitt on lead vocals, Bea Best, Art Loria (formerly of The Belmonts and Earls), Danny Loria and Harold Gilly. Maurice Unthank took over as band leader. The group released a single in 2003 entitled “It’s Christmas”, written by Pitt and the Loria’s. It was credited to 'Eugene Pitt and the Jive Five' and featured Pitt, Best, Gill, Unthank, and the Loria’s. Other recordings this line-up recorded included: “Jive Five Sing Along”, “Pretend”, “I Am Yours”, “Falling Tears (remake) “Today”, “Close Your Eyes”, “You”, “Daddy’s Home” and many other single releases.
Eugene Pitt, as one of the founding members with Artie and Danny Loria, was active performing and recording with The Doo Wop All Stars between 1990 and 2006. The group recorded a tribute song to the September 11 attacks victims and heroes, named "We Will Never Fall". It was a Jive Five release in 2001 that was credited to the group “Voices for America”.
In June 2010, the group consisted of the 72-year-old Eugene Pitt, first tenor Frank Pitt, second tenor Casey Spencer, baritone Beatrice Best, and bass Herbert Pitt.
Norman Johnson died in 1970. Webster Harris died in 2003. Maurice Unthank died on July 21, 2008. Artie Loria died on October 23, 2010. As of 2013, Danny Loria still performs and records with the Doo Wop All Stars. He also produces, promotes and is the President of Alpine Entertainment, an entertainment and publishing company.
Eugene Pitt died in 2018. The Jive Five, with Eugene Pitt at the helm spent 60 years as one of the most popular Doo Wop / R&B / classic Rock and Roll musical acts. Terry Stewart, President & CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, called Pitt "the most underrated soul singer in America"
Alpine Entertainment in association with Street Corner Entertainment (Las Vegas) will be releasing a new CD containing unreleased Jive Five material in 2020 in memory of the passing of Eugene Pitt. The album (still yet to be titled) will feature a mix of recordings that will include unreleased original recordings, live shows, re-releases of their top hits, original songs written by Pitt and other collector items.
Chains
The Jive Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they ain't the kind that you can see.
Whoa, it's chains of love got a hold on me. Yeah!
Chains, well I can't break away from these chains,
Can't run around 'cause I'm not free.
Whoa, these chains of love won't let me be. Yeah!
I'd like to hold you, but, darling, I'm imprisoned by these
Chains, my baby's got me locked up in chains,
And they ain't the kind that you can see.
Whoa, it's chains of love got a hold on me, Yeah!
I wanna tell you pretty baby, your lips look sweet.
I'd like to kiss them, But I can't break away from all these
Chains, my baby's got me locked up in chains,
And they ain't the kind that you can see.
Whoa, it's chains of love got a hold on me, Yeah!
The Jive Five's "Chains" is a classic love song that describes a relationship where one partner feels trapped, like they are held captive by their lover's love. The singer repeatedly talks about chains that cannot be seen, suggesting that the hold that his lover has on him is emotional, rather than physical. He compares his situation to being imprisoned, emphasizing the sense of helplessness and desperation he feels.
The lyrics of "Chains" also make it clear that the singer is deeply in love with his partner, despite feeling trapped in the relationship. He tells his lover that he thinks she's beautiful and would love to hold her, but he can't escape the chains that bind him. This suggests that the singer is torn between his love for his partner and his desire for freedom.
Overall, "Chains" is a powerful and moving song that captures the complex and often conflicting emotions that can come with being in a relationship. From the singer's impassioned vocals to the emotive lyrics, the track is a classic example of the soulful, heartfelt music that The Jive Five are best known for.
Line by Line Meaning
Chains, my baby's got me locked up in chains,
I am trapped in a relationship with my lover who is holding me captive with their love, which is not visible but all-encompassing.
And they ain't the kind that you can see.
The chains I describe are not literal chains, but rather the emotional bonds and attachments that prevent me from being free from this relationship.
Whoa, it's chains of love got a hold on me. Yeah!
The hold that my lover has on me is due to the powerful and overwhelming nature of our love, which is controlling my actions and thoughts.
Chains, well I can't break away from these chains,
Despite my desire to be free, I am unable to break away from these emotional chains and the relationship they represent.
Can't run around 'cause I'm not free.
Because I am emotionally trapped, I am unable to be truly free and cannot act on my own desires without considering the impact on the relationship.
Whoa, these chains of love won't let me be. Yeah!
The love and emotional attachments of this relationship are preventing me from pursuing my own desires and finding true freedom.
Now believe me when I tell you I think you're fine.
Despite my struggles with this relationship, I still believe that my lover is attractive and desirable.
I'd like to hold you, but, darling, I'm imprisoned by these
Although I desire physical intimacy with my lover, I am unable to do so because of the emotional chains that bind me to the relationship.
I wanna tell you pretty baby, your lips look sweet.
I want to express my attraction to my lover and their physical appearance, specifically focusing on their lips.
And they ain't the kind that you can see.
Similar to the chains that bind me emotionally, my attraction to my lover is not a physical manifestation but rather an emotional one.
Whoa, it's chains of love got a hold on me, Yeah!
Once again emphasizing the hold that love and emotional attachment have over me and how they are preventing me from breaking free from the relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gerry Goffin, Carole King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rico Diamond
on What Time Is It
The place: the top fifth floor hallway of 836 Myrtle Ave. (between Thompkins and Marcy Aves.). It served as one of the rehearsal venues of "The Jive Five" singing group. The family of Norman Johnson, also known as June, the bass singer of the group, lived in apartment 5F. I remember as a child, with other kids from the building sitting and standing around in the crowded hallway with adult family members listening to them reherse. These memories will never fade away. They were especially dear to my family (the Herb's), because we lived next door (in apartment 5E) to June's family (the Johnson's). The "Jive Five" was Myrtle Avenue's gift to the world of Doo Woop. If you're out there famlies from Myrtle Avenue, let the world know I'm telling the truth.