The Moonglows were an influential American R&B and doo-wop group based in C… Read Full Bio ↴The Moonglows were an influential American R&B and doo-wop group based in Cleveland, Ohio. The original group was composed of Bobby Lester, Harvey Fuqua, Pete Graves and Prentiss Barnes, along with guitarist Billy Johnson. Originally known as The Crazy Sounds, they were renamed by Cleveland DJ Alan Freed, who was known on the air as Moondog, and who decided to heavily promote the group. Marvin Gaye joined the group in 1958, and they later disbanded in 1960.
In early 1951, the Moonglows, mostly featuring Fuqua on lead vocals, began recording, first for Freed's Champagne record label and then for Chicago's Chance Records, achieving local success in the midwest with a bluesy sound. By mid 1954, the group had become more polished (as evidenced by their Lester-led cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love"), and signed with the bigger Chess Records label. Their first Chess record was also their first R&B hit, the Fuqua-penned "Sincerely" (1954), with a lead vocal by Lester (and covered for the pop market by The McGuire Sisters). "Sincerely" was followed by a series of original R&B hits in 1955 and 1956, including "Most of All", "In My Diary" (later recorded by The Spinners), "When I'm With You" (all led by Lester) and the uptempo "See Saw" (featuring Fuqua). 1957 saw the release of the Fuqua led "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (originally by Percy Mayfield in 1950).
Through this period, the group perfected their patented, breathy, "blow harmony," which inspired countless 1950s doo-wop groups and 1960s soul groups, and even the 1970s The Chi-Lites.
Generally, Fuqua sang lead on the uptempo and blues-based tunes, while Lester was the group's romantic lead. Occasionally, on songs like "We Go Together" (1956), they sang a duet lead. Fuqua and Lester also "Moonlighted" on the Checker Records label as the "Moonlighters", recording a local hit "Shoo-be-doo (My Lovin' Baby)" in 1955. The group appeared in Rock Rock Rock a movie produced by, and starring Alan Freed. The last recording by the original five was the hit "10 Commandments of Love" (released in early 1958). It featured Fuqua on lead, with Billy Johnson doing the spoken recitation. By 1957, Fuqua had begun to re-assert himself as lead vocalist and manager, with Lester being pushed to the background. This created a great deal of friction within the group.[citation needed]
Also in 1957, a Washington, D.C. based group known as The Marquees was struggling to make it. The members were Marvin Gaye, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and James Knowland. They decided to give an impromptu audition to Fuqua, as the Moonglows had come to town for a concert. Fuqua was so impressed with them that he decided to fire the entire group and take on the Marquees as the "New Moonglows." Fuqua recorded with these four (later including fifth member Chuck Barksdale), as Harvey & The Moonglows through 1960, when the group dispersed. Gaye went on to a huge solo career.
Fuqua produced the Spinners in the early 1960s, even singing on a few of their records (but not 1961's "That's What Girls are Made For", which featured Bobby Smith imitating Harvey's style). Fuqua became a staff writer and record producer for Motown Records through the 1960s, and later road-managed Smokey Robinson. Lester returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and opened a nightclub. Barnes moved to Mississippi and retired from professional singing after an automobile accident in 1969.
Meanwhile, in 1964, Pete Graves restarted the Moonglows with Doc Green of The Drifters, George Thorpe, and Bearle Easton. This group recorded briefly for Lana Records, Times Square Records, and Crimson Records.
Yet another new Moonglows formed in 1970, featuring Lester and a Louisville group called the Aristocrats, who consisted of Lester's cousin Gary Rodgers, plus Albert Workman, Robert Ford, and Billy McPhatter (son of Clyde McPhatter). This group performed once in 1971 at a show in New York, but the Aristocrats decided to return to Louisville. Dallas, inspired by the reception his group received, reunited with Harvey Fuqua and Pete Graves, plus new members Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis, and the Moonglows were back.
They recorded an LP released on RCA Records in 1972, charting their last single, "Sincerely '72", a funky re-working of their 1954 hit.
This line-up split up after 1972, and Lester began singing with local Louisville singers again, including at times Rodgers, Ford, Robert Lee Davis, Bruce Martin, and Peter Lawford. This group recorded a mostly a cappella, live album Moonglows in 1979.
Lester died in his hometown of Louisville from cancer in 1980, and Billy McPhatter returned to the group, with Rodgers taking over most of the leads in what was now billed as "Bobby Lester's Moonglows." McPhatter was later replaced by Bobby Lester, Jr. Harvey reunited with the remainder of his 1972 Moonglows in 1983 for a Grammy performance (minus Lester, and Barksdale who had rejoined The Dells, and plus guitarist Johnson), and they toured until 1986 as Harvey & the Moonglows.
In 2000, Bobby Lester's Moonglows, consisting of Rodgers, Martin, Lawford, and Gene Kelly, appeared on the PBS special Doo Wop 50, backing up Harvey Fuqua on "Sincerely" and "10 Commandments of Love." Fuqua, now in his mid-70s, still sings occasionally, sometimes backed up by Lester's Moonglows, sometimes a 50s R&B group called the Magnificents, and sometimes by local "pick-up" groups. Fuqua also produces and manages gospel acts. Reese Palmer is a member of The Legendary Orioles, as well as leading a new version of The Marquees. Chuck Barksdale is still with the Dells. Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles in 1987, Gary Rodgers died in 2005, and Prentiss Barnes died in 2006.[1].
Harvey Fuqua passed away in 2010.
The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
In early 1951, the Moonglows, mostly featuring Fuqua on lead vocals, began recording, first for Freed's Champagne record label and then for Chicago's Chance Records, achieving local success in the midwest with a bluesy sound. By mid 1954, the group had become more polished (as evidenced by their Lester-led cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love"), and signed with the bigger Chess Records label. Their first Chess record was also their first R&B hit, the Fuqua-penned "Sincerely" (1954), with a lead vocal by Lester (and covered for the pop market by The McGuire Sisters). "Sincerely" was followed by a series of original R&B hits in 1955 and 1956, including "Most of All", "In My Diary" (later recorded by The Spinners), "When I'm With You" (all led by Lester) and the uptempo "See Saw" (featuring Fuqua). 1957 saw the release of the Fuqua led "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (originally by Percy Mayfield in 1950).
Through this period, the group perfected their patented, breathy, "blow harmony," which inspired countless 1950s doo-wop groups and 1960s soul groups, and even the 1970s The Chi-Lites.
Generally, Fuqua sang lead on the uptempo and blues-based tunes, while Lester was the group's romantic lead. Occasionally, on songs like "We Go Together" (1956), they sang a duet lead. Fuqua and Lester also "Moonlighted" on the Checker Records label as the "Moonlighters", recording a local hit "Shoo-be-doo (My Lovin' Baby)" in 1955. The group appeared in Rock Rock Rock a movie produced by, and starring Alan Freed. The last recording by the original five was the hit "10 Commandments of Love" (released in early 1958). It featured Fuqua on lead, with Billy Johnson doing the spoken recitation. By 1957, Fuqua had begun to re-assert himself as lead vocalist and manager, with Lester being pushed to the background. This created a great deal of friction within the group.[citation needed]
Also in 1957, a Washington, D.C. based group known as The Marquees was struggling to make it. The members were Marvin Gaye, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and James Knowland. They decided to give an impromptu audition to Fuqua, as the Moonglows had come to town for a concert. Fuqua was so impressed with them that he decided to fire the entire group and take on the Marquees as the "New Moonglows." Fuqua recorded with these four (later including fifth member Chuck Barksdale), as Harvey & The Moonglows through 1960, when the group dispersed. Gaye went on to a huge solo career.
Fuqua produced the Spinners in the early 1960s, even singing on a few of their records (but not 1961's "That's What Girls are Made For", which featured Bobby Smith imitating Harvey's style). Fuqua became a staff writer and record producer for Motown Records through the 1960s, and later road-managed Smokey Robinson. Lester returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and opened a nightclub. Barnes moved to Mississippi and retired from professional singing after an automobile accident in 1969.
Meanwhile, in 1964, Pete Graves restarted the Moonglows with Doc Green of The Drifters, George Thorpe, and Bearle Easton. This group recorded briefly for Lana Records, Times Square Records, and Crimson Records.
Yet another new Moonglows formed in 1970, featuring Lester and a Louisville group called the Aristocrats, who consisted of Lester's cousin Gary Rodgers, plus Albert Workman, Robert Ford, and Billy McPhatter (son of Clyde McPhatter). This group performed once in 1971 at a show in New York, but the Aristocrats decided to return to Louisville. Dallas, inspired by the reception his group received, reunited with Harvey Fuqua and Pete Graves, plus new members Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis, and the Moonglows were back.
They recorded an LP released on RCA Records in 1972, charting their last single, "Sincerely '72", a funky re-working of their 1954 hit.
This line-up split up after 1972, and Lester began singing with local Louisville singers again, including at times Rodgers, Ford, Robert Lee Davis, Bruce Martin, and Peter Lawford. This group recorded a mostly a cappella, live album Moonglows in 1979.
Lester died in his hometown of Louisville from cancer in 1980, and Billy McPhatter returned to the group, with Rodgers taking over most of the leads in what was now billed as "Bobby Lester's Moonglows." McPhatter was later replaced by Bobby Lester, Jr. Harvey reunited with the remainder of his 1972 Moonglows in 1983 for a Grammy performance (minus Lester, and Barksdale who had rejoined The Dells, and plus guitarist Johnson), and they toured until 1986 as Harvey & the Moonglows.
In 2000, Bobby Lester's Moonglows, consisting of Rodgers, Martin, Lawford, and Gene Kelly, appeared on the PBS special Doo Wop 50, backing up Harvey Fuqua on "Sincerely" and "10 Commandments of Love." Fuqua, now in his mid-70s, still sings occasionally, sometimes backed up by Lester's Moonglows, sometimes a 50s R&B group called the Magnificents, and sometimes by local "pick-up" groups. Fuqua also produces and manages gospel acts. Reese Palmer is a member of The Legendary Orioles, as well as leading a new version of The Marquees. Chuck Barksdale is still with the Dells. Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles in 1987, Gary Rodgers died in 2005, and Prentiss Barnes died in 2006.[1].
Harvey Fuqua passed away in 2010.
The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
When I'm With You
The Moonglows Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'When I'm With You' by these artists:
Abby Asistio Another long day, Another boring day, Could anything just pl…
Abstract Cartoons To be young and in love in New York City…
Alainite Yeah I’ve been wasting time You’re all that’s on my mind Yea…
Amber Snider When I'm With You Words and Music by Amber Snider …
Arden Park Roots This could be a jam... this could be a love…
Ariel Rivera There I was an empty piece of a shell Just mindin'…
Bag of Toys The roof don't leak upon my head The rain don't fall…
Being. When I dance with you, I feel ok 'Cause I know…
Ben Rector I go a little crazy sometimes Can you believe it? Yeah, I…
BGYO When I'm with you, the world feels right I am Batman…
Bini & Martini By myself When You’re With Me Bob Jr Verse 1: …
Birgitta Alida When I met you my life was a mess, a thousand to-dos I…
Brodie It dosen't matter what we do Just as long as I'm…
C.J. & Company Now hold on a second I’ve seen to a lot of…
Cameron Philip You know me like I know the moon So tell me…
Candy Hearts Had the kind of day that makes me just want…
Cane & Foster Girl, my love for you is wild Oh, can't see you…
Chris App You and your long hair flowin'[00:21.70]And a smile that's s…
Chris Pierce If I could write about the way you make me…
Chris Stapleton I'm forty years old And it looks like the end of…
Christian Slip on those old vans and fix your hair And I'll…
Citizen Way These are the things that I need to pray Because…
Clarensau There are days that I feel That this world is so…
Corey Crowder Tonight could be just the beginning, and I should be…
Corey Hommel You been on my mind Since 1995 Baby I′m alright with you No,…
CT When I'm with you Don't want nobody else, I'd rather die…
Cueshé I'm in distress I feel the pain and the agony I'm sufferin…
D-Breeze In the morning we will be okay The light will touch…
Da'Ville Intro: Uh uhhh Girl when I'm with you(with u, with u) I can…
David Sanborn Can't explain what I feel It's unreal When I'm with you Comi…
Deegan Say what you want, this is heaven′s pulse Pushing me through…
DJ Fortee When im with you Everything just seems to change, babey Dont…
Don Williams If I could write about the way you make me…
Faber Drive Saw you walk into the room Thought I'd try to talk…
Frank Pierce I think I've had too much tonight Didn't mean to c…
Gateway Worship I was made for loving You I was made to worship I…
Georg Levin Hoy me dijeron que te vieron por la ciudad Caminando por…
George Nascimento Taking My Time I'm Trying To Leave The Memories Of You…
h.A.w Never want to talk about it Just Laugh about it Hold my…
Hal Kemp Every street I walk on becomes a lover's lane, when…
Helen Shapiro Whoa whoa whoa Yeah yeah yeah Whoa yeah Well there's…
Hurry I don't even have to try when I'm with you All…
Inhaler Sugar hits I need to taste it on my lips Just some…
J.O.B Take another hit, take a shot, take a trip for…
Jack Payne & His Orchestra Every street I walk on becomes a lover's lane, when…
Jack Thweatt I can′t remember what it's like To hold one you love…
Jay Ollero I guess I guess I′m a mess I'm crazy about you, so…
Jess Ray I ain't got no joy when I'm on my own,…
jeymon When I'm with you I don't feel alone They steady out…
JJ Heller When I hold you in my arms, Love Something changes It's the…
Johnny Amoroso Why does it always feel like spring When I'm with you Why…
Kevon Edmonds Back in the day I used to treat my lady any…
Kings and Comrades Whenever I'm around you baby Oh, you don't know what you…
Kitty Wells and Webb Pierce When I fell in love with you Well, that's what I…
Kyla I like what I see my friend All our moments and…
Lalah Hathaway Can't explain what I feel It's unreal When I'm with you Comi…
Laura Branigan got this tension down in my bones Feel it come whenever…
Le-go When I’m With You When I’m with you My heart starts…
Leach Spark I looked for a spark But every night when I went…
Lega-C Now hold on a second I’ve seen to a lot of…
Lesley Olsher Come bring me your softness. Comfort me through all this mad…
Liltrxptendo Da da da ouuu laaaa Oh baby love has taken its…
LINE-UP I want you darling Don’t you know I need you You should sure…
Louise Carver To some of them I may seem frozen Locked in a…
Luke & Joel When I walk inside your room And I see you staring…
M-Appeal Been dreamin' all night I wake up and you're still stuck…
M.E.G. I guess I’m not afraid anymore But I want to walk…
Marter Walking in the trees Feeling breeze just off my soul Eager t…
Martin Hoo I can't define it But something that you can do Has…
Mells Do you believe in, what you're feeling Show me all you…
Mo Pitney Your folks were watching TV before we went outside A show…
Mystery Skull You got me hangin' by a thread Yeah Must've been somethin' t…
Mystery Skull s You got me hangin' by a thread Yeah Must've been somethin'…
Mystery Skulls You got me hangin' by a thread Yeah Must've been somethin' t…
Nancy & The Mysterious Visions Been trying to keep my head above the water Road is…
Newclaess Not all heroes wear capes And you know what they say Who…
NewSong Well, it's a brand new day and already this world's…
Nikos Diamantopoulos Yo se bien que el tiempo pasa Y las cosas cambian,…
nimmo Can we give up reality For somewhere that we both…
Northern Faces I wanna get down I wanna get up Man I need a…
O.S.L Now hold on a second I’ve seen to a lot of…
Oak Ridge Boys I know it's late to be calling But I just can't…
Old Boy Network My mind has got the beat I’m thinking on my feet My…
Oleg.K Gotta say Spending time with you is like a holiday And it…
Orange and Lemons When I'm with you girl My world turns upside down When…
Oscar When you're in love with a beautiful woman, it's hard; When…
Paul T/Edward Oberon Ring, come on ting dem call a broken heart This blessed…
Peggy Scott-Adams Come bring me your softness. Comfort me through all this mad…
Prussian Blue You make me feel, Like I'm in the air. You make…
Radio Cult Am I strong enough To show a little tenderness I've been her…
Radio Days So many tears I've cried So many lonely nights Shiny…
Ray Noble And His Orchestra & Al Bowlly Every street I walk on becomes a lover's lane, when…
Rayna The beat drops, my heart stops A syncopated love affair Bang…
Revivalists I don't know if I really should've done it, but…
Ronit Falling so deep in I cannot see them All of these thoughts…
Ross David hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ohohohoho ahyeyeyayyyayy ohohwohwohowhowhow…
Shapiro Whoa whoa whoa Yeah yeah yeah Whoa yeah Well there's…
Sheriff I never needed love Like I need you And I never lived…
Shirley Temple You came along You looked at me So sweetly You smiled so dis…
Shitbaby Mammals I don't need drugs when I'm with you Whenever there's an…
Shogun feat. Susie Ledge I wake up in a wonderful place, Open my eyes with…
Simple Plan I'm takin' my time, I'm trying to leave the memories of…
Simple Plan(簡單計畫合唱團) I'm takin' my time, I'm trying to leave the memories of…
Slander Never know your name, always changing shapes Canny in my dre…
SoYou 너와 함께 있을 땐 길던 하루가 이렇게 짧아져 너와 함께 걸을 땐 어두운…
Sparks When I'm with you I never have a problem when I'm…
Stereo Express When I'm with you Everything in this world is much better I…
Steve Apirana When I feel lonely Put down in a room When there is…
The Chants What makes my heart Turn upside down And why it goes spinnin…
The Katinas All we really need is just you and me Ooh Ooh In this…
The Legendary Pink Dots From here to there in minus time, a spirit casts…
The London Souls If I could write about the way you make me…
The Oak Ridge Boys I know it's late to be calling But I just can't…
The Revivalists I don't know if I really should've done it, but…
The Sheriff I never needed love Like I need you And I never lived…
The Troggs I, I hear my heart go bing, I hear the songbird…
The Why Store All of your life you're sitting inside Watching the world go…
Tiny Stills I wanna take you to Disneyland I wanna ride Space Mountain…
Tom Cochrane Come sit by the fireside With me baby Melt into the dawn Wit…
Tom Willner Disaat aku mengenali dirimu Merasa sesuatu pada diriku Rasa …
Tony Terry When I'm with you I hear a song That makes me laugh and…
Various Artists I never needed love Like I need you And I never lived…
Victoria IX There was no big conundrum No epiphany for me I had no…
We Three When I'm With You Verse 1 Listen up, look over…
Webb Pierce When I fell in love with you Well, that's what I…
Westlife When I'm with you When I'm with you When I'm with you…
yej Ooh-Ooh-Ooh Ooh-Ooh-Ooh Ooh-Ooh-Ooh Ooh-Ooh-Ooh Ooh-Ooh-Ooh …
Yes Yes Yes And she was sixteen Closest to heaven I'll ever be It's like…
Zane & Foster Girl, my love for you is wild Oh, can't see you…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Moonglows:
Blue Velvet She wore blue velvet Bluer than velvet was the night Softer …
Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus, Santa Claus…
Hey Santa Clause Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus, Santa Cla…
Hey! Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus Hey Santa Claus, Santa Claus…
I Knew from the Start I knew from the start that you were the only…
I Was Wrong I say you fell asleep While were reading The pages on your…
In My Diary In my diary A lot of things I'm gonna write Write about…
In the Middle of the Night In the still of the night I held you, held you…
Just A Lonely Christmas Just a lonely, lonely Christmas. What a glad one it would…
Love Is a River Love is a river Flowing to the sea Love is a…
Masquerade Is Over My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
Most of All Most of all, I want your warm embrace No one can…
Over and Over Again I'm gonna write a little letter, Gonna mail it to my…
Please Send Me Someone to Love Heaven sends to all mankind Understanding and peace of mind …
Secret Love Once I had a secret love That lived within the heart…
See Saw Your love is like a see-saw baby, see-saw Your love is…
Sincerely Ba-ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh-ba Ba-doh, ba-doh, ba-doh,…
Ten Commandments of Love (One) Thou shalt never love another Thou shalt never love an…
The Masquerade Is Over My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
The Ten Commandments of Love Thou should never love another & stand by me all the…
We Go Together We go together, like castles and kings Birds of the feather,…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@josephconsoli4128
One of my favorites. It reminds me of listening to Don K. Reeds "doowop shop" on CBS101.1 in New York on Saturday nights in the late '70's.
@ildibildi53
Just a breathless song. Thanks a million
@lenord227
Doo Wop Gold for sure!!!!
@jamesthreatt5018
Have not heard this in years. Bobby Lester had a great voice. Thanks for the post. 7/22/2020
@TheZeevik
killer