(1) The Orlons, R&B (… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named 'The Orlons':
(1) The Orlons, R&B (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S)
(2) The Orlons, Surf Rock (Haifa, Israel)
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(1) The Orlons consisted of lead singer Rosetta Hightower, Shirley Brickley, Marlena Davis, and Stephen Caldwell.
Before they became the Orlons, they were an all-girl quintet called Audrey and the Teenettes. They formed in the late 1950s in junior high school and consisted of Hightower, Davis, and three Brickley sisters: Shirley, Jean, and Audrey. However, after the Brickleys' mother did not permit 13-year-old Audrey to sing in certain clubs with the group, she and Jean quit, making the group a trio.
In high school, the group's three remaining members discovered fellow student Stephen Caldwell, who was lead singer of a local group called the Romeos. Impressed by him, they invited him to join the group in 1960 and named themselves the Orlons as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the friendly rivalry they had with a popular group at their high school, the Cashmeres.[1] (Orlon was a synthetic fibre widely used around that time.)
A high school friend, Dovells lead singer Len Barry, encouraged them to audition for Cameo Records at the turn of the decade. The group took his advice in the fall of 1961, but were rejected at first, although the record label eventually signed the group after two more auditions. Cameo executive Dave Appell appointed Hightower as the lead singer, and began writing songs for them.
Before rising to fame with their first national hit, "The Wah-Watusi," the group provided back-up vocals for Dee Dee Sharp's hits "Mashed Potato Time" and "Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes)." They recorded their own cover versions of those songs for their debut album, The Wah-Watusi.
Davis and Caldwell quit the group in 1964, and were replaced by Sandy Person for about a year. A short-lived stint by Yvonne Young was followed by original Teenette, Audrey Brickley, Shirley's sister. By then, the group's popularity had waned in the United States due to misdirection of their record company, Cameo Records. They continued to perform into the late 1960s with success in the UK. They disbanded in 1968 after Hightower decided to stay in England after a tour. Hightower had (and still has) a successful career as a soloist and as an in-demand session singer, backing Joe Cocker, John Holt and other popular artists. She married record producer Ian Green.
In later years, Davis married and found work as an executive secretary, while Caldwell became president of the bus drivers' trade union in Philadelphia and served on the Philadelphia Board of Education for 25 years. In 1988, Caldwell and Davis re-formed the group with two new members and performed live on the oldies circuit until Davis's death in 1993.
On October 13, 1977, Shirley Brickley was shot to death by an intruder in her home in Philadelphia. Davis lost a battle with lung cancer on February 27, 1993 (age 48). Audrey Brickley died of acute respiratory distress syndrome on July 3, 2005 (aged 58). Steve and Jean Brickley still perform as The Orlons with two cousins.
(2) The Orions (from Haifa, Israel) play high energy instrumental surf rock'n'roll, dance or die!
Band members:
• David Miretski - Guitar
• Itai Alzaradel - Guitar
• 'Mediterranean Buddha' Ezra - Bass
• Guy Offenbach - Drums
Listen to The Orions: http://theorions.bandcamp.com/
The Orions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orionsband
I'll Be True
The Orlons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is parting time
You never go
Please take this heart of mine
Yes, it'll be time
Even though we'll be far apart
Only you hold the key to my heart
Every night I'll get on my knees
And I'll pray
You'll come back safe to me
Other lips may tempt me in the night
Other arms reach out to hold me tight
But I'll be true
Till you're back in my arms again
I love you
I'll be true till then
Yes, darling don't worry
Just hurry back
I'll be waiting till then.
The lyrics to The Orlons' song "I'll Be True" speak of a woman's love for her "soldier boy" who is leaving for war. She asks him to take her heart with him and promises to wait for him while he is away. Throughout the song, she pledges to remain faithful to him, despite the temptations that may come her way. She vows to pray for his safe return and to be waiting for him when he comes back.
The woman's love for her soldier boy is unwavering, and she is willing to endure the pain of separation in order to be with him again. The act of getting on her knees and praying for his safety emphasizes the depth of her devotion. She acknowledges that other people may try to take advantage of her vulnerability, but she promises to resist their advances and remain true to her love.
The lyrics also contain a sense of urgency and desperation as the woman begs her soldier boy to come back to her. The repetition of "I'll be true" serves as both a reassurance to her lover and a mantra of conviction for herself. Overall, the song expresses a timeless theme of enduring love and faithfulness in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Soldier boy
Addressing the listener as a soldier who is leaving for war
This is parting time
Acknowledging that this is the moment of departure
You never go
Expressing a desire for the listener not to leave
Please take this heart of mine
Asking the listener to take the artist's love with them
Yes, it'll be time
Acknowledging that the separation will happen
Even though we'll be far apart
Accepting that physical distance will separate them
Only you hold the key to my heart
Expressing that the listener has a special, unique place in the singer's heart
While you're away
Acknowledging the listener's absence
Every night I'll get on my knees
Implying that the artist will pray for the listener's safety every night
And I'll pray
Continuing to emphasize the artist's devotion to praying for the listener
You'll come back safe to me
Expressing the singer's hope and desire for the listener to return unharmed
Other lips may tempt me in the night
Acknowledging the possibility of temptation while the listener is away
Other arms reach out to hold me tight
Further acknowledging the possibility of physical and emotional connections with others
But I'll be true
Asserting the singer's personal commitment to remaining faithful
Till you're back in my arms again
Stating that the commitment to faithfulness is until the listener returns
I love you
Conveying the artist's love for the listener
I'll be true till then
Reasserting the artist's commitment to faithfulness until they are reunited
Yes, darling don't worry
Addressing the listener in a tender and reassuring manner
Just hurry back
Expressing the singer's eagerness for the listener to return soon
I'll be waiting till then.
Stating that the artist will be eagerly awaiting the listener's return
Writer(s): MANN KAL
Contributed by Nathaniel T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Brickcitygirl
Thanks! My #1 favorite. Orlons
@luchaniamccullough3400
I wasn't born until 76, but these songs were a major part of my early years. Great music. The Orlons are classic. This is one of the reasons I appreciate Philly. Thanks for posting this.
@1lenny
My pleasure. Thank you for listening and commenting.
@kennykarlsson9888
There was so many great singers and groups from this time period. First time I've heard this song. Really good.
@1lenny
Glad you like it. It was the beginning of the great Doo Wop group The Orlons. Thank you for listening and commenting.
@paulmartinez8936
I was in the 5th grade when I bought this 45 . . . this and Mr. 21 are the bomb.
@carlhardin17
brilliant!!! brings all those special memories back, thank you for posting Lenny.
@MrPistolMason
I thought I'd NEVER hear this again. I was but in elementary school when this came out. Thanks for the share.
@ammoniumphosphate
Probably one of my most favourite songs ever since I discovered it
@frightfan1
LOVE IT!