Singers Cleveland Duncan, Curtis Williams, Dexter Tisby, and Bruce Tate, all students at Fremont High in Los Angeles, CA, formed the quartet in 1954. They broke up in 1959. Cleve Duncan sang lead on "Earth Angel."
The Penguins were one of a number of doo-wop groups of the period named after birds (such as The Orioles, The Flamingos, and The Crows).
The Penguins' single "Hey Senorita" was released on Doo-Tone Records in 1955 as the intended A-side, but a radio DJ flipped the record over to the B-side, "Earth Angel", which became far more popular. Their midtempo performance was a cross between rhythm and blues and the new rock and roll played by white performers and enjoyed by teenagers.
Coming off the success of "Earth Angel," The Penguins approached Buck Ram to manage them. Ram's primary interest was managing The Platters, who at that point had no hit singles but were a profitable touring group. With The Penguins in hand, Ram was able to swing a 2-for-1 deal with Mercury Records in which the company agreed to take on The Platters as a precondition for getting The Penguins (the group that Mercury really wanted). Ironically, The Penguins would never have a second hit single under the Mercury deal, while The Platters would be the label's most successful act.
The Penguins never had another national hit, but their 1957 cover of "Pledge of Love" reached #15 on the R&B chart.
For three decades, "Earth Angel" was almost always the #2 song on oldies station WCBS-FM's annual Top 500 countdown. (Another doo-wop favorite, The Five Satins' "In the Still of the Night" was the perennial #1 pick.)
The Penguins were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2004, "Earth Angel" was named #151 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Earth Angel" was also one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Christmas Prayer
The Penguins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And reigns her presence near that Christmas tree
She's been away since last Christmas, Christmas day
I am so lonely and stay this way
I pray that my love is home for Christmas
Oh my, what a Christmas that would be
And brings her presence near that Christmas tree
She's been away since last Christmas, Christmas day
I am so lonely and stay this way
I pray that my love is home for Christmas
Oh my, what a Christmas that would be
The lyrics to The Penguins's song "A Christmas Prayer" reflect the hope and longing of the singer for their loved one to be home for Christmas. The singer expresses their desire for their love to be present and by their side, emphasizing the significance of having their company during the holiday season. The repetition of the phrase "She's been away since last Christmas, Christmas day" highlights the singer's loneliness and the longing they have felt for their love's return.
The singer's prayer for their love to come home for Christmas demonstrates their deep yearning and the emotional impact of their absence. The repetition of the line "Oh my, what a Christmas that would be" further emphasizes the singer's anticipation and the joy that would come with their love's presence during the holiday. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of hope, longing, and the importance of togetherness during the festive season.
Line by Line Meaning
I pray that my love is home for Christmas
I fervently hope that the person I love will be able to come back home and spend Christmas with me
And reigns her presence near that Christmas tree
And brings the warmth and joy of her presence close to the beautiful Christmas tree we have
She's been away since last Christmas, Christmas day
She has been absent from my life since the previous Christmas, starting from Christmas day
I am so lonely and stay this way
I feel incredibly lonely and continue to feel this way without her presence
Oh my, what a Christmas that would be
Oh my, how wonderful and magical it would be if she could be home for Christmas
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BUCK RAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bluenote824jones7
My fav by this great group
@lawrencedorfman5543
a super classic song, group and lead/ TYVM
@paulriofski7982
Wow, Charles, how cool; a Buck Ram Christmas song recorded by the Penguins on Mercury! I'm surprised Buck did not include it on the Platters' 1963 Christmas album.
@bluenote824jones7
Buck ram wrote some great songs
@Choock5219