The Bachelors (2) aka The Jets (1) aka The Links

The Bachelors (2)  (Washington, D.C)
  aka The Jets (1) aka The Links

(By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Robert Russell (Lead)

James "Toy" Walton (First Tenor)

Herbert Fisher (Baritone)

John Bowie (Bass)

Charles Booker (Baritone / Guitar)

Discography :

The Bachelors (2)
Singles :
1953 - Can't Help Lovin' You / Pretty Baby (Aladdin 3210)
1956 - You've Lied / I Found Love (Royal Roost 620)
1957 - After / You Know You Know (I Love You So) (Poplar 101)

Unreleased :
N/A - Feel So Bad (Aladdin)
N/A - Dream  (Aladdin)
N/A - Baby (Royal Roost)
N/A - Raining In My Heart (Royal Roost)

Billy Mitchell (bb The Bachelors)
1957 - Rock And Roll Tango / Bottomless Pit (Poplar 105)

The Jets (1)
1953 - The Lovers / Drag It Home Baby (Rainbow 201)

The Links
1958 - She's The One / Ba-Bee (Teenage 1009)


Biography:

The group formed in 1947 as the Caverliers and shortly thereafter became the Jets. For two years they appeared locally, and in 1953 they turned professional. Charles Booker helped them arrange material and they used his house to practice. He later became a semipermanent sixth member. In 1952 Earthaline Lee managed the group, still known as the Jets. She arranged for their first recording session with Eddie Heller's Rainbow Records in New York.

Walter Taylor was scheduled to sing lead on "Drag It Home Baby" at that first session but became hoarse that day and Charles Booker filled in. In 1953, Amos Milburn saw the Jets perform and set up a recording session with his label, Aladdin, in New York. Because Mesner of Aladdin was aware of another group called the Jets, they were renamed the Bachelors and recorded as the Bachelors for Aladdin.

The Aladdin recording didn't do well and the Bachelors then auditioned for Atlantic, Apollo, and Teddy Reig and Jack Hook's Royal Roost label in early 1956. Royal Roost accepted them and the Bachelors recorded four sides for Royal Roost, two of which were released on that label.

Lead "Buck" Mason was drafted into the army and Robert Russell took his place. Walter Taylor left after the Royal Roost session and Charles Booker replaced him . Taylor had left briefly before and was replaced by Don Covay for a short period. Herb Fisher also left and was replaced by James Taylor.

 
Billy Mitchell                                                                                                                        

In 1957, Clovers' manager Lou Krefetz started the Poplar label and invited the group to record for him. The group now consisted of Robert Russell, James Taylor, James Walton, and John Bowie. They recorded one disc at Poplar and broke up in 1958. James "Toy" Walton decided to try it again, getting Herb Fisher back, along with Wilbert Hess Dobson (baritone), Joe Woodley (baritone) and Johnny Terry (bass). Calling themselves the Links, they recorded "She's The One" for the Teenage label in 1958.James "Toy" Walton also recorded with the L' Cap-Tans on Anna and the Clovers. He also sang with the Knickerbockers, who were together for several years but never recorded.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Bachelors/bachelors.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/bachelors.html

Songs :

The Jets (1)

   
The Lovers                               Drag It Home, Baby

The Bachelors (2)

   
Can’t Help Lovin’ You                            Pretty Baby

    
You’ve Lied                                         I Found Love

Billy Mitchell (bb The Bachelors)

   
The Rock And Roll Tango                  Bottomless Pit

The Links

   
She’s The One                                     Ba-Bee

...