Charles Walker

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2) (Nashville, TN)
aka The Kinglets

Personnel :

Charles Walker (Lead)

Larry Birdsong

The Kinglets :

Don “Sonny” Taylor

Ricky Roland

Frank Talley

Discography :

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2)
1959 - No Fool No More / Slave to Love (Champion 1014)

The Kinglets
1956 - Six Days a Week (And Sundays Too) / You Gotta Go (Calvert 101)

The Kinglets with Leroy Thomas
1959 - Pretty Please / My Baby Don't Need Changing (Bobbin 13338)

Biography :

Charles Walker was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 12, 1940. Charles or “Wigg,” as he is known by his friends (his mother nicknamed him when he was born with a full head of hair), began singing at an early age in church and school. He cut his first record in 1959 for Ted Jarrett’s legendary Champion label. One cut, “Slave To Love,” was credited to Charles Walker and the Daffodils. In fact, there was no such group as the Daffodils. The backup singers on the record were label mates the Kinglets and Larry Birdsong.

   
                                                                                                                         Larry Birdsong

Jarrett ran or worked for a number of Nashville soul, blues, and gospel labels, including Champion, Calvert, Cherokee, Poncello, and T-Jaye. He produced for artists such as Christine Kittrell, The Fairfield Four, Larry Birdsong, Roscoe Shelton, The Avons and the Kinglets. Like many groups before and after them, the Kinglets were primarily a backup vocal group for single artists on their labels. The group consisted of Don “Sonny” Taylor, Ricky Roland & Frank Talley. They cut “Six Days a Week“ and “You Gotta Go“ in early 1956, both songs composed by Ted Jarrett. Another single will be released in 1959 credited to The Kinglets with Leroy Thomas with ”Pretty Please” again composed by Ted Jarrett.

Ted Jarrett

In 1960, Charles Walker moved to New York City where studios and nightclub work were plentiful. 1962 found Charles recording with Chess Records out of Chicago, and soon he signed on as lead singer with the J.C. Davis Band. This band began touring the country opening for the greats of the era including James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Little Willie John, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke. The J.C. Davis Band recorded some real barnstormers for Chess like “Sweet Sweet Love” and “The Chicken Scratch.” In 1964, Charles formed his own group, Little Charles and the Sidewinders. They became one of the most in demand soul bands in New York City’s nightclub scene, performing at the Apollo Theater, Small’s Paradise and venturing out to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They subsequently recorded for Chess and Decca labels.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2)

  
  Slave to Love                                      Be No Fool No More


The Kinglets


Six Days a Week (And Sundays Too) / You Gotta Go

 

The Kinglets with Leroy Thomas


Pretty Please / My Baby Don't Need Changing

….