The Marquettes (Unrecorded group?)

The Marquettes - David Porter (far left)

The Marquettes (Memphis)

Personnel :

David Porter (Lead)

Tyrone Smith

Robert Davis

Maurice White

???


Discography :

David Porter (bb The Marquettes ?)
1961 - Farewell / Chivalry (Eagle 101)

Biography :

David Porter (born November 21, 1941 in Memphis) is an American record producer, songwriter, singer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Porter was a 2005 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, with catalog sales exceeding 400 million units. In 2015, Rolling Stone listed him among the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. He is best known for songwriting, having written Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" (1968 Grammy winner), and "Hold On, I'm Comin'". His songs have been sampled in Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover" (1993 Grammy winner), and Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (1999 Grammy winner). Raised in the Mc Lemore avenue area, David Porter had been trying to work his way into a music career for quite some time. While in high school at Booker T. Washington, Porter had formed a quintet he dubbed the Marquettes that regularly competed in the Wednesday evening talent shows at Beale Street's Palace Theatre.

Under the watchful eye of MC Rufus Thomas, the Marquettes often competed with Isaac Hayes's group, the Teen Tones, the Marquettes' specialty being a version of the Dell-Vikings' "Come Go with Me." The Marquettes consisted of David Porter, Tyrone Smith, Robert Davis, Maurice White (founder and moving spirit of Earth, Wind and Fire) and another guy. When not entering talent shows, the Marquettes were busy auditioning for every record label in town that would listen to them.  Jim Stewart from Stax Records was impressed enough to attempt to record a single. At Stewart's suggestion they worked on "The Old Grey Mare," but were never able to cut a version that was deemed releasable. After the initial attempts, Porter, commonly referred to as the local Sam Cooke, opted to record the song without the Marquettes, eventually bringing in the Del-Rios to sing background. But, alas, success was still not forthcoming. At the same time, in 1961 David Porter wrote and recorded his first song (With the Marquettes?); “Farewell” and "Chivalry" released  on Eagle 101 which did very well locally.  After recording some sides on (as Little David) and Hi (as Kenny Cain), he naturally came to Stax quite from the beginning as he worked exactly across the street.

Songs :

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