Jeff Okun, James Fischer, Joe Barnett and Cubie Maddox

The Emeralds (4) (South Haven, Mi)


Personnel :

James Fischer (Soprano Lead)

Joe Barnett (Baritone)

Jeff Okun (Tenor)

Cubie Maddox (Bass)


Discography :

1959 - The Lover / Madamoiselle (Venus 1002)
1963 - Marsha / You're Driving Me Crazy  (Venus 1003)

Biography :

By Joel Chandler - Four High School boys from South Haven High School compose a quartet known as the Emeralds. Two sophomores, 15 year old Joe Barnett and sixteener Jeff Okun, and two juniors, 16 year old Cubie Maddox and seventeener James Fischer are the singers who working together since early 1958 . The group started out in 1956 as The Cloves, an unreleased group. They made it on a local TV station, WKZO-TV. The Cloves lasted about a year, until about 1957, when they changed their name to the Dell Chords.

The group of boys that are known as the Emeralds was formed in September of 1958 and began performing almost immediately, as most of them had been in the Dell Chords. Possibly as a result of winning a talent show, The Emeralds got a recording deal with Venus Records, Inc at 1111 W. 62nd Street in Chicago. The first record was Venus 1002, Mademoiselle b/w The Lover, and it was released sometime during the week of May 25, 1958. The second one was Venus 1003 (You're Driving Me Crazy), and it was released sometime after that.

James Fischer, Jeff Okun, Joe Barnett and Cubie Maddox

They attended the Southwestern Michigan Vocal festival at Western Michigan University as members of their choir, they were greatly applauded by almost 1300 attending students, and were commended for their fine harmonisation. The Emeralds entertained frequently in town and in neighboring towns including such places as the boat Show, ’59, Queen Contest, ’59, Post Prom frolics, Bangor and South Haven talent Shows, school dances and at Watervliet High School.

In June of 1959, the group was featured on both Chicago Band Stand (which was on WNBQ-TV) and the Howard Miller Radio Show on WMAQ. After that, the group lasted another year until Maddox and Fischer graduated. The Emeralds got back together in 1961, but it didn't work out and the group was done.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
The Lover                                         Madamoiselle

  
You're Driving Me Crazy                               Marsha         


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