The Fabulous Tones (1960) 1st row: Joe Alexander, Shirley Hunter, Herman Hill;
2nd row: Teddy Rambo, Jesse Davis, Rudy Hunter; 3rd row: Count Yates, John Harris

The Fabulous Tones (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Rudy Hunter (Lead)

Joe Alexander (Baritone)

John Harris

Norman Alexander

 

Discography :

1957 - You've Broken My Heart / Mr. Hog Face (Rushmore 103)
1958 - Close To You /  ???  (Ebb 135)
1959 - Lover, Lover, Lover / I’ll Never Cry Again (Mark 56 819)


Biography :

The Four Tones were a vocal group formed in the mid 1930s at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. By the late 1930s they started their recording career in Los Angeles and they appeared in a few films. Singing bass for this group was Dusty Brooks. He was often the featured performer and on several of their recordings they were billed as Dusty Brooks and the Four Tones.

The Four Tones

In early 1954, Rudy Hunter took over the leadership of the group, which consisted of Joe Alexander and Ruby Thrower Joined by Alexander's brother, Norman,  the group became Rudy Hunter & the Fabulous Tones with Brooks joining in as bass on occasion. Their minimum requirement for prospective group members was to have the ability to play 5 separate instruments as well as being able to sing. They make many appearances, for several years all over the country. The Fabulous Tones issued 45's on the Rushmore in 1957, The Ebb label in 1958  and George Garabedian's Mark 56 label in 1959. Garabedian would use the group to back demos that be contracted for songwriters and hopeful singing stars.

   
Jesse Davis                                                                                                                    

The group makes numerous staff changes over the years, Jesse Ervin, Rudy Hunter, Count Yates, Sammy Yates, Shirley Hunter, Herman Hill, Teddy Rambo, John Harris and Jazz singer’ Jesse Davis.  Jesse Davis is known as a Jazz singer but his repertoire includes, R&B, Pop, Latin, and Swing. Jesse Davis started his professional career singing in a few clubs in Michigan, with the Doug Cook Combo, and on his own, before joining in 1958 The Fabulous Tones in Los Angeles as a featured singer.


Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
I’ll Never Cry Again                             You've Broken My Heart


Close To You


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