The Leaders (Newport News, Virginia)

Personnel :

Harry Burton (First Tenor)

Edward "Snipper" Alston (Second Tenor)

Nelson Shields (Second Tenor)

Ronald Judge (Baritone)

Charles Simpson (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1955 - Stormy Weather / A Lover Of The Time (Glory 235)
1956 - Nobody Loves Me / Dearest Beloved Darling (Glory 239)
1956 - Can't Help Lovin' That Girl Of Mine / Lovers (Glory 243)

Unreleased :
1956 - Dry Your Eyes (Glory)
1956 - I Almost Lost My Mind (Glory)

Biography :

The Leaders were known  early in their career as the Pokenoes and then the Five Swans. They all grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same high school, Hunnington High. As the Five Swans, they competed in many amateur shows and did quite well. Well enough  to win a trip to the famed Apollo theatre in New York. They won the show 4 weeks in a row in 1955, and soon after signed a record deal with the Glory label.

The name change  was first, and in the late summer of 1955, they recorded their bluesy rendition of "Stormy Weather". The band that backed them up included Mickey Baker, Sam The Man Taylor and Panama Francis. Two additional records followed, but none had the same  success as their first, and the contract with Glory records was not renewed. Burton, Alston, and Simpson continuing on as the Three Voices while Judge and Shields relocated to New York City, forming the Corvairs with tenors Joe Shepard and Prince McKnight along with bass Billy Faison.
http://www.colorradio.com/leaders.htm
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Leaders/leaders.html

Songs :

      
Stormy Weather            Can't Help Lovin' That Girl Of Mine             Lovers

     
Nobody Loves Me                  Dearest Beloved Darling       A Lover Of The Time

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