The Ambassadors (2)
The Ambassadors : Herb Johnson, Lonnie, Charlie, Stan and Weldon
The Ambassadors (2) (Philadelphia, PA.)
Personnel
Herb Johnson (Lead)
Lonnie ...
Charlie ...
Stan ...
Weldon ...
Discography :
Unreleased :
1957 - Help (Demo)
1957 - Janice (Demo)
1957 - Shang A Lang (Demo)
1957 - Bacon Time (Demo)
1957 - 8My Story Of Love (Acetate)
Biography :
Herb Johnson was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on December 26, 1935 and moved to Philly with his family when he was nine in 1945. That same year he recorded his first record for a quarter on one ofthose recording machines they had downtown. The song was "I Want To Be Loved By You" — a birthday present for his mom. As a teenager attending Overbrook HighSchool in 1953, Herb auditioned at the Royal Theater at 15th & South for a radiospot on WPEN| singing The Orioles "You Belong To Me". Later that same year, Herb enlisted in the U.S. Air Force - joining a vocal group that evolved into The Lyrics. The Lyrics performed on USO tours, singing hits of the day like "Stormy Weather", “Sunday Kind Of Love” and The Moonglows "Sincerely". Herb wrote "Guilty" around this time while stationed in Puerto Rico.
The Lyrics
Herb explains: “I was homesick for my girl back home — I hadn't written to anyone in a while and felt guilty about it — that’s how the song came about". Herb was discharged a few years later, joining a West Philly group The Ambassadors who participated in a talent contest at the Leader Theater at 41st & Lancaster Ave. Luckily, someone recorded their material at Herb’s house on 55th & Vine Streets that includes an early version of "Help". The Ambassadors also recorded some demos for Irv Balin’s Gotham label, which have yet to see the light of day. In late 1959 or early 1960, Herb was singing at a local hangout called The Media AA Club at 60th & Media Street in West Philly when he was approached by Larry Kerrin, an a&r/ promo man for V-Tone Records.
Songs :
Help My Story Of Love
Janice Shang A Lang
Bacon Time
...