The Whirlwinds (3)  (Phillips, Texas)
aka The Five Bops

Personnel :

Bill Baker

Eugene Richmond

Melvin Webb

H.F. Ritchie

Bill Dees

Gerald Hanners (Guitar)

Discography :

The Five Bops
1959 - Unforgotten Love / Jitterbuggin' (Hamilton 50023)

The Whirlwinds (3)
1961 - Angel Love / The Mountain (Guyden 2052)

Biography :

The group, originally from Phillips, Texas, recorded "Unforgotten Love" b/w "Jitterbuggin'" in 1958 at the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly had already recorded hits there. The single was released on the Hamilton Label under the name of The Five Bops.

The Five Bops

In 1958, the group consisted of Bill Baker, Bill Dees, Eugene Richmond, Melvin Webb and H.F. Ritchie. H.F. Ritchie sang lead on "Jitterbuggin'" and Bill Dees on "Unforgotten Love".In 1960, the group added Gerald Hanners, as lead guitar player, and changed the name to The Whirlwinds. In 1961 they released another Norman Petty produced record on the Guyden label:"Angel Love" featuring H.F. Ritchie b/w "The Mountain," featuring Bill Dees.

The Whirlwinds (3)

Their records were regional hits but were not nationally successful. The group toured briefly with Roy Orbison, Johnny Tillotson and Mark Dinning. Bill Dees eventually moved to Nashville and became a songwriting & singing partner with Roy Orbison and helped create many of the Orbison classics including "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "It's Over.  The Five Bops/Whirlwinds were among many groups from the Texas Panhandle who recorded at the Norman Petty Studios in the 50's and 60's.

Songs :

The Five Bops

     
Jitterbuggin'                                Unforgotten Love


The Whirlwinds (3)

     
Angel Love                                           The Mountain

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