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The Impalas were an American doo-wop group in the late 1950s, best known for their hit, " Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)".

The group formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, and was composed of lead singer Joe "Speedo" Frazier (September 5, 1943 – April 1, 2014), Richard Wagner, Lenny Renda and Tony Carlucci. [1] They were a racially integrated group—Frazier was the only black member. [2]

They recorded for Hamilton Records and were found by songwriters Artie Zwirn and Aristides "Gino" Giosasi, who wrote the song "Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)". [1] In 1959 disc jockey Alan Freed heard the group, added his name as a writer of the song and got them a deal with MGM Records subsidiary label Cub. In the US, the record reached No. 2 on the U.S. pop chart, No. 14 on the R&B chart. [3] Outside the US, "Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)" peaked at No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart. [4] The song sold over one million copies, earning gold disc status. [5]

The group recorded follow-ups including "'Bye Everybody," "Oh What A Fool," an album for Cub, and one further single for the 20th Century label before disbanding in 1961. Frazier went on to sing with Love's Own in 1973, [1] and in 1980 resurrected the Impalas as a touring act.

Joe "Speedo" Frazier died on April 1, 2014, at the age of 70. [6] [7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Fifties Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 178. ISBN  0-85112-732-0.
  2. ^ Bryan Thomas. "The Impalas – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 271.
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 268. ISBN  1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  115. ISBN  0-214-20512-6.
  6. ^ "West Saint Paul Antiques". Weststpaulantiques.com. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  7. ^ "JOE "SPEEDO" FRAZIER". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved October 26, 2017.

External links