The Velvets | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Odessa, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Doo-wop |
| Years active | 1959–1962 |
| Labels | Monument |
| Past members |
|
The Velvets were an American doo-wop group from Odessa, Texas, United States. They were formed in 1959 by Virgil Johnson, a high-school English teacher, with four of his students. [1] Roy Orbison heard the group and signed them to Monument Records in 1960. [2] Their first release was a tune called " That Lucky Old Sun". Their biggest hit single was "Tonight (Could Be the Night)", which hit #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. [1] The follow-up, "Laugh", peaked at #90, [1] and after a half-dozen further singles the group disbanded.
Virgil Johnson, a former deejay at Radio KDAV in Lubbock, Texas, was the lead tenor singer, with backup from Mark Prince ( bass), Clarence Rigsby (tenor), Robert Thursby (first tenor), and William Solomon ( baritone). The four were originally Johnson's eighth-grade pupils in an English class which he instructed in Odessa in the 1959-1960 school year.
"That Lucky Old Sun" (#46) and "Tonight (Could Be the Night)" (#50) made brief appearances in the UK Singles Chart in 1961. [3]
Their complete recorded output runs to 30 songs, which were collected on one compact disc and released by Ace Records in 1996. [4]
Aftermath
Johnson was later a school principal [5] before his death in February 2013. [6] Clarence Rigsby was killed in an automobile accident in 1978. [7]
Members
- Virgil Johnson (December 29, 1935– February 24, 2013) [6]
- William Solomon (1941–2006)
- Mark Anthony Prince (September 26, 1942– November 11, 2021) [8]
- Clarence Rigsby (1947–1978) [9]
- Robert "Bob" Thursby
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
Record Label | B-side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
US Pop | ||||
| 1961 | " That Lucky Old Sun" | — | Monument | "Time and Again" |
| "Tonight (Could Be the Night)" | 26 | "Spring Fever" | ||
| "Laugh" | 90 | "Lana" | ||
| 1962 | "The Love Express" | — | "Don't Let Him Take My Baby" | |
| " Let the Good Times Roll" | 102 | "The Lights Go On, the Lights Go Off" | ||
| 1963 | " Crying in the Chapel" | — | "Dawn" | |
| 1964 | "Nightmare" | — | "Here Comes That Song Again" | |
| " If" | — | "Let the Fool Kiss You (But Don't Let the Kiss Fool You)" | ||
| 1966 | "Baby the Magic Is Gone" | — |
References
- ^ a b c Thomas, Bryan (2008-01-01). "The Velvets - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
- ^ Nite, Norm N. Rock On: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock n' Roll (The Solid Gold Years). Thomas Y. Crowell (1974), p. 630.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 584. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "The Complete Velvets - The Velvets : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
- ^ "Lubbock ISD: Dunbar Middle School". May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008.
- ^ a b "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2013 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
- ^ "Virgil Johnson (The Velvets)". Rockabillyeurope.com. 1935-12-29. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ "Mark Anthony Prince Obituary". Tributearchive.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ Doc Rock. "The 1970s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
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