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The Monotones

 


The Monotones | Public domain | tc003

The Monotones only hit single was “The Book of Love”. The Monotones formed in 1955 and were friends Charles Patrick, Warren Davis, George Malone, John Smith, John Ryans and his brother Warren Ryans who all lived in the Baxter Terrace Housing Project in Newark, New Jersey. "Book of Love" was recorded in 1957 and the master leased to Chess for national distribution, being released on Argo in February 1958, going on to sell a million copies and attract a number of foreign cover versions.

Charles Howard Patrick was born on 11 September 1938 and died on 11 September 2020.

Warren Davis was born on 1 March 1939 and died on 17 April 2016.

George Malone was born on 5 January 1940 and died from a stroke on 5 October 2007.

John Franklin Smith was born on 17 May 1939 and died on 26 November 2000.

John Ryans was born on 16 November 1940 and died on 30 May 1972.

Warren Ryans was born on 14 December 1937 and died on 16 June 1982.

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