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The Moonglows

 


The Moonglows | Date: 1956 | AllMusic | tc018

The Moonglows were a trendsetting vocal group of the 1950s who were named by disc jockey Allen Freed. They signed to Chess Records in 1954, where they had a string of huge hits. On early releases they are credited as “Bobby Lester and the Moonlighters”.

Harvey Fuqua and Bobby Lester are the lead singers featured on most of the Chess recordings. Young Marvin Gaye joined the group in 1958. Their singing style has been imitated by other vocal groups since, for instance by The Chilites.

The Moonglows were also clearly an inspiration for Paul Simon:

“All their personal belongings
Have intertwined
Oh Rene and Georgette Magritte
With their dog after the war
Were dining with the power elite
And they looked in their bedroom drawer
And what do you think
They have hidden away
In the cabinet cold of their hearts?
The Penguins, the Moonglows
The Orioles, and The Five Satins”

“Rene and Georgette Magritte”, Paul Simon, Warner, 1983.

All the Moonglows are deceased. In 1958 the personnel of the group changed completely.

Harvey Fuqua, 27 July 1929 – 6 July 2010.

Bobby Lester, 1930 – 15 October 1980.

Billy Johnson, 1924 – 1987.

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