The Chestnuts

The Chestnuts were among the state of Connecticut’s claims to popularity within the doo wop section, however the convoluted history of the group, including its various people and shifting commanders, might frustrate record collectors and discographers into roasting several vinyl Chestnuts over an open fire. The group is definitely famous for tracks like the proficient “Who Knows MUCH BETTER THAN I,” the guaranteeing “Forever I Vow,” as well as the naïve “Like HOLDS TRUE,” although enthusiasts of rock and roll & roll tracks with non-sense lyrics will certainly choose the 1959 Elgin launch entitled “TALK.” On record, the group — or the many versions from it — got several main affiliations, you start with a middle-’50s putting your signature on by maker, songwriter, and record label owner Joe Davis and carrying on using the Drum and Elgin corporations, both operating from the group’s house state. These documenting activities led to produces not only beneath the name from the Chestnuts, but as Marvin Baskerville & the Five Chestnuts, Expenses Baker & the Chestnuts, and Hayes Baskerville & the Five Chestnuts. The initial group, based from New Haven, contains five male performers when Davis authorized them in 1955. Four weeks later, once the 1st recording program was going to happen, Davis discovered that two of the original people got vamoosed. Among the staying singers got added his dad as an alternative, however the biggest information was the current presence of feminine vocalist Ruby Whittaker, who become closely determined using the group’s sound, a minimum of for awhile. One superb facet of these Davis recordings was the program players involved, a skilled combo that included tenor saxophone honker Sam “THE PERSON” Taylor, guitarist Skeeter Greatest, and drummer Panama Francis. The enterprising Clarence Drum produced these Drum and Elgin brands in 1958, putting your signature on several artists, like the Chestnuts and vocalist Costs Baker, who ultimately joined the previous group, switching his allegiance from loaf of bread to nuts, as they say. Drum made some cash when many of his produces were certified to other brands, but not more than enough to keep carefully the businesses afloat previous 1961. Later enhancements to the Chestnuts included the Baskerville brothers and vocalist Vickie Leigh. The last mentioned musician also sobbed her method through “Crying My Center Out” on her behalf very own, released by Drum in 1959.