The Jive Bombers

The Jive Bombers (who aren’t to become confused using the rockabilly group bearing the same moniker) are most widely known because of their Savoy single “Poor Guy” which reached number seven over the R&B charts in 1957. The group — Earl Johnson, Al Tinney, William Tinney (aka “Pee Wee”), and lead vocalist Clarence Palmer — had been formed in the account of two various other vocal serves: Sonny Austin & the Jive Bombers as well as the Palmer Brothers. These were originally referred to as the Sparrows — once again, these weren’t the Sparrows who documented “Why Do You Keep Me?” for Jay Dee — if they documented early within their profession for Coral in 1949; they afterwards changed names back again to the Jive Bombers if they switched to Citation Information in 1952. The Jive Bombers’ “Poor Boy” (compiled by Avon Longer and Lillian Hardin Armstrong, better known probably as “Lil Hardin” and wife of Louis Armstrong from 1924-1938) was their just charting strike, it peaked at amount 36 over the pop/amount seven on R&B in 1957. Clarence Palmer’s amazingly sung classic continues to be re-recorded by several artists, like the Escorts (’50s), Mink Deville, Ringo Starr, Sha Na Na, and so many more. It was afterwards highlighted prominently in the John Waters-directed film, Cry Baby.