The Turks

LA R&B group the Turks traced its roots towards the 1952 development from the Flamingos. Regarding to Marv Goldberg’s profile in the June 1977 problem of Yesterday’s Thoughts, that short-lived but historically significant group comprised business lead tenor Cornelius Gunter, initial tenor Gaynel Hodge, baritone Curtis Williams, and bass Richard Berry. Nearly immediately after putting your signature on to Government, the quartet splintered: while Hodge and Williams divide off to become listed on the Hollywood Flames, and Gunter and Berry reteamed in the Flairs, a fresh Flamingos lineup was hastily set up. To avoid dilemma using the Flamingos of “I JUST HAVE Eyes for you personally” fame, on the last second this brand-new group was renamed the Platters, and an R&B story was born. However in the meantime, the Hollywood Flames — also offering Bobby Day time and David Ford — continuing touring the L.A. golf club circuit, with Curley Dinkins changing Williams (who later on resurfaced in the Penguins of “Globe Angel” popularity) with time for the group’s 1954 debut, “Fare Thee Well,” released on the amount of money imprint. For factors unknown, the 1955 follow-up, “Emily,” was acknowledged towards the Turks, not really the Hollywood Flames, so when the group break up immediately after, Hodge produced an contract with Cash owner John Dolphin to brand his fresh group — which presented his sibling Alex on baritone, first tenor Delmar Wilburn, and second tenor Jody Jefferson — beneath the Turks aegis. They actually used fezzes on-stage, very much towards the chagrin from the growing black Muslim motion. The Turks’ established debut, “I’m a Fool,” adopted in early 1956. Jefferson resigned from your group immediately after, and was changed by Carl Green, the 1st “Johnny” in Marvin Phillips’ duo Marvin & Johnny. The Turks following supported Wynona Carr on her behalf Specialty solitary “Harm Me,” adopted at mid-year by their personal “It CAN NOT BE Accurate.” A one-off for Chicago’s Bally label, “Why Do You,” made an appearance in nov 1956, but was the group’s last fresh disc for near 2 yrs. Sooner or later both Wilburn and Green remaining the lineup, so when the Turks finally resurfaced in middle-1958 using the Eager label launch “Father Period,” the Hodge brothers had been joined by 1st tenor Tommy “Buster” Williams and, on bass, one Jesse Belvin, quickly to support his personal meteoric single profession. The Turks after that moonlighted with Eugene Chapel as the Fellows, liberating “Pretty Girls Almost everywhere” on Course Records. Through conditions unknown, in past due 1958 Imperial certified both “I’m a Fool” and “It CAN NOT BE Accurate” for re-release on its Knight subsidiary. Minus Belvin, the rest of the trio again supported Cathedral on 1959’s “Rockville U.S.A.” The Turks dissolved the next season, although in 1973 the Hodges reunited with Williams to lead support vocals to Costs Medley’s Smile LP. Gaynel Hodge also trim a small number of little-heard single singles, one of these, “What Today,” crediting support vocals towards the Turks, although the precise personnel is unidentified.