1956
CHURCH BELLS MAY RING * WILLOWS * MELBA 102 * USA
This group first recorded as The Five Willows, though they started out in 1950 as The Dovers, the group all from the Harlem district of New York, originally consisted of Richie Davies, twin brothers Ralph and Joe Martin, John Steele and Bobby Robinson. They were joined in 1952 by Tony Middleton as lead singer, and Bobby Robinson left the group to open a record shop and later set up the Red Robin, Whirlin' Disc and Fury record imprints. There first recording was Love Bells on the Pee Dee label in 1953, they then had three singles on the Allen label, all in 1953, then two for the Herald label in 1954 all these releases were as The Five Willows. In February 1956 the group, now named just The Willows, released Church Bells Are Ringing on Melba 102 the following month it was reissued with the same catalogue number as Church Bells May Ring and reached # 12 on the R&B charts and 62 Pop. The record was also issued in the UK on the London label, the groups only British release.