1953
IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU * THE FLAMINGOS * CHANCE 1133 * USA
The divine Flamingos first record, issued the second week of March 1953, the group (who, despite the label credits, were calling themselves The Five Flamingos at the time) were: lead vocal, 19 year old Sollie McElroy - who had only just become a group member - Jake and Zeke Carey; Paul Wilson and Johnny Carter. The next side Someday Someway was a good up-tempo number but it was the ballad If I Can't Have You which established the group as out and out balladeers; fortunately this side sold well and helped define the direction the group would take. The Flamingos had a total of six releases on the Chicago based Chance label before moving to Parrot, and then Checker.
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