1952
KEEP IT A SECRET * FIVE CROWNS * RAINBOW 2002 * USA
Five teens: Wibur 'Yunkie' Paul; Doc Green; three Clark brothers; James
'Poppa', Claudie 'Nicky', and John 'Sonny Boy', all from Harlem, started
singing as a group in 1952. They signed to 156 West 44th Street New York city
based Rainbow Records label that same year, a label that was dominated by
'old time music' artist Eddie 'Piano' Miller.
Their first record, a minor hit in New York and Philly, Your My
Inspiration was released in October 1952, followed one month later by Who
Can Be True then in December by Keep It A Secret a sweet
period ballad with a mellow sax break.
The Five Crowns had one more release on Rainbow then after a dispute
with label boss Eddie Heller they moved to Old Town. Then in 1955 after two
releases for Old Town they were back recording for Heller this time for his
Rivera imprint.
After the Rivera release the group disbanded and it was Doc Pomus who kept
the name alive with a new line up, including Elsbeary Hobbs, Wilbur Paul, Jessie
Facing and Benjamin Nelson (aka Ben E. King), and it was this group that was to
become The
Drifters