1953
WHO'LL BE THE FOOL * JIMMY RICKS AND THE RAVENS * MERCURY 70213 * USA
Another superb performance on this plaintive ballad from The Ravens lead singer Jimmy Ricks. Originally from the South, Ricks first started singing professionally with The Melodeers while living in New York just after WWII. After forming The Ravens with Warren Suttles, Leonard "Zeke" Puzey and Henry Oliver the group, who's manger Ben Bart owned Hub Records, recorded six sides at their first session in June 1946. Two of these songs, Honey with bass singer Ricks on lead and Lullaby with tenor Leonard Puzey, were released as by The Ravens on Hub 3030. Who'll Be The Fool was The Ravens 10 release for the Mercury label, and though generally thought of as the A side it was the other side Rough Ridin' that was featured on its release in a Mercury advertisement for the record in Billbord magazine. Of the over fifty records The Ravens had released in the US only three were released in the UK (all 78 RPM), Who'll Be The Fool was the last of those three.