Kripp Johnson had the voice and the range. He deserved far greater fame and success. Most of these early R&B groups got shortchanged by management and the industry. It's a rather sad story.
Absolutely, Kripp Johnson had a uniquely fabulous voice. Getting gypped-short mess was rampant. Clyde McPhatter complained about that when he was with The Drifters, was bumped off, then , enter Ben E. King. The Safaris (Image of a Girl ) were apparently getting gypped when on the Eldo label .
@@erastuserazade9785 Very interesting that you mention McPhatter because I was thinking of him when I replied to you about Kripp and the Del-Vikings. The Safaris got gypped too? Look how poor Frankie Lymon got screwed. All that talent back then...and injustice. I think the Platters were one of the few R&B vocal groups that achieved financial reward.
I agree. As much as I loved Doo Wop and still enjoy listening to all the great voices, it is very clear that the recording industry back then was corrupt. People in it to make a quick buck, no respect for the artists, ripping them off. I am sure that Clarence Quick never made a dime in royalties for Come Go With Me and Whispering Bells. Some of the stuff that went on was just disgraceful. I think about what happened to Frankie Lymon. He ended up a drug addiction who overdosed at 26. Nobody was there to look out for him and he was so very young. He and one of the other members of the group wrote Why Do Fools Fall in Love. They never got royalties. Crooked managers kept it for themselves. I will always love Doo Wop. But there was a dark side where talented artists were taken advantage of far too often.
@@SuperNativenewyorker They're all legends, unsung as too many of them are. But they're not forgotten and will go down with the historical tributes they so deserve. They're Americana...and they're forever..
@@Steve52344 your comment made me tear up.you said what was in my heart. That’s why their music lives on in so many of us. It was a privilege to grow up hearing their voices. What a gift they gave us!
The User @hall230 (x-lonewolf-x) posted this: Norman Wright sang lead on Come Go With Me & Jitterbug Mary. This is well-documented & Wright has said this in interviews. There is a live performance with Wright singing Jitterbug Mary. You can find it here on UA-cam. If you listen to Cool Shake & Jitterbug Mary, you can tell 2 different guys sing them. This video also states that Kripp Johnson sang lead on I'm Spinning, then a minute later states I'm Spinning is led by William Blakely. Get your facts straight! I understand that the group's history is complicated but having such glaring errors with some amazing info diminishes your video's legitimacy.
I'd like to reply to this user directly, but that's not currently possible. (A bug in the YT Comments) Yes! Norman Wright sang lead on Come Go With Me & Jitterbug Mary. BUT ONLY ON STAGE !!! What Wright said in interviews is no proof. How many interviews with Gus Backus have you seen? Further, it is well documented that Gus Backus DID SING LEAD on Cool Shake & Jitterbug Mary !! He is credited on the record as leadsinger !!!!!!!!! And now for the voice - Obviously you are not qualified to judge. Next "I'm spinning": How cheeky! Get YOUR facts straight. Or is this subject to complex? Kripp Johnson sang lead on "I'm spinning" released on FeeBee (FB-218) in August 1957. William Blakely sang lead on "I'm spinning" released on Mercury (71198x45) on September 17, 1957 Thanks for your interest anyway
Luniverse LP jacket group photo shows Donald “ Gus” Bakus , wearing SAME bow tie Scottish red and black plaid design, of same wide ness span. Photo showing Don Jackson shows dark, narrow and shorter bow tie span; also, smaller facial proportions ( see time 0.59 sec ). SUSPICIOUS !
@@Del-Vikings-Discography Photo is at time: 10:24 , same Luniverse LP referenced. Note, same photo appeared on Crown LP, except, that one was color-blanked off, reddish film overlayed, sort of.
@@erastuserazade9785 LP and CD Cover Pictures of the Del Vikings seldom show the correct constellation. The Crown LP from 1963 includes 4 songs from the 1956 Demo Tapes. Again ... Don Jackson was a member at that time (Oct 1956) not Gus Backus.
Fascinating! Thank you.
Come Go With Me was a fantastic song, but it had to take a back seat to Whispering Bells.
... and Woke Up This Morning!
... and Cold Feet!
Both underrated!
Kripp Johnson had the voice and the range. He deserved far greater fame and success. Most of these early R&B groups got shortchanged by management and the industry. It's a rather sad story.
Absolutely, Kripp Johnson had a uniquely fabulous voice. Getting gypped-short mess was rampant. Clyde McPhatter complained about that when he was with The Drifters, was bumped off, then , enter Ben E. King. The Safaris (Image of a Girl ) were apparently getting gypped when on the Eldo label .
@@erastuserazade9785 Very interesting that you mention McPhatter because I was thinking of him when I replied to you about Kripp and the Del-Vikings. The Safaris got gypped too? Look how poor Frankie Lymon got screwed. All that talent back then...and injustice. I think the Platters were one of the few R&B vocal groups that achieved financial reward.
I agree. As much as I loved Doo Wop and still enjoy listening to all the great voices, it is very clear that the recording industry back then was corrupt. People in it to make a quick buck, no respect for the artists, ripping them off. I am sure that Clarence Quick never made a dime in royalties for Come Go With Me and Whispering Bells. Some of the stuff that went on was just disgraceful. I think about what happened to Frankie Lymon. He ended up a drug addiction who overdosed at 26. Nobody was there to look out for him and he was so very young. He and one of the other members of the group wrote Why Do Fools Fall in Love. They never got royalties. Crooked managers kept it for themselves. I will always love Doo Wop. But there was a dark side where talented artists were taken advantage of far too often.
@@SuperNativenewyorker They're all legends, unsung as too many of them are. But they're not forgotten and will go down with the historical tributes they so deserve. They're Americana...and they're forever..
@@Steve52344 your comment made me tear up.you said what was in my heart. That’s why their music lives on in so many of us. It was a privilege to grow up hearing their voices. What a gift they gave us!
Is there anyone from the group still alive?
No. Chuck Jackson, the last one from the 50's groups, died a year ago.
Perhaps Joe Lopes (guitar) is still alive.
The User @hall230 (x-lonewolf-x) posted this:
Norman Wright sang lead on Come Go With Me & Jitterbug Mary. This is well-documented & Wright has said this in interviews. There is a live performance with Wright singing Jitterbug Mary. You can find it here on UA-cam. If you listen to Cool Shake & Jitterbug Mary, you can tell 2 different guys sing them. This video also states that Kripp Johnson sang lead on I'm Spinning, then a minute later states I'm Spinning is led by William Blakely. Get your facts straight! I understand that the group's history is complicated but having such glaring errors with some amazing info diminishes your video's legitimacy.
I'd like to reply to this user directly, but that's not currently possible. (A bug in the YT Comments)
Yes! Norman Wright sang lead on Come Go With Me & Jitterbug Mary. BUT ONLY ON STAGE !!!
What Wright said in interviews is no proof. How many interviews with Gus Backus have you seen?
Further, it is well documented that Gus Backus DID SING LEAD on Cool Shake & Jitterbug Mary !!
He is credited on the record as leadsinger !!!!!!!!!
And now for the voice - Obviously you are not qualified to judge.
Next "I'm spinning":
How cheeky! Get YOUR facts straight. Or is this subject to complex?
Kripp Johnson sang lead on "I'm spinning" released on FeeBee (FB-218) in August 1957.
William Blakely sang lead on "I'm spinning" released on Mercury (71198x45) on September 17, 1957
Thanks for your interest anyway
AI is really taking over humans
That's no AI. It's only an animated photo reading my text.
Luniverse LP jacket group photo shows Donald “ Gus” Bakus , wearing SAME bow tie Scottish red and black plaid design, of same wide ness span. Photo showing Don Jackson shows dark, narrow and shorter bow tie span; also, smaller facial proportions ( see time 0.59 sec ). SUSPICIOUS !
Couldn't find a picture of this constellation.
It's photoshopped.
@@Del-Vikings-Discography Photo is at time: 10:24 , same Luniverse LP referenced. Note, same photo appeared on Crown LP, except, that one was color-blanked off, reddish film overlayed, sort of.
@@erastuserazade9785 LP and CD Cover Pictures of the Del Vikings seldom show the correct constellation.
The Crown LP from 1963 includes 4 songs from the 1956 Demo Tapes.
Again ... Don Jackson was a member at that time (Oct 1956) not Gus Backus.