The Students
The Students were an American doo-wop vocal group, which formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, in 1957.[1] Although they only released five sides, two of them – "I'm So Young" and "Every Day of the Week" – became doo-wop standards. "I'm So Young" in particular became popular and durable, and has been covered by the Beach Boys, Rosie and the Originals, and The Ronettes.
The Students | |
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Label of "I'm So Young" 45 single on Checker Records | |
Background information | |
Origin | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
Genres | Doo-wop |
Years active | 1957–1962 |
Past members | Leroy King Dorsey Porter John Ford John Bolden Richard Johnson Ralph Byrd |
The Students won the second-place prize at the amateur talent show at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Their winning song, "Jenny Lee" (also composed by Tyus), was later released as the B-side of a song by the Heartbreakers on Fordham Records.[2]
Both "I'm So Young" and "Every Day of the Week" were written by William H. "Prez" Tyus, Jr., a local Cincinnati high schooler. Tyus wrote the songs and gave them to a local African-American vocal group called the D'Italians. After the group secured a recording contract with Checker Records, they renamed themselves the Students, and it was under this name that Tyus's two songs were recorded.[3]
On May 29, 1961, the Students original of "I'm So Young" on Argo Records, reached No. 26 on the US Billboard R&B chart.[4][5]
On their recordings, all lead vocal parts were undertaken by Leroy King.
Members
- Leroy King, lead vocal
- Dorsey Porter, first tenor
- John Ford, second tenor
- John Bolden, baritone
- Richard Johnson, bass
- Ralph Byrd, guitarist
Discography
On Fordham Records
- 109 "Jenny Lee" (Prez Tyus) (split 45 with the Heartbreakers recording of "Come Back My Love") - 1964[6]
On Note Records
- 10012 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1958
- 10013 "Wazoo!!" / "Shuffle Stroll" - Jimmy Coe Orchestra - 1958 (The Students sang backup on Coe's recording of "Wazoo!!")[7]
- 10019 "My Vow To You" / "That's How I Feel" - 1959
- Checker Records (subsidiary of Chess)
- 9024 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1958
- 1004 "My Vow To You" / "That's How I Feel" - 1962
- 9024 "I'm So Young" / "My Vow To You" - 1973
- Argo Records (another subsidiary of Chess)
- 5386 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1961
- Cadet Records (another subsidiary of Chess; note: same catalog numbers as Argo)
References
- Rosalsky, Mitch (December 24, 2002). "Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups". Scarecrow Press. pp. 542/3 – via Google Books.
- Gottlieb, Martin (January 17, 1993). "POP MUSIC; The Durability of Doo-Wop". The New York Times. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- "The Students | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- "*STUDENTS (2) - doo-wop". Doo-wop.blogg.org. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- "The Students Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- "Heartbreakers* / Students* - Come Back My Love / Jenny Lee". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- "The Jimmy Coe Discography". Campber.people.clemson.edu. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - STUDENTS". Uncamarvy.com. Retrieved December 23, 2019.