The Velvets

The Velvets were an American doo-wop group from Odessa, Texas, United States. They were formed in 1959 by Virgil Johnson, a high-school English teacher, with four of his students.[1] Roy Orbison heard the group and signed them to Monument Records in 1960.[2] Their first release was a tune called "That Lucky Old Sun". Their biggest hit single was "Tonight (Could Be the Night)", which hit #26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.[1] The follow-up, "Laugh", peaked at #90,[1] and after a half-dozen further singles the group disbanded.

Not to be confused with the Velvet Underground.
The Velvets
OriginOdessa, Texas, United States
GenresDoo-wop
Years active1959 (1959)–1962 (1962)
LabelsMonument
Past members
  • Virgil Johnson
  • Will Solomon
  • Mark Prince
  • Clarence Rigsby
  • Bob Thursby

Virgil Johnson, a former deejay at Radio KDAV in Lubbock, Texas, was the lead tenor singer, with backup from Mark Prince (bass), Clarence Rigsby (tenor), Robert Thursby (first tenor), and William Solomon (baritone). The four were originally Johnson's eighth-grade pupils in an English class which he instructed in Odessa, also in West Texas, in the 1959-1960 school year.

"That Lucky Old Sun" (#46) and "Tonight (Could Be the Night)" (#50) made brief appearances in the UK Singles Chart in 1961.[3]

Their complete recorded output runs to thirty songs, which were collected on one compact disc and released on Ace Records in 1996.[4]

Aftermath

Johnson was later a school principal[5] before his death in February 2013.[6] Clarence Rigsby was killed in an automobile accident in 1978.[7]

Members
  • Virgil Johnson (1935–2013)[6]
  • William Solomon (1941–2006)
  • Mark Prince
  • Clarence Rigsby (1947–1978)[8]
  • Bob Thursby
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References
  1. Thomas, Bryan (2008-01-01). "The Velvets - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  2. Nite, Norm N. Rock On: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock n' Roll (The Solid Gold Years). Thomas Y. Crowell (1974), p. 630.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 584. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "The Complete Velvets - The Velvets : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  5. "Lubbock ISD: Dunbar Middle School". May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008.
  6. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2013 January to June". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  7. "Virgil Johnson (The Velvets)". Rockabillyeurope.com. 1935-12-29. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  8. Doc Rock. "The 1970s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
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