The Valentines - Tonight Kathleen 1954

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Biography: The Valentines

The Valentines never really had any R&B or pop hits on the national charts to speak of, but are probably best known for serving as a launching pad for a few important careers, especially that of Richard Barrett, one of the greatest A&R men of all-time. Barrett originally started out as a performer for the Philadelphia-based group the Angels.

The group broke up before they had a chance to record. He later moved to Harlem, and in 1952, met Raymond "Pop" Briggs (tenor), Carl Hogan (second tenor), Mickey Francis (first tenor and lead), and Ronnie Bright (bass). They were a young black vocal group calling themselves the Dreamers at the time and could be found on the street corners in the Sugarhill section of town (aka Washington Heights) or at the park across from the Polo Grounds.

They decided to change the name of their group to the Valentines, which came courtesy of Francis' fondness for "My Funny Valentine." Soon they had developed a sound that was musically similar to what the Cadillacs, the Solitaires, and the Flamingos were doing.

By 1954, however, the Valentines were beating local acts in vocal competitions and performing at the Apollo Theatre's Amateur Night contest.

Soon, the Valentines' Barrett was approaching Goldner about releasing a song by his own group, "Lily Maebelle," which was issued on the Rama imprint in September 1955, becoming an East Coast favorite and earning them a spot on the bill of a few of Alan Freed's shows at the Academy of Music and Brooklyn Paramount.

The Valentines went on to much success. Clowney became Dave "Baby" Cortez, arranger for many groups like the Paragons and the Jesters, and a few years later had his own instrumental monster hit ("Happy Organ," number one, 1959). Hogan became a songwriter, often collaborating with Barrett on songs for Little Anthony & the Imperials, Alvin Robinson, and the Dubs. Ronnie Bright joined the Cadillacs and in 1963 had a hit (number 16) with Johnny Cymbal as the immortal "Mr. Bass Man." He then joined the Deep River Boys and later Carl Gardner's Coasters.