The Hurricanes - Fallen Angel 1957

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The Hurricanes (Brooklyn, NY)

Biography:
Named after a mighty force of nature, the Hurricanes never achieved the notoriety of some of their contemporaries, such as the Drifters or the Dominoes. Nevertheless, they were still a vocal-group powerhouse. Packing strong lead vocals and solid harmonies, the Hurricanes were a dynamic musical force to be reckoned with in 1950s R&B circles. Tracing the group's origins takes listeners to the streets of Brooklyn in the early '50s. It was there that four young teens formed a vocal group. The founding group members were Jerry Halfhide (lead), Sam Fickling (tenor), Fred Williams (baritone), and Vernon Britton (bass). The group, originally calling themselves the Tune Toppers, were serious in their musical pursuits and before long had a manager, Mack Jones, uncle of Fred Williams. Mack Jones probably had a good ear for talent, being a seasoned performer himself. He was better known in showbiz circles as Jelly Roll, part of the comedy duo Jelly Roll & ZuZu. His showbiz connections no doubt unlocked some doors for the fellows that might have otherwise remained unopened. They added lead tenor Henry Austin (aka Alston) to the group, and with Jerry Halfhide shifting to background, they were now a quintet and ready to move forward in their musical career.

They did not have to wait long. The group landed a deal with Jubilee Records and in early 1954, now calling themselves the Toppers, released a single, "You're Laughing 'Cause I'm Crying" backed with "Baby, Let Me Bang Your Box." The record doesn't appear to have been reviewed by Billboard. "You're Laughing 'Cause I'm Crying" is a solid blues ballad. "Baby, Let Me Bang Your Box," with its double-entendre title, is a rollicking, up-tempo outing which is about playing a piano at a party.

In 1957, King released two more singles by the Hurricanes, containing some of their most exquisite ballad work. "Fallen Angel" opens with an evocative, descending harmony pattern and progresses smoothly into a moving lead vocal. The flip side, "I'll Always Be in Love With You," is another Drifters-influenced up-tempo. "Priceless," the group's last King disc, is considered to be just that among vocal-group harmony connoisseurs. It is probably the most polished effort by the group. The backside of this one, "Now That I Need You," is a retitled cover of the Mello-Moods' "Where Are You." While at King, the Hurricanes also provided uncredited background vocals to other King artists, including Jerry Dorn and Bubber Johnson.

By 1958, the Hurricanes were no more, at least under that name. They recorded for Skyline, but the record was released as by Henry Alston. "Once in a Beautiful Lifetime" was issued with two different flip sides, "I Dare You Baby" and later "What Is There Left for Me." The group recorded two more records as the Memos for Memo Records in 1959. For these sessions, Fred Williams, on loan to Uncle Sam, was replaced by his brother, Eugene Williams. Most notable of the Memos' recordings is "My Most Precious Possession," a competent ballad effort by the group. As the 1960s dawned, the group went their separate ways.

Vernon Britton remained involved with the music business and produced the soul group Crown Heights Affair, among others. In 2001, after being inducted into the United in Group Harmony Association's Hall of Fame, the Hurricanes re-formed and started performing in a number of East Coast venues. The lineup includes originals Vernon Britton and Fred Williams. Handling lead vocals is George Green, whose voice is ideal for accurately re-creating the Hurricanes' sound. Hearing this version of the group is like being transported back to the '50s and should not be missed by any 1950s R&B group harmony fan. An import CD devoted to the material of the Hurricanes is available.