The Willows

The Willows (aka Five Willows) were one of those R&B groups that brought us some great recordings from the early days of R&B and then hung in there and were successful during the rock and roll era of group harmony singing of the mid to late 50's.  And amazingly they are still at it today - six decades later!
 
 
 

The Willows were one of the great Harlem groups from 115 Street and Lenox Avenue.  Their members were Tony Middleton (lead), Richie Davis (1st tenor), brothers Ralph Martin (2nd tenor) and Joe Martin (baritone), Freddie Donovan (bass), and subsequently John Thomas "Scooter" Steele (bass).  They first started singing in 1952 as teenagers about 16 years old.  They started out singing as the Dovers.  The Martin brothers mother Clarisse was the moving force behind the formation of the group. The group would rehearse at the Martin's house along with Bobby Robinson (who later went onto to start Red Robin records and other labels) and Doc Green (who joined the Five Crowns which became the Drifters). One day, the group was hanging out on the "stoop" singing when along came Tony Middleton.   Middleton recalls that, at the time, he was training to be a boxer when he first met the guys.   "They let me in the group and we started from there," recalls Middleton.  The group then changed its name to the Five Willows.   The group was influenced by the pioneer vocal groups like the Dominoes, Clovers, Orioles and Robins.

They started rehearsing and then they "went looking for a label," as Middleton says.  Middleton remembers:  "we ran into Sammy Davis, Jr. who was out taking pictures of Manhattan.  We got lucky and we met up with Dorain."  Peter Dorain (Abbey Records) gave them an audition and liked what he heard.  He decided to record them for a new label he was running - Allen Records (owned by Victor Allen).  Out of that sessions came four releases including their terrific first release My Dear Dearest Darling b/w Rock Little Francis (Allen 1000 - 1953). It features the terrific bass intro from Scooter Steele.  The following releases were Delores b/w All Night Long (Allen 1002 - 1953), The White Cliffs of Dover b/w With These Hands (Allen 1003 - 1953) and Love Bells b/w Please Bay (Pee Dee 290 - 1953).  Tony can be heard singing lead on all these recordings and sharing the lead with Richie on Dolores. All but White Cliffs of Dover and With These Hands were written by the group.  It was an exciting time for the group but a bit disappointing too as they found themselves being asked to clean-up the studio at night.  But Middleton says that "but that was our time - we had the place to ourselves at night."  Following the release of the Allen sides, the group had some local performances including one recalled by Richie Davis - a performance at a Catholic School on Gun Hill Road in New York.  "We did about 17 songs," remembers Ralph Martin.

Allen went out of business in 1954 and the group moved to Herald Records but working for Al Silver of Herald was disappointing as they were largely overshadowed by other groups like the Turbans and Nutmegs.  "Groups then weren't jealous of one another.  We loved one another.  We saw Richard Barrett (of the Valentines) coming out of Sax Fifth Avenue one time with a red suit in his hand and we made friends with him," says Middleton.  They were close to other Harlem groups from their area like the Bopchords, the Five Crowns, the Wanderers and some of the Drifters.  They recorded just two records still as the Five Willows - Baby, Come a Little Closer b/w Lay Your Head on My Shoulder (Herald 433 - 1954) and So Help Me b/w Look Me in the Eyes (Herald 442 - 1954).

                                        
In 1955, Tony Middleton was introduced to Morty Craft who has his own fledging label - Melba Records.  Craft took the group into the studio and had them record the now-famous Church Bells May Ring b/w Baby Tell Me (Melba 102 - 1956 - incorrectly identified on a now-collectable release as "Church Bells Are Ringing).  Their friend Richard Simon can be heard singing the famous bass part which includes the phrase "Hello, hello again." Neil Sedaka can be heard playing the chimes - a first for a rock and roll record.  The group wrote the song one day while hanging out at the house of one of the Bopchords - their neighborhood friends. It was inspired by Tony from an idea of his wife Betty.  To say the song was a smash hit would be an understatement.  Its one of the most requested and best loved 50's songs of all time.

As was the case with most successful black recordings of the time, it was "covered" by the white group the Diamonds.  It was disappointing for the group.  Fortunately, its the Willows version that is best remembered.  Their memories of Craft are not-so-found as Craft claimed songwriting rights to Church Bells.  The group remembers that the only contribution that Craft made was to suggest that the group do the song uptempo instead of an alternate ballad that they had created.  "We never had an agent but the money we got was so little.  We didn't get but maybe $20 a piece," recalls Middleton.

But they have some good memories too - especially working with Alan Freed.  "He was the best of all," says Middleton.  "He always looked out for us - never fail."

The group later followed with Do You Love Me b/w My Angel (Melba 106 - 1956). My Angel was written by Sedaka. At this point, Freddie Donovan had replaced Steele as the group's bass.  They successfully sued Croft for royalties and were able to leave Melba with the help of their attorney Abner Greenberg. They took their talents to Carl Edelson of Club Records who put out one release - This is the End b/w Don't Push, Don't Pull, Don't Shove (Club 1014 - 1956). Two other recordings from that session were unreleased. The following year, Melba released Little Darlin b/w My Angel (Melba 115 - 1957).

                                   
Later in 1957, they recorded for Eldorado Records doing The First Taste of Love b/w Only My Heart .  Eldorado was owned by Buchanan and Goodman who were famous for their novelty records. The big band style recordings are some of Tony Middleton's favorites.  And the group then went on to to work George Goldner's Gone label where they did a terrific record by the name of Let's Fall in Love b/w Say Yeah (Gone 5015 - 1957) under the name of Tony Middleton and the Willows.  Lets Fall in Love is a fantastic uptempo number complete with bells, solid harmonies and an outstanding Middleton lead.  One of our favorites!  Middleton recalls that they went to Goldner because they were looking for a label.  "We came up with this song - trying to go in the direction of Church Bells May Ring."  In 1959, the group recorded for the Michelle and Warwick record labels doing new versions of their previous recordings.  In 1961, it was the 4-Star label and in 1964-65 for the Heidi label (see above) a subsidiary of Alto Records.
 

Tony Middleton went on to have an illustrative solo career in the later 1960's recording for the ABC Paramount, Kapp, MGM, Saxony, Triumph, Alto, Big Top Afa, United Artists, Philips and even Roulette labels.  In the 1970's, Middleton continued his solo career recording for several big name labels including A&M and Columbia.He was nominated for a Grammy in 1972 for Don't Ever Leave Me.  Middleton also went on to appear on Broadway with Ray Pollard of the Wanderers in the production of Purlie and other shows.
 

The group has continued performing together over the years and recently started a push to be a regular on the group harmony circuit.  Middleton says that "a wonderful friend of mine Michael Cee - a musician himself - has been pushing that the Willows should be doing something.  He wants to see us do what we can while we are still here."  The group has been performing on Long Island and is planning a show in 2004 at Westbury Music Fair.  And here's some great news - the group is planning to record again!  Middleton informs us that they are working on a new and exciting version of Church Bells May Ring.  "I got an idea that is really good - a big hit."  And, no its not a rap version, although Joe Martin's daughter has a rap version of the song.  We are looking forward to once again seeing and hearing this terrific group from the glory days of group harmony singing!