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Groupe Doo
Wop US de Philadelphie (Pennsylvanie), composé de Ricky Cordo (lead), Eugene Glass, Frank Troutt, Ronald Gathers et Idella
Morris.
The
Majors scored an R&B/pop Top 30 hit in 1962 with "A Wonderful Dream." They are
remembered for their outrageous falsetto lead vocals (often criticized for them)
and for being one of the many acts produced by Jerry Ragovoy, an important
behind-the-scenes force behind East Coast Soul music. The Majors -- lead singer Ricky
Cordo, Eugene Glass, Frank Troutt, Ronald Gathers, and Idella Morris -- formed
in 1961 in Philadelphia. Early on the group decided to highlight Cordo's
exaggerated falsetto leads, which to some, sounded like they could have been
sung by the group's lone female, Idella Morris, instead.
They soon came to the attention of Ragovoy, a producer who worked at Chancellor
Records at the time (where Fabian and Frankie
Avalon had hits). Ragavoy had already begun producing doo wop acts (often
distinguished by a conspicuous gospel feel) in the Philadelphia area in 1953,
when he and Herb Slotkin (owner of Tregoobs appliance store) formed Grand
Records. They later issued early doo wop releases by the Castelles.
Ragovoy produced the group's lone hit, "A Wonderful Dream," but they failed to
hit with anything further. After working with forgotten doo wop acts like the
Majors, he went on to become quite a successful songwriter, writing or co-writing
several classic New York and Philadelphia Soul records in the 1960s, including Garnet
Mimms' "Cry Baby" (which was co-written with another excellent early-'60s
songwriter/producer Bert Berns) which landed at number four in 1963.
In the mid-'60s, Ragovoy also wrote a song for jazz trombonist Kai Winding,
"Time Is on My Side," covered by Irma Thomas, and a U.S. Top Ten hit for the
Rolling Stones. (Like some other of Ragovoy's best songs, this one was written
under the pseudonym of "Norman Meade").
Ragovoy became even more prominent in his role as a mentor for Janis Joplin, who
seemed to have a yen for Ragovoy-penned material, covering (with Big Brother &
the Holding Company, or as a solo singer) his "Piece of My Heart" and "Try (Just
a Little Bit Harder)," which had been originally recorded by Lorraine Ellison.
In most cases, Joplin's interpretation eventually became the best-known version
of these Ragovoy songs. Ragovoy continued to live comfortably from the
songwriter's royalties brought in by Joplin's cover versions, as well as some of
his other compositions, but he wasn't too active after the 1960s. He later
produced Bonnie Raitt in the 1970s.
Style musical : Doo Wop, Rhythm 'n' Blues
LUNDEE DUNDEE
(1960)
 (versatiles)
A Wonderful Dream
(1962)
She's A Troublemaker
(1962)
TRA LA LA
(1963)
Love Is THE Answer
(1966)
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Years in activity :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 | 20 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles
| 09/1960 | SP RO-CAL 1002 (US) | . |
VERSATILES -
Lundee Dundee
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| 05/1962 | SP IMPERIAL 5855 (US) | . |
MAJORS -
A Wonderful Dream
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| 1962 ? | SP CALIFORNIA 393 (DK) |
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MAJORS - A Wonderful Dream
/ Time Will Tell |
| 10/1962 | SP IMPERIAL 5879 (US) | . |
MAJORS -
She's A Troublemaker
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| 01/1963 | SP IMPERIAL 5914 (US) | . |
MAJORS - Anything You Can Do / What In The World |
| 01/1963 | EP POLYDOR 27 748 (F) |
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MAJORS -
A Wonderful Dream -
A Wonderful Dream
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| 03/1963 | SP IMPERIAL 5936 (US) | . |
MAJORS -
Tra La La
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| 06/1963 | SP IMPERIAL 5968 (US) | . |
MAJORS - Get Up Now / One Happy Ending |
| 07/1963 | EP LONDON RE-P 1358 (UK) |
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MAJORS - Meet The Majors - What In The World / A Little Bit Now / She's A Troublemaker / Twist And Shout |
| 08/1963 | SP IMPERIAL 5991 (US) | . |
MAJORS - Life Begins / Which Way Did She Go |
| 01/1964 | SP IMPERIAL 66009 (US) | . |
MAJORS - Ooh Wee Baby / I'll Be There |
| 02/1966 | SP ABC 45-10777 (US) | . |
PERFORMERS - Just Dance /
Love Is The Answer
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| 01/1973 | SP United Artists Silver Spotlight Series XW110 (US) | . |
Mother-In-Law
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Album
| 1963 | LP 12" IMPERIAL LP 9222 (US) |
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Meet The Majors - A Wonderful Dream / Ooh Wee Baby / Time Will Tell / Tra La La / Twist And Shout / A Little Bit Now / She's A Troublemaker / Don't Lose Your Cool / I Wonder Who's Dancing With Her Now / What In The World / Come On Come On / Anything You Can Do |
© Rocky Productions 23/02/2021
