A Visit With the Ravens

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

The Ravens were the first of the so-called "bird" vocal groups. Formed in New York, they began recording in 1946 and were so successful on the charts by the late 1940s that flocks of other bird groups sprang up, including the Crows, the Orioles and the Robins to name a few. All were hugely influenced by the vocal harmony stylings of the Mills Brothers. The Ravens began their recording career at Hub but were signed to National in 1947. In late 1950s, they were signed briefly to Columbia's Okeh label before moving to Mercury in October 1951, where their sessions included recordings with Dinah Washington.

But the Ravens soon had a hard time holding on to its members, and the group ended its Mercury relationship at the end of 1953. Sessions were done for Jubilee but the group dissolved in 1956, as music trends shifted to more upbeat rock 'n' roll. As you will hear, the harmony was timeless and remains coolly confident, soulful and hip. The original members were Jimmy "Ricky" Ricks, Warren "Birdland" Suttles, Leonard "Zeke" Puzey and Henry Oliver "Ollie" Jones. [Promotion shot above of the Ravens flipping their latest single off an overpass, by William P. Gottlieb]

Here are nine clips that illustrate this group's marvelous taste and their direct influence on doo-wop, which would start mid-decade:

Here are the Ravens in 1949 singing My Sugar Is So Refined...

Here's Write Me a Letter that the Ravens originally recorded for National in 1947 but was re-issued by Mercury in the early '50s...

Here's Talk of the Town in 1947...

Here's Someday from 1949...

Here's their big hit, Count Every Star, in 1950...

Here's Mam'selle in 1950...

Here's You Foolish Thing in 1951...

Here's Begin the Beguine in 1953...

And here's September Song in 1954...

JazzWax note: For more on the Ravens, check out Marv Goldberg's site (go here).

Used with permission by Marc Myers