The Ravens rnb pioneers

[edafan]

The Ravens

I have been collecting songs for all my life. My collecting really started in the late fifties. I loved Motown and rnb of the sixties and beyond. Lately, I have started collecting songs by the Ravens. What great singers they were. Wow. I have sixty songs now by them. They even did White Christmas where the lead was the bass singer, Jimmy Ricks. The Drifters did it this way also.

I hope this thread leads some others to discover what great great singers these people were.

True pioneers as their first record was in August 1946, when I was 4 years old.

edafan

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

I LOVE The Ravens and early R&B, Edafan. They're one of the best groups. In those days singers paid their dues. They had to be able to sing and harmonize. Great choice. We should post some of their songs here.

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Here we go~~~





~~Mary~~

[edafan]

also 2 great songs with the great Dinah Washington
Out In The Cold Again
Hey Good Lookin


just great singing

also Ravens bass Jimmy Ricks
tenor Maithe Marshall WOW
and I love Melvin Franklin and Eddie Kendricks
and I never thought I would ever hear anyone as good as those 2 Temptations
but I have.

edafan

[jsmith]

Jimmy Ricks went solo in 56 and that changed their sound a bit.
I posted an ad for a 1961 show at the Royal in Baltimore up on the R&B HofF 1st Induction thread.
As well as Gladys Knight & Little Jimmy Scott, Jimmy Ricks was on the bill that week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGS1IyrsvUU

[jsmith]

Another Jimmy Ricks track cut after he quit the group ..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL1Ebx-sg_E

[robb_k]

Jimmy Ricks started up new groups after leaving his original Ravens, They were called The Ricketeers and The Raves. They sounded pretty much like The Ravens had when Jimmy was on lead. However, they lacked the nice complement of Maithe Marshall on tenor lead and in switched-lead songs.

[Nothing But Soul]

Jasmine Records, which is one of those UK public domain labels, is releasing a comprehensive 2-CD Ravens collection this month. They are also releasing a 2-CD set in September by another vocal group who were contemporaries of the Ravens, Sonny Til and the Orioles. I'm generally not a fan of these types of reissue labels, but Jasmine is one of the better ones, and sometimes their collections contain recordings you can't find anywhere else.

The Ravens: Bass Instincts 1946-1955
http://www.jasmine-records.co.uk/aca...jascd-247.html

Sonny Til and the Orioles: Still Crying In the Chapel 1948-1962
http://www.jasmine-records.co.uk/aca...jascd-246.html

[edafan]

Jimmy Ricks started up new groups after leaving his original Ravens, They were called The Ricketeers and The Raves. They sounded pretty much like The Ravens had when Jimmy was on lead. However, they lacked the nice complement of Maithe Marshall on tenor lead and in switched-lead songs.

I agree

edafan

[edafan]

Jasmine Records, which is one of those UK public domain labels, is releasing a comprehensive 2-CD Ravens collection this month. They are also releasing a 2-CD set in September by another vocal group who were contemporaries of the Ravens, Sonny Til and the Orioles. I'm generally not a fan of these types of reissue labels, but Jasmine is one of the better ones, and sometimes their collections contain recordings you can't find anywhere else.

The Ravens: Bass Instincts 1946-1955
http://www.jasmine-records.co.uk/aca...jascd-247.html

Sonny Til and the Orioles: Still Crying In the Chapel 1948-1962
http://www.jasmine-records.co.uk/aca...jascd-246.html

I checked the list.
You are right.
I have them all except for 1 song.

thanks

edafan

[edafan]

After collecting Ravens songs
I started collecting Larry Darnell then Billy Ward and His Dominoes

I am really enjoying listening to these songs.

I will keep it up emphasizing RnB in the 1950's.

edafan