Amnondoowop's video: THE HARPTONES NO GREATER MIRACLE 1960 Warwick 45 551

The Harptones are an American doo-wop group, which formed in Manhattan in 1953. The group never had a top forty pop hit, or even a record on the national R&B charts, yet they are still considered one of the most influential doo-wop groups, both for their lead singer, Willie Winfield and their pianist/arranger, Raoul Cita. The Harptones recorded for various labels, including Coed Records. The Harptones may have been the first doo-wop group to number a full-time arranger among their members, and Cita knew how to work to Winfield's strengths. Their best-known recordings include "Sunday Kind of Love" (1953), "Why Should I Love You?" (1954), "Life is But a Dream" (1955), and "The Shrine of St. Cecilia" (1956). In 1956, they recorded some songs for the film Rockin' the Blues: "Mambo Boogie", "Ou Wee Baby",[1] and "High Flying Baby".[2] The song "Life is But a Dream" was featured in the 1990 film GoodFellas, and can be found on the film's soundtrack.Members 1951-1954 Willie Winfield (tenor) Billy Brown (bass) Claudie "Nicky" Clark William Dempsey (second tenor) William "Dicey" Galloway (baritone) Raoul Cita (piano; baritone) Early 1955 Willie Winfield (tenor) Billy Brown (bass) Claudie "Nicky" Clark William Dempsey (second tenor) Freddy Taylor (baritone) Raoul Cita (piano; baritone) Dicey Galloway was drafted in November 1954. Late 1955 Willie Winfield (tenor) Billy Brown (bass) Claudie "Nicky" Clark William Dempsey (second tenor) Bernard "Jimmy" Beckum (baritone) Raoul Cita (piano; baritone) Early 1956 Willie Winfield (tenor) Bobby Spencer William Dempsey (second tenor) Bernard "Jimmy" Beckum (baritone) Raoul Cita (piano; baritone) 1956 movie Rockin' The Blues Willie Winfield (tenor) Freddy Taylor Billy Brown William Dempsey (second tenor) Raoul Cita (piano; baritone) Early 1957 Willie Winfield (tenor) Billy Brown William Dempsey (second tenor) William "Dicey" Galloway Toni Williams Raoul Cita (piano; baritone) Billy Brown died of a drug overdose in spring 1957. Late 1958 Willie Winfield (tenor) William Dempsey (second tenor) William "Dicey" Galloway Toni Williams Curtis Cherebin Dicey Galloway left in October and was replaced for Milton Love of The Solitares for a short time, before splitting. 1959-1963 Willie Winfield Nicky Clark William Dempsey Curtis Cherebin Raoul Cita Nicky Clark left after a few months, to be replaced by Wilbur "Yonkie" Paul, who was in turn replaced by Hank "Pompi" Jernigan. Early 1964 Willie Winfield Nicky Clark William Dempsey Jimmy Beckum Raoul Cita Late 1964 Nicky Clark William Dempsey Curtis Cherebin Hank "Pompi" Jernigan Raoul Cita 1970-1972 Willie Winfield Curtis Cherebin Jimmy Beckum William Dempsey Raoul Cita 1972-mid 1990s Willie Winfield Marlowe Murray Linda Champion Raoul Cita Mid 1990s-1999 Willie Winfield Marlowe Murray Linda Champion William Dempsey Raoul Cita This lineup appeared on Doo Wop 50. Linda Champion left due to health problems around 2000.[3] 2000-present Willie Winfield Marlowe Murray Vicki Burgess William Dempsey Raoul Cita Marlowe Murray died from cancer in 2009. Awards and recognition The Harptones were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. Marlowe Murray died from cancer in 2009.