Artist:The Five Keys
Song:My Saddest Hour
Album:The Doo Wop Box II
Along with The Flamingos & The Moonglows, The Five Keys are considered one of the best vocal groups of the 50s and their recordings are cherished by collectors. Fortunately you can hear them and plenty of other doo wop groups on Rhino's 4CD Doo Wop Box II. The group began in 1945 as The Sentimental Four gospel group. There were two sets of brothers; Rudy & Bernie West and Ripley & Raphael Ingram from Newport News, VA. They added Edwin Hall in 1949. Raphael was drafted into the Air Force and was replaced by Dickie Smith. They won a trip to The Apollo in a talent contest and their manager suggested a name change to The Five Keys. Hall got married and left. He was replaced by Maryland Pierce and guitarist Joe Jones was added. This was the group that signed with Aladdin Records in 1951. Their first big hit was a cover of the Benny Goodman hit The Glory Of Love in 1951. My Saddest Hour was released in Dec. 1953 and continued a long streak of R & B hits. The Five Keys left Aladdin in 1954 for Capitol Records and had their biggest hit called Ling Ting Tong. The Five Keys continued to have success but tired of touring and like a lot of doo wop groups ran out of steam by the early 60s. A version of The Five Keys with Bernie West, Maryland Pierce & Dickie Smith still tours the oldies circuit today. Here's The Five Keys performing Ling Ting Tong in 1955. Yes. it's out of sync. I suspect the audio & video are from different sources.
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