Saturday, March 01, 2008

Yahoo LAUNCHCAST Song Of The Day-The Shirelles


Artist:The Shirelles

Song:Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Album:Ultimate Dirty Dancing





Though preceded by The Bobbettes & The Chantels, The Shirelles were the first girl group of the rock era to have a #1 pop hit in 1961 with Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. It was also the first hit for songwriters Carole King & Gerry Goffin. It is yet another classic oldie that has been kept alive by the film Dirty Dancing. The group began in 1958 as The Poquellos in a Passaic, NJ high school with lead singer Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Micki Harris & Beverly Lee. They performed at a talent show and a friend got them to audition for her mother who owned a small record label. Florence Greenburg became their manager and changed the group name to The Shirelles because Shirley was the lead singer. Greenburg licensed the group's recordings to Decca but then she started Scepter Records and hired producer Luther Dixon to work with The Shirelles. He was a successful songwriter and this was his first opportunity to produce. The first two singles didn't catch on but Scepter hit the jackpot with Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow to the point that a previous single Dedicated To The One I Love was rereleased and was a top five hit. 1962's Soldier Boy also was a #1 pop hit. The Shirelles continued to record but the British Invasion killed their run just like a lot of other groups from the early 60s. The Shirelles faded but continued to record into the 70s. There have been versions of The Shirelles touring the oldies circuit for years. The Shirelles were incucted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1996. Here's a video of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles.

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