The Paragons
Founded in Brooklyn, the Paragons were a Black vocal harmony quintet signed to the New York-based Winley label, which was also home to the Jesters ("The Wind"). Julius McMichael (lead), Ben Frazier (first tenor), Donald Travis (second tenor), Ricky Jackson (baritone), and Al Brown (bass) had a distinctive sound with McMichael's high tenor voice as the lead, very much defining this distinctly New York-centered doo wop sound.
The Paragons began their recording career for Winley with the single "Florence" b/w "Hey Little School Girl," which was released in early 1957 and was a regional hit. Julius McMichael lasted through three more notable singles, "Let's Start," "Twilight," and "So You Will Know," all of which did well without ever charting nationally, before he exited the group to become a member of the Olympics. His replacement in the Paragons was Bill Witt, and they endured into the early '60s with more lineup changes and label changes as well, to Musicraft and then to Tap. They lucked out with Tap right out of the starting gate when their first single for the new label, "If," charted, which prompted Winley, their original label, to release more material that it was holding on the quintet.
The group's success on the charts in the early '60s seemed to presage their subsequent history -- the Paragons remained active throughout the 1960s, right into the rock & roll revival, where new audiences, consisting both of old fans of '50s music and new appreciators of harmony vocal acts, discovered the work of this fine, enduring group and boosted their listenership. In later years, they recorded new versions of their classic material, and continued to play to audiences at rock & roll revival shows.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
Artistas semelhantes
Discografia
21 álbum(ns) • Ordenado por Mais vendidos
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On the Beach: The Anthology
Reggae - Lançado por Trojan Records em 1 de jan. de 1967
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The Paragons / The Paragons In Dub
Reggae - Lançado por Virgin Music UK em 1 de jan. de 1981
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On the Beach with The Paragons
Reggae - Lançado por Attack em 1 de jan. de 1967
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The Mighty Paragons Collection
Reggae - Lançado por Gorgon Records em 7 de ago. de 2015
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The Paragons Meet the Jesters
R&B - Lançado por Winley Records em 15 de mar. de 1959
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The Paragons - Sings The Beatles and Bob Dylan
Reggae - Lançado por VP RECORDS em 11 de ago. de 1998
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The Tide Is High
Reggae - Lançado por Treasure Isle Records em 11 de ago. de 2011
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Blackbird Singing
Reggae - Lançado por Treasure Isle Records em 11 de ago. de 2011
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The Best of the Paragons
Pop - Lançado por Oldies.com em 1 de set. de 1993
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The Paragons: Danger In Your Eyes Compilation
Reggae - Lançado por Aggrovators em 28 de fev. de 2017
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Memories by the Score
Reggae - Lançado por Trojan Records em 18 de fev. de 2002
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The Mighty Paragons Collection
Reggae - Lançado por Gorgon Records em 7 de ago. de 2015
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Full Metal Jacket
Reggae - Lançado por Sleeping Giant Music em 30 de mai. de 2011
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The Best of the Paragons
Pop - Lançado por Classic Records em 1 de set. de 1993
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The Maddening Crowd
Reggae - Lançado por Gorgon Music - VPAL Music em 13 de jan. de 2014
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Florence
Jazz - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 21 de mai. de 2013
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The Maddening Crowd
Reggae - Lançado por Alexander Music Group em 13 de jan. de 2014
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Enter into His Gates with Praise
Reggae - Lançado por Gorgon Music - VPAL Music em 13 de jan. de 2014
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The Tide Is High
Reggae - Lançado por Black Barn Music em 27 de jun. de 2023
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The Paragons Meet The Jesters
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Lançado por PnR em 1 de jan. de 2000
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