The Cleftones
American vocal group formed in 1955, known for 'Heart and Soul'.
The Cleftones, originally the Silvertones, formed in 1955 at a Queens junior high school. Their biggest success was the 1961 hit "Heart and Soul," and they were an unusual doo-wop group for including a female singer.
Quick Facts
- Formed
- 1955
- Original name
- The Silvertones
- Origin
- Jamaica, Queens, New York City
- Lead singer
- Herb Cox (born Herbert Alexander Cox, May 6, 1938 – December 7, 2019)
- Hit single
- Heart and Soul (1961, No. 18 Billboard Hot 100)
- Disbanded
- 1964
Facts from the source article.
Formation
In 1955, the members were high school students at Jamaica High School in Queens, New York. The group formed to write a political campaign jingle for the school's Independent Party, an unpopular group of students. Herbie Cox, Charlie James McGhee, Berman Patterson, Warren Corbin, and William 'Buzzy' McClane changed the lyrics to 'Gee' by The Crows. Their version made the Independent Party popular and won the school elections. They began performing locally as The Silvertones at venues such as Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp. The song 'Gee' was produced by George Goldner, who signed the group, now renamed The Cleftones, to a recording contract in 1955.
Hits and recordings
In their first professional effort, Corbin and Patterson wrote 'You Baby You', which became a hit in 1955. Herb Cox wrote 'Little Girl of Mine' and 'Can't We Be Sweethearts'. After minor hits 'Why You Do Me Like You Do' and 'See You Next Year', their next major hits came later. In 1961, the second generation of The Cleftones included Herb Cox, Charlie James, Warren Corbin, Gene Pearson (baritone, replacing William 'Buzzy' McClane), and Pat Spann, the first and only female to sing with the group. That year they reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Heart and Soul', a rearrangement of the 1938 song. They followed with 'For Sentimental Reasons' in 1962, a rearrangement of a 1936 song. The British Invasion of the mid-1960s took their audience. Gene Pearson left to sing with The Drifters from 1962 to 1966. The Cleftones broke up in 1964. In 2000, tenor Berman Patterson characterized his experience with the group. Herb Cox died in Fayetteville, Georgia, at age 81. Berman Patterson died on October 1, 2023, at age 85. Warren Corbin died in 1978.
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