The Five Satins
Biography
The Five Satins are best known for the doo wop classic "In the Still of the Night," a song that was popular enough to make the group one of the most famous doo wop outfits, although they never had another hit of the same magnitude.
The origins of the Five Satins lie in the Scarlets, a New Haven, CT, doo wop group led by Fred Parris. The Scarlets formed in 1953, while Parris was still in high school. The group had a local hit with "Dear One" the following year. In 1954, Parris formed the Five Satins with vocalists Al Denby, Ed Martin, and Jim Freeman. Within the next year, Parris had the group record "In the Still of the Night," a song he had recently written in the basement of a local church. The first single the group released was "In the Still of the Night." The single was released on Standard Records in the spring of 1956. By the end of the year, it had been leased to Ember and became a huge hit, peaking at number three on the R&B charts and number 25 on the pop charts.
By the time "In the Still of the Night" scaled the charts, Parris had been drafted into the army. He was stationed in Japan when the song became a hit, and he was still stationed in Japan when the group recorded the follow-up single, "To the Aisle. " For that single, Bill Baker handled the lead vocals. "To the Aisle" became a Top Ten R&B hit in the summer of 1957. Parris returned from the army in 1958. Upon his return, he reorganized the group, adding Richie Freeman, Sylvester Hopkins, West Forbes, and Lou Peeples. This incarnation of the group had a minor hit in the fall of 1959 with "Shadows."
In 1960, "In Still of the Night" re-entered the pop charts thanks to its exposure on Art Laboe's first Oldies but Goodies compilation. The repeated success of the single sparked another minor hit for the band in 1960, a cover of the standard "I'll Be Seeing You." During the remainder of the '60s and early '70s, Parris led various incarnations of the Five Satins through oldies revues in America and Europe; they also recorded occasionally during this time.
In 1974, the group signed a contract with Kirsner Records and released a single, "Two Different Worlds." Two years later, they briefly changed their name to Black Satin and released a single called "Everybody Stand Up and Clap Your Hands (For the Entertainer)," which became a Top 50 R&B hit.
Shortly afterward, the group reverted to the Five Satins name. In 1982, the Five Satins had their last hit with a doo wop medley entitled "Memories of Days Gone By." The single, which was released on Elektra Records, peaked at number 71 on the pop charts. For the remainder of the '80s and the '90s, Fred Parris led various lineups of the Five Satins and the group performed regularly at oldies shows in America and Europe. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
A great song among their many great songs...a super talented group...
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The National Anthem Of Rock & Roll (Doo Wop @ it's Best) Lead singer Fred Paris is still making appearances.
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See if you can find a song by the 5 Satins called "When Your Love Comes Along" It is so cool it will blow your mind!
Doo Wop David - Woodstock GA |
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I agree with Justin Thyme doesn't get any better than this when it comes to doo wop !
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Arguably the greatest doo wop song of all time - with a wink and a nod to "Earth Angel" - this song captures the elegance of early soul/r&b that Sam Cooke and, later, Otis Redding would finesse.
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I saw Fred Parris and the Satins in concert last Saturday and Fred still sounds great. Anyone who loves their music, please log on to their website www.satinsty l e . n e t and sign the petition to get the Five Satins inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Fred and the group deserve it.
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I was not born in this era, though our house was a great sounds of the 50's & 60'S. I enjoy listening to music that brings much joy then & now.
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One of my favorite groups during the fifties. It's too bad the music of today can't beat the Doo Wop of the fifties.
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"In the still of the night", by the five satins was a great song. Do I remember it? You bet. I was station at Itazuke AB, Japan 1956-58, USAF.
Long live the music of the 50's & 60's. Jim Dandy |
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LINDA H.
I FELL IN LOVE TO THE FIVE SATINS IN 1961 HIALEAH WITH WALTER RADOSH AND I STILL REMEMBER IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT AND ITS BEEN ALMOST 48 YEARS LATER SONGS STAY WITH YOU FOREVER ! |
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Glynn 22, you are right. All Mine is a terrific acapella song. The reason it was done acapella was that the band never showed for the recording session!
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There is an acapella version of All Mine out there. Try to get a listen to it. It is the eptiome of early doo wop. One of the best ever.
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melody, lyrics, emotion. A concept undiscovered by todays musicians. Pity.
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Yeah they should be in the hall of fame my god they made one of the best songs ever : In the still of the night.
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I had the pleasure of meeting Fred Parris in 1972 and he is pure class.
Why the Satins are not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is not only a mystery but a terrible mistake. Fred has one of the great voices of the doo-wop era and still sounds great. |
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