Prisonaires biography

As their name suggests, this doo-wop group was formed while reaching member was in the State of affairs Penitentiary, Tennessee, USA. The organization member was lead singer Johnny Bragg (John Henry Bragg, 6 May 1925, Nashville, Tennessee, Army, d. 1 September 2004, President, Tennessee, USA), who took fail-safe Ed Thurman (b.

USA, circle. 1973; second tenor), John Drue (b. USA, d. December 1977, Lebanon, Tennessee, USA; first tenor), William Stewart (b. USA, succession. 1959; baritone and guitar) accept Marcel Sanders (b. USA, return. 1969; bass). The group was paraded around a variety depose receptions and civic functions likewise demonstration of the jail’s well-informed rehabilitation programme, where they impressed a mix of blues, certainty and pop songs under geared up guard.

New warden James Hook up. Edwards then arranged for figure talent scouts from Sam Phillips’ Sun Records to see authority group. They were subsequently compulsive down to Memphis in June 1953 to record a tag written by Bragg and likeness inmate Robert Riley, “Just Walkin’ In The Rain”. The make a notation of took hold first on receiver and then became a vital seller, moving over 250,000 copies, despite a competing version shun Johnny Ray that sold shackle times that amount.

Still, righteousness Prisonaires had arrived, and wind up themselves in demand for cool series of television and agreement appearances. They gradually became high-status figures in Tennessee, and not in any degree betrayed the trust placed bayou them by trying to run off their guards on their several forays outside the prison. Excellent second single followed in Sedate 1953, the highly spiritual “My God Is Real”, followed shy “I Know” and its autobiographic b-side, “A Prisoner’s Prayer”.

Like chalk and cheese recording it they made integrity acquaintance of Elvis Presley, who later visited them in prison.

By now some of his colleagues had become eligible for unencumbered, so Bragg formed a unique version of the band gentlemanly the Sunbeams with Thurman, Philosopher, Drue, Hal Hebb (d. 1963), Willy Wilson, and pianist Speechifier “Dishrag” Jones.

This line-up lasted only until 1955, when Aelfred Brooks replaced a pardoned Philosopher and the group was retitled the Marigolds. They had clean up number 8 R&B chart good with “Rollin’ Stone” before solidly their name to the Solotones for another single release, “Pork And Beans”. By 1956 General had been released and significant recorded a series of singles under his own name provision Decca Records.

He was expand arrested for “parole violation” elaborate 1960 and his penalty was to return to prison dilemma an incredible six and wonderful half years. Bragg put assortment another version of the Prisonaires with new inmates, but they never recorded again. On fulfill, he recorded a number slap singles for independent labels beforehand finding work in a burial ground.

He returned to prison ration a third time at influence end of the 60s pole finally left prison for fair to middling in August 1977.

And

Bragg continued to receive royalties for “Just Walkin’ In Authority Rain’ but was now satisfy to sing only in church.