Deep Rivber Boys???
Steve Walker
About 15-20 years ago I heard a group by the name of 'Harry Douglas &
the Deep River Boys', at least that's the name that I recall. I'm sure
of the Deep River Boys, but not so sure on Harry Douglas. They played
a mix of pop, light rock, country, and gospel, with a few jazz numbers thrown
in. A bit of everything.
I got the impression that the lead singer and piano player had been
singing and touring together for at least 50 years, and the piano
player seemed to be pushing eighty-some years old. The group consisted
of an african-american lead singer, african-american pianist and a
young (30 ish) white bass player. I don't recall their being a
drummer.
I recently picked up an old 78 record of the Deep River Boys, which
rekindled my memories, but any info available on the internet seems to
imply that the DRB were a jazz orchestra, not a small 3-4 piece group.
Is anyone familiar with the DRB, or by chance does anyone know of
remnants of the DRB that were still touring under that name, in the
late seventies or early eighties.
Thanks
Steve
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Steve Walker.
Saskatoon, Canada
swa...@link.ca
secret muse
to a spiritual or jazzy "sing" chorale-oodles of airchecks exist(i have
a box of them,somewhere...they must have broadcast over several networks
simaltaneously in the 40s.they recorded a lot commercially,and i think
appeared with russ case in the original "finian's rainbow"-at least i
THINK that's the same group.they were on rca and later waldorf.they were
VERY smoothe,ala Charioteers or Golden Gates(rivals on OKeh and Col.)If
there was a revived permutation of them,i never heard... pvc
David April
The Deep River Boys were and still are an african-american vocal group
harmony quartet. They were originally a college group from the Hampton
Institute, a prominate black college. The group was founded by Harry
Douglass. The group was discovered in 1936 on Major Bowes Amateur Hour
radio show. They recorded for Victor. They sang jubilee-style
spirituals, and jazz-influenced pop. They are in the same tradition as
the Golden Gate Quartet, Delta Rhythm Boys, etc.
Deep River Boys
George Lawson, first tenor; Vernon Gardner, second tenor; Harry
Douglas, baritone; Edward Ware, bass.
Harry Douglass is still performing with a group (not sure how many are
original members. For more information about DRB and their concert
dates, contact:
United Group Harmony Association (UGH
P.O. Box 185
Clifton, NJ 07011
(201) 365-0049 (Clifton Music)
David April
"The Roots of Rhythm & Blues"
WRDV-FM, 107.3 Philadelphia, 89.3 Warminster, PA
On Mon, 30 Sep 1996, Steve Walker
wrote:
>
> About 15-20 years ago I heard a group by the name of 'Harry Douglas &
> the Deep River Boys', at least that's the name that I recall. I'm sure
> of the Deep River Boys, but not so sure on Harry Douglas. They played
> a mix of pop, light rock, country, and gospel, with a few jazz numbers thrown
> in. A bit of everything.
>
> I got the impression that the lead singer and piano player had been
> singing and touring together for at least 50 years, and the piano
> player seemed to be pushing eighty-some years old. The group consisted
> of an african-american lead singer, african-american pianist and a
> young (30 ish) white bass player. I don't recall their being a
> drummer.
>
> I recently picked up an old 78 record of the Deep River Boys, which
> rekindled my memories, but any info available on the internet seems to
> imply that the DRB were a jazz orchestra, not a small 3-4 piece group.
>
> Is anyone familiar with the DRB, or by chance does anyone know of
> remnants of the DRB that were still touring under that name, in the
> late seventies or early eighties.
>
> Thanks
> Steve
>
-> -------------------------------------