One of the earliest vocal harmony groups. A pioneer in R&B vocal group harmony and subsequently the formation of rock and roll. An entire book could certainly be devoted to The Orioles.
After Sonny Til’s 3-year stint with the army in the late 1940s, he began singing at local clubs. Til and some friends formed a vocal group called the Vibranaires who sang on West Baltimore street corners and went on to become became one of the world’s most influential and well-known R&B vocal harmony groups. The original line-up consisted of Sonny Til (Earl Tilghman – lead), Alexander Sharp (tenor), George Nelson (2nd tenor), Richard Williams (bass), and Tommy Gaither (guitar). Debra Chessler, an aspiring songwriter from Baltimore heard the group and convinced them to sing her songs. She became their manager. They traveled to New York and an appearance on the Arthur Godfrey Show brought the group to the attention of Jerry Blaine (It’s A Natural Records). Blaine suggested a name change and the group became known as the Orioles. Their first single “It’s Too Soon to Know” b/w “Barbara Lee” (both sides written by Chessler) was released in 1948 (It’s A Natural 5000). The single was issued again the same year as the first release on Blaine’s newly formed Jubilee Records. The Orioles attained national popularity that increased with each successive record release.
In 1950 tragedy struck the group as Gaither was killed in an automobile accident. He was replaced with guitarist Ralph Williams. Other personnel changes included Richard Williams being replaced with Johnny Reed. Charlie Harris joined on piano and vocals. Albert ‘Diz’ Russell was also an early member of the group before moving on to St. Louis where he joined a group called the Regals.
Throughout the ‘50s the Orioles performed in almost every major city and made appearances on TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show and the Dick Clark Show in Philadelphia.
Nelson was replaced in 1953 by Gregory Carroll – formerly of another Baltimore group the Four Buddies.
By 1954 the original Orioles had split up. Sonny contacted his old band mate Diz and persuaded him and his group the Regals to join him. They became known as Sonny Til & the Orioles. This line-up continued performing until 1959 when Sonny again went out as a solo act (see Til, Sonny) and The Orioles continued through a succession of incarnations..
The Orioles were one of the most successful and prolific Baltimore recording groups releasing over 46 singles on Jubilee plus several singles on Vee Jay and Charlie Parker Records. Their popular songs include the classics “Crying in The Chapel,” “It’s Too Soon to Know,” “Lonely Christmas,” and “What Are You Doing New Years Eve.”
In the ’70s Til teamed up with George Holmes and the Ink Spots, an Ink Spots offshoot group that also doubled as an incarnation of Sonny Til & The Orioles. They released a tribute album in honor of the original Orioles. The album “Sonny Til & the Orioles Today – In Tribute to the Original Orioles” featured Til (lead vocals), George Holmes (bass – vocal and instrument), Pepi Grant (tenor vocal), Larry Reed (baritone vocal and piano), Ann Lawson (vocal), Cliff White (guitar), and Roy Porter (drums).
In 1977 Til contacted former Oriole Albert ‘Diz’ Russell and persuaded him to re-form the group for a reunion show. Diz was not an original Oriole but had joined the group in 1955 when his group The Regals replaced the original group becoming the second incarnation known as The New Orioles.
For the 1977 incarnation the group at that time became Til, with ‘Diz’, Billy Taylor, and Gerald Holeman. The group did so well that they remained together and continued performing.
After Sonny died in 1981 the group continued as The Legendary Orioles and was managed by Diz’s wife Millie Russell. Subsequent members included vocalists Reese Palmer (former member of DC group The Marquees that also included Marvin Gaye, and The Moonglows), Skip Mahoney (leader of DC based Casuals), Ed Jones (vocalist and guitarist), Royal Height, Larry Jordan (ex-Veltones), George Spann (vocalist and keyboards).
A 1992 cassette only release featured a live recording at the now defunct Gee’s 4400 Club in Brentwood (PG County) featuring vocalists Holeman, Russell, Palmer, Mahoney and Jones (vocals and guitar), backed by the DC based Young Bucks featuring Les Campbell (guitar), Jesse Daughtridge (bass), and Freddie ‘Action’ Jackson (drums). The Young Bucks Band, a well renowned group in their own rite, were a regular backing band for the Legendary Orioles.
In 1993 the Legendary Orioles performed for Bill Clinton’s Presidential Inauguration Ceremony. In 1995 the original Sonny Til & the Orioles group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The ‘90s lineup released the 1997 CD “The Door Is Still Open.”
As of 2001 the “Legendary Orioles” were still performing for special events, however Diz was the only remaining original member. They appeared on MPT doo-wop classic shows and performed annually at the Kunta Kinte Heritage Festivals in Annapolis.
Fast forward again… A 2012 lineup featured Diz Russell with Clark Walker, David Warren, Ray Apollo, and Dwight Datcher.
In 2015 Diz retired after 60 years of performing.
In addition to their extensive singles discography, the Orioles have many ‘greatest hits’ album releases through the years. Notable is the 1962 LP Modern Sounds of The Orioles – Greatest Hits (on Charlie Parker 816) that featured new recordings of their favorites.
Record releases by the Orioles:
1948 It’s A Natural 5000 It’s Too Soon to Know / Barbara Lee
1948 Jubilee 5000 It’s Too Soon to Know / Barbara Lee
1948 Jubilee 5001 Dare to Dream / To Be with You
1948 Jubilee 5001 Lonely Christmas / To Be with You
1949 Jubilee 5002 Please Give My Heart a Break / It Seems So Long Ago
1949 Jubilee 5005 Tell Me So / Deacon Jones
1949 Jubilee 5008 I Challenge Your Kiss / Donkey Serenade
1949 Jubilee 5009 A Kiss and a Rose / It’s a Cold Summer
1949 Jubilee 5016 So Much / Forgive and Forget
1949 Jubilee 5017 What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve / Lonely Christmas
1950 Jubilee 5018 Would You Still Be the One in My Heart / Is My Heart Wasting Time
1950 Jubilee 5025 At Night / Every Dog-Gone Time
1950 Jubilee 5026 Moonlight / I Wonder When
1950 Jubilee 5028 You’re Gone / Everything They Said Came True
1950 Jubilee 5031 I’d Rather Have You Under the Moon / We’re Supposed to Be Through
1950 Jubilee 5037 I Need You So / Goodnight Irene
1950 Jubilee 5040 I Cross My Fingers / I Can’t Seem to Laugh Anymore
1950 Jubilee 5045 O, Holy Night / The Lord’s Prayer
1951 Jubilee 5051 I Miss You So / You Are My First Love
1951 Jubilee 5055 Pal of Mine / Happy Go Lucky Blues
1951 Jubilee 5057 Would I Love You / When You’re a Long, Long Way from Home
1951 Jubilee 5061 I’m Just a Fool in Love / Hold Me, Squeeze Me
1951 Jubilee 5065 Baby, Please Don’t Go / Don’t Tell Her What’s Happening to Me
1951 Jubilee 5071 When You’re Not Around / How Blind Can You Be
1952 Jubilee 5074 Trust in Me / Shrimp Boats
1952 Jubilee 5082 Waiting / It’s All Over Because We’re Through
1952 Jubilee 5084 Barfly / Getting Tired, Tired, Tired
1952 Jubilee 5092 Don’t Cry, Baby / See See Rider
1952 Jubilee 5102 You Belong to Me / I Don’t Want to Take a Chance
1953 Jubilee 5107 I Miss You So / Till Then
1953 Jubilee 5108 Teardrops on My Pillow / Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
1953 Jubilee 5115 Bad Little Girl / Dem Days
1953 Jubilee 5120 I Cover the Waterfront / One More Time
1953 Jubilee 5122 Crying in the Chapel / Don’t You Think I Ought to Know
1953 Jubilee 5127 In the Mission of St. Augustine / Write and Tell Me Why
1954 Jubilee 5134 Robe of Calvary / There’s No One But You
1954 Jubilee 5137 Secret Love / Don’t Go to Strangers
1954 Jubilee 5143 Maybe You’ll Be There / Drowning Every Hope I Ever Had
1954 Jubilee 5154 In the Chapel in the Moonlight / Thank the Lord! Thank the Lord!
1954 Jubilee 5161 If You Believe / Longing
1954 Jubilee 5172 Runaround / Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep
1955 Jubilee 5177 I Love You Mostly / Fair Exchange
1955 Jubilee 5189 I Need You, Baby / That’s When the Good Lord Will Smile
1955 Jubilee 5221 Please Sing My Blues Tonight / Moody Over You
1956 Jubilee 5231 Angel / Don’t Go to Strangers
1956 Vee Jay 196 Happy Till the Letter / I Just Got Lucky
1956 Vee Jay 228 For All We Know / Never Leave Me Baby
1957 Vee Jay 244 Sugar Girl / Didn’t I Say?
1958 Abner 1016 Didn’t He Say / Sugar Girl
1959 Jubilee 5363 Tell Me So / At Night
1960 Jubilee 5384 Come on Home / The First of Summer
1962 Charlie Parker 213 Lonely Christmas / Back to the Chapel Again
1962(LP) Charlie Parker 816 Modern Sounds of the Orioles – Greatest Hits
1978(LP) Dobre 1016 Today
1997(CD) The Door Is Still Open
