R&B / soul group led by vocalist James J.T. Bryant, and guitarist Charles Stallings. The group originated by U.S. servicemen in Germany.
Stallings, originally from Hobbsville, SC, and Baltimorean Bryant met while enlisted in the Army. After discharge from Fort Dix in 1968, Stallings visited Baltimore and was impressed with the music scene that was quite different than his rural SC home, and decided to stay. The two revived the Antwans featuring Bryant (lead vocals), Stallings (guitar, vocals), another Army buddy Leroy Flowers (bass, vocals -from Virginia), along with Ted Queen (sax, keyboards, vocals ex-4 Notes…), and Ronald (drums)… On the band name Charles recalled that “Antwan was the name of the group in Germany before I got with them and we just kept it… I don’t know what it means.”
The Antwans performed locally at many cabarets, cocktail sets, breakfast shows, and night clubs. Venues included the Hideaway, Dotson’s, Brice’s Hilltop Inn, Golden Door, Twin Pines…
They released a single on their own record label Snawtna (Antwans spelled backwards), pressing 2,000 copies that were distributed throughout the Baltimore area. Queen went on to join the Highlighters… Stallings (see bio) later known as Fly-Face, B-Town, worked with Ellison & Brent, the Chaumonts, formed The Dance Band with Leroy Flowers, and led his Charles ‘Big Daddy’ Stallings blues band.
1971 Snawtna 1001 Ain’t No Love / You Got That Right
