R&B group from the Cherry Hill area of South Baltimore originally known as The Chips. They held rehearsal sessions at John Purdie’s Ponderosa on Poplar Grove above the Lucky Number Club.
Paul Kyser, a well-known writer/producer from New Jersey discovered the group at a talent show where the prize was a recording contract with Atlantic Records.
Their first record, a cover of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers song “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” was released on Atlantic in 1971 as by Johnny Briscoe & the Little Beavers. Kyser and Leon Stuckey wrote almost all of the original songs subsequently released by the group.
The vocal group consisted of Jimmy Briscoe (lead vocalist), with Kevin Barnes, Robert Makins, Maurice Pulley, and Kevin Gilliam who was later replaced with Stanford Stansbury (ex-Dynamite 5). The original band included ‘Shorty Bill’ (guitar), Clyde Harris (bass ex-Boleros), Arthur Scribner (keyboards and musical director –ex-Boleros), and Glen Newton (drums). In 1974 Makins was replaced with Bobby Finch (ex-Dynamite 5). Finch (see bio) was in turn later replaced with Milton Faulkner when he embarked on a solo career. The group was managed by Kenneth Small and Ike Belton.
L-R: Barnes, Stansbury, Briscoe, Finch, Pulley
Finch later released solo records. Harris later with the Spindles… Note, there was another Kevin Barnes who played trombone with Charlie & Co., Pockets, etc…
The group was honored by having a street named after them. The ceremony took place on October 21, 2023 at the corner of Bethune and Round Road in Cherry Hill neighborhood, Baltimore.
Single releases:
1971 Atlantic 2822 Why Do Fools Fall in Love / Sugar Love
197* J City 225 Together, Together (We’ll Find the Way) / (Instr.)
1973 Pi-Kappa 400 Where Were You (When I Needed You) / My Fallin Angel
1974 Pi-Kappa 600 My Ebony Princess / (Theme From) My Ebony Princess
1975 Pi-Kappa 604 I Only Feel This Way When I’m With You / Country to The City (I’m Going Back to The Country)
1975 Pi-Kappa 700 I’ll Care for You / Movin’ On
1976 Pi-Kappa 800 Ain’t No Way / Forever
1976 Pi-Kappa 802 You’re My Love, My Life, My Soul / I Hear Music (And It’s Getting Louder)
1977 Wanderick 70001 Invitation to The World / Ain’t Nothing Under the Sun
1977 Wanderick Living for Today / True Love
1979 Salsoul 2092 Into the Milky Way / Like Ice
Album releases:
1974(LP) Pi-Kappa 6000 My Ebony Princess
1977(LP) Wanderick 66000 Jimmy Briscoe and The Beavers
