Kings, The

Vocal harmony group formed in 1950 in the area around Druid Hill and Jasper Street. Original members featured Adolphus ‘Little Hooks’ Holcomb (lead tenor), Bobby ‘Pop Ditty’ Hall (lead tenor), Raymond Holcomb (baritone), Gilbert Wilkes (bass), and Leon Smith (guitar).

The group won a talent show at Good Hope Hall and were brought to the attention of Marty Shad, owner of Jax, Harlem, Sittin’ in With labels in New York. In 1953 the Kings released three singles on the Jax label featuring the lead vocals of Bobby Hall. Hall eventually left the group in the mid-’50s and was replaced with James Arthur. This line-up released a single on Jax as the Ramblers. After releasing singles on MGM, Gotham, and Gone with little success outside the Baltimore area they enlisted the management of local DJ Jack Gale (WITH-AM). Gale released a single by the group on his Jalo label. The record did not do any better than their other releases but Jack managed to get them a contract with RCA.

“Elephant Walk” ad courtesy of Jack Gale

Gale worked with the Kings writing songs including the “Elephant Walk” which was released by RCA and had some national success. On the strength of the single, the Kings made appearances on American Bandstand and in Baltimore on the Buddy Deane Show. It was rumored that the Kings also recorded “Elephant Walk” as by the Chords on the Metro label, but this was actually a white group produced by Gale. The next Kings single “Bump-I-Dy-Bump” was sold to Max Cooper who owned Lookie Records. The single was subsequently released on Epic.

Around 1960 Wilkes left the group and was replaced with bass guitarist Theodore Eastep. Smith also left and Rudolph Chews joined as the new guitarist. The new lineup became known as Little Hooks & the Kings.

Their 1963 single “Count Your Blessings” b/w “How to Start a Romance” featured backing by the Sentries. It was released on Hooks’ own Century label. The record was subsequently sold to the Little Rick label in New York then to Chess Records.

The Kings were seen locally as the weekend house band in 1964 at New Sid’s Danceland on Baltimore Street as well as shows at the Royal Theater on Pennsylvania Avenue.

After a long hiatus from recording the Kings released a single on the Enjay label in 1972. The record gained popularity for the group as it climbed into the WWIN Top-20 and was later released nationally on United Artists. At this time the group featured Hooks, Raymond Holcomb, Eastep, and Donald Allen (guitar).

During their career the group played most of the famous halls including the Royal Theater, Howard Theater in D.C., the Apollo Theater in New York…

Following is a Kings discography (The Jax singles were originally issued on red wax). Also see Ramblers.