The Dixie Nightingales
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1958 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Founder | Ollie Hoskins, Willie Neal, Nelson Lesure, Bill Davis, Rochester Neal |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Memphis , United States |
| Products | Gospel, R&B, soul music recordings and performances |
The Dixie Nightingales, also referred to as Ollie & the Nightingales and simply The Nightingales, were an African-American male vocal ensemble initially rooted in gospel before shifting their focus to R&B and soul genres.
History
Originating from Memphis, Tennessee, the group was first known as The Gospel Writer Juniors prior to adopting the name The Dixie Nightingales. The original lineup featured Ollie Hoskins (1936–1997), Willie Neal, Nelson Lesure, Bill Davis, and Rochester Neal. With Hoskins leading as the primary vocalist, they emerged as a prominent southern gospel group throughout the 1950s and 1960s, launching their recording career on Pepper Records in 1958. Among their early members was a young David Ruffin, who later gained fame as the lead vocalist for The Temptations.
In 1962, the group secured a contract with Nashboro Records. By 1965, under the direction of Randle Catron, they joined Chalice Records—the gospel division of Stax Records overseen by executive Al Bell. During this period, they issued three singles on Chalice, including the socially conscious track "The Assassination," which addressed the killing of President John F. Kennedy.
Encouraged by Bell in 1968 to transition into secular soul music, Willie Neal exited the ensemble and was succeeded by Quincy Billops Jr., formerly of Stax's The Mad Lads. The group rebranded as Ollie & the Nightingales and signed with Stax's principal label, releasing multiple singles. Their most successful record was "I Know I've Got a Sure Thing," penned by William Bell and Booker T. Jones, which climbed to number 16 on the Billboard Black Singles chart. Later releases such as "I've Got a Feeling" and "You're Leaving Me" achieved moderate recognition. Additionally, they contributed backing vocals to Eddie Floyd’s 1968 hit "I've Never Met a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)."
A self-titled album arrived in 1969; however, it omitted "I Got a Sure Thing" because Atlantic Records retained rights following Stax's termination of its distribution agreement with Atlantic.
Hoskins departed in 1970 to embark on a solo path under the name "Ollie Nightingale," producing several R&B charting singles before dedicating himself to blues performances in Memphis. To fill his role, Stax’s Sir Mack Rice brought in Tommy Tate. The group released three further singles during the early 1970s before dissolving. Subsequently, Bill Davis, Quincy Billops Jr., and Rochester Neal joined forces with The Ovations.
Ollie Nightingale appeared in the 1993 movie The Firm and recorded four albums with Ecko Records. He passed away due to a heart attack in Memphis on October 26, 1997.
Singles
- The Dixie Nightingales
- 1965: "The Assassination" b/w "Hush Hush"
- 1965: "I Don't Know" b/w "Keep On Trying"
- 1966: "Forgive These Fools" b/w "There's Not A Friend"
- Ollie & the Nightingales
- 1968: "I Got a Sure Thing" b/w "Girl You Have My Heart Singing" (US #73, US R&B #17)
- 1969: "You're Leaving Me" b/w "Showered With Love" (US R&B #47)
- 1969: "Mellow Way You Treat Your Man" b/w "Don't Do What I Did"
- 1969: "I've Got a Feeling" b/w "You'll Never Do Wrong" (US R&B #45)
- 1970: "Bracing Myself For The Fall" b/w "I'll Be Your Anything"
- The Nightingales
- 1970: "You’re Moving Much Too Fast" b/w "Don’t Let a Good Thing Go"
- 1970: "I Don’t Want To Be Like My Daddy" b/w "Just a Little Overcome"
- 1971: "Don’t Do It I’m With You" b/w "Can’t Get Away"
Album
- 1969: Ollie & the Nightingales (Stax 2021):
- Features standout songs including "You'll Never Do Wrong," "Mellow Way You Treat Your Man," and "Girl You Make My Heart Sing"