The Moonglows
| Company type | Vocal group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1949 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Founder | Harvey Fuqua, Bobby Lester |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Ohio , United States |
| Products | Music recordings (R&B, doo-wop) |
The Moonglows were a prominent American R&B vocal group during the 1950s. Their track "Sincerely" achieved the number one spot on the Billboard R&B chart and also reached number 20 on the Billboard Juke Box chart.
In 2000, they were honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Origins
Following their service in the U.S. Army, Harvey Fuqua and Bobby Lester, who were friends, formed a duo in 1949 based in Louisville, Kentucky. Two years later, Fuqua relocated to Cleveland, where he established the Crazy Sounds alongside vocalists Danny Coggins and Prentiss Barnes. Lester joined this ensemble shortly afterward.
While performing at a Cleveland venue in 1952, the Crazy Sounds auditioned for management and caught the attention of radio personality Alan Freed, who became their manager. Freed, known by his nickname Moondog, renamed the group the Moonglows. They signed with Freed’s Champagne label; however, their initial recordings did not achieve chart success. Following Coggins’ departure, Alexander Walton (also known as Pete Graves) took his place.
In 1953, the group recorded for Chance Records, releasing a cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love" that stood out among their work with that label. Later that year, Freed secured a contract with New York’s WINS radio station, raising his profile and facilitating the Moonglows’ signing with Chess Records.
Rise to prominence
The Moonglows’ debut single on Chess Records, "Sincerely", featuring Lester on lead vocals, topped the Billboard R&B chart and made it into the top 20 on the pop chart. The song gained further popularity through a cover version by the McGuire Sisters. In 1955, guitarist Billy Johnson joined after Wayne Bennett departed following an engagement at the Apollo Theater. That year brought another R&B hit with "Most of All," followed by "We Go Together" in 1956. Some tracks were released under the alias the Moonlighters.
Lead singing duties were primarily divided between Lester and Fuqua; Lester specialized in doo-wop ballads, while Fuqua leaned more toward rock-and-roll styles. Among their 1956 successes were "See Saw," which climbed to number five on the R&B chart and number 25 on the Billboard Top 100, along with "When I'm with You," which reached number 15 on R&B charts. In August 1956, they appeared in one of rock-and-roll’s earliest films, Rock, Rock, Rock, where they lip-synced performances of "Over and Over Again" and "I Knew From The Start."
By late 1956, Fuqua assumed most of the lead vocal responsibilities. Their June 1957 rendition of Percy Mayfield’s "Please Send Me Someone to Love" also became an R&B hit. The Fuqua-led "Ten Commandments of Love," featured in the soundtrack of A Bronx Tale, reached number nine on the R&B charts and number 22 on pop charts in late 1958; during this period they were billed as Harvey and the Moonglows. Chess Records issued two EPs and an album titled Look, It's the Moonglows. The original lineup dissolved by year-end, continuing to perform only to fulfill contractual commitments.
Offshoot ensembles
In 1959, Bobby Lester embarked on a solo career. Meanwhile, Harvey Fuqua—encouraged by fellow Chess artist Bo Diddley—began collaborating with the Marquees, where he encountered Marvin Gaye. Fuqua relocated this group from Washington, D.C., to Chicago and incorporated Chuck Barksdale after his own group, the The Dells, temporarily paused activities due to a car accident. Renamed Harvey and the New Moonglows, they released "Twelve Months of the Year" in April 1959 featuring Fuqua’s lead vocals alongside Gaye’s spoken word segment. Later that year Chess released "Unemployment" and "Mama Loocie," marking Gaye’s first lead vocal appearances. Fuqua frequently recorded solo material and promoted their songs through television and film appearances. The group also provided backing vocals for artists such as Etta James and Chuck Berry.
Bobby Lester formed his own version of the Moonglows but encountered legal troubles following a narcotics arrest in 1959. Early in 1960, James Nolan and Reese Palmer departed from Fuqua’s group to prioritize family commitments; Chuck Barksdale rejoined the revived Dells. Toward the end of 1960, Gaye, Chester Simmons, and Fuqua recorded final tracks for the New Moonglows including "Junior" and "Beatnik." Subsequently, Gaye moved to Detroit where he signed with Tamla (Motown). In February 1961, Fuqua left Chess Records to manage Detroit-based labels Harvey and Tri-Phi before joining Motown’s production team; he later exited Motown for RCA in 1970. Prentiss Barnes retired from performing in 1969 due to health issues stemming from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Reunion
In 1970, Harvey Fuqua, Bobby Lester, and Pete Graves came together again as the Moonglows, joined by Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis. Two years later, in 1972, they produced the track "Sincerely '72" under Big P Records. After RCA acquired Big P, they re-released "Sincerely '72," which climbed to number 43 on the R&B charts. That same year saw the release of the album The Return of the Moonglows. However, this reunion was brief.
Final years and deaths
Danny Coggins passed away from a heart attack on July 27, 1972.
Bobby Lester continued leading his own version of the Moonglows until he succumbed to cancer in 1980 at the age of 49. Following his death, Billy McPhatter, son of Clyde McPhatter, took over as lead vocalist.
Harvey Fuqua performed alongside Bobby Lester’s Moonglows at the 1983 Grammy Awards. The ensemble toured as Harvey and the Moonglows until 1986, with Bobby Lester Jr. succeeding McPhatter as lead singer.
The group also appeared on Doo Wop 50, delivering performances of "Sincerely" and "Ten Commandments of Love" featuring members Harvey Fuqua, Bruce Martin, Gene Kelley, Peter Crawford, and Gary Rodgers.
Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles on April 28, 1987.
Chester Simmons passed away on September 26, 1988.
Gary Rodgers died on June 25, 2005.
Gene Kelley passed in 2008.
Reese Palmer died on October 27, 2011.
Both Prentiss Barnes and Pete Graves passed away in 2006. Harvey Fuqua, the last original member still living, died on July 6, 2010, in Detroit.
Legacy
The Moonglows' distinctive "blow" harmony technique—derived from their background vocal style—had a significant impact on vocal group arrangements. They were honored with induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. The group is also mentioned in Paul Simon's 1983 track "René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War."
Members
- Harvey Fuqua, vocals (1953–1958)
- Bobby Lester, vocals (1953–1958)
- Alexander "Pete" Walton (or Graves), vocals (1953–1958)
- Prentiss Barnes, vocals (1953–1958)
- Billy Johnson, guitar (1953–1958)
- Danny Coggins, vocals (1953)
Studio albums
- Look! It's The Moonglows (1958)
- The Return Of The Moonglows (1972) (No. 193 US)
Compilations
- Rock, Rock, Rock! (1956)
- Bunch Of Goodies (1960)
- The Best Of Bobby Lester And The Moonglows (1962)
- The Flamingos Meet The Moonglows On The Dusty Road Of Hits (1962)
- The Moonglows Greatest Hits (1973)
- Moonglows (1976)
Singles
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| 1953 | "Just a Lonely Christmas" b/w "Hey, Santa Claus" |
— | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1954 | "Secret Love" b/w "Real Gone Mama" |
— | — | |
| "I Was Wrong" b/w "Ooo Rockin' Daddy" |
— | — | ||
| "219 Train" b/w "My Gal" |
— | — | ||
| "Sincerely" b/w "Tempting" (Non-album track) |
20 | 1 | "Rock, Rock, Rock" soundtrack | |
| 1955 | "Most Of All" b/w "She's Gone" (Non-album track) |
— | 5 | Bunch of Goodies |
| "Starlite" b/w "In Love" |
— | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Lover, Love Me" b/w "In My Diary" (from Bunch of Goodies) |
— | — | ||
| 1956 | "We Go Together" b/w "Chickie Um Bah" (Non-album track) |
— | 9 | Bunch of Goodies |
| "When I'm With You" / | — | 15 | Look! It's The Moonglows | |
| "See Saw" | 25 | 6 | "Rock, Rock, Rock" soundtrack | |
| "Over and Over Again" b/w "I Knew From The Start" |
— | — | ||
| 1957 | "Don't Say Goodbye" b/w "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" (Non-album track) |
— | - | 'Look! It's The Moonglows |