The Students
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1957 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati , United States |
| Products | Doo-wop music recordings |
The Students were a vocal ensemble specializing in doo-wop, originating from Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1957. Although their recorded output consisted of only four tracks, two of their songs—"I'm So Young" and "Every Day of the Week"—have become iconic within the doo-wop genre. The track "I'm So Young" especially achieved enduring acclaim and has been interpreted by several artists such as the Beach Boys, Rosie and the Originals, The Ronettes, and Kid Kyle.
In 1956, the group secured second place at an amateur talent competition held at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Their entry, "Jenny Lee," penned by William H. "Prez" Tyus, Jr., was subsequently released as the B-side to a Heartbreakers' song on Fordham Records in 1964.
Both "I'm So Young" and "Every Day of the Week" were composed by Tyus, who was a high school student in Cincinnati at the time. Initially, these songs were handed to a local African-American vocal group named the D'Italians. After signing with Checker Records, this group adopted the name the Students and recorded Tyus's compositions under this new identity.
The original version of "I'm So Young" by the Students, issued through Argo Records on May 29, 1961, climbed to No. 26 on the US Billboard R&B chart. Leroy King served as the lead vocalist on their recordings.
William "Prez" Tyus passed away on December 23, 2022.
Members
- Leroy King, lead vocalist (September 19, 1943 – December 24, 1998)
- Dorsey Porter, first tenor (born January 17, 1942)
- Roy Ford, second tenor
- John Bolden, baritone (October 24, 1941 – April 24, 1982)
- Richard Johnson, bass
- Ralph Byrd, guitar
Discography
On Fordham Records
- 109 "Jenny Lee" (written by Prez Tyus) (split release with the Heartbreakers' "Come Back My Love") - 1964 (recorded in 1956)
On Red Top Records
- RT100 "Mommy and Daddy" / "My Heart Is An Open Door" - 1958
On Note Records
- 10012 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1958
- 10013 "Wazoo!!" / "Shuffle Stroll" - Jimmy Coe Orchestra (Students contributed backing vocals) - 1958
- 10019 "My Vow To You" / "That's How I Feel" - 1959
On subsidiaries of Chess Records:
- Checker Records
- 9024 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1958
- 1004 "My Vow To You" / "That's How I Feel" - 1962
- 9024 "I'm So Young" / "My Vow To You" - 1973
- Argo Records
- 5386 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1961
- Cadet Records (shares catalog numbers with Argo)
- 5386 "I'm So Young" / "Every Day Of The Week" - 1964
- Checker Records