The Turbans

The Turbans

The Turbans is a name used by two distinct musical acts: an African American doo-wop group formed in Philadelphia in 1953, and an international collective that develops music from near-eastern and eastern-European traditions alongside original material.

The Philadelphia doo-wop group

The Philadelphia group forms in Downtown Philadelphia, around Bainbridge and South Street. Its original line-up is Al Banks on lead tenor, Matthew Platt on second tenor, Charlie Williams on baritone and Andrew “Chet” Jones on bass. Herman Gillespie acts as their first manager.

They win first prize in a Christmas 1954 talent contest with their version of Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters’ “White Christmas”, which leads to local label interest. In the late spring of 1955 they record a demo, which Gillespie takes to Al Silver and Jack Angel at Herald Records in New York. The group signs a contract in July 1955 and also gains a new manager, Allen Best of Shaw Artists Corporation.

Their first Herald session takes place in July 1955. Later that month they issue “Let Me Show You (Around My Heart)” backed with “When You Dance”. “Let Me Show You” becomes a regional hit in several US cities, while “When You Dance” gradually breaks in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore before reaching the national R&B and pop charts in November 1955. It peaks at number 3 on the R&B chart and number 33 on the pop chart, and remains on the pop chart for about five months.

Herald follows with “Sister Sooky” and “I’ll Always Watch Over You” in December 1955, but the record does not chart. In early 1956 the group tours on Irvin Feld’s Super Attractions Tour, then appears on another package tour with Roy Gaines, Guitar Slim, Margie Day and Lloyd Lambert. It also joins the Rhythm And Blues Show Of 1956.

Further Herald releases include “I’m Nobody’s” backed with “B-I-N-G-O” in April 1956 and “It Was A Nite Like This” backed with “All Of My Love” in August 1956; neither reaches the national charts. By July 1956 the group tours the Midwest with Sonny Boy Williamson’s orchestra. It also plays the Circle Theater in Cleveland in October 1956 with Don Rello, the Quails and Ralph Wilson’s orchestra.

As 1957 begins, the group has no more hit records and its work begins to dry up. Two recording sessions in early 1957 produce no chart success, and its Herald contract ends in July 1957.

Line-up changes follow. In late 1958 a rebuilt Turbans signs to Red Top Records with Matthew Platt and Charlie Williams replaced by Earl Worsham and John Christian. They release “I Promise You” backed with “Curfew Time”, with Al Banks leading both sides, but it does not chart. After about two years without further recording, Chet Jones leaves for a time and the group continues as a trio.

In 1960 the group moves to Roulette Records, with Chet back in the line-up. It records “Diamonds And Pearls” backed with “Bad Man”, although the Paradons later score a hit with the song. In January 1961 it issues its second and final Roulette single, “Three Friends”, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, backed with “I’m Not Your Fool Anymore”, without chart action.

The next label is Parkway Records, where the group records an updated version of “When You Dance”. By this point Chet Jones has left again, and the line-up includes Al Banks, Earl Worsham, John Christian and new bass Reggie “Tootie” Price. The original Herald recording of “When You Dance” is also reissued after appearing on the second volume of Art Laboe’s Oldies But Goodies series, and in its reissue form it reaches number 114 on the pop chart.

Later in 1961 the group signs to Imperial Records. Reggie “Tootie” Price is replaced by James Oscar “Cisco” Williams, and tenor Sonny Gordon joins, making the group a quintet. Their Imperial releases are “Six Questions” backed with “The Lament Of Silver Gulch”, “This Is My Story” backed with “Clicky Clicky Clack”, and finally “I Wonder” backed with “The Damage Is Done”. Across these three records there is no chart success. After Imperial, the group breaks up.

Afterwards, Earl Worsham sings with Billy Byrd’s Ink Spots and later with a Coasters group based in Boca Raton. Al Banks sings with Charlie Thomas’ Drifters in the early 1970s. Al Banks and John Christian are now deceased.

The travelling collective

The other act called The Turbans begins in Kathmandu, Nepal, when violinist Darius Thompson and guitarist Oshan “Danger” Mahony decide to cycle to India, where they meet mandolinist Chinua Ford. The group forms at its first concert in Dharamsala and continues as a travelling collective of multinational musicians.

Its line-up draws on players with backgrounds in classical music, jazz, Middle Eastern music, Balkan folk and Celtic music, and the project combines these influences with original compositions.