The Valentines

The Valentines

The Valentines are a 1950s US doo-wop group from Harlem, formed in 1952 in the Sugar Hill district of New York. They begin as a quartet, harmonising on the corner of 151st Street and Amsterdam Avenue under the names The Mistletoes and then The Dreamers before becoming The Valentines. The group’s original line-up comprises Raymond “Pop” Briggs, Carl Hogan, Mickey Francis and Ronnie Bright, with Richard Barrett later joining and becoming an important lead singer and songwriter in the group’s history.

Formation and line-up changes

The group forms around bass singer Ronnie Bright and develops from a neighbourhood harmony act into a quintet after Barrett joins at a house party in 1954. Barrett is invited for his song Summer Love and his distinctive lead voice. Their name change to The Valentines comes from Mickey Francis’ favourite song, My Funny Valentine. Over time the personnel changes several times: Donald Razor replaces Carl Hogan, Eddie Edgehill later replaces Donald Razor, then Hogan returns for a final session while David Clowney replaces Raymond Briggs.

Recordings and labels

The Valentines first record a Summer Love demo for Bruce Records, but it is not issued. Hy Weiss then signs the group to Old Town Records, where they release Tonight Kathleen backed with a new version of Summer Love in December 1954. That record is a rare local release that does not reach the charts. They then move to George Goldner’s Rama label, where they issue Lily Maebelle in 1955. Later releases include I Love You Darling, Christmas Prayer, their biggest hit The Woo Woo Train, and the ballads Twenty Minutes (Before the Hour), Natures Creation and Don’t Say Goodnight.

Style and stage presentation

The Valentines are known for their harmonies, choreography and stage presentation, which help make them one of the more admired East Coast vocal groups of the period. Their performance style draws on The Cadillacs, The Solitaires and The Flamingos. They are remembered for white jackets with red cloth hearts on the pockets, red shirts and pink bow ties, and for tightly arranged routines that combine singing with choreography. Their live appearance becomes a major part of their reputation, and they often perform in a conga-line formation during The Woo Woo Train.

Reception and performances

Although they do not place a record on the national charts, The Valentines become highly popular in New York and across the East Coast, with many regional best-sellers. Their stage shows are described as sell-outs, and they appear at venues and events including the Apollo, the Howard and the Royal theatres, as well as on Alan Freed shows at the Academy of Music and Brooklyn Paramount. They also perform on programmes hosted by Hal Jackson and Jocko Douglas Henderson. Their records are later sought by collectors, and the group is regarded as an influential Harlem doo-wop act with a strong reputation for showmanship and vocal blend.