Introduction
The Four Voices were an R&B vocal group consisting of Allan Chase, Sal Mayo, Bill McBride and Frank Fosta. They appeared on Arthur Godfrey’s show and signed up with Columbia Records in in 1955. Their biggest hit was 1956’s “Lovely One” which just barely broke into the Top 20 pop chart. Another single, “Dancing with My Shadow,” was a minor hit single. Unless you can count “Dancing with My Shadow,” The Four Voices are now known as a one-hit wonder.
The Four Voices’ formation and early years
The Four Voices is a short-lived vocal harmony quartet formed in Tennessee during the mid-50s music era. They consisted of members Allan Chase (tenor), Sal Mayo (tenor), Bill McBride (baritone) and Frank Fosta (bass baritone).
The Four Voices’ recording journey and dissolution
In 1955, Columbia Records‘ A&R executive Mitch Miller spotted The Four Voices after their television appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s show. Later that year, the quartet signed the record deal offered by Miller and released “Honest, Darling (Believe Me) which was quite unremarkable. The second release (“Darling, Thanks To You”) has the same fate of their first release as well. However in 1956, they released their third single “Lovely One” which made at the Top Ten 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and followed by “Dancing with My Shadow” placed at #50 (or #51) on the Hot 100. Further recordings were released from 1956 to 1962: “I’m Dreaming of Wedding Bells,” ‘I Love You Still,” “Such A Shame,” “Kingdom of Love,” “Let’s Write Our Own Love Story,” Ev’ry Hour, Ev’ry Day Of My Life,” “Tell Me Your Love, Tell Me You’re Mine,” “Who Knows Why,” “The Little White Cloud That Cried,” “Good Good Thing,” and “Sealed With A Kiss.” All of these weren’t able to chart.
Then the Four Voices went on to have five unremarkable years, but by the early 60s Chase quit. His former bandmates, meanwhile, tried to carry on for a year more before they finally split for good and went to obscurity. The band recorded no albums.
The Four Voices’ discography (may be impartial)
Columbia Records
(May 1955)
- A: Honest, Darling (Believe Me)
- B: Hey! Honey (Kissin’ Is Free)
(Oct 1955)
- A: Darling, Thanks To You
- B: The Big Eye
(Feb 1956)
- A: Lovely One
- B: Geronimo
(May 1956)
- A: Let’s Write Our Own Love Story
- B: Bim Bam Baby
(Aug 1956)
- A: I’m Dreaming Of Wedding Bells
- B: The Ties That Bind
(Feb 1957)
- A: I Love You Still
- B: Sentimental
(Aug 1957)
- A: Kingdom Of Love
- B: Sidewalk Bop
(Dec 1957)
- A: Dancing With My Shadow
- B: Bon Bon
(Apr 1958)
- A: Ev’ry Hour, Ev’ry Day Of My Life
- B: You Know I Do
(Aug 1958)
- A: Tell Me You Love Me, Tell Me You’re Mine
- B: Tight Spot
(June 1959)
- A: Who Knows Why
- B: Who, Who, Who
(Nov 1959)
- A: The Little White Cloud That Cried
- B: The Wang Wang Blues
(Apr 1960)
- A: Good Good Thing
- B: Stay With Me
(May 1960)
- A: Sealed With A Kiss
- B: You’re All There Is
Mr. Peacock Records
(Feb 1962)
- A: Lovely One
- B: M-I-N-E. Mine