Doo Wop Groups
The Harptones recorded “Life is But a Dream,” which was written by group member Raoul J. Cita , in 1955. The Harptones formed in Manhattan in the early 1950s. They sang on street corners, hallways, subway stations, and anywhere they could. They had numerous recordings but not a lot of music business muscle behind them. They are a revered and influential group, especially for the lead singer Willie Winfield and pianist/arranger/singer Raoul Cita. Group members changed, but at this time, they were Winfield, Cita, Nicky Clark, William Dempsey, Billy Brown, and Bernard “Jimmy” Beckum. Other classic songs from The Harptones are “A Sunday Kind of Love,” “Why Should I Love You,””My Memories of You,” and “The Shrine of St. Cecilia.” The Harptones continued to tour and perform for many decades.