R&B Music

A little beach music for us this summer evening. The Showmen were a doo wop and R&B group originally from Norfolk, Virginia, but they moved to and recorded in New Orleans beginning in 1961. The song “It Will Stand” was first released in 1961 on Minit Records. It went to #61 on Billboard Hot 100. It was re-released on Imperials records in 1964 and went to #80. They also had a hit with “39-21-40 Shape,” but because of an error on the label, it became known as “39-21-46.” The original members were General Norman Johnson (lead), Milton “Smokes” Wells (bass vocals), “Dorsey “Chops” Knight (second tenor), Gene “Chester” Knight (first tenor), and Leslie “Fat Boy” Felton (baritone). Instrumentation was provided by Frank Owens, Gordon Banks, and Randal “Bootney” Wilkins. General Norman Johnson left the group in 1968 to work with Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Invictus Records in Detroit, Michigan. He then became the leader for the group Chairmen of the Board (e.g, “Give Me Just a Little More Time).

Here are the lyrics to “It Will Stand” by The Showmen:

Rock-roll-rock-roll
You take some music, music
Sweet flowin’ music
Some movin’ and groovin’
Rock and roll will stand

Take some heart beats drum beats
Finger poppin’ and stompin’ feet
Little dances that look so neat
You see why it will stand

Some folks don’t understand it
That’s why they don’t demand it
They’re out tryin’ to ruin
Forgive them for they know not what they’re doin’

Don’t nick-name it
You might as well claim it
It swept this whole wide land
Rock and roll forever will stand

Hear those sax blowin’
Sharp as lightnin’
Hear those drums beatin’
Loud as thunder

Some folks don’t understand it
That’s why they don’t demand it
They’re out tryin’ to ruin
Forgive them for they know not what they’re doin’

Don’t you nick-name it
You might as well claim it
It will be here forever and ever
Ain’t gonna fade Never no never

It swept this whole wide land
Sinking deep in the heart of man
Come on boy join our clan
Come on boy take my hand
Come on boy be a man
‘Cause rock and roll will stand

Let’s do it all over again I feel good let’s do it again…

For an article about this kind of music: The First Wave of Beach Music.

If you would like to read about and listen to General Norman Johnson and Chairmen of the Board, please tap here for “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” which is on Pass the Paisley (The Daily Doo Wop’s sister site.)

For More Golden Oldies Music                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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