The Solitaires are a doo wop group, best remembered for their 1957 hit “Walking Along”.
Formed in Harlem in 1953, the band consisted of Herman Curtis, Buzzy Willis and Pat Gaston (who had previously ben together in another group, The Crows), and Monte Owens, Bobby Baylor and Bobby Williams (formerly of The Mello-Moods). They were quickly signed to the Old Town music label, from which they issued a series of singles. These included “Wonder Why”, “Blue Valentine”, and a cover version of the jazz standard “I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You”, all released through 1954.
When Curtis (who was lead singer) left the group in 1955, he was replaced by Milton Love (formerly of the Concords), and it was with Love that the Solitaires enjoyed their greatest success. A string of hits throughout the latter part of the 1950s included “The Wedding” (1955), “The Angels Sang” (1956), and “Walking Along” (1957), which was later recorded by The Diamonds. The group released their final single in 1961, before disbanding.
Various Solitaires line-ups have toured since 1961, and continue to do so to the present day. Currently, the group is made up of Milton Love, Freddy Barksdale, George Magnezid and Robbie Mansfield. |
