This US vocal quintet evolved from New Jersey's Creators (formed in 1962), and comprised Hugh Harris and Danny Austin, plus Dave Watt, Norman Donegan and lead singer Mary Ann Thomas. Under the aegis of the swing-era veteran John T. Taylor, they had a Top 10 R&B and pop hit in 1965 with "Boy From New York City", which was composed by Taylor. Their compelling performance blended contemporary R&B with doo-wop, but the group was unable to repeat the single's impact. Although a subsequent release, "He Ain't No Angel", was a minor hit, the Ad Libs struggled to sustain any momentum. "Giving Up" entered the R&B Top 40 in 1969, but this commercial reprieve owed little to the charm of their heyday and proved equally short-lived. The memory of that lone hit was revived in 1981 when the Manhattan Transfer took their version into the US Top 10.

Listen to The Ad Libs at Finetune.

• The Boy From New York City

• The Chiffons
• The Shirelles
• The Dixie Cups
• Betty Everett
• The Five Satins
• Crests
• The Platters
• Flamingos
• The Penguins
• The Dells
• The Marcels
• The Fleetwoods
• The Skyliners
• Shep & The Limelites
• The Duprees
• Little Caesar & The Romans
• The Jellybeans
• The Moonglows
• The Rays
• Neil Sedaka

• formsetter
• hughley
• stuartek