An R&B vocal group from the Bronx section of New York City, New York, USA, the members were Grover "Dean' Barlow (lead), Harold Johnson (tenor, guitar), Eugene Stapleton (tenor), Leon Carter (baritone) and Rodney Jackson (bass). The Crickets" only hit was with "You're Mine" (number 10 R&B) on the MGM Records label in 1953. Their lack of success probably stemmed from their pop sound, a sound that was typical for black groups during the 40s when the Ink Spots, Deep River Boys, and Charioteers held sway. However, during 1953-55, when the Crickets were recording, the more bluesy Clovers, Dominoes, and Five Royales were storming up the charts, so to both listeners and radio programmers the Crickets, with their pretty singing and tasteful but thin arrangements, may have sounded dated. Veteran record man Joe Davis produced their sessions both for the MGM label and for his own Davis label. It is fortunate for posterity that Davis was there, because what may not have been commercial in 1953 sounded fabulous decades later to record collectors, making Crickets records prized collector items. The ballads, such as "Be Faithful", "You're Mine" and the jump "My Little Baby's Shoes", were the most desired and the most rewarding.

Listen to The Crickets at Finetune.

• That'll Be the Day
• Oh Boy!
• Maybe Baby
• Not Fade Away
• It Doesn't Matter Anymore

• Elvis Presley
• Buddy Holly
• Chuck Berry
• The Everly Brothers
• Roy Orbison
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Johnny Cash
• Ritchie Valens
• Fats Domino
• Little Richard
• Bobby Darin
• Carl Perkins
• The Coasters
• The Drifters
• The Platters
• Eddie Cochran
• Gene Vincent
• Conway Twitty
• Ricky Nelson
• The Big Bopper

• winknspin
• killallflys
• Zomby_Woof
• seductress
• rideout2003

• killallflys on 2008-02-08 18:10:41.590:
  where would we be without them!?!