The Cleftones

The Cleftones were a "doo-wop" group formed in 1955 in Jamaica, Queens, NY. Its original members were Herbie Cox (lead singer), Charlie James McGhee (first tenor), Berman Patterson (second tenor), Warren Corbin (bass) and William "Buzzy" McClane (baritone). Originally called The Silvertones, they began singing at local events, concerts and even at a Jewish day camp. They were signed to a recording contract by well-known producer George Goldner, who renamed them The Cleftones, in 1955. They had a few minor hits, but nothing really broke for them. In 1961 they went through some personnel changes, and released their biggest hit, "Heart and Soul", which had been written in 1938 by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser (the song had actually been recorded by the group in 1959, but wasn't released until 1961). It reached #18 on the Billboard charts and has since gained a reputation as a classic example of "doo-wop" music. They had another hit the next year, "For Sentimental Reasons", Unfortunately for the group, the "British Invasion" began that same year, led by groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Animals. and turned into an avalanche, burying the "doo wop" sound and ending the careers of many of the most popular groups in that genre, including The Cleftones. The hits stopped coming, and they broke up in 1964.