The Jarmels
OriginRichmond, Virginia
GenresDoo wop, rhythm and blues
Years active1959–1969
LabelsLaurie Records
Past members
  • Nathaniel Ruff
  • Paul Burnett
  • Earl Christian
  • Tom Eldridge
  • Ray Smith

The Jarmels was an American doo wop rhythm and blues group formed in 1959 in Richmond, Virginia[1] best known for their only hit, 1961’s "A Little Bit of Soap".[2]

Career

The start of their big break came in 1960 when they were at a local (Richmond) venue where Ben E. King was appearing, and they met him. King invited them to travel to New York City and meet with various record companies, including Laurie Records. The Cherokees impressed Laurie after auditioning with King's signature song, "Stand By Me", and became the first African-American group that Laurie signed. The group was renamed the Jarmels after a street in Harlem, New York.[3]

Jim Gribble, who had previously worked with The Mystics and The Passions, was assigned as manager of the Jarmels. In early 1961, they released the single "Little Lonely One", which did not find much success outside New York. However, their second single, "A Little Bit of Soap", reached number 12 in America on the Billboard chart in June of the same year.[3] The flip side of the recording was "The Way You Look Tonight", a song featured in the film Swing Time and originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. "Soap" proved to be the only hit single for the Jarmels; the next four singles, including "Just the Way You Look Tonight" and a remake of the 1935 Bing Crosby hit "Red Sails in the Sunset" did not chart at all.[3]

The group continued to perform throughout the 1960s, recording a remake of "Come On, Girl" in 1963. There were several personnel changes, notably the addition of Major Harris, who would later go on to join the Delfonics.[3] The group disbanded in 1969.[1]

Members

The group was composed of:

  • Nathaniel Ruff (July 7th, 1940 – April 15th, 1997)[1]
  • Jesse "Paul" Burnett (July 28th, 1943 – March 23rd, 2001)[4]
  • Ray Smith (born 1941)[3]
  • Earl Christian (February 27th, 1942 – April 21st, 1968)[1]
  • Thomas Eldridge (October 23rd, 1940 – June 19, 2000).[5][3]

Discography

Singles

Year Song Peak chart positions
US Pop
[6]		 US R&B
[6]
1961 "Little Lonely One" — ―
"A Little Bit of Soap" 12 7
"I'll Follow You" — ―
"She Loves to Dance" — ―
1962 "Red Sails in the Sunset" — ―
"Little Bug" — ―
1963 "Come On, Girl" — ―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The Jarmels Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Top Jarmels Songs | Highest Chart Hit". Playback.fm. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eder, Bruce. "The Jarmels - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2001". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved July 2, 2015. Jesse "Paul Burnett, Jr. - Died 3-23-2001 (Doo-Wop - R&B) Born 1946 - Was a member of the Jarmels (They did, "A Little Bit of Soap").
  5. ↑ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2000". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "The Jarmels Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
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