About Me
Thurston Harris recorded with the Lamplighters, one of the many groups on the early R&B scene in South Central Los Angeles, in the early '50s. The group later evolved into the Tenderfoots, then the Sharps, and it was under this last name they were credited to when they backed up Harris on his most famous hit, 1957's "Little Bitty Pretty One" (number two R&B and number six pop) for Aladdin. In 1957, while signed as a solo artist to Aladdin, Harris recorded a cover of Bobby Day's classic novelty number, with a solid band featuring the ubiquitous Earl Palmer on drums and his friends in the Sharps doing background vocals. The single propelled Harris immediately to the front-ranks of the R&B scene. In 1958, Harris scored a Top 20 R&B hit with "Do What You Did," but he failed to have any chart success afterwards. In 1990, Thurston Harris died of a heart attack in Pomona, CA, at age 58. "Little Bitty Pretty One" has gone on to become one of the best-loved oldies of the late '50s. ~ Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide/ July 1931, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, d. 1990, California, USA. After serving an apprenticeship touring with Jimmy Liggins, Harris settled in Los Angeles, where he made his recording debut in 1953 as a member of the Lamplighters. The group released over a dozen, now highly sought-after, singles, but to no success. Harris returned to Indianapolis and achieved fame as a solo act with his 1957 US Top 10 hit "Little Bitty Pretty One" (backed by the Sharps, who later became the Rivingtons). This irresistible slice of tongue-in-cheek R&B reached the Top 10 in both US R&B and pop charts and was later immortalized by several British beat groups who covered the song during the 60s. Although Harris enjoyed another, albeit minor, hit the following year with "Do What You Did", he was unable to sustain a consistent recording career, but maintained the status of a wonderful parent and grandfather. His granddaughter, LaVonna Marie recalls having vocal lessons over the phone with Harris as the coach. "Can you carry a note" he asked her in the first lesson.LaVonna Marie Cienfuegos, (who was then just LaVonne), age 5 replied "Oh yes Granddaddy. I sing at church and I play the piano". Harris chuckled and said "No honey, sing for me". Many lessohttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k208/lavonnamarie2/02
2207_1904a.jpgns followed that one conversation. When they finally met face to face again he told her, "You have the voice of an angel". She would remember those words the rest of her life. In 1990 Harris died of a heart attack in California
