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Terry Johnson's Flamingos

"I Only Have Eyes For You"

About Me

This is an official site hosted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos.
A little Terry Johnson history (better known to his friends as "Buzzy")...
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Terry Johnson's musical career actually began in 1953 with a group he formed and called The Whispers (no relation to the 60's group who borrowed the name.) With Terry as the group's primary lead singer, songwriter and guitarist, The Whispers recorded 4 songs for Gotham Records in 1954, which have become highly-sought-after collectors' favorites. Two sides in particular, "Are You Sorry?" and "Fool Heart" really showed off Terry's vocal versatility, as he sang the former in his seductive baritone and the latter in soaring falsetto.
Terry Johnson joined the Flamingos in December 1956, shortly after the group moved from Chicago to New York and had a few minor chart successes including "I'll Be Home", "A Kiss From Your Lips" and the highly-regarded "Golden Teardrops." Following a few critically-acclaimed sides for Decca, The Flamingos signed with George Goldner's End Records. In 1958, Terry wrote and sang a duet lead on the group's first nationally-charted cross-over single, "Lovers Never Say Goodbye." "Lovers" put the group on the map and set the stage for the 1959 release of "Flamingo Serenade", an album of old standards that Terry Johnson had re-worked on his guitar. While the group doesn't recall "I Only Have Eyes For You" being singled out for any special attention when it was recorded, DJs around the country started to spin it before it even came out as a single and it went flying up the charts from coast-to-coast.
The group followed up with another old standard "Love Walked In", the original "Mio Amore" and a song that Sam Cooke wrote for The Flamingos, "Nobody Loves Me Like You", all of which also placed high on the national charts. The years that followed included 5 appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, the Alan Freed movie "Go, Johnny, Go", 3 more hit albums and a total of 9 Billboard-charted singles. Terry sang lead on "Love Walked In", "But Not For Me", "Time Was", "When I Fall in Love" and "I'm In The Mood For Love" to name a few and also wrote "Mio Amore", "You, Me and The Sea", "At The Prom", "Heavenly Angel" and many more.
In 1961, the group began to splinter and Terry formed his own Flamingos group. Shortly after, he was joined by original lead singer Nate Nelson with whom he recorded "Let's Be Lovers" b/w "Walk Softly Away" for Atco Records in 1964 as The Starglows.
A chance meeting with his old friend Smokey Robinson begat an invitation tp join Smokey at Motown in Detroit. Terry soon became Smokey's writing and producing partner and at Hitsville, he wrote and co- produced for dozens of Motown artists while forging close friendships with many of the legends who have since passed on. Terry even received a coveted BMI award for "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" which he co-wrote and co-produced with Smokey.
After a short stint as musical director for Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Terry continued working with his Flamingos' group through the 70's, 80's and 90's and within the last 10 years, has seen a resurgence of accolades and acclaim.
The Flamingos received the Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award in 1996, and shortly after were inducted into the the United Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Doo Wop Hall of Fame.
In 2001, alongside Michael Jackson, Paul Simon and Aerosmith, The Flamingos were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Terry Johnson received a Grammy Award commemorating the induction of The Flamingos' recording of "I Only Have Eyes For You" into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame.
To this day, The Flamingos' unique harmonies and phenomenally-choreographed stage shows are widely-regarded as inspirations to many groups that followed including Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Temptations, Four Tops and Tavares. Artists as diverse as Frankie Valli, Lou Rawls and Aaron Neville have all publicly named The Flamingos as major influences in their careers.
Both prolific and seminal in their influence and impact, the Flamingos were recently called "one of the, if not the, best of their era" by Rolling Stone. Today, along with Theresa Trigg (since 1976), Jeff Calloway (since 2002) and Joseph Mirrione (a 2005 addition), Terry Johnson continues to keep the original Flamingos' sound and legacy alive.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/13/2006
Band Website: terryjohnsonsflamingos.com
Band Members: Terry Johnson, Theresa Trigg, Jeff Calloway, Joseph Mirrione
Influences: Sonny Til & the Orioles, The Five Keys, The Harptones, The Swallows, Nat King Cole
Sounds Like: Terry Johnson's Career Highlights: * 9 Charted Singles with the Flamingos * BMI Award * Grammy Award * Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Inductee * Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award
Record Label: Hot Fun Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Doo Wop in DC

We had a great time in the nation’s capital this weekend at Canterbury Productions’ big Ultimate Doo Wop Show.  Right across the street from the grounds of the White House and the Was...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:16:00 PST

Terry Johnsons Flamingos at the Kodak Theater

March 9, 2008 - What a great night at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA - The Vibrations, Gary Troxel & the Fleetwoods, The Contours, Gene Chandler, The Reflections and Barbara Lewis all joined T...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:57:00 PST

Houston - A big audience with a big heart!

We had a dynamite time in Houston!  What a great show Henry Farag hosted with Houston's local PBS affiliate - Dale Hawkins kicked off the show with his unique brand of rockabilly.  Surprise ...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 03:36:00 PST

What a show in San Antonio!

Daddy G (the sax legend behind many of Gary US Bonds' hits) kicked off another dynamite show, followed by local acappella talent The Moonlites, The Edsels, The Spaniels, Kathy Young, Barbara Lewis and...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:34:00 PST

Our kind of town...

What a great time we had in Chicago at the legendary Chicago Theater.  Back with our old friends Charlie Thomas' Drifters, Dee Dee & The Crystals, Cathy Jean & The Roommates, The Marcels,...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sun, 27 May 2007 07:34:00 PST

Thanks, Toledo!

All of the artists and producers of our "Ultimate Doo Wop Show" in Toledo could not stop talking about what a fantastic audience we had tonight.  Thanks to all who came out and saw Jerry Butler, ...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sat, 05 May 2007 11:03:00 PST

Barbara Mann Performing Arts Center in Fort Myers

After a special appearance at the local PBS affiliate, we played to a sold-out house at the beautiful Barbara Mann Performing Arts Center along with Charlie Thomas & the Drifters, Kenny Vance &...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:42:00 PST

Belize, Costa Rica & Panama aboard the Legend!

What a week about the fabulous Legend with Deborah Nader hosting!  Charlie Thomas & the Drifters, Barbara Harris of the Toys, Kenny Vance & the Planotones and Larry Chance of the Ear...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:38:00 PST

LAR does it again!

Well Rob Albanese has done it again!  He put together a big doo wop weekend with some of the biggest stars from the 50's and 60's and made it all come off without a hitch.The Nelsons (Ricky Nelso...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:50:00 PST

Thanks New Bedford, Mass!

We were thrilled to play the beautiful Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford tonight, with the Original Chantels, the G-Clefs and the Teenagers, who stepped in at the last minute when Pookie Hudson fell il...
Posted by Terry Johnson's Flamingos on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:40:00 PST