TheCleftones

WE ARE THE CLEFTONES,THIS IS A COMMENTARY FROM OUR FRIEND BOBBY JAY    “I’m Bobby Jay of WCBS-FM radio in New York City. When people ask me my opinion of who I think are the class acts of our business, invariably I get an immediate mental image of The Cleftones, the personification of class, grace, and elegance. I’ve been friends with The Cleftones for decades, and our relationship, happily, has now entered the 21st Century. Jamaica High School in Jamaica, Queens, NY was the nurturing place for the original group which was comprised of Herb Cox, Berman Patterson, Charles James, William “Buzzy” McClain, and Warren Corbin. They were wide-eyed and nervy teenagers when they ventured to 220 West 42 Street in Times Square in Manhattan to audition for George Goldner, president of Rama Records. He not only signed them to a recording contract, but reactivated Gee Records to launch their climb up the ladder of success in the burgeoning rhythm and blues, soon to be called rock and roll, vocal group harmony field. I ran right out and bought all of their records, beginning with the very first release on Gee #1000 “You Baby You” backed with “I Was Dreaming” through “Little Girl of Mine”, “You’re Driving Me Mad”, “Can’t We Be Sweethearts”, “Neki Hokey”, “String Around My Heart”, “Happy Memories”,  “See You Next Year”, “Ten Pairs of Shoes”, “Lover Boy” and the standard remakes like “Heart and Soul”, “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” and “Lover Come Back”.     I remember seeing The Cleftones in performance, particularly at the world-famous Apollo Theater on 125th Street in Harlem as part of the Rama/Gee Records Review. The group was always spectacular and sharp with their showmanship and attire, as they still are today. Being a bass singer myself, having sung with The Laddins, The Desires, and for the past decade, Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, I had the extreme pleasure and honor to take the stage with The Cleftones after their bass singer, Warren Corbin passed away, and to sing many of these great songs alongside Herb, Charlie, Berman, and the late Anthony Gaines.The Cleftones today are: Herb Cox, Nick Saunders, Kenny Whiteside, Mac Todd & Kevin Jeter.     So, you’re about to experience a wonderful musical journey with true masters of the classic vocal group genre. Yes, and I reiterate, a truly class act, my friends, my buddies, The Cleftones.”-Bobby Jay