The Jarmels

The Jarmels are a doo wop/rhythm and blues group that was formed in 1959 in Richmond, Virginia. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff (born 1939 Dd 1990s), Paul Burnett (born 1942 Dd 23rd March 2001), Ray Smith (born 1941), Earl Christian (born 1940 Dd 1960s), and Tom Eldridge (born 1941 19th June 2000). They started out singing in church and in school. The name came from a street in Harlem.

They were managed by Jim Gribble, who had previously worked with The Mystics and The Passions. In 1961, he brought them to Laurie Records, in New York. They released the single "Little Lonely One", which did not manage to find much success outside of New York. However, their second single, "A Little Bit of Soap", reached number 12 in America. This would prove to be the only hit single for the Jarmels; the next four singles did not chart at all. The group continued throughout the 1960s, after recording "Come On, Girl" in 1963. Following this, there would be several personnel changes, notably the addition of Major Harris, who would later go on to join the Delfonics.

Ray Smith, the only surviving original member, continues to tour as of September 2008 with four other members as the Jarmels.

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