- The Jewels
The Jewels (initially The Impalas, later The Four Jewels) were a
girl group fromWashington, D.C. .The group began singing as The Impalas in 1961; [http://wm07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:anfrxqugldke~T1 The Jewels] at Allmusic.com] its members had attended Roosevelt High School and sang in Trinity AME Zion Church. [http://wm07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wnfrxqygldfe~T1 Martha High] at Allmusic.com] Early on the group began performing in
Bo Diddley 's basement, and Diddley recorded their debut single "I Need You So Much", which was released onChecker Records . The record never caught on, and in 1962 producerBob Lee changed the group's name to The Four Jewels. The single "Loaded with Goodies" next appeared onStart Records , a local D.C. label, followed by Chess single "That's What They Put Erasers on Pencils For". They also sang backup vocals for member Grace Ruffin's cousin,Billy Stewart . Carrie Mingo left the group around 1963 and was replaced byMartha Harvin ; at this time the group became simply The Jewels. The group went on to record for Dynamite, Federal, Tec, and King over the next few years.In 1964 the group signed to
Dimension Records and released the single "Opportunity". The tune peaked at #64 on the USBillboard Hot 100 that year. [ [http://wm07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:anfrxqugldke~T5 Chart Positions] , Allmusic.com] This was followed by the single "But I Do" b/w "Smokey Joe", which missed the national charts and marked the end of their association with Dimension. Beginning in 1965, the group toured across the U.S. as backing vocalists withJames Brown . They intended to record atMotown Records when the tour stopped inDetroit , but the studios were closed the day they were in town. Brown produced two more singles for the group, but they did not sell, and the group disbanded in 1968.Martha Harvin changed her
stage name toMartha High and went on to tour with Brown for some thirty years, in addition to releasing a solodisco album in 1979. The original four members reunited in 1985 and released an album of their singles re-recorded, entitled "Loaded with Goodies".Members
*Sandra Bears
*Grace Ruffin
*Margie Clarke
*Carrie Mingo (1961-1963)
*Martha Harvin (1963-1968)References
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