(Week of 2/3/01 - 2/9/01)

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BACK UP GROUPS... PART ONE: THE EMPIRES!

"Ragged And Hungry"
by Lightning Junior and The Empires
on Harlem 2334

"It Takes A Lot Of Love"
by Bobby Sue and Her Freeloaders,
Vocal Background The Empires
on Harlem 2335

both released in 1955

Above Left: "Lightning Junior" who was actually Champion Jack Dupree, a well known blues singer.

Above Right: Photo of The Empires (L-R) John Barnes, Robert Dunn, Les Cooper, and William Goodman. The Empires had releases on Harlem (1954-55), Mercury/Wing (1955-56), and Whirlin Disc (1956-57). They were also The Whirlers on Whirlin Disc (1957).

Above: Morty Shad was the owner of New York City's Harlem label. The Empires were available (they were recording their own "Magic Mirror"/"Make Me Or Break Me" released on Harlem 2333), so they were used for back up vocals on these two records (three sides). The flip of Bobby Sue and Her Freeloaders has no vocal group backing.

Click on an option below to listen to "Ragged And Hungry" using Windows Media Player.

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(file size=427KB)

Click on an option below to listen to "It Takes A Lot Of Love" using Windows Media Player.

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(file size=363KB)

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