The G-Clefs facts for kids
The G-Clefs were a cool music group from Roxbury, Massachusetts, in the United States. They were known for their "doo-wop" and "rhythm and blues" style. This type of music often features strong vocal harmonies and catchy beats. The group was made up of four brothers and a close friend from their childhood.
They first sang together at St Richard's Catholic Church in their hometown of Roxbury. A talent scout named Jack Gold discovered them and encouraged them to perform professionally. The G-Clefs began performing in the greater Boston area in the early 1950s.
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Their Hit Songs
The G-Clefs had two songs that became very popular in the United States. These songs made it into the "Top 40" hits, which means they were among the 40 most popular songs at the time.
"Ka-Ding-Dong"
Their first big hit was a song called "Ka-Ding-Dong" in 1956. This song reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Billboard Hot 100 is a famous list that ranks the most popular songs in the U.S. "Ka-Ding-Dong" was also the first national hit for their record label, Pilgrim Records, which was based in Boston. The famous guitarist Freddy Cannon played guitar on this song.
"I Understand (Just How You Feel)"
Their other popular song was "I Understand (Just How You Feel)," released in 1961. This song used the melody from the well-known tune "Auld Lang Syne." It climbed all the way to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song was also popular in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1961.
Later Years
The G-Clefs continued to perform locally in the greater Boston area for many years. They played at places like the Strand Theater in Uphams Corner, Dorchester, Massachusetts. They kept performing throughout the area into the 2000s.
Sadly, some members of the group have passed away. Ray Gipson died in 2015 at the age of 77. Tim Scott passed away in 2017 at the age of 78. Teddy Scott died in 2018 at the age of 82.
Group Members
- Teddy Scott (born Bryce Theodore Scott; February 29, 1936 – October 27, 2018)
- Chris Scott (born Christian Scott in 1937)
- Tim Scott (born Timothy Scott; 1938 – May 16, 2017)
- Arnold (Ilanga) Scott (born 1940)
- Ray Gipson (born Ramon Gipson; September 24, 1937 – January 4, 2015)
- Ira Kweller - keyboard player (1952 – July 2018)
