Biography
The Bleus, a blue-eyed soul group, originated in Gadsden, Alabama, during mid-1965. The starting members were singer and percussionist Tony Lumpkin together with guitarists Larry Sivley and Paul Smith and bassist Terry Moore. Lumpkin focused only on vocals after drummer Cliff Blackwood joined the lineup. Keyboardist Dana Loconto brought the roster to completion, and the Bleus made their first public appearance in the fall after a high-school football game. They entered a series of battle-of-the-bands contests, one of which took place in Tuscaloosa where they defeated the Hour Glass, whose lineup then featured the still-unknown Duane and Gregg Allman. Growing regional popularity led to a contract with the Southeastern Attractions booking agency, and the Bleus soon became that firm’s top-earning act.
Early in 1967 local musician and promoter Fred Styles became their manager and arranged an initial recording session. The debut single, a version of Marvin Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind of Fella,” appeared on the Swing-Ltd. label and scored strongly in the area. Producer Eddie Hinton next oversaw a cover of the Bacharach/David song “I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself,” cut at Muscle Shoals and released on New York’s Amy label. The same imprint issued the follow-up “Milk and Honey,” recorded with studio assistance from the Allman brothers. Amy affiliate Bell put out the fourth single, “Julianna’s Gone,” but frustration over limited promotion prompted the band to release “I’ve Been in Love Before” under the name the Colours. Producer Chips Moman, convinced the record would succeed, created the Blue Seal label solely for its issue, yet the single failed to connect.
After cutting “What’Cha Gonna Do” for the small Diamond Records label, Blackwood exited in 1968 to enlist in the U.S. Marines. Bobby Sproul, formerly of the Soul Machine, took his place on drums. When Smith departed, Loconto shifted from keyboards to guitar. A final single, the Certron release “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” was credited to the Electric Hand Band without the Bleus’ approval. Moore entered Navy service in 1969. With new bassist Philip Howell the group persisted until it disbanded in 1971. In 2001 the surviving members—Lumpkin, Sivley, Smith, Moore, Locosto, and Sproul—reconvened for live shows and additional recordings in the years that followed. Their earlier singles were assembled on the 2004 compilation The Complete Recordings 1966-1971.
Early in 1967 local musician and promoter Fred Styles became their manager and arranged an initial recording session. The debut single, a version of Marvin Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind of Fella,” appeared on the Swing-Ltd. label and scored strongly in the area. Producer Eddie Hinton next oversaw a cover of the Bacharach/David song “I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself,” cut at Muscle Shoals and released on New York’s Amy label. The same imprint issued the follow-up “Milk and Honey,” recorded with studio assistance from the Allman brothers. Amy affiliate Bell put out the fourth single, “Julianna’s Gone,” but frustration over limited promotion prompted the band to release “I’ve Been in Love Before” under the name the Colours. Producer Chips Moman, convinced the record would succeed, created the Blue Seal label solely for its issue, yet the single failed to connect.
After cutting “What’Cha Gonna Do” for the small Diamond Records label, Blackwood exited in 1968 to enlist in the U.S. Marines. Bobby Sproul, formerly of the Soul Machine, took his place on drums. When Smith departed, Loconto shifted from keyboards to guitar. A final single, the Certron release “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” was credited to the Electric Hand Band without the Bleus’ approval. Moore entered Navy service in 1969. With new bassist Philip Howell the group persisted until it disbanded in 1971. In 2001 the surviving members—Lumpkin, Sivley, Smith, Moore, Locosto, and Sproul—reconvened for live shows and additional recordings in the years that followed. Their earlier singles were assembled on the 2004 compilation The Complete Recordings 1966-1971.
Singles