Don & Juan

Born as Claude Johnson and Roland Trone, the duo Don & Juan achieved their sole major success in 1962 with the release of “What’s Your Name.” That recording has long been recognized as a doo wop standard, yet its polished ballad approach also signals the first stirrings of what would soon become soul.

The pair launched their career together inside a Brooklyn group known as the Genies. Their initial single, the brisk “Who’s That Knocking,” appeared on Shad Records in 1959 and climbed to number 71 on the national charts. When follow-up efforts failed to register, the label released them. Johnson and Trone kept performing on an occasional basis while employed as painters on Long Island until talent agent Peter Paul located them and secured a contract with Big Top Records. Under the new billing of Don & Juan they cut “What’s Your Name,” which rose to number seven. “Magic Wand” became their only other chart entry, although they continued issuing material through 1967. Trone passed away in 1983; Johnson later resumed the act by recruiting former Genies member Alexander Faison to fill the role of Juan.