Monograms

Indianapolis R&B group the Monograms came together in 1953 when vocalists Bobby Bernard, Clarence Dorsey, Tony Goodrich, Hilton Hudson, and Herman Lewis, all students at Arsenal Technical High School, began performing together. They first billed themselves as the Turbans and appeared in matching headwear at neighborhood clubs. Following their lawyer’s counsel, the five turned down an offer from Sun Records and adopted the Monograms name in 1954. Marv Goldberg’s April 2005 Blues & Rhythm article notes that a young Wes Montgomery sometimes joined them on guitar; buoyed by growing local recognition, they also tried out for Chess Records without success.

Their first single did not appear until 1957, when they signed with the Indianapolis-based Saga label and issued “Please Baby Please.” The track received steady airplay on city stations yet failed to travel farther, leading the original lineup to disband in early 1959. Bernard relaunched the Monograms later that year with a fresh roster consisting of lead tenor Charles Anderson, first tenor Robert “Chico” Penick, and second tenor Johnny Hardiman. Although the new configuration never entered a studio, it stayed active until 1964, when health concerns forced Anderson’s departure and George Black stepped in. Bernard left the following year, but ongoing membership shifts did not halt performances, which continued into the mid-1970s.