Biography
In 1958 the Chargers came together in Los Angeles as an R&B vocal ensemble. Marv Goldberg’s July 1987 Goldmine profile records that tenor lead Benny Louis Easley, second tenor Jimmy Norman, tenor Dunbar John White, his baritone brother Junior, and bass Mitchell Alexander—all friends of R&B legend Jesse Belvin—established the group after harmonizing at Belvin’s L.A. residence. Belvin rehearsed with the quintet, arranged their signing to his own label RCA, and supplied uncredited vocals on the debut single “Old MacDonald.” That summer 1958 release scored strongly along the East Coast and edged onto the national Hot 100. The Chargers returned during the holiday season with “The Counterfeiter,” yet internal disputes caused the lineup to disband in early 1959. Norman later built a notable songwriting career, partnering with Jerry Ragovoy under the alias “Norman Meade” to compose the Irma Thomas classic “Time Is on My Side,” later covered by the Rolling Stones; he also notched a solo hit with the deep soul cult classic “I Don't Love You No More (I Don't Care About You).”
Albums
