Biography
The Delroys, a doo wop quartet based in Long Island, New York, originated in Queensbridge Projects during 1956. Marv Goldberg's July 1989 Record Collectors' Monthly profile recounts how first tenor Ronald Coleman and baritone Robert Coleman pulled bassist Reggie Walker from a competing act, after which lead vocalist John Blount completed the roster. The teenagers took their name from the Five Flying Delroys acrobatic ensemble and soon met manager Ernest Kelly, who arranged an early 1957 Apollo Records contract that also encompassed another Kelly client, solo artist Milton Sparks. Their initial Apollo release paired the Delroys' "Bermuda Shorts" with Sparks' "Time" on the B-side; once the Walker composition attracted radio play, Apollo vice president Charlie Merenstein arranged nationwide station contests offering both copies of the single and gift certificates redeemable for Bermuda shorts.
Although "Bermuda Shorts" became a significant regional success in Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York City, uneven distribution prevented national pop-chart entry, and Apollo's nonpayment led the members' parents to block further sessions, ending the label association. The group nevertheless maintained live performances, appearing at every show in matching Bermuda shorts. John Blount's 1958 departure prompted recruitment of new lead Bobby Taylor and second tenor Junior Talbot. Kelly and Sparks launched the Sparkell imprint in 1959 and promptly recorded the Delroys' follow-up single "Wise Owl," yet it lacked the prior record's traction and military service obligations soon fractured the lineup.
Ronald Coleman recruited a fresh configuration in 1961 that featured lead Ray Paine, second tenor Norman Baquie, and baritone Cliff Davis; they issued "Love Me Tenderly" on the Carol label and achieved modest New York-area success. A second Carol release stayed unreleased, and this edition disbanded. Coleman rejoined Reggie Walker in 1964 with second tenor Walter Pope for another Delroys version whose sole recording, "Alimony," surfaced on the compilation LP Al Browne Presents Dyno Sounds. The Coleman brothers and Walker collaborated once more in 1970 under the name the First Three for the Deep label single "Don't Get Caught Faking." Following more than ten years of inactivity, the trio resumed activity as the Delroys in 1982 and became regulars on the oldies-revue and corporate-events circuits.
Although "Bermuda Shorts" became a significant regional success in Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York City, uneven distribution prevented national pop-chart entry, and Apollo's nonpayment led the members' parents to block further sessions, ending the label association. The group nevertheless maintained live performances, appearing at every show in matching Bermuda shorts. John Blount's 1958 departure prompted recruitment of new lead Bobby Taylor and second tenor Junior Talbot. Kelly and Sparks launched the Sparkell imprint in 1959 and promptly recorded the Delroys' follow-up single "Wise Owl," yet it lacked the prior record's traction and military service obligations soon fractured the lineup.
Ronald Coleman recruited a fresh configuration in 1961 that featured lead Ray Paine, second tenor Norman Baquie, and baritone Cliff Davis; they issued "Love Me Tenderly" on the Carol label and achieved modest New York-area success. A second Carol release stayed unreleased, and this edition disbanded. Coleman rejoined Reggie Walker in 1964 with second tenor Walter Pope for another Delroys version whose sole recording, "Alimony," surfaced on the compilation LP Al Browne Presents Dyno Sounds. The Coleman brothers and Walker collaborated once more in 1970 under the name the First Three for the Deep label single "Don't Get Caught Faking." Following more than ten years of inactivity, the trio resumed activity as the Delroys in 1982 and became regulars on the oldies-revue and corporate-events circuits.