Biography
New York's Du Droppers notched a pair of Top Five successes in their brief career, reaching number three on the R&B chart with "I Wanna Know" and number three on the pop side with "I Found Out (What You Do When You Go Round There)." Caleb Ginyard, known variously as "J.C." or "Junior," handled lead vocals alongside brothers Willie Ray on tenor and Harvey Ray on baritone, while Eddie Hashow held down bass until Bob Kornegay took over. The quartet had formed as a gospel ensemble in 1952 after each singer had already logged time in earlier spiritual outfits such as the Royal Harmony Singers, the Dixie-Aires, the Jubilaires, and the Southwest Jubilee Group. Shifting to secular R&B material, they soon tested their new repertoire for producer Bobby Robinson and DJ Joel Turnero, co-owners of Harlem's Red Robin label and store.
Issued in December 1952, their debut single "Can't Do Sixty No More" served as a direct response to the Dominoes' blockbuster "Sixty Minute Man." The track quickly generated airplay and attention, yet Red Robin failed to retain the act; within months the Du Droppers had moved to RCA Victor, one of the major companies eager to enter the expanding R&B market. Their follow-up "I Wanna Know," released in mid-March 1953, surged to number three. By June the group had issued another RCA single, and "I Found Out (What You Do When You Go Round There)" climbed to the same pop-chart peak. A late-summer string of one-nighters across the South with the Joe Morris Blues Cavalcade followed, but later releases drew little further notice. In November, RCA teamed the quartet with pop vocalist Sunny Gale for the now-coveted "Mama's Gone Goodbye." The next year the Du Droppers switched to Groove Records, a new RCA subsidiary created expressly for its R&B roster, though none of the Groove sides restored their earlier momentum.
Early in 1955, Groove tried to recruit Ravens singer Joe Van Loan to revitalize the lineup, but his existing contract with Herald Records blocked the move. While negotiations continued, Charlie Hughes was added solely for studio leads and barred from live appearances. Another single and an EP appeared, yet internal fractures widened. Groove issued one final single in August; shortly afterward Junior Ginyard returned to gospel with the Golden Gate Quartet, prompting the remaining members to disband.
Issued in December 1952, their debut single "Can't Do Sixty No More" served as a direct response to the Dominoes' blockbuster "Sixty Minute Man." The track quickly generated airplay and attention, yet Red Robin failed to retain the act; within months the Du Droppers had moved to RCA Victor, one of the major companies eager to enter the expanding R&B market. Their follow-up "I Wanna Know," released in mid-March 1953, surged to number three. By June the group had issued another RCA single, and "I Found Out (What You Do When You Go Round There)" climbed to the same pop-chart peak. A late-summer string of one-nighters across the South with the Joe Morris Blues Cavalcade followed, but later releases drew little further notice. In November, RCA teamed the quartet with pop vocalist Sunny Gale for the now-coveted "Mama's Gone Goodbye." The next year the Du Droppers switched to Groove Records, a new RCA subsidiary created expressly for its R&B roster, though none of the Groove sides restored their earlier momentum.
Early in 1955, Groove tried to recruit Ravens singer Joe Van Loan to revitalize the lineup, but his existing contract with Herald Records blocked the move. While negotiations continued, Charlie Hughes was added solely for studio leads and barred from live appearances. Another single and an EP appeared, yet internal fractures widened. Groove issued one final single in August; shortly afterward Junior Ginyard returned to gospel with the Golden Gate Quartet, prompting the remaining members to disband.
Albums
