Biography
During Cleveland’s doo-wop years, few acts matched the excitement generated by the Hepsters. Five young men first assembled at East Technical High School, where they rehearsed their vocal blends in the corridors to exploit the natural reverberation. The roster comprised Paul Hayes, Carl Young, Raymond Harvin, Joe Little Williams, and a fifth participant whose name has since been lost. On Chicago’s Ronel Records they issued “I Had To Let You Go” backed with “Rockin’ And Rollin’ With Santa Claus” in 1955, followed in 1956 by “I Gotta Sing The Blues” backed with “This-A-Way.” Caldonia Young, the dancer and contortionist who served as their adviser, composed “I Had To Let You Go.”
Whenever national artists reached town, the Hepsters shared bills with them; one standout evening occurred at the Circle Theater alongside Brook Benton. They also performed at the Majestic Hotel, delivering crowd-pleasing choreography reminiscent of the Temptations’ later stagecraft. Bass singer Paul Hayes routinely ignited numbers such as “When I Fall In Love.”
Because the pair of singles brought no financial relief, the group dissolved. Hayes subsequently rehearsed at the Majestic Hotel with Paul Williams and Fred Fluellen, sessions that often began at midnight; Fluellen has no recollection of Eddie Kendrick taking part. Not long afterward Williams and Kendrick—who later inserted an “s” into his surname—appeared with Caldonia Young before Milton Jenkins led them to Detroit, Michigan, where they attained stardom as members of the Temptations. Williams and Kendricks attempted to recruit Hayes for the original Temptations lineup, yet Otis Williams retained Melvin Franklin, a decision widely regarded as astute.
Hayes succumbed to gas asphyxiation some years later. Calvin Young relocated to California and has not been heard from since. Joe Little Williams now plays piano at a church on 55th Street, while Harvin remains in Cleveland, as does the unidentified fifth member.
Whenever national artists reached town, the Hepsters shared bills with them; one standout evening occurred at the Circle Theater alongside Brook Benton. They also performed at the Majestic Hotel, delivering crowd-pleasing choreography reminiscent of the Temptations’ later stagecraft. Bass singer Paul Hayes routinely ignited numbers such as “When I Fall In Love.”
Because the pair of singles brought no financial relief, the group dissolved. Hayes subsequently rehearsed at the Majestic Hotel with Paul Williams and Fred Fluellen, sessions that often began at midnight; Fluellen has no recollection of Eddie Kendrick taking part. Not long afterward Williams and Kendrick—who later inserted an “s” into his surname—appeared with Caldonia Young before Milton Jenkins led them to Detroit, Michigan, where they attained stardom as members of the Temptations. Williams and Kendricks attempted to recruit Hayes for the original Temptations lineup, yet Otis Williams retained Melvin Franklin, a decision widely regarded as astute.
Hayes succumbed to gas asphyxiation some years later. Calvin Young relocated to California and has not been heard from since. Joe Little Williams now plays piano at a church on 55th Street, while Harvin remains in Cleveland, as does the unidentified fifth member.