The Marcels

An integrated vocal group from Pittsburgh, the Marcels found themselves overshadowed by their quirky rendition of "Blue Moon" despite greater potential. Cornelius Harp served as lead singer alongside baritone Richard F. Knauss, Fred Johnson, Gene J. Bricker, and Ron Mundy, choosing their name from Harp's marcel hairstyle. After submitting demo recordings of various covers to Colpix, the label's A&R director arranged for sessions at RCA Studios in New York during 1961 where they tackled several oldies, including "Blue Moon." Drawing on the bass introduction from the Cadillacs' "Zoom," their version achieved massive success by reaching the top of both pop and R&B charts while also succeeding internationally. Appearances followed in the movie Twist Around the Clock alongside Dion and Chubby Checker, accompanied by an 18-track album release on Colpix. Subsequent personnel shifts saw Alan Johnson and Walt Maddox take the places of Knauss and Gene Bricker, resulting in an all-Black lineup for the Marcels. Another cover, this time of the pre-rock tune "Heartaches," delivered a second Top Ten pop hit that climbed to number seven on the pop chart and number 19 on the R&B chart in 1961. Later efforts on Kyra, Queen Bee, St. Clair, Rocky, and Monogram labels with different members failed to recapture earlier achievements. On March 31, 2022, Fred Johnson passed away at eighty years of age.