Biography
Formed as a quartet in Los Angeles, The Sepia Tones earned recognition as one of Art Rupe’s earliest recording acts and the inaugural artist on his Juke Box imprint, which later evolved into Specialty Records. Clarinet and tenor saxophone duties fell to Paul Howard, while Nina Russell took charge of the organ, Mata Roy handled piano duties, and George Vann sat behind the drum kit. During an August 21, 1944, session under Rupe’s direction, the group laid down two numbers—“When He Comes Home to Me” and “Boogie #1”—with the second selection serving as the A-side of their release, a single that moved approximately 70,000 units.