Promoted initially as a duo, the Wallace Brothers in fact operated as a six-man ensemble, with cousins John Simon and Ervin Wallace handling lead vocals. In 1963 an unrelated Wallace introduced the group to Cleveland Warnock, prompting the addition of Cooky Wallace and Earnest Wallace; Ervin handled guitar duties while Earnest played organ. Warnock, who had co-written material with Billy Bardon for film cowboy Jimmy Wakely during the 1940s and 1950s and had remained active in the industry, recognized the sextet’s promise. All six members, aged fourteen to sixteen and enrolled at Archer High School in Atlanta, rehearsed in the basement of Warnock’s East Point, Georgia, residence after he drove them from Atlanta. Their debut single, “Faith” b/w “I’ll Let Nothing Separate Me,” credited to Earnest, appeared on Warnock’s newly established Royal label in 1963.
Once established as recording artists, the Wallace Brothers expanded their live schedule. WLAC Nashville disc jockey John Richbourg aired “Faith” on his program, attracting attention that led to an arrangement with Russell Sims; subsequent pressings of “Faith” and later releases carried the Sims Records imprint. Warnock retained a share of sales revenue and co-publishing rights. With Richbourg’s continued support, numerous R&B outlets east of the Mason-Dixon line added the single to their playlists. The follow-up, 1964’s “Precious Words” b/w “You’re Mine,” written by blue-eyed soul artist Claudia Robinson under the name Claud Robinson, spent six weeks on the Cash Box Black music chart, peaking at number 31.
The group’s final notable release, the 1964 single “Lover’s Prayer,” entered Billboard’s Hot 100 at number 97 that autumn; although Billboard lacked an R&B chart at the time, the track also appeared on the Cash Box Black survey. Penned by Earnest and Cooky Wallace, it featured two-part harmonies over a basic rhythm section highlighted by a rolling organ. The Wallace Brothers’ recordings circulated on R&B playlists across both southern and northern markets. In 1965 Sims issued their sole album, Soul, Soul and More Soul, after taking the band to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record additional tracks that encompassed both sides of the first three singles. One further 1965 single from the LP, “One Way Affair” b/w “Go on Girl,” failed to chart, as did the 1966 releases “I’ll Stay Aside” and “No More.”
Sue Records’ United Kingdom division issued three Wallace Brothers singles, concluding with “I’ll Step Aside” in 1967, and compiled Soul Connection in 1968. Domestically, Russell Sims placed the final Sims single, “Thanks a Lot,” on his label in 1967; its lack of success ended the association. The remaining members signed with Jewel Records in 1968 and issued three singles. John Simon later joined the Naturals, whose lone release, “I Can’t Share You,” appeared on Calla Records before the group dissolved following owner Nate McCalla’s death at his Florida home.
