The Willows

Emerging from Harlem in 1950, the ensemble first performed under the name the Dovers and included Richie Davis, John Steele, Ralph Martin, Joe Martin (twins), and Bobby Robinson. Tony Middleton stepped in after Robinson departed in 1952 to launch a record store on 125th Street that later operated as Fury Records. The group earned respect through competitive vocal battles against rival ensembles and frequently rehearsed alongside Gloria Lynne’s Delltones; Lynne would subsequently appear on Premium alongside the Wheels prior to launching a solo career. Pete and Goldie Doraine took over management and underwrote the 1953 debut single “Love Bells,” issued on their Pee Dee label under the billing the Five Willows. Three further 45s followed on Allen Records that same year, boosting morale without improving finances. Two unsuccessful releases on Herald in 1954 preceded a breakthrough in 1956, when the act shortened its name to the Willows for booking reasons and cut “Church Bells May Ring” for Melba, with Neil Sedaka supplying the chimes. The track climbed to number 11 on the R&B chart yet stalled at number 62 pop, overshadowed by the Diamonds’ competing version that reached number 14 pop; the Cadets and Sunny Gale likewise recorded covers. No additional chart entries materialized, although the lineup persisted until 1965. Sides issued on Eldorado and Gone between 1957 and 1958 under the credit Tony Middleton & the Willows attracted little attention, as did subsequent singles on Club and Warwick credited simply to the Willows. The Martin twins, Freddie Donovan, and Dotty Martin (Joe’s wife) constituted the group for a pair of unsuccessful Heidi Records releases in 1964. A configuration featuring Tony Middleton and Richie Davis resurfaced during the 1970s to perform at doo-wop revival events, yet by the 1990s the Willows had permanently disbanded.