The Three Playmates were a female R&B trio from
Newark, New Jersey
Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.[Savoy
Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps.
Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south.
Savo ...]
label, and had three singles released. One of them, the dance oriented "
Sugah Wooga
"Sugah Wooga" was a chart hit for R&B female trio the Three Playmates in 1958. It was their only hit.
Background
The female trio was from Newark, New Jersey, and consisted of the Beatty sisters, Lucille and Alma and Gwen Brooks. The song they ...
" became a hit for the trio in 1958.
Background
The group was made up of sisters, Lucille and Alma Beatty and Gwen Brooks aka
Dianne Brooks
Gwendolyn Dianne Brooks (January 3, 1939 – April 29, 2005), was a soul, r&b and jazz singer from New Jersey. With the Three Playmates, Brooks recorded several songs in 1957. She moved to Toronto shortly thereafter. Her part in Canadian soul m ...
. Their first release was credited to The Playmates (Gwen, Lucille, Alma). Later as The Three Playmates, they had a hit with "Sugah Wooga" in late 1958.
Some of the venues they performed at included New York's Apollo Theater and Washington's Howard Theater. They also appeared on the same bill as Betty Carter, the Cadillacs, the El Doradoes, the Dells, Jackie Wilson and Dinah Washington.
Career
They recorded "It Must Be Love" and "Giddy-Up-A-Ding Dong" with backing by George Barrow and Jerome Richardson on tenor sax; Budd Johnson on baritone sax, Sam Price on piano, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. These two songs came out on their first single the trio had released on Savoy 45–1523. It was credited to The Playmates (Gwen, Lucille, Alma).
Their single "
Sugah Wooga
"Sugah Wooga" was a chart hit for R&B female trio the Three Playmates in 1958. It was their only hit.
Background
The female trio was from Newark, New Jersey, and consisted of the Beatty sisters, Lucille and Alma and Gwen Brooks. The song they ...
" bw "Lovey Dovey Pair" was recorded with backup from musicians that included Buddy Lucas on tenor sax, Bobby Banks on organ, Leonard Gaskin on bass. It was released on Savoy 1528.
The review of their single in ''Billboard'' December 16, 1957 issue was positive, noting the clever use of voices on the A side. The B side was a "tender" ballad about adolescent love. The single peaked at #89 on March 10, 1958.
By May 1958, their single with "I Dreamed" and "Give Your Love to Me" was out. The track "I Dreamed" had a fair review. It was noted that "Give Your Love to Me" had a Latin feel to it. However, it didn't get anywhere on the charts.
The ending of the group was Alma Beatty's pregnancy. When their manager learnt of this he discontinued his association with them as took their stage costumes. Their relationship with their label also deteriorated.
[citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) ]
Brooks, Dianne - Some Other Kind of Soul Information/Write-up
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Discography
Further reading
DOO-WOP GROUPS BIOGRAPHY & DISCOGRAPHY, The Playmates aka The Three Playmates
References
{{reflist
American musical trios
American rhythm and blues musical groups
Musical groups from New Jersey
Savoy Records artists
Vocal trios