The Griffin Brothers were an United States, American rhythm and blues band from Norfolk, Virginia, sometimes credited on record as the Griffin Brothers Orchestra. They made successful recordings with singer Margie Day, and had a no.1 hit on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' R&B chart in 1951 with "Weepin' and Cryin'", featuring Tommy Brown (singer), Tommy Brown.
Biography
The group was formed by brothers Jimmy (born James Rudolph Griffin, Norfolk, Virginia, November 26, 1921–November 14, 2000)
and "Buddy" Griffin (born Edward Ernest Griffin, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, October 5, 1919–October 22, 1981).
[Eagle and Leblanc, ''Blues - A Regional Experience'', p.331]
By 1920, the family lived in Norfolk, Virginia.
[ Both Jimmy and Buddy studied music at the Juilliard School. Jimmy played trombone, and Buddy played piano. The band was completed by Wilbur Dyer (alto saxophone), Virgil Wilson (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Reeves (bass), and Emmett "Nab" Shields (drums). In the late 1940s they played local clubs in Washington, DC, as well as Virginia and North Carolina, and added a singer, Margie Day. In early 1950 the band recorded as back-up to Roy Brown (blues musician), Roy Brown on the session for DeLuxe Records that yielded his no.1 R&B hit, "Hard Luck Blues".][J.C.Marion, ''Griffin Brothers'']
Retrieved 30 June 2013
Local music promoter Lillian Clairborne won them a recording contract with the newly formed Dot Records, established by Randy Wood (record producer), Randy Wood. Their first record, credited to Margie Day with the Griffin Brothers Orchestra, "Street Walkin' Daddy" / "Riffin' With Griffin", became a no.7 hit on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart in late 1950, with sales reportedly reaching over 15 thousand a week.[Biography by Rovi at Allmusic.com]
Retrieved 30 June 2013 The follow-up record, "Little Red Rooster", not directly related to the Willie Dixon song but drawing on the same folk traditions, reached no.5 on the R&B chart in early 1951. Wilson, Reeves and Shields were replaced by Noble Watts (tenor sax), Wilbur Little (bass), and Sticks Evans, Belton Evans (drums).[
Day left the band for a solo career in late 1952, and was replaced on some appearances by Claudia Swann (née Swanson). The Griffin Brothers continued to tour with such artistes as The Orioles, Chuck Willis, and Faye Adams, and recorded for the Dot label until early 1954 when their contract ended and Jimmy Griffin left to form his own band.][ George R. White, Robert L. Campbell, and Tom Kelly, ''The Chess Label Part II (1953-1955)'']
Retrieved 30 June 2013 He later recorded briefly and unsuccessfully for Atco Records in New York City, New York.[
Buddy Griffin signed for Chess Records in Chicago, and had a minor R&B hit in 1955, "I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya", with Claudia Swann, credited as Buddy & Claudia with the Buddy Griffin Orchestra.][Joel Whitburn, ''Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004'', p.57] The band members were "Silly Willie" Wilson (trombone), Chuck Reeves (alto and baritone saxes), Earl Swanson (tenor sax), Lawrence Burgan (bass), and Courtney Brooks (drums). Later recordings were credited to Buddy Griffin and Claudia Swann, and some featured The Moonglows as backing vocalists.[ Buddy Griffin and his wife, Kaye worked in real estate in New York City, New York for thirty years before his death in 1981.][
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References
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American rhythm and blues musical groups
Ekko Records artists
Dot Records artists