The Dominoes

Child, Billy Ward receives a classically trained soprano and steps on stage at the age of six years. He studied various instruments and began composing at the age of fourteen. It forms the Dominoes in New York in 1950. The first singer of the group is tenor Clyde McPhatter. The group is engaged in Federal, subsidiary of King Records, and goes on television in December in the issuance Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, where he interprets the standard blues Goodnight Irene. Their first album, Do Something For Me, reached sixth place ranking rhythm & blues in January. They pattern with Sixty-Minute Man, the biggest R & B hit of the year 1951. True rock 'n' roll, the song even to be classified in the pop charts (No. 17), which is unique for a black at that time. The term rock and roll found in the lyrics ( "I rock 'em, roll' em all night long"). The piece will be taken over by Hardrock Gunter, Jerry Lee Lewis and Rufus and Carla Thomas. In March 1952, the Dominoes is the only vocal group to participate in the Moondog Coronation Ball Alan Freed.

That year, the staff of the group is considerably renewed. Clyde McPhatter, went back to join the Drifters, is replaced by Jackie Wilson. They then renamed Billy Ward & The Dominoes and record another success: Have Mercy Baby. In 1954, they signed with Decca and Jubilee in 1956, where they incorporate a second time with pop classification St. Therese Of The Rose. Jackie Wilson goes to do is turn a brilliant solo career and the group Liberty in hand and gets a last tube in 1958 with Jenny Lee (No. 5). But we never found the success of the debut.