Harvey Fuqua - 2000

The Moonglows - 1952

Etta James and Harvey Fuqua - Click on Image

Harvey Fuqua - 1957

Harvey Fuqua - 1956 - Click on Image

The Moonglows - 1955

Harvey and the Moonglows with Marvin Gaye - 1958

Harvey Fuqua - Doo Wop Hall of Fame - Click on Image

Harvey and The Moonglows - 2000

 

Harvey Fuqua and Tommy Mitchell - 2003

Harvey Fuqua and Tommy Mitchell - 2003

 

 

Harvey Fuqua

"Mr. Quaz"

The Chance Label
1953 - 1954

Contrary to popular opinion Alan Freed did not take the Moonglows to Chance Records. The Moonglows went to Chicago on their own to Chess Records. They never got to to see Phil Chess, but since the Chance label was only a few blocks away the group walked over to Chance and sang three new Fuqua compositions, "Hey Santa Claus", "Baby Please", and "I Was Wrong" for Ewart Abner, general manager of the label. He and owner Art Sheridan liked every song and signed them. In October 1953, they cut the blues ballard "Baby Please" (which is Harvey's favorite of the Chance recordings) and a harmony-filled jumper, "Whistle My Love" as the groups first single.

For Christmas, Chance issued two Moonglows originals, the rockin' "Hey Santa Claus" and another soulful blues ballad, "Just a Lonely Christmas".

In February 1954 their third Chance release was the only non-original, a cover of the Fain-Webster song "Secret Love", done in a beautiful Moonglows setting. Though B-Side rockers were mandatory, "Real Gone Mama" was a first class jazz-tinged jump side.

There biggest Chance single was their next 45. "I Was Wrong" in June 1954, a rhythm ballad with a bluesy melody, agreat bass part, and a jumpin' bridge that was another solid example of the Moonglows carving their own vocal niche.

The Moonglows last Chance side "219 Train" was during Chance's decline and so the song received no promotion, relegating a good R&B record to instant extinction. The Moonglows left Chance after those five classics for the standard reasons, no royalities and no royality statements.

NOTE: There were two other songs recorded on the Chance label "Fine Fine Girl" and "My Love" but they were never released on 45s. It wasn't until 1964 that they were finally released on a Collectors Showcase LP on the Constellation label.

 

 

A Side / B Side
Label/Cat No.
Date

Whistle My Love

Baby Please

 

Chance 1147
10/53

Just A Loney Christmas

Hey Santa Claus

 

Chance 1150
12/53

Secret Love

Real Gone Mama

 

Chance 1152
02/54

I Was Wrong

Ooh Rocking Daddy

 

Chance 1156
06/54

219 Train

My Gal

 

Chance 1161
07/54

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvey Fuqua

 

The Record Labels
(Click on Label)

Champagne

 

Chance Record label

 

Chess Record Label

 

Harvey 1150

 

Tri Phi

 

 

Motown Record Label

 

RCA Record Label

 


The Artists
(Click on Picture)

Moonglows - 1955
Moonglows

Spinners - 1958
Spinners

 

Quails

 

Etta James
Etta James

 

Jr. Walker and the All Stars
Jr. Walker

 

Harvey anf The Moonglows with Marvin Gay
Harvey
& The Moonglows

 

Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye

 

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Tyrell
Marvin and Tammi

 

New Birth
New Birth

 

Nite-Liters
Nite-Liters

 

Sylvester
Sylvester

 

Reference Material - From my personal collection of books, magazines and LPs

American Singing Groups - Jay Warner | Acappella Street Corner Vocal Groups - Abe Santiago and Steve Dunham
They All Sang On The Corner - Phil Groia | Doo-Wop - Forgotten Third of Rock 'n Roll - Gribin and Schiff
Complete Book of Doo-Wop - Gribin and Schiff | Bim Bam Boom Collection | Doo Wop Jukebox Forum

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