The Cherokees - Live at UGHA - July 1982

Formed in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1949-50, the Cherokees were trained singers who could read music, dance, and perform comedy routines in their presentations. While many of the groups of the era harmonized on the streetcorners, the Cherokees did not; instead they appeared at local nightspots with a chaperone while still teenagers. They also did not smoke or drink. After winning a local amateur talent competition in 1954, they earned a recording contract with Grand Records, which issued “Rainbow of Love”/”I Had A Thrill”, and “Please Tell Me So”/”Remember When”, in 1954. The quintet consisted of Russell Carter (lead), Karl “Pee Wee” English (first tenor), Thomas Lee (second tenor), Melvin Story (baritone), and George Pounds (bass). While neither disc sold well at the time, they are prized among rhythm and blues vocal group harmony collectors today. Soon after, the members served in the United States Army. A third Grand release, “Brenda”, was issued in 1963. In 1964, Billy Taylor of the Castelles teamed with English, Story, Lee and bass Pete Kevin to record “La La” as the Cobras for Swan Records. Carter also recorded under the name of Mr. Lee. In July of 1982, the five original members of the Cherokees made their first appearance for the United in Group Harmony Association at Scheutzen Park in North Bergen, New Jersey. This film comprises their complete seven-song set which consisted of “Route 66”, led by English, three of their 1954 Grand recordings, “Rainbow of Love”, “I Had A Thrill” and “Please Tell Me So”, the Five Keys’ “Hucklebuck With Jimmy”, the Solitaires’ “South of the Border”, led by Melvin Story, and the Orioles’ “Shrimp Boats”, backed by their own band. The group appeared at the legendary Burlington County Concert in New Jersey in 1983 and would return to UGHA for shows in 1994, 1996 and 1999. Away from music, Russell Carter owned and operated his own towing service. Karl English worked in real estate and maintained his own band. He died in 2007. Melvin Story, a journeyman plumber, passed in 2003. Thomas Lee owned his own painting company and bass George Pounds worked in the HVAC department at Graduate Hospital in Southwest Philadelphia.