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The Tymes

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The Tymes
The Tymes in 1969
The Tymes in 1969
Background information
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresR&B, soul
Years active1956–present
LabelsCameo-Parkway, Columbia, RCA, MGM, ABKCO
MembersAl "Ceasar" Berry
Norman Burnett
  • John Stone
Past membersDonald Banks
George Hilliard
George Williams
Charles Nixon
Isabelle Coles
Jerry Ferguson
Wade Davis
Ron E. Richardson
Terri Gonzalez

The Tymes are an American soul vocal group who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom and in their homeland. They are one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the US and UK with different songs.[1]

Early career

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The group was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1956 as the Latineers, by Donald Banks (bass), Albert Berry (first tenor), Norman Burnett (baritone), and George Hilliard (second tenor).[2] After a four-year stint on Philadelphia's club circuit, they recruited a new lead vocalist, George Williams in 1960, and changed their name to the Tymes.[2]

The Tymes had hits in the UK in the 1960s with songs such as "So Much in Love", a US chart-topper and million-seller in 1963,[3] "Wonderful! Wonderful!" (a remake of the Johnny Mathis hit from 1957), "Somewhere", then in the 1970s with "You Little Trustmaker" and "Ms Grace". The last of these became the group's biggest UK hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1975,[3] but barely dented the Billboard Hot 100, long after the success of "So Much in Love".[4] "Ms Grace", while only charting modestly in the US, was and remains a regional hit with the Carolina Beach Music scene. By 1976, Albert Berry and George Hilliard had been replaced with female singers Terri Gonzales and Melanie Moore. Gonzales later recorded a solo album with Nile Rodgers while Moore worked as session vocalist with Kleeer and artists like Chaka Khan.

The Tymes were also the Jewels (obviously not to be confused with the R&B girl group the Jewels), as in Billy Abbott and the Jewels, whose only Hot 100 and Cashbox Top 100 entry was "Groovy Baby" in July 1963.[5][6]

In 1963, American Bandstand signed the Tymes to Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars national US tour.[7]

Later career

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In 1980, a single, "Brothers And Sisters" bw "Louise" was released in the UK on Hammer HS 311. It was credited to The Tymes Featuring George Williams. The A side was very much in the Drifters' UK period vein.[8]

Their song "So Much in Love" was elected to the Songs of the Century in 2001. In 2005, the Tymes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.[9] The Tymes continue to perform with surviving original members Berry and Burnett. The group appeared on the 2003 PBS special My Music: Love Songs of the 50s and 60s, one of the last times all five original members performed live.

Deceased members

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  • George Williams - born George Reginald Williams Jr, December 6, 1935, Philadelphia — died July 28, 2004, Maple Shade, New Jersey - lead vocals[9]
  • Donald Banks - died October 7, 2011, aged 72 - bass[10][11]
  • George Hilliard - died September 24, 2014, age 73 - second tenor[12]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album Chart positions
US 200
[4] 		US R&B
[4]
1963 So Much in Love 15 —
1964 The Sound of the Wonderful Tymes 117 —
Somewhere 122 —
1969 People — —
1974 Trustmaker — 46
1976 Turning Point — —
Tymes Up — 40
1977 Diggin' Their Roots — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

1960s singles

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Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Album
US Hot 100
[4] 		US R&B
[4] 		US Adult
[4] 		UK
[3][13]
1963 "So Much in Love"
b/w "Roscoe James McClain" (Non-album track) 		1 4 — 21 So Much in Love
"Wonderful! Wonderful!"
b/w "Come With Me to the Sea" (from Somewhere) 		7 23 2 —
"Somewhere"
b/w "View from My Window" (from Tymes Biggest Hits) 		19 — — — Somewhere
"Isle of Love"
b/w "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" 		— — — —
1964 "To Each His Own"
b/w "Wonderland of Love" 		78 — — — Non-album tracks
"The Magic of Our Summer Love"
b/w "With All My Heart" 		99 — — —
"Here She Comes"
b/w "Malibu" 		92 — — —
"The Twelfth of Never"
b/w "Here She Comes" (Non-album track) 		— — — — So Much in Love
1966 "Pretend"
b/w "Street Talk" 		— — — — Non-album tracks
"A Touch of Baby"
b/w "What Would I Do" 		— — — —
1967 "This Time It's Love"
b/w "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" 		— — — —
1968 "People"
b/w "For Love of Ivy" 		39 33 — 16 People
1969 "God Bless the Child"
b/w "The Love That You're Looking For"
(Ain't Gonna Find It Here) 		— — — —
"If You Love Me Baby"
b/w "Find My Way" 		— — — — Non-album track
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

1970s singles

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Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Certifications Album
US Hot 100
[4] 		US R&B
[4] 		AUS
[14] 		UK
[3][13]
1970 "Most Beautiful Married Lady"
b/w "Love Child" 		— — — — Non-album tracks
1971 "She's Gone"
b/w "Someone to Watch Over Me" 		— — — —
1974 "You Little Trustmaker"
b/w "The North Hills" 		12 20 57 18 Trustmaker
"Ms Grace"
b/w "The Crutch" 		91 75 59 1
1975 "Someway, Somehow I'm Keepin' You"
b/w "Interloop!" 		— — — —
"God's Gonna Punish You"
b/w "If I Can't Make You Smile" 		— — — 41 Tymes Up
1976 "It's Cool"
b/w "Good Morning Dear Lord" 		68 3 — —
"Only Your Love"
b/w "Goin' Through the Motions" 		— — — —
"Savannah Sunny Sunday"
b/w "Love's Illusion" 		— — — — Turning Point
1977 "How Am I to Know (The Things a Girl in Love Should Know)"
b/w "I'll Take You There" 		— — — — Diggin' Their Roots
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 164. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  2. ^ a b Wynn, Ron. "The Tymes | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 572. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Tymes | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955 - 2002. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Records Research. pp. vii, 4. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  6. ^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffmann, Frank W (1994). Cash Box pop singles charts, 1950–1993. Libraries Unlimited. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-56308-316-7.
  7. ^ "Clark Show Off to Big Openers". Billboard. Vol. 75, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 23, 1963. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Soul Express - The Tymes, The complete Tymes Story including an interview with Al "Caesar" Berry and the discography By Heikki Suosalo, GEORGE WILLIAMS
  9. ^ a b "The Tymes Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club - 2011 July To December". Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  11. ^ "Donald Banks, 72, vocalist with the Tymes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 1, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  12. ^ "Have You Heard?". Beachmusic45.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "TYMES - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 282. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ^ "Tymes - Ms Grace". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
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