Crescents

Inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, four teenagers from the Outwaithe Housing Projects in Cleveland, OH, formed a group similar to the New York sensations. Al Banks (tenor), Leroy McQueen (baritone), Garfield Jackson (bass) and 13 year old William Burrell (lead), and christened themselves the Crescents. Al, Leroy, and Garfield were 18 years old and had graduated from school, while Burrell, who sung under the stage name of Billy Wells, still attended Kennard Jr. High. The group was making a name for themselves in the greater Cleveland area when Al Banks got the ears of Sid Friedman, who owned and ran All Star Theatrical Agency. Sid had them audition for Henry George who quickly signed them to Reserve Records, with Sid becoming their manager and booking agent. From the studio came "Julie," written by member Garfield "Buddy" Jackson, and the flip, "I Love Only You," composed by Billy Wells. Reserve had a unique way of promoting its recordings, they gave the Crescents a few boxes of records and told them to drive to different R&B concerts, on which Friedman had booked them, to promote "Julie." They guys didn't get any financial help from Friedman or Reserve and had to use their meager personal funds to get going. Soon their money ran out and they were flat broke. Destitute, they had to sell the records to get money for gas and oil to return home. During their travels, they performed on the same bill with artists like Pat Boone, the Four Seasons, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Bill Doggett and many others. Their recording had gotten airplay in the North and the South. Wells, the youngest member, was eventually dismissed from the group. Leroy McQueen states, "we put him out because he was delinquent." According to Leroy a group rule was that while in the group,...