The Hurricanes

Named after a mighty force of nature, the Hurricanes never achieved the notoriety of some of their contemporaries, such as the Drifters or the Dominoes. Nevertheless, they were still a vocal-group powerhouse. Packing strong lead vocals and solid harmonies, the Hurricanes were a dynamic musical force to be reckoned with in 1950s R&B circles. Tracing the group's origins takes listeners to the streets of Brooklyn in the early '50s. It was there that four young teens formed a vocal group. The founding group members were Jerry Halfhide (lead), Sam Fickling (tenor), Fred Williams (baritone), and Vernon Britton (bass). The group, originally calling themselves the Tune Toppers, were serious in their musical pursuits and before long had a manager, Mack Jones, uncle of Fred Williams. Mack Jones probably had a good ear for talent, being a seasoned performer himself. He was better known in showbiz circles as Jelly Roll, part of the comedy duo Jelly Roll & ZuZu. His showbiz connections no doubt unlocked some doors for the fellows that might have otherwise remained unopened. They added lead tenor Henry Austin (aka Alston) to the group, and with Jerry Halfhide shifting to background, they were now a quintet and ready to move forward in their musical career. They did not have to wait long. The group landed a deal with Jubilee Records and in early 1954, now calling themselves the Toppers, released a single, "You're Laughing 'Cause I'm Crying" backed with "Baby, Let Me Bang Your Box." The record doesn't appear to have been reviewed by Billboard. "You're Laughing 'Cause I'm Crying" is a solid blues ballad. "Baby, Let Me Bang Your Box," with its double-entendre title, is a rollicking, up-tempo outing which is really about playing a piano at a party. By 1955 there were several major...