The Wallace Brothers

Cleveland Warnock gave the Wallace Brothers their start but can't remember all the members' names. But that's understandable: Warnock is 71 years old and still works in building and construction while caring for a brother afflicted with Alzheimer. It didn't help that his house caught fire some years ago, destroying master recordings, pictures, and other mementoes. A guy named Wallace, no kin to the brothers, brought the six-piece band to Warnock's attention in 1963. Promoted as a duet, the Wallace Brothers were actually a six-man band with cousins John Simon and Ervin Wallace on lead vocals. Other Wallaces, Cooky and Earnest, played in the band. Calling the outfit ragtag is being kind. Simon doubled on a saxophone that was in such bad shape that Warnock had to have it repaired. The drummer supported his drum kit with broomsticks. Ervin played the guitar, and Earnest the organ. Warnock wrote songs with Billy Bardon in the '40s and '50s for movie cowboy Jimmy Wakely, and never strayed far from the music business. He liked the Wallace Brothers and their potential. Simon in particular had a flair for showmanship, and was handsome and smart. Their members ranged from 14 to 16 years of age and all attended Archer High School in Atlanta. Warnock transported them from Atlanta to his East Point, GA, home for basement rehearsals. "Faith" b/w "I'll Let Nothing Separate Me," written by Earnest, was their first single. The words are biblical but the omission of the Lord's name made them secular. Cleveland's newly founded Royal label launched the Wallace Brothers in 1963. A copy of "Faith" on Royal Records is a nice collector's item. Now recording artists, the Wallace Brothers stepped up their gigging. Nashville disc jockey John R Richbourg of WLAC played "Faith" on his popular...