The Flamingos

Formed by five young black men from Chicago, the Flamingos rose to prominence as one of the top vocal acts of the 1950s rock and roll explosion. They appeared in motion pictures and turned out a string of hit records that have remained popular for more than a half-century.
Providing a wealth of never-before-told stories of the influential quintet and their experiences in a white-dominated industry, this book details the back-room record deals, life on the road, the creative process, meticulous recording sessions and live performances, based on interviews with original members and those who worked with them.

Todd R. Baptista is a clinical consultant pharmacist, radio show host and avid music collector. He has hosted and co-produced several dozen successful concerts at various venues in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. He lives in Westport, Massachusetts.

Todd R. Baptista
Foreword by Terry Johnson
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 248
Bibliographic Info: 59 photos, discography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7982-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3789-1
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword by Terry Johnson 1
Introduction 3
“Someday, Someway” 7
Taking a Chance 20
“Golden Teardrops” 27
Parrot Records 37
“I’ll Be Home” 46
Greetings from Uncle Sam 62
The Whispers 67
Decca Records 73
End Records and a New Beginning 82
Doo Bop Shoo Bop 90
Riding High 103
Crossroads 120
Reorganization 127
The Modern Flamingos and Starglows 139
Starting Over—Flamingos and Platters 145
“The Boogaloo Party” 150
Motown and Terry Johnson 160
Ronze Records 166
Voices Stilled 186
Sollie McElroy 193
Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award 199
Changing of the Guard 202
Rebirth and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 206
Tommy Hunt 212
In the Pink 217
Righting Misdeeds 223
Epilogue 226
The Flamingos Discography 229
Bibliography 237
Index 239

• Winner, ARSC Award for Excellence

• “The first full-length study of the group, doesn’t disappoint: this is a meticulously researched and very well organized account of their fortunes and changing personnel… Baptista laid [the facts] out in these pages with such admirable clarity… Baptista has marshalled a mass of information with considerable skill.”—Pismotality

• “Crisp writing keeps the reader engrossed…[The Flamingos’] mammoth legacy has been granted full justice by Baptista’s beautifully written chronicle of their career.”—ARSC Journal