Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

JIVE FIVE, The

Doo wop vocal group. Leader Eugene Pitt (b 6 Nov. '37) formed first group The Genies with school friends from Brooklyn ('54); later had chart hit "Who's That Knockin'' (no. 71 '59). They split up; Roland Trone and Claude Johnson formed Don & Juan, had big hit "What's Your Name?' (no. 2 '62). Pitt formed Jive Five with Billy Prophet, Jerome Hanna, Richard Harris and Billy Johnson; had own big hit with "My True Story' (no. 3 '61), based on story of sweetheart's marriage to his best friend. Group toured with Dick Clark, had further hits "Never Never' (no. 74 '61), "What Time Is It?' (no. 67 '62), "I'm A Happy Man' (no. 36 '65). With fading fame the name of the group changed with alacrity: The Shadow became Showdown, Jyve Fyve, etc. Then Pitt headed a Jive Five lineup incl. original second tenor Prophet, brothers Herbert and Frank Pitt, Beatrice Best, Charles Mitchell: album for Ambient Sounds label Here We Go! '82 saw his soaring, vibrant vocal lead still in business, followed by Way Back '85 on Ambient/Rounder. Compilations on Ace, Relic, Collectables.