Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CHORDS, The

US doo-wop vocal group formed c'53 NYC. Lineup: Carl Feaster, Claude Feaster, James Keyes, Floyd McRae, James Edwards. One chart success started an era: 'Sh- Boom' recorded May '54 for Cat (subsidiary of Atlantic) was a charming novelty, untypical of the genre (mostly love songs); it reached no. 3 R&B chart and top ten pop but was covered by Canadians the Crew Cuts without the rhythmic joy for a no. 1 pop hit and one of the top five of the year, accelerating white covers of better black originals. The Chords never matched that success. Lead singer Carl died of cancer 23 Jan. '81; Keyes d 22 July '95 aged 65.