The Jive Five: Biography

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• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

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• Curtis Mayfield
• Chuck Jackson
• The "5" Royales
• Ben E. King
• Lloyd Price
• Bobby "Blue" Bland
• Billy Ward

• Sam Cooke
• Clyde McPhatter
• The Swan Silvertones
• The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
• The Drifters

• Oscar Waltzer
• Bob Feldman
• Eugene Pitt

Formed:

Jan 1, 1959 in Brooklyn, NY

Genres:

Oldies Music, R&B and Soul Music, Classic R&B Music, Rock Music

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Best known for the number one RB hit "My True Story," the Jive Five were one of the few vocal groups to survive the transistion from the '50s to the '60s. In the process, they helped move the music itself forward, providing a key link between doo wop and '60s soul.

Formed in Brooklyn, NY, the group originally consisted of Eugene Pitt (lead), Jerome Hanna (tenor), Richard Harris (tenor), Billy Prophet (baritone), and Norman Johnson (bass). the Jive Five's first hit, "My True Story," was their biggest, peaking at number one on the RB charts and number three on the pop charts in the summer of 1961. None of the band's subsequent singles -- including the minor RB hit, 1962's "These Golden Rings" -- were as popular, but the group managed to keep performing and recording. Under the direction of Eugene Pitt and Norman Johnson, the Jive Five refashioned themselves as a soul band in 1964, forming a new lineup with Casey Spencer (tenor), Webster Harris (tenor), and Beatrice Best (baritone). This new incarnation of the band signed to United Artists Records. The group only had one hit on UA, 1965's "I'm a Happy Man."

In 1966, the Jive Five left United Artists and signed with Musicor, where they had the 1968 RB hit "Sugar (Don't Take Away My Candy)." They changed labels again in 1970, signing with Decca. That same year, they changed their name to the Jyve Fyve, in order to appear more contemporary. the Jyve Fyve had only one minor RB hit, 1970's "I Want You to Be My Baby."

The group continued to perform and record for a variety of small labels during the '70s, but they never had another hit. Throughout the '70s and '80s, the only constant member was Eugene Pitt. In 1975, Pitt changed the name of the group to Ebony, Ivory, and the Jades, but this new incarnation failed to gain much attention. In 1982, Pitt changed the name of the group back to the Jive Five and the band recorded two albums for the indie label, Ambient Sound. For the rest of the '80s and the '90s, the Jive Five were regulars on the oldies circuit.

- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide