The
Orlons
Fun
filled dances tunes were the Orlons specialty, making them one
of the most popular groups to ever come out of Philadelphia. Originally
called Audrey and the Teenetts, the group was formed in the early
Fifties and consisted of Audrey, Jean, and Shirley Brickley, Rosetta
Hightower, and Marlena Davis. When Mrs. Brickley refused to let
Audrey the youngest the sing with the others in one of Philadelphia's
small clubs she and sister Jean quit the group.
Shirley, Rosetta,
and Marlena continued to singing at Overland High School where
they were heard by fellow student Stephan Caldwell, who sang with
a local group called the Romeos. Caldwell brought his baritone
lead to the girls attention and joined the group.
The group
was influenced by acts like The Chantels, Ray Charles, and The
Moonglows. In the fall of 1961 the Orlons auditioned for Kal Mann
and were signed to record for Cameo Records. A&R director
Dave Appell started writing songs for the group and decided to
feature Rosetta on lead. The Orlons' first single "I'll Be
True" elicited little interest as did their early 1962 follow-up
"Happy Birthday 21."
In early 1962
The Orlons provided back-up vocals on Dee Dee Sharp's Mashed Potato
Time" (#2 Pop, #1 R&B). That spring they recorded "The
Wah Watusi" which in July made it nationally to the #2 spot.
At the same time they again provided back-up vocals on Dee Dee
Sharp's second hit "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)"
which went to #9. The follow-up to "The Wah Watusi"
"Don't Hang Up" reached #4 Pop and #3 R&B in the
fall and winter of 1962.
The Orlons'
first major performance was at New York's Apollo Theatre with
The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, Chuck Jackson, Tommy
Hunt, and Gene Chandler. In 1963 they had hits with "South
Street" (#3 Pop, #4 R&B) and "Crossfire" (#19
Pop, #25 R&B).
In 1964 with
the start of the British Invasion the best three of the four singles
could do was make it into the 60s on the charts ("Shimmy
Shimmy," #66 "Rules of Love" #66, and "Knock
Knock," #64). These were the last of the Orlons' chart hits.
In 1966 they
moved to Calla Records and in 1967 to ABC Records with no success.
However, their past successes allowed them to work into the 70s
until Rosetta decided to move to England. Shirley died that year.
By the early
90s Marlena had married and had become an executive secretary
and Caldwell had worked for the Philadelphia Board of Education
for twenty years.
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