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DUBS

“Could This Be Magic”

(Hiram Johnson, Richard Blandon)

Gone 5011

No. 23    December 2, 1957

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They met throught the guidance of Hiram Johnson, a group manger, owner of Johnson Records, and the

brother of bandleader Buddy Johnson.   Most of the guys had been hanging out around 129th Street and 7th

Avenue in Harlem.   Thomas Gardner (bass), Jimmy “Jake” Miller (baritone), and Cleveland Sill (b. October,

1934/New York City/first tenor) had been members of the Scale-Tones.   Their lone release for Joe Davis’

Jay- Dee in January 1956 failed to generate any action.   Cousins Richard Blandon (b. September 16, 1934 /

Montgomery, Alabama/lead vocals) and Bill Carlisle (2nd tenor) had sang and recorded some JOHNNY ACE

tributes for King Records as the 5 Wings.

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Originally, the Dubs called themselves the Marvels.  Why?  Who knows?   Johnson had gotten their   “Jump

Rock’n’Roll” released on ABC-Paramount.   The disk was a dud and in 1957 the Marvels became the Dubs, so

named because prior to their impending and fleeting recognition they had made so many previous

recordings.

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After “Don’t Ask Me (To Be Lonely)” (#72), a Dubs debut on Hiram’s Johnson label, arrangements were

made with George Goldner to issue a series of singles on his Gone label.   About this time Thom Gardner left

the group to be replaced by another former 5 Wings, Tommy Grate (b. 1934/Beaufort, South Carolina/bass).

Five consecutive 45s sold well on the east coast.   “Could This Be Magic” was the second of   these highly

sought-after singles and “Chapel of Dreams” (74), the last.

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The Dubs were at the pinnicle of their brief popularity.   They toured the South with Sam Cooke, appeared

with Alan Freed, and stopped on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.”   Despite the flash of fame, the group

splintered.   According to reports by record researcher Mary Goldberg, “Their hit status wasn’t bringing

them financial rewards.”   Disllusioned, the group went their separate ways in 1958.   Blandon went out on

his own as a solo.   Carlisle found side work as a guitarist.   Grate found employment with the Streets and

Sanitation Department.   Miller checked into a career with the Transit Authority.   Still got a job in shipping.

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Factions of the Dubs reformed over the years.   Recordings with varying components of the classic group

made some readily available disks for ABC-Paramount and obscure platters for Josie, Wilshire and record

collector Wayne Stierle’s Candlelite and Vicki labels.

During the ’80s two different groups toured the nostalgia shows as the “Dubs.”   Group “A” was fronted by

the Dubs’ orignial lead vocalist, Richard Blandon.    Group “B” was fronted by Cleveland Still and features

Steve Brown and John Truesdale, both ex-members of the legendary CHARTS [“Desiree” (#88)].