The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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WINSTONS

“COLOR HIM FATHER”

(Richard Spencer)

Metromedia 117

No. 7   July 19, 1969

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As a recording act, the Winstons began and ended in 1969.   They are remembered for one song, their

first disk and a Grammy winner for best R & B song, “Color Him Father”

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The band was born in the late ’60s in Washington, D.C.   Richard Spencer was the leader, singer, song-

writer, and tenor sax man.   G. C. Coleman, their drummer, had been a Motown sessioneer and a member

of the Mar­velettes’ touring band.   Lead guitarist Quincy Mattison had been with Arthur Conley’s band

when the Otis Redding protege was on the charts with “Sweet Soul Music.”   Rich, Quincy, and G. C. had

all played with Otis Redding.   Ray Maritano, the Winstons’ alto saxophonist, had attended the Berklee

College of Music and played in the U.S. Air Force Band.   Keyboardist Phil Tolotta doubled on lead vocals,

and bassist Sonny Peck­rol completed the line-up.

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The Impressions discovered the band, took them out on the road as their back-up players, and eventually

gave them a solo spot on the tour.   Spencer’s ode to the ideal dad–protective, kind, and loving–came to

the attention of the Atlanta-based Metromedia label.   “Color Him Father” was the Winstons’ first 45, and

it struck a chord with both pop (#7) and R & B (#2) listeners.   In just months, the Winstons faded from

view, leaving in their wake only two known 45s–“Love of the Common Peo­ple” (#54, 1969) and “Birds of

a Feather”–plus a lone LP named after their hallowed hit.