Cornelius Harp Of The Marcels Dies Of Natural Causes - Noise11.com
The Marcels with Cornelius Harp, Noise11, Photo

The Marcels with Cornelius Harp (front middle)

Cornelius Harp Of The Marcels Dies Of Natural Causes

by Paul Cashmere on June 8, 2013

in News

Cornelius “Nini” Harp, the lead singer of the Marcels, died on Wednesday from what was reported to be natural causes.

The Marcels with Cornelius Harp, Noise11, Photo

The Marcels with Cornelius Harp (front middle)

The Marcels were formed at Oliver Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh in 1959. The original group was unique in its day as three members were African-Americans (Harp, Ronald Mundy, Fred Johnson) and two were white (Gene Bricker, Richard Knauss).

In early 1961, the group cut a demo of a 1933 Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart song, Blue Moon. It so impressed the management at Colpix Records that they had a copy run over to disc jockey Murray “The K” Kaufman who aired it numerous times the night it was recorded.

When Colpix finally got the song into the marketplace, it became a smash hit, going to number 1 in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany and France among other countries. The group returned to the studio to record a number of other “oldies” (which, at that time, were songs from the 30’s and 40’s) including their second, less successful, single Summertime (#24) and Heartaches (#7 U.S. / #3 U.K.).

After Heartaches, the Marcels were not able to put another major hit on the charts, ending their association with Colpix in 1963. They also went through numerous group changes, eventually becoming an all black lineup. Harp left in 1962 and didn’t return until 1975 when he made recordings again with the group. He also reunited with original members Mundy and Knauss for PBS’ original Doo Wop 50 special in 1999.

Read more at VVN Music

Related Posts

Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Noise11, Photo
Steve Lawrence Dies At Age 88

Entertainment legend Steve Lawrence has died in Los Angeles at 88 from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease.

March 8, 2024
The Quarrymen
John Rowe Of Pre-Beatles Group The Quarrymen Dies At Age 81

John Rowe, the piano player for The Quarrymen, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison’s group before The Beatles, has died at age 81.

February 23, 2024
Elvis Presley, noise11.com, Photo
Elvis Presley Hologram To Tour The World

Elvis' estate has announced a hologram show like ABBA's.

January 5, 2024
Isley Brothers Twist and Shout
Rudolph Isley of The Isley Brothers Dead at 84

Rudolph Isley, a founding member of the legendary US soul group The Isley Brothers, has died at the age of 84.

October 13, 2023
Phyllis Coates in Superman
R.I.P. Phyllis Coates, The Original Lois Lane In The 50s Series of Superman, Dies At 96

Phyllis Coates, Lois Lane in the first season of The Adventures of Superman, has died at age 96.

October 13, 2023
Johnny Cash Sings The Songs That Made Him Famous
Sun Records To Re-release Johnny Cash Sings ‘The Songs That Made Him Famous’ On 20 Anniversary of His Passing

It’s been 20 years since the passing of Johnny Cash on 12 September 2003. Johnny’s original label Sun Records is re-issuing his 1958 album ‘Johnny Cash Sings The Songs That Made Him Famous’ to mark the 20th anniversary of his death.

September 13, 2023
Elvis Presley Red Guitar Comeback Special
Elvis Presley Guitar Valued As World’s Most Expensive Instrument

In 1968, a cherry-red guitar helped save Elvis’s career. Now it may be the world’s most valuable musical instrument.

August 15, 2023