BIOGRAPHY AND DISCOGRAPHY

 
A short-lived rock group who recorded just two singles for Jubilee, the label they were signed to as a gospel group, The Selah Jubilee Singers, though the content of their rock material showed they were hardly entering into this field without a broad understanding of its musical requirements or its outlook from the other side of the tracks.

At one point the group had two future Larks (Allen Bunn and Thermon Ruth) as members and like that act they too would soon make the move from gospel to rock. At the time of their records The Sultans consisted of Clyde Wright, Jimmy Gorham, Melvin Coldten, Junius Parker and a singer named Clarence something or other who had replaced future solo star Nappy Brown a little earlier. Brown would re-cut the group’s “Don’t Be Angry” and get a hit with it himself in 1955.

Though Jubilee had The Orioles as their foundational group, The Sultans were not pop-rooted, but rather used the gospel techniques in a rock setting, a relatively new stylistic twist to the vocal group aesthetic emerging in the early 1950’s. No hits were forthcoming and Wright entered the Army where he sang with a group called The Serenaders which toured Europe. Upon his discharge Wright returned to gospel and joined The Golden Gate Quartet with whom he sang for the rest of his career.
 
 
THE SULTANS DISCOGRAPHY (Records Reviewed To Date On Spontaneous Lunacy):

LEMON SQUEEZING DADDY
(Jubilee 5054; April, 1951)
A racy uptempo tune with enthusiastic vocals and an enjoyable musical framework and though the song is intentionally crude that’s hardly a detriment when it comes to distancing themselves from their past and proving their newfound commitment to rock ‘n’ roll. (7)

BLUES AT DAWN
(Jubilee 5077; February, 1952)
Despite being held back a full year this still sounds as up to date, and in some ways ahead of its time, even as it also harkens back to the past with a Ravens-inspired bridge, while great vocals and an intriguing story round out a very impressive cut. (8)

DON’T BE ANGRY
(Jubilee 5077; February, 1952)
An emotionally rich story written by member Clyde Wright which is sung beautifully by all five Sultans trading off seamlessly on the exquisite melody which would be utterly transformed into an uptempo song by Wright’s cousin Nappy Brown for a hit in 1955. (9)