The Resume

(1950-1965)
Born in New York City, New York
Notable members included pianist/arranger Billy Ward (September 19, 1921-February 16, 2002) and vocalists Bill Brown (1950-52), Clyde McPhatter (1950-53), Jackie Wilson (1953-57), and Gene Mumford (1957-58)
Recorded the singles ‘Sixty Minute Man’ (1951), ‘Have Mercy Baby’ (1952), ‘The Bells’ (1953), ‘These Foolish Things’ (1953), ‘Rags to Riches’ (1953), ‘St. Therese of the Roses’ (1956), ‘Star Dust’ (1957), and ‘Deep Purple’ (1957)

Why they might be annoying:

Ward owned the rights to the ‘Dominoes’ name and hired and fired other band members at will.
Ward paid the singers $100 a week, minus deductions for taxes, food, hotel bills, and fines for infractions ranging from showing up late for rehearsal to wearing un-shined shoes on stage.
The low pay and Ward’s strict discipline resulted in a lot of turnover in the group’s membership.
Ward eventually put his name in front of the group’s even though he did not sing on any of their records.

Why they might not be annoying:

Ward had studied at the Juilliard School of Music when few black students were admitted.
’Sixty Minute Man’ topped the Billboard R&B Singles chart for a then-record 14 weeks and became one of the few rhythm and blues songs of the era to cross over and become a pop hit.
They were one of the headlining acts at Alan Freed’s Moondog Coronation Ball, widely considered the first rock and roll concert (March 21, 1952).
McPhatter had Wilson had successful careers after leaving the group.
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2006).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 79]
• Doo-Wop Singers
• Look at Me, It's This Big
• Look at My Keyboard
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 2015)
• Profiles 47501-47750 (Ranked: 47617)
• Stacker’s Most Controversial Song from the Year You Were Born (Ranked: 1951)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying