Blues American girl group The Shirelles were very popular in the 1960s of the last century. It consisted of four classmates: Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Eddie Harris and Beverly Lee. The girls teamed up to participate in a talent show held at their school. They later went on to perform successfully, using an unusual image, described as a contrast between the naive high school appearance and the immodest sexual themes of their performances.
They are considered the founders of the genre of female musical groups. They differ in that they are recognized by both white and black audiences. The Shirelles have been successful from the very beginning of their musical career, actively participating in various movements against racial discrimination and winning many awards.
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was included in the list of 100 famous artists of 2004 thanks to Rolling Stone magazine. The same edition included the songs Will You Love Me Tomorrow and Tonight's the Night in the list of the best songs.
Early career of The Shirelles
The band's birth year is considered to be 1957. It was at this time that classmates Shirley, Doris, Eddie and Beverly decided to take part in a school talent competition in Passaic, New Jersey. The successful performance led to the fact that Tiara Records became interested in them. At first, the girls did not think about a musical career and were in no hurry to respond to the invitation. They later agreed to a meeting and started working, calling the band The Shirelles.
The first song released, I Met Himon a Sunday, was an immediate success and moved from local broadcast to the national level, charting at number 50. From Tiara Records, the girls moved to Decca Records with a contract. The cooperation was not entirely successful, and Decca Records refused to continue working with the group.
Recognition and success
Returning to the former producer, the young singers continued to re-release old singles and work on new ones. Renowned songwriter Luther Dixon helped produce the single Tonight's the Night, which peaked at number 1960 in 39. The next song was written by spouses Jerry Goffin and Carol King. The song was called Will You Love Me Tomorrow and was named a #1 hit by Billboard magazine.
In 1961, the album Tonight's the Night was released, which included previously recorded compositions. The girls then began working closely with popular radio host Murray Kaufman at WINS radio in New York. Their songs sounded even more often and occupied leading positions in the chart of performers. And young artists tried to imitate them.
Over the next two years, the singers continued to actively perform and record new compositions, despite the fact that Shirley Owens and Doris Coley took a break due to the arrangement of their personal lives. 1963 was a very busy year for the band. The song Foolish Little Girl entered the top 10 R&B artists and had a small role in the comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
In the same year, they parted ways with their record company, as they learned that the account where their fees were supposed to be kept until adulthood did not exist. Then there were the courts, which ended only after two years.
The Shirelles Years
In the late 1960s, The Shirelles began to decline in popularity. This was due to the success of British performers: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, etc. Also, many women's groups appeared that made the girls worthy competition.
It was not easy for the girls to work, as they continued to be bound by a contract with their recording studio, and they could not collaborate with others. The contract with the company ended only in 1966. After that, the song Last Minute Miracle was recorded, which took 99th position in the charts.
Commercial failures led to the breakup of the band in 1968. First, Kolya left, deciding to devote her time to her family. The three remaining members continued to work and recorded several songs. In the early 1970s, they organized several tours where they performed old compositions. Coley returned in 1975 to take over from Owens as a soloist, as she decided to perform solo.
In 1982, after performing at one of the concerts, Eddie Harris passed away. Death occurred as a result of a heart attack in Atlanta, at the Hyatt Regency hotel.
The Shirelles now
Currently, the former composition of the group does not exist, since its members perform separately. The brand itself was acquired by Beverly Lee. She has recruited new members and is touring under her old name. Shirley Owens performs on the show and tours under the new name of Shirley Alston Reeves and The Shirelles. Doris Coley passed away in February 2000 in Sacramento. The cause of death was breast cancer.
The Shirelles left a bright mark on the world of music. She has won many awards and prizes. In their hometown, the section of the street with the school where they studied has been renamed Shirelles Boulevard. The history of the group is told in the musical revue "Baby, it's you!".
