The group, formed in New Haven, Connecticut in 1954, consisted of leader Fred Parris (March 26, 1936–January 13, 2022),[2] Lewis Peeples, Stanley Dortche, Ed Martin, Jim Freeman, Nat Mosley.

The group then recorded "In the Still of the Night", a big hit in the United States,[1] which was originally released as the B-side to the single "The Jones Girl".

[1] Two singles later, the follow-up track "Pretty Baby (That's Why I Sing)" (Ember 1025) got weeks of airplay on powerful CHUM in Toronto, in November 1957.

"In The Still of the Night" became an even bigger hit when it appeared as the lead track on Original Sound Records' Oldies But Goodies Vol.

Parris entered the United States Army soon after the success of "In the Still of the Night", forcing the group to reorganize again, with Martin, Freeman, Tommy Killebrew, Jessie Murphy and new lead Bill Baker.

[1] Baker quickly proved to be a highly capable replacement as this lineup immediately had success with Billy Dawn Smith's "To the Aisle" (Ember 1019), in September 1957.

According to old radio survey repository ARSA, the following 45 sides charted in some markets: "I'll Be Seeing You" (Ember 1061); "Your Memory" (Cub 9071); "The Time" (Ember 1066); "These Foolish Things/A Beggar With A Dream" (Cub 9077); "Till The End" (United Artists 368); "The Masquerade Is Over" (Chancellor 1110); "Remember Me" (Warner Brothers 5367); and "Ain't Gonna Dance" (aka "Ain't Gonna Cry", Roulette 4563).

Noticing this new trend, however, longtime Connecticut music producer Marty Markiewicz (who had known Parris personally for many years), who was working for Elektra Records at the time got an idea.

The first, a remake of the Delfonics' 1970 hit "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" (Elektra 69888), again got solid airplay in New Haven, in November 1982.

Wes Forbes is a psychologist in California, currently employed with Alliant International University as a training director.