[citation needed] The group was formed by friends from a high school based in the Bronx, New York City, United States.

[2] The initial members were the brothers Carl and Claude Feaster, plus Jimmy Keyes, Buddy McRae, William Edwards, with support from the pianist Rupert Branker.

[2] Their debut single was a doo-wop version of a Patti Page song "Cross Over the Bridge", and the record label reluctantly allowed a number penned by the Chords on the B-side.

[3] The track was covered by The Crew-Cuts, who took the song to the top of the charts, arguably registering the first U.S. rock and roll number one hit record.

[10] Buddy McRae, the last surviving original member, died on March 19, 2013, at a nursing home in the Bronx at the age of 85.