R.I.P. George Williams, Jr. (lead singer of the doo-wop group the Tymes)

[NightTrain]

From the Philadelphia Tribune:

George Williams, Jr., 68, lead singer of The Tymes, whose doo-wop ballad "So Much In Love" went No. 1 in August 1963 on the Billboard charts, died at this Maple Shade, N.J., apartment Wednesday (July 28th) from cancer.

"He had a smooth-as-silk delivery," said Val Shively, owner of R&B Records in Upper Darby . "He could match Johnny Mathis' vocal skills. It's hard to tell the two apart (sometimes)."

"So Much In Love" was inspired by a real-life romance, said his wife, Vivian Williams.

"He wrote 'So Much In Love' about when we were in our teens. I was 13 and lived in South Philly and I used to sneak to North Philly to see him. We would walk in the park and hold hands."

The couple was married for more than 40 years.

"It's funny how a bunch of guys from North Philadelphia created a song that took us all over the world," said Al Caesar Berry, an original member of The Tymes.

The group was originally called the Latineers, but their name changed to The Tymes when the joined Cameo-Parkway Records. "'So Much In Love'" was originally titled "'As We Stroll Along'," said Berry.

The Tymes have appeared on recent PBS specials, and were also known for tunes such as "Wonderful, Wonderful,", "Somewhere," "This Time It's Love," and "You Little Trustmaker."

"They have great harmony, great voice. They're one of the legendary Philadelphia street-corner groups," said WOGL Oldies 98 host Harvey Holiday, who will feature a "Tribute To The Tymes" Sunday at 10 p.m.(NOTE: The tribute aired on August 1st.)

Williams made music a family and community affair. He threw house parties, taught children to sing, and had his daughter transcribe song lyrics for the group to rehearse. He was also the owner of Williams One Stop Record Shop at 29th and Dauphin Streets.

In 1978, Willams move to Europe, where he performed on the entertainment circuit as a solo artist and founded StefCourt Music Publishing Co. He returned to the U.S. in 2002. In his spare time, Williams also fixed televisions and radios, and served as a block captain. Recently he did some acting in a film created by his son.

He was born December 6, 1935, in Philadelphia to the late Pinky and George Williams, and was a graduate of (Thomas) Edison High School. He also joined the Army in the early 1950s.

"The harmony they created was very unique because it represented an innocence. They never lost that," said Jerry Blavat, owner and operator of Geator Gold Radio in Philadelphia.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Aw he had a sweet voice

and that was a great song...still good today

[non sociopath skin]

2. Sorry to hear this ...

... their version of "Wonderful Wonderful" brings back a lot of happy memories.

The Skin