The Turbans

The Turbans were an African American doo-wop group, who were formed in Philadelphia in 1953. The original members were: Al Banks (lead tenor), Matthew Platt (second tenor), Charlie Williams (baritone), and Andrew "Chet" Jones (bass) and they came from Downtown Philadelphia (around Bainbridge and South Street). Herman Gillespie was their first manager.

Around Christmas 1954, they won first prize in a talent contest singing their rendition of Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters’ "White Christmas". This created interest among the local record companies and in the late spring of 1955, they cut a demo record. Herman Gillespie took it to Al Silver and Jack Angel at Herald Records in New York. They signed a contract in July 1955, but gained a new manager, Allen Best, who worked for Shaw Artists Corporation.

In July 1955, The Turbans had their first Herald recording session and later that month their first record, pairing "Let Me Show You (Around My Heart)", as the “A” side with “When You Dance" as the flip side was released. Although "Let Me Show You" became a regional hit in Atlanta, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Boston, and New Orleans, interest began to grow in "When You Dance". At first it started to break in New York, Philadelphia, D.C. and Baltimore, until finally, in November, it hit the national R&B and Pop charts. "Dance" reached #3 on R&B chart and remained there for about two months. It only rose to #33 on the Pop chart but stayed there for about five months, so it was counted as a significant hit.

In December 1955, Herald released “Sister Sooky/’I’ll Always Watch Over You” as a follow-up record, but this failed to chart. With one national hit, however, in late January 1956, they went off on a whirlwind tour, joining Irvin Feld’s "Super Attractions Tour". Then in March 1956, they joined another tour, which featured Roy Gaines, Guitar Slim, Margie Day, and Lloyd Lambert.

They then became part of the "Rhythm And Blues Show Of 1956" and in April 1956, Herald released "I’m Nobody’s"/"B-I-N-G-O", but this failed to make the national charts. By July, they were touring the Midwest with Sonny Boy Williamson’s orchestra and so in August 1956, Herald released "It Was A Nite Like This"/"All Of My Love", but again this record failed to make the national charts. Finally on 21 October, they played the Circle Theater in Cleveland, with Don Rello, the Quails and Ralph Wilson’s orchestra.

So, as 1957 dawned, with no more hit records, the Turbans were running out of work. They were back in the studio in early 1957, but two more sessions failed to produce any hit records and by July 1957, their contract with Herald expired. This lack of success led to personnel changes, some of which were temporary, some of which were permanent.

In late 1958, a now reconstructed Turbans signed with Red Top Records. Matthew Platt and Charlie Williams had been replaced by Earl Worsham (first and second tenor) and John Christian (baritone/second tenor), both of whom had both sung with the Quadrells. They released a single by called "I Promise You"/"Curfew Time". Again, both sides were led by Al Banks. This record failed to chart and so the Turbans did no further recording for about two years. Chet left the group for a while, and they continued on as a trio.

In 1960, they moved to Morris Levy’s Roulette Records. Chet returned and they recorded "Diamonds And Pearls", backed with "Bad Man". Unfortunately, it was a group called the Paradons’ who had a hit with the song. In January 1961, their second (and final) Roulette release was "Three Friends" (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), backed with "I’m Not Your Fool Anymore". There was, once again, no chart action.

The next stop for the Turbans was Bernie Lowe and Karl Mann’s Parkway Records. By this time, Chet Jones, one of the mainstays of the group, had departed. The group was now: Al Banks, Earl Worsham, John Christian, and newly-added bass Reggie "Tootie" Price. At Parkway, they did an updated version of "When You Dance", which was released in February 1961 to compete with the re-released original Herald version.

In the spring of 1960, the original Herald version of "When You Dance" had been included on the second volume of Art Laboe’s "Oldies But Goodies" album series. It created enough demand for Herald to re-release the original single in February 1961. It was not a big hit the second time around, but it still managed to struggle to #114 on the Pop charts.

Later in 1961, with no chart success at Parkway Records, they signed with Imperial Records. Reggie "Tootie" Price had left to be replaced by James Oscar "Cisco" Williams, (a bass/baritone/tenor), who had also been with the Quadrells. The group was now a quintet, with the fifth member being tenor Sonny Gordon, who had been the lead of the Angels in 1954.

Their first Imperial release was "Six Questions" (led by Al), backed with "The Lament Of Silver Gulch". In March 1962 there was a second Imperial release, "This Is My Story"/"Clicky Clicky Clack", both sides of which featured Al. The final Turbans’ record appeared in May 1962: "I Wonder"/"The Damage Is Done", with Sonny Gordon taking the lead on both sides. There was, as usual by now, no chart action on all three records.

After Imperial, the Turbans broke up for good. Earl went off to Billy Byrd's Ink Spots but now sings with a Coasters group based in Boca Raton. Al was with Charlie Thomas' Drifters in the early 70s, but he and John Christian are now deceased.