Ray Smith - Sole surviving member of The Jarmels tells Tom their story

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Күн бұрын

The Jarmels are from in Richmond, Virginia. When they were about 20 years old in 1959 they called themselves The Cherokees. Nathaniel Ruff, Paul Burnett, Earl Christian, and Tom Eldridge have all passed away. Ray Smith survives and he sat with Tom and talked about their history and how "A Little Bit of Soap" hit the charts in 1961.

Пікірлер: 21

@Steve52344 Жыл бұрын

The Jarmels were a terribly underrated group. They had a great lead and great harmony.

@leinaalasalegggfda2472 2 ай бұрын

I was so hooked when I heard the original LOL just last night. The lead singer’s voice was so crisp! So clean! It pierced right through that I had to research this awesome group! Glad I did

@leinaalasalegggfda2472 2 ай бұрын

Btw: there are video on KZbin of past performances with all the original singers. I like the one in 1995? And 2008? I enjoyed all the videos

@irafutterman5557 Жыл бұрын

When the sixties began my parents purchased a vacation home in upstate New York and the summer of 61 was our first with our new friends from the community, kids from New Jersey. Long Island, and New York City and of course we listened to the radio WABC AM out of New York City, a powerful station that came fairly well one hundred miles north, The Jarmels record A Little Bit of Soap and Ahab the Arab by Ray Stevens were our favorite songs. A great summer, great music, and a great time for America.

@srercrcr 5 жыл бұрын

Ray still has it. A deep warm voice. Take care of yourself

@blinko656 5 жыл бұрын

love to hear from these great singers. They started it all. GOD Bless you man....! These guys are smooth like the Temps..

@terri3781 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Mr. Smith I grew up listening to your music and still do. My dad Billy boy Taylor told me to watch this interview. I am Terri Billy and Jane's oldest daughter. My children grew up hearing me sing your songs around the house. Thank you for this great music.

@mrstanbmw 3 ай бұрын

Rays Older Brother Lonnie Liston Smith is a Giant and one of the greatest Keyboardist ever when you listen to Lonnie Liston Smith the vocalist is Rays other Brother Donald who had one of the most gifted voices in music. RIP Donald.

@soopermexican Жыл бұрын

I can't believe there's no video of the Jarmels singing! How sad.

@mikecorrie123 5 жыл бұрын

nice interview Tom wish I could interview them doowop stars! for my radio show here in England....

@MatthewChristianMurray 3 жыл бұрын

Good interview. Ray seems like a great guy! I just wish he or someone else would identify who is who in the few photos that survive of the group. I’m also curious about their later lives. Earl Christian was KIA in Vietnam in 1968 (RIP), but the others lived into the 1990s. Did they ever perform with Jarmels spinoffs or their own original groups, or did they permanently leave the music industry? Regardless, thank you so much for this interview and the concert footage, and thanks to Ray Smith for his insights. EDIT: I see now that Paul Burnett and Tom Eldridge had their own group at least into the mid-1990s.

@Frnk_3 Жыл бұрын

I think it would’ve been great for the 4 surviving ones (at the time in the mid 80s- early 90s) Ray, Tom, Paul, and Nathaniel to reunite and cut some new sides in honor of Earl. It’s unfortunate it never happened.

@MatthewChristianMurray Жыл бұрын

@@Frnk_3 - hard agree. We have audio evidence that Paul, Ray, and Tom all kept their voices in pretty good shape, and Nathaniel wasn’t even the most prominent vocalist in his own family! Odds are they would have all still sounded great. They could’ve added a fifth vocalist, or kept it at four in tribute to their fallen brother. I feel like if they had had a second hit during their first go-round, then there might’ve been more demand for something like that - maybe a 25th or 30th anniversary celebration of some sort. As it is, they’re viewed as mere one-hit wonders, which is unfair because they sounded fantastic on a lot more than one song.