The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C., with members Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John “Buddy” Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the “Four Clovers”, with Bailey on lead. In perfecting their sound, the group pushed Shelton and Woods out in 1948, and brought in Matthew McQuarter and Harold Winley.

Their break came in 1950, when they were introduced to Lou Krefetz, who became their manager. They signed to New York’s Rainbow Records and released two singles, “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby” and “When You Come Back To Me”. Soon after, Krefetz brought them to Atlantic Records’ Ahmet Ertegun, and they were signed to Atlantic in 1951. At this point, Bill Harris was added as their guitarist. Their first appearance came in February of that year at the Apollo Theater.

Their very first Atlantic session produced their first big hit, “Don’t You Know I Love You”, which hit #1 on the national charts in June of 1951. “One Mint Julep” (written by Rudy Toombs) and “Fool Fool Fool” also went #1 in September. Bailey was drafted in 1952, and John Phillip was brought in to replace him. He stayed for just a few months, before leaving and being replaced by Charlie White, who had been in the Dominoes and the Checkers.

Clovers, sorry unlucky, I guess

335? Is this a joke? Now that Black Sabbath are in, the Clovers are the single biggest exclusion from the Rock Hall. They were the most popular R&B vocal group from the pre-Elvis rock era (1950-55), and were a HUGE influence on Leiber and Stoller. In terms of 1950s "doo-wop" groups, they rank alongside the Coasters, the Platters and the Drifters in terms of overall importance, and those three artists all coasted into the Hall by 1990. Shame on you, Rock Hall.

The low ranking of this group is just a reflection of the ignorance of most of the people who have participated in this site. This fantastic vocal group was one of the first superstars of rock and rol, and were very influential on all of the great rock stars of the 50s.