I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU, The Harmony Grits, (End #1051) 1959

I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU, The Harmony Grits, (End #1051) 1959 Flipside: AM I TO BE THE ONE – Here is another really great unknown ballad from my music collection. The Harmony Grits hailed from New York. Group members are actually from the early ORIGINAL Drifters, minus Clyde McPhatter. Singing on “I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU” are David Baughan (lead), Bill Pinkney (1st tenor), Andrew Thrasher (2nd tenor) and Gerhart Thrasher (baritone). In 1959 they recorded 4 sides for George Goldner’s End Record label: “I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU/AM I TO BE THE ONE” (END #1051) “SANTA CLAUS IS COMING/GEE” (End #1063) Here is an amazing piece of history. The Drifters were organized in 1953 by Clyde McPhatter. They had numerous personnel changes through the years including having 12 different lead singers. Their most known lead singers were Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, Rudy Lewis, Charlie Thomas and Johnny Moore. In June 1958 George Treadwell, the owner of the name "The Drifters," fired all the current members and hired The Crowns/Five Crowns. As told to me by my dear friend, the late Ben E. King, The Crowns' members who became The Drifters were "me, I changed my name from Benjamin Earl Nelson to Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, "Papa" Clark, Dock Green and Elsbeary Hobbs. The years I had with The Drifters were the BEST years!" And as they say, the rest is history! Enjoy this really great unknown ballad “I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU” by The Harmony Grits with David Baughan singing lead! This is doowop at its finest!

Added 19 Jul 2026