The 5 Satins - Sing Their Greatest Hits (1994)

Over twenty-five years have passed since a young vocal group recorded "In The Still Of The Night" in a church basement in New Haven, Connecticut. Since that time, the popular Rhythm & Blues ballad has sold well over three million copies. It is still one of the most requested "golden oldies" on almost every Top-40 radio station in the country. While the success of this record assured the popularity of the Five Satins for many years to come, the group's roots actually began several years before.

Fred Parris, the lead singer of the Five Satins, began singing in 1953 in his New Haven high school with a group called the Scarlets. Fred's early recordings with this group can be heard on the album "The Scarlets' Greatest Hits" (Lost Nite LN 143). The Scarlets separated when they joined the army in 1956 and Fred Parris found himself stationed at Philadelphia's Naval Yard. One night, while on guard duty at 4:00 a.m., he penned "In The Still Of The Night". On weekends, Fred would often return to New Haven and sing for fun with a few friends from the neighborhood. At the insistence of a local record company owner, Fred Parris got together with Jim Freeman, Lou Peebles, Eddie Martin and Stanley Dortch to form the Five Satins.

The Five Satins recorded several sides for the Standard label. Of these, "In The Still Of The Night" was later sold to Ember Records, where it became a hit. By the time the record made the national charts, Fred Parris was stationed in Japan and had to be replaced by Bill Baker. Bill Baker led a new Five Satins group to record such hits as "To The Aisle" and "Our Anniversary" for the Ember label. When Fred Parris returned from the army, he again became the group's lead, recording songs like "Shadows" and "I'll Be Seeing You".

During the 1960s, the Five Satins recorded for numerous labels. While they were never able to recapture the popularity they enjoyed with their Ember recordings, they have continued to turn out fine recordings throughout the 60s, 70s and now the 1980s. Their great vocal harmony has earned them a special place in the history of R&B music.

Charlie Horner, 1994