The Shirelles

Formed in Passaic, New Jersey, USA, the Shirelles are arguably the archetypal ‘girl-group’; Shirley Owens (b. 10 June 1941), Beverly Lee (b. 3 August 1941), Doris Kenner (b. 2 August 1941) and Addie 'Micki' Harris (b. 22 January 1940, d. 10 June 1982) were initially known as the uncomfortably named Poquellos. School friends for whom singing was simply a pastime, the quartet embarked on a professional career when a classmate, Mary Jane Greenberg, recommended them to her mother. Florence Greenberg, an aspiring entrepreneur, signed them to her Tiara label, on which the resultant single, I Met Him On A Sunday, was a minor hit. This inspired the inauguration of a second outlet, Scepter, where the Shirelles secured pop immortality with Will You Love Me Tomorrow. Here Alston's tender, aching vocal not only posed the ultimate question, but implied she already had decided ‘yes’ to her personal dilemma. One of pop's most treasured recordings, it was followed by a series of exceptional singles, Mama Said (1961), Baby It's You (1962) and Foolish Little Girl (1963), which confirmed their exemplary position. The Shirelles’ effect on other groups, including those in Britain, is incalculable, and the Beatles, the Merseybeats, and Manfred Mann are among those who covered their work. The quartet's progress was dealt a crucial setback when producer and arranger Luther Dixon left to take up another post. Newer Scepter acts, including Dionne Warwick, assumed the quartet's one-time prime position while a punitive record contract kept the group tied to the label. By the time the Shirelles were free to move elsewhere, it was too late to enjoy a contemporary career and the group was confined to the ‘oldies’ circuit. Sadly, Micki Harris died aged 42, on 10 June 1982. By combining sweetening strings with elements of church music, the group provided a pivotal influence on the direction of popular music.