Cap-Tans
An African-American vocal group from Washington, D.C., USA. The original members were Harmon Bethea (lead), Sherman Buckner (lead), Floyd Bennett (first tenor), Alfred Slaughter (second tenor/bass), Lester Fountain (guitar/baritone). The Cap-Tans with their polished harmonies represent the '40s pop tradition of African-American vocal harmony, in such groups as the Ink Spots, Charioteers, and Deep River Boys. The Cap-Tans came together when in 1950 record label entrepreneur Lillian Clairborne, pulled Bethea out of a veteran gospel group, the Progressive Four, and teamed them up with a group called the Buddies. Their first hit, I'm So Crazy For Love (1950) became a local sensation on Claiborne's DC label, but after Dot Records picked it up it got sales across the country. The next release, on Dot, paired a proto-rock 'n roll song, Chief Turn The Hose On Me with another smooth pop styling, With All My Love, and both sides got good airplay in early 1951. Dot Records picked them up and got strong sales across the country. Other solid efforts were Chief, Turn The Hose On Me and Call The Doctor. Of all these songs, most looked back to the past in their smooth pop style; only Chief, Turn The Hose On Me exhibited a hard R&B style. The original group started breaking up in 1951, when Fountain was drafted and replaced by Ray Reader. A few more releases on the Gotham and Coral labels appeared without success and the group disbanded in 1953. Harmon Bethea resurrected the Cap-Tans in 1958, but the magic of the original group was gone, and this outfit fell apart in the early '60s. Around 1967 Bethea formed a new group, Mask Man And The Agents.