Arthur Lee Maye
b. 11 December 1934, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Maye had one of the most engaging lead voices on the west coast doo-wop scene and he put it to terrific use on many fine songs, usually recorded with his group the Crowns. His career was unique dual one, as a baseball player (as Lee Maye) and as a singer, and he was only able to record and tour during the off-seasons. In 1954, the same year he joined a Milwaukee Braves' minor league club he formed a trio in Los Angeles with bass Johnny Coleman and bass/baritone Richard Berry. They made some records for the Flair label that were released as by the Rams and as by the ‘5’ Hearts (the company put the numeral in quotes for obvious reasons). Maye at the end of the 1954 baseball season organized the Crowns, which other than himself included Berry and Coleman, with new members Charles Colbert (tenor), Johnny Morris (tenor), and Joe Moore (baritone). Occasionally bass Randy Jones would substitute for Berry. The records they made for the RPM label were excellent, notably the classic Truly and Love Me Always, but the Crowns only managed local success with them. At the end of the 1955 baseball season, Maye And The Crowns then joined the Specialty label, recording one of their finest songs, Gloria. No hits resulted and at the end of the 1956 baseball season, Maye began an association with Johnny Otis, touring with him in a vocal ensemble called the Jayos. They recorded for Otis's Dig label without much success, but Maye also brought his group the Crowns on the label, recording several tracks, most notably This Is The Night For Love (1956). Maye And The Crowns made further tracks in 1957 for Flip and in 1959 for Cash. In 1959 Maye was brought up from the minor leagues to play major league ball for the Milwaukee Braves. This served to end Maye's career with the Crowns, but as Maye played for various major league teams through 1971, each off season would find him recording some solo numbers for a record label. He made his last record for Dave Antrell's Antrell label in 1985.