The Students
| The Students | |
|---|---|
 Label of "I'm So Young" 45 single on Checker Records | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | Doo-wop |
| Years active | 1956–1983 |
| Members |
Leroy King, lead vocal Dorsey Porter, first tenor Roy Ford, second tenor John Bolden, baritone Richard Johnson, bass Ralph Byrd, guitarist |
The Students were a doo-wop vocal group which formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1956. Although they only released 5 sides, two of them - “I'm So Young” and “Every Day of the Week” - became doo-wop standards. "I'm So Young" in particular became hugely popular (and durable), and has been covered by groups as diverse as the Beach Boys, Rosie and the Originals, and The Ronettes.
Both "I'm So Young" and "Every Day of the Week" were written by William H. "Prez" Tyus, Jr., a local Cincinnati high schooler. Tyus wrote the songs and gave them to a local African-American vocal group called the D'Italians. After the group secured a recording contract with Checker Records, they renamed themselves The Students, and it was under this name that Tyus's two classic doo-wop songs were recorded.[1]
In June 1956, the Students won the second-place prize at the amateur talent show at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. Their winning song, "Jenny Lee" (also composed by Tyus), was later released as the B-side of a song by Paul Himmelstein and the Heartbreakers on Fordham records in 1956.[2]
Discography
(all leads by Leroy King)
On FORDHAM records
- 109 Jenny Lee (Prez Tyus) ca.1956 (split 45 with Paul Himmelstein and the Heartbreakers)
On NOTE records
- 10012 I'm So Young/Every Day Of The Week - ca. July 1958
- 10013 Wazoo!!/Shuffle Stroll - Jimmy Coe Orchestra - ca. July 1958 (The Students sing backup on Coe's recording of "Wazoo!!")
- 10019 My Vow To You/That's How I Feel - mid-1959
On CHESS records
- CHECKER (subsidiary of Chess)
- 902 I'm So Young/Every Day Of The Week - August 1958
- 1004 My Vow To You/That's How I Feel - January 1962
- 9024 I'm So Young/My Vow To You - 1973
- ARGO (subsidiary of Chess)
- 5386 I'm So Young/Every Day Of The Week - March 1961
- CADET (subsidiary of Chess; note: same number as Argo)
- 5386 I'm So Young/Every Day Of The Week - ca. 1964 [3]