The Flamingos

The Flamingos were a doo wop group, popular in the mid to late 1950s. Jake[?] and Zeke Carey[?] formed the group in Baltimore, after meeting Paul Wilson[?] and Johnny Carter[?] at a black Jewish church. Earl Lewis[?] soon joined, and a series of name changes (The Swallows, El Flamingos, The Five Flamingos) resulted in being known as The Flamingos. Sollie McElroy[?] soon replaced Lewis (who joined The Five Echoes[?]). Their first single was "If I Can't Have You" was a moderate success, and the follow-ups "That's My Desire" and "Golden Teardrops" cemented their reputation. "I Only Have Eyes for You" (1959, originally Eddy Duchin) became their biggest hit and was followed by a long series of hits. By 1964, however, the group's career was essentially over and was never achieved again, in spite of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.