This LocoBop collection of love songs features the tight vocal harmonies of three great Memphis vocal groups: The Masqueraders, The Mad Lads, and The Browns.
 

The Masqueraders’ genesis goes back fifty years when Robert “Tex” Wrightsil formed a group called The Stairs in his hometown, Dallas, Texas. They recorded for a local label in 1959 but didn’t find recording success until 1964. After a stint in Detroit, the group has, for the most part, made Memphis, Tennessee their home, where they still (2011) actively perform, write, and record.
 

The Mad Lads ' doo wop harmonies were more akin to Philadelphia than their native Memphis. Featuring the high, innocent tenor of John Gary Williams, the group was still in high school when they signed to Stax in late 1964. Their three songs in this collection come from their first new album in 40 years, Love Songs for Lovers. The album turned out to be a bittersweet milestone as key member and group co-founder William Brown suffered a career-ending stroke soon after the session wrapped up at Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios in Memphis.
 

The Browns: William Brown had also just finished recording an album with his two younger brothers, Randy and Bertram. Though Facing The Music was to be the start of many Brown Brothers collaborations, the album was the only time the brothers recorded together as a group. Randy Brown was lead singer of The Newcomers, signed to Volt Records, before a solo career that produced several chart singles. Bertram, the youngest Brown, was also in The Newcomers, before finding chart success as lead singer with Kwick.