The Ravens

The Ravens were an American R&B vocal group, formed in 1945 by Jimmy Ricks and Warren Suttles. They were structurally similar to The Ink Spots, especially in their combination of high tenor (Maithe Marshall) and deep bass (Jimmy "Ricky" Ricks), but their material was more varied, including elements of pop, jazz, R&B, and gospel styles.
Although they had lead tenors (Marshall and later, Joe Van Loan), the Ravens primarily existed to showcase bass singer Ricks. In this they were successful, such that Ricks' voice became the standard against which every rhythm and blues bass was measured for the next generation. They've been credited with the boom in "bird" name Doo Wop groups of the late forties and early fifties.The Ravens had few chart hits, although they were popular in concert.
The group's greatest successes were in the late 1940s, including covers of "Ol' Man River" (1947) and "Count Every Star" (1950), which was later used in the film, Revolutionary Road. They had continued success into the 1950s, but Suttles left the group in 1954 and Ricks in 1955. The group continued on for some time thereafter, with various changes in personnel, but it was never as successful as before.
Ricks went on to a solo career, and was the vocalist for the Count Basie orchestra. He died on July 2, 1974.
The Ravens were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
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