Tommy Edwards

Tommy Edwards (15 October 1922 — 22 October 1969) was an African American singer.

Career

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson Edwards was an R&B singer most remembered for his 1958, Billboard No. 1, "It's All in the Game". He sang his hit song on "The Ed Sullivan Show", on 14 September 1958. The song was composed by the then future U.S. Vice-President, Charles G. Dawes in 1912, as "Melody in A Major", with lyrics written in 1951 by Carl Sigman. Edwards originally recorded and charted the song in 1951, but it only climbed to #18 on the charts then. The better-known 1958 version was on the same record label (MGM) and backed by the same orchestra leader (Leroy Holmes), but with a different arrangement more suited to the rock and roll-influenced style of the time.

Although Edwards recorded a number of other songs, none came close to achieving the same level of success, although several of his songs later became hits for other artists (such as "A Fool Such As I" by Elvis Presley, "It's All in the Game" done by Cliff Richard and The Four Tops, and "Morning Side of the Mountain" done by Donny and Marie Osmond). He died after suffering a brain aneurysm in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 47. The liner notes of his 1994 Eric Records release "The Complete Hits of Tommy Edwards", claim his death was caused by alcoholism. While the two may be related, there is no conformation of this.

Edwards will receive a Virginia Highway Marker in 2008. In July 2008 Richmond mayor L. Douglas Wilder signed a proclamation declaring 15 October 2008 Tommy Edwards Day.

Partial discography

ingles

* "A Teardrop on a Rose" (Rel. 1959)
* "All Over Again" (Rel. 1951, reached # 10 R&B)
* "Baby, Baby, Baby" (1953, #26)
* "Blue Heartaches" (Rel. 1960, did not chart)
* "Don't Fence Me In" (Rel. 1960, reached # 45)
* "Honestly and Truly" (Rel. 1959, reached # 65)
* "I Looked at Heaven" (Rel. 1959, #100)
* "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
* "I Really Don't Want to Know" (Rel. 1960, reached # 18)
* "Isle of Capri"
* "I've Been There" (Rel. 1959, reached # 53)
* "It All Belongs To You" (Rel. 1959)
* "It's All in the Game" (Rel. in 1951, reached # 18; Re-released in stereo in 1958, reached # 1)
* "It's Not The End Of Everything" (Rel. 1960, reached # 78)
* "It's Only The Good Times" (Rel. 1959, reached # 86)
* "Love Is All We Need" (Rel. 1958, reached #15)
* "Morning Side of The Mountain" (1951, #24, re-Rel. 1959, reached # 27)
* "Mr. Music Man" (Rel. 1958, did not chart)
* "Music Maestro Please" (Rel. 1959)
* "My Melancholy Baby" ((Rel. 1959, reached # 26)
* "(New In) The Ways Of Love" (Rel. 1959, reached # 47)
* "Now And Then, There's A Fool Such As I" (1953, #24)
* "Once There Lived a Fool" (Rel. 1959)
* "Paradise" (Rel. 1959)
* "Please Love Me Forever" (Rel. 1958, reached # 61)
* "Please Mr. Sun" (Rel. first in 1952 #22, Again Rel. 1959, reached # 11)
* "Secret Love" (Rel. 1954, reached # 28)
* "She Sends Her Regards" (Rel. 1959)
* "Take These Chains From My Heart" (Rel. 1959, did not chart)
* "There Was A Time"
* "Unloved"
* "Up In a Cloud" (Rel. 1959)
* "Vaya con Dios" (Rel. 1961, did not chart)
* "Wall of Ice"
* "Where I May Live With My Love"
* "You Win Again" (Rel. 1952, #13)

Albums

*"The Very Best of Tommy Edwards" (Cat. No. E/SE 4141)
*"Tommy Edwards in Hawaii" (Cat. No. E/SE 3838)
*"Tommy Edwards" (Lion Records of Canada, Cat. No. L 70120)
*"For Young Lovers" (1959, Cat. No. E/SE 3670)
*"Tommy Edwards' Greatest Hits" (Cat No. E/SE 3884)

Production notes

The recording "Honestly and Truly" is only heard on compact disc in mono, because the original stereo master tape was lost or destroyed.

The recording "Take These Chains From My Heart" is heard on compact disc in re-channeled stereo, because, as with the above song, the original stereo master was lost or destroyed.

These recordings were issued on the MGM record label, unless otherwise noted.

"It's All In The Game" (1958 version) was produced by Harry Myerson. He is assumed to be the producer for all tracks from this point forward, although this can not be confirmed.

The orchestra was conducted and the arrangements were made on all records by Leroy Holmes.

ee also

*List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
*List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
*List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
*List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
*List of deaths in rock and roll
*List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)

References

* [http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Tommy-Edwards.html Oldies.com biography of Tommy Edwards]

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/tommyedwards.txt More Biographical Information]