Prentice Moreland


Prentice Moreland was an American R&B and doo wop singer of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Early life

Moreland was born on March 4, 1925, in East St. Louis, Illinois. At some points in his life, he claimed to be related to comedian Mantan Moreland; although he called Mantan his uncle and the two men got along well, Moreland's daughter says there was never any confirmation of an actual familial relationship.

Career

Moreland was a member of many vocal groups including The Dominoes, The Du Droppers, The Chanteclairs, The Cadets, The Crescendos, The Colts, The Fortunes, The Hollywood Flames, and possibly The Sevilles. Moreland replaced Ted Taylor on The Cadets' "Stranded In The Jungle" session and was the one who came up with the "Great Googa Mooga! Lemme outta here!" line in the song. Aaron Collins of The Cadets said of Moreland's line "I think he picked that up from Rochester. Prentice knew Rochester pretty well." At the same session, he recorded a solo version of "Memories Of You," a song that had been done by The Ink Spots in 1939; it was released on RPM Records in 1957. He recorded along with Jackie Wilson, Milton Merle, and Cliff Givens in The Dominoes in 1955, later returning to the group a few more times. With the Crescendos, he recorded "Finders Keepers" and "Sweet Dreams" for Atlantic Records in 1956, alongside Bobby Relf of The Laurels, Young Jessie of The Flairs, and Bobby Byrd of The Hollywood Flames. He was asked by Buck Ram to join The Platters but Moreland refused because he had to take care of one of his daughters
Around the same time that Moreland recorded with The Chanteclairs on Dot Records in 1954, there was a Dot recording called "You Gave Me Heartaches" by Prentice Miller. It is possible that "Prentice Miller" is actually Prentice Moreland. Moreland's name is listed as "Prince Moreland" for the recordings he did for Johnny Otis' Dig Records in 1956. One of the songs, "My Mother's Eyes" was previously sung in the 1929 film Lucky Boy by George Jessel. Moreland also sang two Ivory Joe Hunter songs, "I Almost Lost My Mind" and "I Need You So." In the '60s, Moreland was a member of several imposter and spin-off Ink Spots groups, including those fronted by Cliff Givens, George Holmes, and Orville Brooks. He was never a member of the original Ink Spots that recorded for Decca.
According to singers Young Jessie and Bobby Nunn, The Coasters' big hit "Searchin'" from 1957 had originally been put together by Moreland, Bobby Day, Earl Nelson, and Young Jessie at Bobby Day's house about three years before it was recorded. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller heard their song and wrote more lyrics to the song, adding references to movie detectives.
Moreland worked in the clubs in Las Vegas, Nevada, until he died in September 1988, a year after Ted Taylor had died in a car crash.

Discography

Solo singles and recordings

  • "Memories of You"
  • "Believe Me Beloved"/"I’ve Never Been There"
  • "I Almost Lost My Mind"
  • "I Need You So"
  • "My Mother’s Eyes"
  • "Marie My Love"/"Memories of You"
  • "Please, Please, Please"/"Oh Pretty Baby"
  • "Chinese Junk"/"Looking For Your Heart"
  • "Wagon Wheels"
  • "Holy Mack'rel"/"Teacher Drives Me Crazy
  • "Chubby Ain’t Chubby No More"/"You Are My Sunshine"
  • "Lover Supreme"/"For Your Love"
  • "Limbo Party"/"Come On Pretty Baby"

    Group singles and recordings

  • "I've Never Been There"
  • "You've Been Good To Everybody"
  • "Just Whisper"/"How Much Longer"
  • "Baby Please"/"Someday Love Will Come My Way"
  • "Believe Me, Beloved"/"I’ve Never Been There"
  • "Can't Do Sixty No More"/"If I Never Get To Heaven"
  • "Give Me You"/"Over The Rainbow"
  • "Bobby Sox Baby"/"How Long, How Long Blues"
  • "Stranded In The Jungle"/"I Want You"
  • "Finders Keepers"/"Sweet Dreams"
  • "Never No More"/"The Sheik Of Araby"
  • "Guiding Angel"/"The Sheik Of Araby"
  • "Tarnished Angel"/"Who Cares"
  • "How Clever Of You"/"Trees"
  • "Alone In A Crowd"
  • "I’m Always Chasing Rainbows"
  • "I’ll Be Seeing You"/"Sweet Dreams"
  • "Louella"/"Salt Mine"
  • "Stompin'"
  • "Holy Mack'rel"

    Various artists compilations

  • Del-Fi Doo Wop Volume 3: Honey For Sale
  • Johnny Otis Orchestra: Rock 'N' Roll Hit Parade
  • Group Harmony & Jump: The Legendary Dig Masters, Volume 5
  • Dot Doo Wop, Volume 6
  • Dot Doo Wop, Volume 7
  • ''Holy Mackerel!: Pretenders To Little Richard's Throne''