The Cleftones

The Cleftones, an American vocal group, were formed in 1955 at Jamaica High School in Queens, New York. The original members included Herb Cox, Charlie James McGhee, Berman Patterson, Warren Corbin, and William "Buzzy" McClane. Initially known as The Silvertones, the group gained local popularity by performing a cover of "Gee" by The Crows at school events. In 1955, they signed with George Goldner and were renamed The Cleftones. Their first hit was "You Baby You", followed by "Little Girl of Mine" and "Can't We Be Sweethearts", both written by Herb Cox. In 1961, the group achieved their biggest success with "Heart and Soul", reaching number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was followed by another hit, "For Sentimental Reasons" in 1962. The British Invasion of the mid-1960s impacted their popularity, leading to the departure of Gene Pearson, who joined The Drifters from 1962 to 1966. The Cleftones disbanded in 1964. Lead singer Herb Cox passed away on 7 December 2019.

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