The Dreamlovers

by Bryan ThomasThe Dreamlovers were an early-'60s Philadelphia-based R&B quintet formed in 1956. The group -- Don Hogan (lead), James Dunn (bass), his brother Clifton Dunn (baritone), and tenors Tommy Ricks and Cleveland Hammock -- were originally known by several other names, including the Romancers (for a demo tape sent to the Cameo/Parkway label) and the Midnighters (for a 1958 jump tune called "The Twist," backing a new personality named Ernest Evans, later renamed Chubby Checker). In addition, they recorded for V-Tone briefly before signing with Heritage Records. Their biggest hit on their own was 1961's uplifting "When We Get Married," a reverent homage in vocal harmony harkening back to doo wop's heyday. The recording featured a full sound of harmony by the group and a strong lead by Hogan over melodic vibraphone instrumentation.
They returned to the charts on a smaller scale the next year with "If I Should Lose You," a ballad for George Goldner's End Records, and then managed to record quite a few delicious samples of East Coast R&B groove and vocal harmony, including a slow doo wop-styled ballad ("I'm Thru With You") and an infectious up-tempo dance number ("Anna Belle Lee"). As they continued recording, their vocal style seemed to change with the times, always sounding ahead of their time. "When We Get Married" was later revived by the Intruders in 1970.