The Five Satins – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

The Five Satins Biography

The Five Satins are an American doo-wop group, best known for their million-selling song “In the Still of the Night” from 1956. They began playing in 1954 and continued till 1994. The group originally had six members, but that number was subsequently reduced to five. In 2003, the Five Satins were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Leader Fred Parris, born on March 26, 1936 and died on January 14, 2022, Lewis Peeples, Stanley Dortche, Ed Martin, Jim Freeman, and Nat Mosley created the group in 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. The group restructured after minimal success, with Dortche and Peeples leaving and new member Al Denby joining. The quartet then recorded “In the Still of the Night,” which became a great hit in the United States after being published as the B-side to the single “The Jones Girl.” After limited local Connecticut sales, the song was reissued the following year on the New York label Ember (45 stock # 1005), and “In The Still Of The Night” charted at number three on the R&B chart and number 25 on the pop chart.

In November 1957, the follow-up single “Pretty Baby (That’s Why I Sing)” (Ember 1025) received weeks of playing on strong CHUM in Toronto. “A Night To Remember” (Ember 1038), released in August 1958, received modest Boston airplay. Their classic 45 side received renewed current playing in late 1959 (in San Francisco, California) and early 1960 (in both San Antonio, Texas and Rochester, New York), becoming a Top 10 hit in all three locations. When it was included as the main track on Original Sound Records’ Oldies But Goodies Vol. 1, “In The Still of the Night” became even more popular. The series lasted 15 volumes in all. Since the first volume was published in 1959, the series has been in continuous publication in some form or another. Their iconic track sold over one million copies in total, earning them a gold disc.

Parris, Richie Freeman, Curtis, and Nate Marshall continued to record into the 1980s. In 1982, a “Medley Craze” swept through Top 40 radio, headed by the medley “Stars on 45.” However, longtime Connecticut music producer Marty Markiewicz (who had known Parris personally for many years) had an idea when he noticed this new trend while working for Elektra Records at the time. His boss gave him permission to bring in Parris and his crew to record/produce a mashup of 1950s classics.

“Memories of Days Gone By” (Elektra 47411) was the outcome, and it became the group’s first new Billboard Hot 100 entry since 1960. Elektra requested a whole album in reaction to their popular medley. The “Five” was dropped for this release, and the album was renamed “Fred Parris and The Satins.” It resulted in the publication of two more singles. In November 1982, the first, a reworking of the Delfonics’ 1970 hit “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” (Elektra 69888), received strong rotation in New Haven.

The Five Satins Discography

In The Still Of The Night Featuring Fred Parris SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Fred Parris & The Satins* – Fred Parris And The Satins
EncoreYouTubeAmazon
The 5 Satins SingSpotifyYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Songs Did The Five Satins Wrote?

The Five Satins wrote a number of songs, but they are best known for their song “In the Still of the Night.” This song was written by group member Fred Parris and was originally released in 1955. It became a major hit in both the United States and United Kingdom when it was re-released in 1963. The Five Satins were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

When Did The Five Satins Become Popular?

The Five Satins are an American doo-wop group from the New Haven, Connecticut area, best known for their song “In the Still of the Night”. The group was formed in 1954 by leader and founder Fred Parris, and originally consisted of Parris on lead vocals, Norm Nardini and Ed Martin on guitars, Stanley Dorta on tenor saxophone, and Jim Freeman on drums. The group’s first recording was “The Jones Girl”, written by Parris and released on the small Catamount label in 1955. It was not a hit, but led to the group being signed by Ember Records, for whom they recorded “In the Still of the Night”.

Who Was The Lead Singer Of The Five Satins?

The lead singer of the Five Satins was Fred Parris.

Who Originally Wrote In The Still Of The Night?

The song “In the Still of the Night” was originally written by Cole Porter in 1933. It has been covered by many artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole. The song was also featured in the film “The Fox and the Hound” (1981).

What Genre Is The Five Satins?

The five Satins are a doo-wop group. They are known for their song “In the Still of the Night.

Most Searched For Five Satins Songs

In The Still of the NightSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
(I’ll remember) In The Still Of The NightSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
To The AisleSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
A Night To Remember SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Wonderful GirlSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
ShadowsSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The Jones GirlSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I’ll Be Seeing YouSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
A Million to OneSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Your MemorySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon