Ronnie and the Hi-Lites - TOO YOUNG - Bell Sound Studios (1965)

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (ABC Paramount 10685) For the most part, considered a 'One Hot Wonder' vocal group, Ronnie and the Hi-Lites did indeed have only one charting record in 1962 on the Joy label entitled, 'I Wish That We Were Married' that ultimately peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hailing from Jersey City, New Jersey, the quintet consisting of Sonny Caldwell (18, first tenor), John Witney (17, second tenor), Stanley Brown (17, baritone), Kenny Overby (17, bass) and Ronnie Goodson (lead vocal, 14) were brought to the attention of arranger, Hal Weiss and his wife , Marion. So impressed with Ronnie's charisma and stage presence, Marion began composing a song for him which would become the groups debut single, 'I Wish That We Were Married'. Initially rejected by ABC Paramount and Atlantic Records, Eddie Joy issued the recording on his label, Joy Records. With stage and TV appearances that would propel the record to hit status, the follow up single, 'Be Kind', did not fare as well; it didn't even crack the 'Hot 100' chart. Departing Joy Records in 1962 but still managed and produced by Hal & Marion Weiss, the group would release five more singles in 1963. The first was on the Raven label with the next four on Hal & Marion's Win Records and other than some mild regional interest, not a single one of them made any noise with the record buying public. By the end of 1964, Bob Johnson joined the group, Bill Scruggs had replaced Stan Brown and not long after, Scruggs himself was then replaced by Richmond Charles. When members of the group graduated from high school, some joined the service and others went to work. After a seventeen month gap since the groups previous release in November 1963, Ronnie and the Hi-Lites recorded one final single that would be issued on the ABC Paramount label in June 1965, the often recorded, 'Too Young' composed by Sylvia Dee and Sid Lippman. Talk about saving the best for last, Hal and Marion Weiss spared no expense on the lavishly orchestrated recording session held at Bell Sound Studios in New York City. Not only was eighteen year old Ronnie Goodson and his group mates featured on vocals, this recording was also fortified with a lovely female backing group at the session. There are many, many versions of 'Too Young' that have been put to recording tape but hands down, this 1965 version by Ronnie and the Hi-Lites rates high above much of them. Hal Weiss slathered Ronnie's emotive lead vocal within a dreamy and hauntingly atmospheric backing track that was stuffed to the rafters with a beautifully constructed orchestral arrangement. In 2021, former group member Bob Johnson recalled the session, ".....I was with the group when we did that record. First time I walked into a recording studio and saw a full orchestra sitting there. Haven't listened to it in years. No overdubbing back then; they played, you sang." A great deal of expense and expectation was put into the production of that record which incidentally, the flip side wasn't even a new recording but just a reissue of the November 1963 Win recording of 'High School Romance'. Sadly, the last and in all actuality, the best Ronnie and the Hi-Lites release came and went without a peep. Another seventeen months would pass before Ronnie Goodson issued his last studio recording in January 1967 and this time as a solo artist. Hal and Marion Weiss were once again at the helm for the dance tune, 'I Wouldn't Give A Nickel' b/w/ 'You Keep Me Guessing' which was issued on their Uptite Records. Another top notch effort that sank without a trace. Not long after, Hal Weiss had become ill and Marion had shut down the Win label and stepped away from the workings at Uptite Records to take care of him. Ronnie had also been ill on and off for years and had undergone several operations for a recurring benign tumor but being a professional, he kept working and continued to give his all in every performance. At one particular engagement, he just could not continue, and rather than deny the audience a full show he asked Mrs. Weiss, who was a singer as well and who knew all of his songs, to fill in on lead vocal with the Hi-Lites. Hi-Lites group member, Sonny Caldwell would ultimately work as a computer programmer in California and Kenny Overby would also find himself on the west coast. John Witney would eventually work as a diesel mechanic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Richmond Charles would go on to became a phone company representative and Bill Scruggs was later employed as a Secaucus, New Jersey, security guard. At the age of 33, Ronnie Goodson died in his sleep from a brain tumor on November 4, 1980.

[@laundryman6953]

Best version of song i've ever heard

[@brucehutchison4846]

WOW!! What a great version of this song, like you say and I agree probably the best version. What a voice and what a talent, so sad to learn he passed away, so young. Thanks so much Anthony for all your efforts to bring us this music.

[@myles7522]

This is my kind of music….fantastic version of this song….👍👏

[@bradgolden6098]

wow . You did it again thnk you so much lush lush arrangment so great and wow.....thnks

[@chippower5467]

Nat King Cole's 60s pop version of TOO YOUNG, a hard to find standard.

[@frankieC1023]

Anthony,you never mentioned A Slow Dance which was a huge hit in both Pittsburgh & Philadelphia in 1963.

[@lionheartroar3104]

I like Donny Osmond's version

[@robertdoherty2001]

I liked it better when I thought it was sung by a woman.

[@AnthonyReichardt]

For years after I heard the Ronnie and the Hi-Lites recording of, 'I Wish That We Were Married', I too though the lead voice was a female.
Anthony

[@adeleleeal]

What a stupid and insensitive remark! (This comment was meant to respond to Robert Doherty's remark.)