l to r: Henry Brossard, Roosevelt Payne, Soloman Womack, Claude Jeter, William Johnson and John Myles
Formed 1938, Coalwood, West Virginia, U.S.A.
The Swan Silvertones originally comprised of:
Claude Jeter (lead tenor and falsetto) (b. 26th October 1914, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.A. d. 5th January 2009 The Bronx, New York, U.S.A.)
Eddie Boroughas
John Myles (baritone)
and
Leroy Watkins
later
Louis Johnson (b. 13th April 1955, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.)
Rev. Robert Crenshaw
Robert Crutcher
William Connor
Henry Bossard
Dewey Young
John Manson
Paul Owens
Percell Perkins
Roosevelt Payne
and
Solomon Womack
The Swan Silvertones were an American Gospel group from West Virginia.
They were popular during 1940s and 1950s.
The group’s leader was Claude Jeter, who formed the group in 1938.
They originally sang under the group name of the Four Harmony Kings, and then the Silvertone Singers.
The group recorded for Specialty Records between 1951 to 1955.
They, then recorded for Vee-Jay Records.
Paul Simon credited the group with inspiring him to write the song ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
The Swan Silvertones were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
the swan silvertones - 1954 / pray for me - 1956 / blessed assurance - 1963 / only believe - 1964
the lord's prayer - 1968 / my rock - 1972 / you've got a friend - 1973 / what's the matter now? - 1973
there's not a friend like jesus - 1979 / i see the sign of the judgement - 1981
Albums:
Heavenly Light (Specialty Records 1952)
Pray for Me / Let's Go to Church Together (Vee-Jay Records 1956)
The Swan Silvertones (Vee-Jay Records 1959)
Singin' in My Soul (Vee-Jay Records 1960)
The Swan Silvertones (Vee-Jay Records 1962)
Blessed Assurance (Vee-Jay Records 1963)
Let's Go to Church Together (Vee-Jay Records 1964)
I Found the Answer (Peacock Records 1965)
Glory Gospel (Hob Records 1967)
Love Lifted Me (Specialty Records 1970)
Day by Day (Savoy Records 1972)
I See the Sigh of Judgement (Savoy Records 1972)
My Rock (Specialty Records 1972)
Get Right with the Swan Silvertones (Rhino Records 1982)
Only Believe (Hob Records 1993)
Great Camp Meeting (Frank Music Records 2000)
Happy With Jesus Alone (Liquid 8 Records 2002)
