Nolan Strong and The Diablos - Fortune of Hits (1961)

"The Wind" by The Diablos


Smokey Robinson and The Miracles were heavily influenced by The Diablos, another doo-wop and early rock and roll vocal group of the Motor City.  In fact, one of their early recordings was a cover of the first Diablos single "Adios, My Desert Love".  The Diablos, mostly led by the powerful vocalist Nolan Strong, cut a handful of singles in the late fifties that would compile into their debut album Fortune of Hits in 1961 on the Fortune Records label.

Here is the discography surrounding Nolan Strong & The Diablos's debut album:

Adios, My Desert Love (1954 single as The Diablos)
The Wind (1954 single as The Diablos)
Route 16 (1955 single as The Diablos)
Do You Remember What You Did (1955 single as The Diablos)
The Way You Dog Me Around (1955 single as The Diablos)
You're the Only Girl, Dolores (1956 single)
Try Me One More Time (1956 single)
The Mambo of Love (1957 single)
My Heart Will Always Belong to You (1958 single)
Come Home, Little Girl (1958 single as The Diablos)
Goodbye Matilda (1959 single)
If I (1959 single)
Since You're Gone (1960 single)
Fortune of Hits

"My Heart Will Always Belong to You" by Nolan Strong and The Diablos

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The Miracles - Hi... We're The Miracles (1961)

"Way Over There" by The Miracles


The phenomenon of Little Stevie Wonder was discovered by Ronnie White.  Ronnie White was a member of The Miracles, one of the first groups signed to the Motown label and one of their most defining artists.  The Miracles released their debut album Hi... We're the Miracles in 1961.

Here is the discography surrounding The Miracles's debut album:

Got a Job (1958 single)
Money (1958 single)
Bad Girl (1959 single)
It (1959 single by Ron & Bill)
I Need a Change (1960 single)
The Feeling Is So Fine (1960 single)
Way Over There (1960 single)
Shop Around (1960 single)
Hi... We're The Miracles

"Shop Around" by The Miracles


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Little Stevie Wonder - The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962)

"They Call It Pretty Music, but the Old People Call It the Blues" by Little Stevie Wonder


When Marvin Gaye moved to the Motown label, his recording career faulted out of the gate, and, early on, Gaye became more notable on the label for his role as a session drummer and songwriter for other Motown artists including Martha and The Vandellas, The Miracles, and Stevie Wonder.  Then known as Little Stevie Wonder, the boy musical genius signed with Motown at the age of 11 and released his debut instrumental album The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie a year later in 1962.

Here is the discography surrounding Little Stevie Wonder's debut album:

I Call It Pretty Music, but the Old People Call It the Blues (1962 single)
Little Water Boy (1962 single with Clarence Paul)
The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie

"Fingertips" by Little Stevie Wonder


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Marvin Gaye - The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (1961)

"Never Let You Go" by Marvin Gaye


As The Moonglows began to fade as a vocal group in the late fifties, both alternating lead singers Bobby Lester and Harvey Fuqua tried to keep the group going, though seperately.  Leaving off from the latter, Fuqua contracted The Marquees (at one time shepherded by Bo Diddley) to perform with him as The New Moonglows.  This iteration only recorded a couple singles before Fuqua's goals changed.  He moved to Detroit and form his own record label, Tri-Phi Records.  With him went one Marquee named Marvin Gay still under contract as a session musician.  In Detroit, Gay's singing impressed those at the native and newly minted Tamla Records to which Fuqua would sell most of his stake in Gay's contract.  Changing his name, Marvin Gaye recorded his debut album The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye in 1961 with Tamla, a subsidiary of Motown Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Marvin Gaye's debut album:

The Bells (1956 single as The Marquees)
Hey Little School Girl (1957 single as The Marquees)
Santa Done Got Hip (1957 single as The Marquees)
Close to Me (1958 single as The Marquees)
I'm in Misery (1958 single as The Marquees)
Who Will Be the First One (1959 single as The Marquees)
Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide (1961 single)
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye
Sandman (1962 single)
(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over (1962 unreleased single)

"(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over" by Marvin Gaye


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