The group formed in
1946 at Armstrong High School in
Washington, D.C., with members
Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and
Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the "Four Clovers", with Bailey on lead. In perfecting their sound, the group pushed Shelton and Woods out in
1948, and brought in
Matthew McQuarter and
Harold Winley.
Their break came in
1950, when they were introduced to
Lou Krefetz, who became their manager. They signed to
New York's Rainbow Records and released two singles, "
Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "
When You Come Back To Me". Soon after, Krefetz brought them to
Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegün, and they were signed to Atlantic in
1951. At this point,
Bill Harris was added as their guitarist. Their first appearance came in February of that year at the
Apollo Theater.
Their very first Atlantic session produced their first big hit, "
Don't You Know I Love You", which hit #1 on the national charts in June of 1951. "
One Mint Julep" (written by
Rudy Toombs) and "
Fool Fool Fool" also went #1 in September. Bailey was drafted in
1952, and
John Phillip was brought in to replace him. He stayed for just a few months, before leaving and being replaced by
Charlie White, who had been in
the Dominoes and the Checkers.
With personal problems, White was fired near the end of 1953. His replacement was
Billy Mitchell. The group continued recording with Atlantic, without as much success as they'd previously seen. Buddy Bailey was discharged from the
Army in May of
1954, and rejoined the group, making them a quintet. They continued in recording, and in
1955, found moderate success with "
Devil or Angel".
Mitchell left in
1957 to do solo work, but rejoined shortly thereafter, opting to do both solo work
and work with the Clovers. Their Atlantic contract expired, and Krefetz moved them to his own label,
Poplar Records. Poplar was purchased by
United Artists Records shortly thereafter. The group's work with United Artists put them in contact with
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. After a few recordings there, they had their biggest hit, "
Love Potion #9", which came in July of
1959, and featured Mitchell on lead.
They recorded two versions of Love Potion #9 on UA. For the album of that name a new final verse was created referring to "love potion #10". In fact this version became played more often on radio than the single at the time.
Their UA contract expired in
1961, and they moved to
Winley Records. With little success there, the group split. Lucas and Mitchell brought in new members
James "Toy" Walton and
Robert Russell, and recorded shortly for Atlantic. John Bailey recorded with his own Clovers group in
1962 for Winley (owned by Harold's brother Paul).
Mitchell left in 1962, and was replaced by
Roosevelt "Tippie" Hubbard. They recorded as "Tippie and the Clovermen" and "Tippie and the Clovers" for
Tiger Records, a subsidiary of
Rust Records. John Bailey's group, by this time consisting of
Nathaniel Bouknight, Peggy Winley Mills (sister of Paul and Harold), and
Ann Winley, Paul's wife, recorded for another Paul Winley label,
Porwin records. Near the end of
1963, the two groups came back together, into a Clovers trio featuring Harold Lucas, John Bailey, and the returning Harold Winley.
Following
The Searchers' remake of "Love Potion #9" in
1965, some of the old Winley and Porwin tracks were leased to
Pickwick International Records, who released them as the album
The Original Love Potion #9 By The Clovers. This version of the song was not the same as the UA. Winley left for the second time in 1965. Bailey and Lucas recorded briefly for Atlantic with the returning Robert Russell and
Jimmy Taylor. The sides were sold to
Port Records and released with little success. Lucas and Bailey split that year.
Lucas and Russell brought back Tippie Hubbard and Toy Walton and, with fifth member
Al Fox, recorded as "Tippie and the Wisemen" for Washington D.C.'s
Shrine Records. With Fox out, the changed back to The Clovers. John Bailey also formed a Clovers group, who re-recorded "Devil or Angel" and "Love Potion #9" for
Lana Records in 1965. To add to this confusion, Harold Winley started a third Clovers group in
1968, with members
Bobby Adams, Johnny Taylor, and
Ray Loper, and recorded for
Josie Records.
Robert Russell died in
1969 and Lucas replaced him with
John Bowie. They released a
disco tune, "
Bump Jive!", on D.C. based
Alladin Records in
1975. Shortly after the recording, Toy Walton died, and was replaced by
Johnnie Mason. Tippie Hubbard died in
1980 and was replaced by
Steve Charles.
A reunion was planned in
1988 in
Austin, Texas. Lucas brought his Clovers, as well as reuniting with John Bailey, Matthew McQuarter, and Harold Winley. Lucas' group also performed at a
benefit concert later that year for
Bill Harris, the groups long-time guitarist. Also in 1988, Lucas' group recorded for
Ripete records, in
Elliott, South Carolina.
Chuck Battle replaced Charles around
1990. Harold Lucas became ill and stopped touring around
1993. His place was taken by
Richard Merritt. Battle left in
1992 and was replaced by
Preston Monroe, who was later replaced by
David Warren. This lineup performed on the
PBS special,
Doo Wop 51. John Bowie died in 2002, and the group split.
Richie Merritt has been singing lead with "The Marcels" since leaving "The Clovers". He has relocated to the Tampa, Florida area and where he also performs as "Richie Merritt & The Gems" and "Richie Merritt Solo". His website is
http://www.richiemerrittnow.com
Following the 1988 reunion, Bailey and Winley joined
Jimmy Nabbie's Ink Spots. Winley is still in that group. Prior to his death, Bailey also performed solo, sometimes backed up by
The Calvanes, who feature former Bailey-Clovers member Bobby Adams. No remnants of the former Bailey groups or Winley's group exist.
