Prentiss
Barnes of the Moonglows
The Mississippi Writers and Musician Project at Starkville High School
Moonglow's Career Hits
R & B Top 10 Hits
1955--“Sincerely” (Chess Label)
1955--“Most of All”(Chess Label)
1956--“We Go Together”
1956--“See Saw”(Chess Label)
1957--“Please Send Me Someone to Love”(Chess Label)
1958--“Ten Commandments of Love” (Chess Label)
Some Other Hits
1954--“Baby Please” (Chance)
1955--“Secret Love” (Chance)
1956--“Foolish Me” (Chess)
1957--“Don’t Say Goodbye”
1958--“Blue Velvet” (Chess)
Biography of Prentiss Barnes
by Willie Lee (SHS)
At the age of seventy-seven, Mississippi musician Prentiss Barnes
is again capturing the spotlight. During the 50’s and 60’s, he was a
member of the famous doo-wop band called T
he Moonglows.
Doo-wop was a musical form that flourished during the 1950’s. Groups
were generally comprised of four or five members, bass/ baritone /tenor
and lead sung in three or four part harmony. “The Moonglows were among
the finest black harmony groups of the Fifties,” according to the Rock N
Roll Hall of Fame Museum, which inducted Barnes in March of 2000.
Prentiss Barnes's incredible bass voice has brought pleasure to many in
the past and to millions still today. His significant contributions to
our musical heritage accentuates the importance of current supporting
efforts to give him his long due credit.
Prentiss Barnes was born to Garfield and Della Barnes on April 25,
1925, in Magnolia, Mississippi. His large family of fourteen
consisted of ten brothers and four sisters. During our telephone
interview, he fondly named them from the youngest to the oldest brother.
They are Jellee, Jethro, Samuel, James, Tero, Houston, Clifton, Simon
and Buster. Maggie lean, Bertha, Julia Mae and Beulah Mae were the
girls. Barnes grew up on the family’s large 200 acres farm in Magnolia
raising cotton, corn, cucumbers, watermelons, and other vegetables to
sell from the truck patch. After his father passed away at the age of
95, half of the farm was sold, but the rest was continually farmed.
Because of the long hours spent farming, Barnes had little formal
education as he only had time to attend elementary school at Yale Grade
School. School wasn’t always a pleasant experience for him. For
example, because of his playfulness, his teacher would often settle him
down with a paddling and that caused him to resent school at times. As a
teenager, he enjoyed sports like basketball, football, and baseball.
In his early teens, Prentiss Barnes moved to New Orleans and worked odd
jobs. Later, he relocated to Louisville, Kentucky. In my interview, Barnes
said that the entire family had musical talent, but he had the passion to
follow his dream. He actually got started singing in church and picking up
performing jobs around town (Barnes).
Barnes met Harvey
Fuqua, Bobby Lester, Pete Graves, and Billy Johnson in Kentucky where they
started a band called the Crazy Sounds in 1951. That group was discovered
and promoted by Alan Freed, who eventually changed their name to The
Moonglows (Lucas). Alan Freed was a dynamic disc jockey with a radio show
and connections to help this group reach audiences. The Moonglows' unique
style brought them success. They could sing sweet harmony with or without
music. Barnes' favorite song “Sincerely” stayed on the charts for twenty
straight weeks.
The group's R& B TOP 10 hits were “Sincerely, “Most of All,” “We Go
Together,” “See Saw,” “Please Send Me Someone to Love,” and “Ten
Commandments of Love, ” according to the article entitled “Paying Tribute to
Harvey Fuqua. In these songs, Prentiss Barnes' incredible bass is heard
clearly as each member harmonizes to perfect the new “blow note” technique
(Smooth as silk, sweet as honey, hot as fire). It doesn’t seem possible
that a man with Barnes' ability and talent could do so without any formal
training, but he had none. He found time to practice on the piano and
saxophone when he had time after work (Barnes). After touring for about ten
years together, the Moonglows split up. Barnes headed for California in
April of 1969 to start his solo career (Elam 2).
Unfortunately, Barnes
never made it to California because of a car accident that left him
hospitalized and rehabilitating in a San Antonio, Texas, hospital for two
years. In a rush to cross a double train track, he drove his Chrysler
Imperial over a double train track with no thought of a second train coming
when the first caboose passed (Elam 2). This terrible collision left him
with serious injuries to his hip, legs, and arms. Barnes' left arm was
amputated and the shattered hip caused his right leg to shorten. After two
years and ten operations, Barnes returned home to Mississippi (Lucas).
Feeling
distraught, he returned to Jackson and hid out so no one would recognize
him. Barnes said, “I didn’t want people to see my condition. I had
started with nothing, and now I had nothing again.” Feeling depressed
over his loss, he turned to drinking to kill his pain and to remove his
feelings of hopelessness. He only had Social Security to make ends meet,
so he did the best he could while living in a small apartment on
Albermarle Road in Jackson (Lucas).
Things began to look up for Barnes when a newspaper article printed
in the Jackson paper in 1981 explored his famous career and his
setbacks. Bill Morris, an insurance executive, iniated a friendship
with Barnes. Morris had enjoyed The Moonglows sounds as a
teenager and appreciated the solid contribution that Barnes had made to
music. Morris, along with others, made arrangements to establish
This Magic Moment Preservation Trust Fund to provide Barnes with the
well-deserved royalties that he had not received for his gift of music.
(Trust Fund Created to Aid Musicians). With donations from all sectors
of the community, Barnes will very soon be compensated for his valuable
role with the Moonglows. On April 26, 2002, This Magic Moment
Extravaganza will hold a fund raising benefit for Barnes and others who
might qualify for this honorarium (Pettus).
In
March 2000 at the 15th Annual Induction Ceremony of the Rock N Roll Hall
of Fame in New York, Barnes received the honor of being inducted. At
the age of 75, he was honored with the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of
Mississippi “Ageless Hero” Award.(This Magic Fund 1). He was also
inducted into the United Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame.
Today, Prentiss Barnes still enjoys singing and listening to music.
When asked his personal opinion on today’s rap music, he replied,” The young
generation is all for it. I don’t care for it because it is all about the
money, drugs, and murder. A good sweet love song will beat it any day”. The
Moonglows music has been described by one author as “Smooth as silk, sweet
as honey, hot as fire.” Prentiss Barnes is a musician who can’t be ignored
because of the great job he has done bringing us love songs that play
continually in the hearts of millions.
Telephone Interview with Prentiss
Barnes
By Willie E. Lee Jr. (SHS)
March 20, 2002
Where
were you born?
Magnolia, Mississippi, out in the country
What is your birthdate?
April 25, 1925. I will be 78 next month.
Who were your parents?
Garfield and Della Barnes
Please name your brothers and sisters.
Ten boys starting with the youngest: Jellee, Jethro, Samuel,
James, (Prentiss), Tero, Houston, Clifton, Simon, and Buster.
Sisters: Maggie Lean, Bertha, Julia Mae, and Buela Mae.
What did you do growing up?
We mostly worked on my father’s 200 acres farm raising cotton,
corn, cucumbers, watermelons, sugar cane and other products to sell from
the truck. We raised cows, chickens, and hogs. After my father died, we
sold half of it.
Do you have any children?
Yes, two by my first wife, Christine. We separated in the early
50’s. Later I remarried. My second wife's name is Jewell Sims.
Did you have favorite musicians?
I loved music. There was no one in particular.
Who were some famous people you have met?
George Kirby, Red Foxx, Elvis Presley, The Dales, The Mangoes, The
Platters, The Supremes, The Cadillacs, and Ricky Nelson.
How much education did you receive?
I only went to Yale Grade School but not any high school
education.
Why didn’t you go further?
I had to work on the farm to help my dad, who lived to be 95 years
old.
Did you like school?
I was kinda playful like a class clown and got some paddlings. At
the time, I felt like I learned more out of school than in school.
Did you ever have any kind of music lessons to help train your voice?
None. I practiced on the piano and sax when I had free time.
When did you actually start singing?
I started in church. I would get with the fellas and sing at
different events around town.
Do you have advice for musicians starting out?
Stay in school and get a good education. That is important if the
music career doesn’t work out, you’ll have something to fall back on.
Did you have a stage name?
No. I had a car accident some years ago.
Do you like sports?
Baseball, basketball, and football.
What are your favorite foods?
Bar-B-Q, catfish, watermelon, cantelopes, country cakes, red
beans, and rice /gumbo.
How do you feel about rap music?
The young generation is all for it. I don’t care for it. I like
the beats. It’s all about the money. Rapping is about drugs, murder. A
good sweet love song will beat it any day.
I've heard about the celebration. When is the celebration planned for?
April 26, the day after my birthday.
Time Line
1925--Barnes was born in Magnolia, Mississippi
1946--Sister died in New Orleans
1951--Crazy Sounds formed in Kentucky, later renamed the
Moonglows
1952--Moonglows form in Cleveland/First record --“I Can’t Tell A Lie”
1954--Moonglows first TOP 10 HIT “Sincerely”
1955--Moonglows R&B Hit #5 on Chart “Most of All”
1956--Moonglows R&B Hit #9 on Chart “We Go Together”
1957--Moonglows R&B Hit #5 on Chart “Please Send Me Someone to Love”
1958--Moonglows group dissolved
1969--Prentiss heads to California in hopes of starting a solo career
1969--Devasting car crash that changed his life
1972--Moonglows reunite with Harvey Fuqua, Bobby Lester, Alexander
Graves, Doc Williams and Chuck Williams
2000--Inducted into Rock N Roll Hall of Fame
Trust Fund established to help Barnes
2002--Trust fund established to provide royalties to Barnes.
1952
The first Moonglows record, "I Just Can't Tell No Lie," is released on
Champagne Records, owned by Alan Freed.
1953
The Moonglows release the first of five singles for the Chance label.
1954
Debuting on the Chicago-based Chess label, the Moonglows release
"Sincerely," which is the biggest hit of their career. It tops the R&B chart
and makes the Top Twenty on the pop chart.
1955
The Moonglows hit #5 on the R&B chart with the Chess release "Most Of All."
1956
The Moonglows appear in 'Rock Rock
1953
The Moonglows release the first of five singles for the Chance label.
1954
Debuting on the Chicago-based Chess label, the Moonglows release
"Sincerely," which is the biggest hit of their career. It tops the R&B chart
and makes the Top Twenty on the pop chart.
1955
The Moonglows hit #5 on the R&B chart with the Chess release "Most Of All."
1956
The Moonglows appear in 'Rock Rock
The Moonglows' second-biggest hit, "See Saw," enters the singles charts.
It reaches #6 on the R&B side and #25 on the pop side.
1957
The Moonglows hit #5 on the R&B chart with "Please Send Me Someone To Love"
on Chess records.
December 2, 1957
The last of the Moonglows' singles to chart, "Ten Commandments of Love" is
recorded on Chess records. More work on the song is done in 1958 and it is a
hit that fall.
1959
"Twelve Months of the Year," featuring Marvin Gaye, who replaced the
departed Harvey Fuqua in the Moonglows, is recorded.
1960
The Moonglows disband, although singles are released under their name by
Chess into 1961.
1972
A Reformed Moonglows lineup releases "Sincerely '72."
March 6, 2000
The Moonglows are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the
fifteenth annual induction dinner. Paul Simon is their presenter.
Related Web Sites
The Rockabilly Revue: The Moonglows contains a picture of the
Moonglows on an albumcover entitled
The Moonglows
1954 to 1959.
Works Cited
Barnes, Prentiss. Telephone interview. 20 March 2002 by Willie Lee.
Elam, Peggy. “ The Glow of Life.” Clarion Ledger. May 1, 1981. 20
March 2002.
<http:www.thismagicmomentfund.org/g1ow_of lifep.jpg>
Lucas, Sherry. “Jackson Moonglows Member Get His Doo-Wop Due.”
Clarion Ledger. March 5, 2002. 19 March 2002.
Morris,William. “This Magic Moment Fund.” March 1, 2002.19 March 2002.
<http://www.thismagicmomentfund.org/introduction.html>.
“Musical Giants.” March 5, 2002. 19 Marc http://www.wayno.com/rhino.art/
moonglows.html>.
“Paying Tribute to Harvey Fuqua”.26 March 2002.
Pettus, Gary. “Music Makers To Get Money.” Clarion Ledger. March
19,2002.
<http://www.thismagicmomentfund.org/pressconferencejpg>.
“Prentiss Barnes.” Associated Press.Online. March 5,2002. 19
March 2002.
“Soulful Kinda Music.” March 5, 20002. 19 March 2002.
<http://members,tripod,com/soulfulkindamusic/harvey.html>.
“Smooth As Silk, Sweet As Honey, Hot As Fire.” March 6,
2002. 19 March 2002.
<http://www.harveyfuqua.com/moonglows.html>.
“Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum: Hall of Fame:
Inductee Detail. March 5, 2002. 19, March 2002.
<http://www/rockhall.com/nof/Inducteeasp?id=155>.
“Trust Fund Created To Aid Musicians Denied Royalties.”
The Commercial Appeal. March 5, 2002. 19 March 2002.
<http:www.gomemphis.com/mcal/musical/article/01426,MCA_505_1011707,00HTML>.
“2001 Central Region Heroes.” March 18,2002.
http://www.bcbsms,com/2001_central.asp>.
