The Kittens (4)
(Chicago, Illinois)
 |
| Bernice Willis, Tracy Williams and Laurel Ross |
Group members:
1st lineup:
Bernice Willis (lead)
Joan Montgomery
Thelma Jean Mack
Laurel Ross
2nd lineup:
Bernice Willis (lead)
Laurel Ross
Tracy (Traci ?) Williams
Discography:
Singles:
1963 - Somebody New / Wait A
Minute (You’re Getting Careless With My Heart) (Vick 300)
1965 - I Got To Know Him /
Shindig (ABC Paramount 10619)
1965 - Lookie, Lookie / We
Find Him Guilty (ABC Paramount 10730)
1966 - Is It Over Baby? /
Undecided You (ABC Paramount 10783)*
1966 - It’s Gotta Be Love /
(I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over (ABC Paramount 10835)*
1967 - Hey Operator / Ain’t
No More Room (Chess 2027)*
1968 - I’ve Got To Get Over
You / How Long (Can I Go On) (Chess 2055)*
Unreleased:
n/a - Giving Up On Love
(Chess)*
n/a - Cold And Sleepless
Nights (Chess)*
n/a - A Raggedy Ride (Chess)*
*2nd lineup
Biography:
The Kittens emerged from
Chicago's west side in 1963 and consisted of Bernice Willis, Joan Montgomery
(wife of The Vows' Larry Montgomery) and cousins Laurel Ross and Thelma Mack. Bernice
Willis had a splendid gospelized mezzo-soprano voice that was perfect for soul
music.
 |
| Tracy Williams, Laurel Ross and Bernice Willis |
The Kittens were managed by
Ruth Moore and recorded for her and Bob Lee’s Vick label (distributed by Leo
Austell's Renee Records) ”Wait A Minute (You're Getting Careless With My Heart)”
b/w “Somebody New”.
 |
| (Jet - April 28, 1966) |
They later worked with
arranger/producer Johnny Pate with ABC-Paramount from late 1964 through early
1966 and recorded four records. Joan and Thelma retired to have families, and
Tracy Williams took Thelma's place (just before their last ABC release “Is It
Over, Baby?” b/w “Undecided You”. Unfortunately all four records failed.
 |
| (Jet - Oct. 26, 1967) |
The Kittens switched to
Chess Records and worked with Gerald Sims and Carl Davis during 1967-68. They
recorded two singles, but both failed. Due to lack of commercial success the
group disbanded after that.
Sources:
Info by Robb Klein (Thanks Robb!)
Songs:
Somebody New (You’re Getting Careless With My Heart)
Wait A Minute
I Got To Know Him
Shindig
Lookie, Lookie
We Find Him Guilty
Is It Over Baby?
Undecided You
It’s Gotta Be Love
(I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over
Hey Operator
Ain’t No More Room
I’ve Got To Get Over You
How Long (Can I Go On)
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