the Top Notes

Derek Don Martin (also known as "Derek Ray") was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 2, 1938.{{cite web|last=Suosalo|first=Heikki|title=Derek Martin interview|url=http://www.soulexpress.net/derekmartin_interview.htm|work=Soul Express|accessdate=September 22, 2016}} He began his professional career at the age of 17 when he joined Duke Ellington as a vocalist.{{cite web |last=Leggett |first=Steve |title=Derek Martin |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/derek-martin-mn0000817751/biography |website=Allmusic |accessdate=22 September 2016}} Howard "Howie" Guyton (also known as "Guy Howard") was born in {{circa}} 1938.{{cite news |title=Platters' Singer Guyton Dead |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19771022&id=peZdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2698,3077513&hl=en |accessdate=22 September 2016 |work=Observer–Reporter |agency=PA |date=October 22, 1977 |via=Google News}} He was a cousin of Dave "Baby" Cortez, who performed with Guyton and Martin in The Pearls.{{cite web |last=Godin |first=Dave |title=The Topnotes |url=http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/topnotes.htm |work=Soulful Kinda Music |accessdate=22 September 2016}}

Despite being primarily a vehicle for Martin and Guyton, other members of The Top Notes included George Wilson Torrence Jr. (who later became a pastor in Duncan, Oklahoma) {{cite web |last=Ridley |first=John |title=George Torrence |url=http://www.sirshambling.com/artists_2012/T/george_torrence/index.php |website=Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven |accessdate=September 23, 2016}} and singers known as Roy and Johnny. When the group changed record labels in 1961, the line-up consisted solely of Martin and Guyton, who subsequently hired Barbara Wells, Dionne Warwick and Rosco King, a bass singer who had previously sung with them in The Five Pearls.

The group was formed from members of Martin and Guyton's previous bands, known at various times as The Five Pearls, The Sheiks, The Pearls and Howie and the Sapphires. These groups released records on Aladdin, Cat, Atco and Okeh Records respectively. In a 2015 interview, Martin suggests that the formation of The Top Notes was just a name-change to move away from names that had previously been associated with payola. The Top Notes signed to Atlantic Records in 1960,{{cite web |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |title=The Top Notes |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/top-notes-mn0001275195 |website=Allmusic |accessdate=September 22, 2016}} releasing two singles the same year — "A Wonderful Time" (b/w "Walkin' with Love") and "Say Yes" (b/w "Warm Your Heart").

File:Twist and Shout Top Notes.jpg

In 1961, the group recorded the single "Hearts of Stone" (b/w "The Basic Things") under the direction of Phil Spector, with King Curtis on saxophone. The second single that year was the first recorded version of Phil Medley and Bert Berns's "Twist and Shout",{{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |title='Dazzey' Dukes Out the Competition |magazine=Billboard |date=January 15, 1994 |page=78 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA78 |accessdate=September 23, 2016 |via=Google Books}} which was also produced by Spector.{{cite book |last=Selvin |first=Joel |title=Here comes the night : the dark soul of Bert Berns and the dirty business of rhythm & blues |date=2014 |isbn=978-1619023789 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Mc3BAAAQBAJ |page=369 |publisher=Counterpoint |accessdate=September 23, 2016 |via=Google Books}} Recorded at Atlantic Studios on February 23, 1961, Martin and Guyton were accompanied by an orchestra conducted and arranged by Teddy Randazzo, which included King Curtis on tenor saxophone, Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and Panama Francis and Gary Chester on percussion and drums respectively. Further accompaniment came from a 10-piece string ensemble and vocals from The Cookies. The single was not a hit,{{cite book |last=Blaney |first=John |title=John Lennon : listen to this book |date=2005 |publisher=Paper Jukebox |location=[S.l.] |isbn=095445281X |page=250}} and the group did not release through the Atlantic again. "Twist and Shout" was later recorded by the Isley Brothers and The Beatles; the latter group's version reached number 2 in the US behind "Can't Buy Me Love" in 1964 when they held all the top five positions in the chart.{{cite web |last=Lifton |first=Dave |title=The Day the Beatles Held the Top 5 Positions on Billboard's Hot 100 |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-billboard-top-five/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=4 April 2015 |accessdate=September 23, 2016}} By the end of the decade, Spector had moved on to produce the Beatles themselves.{{cite book |last=Matteo |first=Steve |title=Let it be |date=2006 |publisher=Continuum |location=New York |isbn=0826416349 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CWJvhfJG6m0C&pg=PA108 |page=108 |accessdate=September 23, 2016 |via=Google Books}}

In 1962, the group released "Wait for Me Baby" (b/w "Come Back Cleopatra) on Festival Records, before a final single, "I Love You So Much" (b/w "It's Alright") was released by ABC-Paramount Records in 1963.

Martin launched a solo career the same year. His first single was a cover version of Otis Blackwell's "Daddy Rolling Stone". A later single, "You Better Go", fell just short of the Top 20 R&B chart.

Guyton later joined a group touring as The Platters. During a tour of Argentina, 39-year-old Guyton collapsed in his Buenos Aires hotel room on October 22, 1977, and died from a heart attack.

• Atlantic Records
• 1960—"A Wonderful Time" (b/w "Walkin' with Love")
• 1960—"Say Yes" (b/w "Warm Your Heart")
• 1961—"Hearts of Stone" (b/w "The Basic Things")
• 1961—"Twist and Shout" (b/w "Always Late (Why Lead Me On)")
• Festival Records
• 1962—"Wait for Me Baby" (b/w "Come Back Cleopatra")
• ABC-Paramount Records
• 1963—"I Love You So Much" (b/w "It's Alright")

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Category:American vocal groups

Category:Doo-wop groups

Category:Atlantic Records artists

Category:ABC Records artists