Lee Andrews & The Hearts

Group from Philadelphia, PA
Consisted of; Lee Andrews (Arthur Lee Andrew Thompson) (lead), Royalston “Roy” Calhoun (1st tenor), Thomas “Butch” Curry (2nd tenor), James “Jimmy” McCalister (baritone), John Young (bass)

1955; Ted Weems replaces James McCalister (who joined the Navy)

Lee Andrews & the Hearts, a Philadelphia-based doo-wop group, had three charting hits in 1957-1958. "Long Lonely Nights" reached number 45 on the pop charts and number 11 on the R&B charts. "Teardrops" peaked at number 20 on the pop charts and number 4 on the R&B charts. "Try the Impossible" reached number 33 on the pop charts. The group was formed by Lee Andrews (Arthur Lee Andrew Thompson) and his high school friends.

n 1981, Collectible Records unearthed the original first studio session tapes from Gotham and issued three singles, including yet another version of “Long Lonely Nights” which was lyrically different from the hit song, with just a piano accompaniment and crystal-clear harmonies. The oldies circuit revival of the ’70s provided momentum for Lee to form one more Hearts, this one a family affair with Lee, his wife Jackie, son Ahmir, and daughter Dawn.

Roy Calhoun died in an apartment fire in 1979. Butch Curry and Wendell Calhoun have also passed away. Ted Weems joined the Pheasants (“Out of the Mist,” Throne) in 1963 and later had a group called Tribute, but had no other hits.