The Derbys

1960s soul group from Kansas City, Missouri, formerly known as The Carpets. When James Gadson got out of the Air Force in 1961, he found that his brother Thomas Gadson had learned to play the guitar and had formed an R&B band called The Carpets. The members were: Walter Chisolm (sax), Harold Rice (bassist), Harry Wilkins (drums), and Thomas Gadson (guitar). James joined as lead vocalist (the others sang background vocals). When Harold Rice left to join Jay McShann's orchestra, drummer Harry Wilkins switched over to bass. James then took over the open drum spot. A late addition to the group was trumpeter Percy Cooper, brother of organist Earl Grant; he was the only non-singing member.

Around 1962, they changed their name to The Derbys, and released a single in December 1962 on KC Records label (owned by Nat King Cole) and in 1963 on Kansas City's Central Records (3). After this, the Derbys were booked on a tour of the South (on which they had to pretend to be a different famous group in each town). At the point when they were ready to leave Florida, James decided to stay behind as a member Hank Ballard & The Midnighters.