The Pipes

The Pipes (Oakland, CA)
Louis Candys (d), Harold Foreman (d), Huey Roundtree (d), Leevern Ball (a)

The Pipes originated from McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, around 1953. Initially called the Cool Notes, the group practiced extensively and performed locally. In 1954, Irving Swanigan left, and they rebranded as the Pipes. They recorded with Dootone Records, releasing "Be Fair" / "Let Me Give You Money" in 1956 and later "You Are An Angel" / "I Love The Life I Live." Their music, influenced by the Swallows and Clyde McPhatter, found some regional success but never achieved widespread fame. By 1959, they had ceased professional singing, though they recorded a couple of self-funded tracks in 1958.

The members remained friends, with Louis Candys becoming a minister, Leevern Ball an account representative for Kraft Foods, Harold Foreman an aquatics instructor, and Huey Roundtree president of a mail-order record company.