Last updated: 16 hours ago
The story of the Ponderosa Twins began in 1970 in Cleveland, when 10-year-old twins Alfred and Alvin Pelham asked local salesman Tony Wilson to attend their singing group’s rehearsal. What Wilson saw were two sets of twins–the Pelhams and their friends Keith and Kirk Gardner–who had the potential to ride out the family band fad. Wilson became their manager, added Ricky Spicer to the mix, and christened them the Ponderosa Twins + One.
The group went straight to the studio and cut six sides, including a rendition of Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me,” which shot up to #14 on Billboard’s Soul Singles chart. The success of “You Send Me” caught the attention of All Platinum, which distributed the Ponderosa Twins’ second single, “Bound.” The single failed to get much play, and All Platinum slowly seized control of the band’s affairs.
The Ponderosa Twins released an LP, 2 + 2 + 1, in 1972. This led to the group’s only significant tour, which covered most of the country in a month-long road trip. The kids’ families never saw revenue from the tour, leading to various lawsuits.
The Ponderosa Twins subsequently returned to All Platinum to record their final single, “Tomorrow’s Train” b/w “Come Back Sunshine. The group disbanded thereafter.
Though the story ends here, the Ponderosa Twins’ output holds up. From Spicer’s saccharine belting to the group’s impeccable harmonies, the Ponderosa Twins + One redefined Cleveland’s soul scene, all before they graduated high school.
The group went straight to the studio and cut six sides, including a rendition of Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me,” which shot up to #14 on Billboard’s Soul Singles chart. The success of “You Send Me” caught the attention of All Platinum, which distributed the Ponderosa Twins’ second single, “Bound.” The single failed to get much play, and All Platinum slowly seized control of the band’s affairs.
The Ponderosa Twins released an LP, 2 + 2 + 1, in 1972. This led to the group’s only significant tour, which covered most of the country in a month-long road trip. The kids’ families never saw revenue from the tour, leading to various lawsuits.
The Ponderosa Twins subsequently returned to All Platinum to record their final single, “Tomorrow’s Train” b/w “Come Back Sunshine. The group disbanded thereafter.
Though the story ends here, the Ponderosa Twins’ output holds up. From Spicer’s saccharine belting to the group’s impeccable harmonies, the Ponderosa Twins + One redefined Cleveland’s soul scene, all before they graduated high school.
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