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All Music Guide:
A talented doo wop group from Englewood, NJ, that formed in high school in 1954. Until they caught wind of a Los Angeles-based group with the same name, they were the Robins, and they then renamed themselves the Avons after a river in England. The original lineup consisted of Bob, Bill, and Wendell Lea; Curtis Norris, and Ervin Watson. The quintet woodsheded until confident enough to perform local gigs. By 1955, they were the hottest group in the area. A local businessman became their manager and arranged an audition with Bea Caslon, the owner of Hull Records. Caslon signed them on the spot to her fledging label, where they joined the Heartbeats of "A Thousand Miles Away" and later "Daddy's Home," of Shep & the Limelites fame. Unfortunately, the Avons never achieved the success the Heartbeats did, but managed to carve a spot in doo wop heaven with the recordings "Our Love Will Never Die" (1956), "Baby" (1957), and "You're So Close to Me" (1958). Prior to their second release, ("Baby") Uncle Sam began snatching Avons for military duty, first drafting Norris (bass), who was replaced by Franklin Cole, who was himself drafted and replaced by George Coleman. Then Sunny Harley replaced drafted baritone Bill Lea. The Avons' final recording, "A Girl to Call My Own" (1962), featured Harley. From 1955 to 1962, Hull released seven singles by them and not one hit or charted. Their changing lineup -- due to Uncle Sam -- didn't help and promo pictures were always out of date. Avid radio listeners who resided outside of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania during 1957 to 1962 missed the Avons entirely since they didn't venture outside those four states -- where their records were played -- to gig. Decades later, via doo wop books, magazines, and CD reissues, the Avons are finally receiving the love and acclaim they sought when young and starry-eyed.
Wikipedia:
The Avons were a British pop vocal group. Originally composed of Valerie Murtagh (born 1936, Willesden, London) and Elaine Murtagh, (born 1940, County Cork, Eire) and known as 'The Avon Sisters', they added Raymond S. Adams (born 1938, Jersey, Channel Islands), and changed their name to 'The Avons'.
Early days
The two sisters-in-law Valerie and Elaine (sometimes known as Eileen) Murtagh, performed as 'The Avon Sisters' at the 1958 BBC Radio Exhibition, in the Olympia Exhibition Halls, Earls Court, London. There they were heard by Norrie Paramor, who signed them to the UK's Columbia label.
Their first recording was with the Mudlarks on the 'b' side of their 1958 single 'My Granfather Clock', a cover of 'Which Witch Doctor'. Following this they added Ray Adams from Nat Gonella's band, and changed their name to 'The Avons'.
"Seven Little Girls"
The Avon's first single release in 1959 was a cover version of Paul Evans and the Curls' Stateside hit song "Seven Little Girls (Sitting in the Back Seat)", written by Bob Hilliard and Lee Pockriss. The record reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and stayed on the chart for thirteen weeks.
Later career
The Avons had three other chart entries in the Top 50 up to 1961, but never achieved the same success as their first record. The charting follow-ups were "We're Only Young Once", "Four Little Heels", and another cover, of Bobby Vee's "Rubber Ball". The Avons were approached to perform the song "Pickin' Petals" in the UK heat of the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest, but their participation was cancelled due to a European Broadcasting Union rule that stated that trios could not compete.
In 1962 an instrumental version of a song they had jointly written, "Dance On!", was a UK number 1 instrumental hit for The Shadows. The vocal version reached the Top 20 the following year, recorded by Kathy Kirby. They also wrote "In Summer", a number 5 UK hit for Billy Fury in 1963.
Between 1963-64 the group also recorded for the Decca and Fontana labels, without achieving any more hits. Valerie Murtagh became a successful songwriter, and remained involved with the British music industry. With her songwriting partner, Harold Spiro, she wrote (under the name, "Valerie Avon") the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, "Long Live Love", performed by Olivia Newton-John.
Groups with the same name
There was also an American 1950s doo-wop group of this name. Their biggest hit in 1957 was entitled "Baby".
