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All Music Guide:
Thurston Harris recorded with the Lamplighters, one of the many groups on the early R&B scene in South Central Los Angeles, in the early '50s. The group later evolved into the Tenderfoots, then the Sharps, and it was under this last name they were credited to when they backed up Harris on his most famous hit, 1957's "Little Bitty Pretty One" (number two R&B and number six pop) for Aladdin. In 1957, while signed as a solo artist to Aladdin, Harris recorded a cover of Bobby Day's classic novelty number, with a solid band featuring the ubiquitous Earl Palmer on drums and his friends in the Sharps doing background vocals. The single propelled Harris immediately to the front-ranks of the R&B scene. In 1958, Harris scored a Top 20 R&B hit with "Do What You Did," but he failed to have any chart success afterwards. In 1990, Thurston Harris died of a heart attack in Pomona, CA, at age 58. "Little Bitty Pretty One" has gone on to become one of the best-loved oldies of the late '50s.
Wikipedia:
Thurston Harris (July 11, 1931 – April 14, 1990) was a male American singer, briefly popular in the early to mid 1950s.
Career
Harris first appeared on record as the featured vocalist recording with the Lamplighters in 1953 one of the many groups on the early R&B scene in South Central Los Angeles, during that time. The group later evolved first into the Tenderfoots then the Sharps. The Sharps, without Harris, went on to become The Rivingtons, who achieved fame with the single "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow".
Harris is widely regarded as a Rock N Roll Hall of Fame legend, who popularized the song "Little Bitty Pretty One", written by Bobby Day, and sung by Harris in 1957, with the Sharps. It reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The track sold over one million records, achieving gold disc status and remains popular to this day.
Unusually, "Little Bitty Pretty One", Aladdin Records (Aladdin 3398) was released on three different-colored labels: purple, blue and maroon. His version was also later released on Imperial, Intro & UA.
The song appeared on the soundtracks to films or television dramas, such as Telling Lies in America, Matilda, Lipstick on Your Collar, and Christine.
In 1958, Harris scored a Top 20 R&B hit with "Do What You Did", but he failed to have any chart success afterwards. His other best known song was "Runk Bunk", recorded in 1959, and released by Aladdin Records (Aladdin 3452). Harris later recorded on Cub, Dot, Imperial, Intro, Reprise & United Artists.
After many years without success in performing/recording, in 1965, Harris took a job driving a City Bus in Los Angeles and worked till 1985 as a bus driver. In 1985, he worked as a bus/tour guide for Universal Studios.
Unbeknown to him, his recordings remained popular UK and European among rock and roll revivalists decades later - with tracks such as "Do What You Did", " Hey Baba Leba" and "In the Bottom of My Heart" remaining popular dance floor tracks.
Thurston Harris' grand daughter, LaVonna Harris ("Dangerous Eyes", "Raine On My Paine", "Aquarius", and "Beautiful") is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, American Pianist, and world renowned independent recording artist. She recalls her grandfather giving her vocal lessons over the telephone throughout her childhood and lovingly encouraging her impressive musicianship; having had written her first song on the piano by the age of 5.
Cover versions
Frankie Lymon's highest charting solo hit was a cover of "Little Bitty Pretty One", which peaked at number 58 on the R&B charts in 1960.The Jackson 5 covered the song on their 1972 album Lookin' Through the Windows.UK 1980's star Shakin' Stevens covered the wild rocker "Do What You Did" on one of his albums.A cover of "Runk Bunk" was one of the first songs recorded by the UK pop star, Adam Faith.Death
He died of acute alcoholism and heart failure at his sister's home in Pomona, California, on April 14, 1990.
