The Beginning - The Five Pennies

A person might think if someone got their start with a group called the Five Pennies, they might only end up a nickel and dime act . . . that is not true with Mr. Clifford Curry. He is known worldwide as the guy that got a hole shot in his soul! and some of his lesser known discs are the "rave" of the "all- nighter" dances held in England. As a senior at Austin High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, Clifford Curry met fellow schoolmates Benjamin Washington, Charles Holloway and the Myers Brothers, John, Herbert and James and became the sixth member of the "Echo's". The Echo's story goes back four years prior to that meeting, with the Echos recording two tunes that never were released and back-up work that included their voices behind the #l hit for Faye Adams-''Shake A Hand". The Echos didn't really make their mark until Clifford joined the group.

His strong baritone voice and writing talents added a lot to the group. The Echos traveled the southeast, playing with some of the largest names in the R & B field. The Echos manager, Fred Logan, arranged a second record deal that materialized this time, even though the group was headed in a different direction.  How????? Well, the Clovers heard the Echos and arranged an audition with Atlantic Records in New York. Fred went with them and they stopped in New Jersey on the way to New York, because Fred knew the people at Cavoy records. Well, they never made it to New York. They were signed by Savoy and they backed up a newly acquired Savoy artist, "Big Miller". After they got thru backing up Big Miller, they recorded a tune Clifford wrote, "Mr. Moon" and a tune called "Let It Rain". It was during this time that the Savoy management re-named the group the Echos became the Five Pennies-gather odd since there were six members and there was a big band group called Red Nichols and His Five Pennies). "Mr. Moon" did fairly well and they recorded once again three months later "Money" backed with "My Heart Trembles". Even though the records did fairly well, between Savoy and the Five Pennies manager, the group never saw much in the form of royalties. All this made Clifford decide to continue with school in Knoxville, so he left. The Five Pennies story continues, even though not very exciting. They changed managers and later group members went different directions and there was even a group called the "Four Pennies". Back in Knoxville, Clifford started hanging out and singing with four friends Willie Earl Drummond, Mickey Prater, Clayton Whittington and Veste Huddleston. They were in the beginning stages of a group called the "Bingos". They went to Nashville to audition for Ernie Young and Excello records. They recorded two songs on the Nasco label and the Excello people changed the name of the group to the "Hollyhocks" in hopes to possibly fall into some of the Gladiolas type money and fame. Needless to say, the money and the fame didn't come and Clifford left the Bingos/ Hollyhocks.