George Williams

George Williams born George Reginald Williams Jr, December 6, 1935, Philadelphia — died July 28, 2004, Maple Shade, New Jersey.  Lead vocalist of American soul vocal group,  The Tymes.

The Tymes are an American soul vocal group who enjoyed equal success in the United Kingdom and in their homeland. They are one of the few acts to have one and only one chart-topper in both the US and UK with different songs.

Early career

The group was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1956 as the Latineers, by Donald Banks (bass), Albert Berry (first tenor), Norman Burnett (baritone), and George Hilliard (second tenor). After a four-year stint on Philadelphia's club circuit, they recruited a new lead vocalist, George Williams in 1960, and changed their name to The Tymes.

The Tymes had hits in the UK in the 1960s with songs such as "So Much in Love", a US chart topper and million-seller in 1963, "Wonderful! Wonderful!", a remake of the Johnny Mathis classic hit from 1957, "Somewhere", then in 1970s with "You Little Trustmaker" and "Ms Grace". The last of these became the group's biggest UK hit, reaching Number One in the UK Singles Chart in 1975, but barely dented the Billboard Hot 100, long after the success of "So Much in Love". "Ms Grace", while only charting modestly in the US, was and remains a regional hit with the Carolina Beach Music scene.

The Tymes were also The Jewels (obviously not to be confused with the R&B girl group The Jewels), as in Billy Abbott and The Jewels, whose only Hot 100 and Cashbox Top 100 entry was "Groovy Baby" in July 1963.

In 1963, American Bandstand signed the Tymes to Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars national US tour, which was scheduled to perform its 15th show on the night of November 22, 1963 at the Memorial Auditorium in Dallas, Texas, until suddenly the Friday evening event had to be cancelled after the US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated that afternoon while touring Dallas in an open-topped car.

Later career

Their song "So Much in Love" was elected to the Songs of the Century in 2001. In 2005 The Tymes were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The Tymes continue to perform with surviving original members Berry and Burnett. The group appeared on the 2003 PBS special My Music: Love Songs of the 50s and 60s, one of the last times all five original members performed live.

Deceased members

• George Williams - born George Reginald Williams Jr, December 6, 1935, Philadelphia — died July 28, 2004, Maple Shade, New Jersey - Lead vocalist
• Donald Banks - died October 7, 2011, aged 72 - bass
• George Hilliard - died September 24, 2014, age 73 - second tenor