Bernie West

Bernie West. (born February 4, 1930, Newport News, U.S.A.). Vocalist who came to prominence as a founding member of the American Rhythm & Blues vocal group, The Five Keys.

The Five Keys

The Five Keys were an American rhythm and blues vocal group who were instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s.

They were formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News, Virginia, US, in the late 1940s, and initially consisted of two sets of brothers – Rudy West and Bernie West, and Ripley Ingram and Raphael Ingram. Raphael Ingram left in 1949, and Maryland Pierce and Thomas 'Dickie' Threat became members in his place. At this juncture, the name of the group was changed to The Five Keys.

They were signed to Aladdin Records in 1951, and in 1952, Rudy West left to join the United States Army, and he was replaced by Ulysses K. Hicks. When Hicks died of a heart attack in Boston in 1955, Rudy West returned to the group. In 1954 Dickie Smith left and was replaced by Ramon Loper. At this point, the Five Keys were signed to Capitol Records, and their popularity increased, although more instrumentation was used.

The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Members

Ulysses K. Hicks died from a heart attack in Boston on February 1, 1955, at the age of 25.

Raphael Howard Ingram died on August 16, 1984, at the age of 53.

Theodore "Pepper" Jones died in Hampton, Virginia, on May 4, 1990, at the age of 52.

Charles "Bobby" Crawley died on March 31, 1992, at the age of 67.

"Virginia" Joe Jones died from cancer on August 31, 1992, at the age of 59.

Ripley Ingram died on March 23, 1995, at the age of 66.

"Rocky Mount" Joe Jones died on November 30, 2006, at the age of 85.

Rudy West died from a heart attack on May 14, 1998, at the age of 65.

Edwin Hall died on September 3, 2001, at the age of 71.

James "Dickie" Smith died on June 25, 2002, at the age of 68.