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The Legendary Orioles

The Legendary Orioles are part of an ongoing African-American tradition of quartet singing with roots in the late nineteenth century. Quartets emerged in the South as a sacred music innovation when various groups û such as the Fisk Jubilee Singers from Fisk University û began a concert-style re-arrangement of earlier slave spirituals. Local church congregations further adapted these songs, drawing influences from popular music styles of the day. Small groups of four or more singers, each responsible for singing a ôpartö such as bass, alto, lead, and tenor, became a mainstay in churches across the country. In the 1930s, the secular world was introduced to the quartet tradition, as numerous singers shifted their focus and their repertoires from religious to worldly concerns such as love, heartbreak, hard times, and hope for the future.

Additional Resources

Watch Past Performances

Legendary Orioles Holiday Doo Wop 12/27/03: Legendary Orioles Holiday Doo Wop

Legendary Orioles Holiday Doo Wop: The Orioles are recognized as one of the first popular rhythm and blues quartets to emerge in the post-World War II era. Their 1953 hit Crying in the Chapel was later recorded by Elvis Presley.

Legendary Orioles Holiday Doo Wop

Legendary Orioles Holiday Doo Wop: The Orioles are recognized as one of the first popular rhythm and blues quartets to emerge in the post-World War II era. Their 1953 hit Crying in the Chapel was later recorded by Elvis Presley.
Summer Social Dance Party 6/13/03: Summer Social Dance Party

Summer Social Dance Party-Hand Dancing
The Legendary Orioles (Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers now in their seventh decade) and The Jewels continue to delight audiences with their R&B vocal quartet singing styles. Lawrence Bradford, director and teacher of hand dancing’s Smooth n’ Easy joins this PERFOMANCE PLUS event with a dance lesson

Summer Social Dance Party

Summer Social Dance Party-Hand Dancing
The Legendary Orioles (Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers now in their seventh decade) and The Jewels continue to delight audiences with their R&B vocal quartet singing styles. Lawrence Bradford, director and teacher of hand dancing’s Smooth n’ Easy joins this PERFOMANCE PLUS event with a dance lesson
Learn Hand Dancing 6/8/01: Learn Hand Dancing

Learn hand dancing from the best: Smooth and Easy director Lawrence Bradford, then enjoy the smooth R&B sounds of the Legendary Orioles and The Jewels.

Learn Hand Dancing

Learn hand dancing from the best: Smooth and Easy director Lawrence Bradford, then enjoy the smooth R&B sounds of the Legendary Orioles and The Jewels.
The Legendary Orioles 11/5/98: The Legendary Orioles

The Legendary Orioles (Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers in their sixth decade) continue to delight audiences with their R&B vocal quartet singing style.

The Legendary Orioles

The Legendary Orioles (Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famers in their sixth decade) continue to delight audiences with their R&B vocal quartet singing style.

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