Lecture 3: One of the earliest bands to mix rhythm and blues and doo-wop was Billy Ward and His Dominoes, formed by Savannah, Georgia-born Billy Ward (1921-2002) in New York City around 1950. They scored a minor hit with their first recording “Do Something For Me.” But it was their even bigger hit, “Sixty Minute Man,” which landed at #1 on the Billboard R&B and #17 on Billboard Pop in 1951, that cemented their foundational spot in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. “Sixty Minute Man” might’ve climbed even higher on the charts, but radio stations across America started banning it when the rumors were circulating that it was a sexual-themed song. The Dominoes continued recording up to about 1957, and saw some wonderful talent come and go in the group (Jackie Wilson, Clyde McPhatter, etc.).
