Post Description

The Five Keys is an American  rhythm and blues vocal group that was instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s.

It was formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News, Virginia, U.S., in the late 1940s, and initially consisted of two sets of brothers - Rudy West (born 25 July 1932, Newport News, Virginia) and Bernie West (born 4 February 1930, Newport News), and Ripley Ingram (born 1930 - died 23 March 1995, Newport News) and Raphael Ingram. Ingram left in 1949 and Maryland Pierce (born 1933) and Dickie Smith 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. In 1954 Dickie Smith left and was replaced with Ramon Loper. At this point the Five Keys was 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



1    Ling-Ting-Tong        
2 Close Your Eyes 
3 Verdict 
4 I Wish I"d Never Learned to Read  
5 She"s The Most 
6 I Dreamt I Dwelt in Heaven 
7 My Pigeon"s Gone 
8 Out of Sight, Out of Mind 
9 Wisdom Of A Fool 
10 Let There Be You 
11 From the Bottom of My Heart 
12 Gypsy 
13 Who Do You Know in Heaven (That Made You the Angel You Are?) 
14 C"Est la Vie 
15 To Each His Own 
16 Dream 
17 It"s a Cryin" Shame 
18 Emily Please 
19 Handy Andy 
20 One Great Love