This trailblazing Baltimore R&B group originally backed up
Little Esther before striking out on their own in 1949. John "Gregory" Carroll, Leon "Larry" Harrison, William Duffy, and Maurice Hicks originally called themselves
the Metronomes, signing their first deal with New Jersey-based Savoy Records in 1950. William Duffy and Maurice Hicks soon left and were replaced with Vernon Palmer and
Bill Carter. They also underwent a name change to the Four Buds briefly, before finally settling on
the Four Buddies.
The group recorded a handful of singles for Savoy, including "Window Eyes" (1951), "Heart and Soul" (1951), "Sin" (1951), "You're Part of Me" (1952), "You Left Me Blue" (1953), and "My Mother's Eyes" (1953). In addition to continually backing
Little Esther, the group also backed another female vocalist, Dolly Cooper. In 1953, they called it a day.
Gregory Carroll replaced
George Nelson in
the Orioles and later joined the Dappers.
Leon Harrison formed the Buddies and recorded "I Waited" b/w "I Stole Your Heart" on Glory Records.
–
Bryan Thomas, Rovi