With the recent passing of Fred Parris, it seemed only fit to honor him and his group The Five Satins. Parris was eighty-five at the time of his passing and had been performing as lead singer with the band since the 1950s. The group was slow to start but eventually became widely popular, continuing to perform together clear into the 90s. Their hit In the Still of the Night was so revered for its appeal that it even made it into Martin Scorsese’s recent film The Irishman. With Parris now gone, he and The Five Satins stay remembered forever.
The album Presenting The 5 Satins was released in 1957. It’s most popular track, In the Still of the Night was top of the charts during its release coming in at number three initially.
Their album Presenting The 5 Satins was released in 1957. It’s most popular track, In the Still of the Night was top of the charts during its release coming in at number three initially. The entire album might as well have been played across the stations however, as there’s few weak links amongst the bunch. The Five Satins define what it means to now be considered ‘classic music’, having songs that consist purely of real instrumentals and polished vocal harmonies. Presenting The 5 Satins is everything and more that anyone could believe the 1950s to be, all packed together into one album. It was hip to the time, it works for the present, and will always remain a timeless record that can be returned to without getting stale.
What will be most obvious upon listening is the vocal ability of the group members. The Five Satins are like a barbershop quartet that took things to the next level, skilfully harmonizing with one another as Parris sings lead. Most of their songs on this album are consistently paced, usually mid to slow, the strength of the tracks primarily in the vocal department. Plainly put, they may use a band to back them up, but these guys can sing. In fact were a capella groups appealing enough to hit the big time, The Five Satins may not have even bothered with incorporating instruments at all. However, the slow drum kit and occasional brass section compliment their voices well and their music would likely not have taken off as quickly without it. Along with In the Still of the Night, other highlights include The Jones Girl, Senorita Lolita, Love With No Love in Return, and I’ll Be Seeing You. These tracks are the most diverse from one another, but all are consistent when it comes to the depth of the lyrics and the overall vocal prowess of the band.
Everyone has to go at some point as death is part of life. Even Fred Parris was never going to escape it. That said, he is surely survived by The Five Satins and their legacy as an elite musical group. Artists rise and fall but groups like The Five Satins are immortalized through their work, as generations of fans will live on and continue playing their work, passing it on to those who come after them. This can even start now, by opening up Spotify.
