Bill Robinson & The Quails

By Marv Goldberg

© 2024 by Marv Goldberg

Bill Robinson & The Quails have long been a favorite group with collectors. However, other than their recordings, they seemed to go out of their way to leave few footprints behind. Note: the Quails/5 Quails from Cleveland (mentioned in my HepstersDominoes article), that recorded "Hop Scotch Rock" in 1957, were a different group.



The Quails are very difficult to research, since most references to "Bill Robinson" are for dancer Bojangles, whose name was still in newspapers years after his 1949 death. Also, there are a lot of people named "Qualls", which search engines return along with "Quails" (let's not even talk about bird references).

The group's beginnings were in Tampa, Florida, but there was absolutely nothing printed about them prior to their first recording session.

Also, in spite of the fact that most of their recordings were made in the 1950s, there are twice as many appearance ads in the 60s (although fewer than 20 all told).

Since all but one of their records were credited to "Bill Robinson & The Quails", let's find out something about Bill:

William Dennis "Bill" Robinson, Jr (first tenor) was born on February 10, 1931, in Tampa, Florida, to William Robinson, Sr and Olivia Taylor; he died on March 3, 2012 in Miami. Bill was only enumerated in the 1935 and 1945 Florida censuses; the family can't be found in the 1940 census; and, in 1950, only his brother, Joe, was still living with their parents. He's the only member of the Quails that I can say, with certainty, was with them from beginning to end.

Other members were almost never named, but we'll meet some of them in a bit.

The Quails began their documented career with De Luxe records. De Luxe had been formed in 1944, in Linden, New Jersey, by brothers David and Julius Braun. King Record's Syd Nathan bought a majority interest in the label in 1947, finally buying out the Brauns and moving the label to Cincinnati as a King subsidiary. However, it was allowed to languish when King started Federal in late 1950. De Luxe was resurrected in 1953, and producer Henry Stone was put in charge, splitting 50-50 with Nathan. [Stone was born Henry Epstein; "stein" is the German word for "stone".]

Since Stone lived in Miami, I guess he saw the Quails perform somewhere in Florida.

The Quails' first De Luxe session took place on November 12, 1953, presumably in Cincinnati. At it, they recorded "Lonely Star", "Quit Pushin'", "I Know She's Gone", and "Baby Don't Want Me No More".

In December, De Luxe issued "Lonely Star", backed with "Quit Pushin'". They were reviewed in the January 9, 1954 Billboard:

Quit Pushin' (78): Somewhat on the ribald side, the rhythmic ditty has a pounding beat as delivered here. An exciting side, tailor-made for the coin boxes. Good party wax, too.

Lonely Star (74): Moody ballad is sung with feeling by Robinson to full vocal support by a male combo. A good performance.

"Quit Pushin'" was also reviewed in the January 29 Baytown (Texas) Sun:

This is a new group on the De Luxe label that has managed to score the first time out. This record is destined to become another sure fire bop hit. As to the lyrical content not much can be said, but the beat is there and in rhythm and blues the beat is the important selling factor. This will be a big one.

Spoiler Alert: it wasn't. Bill would have to wait 10 years for his only chart hit.

In March 1954, De Luxe released "I Know She's Gone", coupled with "Baby Don't Want Me No More". They were reviewed in the April 10 Billboard:

I Know She's Gone (75): The style of the group here is close to that of the Dominoes, altho not either as sharp or classy. The lead singer does a great job, and this could help the disk get some attention.

Baby Don't Want Me No More (72): Vocal group, with Robinson handling the lead, comes thru with an okay rendition of a peppy rhythm effort, backed by a big beat.

De Luxe held another Quails session on May 24, 1954. This time, they recorded "Heaven Is The Place", "Oh Sugar", "A Little Bit Of Love", "Love Of My Life", "Why Do I Wait", and "Somewhere Somebody Cares". Billboard kind of referenced the session twice:

June 5, 1954: Henry Stone, a&r man for De Luxe records, is in Cincinnati for recording sessions with the Quails, a calypso group [!?!?] from Fort Lauderdale [?!?!]. Stone and the artists accompanied Syd Nathan, president of King records, to the Ohio city after Nathan's search for talent in Cuba.

July 7, 1954: Henry Stone, a&r man for De Luxe Records, was in Jacksonville, where he called on juke box operators. A few days later he took off for Cincinnati for a recording session with Bill Robinson and the Quails, who made "A Little Bit Of Love" for De Luxe.

De Luxe issued "Somewhere Somebody Cares", paired with "A Little Bit Of Love" in July 1954. They were reviewed in the July 17 Billboard and the July 31 Cash Box:

Somewhere Somebody Cares (BB; 74): Slow and moody ballad is sung with lots of feeling by chanter and group. Many should like the waxing and it ought to gain spins.

A Little Bit Of Love (BB; 70): Robinson is supported by a group called the Quails in a musical appeal for romance. The grunts they insert might intrigue juke listeners.

Somewhere Somebody Cares (CB; B+): Bill Robinson and the Quails dish up a tender romantic ditty with much feeling. Robinson handles the lead with a warmth and expressiveness that carries the waxing to a contender position. The Quails back the chanter effectively on the poignant etching. Good deck.

A Little Bit Of Love (CB; B+): The group gets into the swing groove on this side and socks out a rocker with an infectious quality. This group has it and could make it with this release

In spite of good reviews, the disc didn't sell and the next Deluxe record, "Heaven Is The Place", backed with "Why Do I Wait", was issued in August 1954. They were reviewed in the September 25 Billboard:

Heaven Is The Place (76): A beautiful performance of a tender love ballad. It should move many listeners and should earn more than satisfactory sales.

Why Do I Wait (77): He wants his gal to come back home, and he chants of his desire in an infectious waxing that moves strongly with a compelling rhythm all the way. Crying gimmick near the close helps sustain interest.

Here's what the October 1, 1954 Kansas City Call had to say about it:

Bill Robinson and the Quails are still at it, though they seemed to have dropped down several pegs in popularity. Their latest sides are WHY DO I WAIT and HEAVEN IS THE PLACE (Deluxe).

So now, they've had two sessions and four De Luxe records. Shouldn't they actually appear somewhere. Ah, ye of little faith. Their first ever appearance ad was for Club Wally, in Miami, nearly a year after their first recording session. They were there for about three weeks (the first ad was on October 21 and the last was November 6). The first ad claimed that they were "Direct from the Savoy in New York". Two things to note here:

First - there's no mention of them ever appearing in New York. With a couple of exceptions in 1962, there's no actual evidence that they ever appeared anywhere but Florida.

Second - the phrase "direct from", if true at all, means that an act had played there at some point between the time the dinosaurs went extinct and the present day.

1955 started out with De Luxe issuing "Love Of My Life", backed with "Oh Sugar" in January.


Note that this and the next release only seem to exist in promo copies (black label copies with "High Fidelity" on the label were reissues from later years). Collector Victor Pearlin said: "This would be right about the time that Henry Stone (as told to me!) figured out how badly Syd Nathan was screwing him and dissolved their partnership in De Luxe." However, no break between Stone and De Luxe was reported until the September 3, 1955 Billboard, which called him "former a&r man for King Records". The reason for the lack of consumer copies remains elusive.

The songs were reviewed in the January 29 Cash Box and the February 12 Billboard:

Oh Sugar (CB; B): Bill Robinson and The Quails perform effectively as they blend on a slow romantic blues. Robinson sings with much feeling.

Love Of My Life (CB; B): Flip is an uptempo ditty that sails nicely. Robinson comes through with a side that should catch a good portion of the action.

Love Of My Life (BB; 68): Bill Robinson and the Quails sing this new effort nicely over fair backing by the combo. Okay wax, but the boys need stronger material.

Oh Sugar (BB; 65): Same comment. [Lazy reviewer]

The Quails' last De Luxe session was held on March 5, 1955. The known titles were "Pretty Huggin' Baby" and "The Things She Used To Do". Released in April, they were credited only to "The Quails" (although the bio on the promo copy label gave Bill's name). Billboard reviewed them on April 23, but it took Cash Box until June 4 to get around to them:

The Things She Used To Do (BB; 74): Nice vocal quartet with lead singer Bill Robinson contributing an unusual sound.

Pretty Huggin' Baby (BB; 73): This side's bouncy, well suited to the [juke] boxes.

The Things She Used To Do (CB; B): The Quails give a quality performance of a middle beat bouncing blues. A romantic pretty well handled [sic].

Pretty Huggin' Baby (CB; B): The Quails rock out with a fast bouncing ditty and come up with a happy spirits lifter. Lead does a fine job. Cute tho not standout side.

And now, they actually have another appearance. On August 19, 1955, they started at the Club Echo (Miami) for around a month. This is their first known appearance in 9 months. Don't get too excited though, it'll be around eight months before there's another reported appearance.

1956 was a big year for the Quails. Well, actually it's a big year for us: we finally get to learn their names, although we have to ease into it.

On May 16, the Quails, along with Della Simpson's Delltones (called the "Female Treniers"), opened at Club Basin Street (Miami). The May 26 Pittsburgh Courier had a review of the show ("Quails Wail At Club Basin Street Nightly"), which featured a photo of the group. Note that the only copy of the article I've ever seen has the names of the four singers written on the photo: Jimmy, Tony, Bill, and Pee Wee. The article read:

MIAMI - The Magic City's newest spot, Club Basin Street, had a highly successful opening Wednesday night in a fast-moving show that featured Bill Robinson and the Quails, the Delltones, and Rudy Ferguson's orchestra....

The Quails, a group headed by Bill Robinson, drew tremendous applause as they featured numbers in the Rock and Roll, with clever Tony Bell, a rather rangy second tenor, giving comedy relief to a very fine singing aggregation.

The Delltones, a group from New York, consisting of five girls and a male pianist, also scored impressively. These girls, a newly formed organization, are definitely on their way to big things if they stick together and maintain the fresh approach they now have.

The group has a definite style of its own with fresh arrangements to old and new tunes. Their presentation of such favorites as "Old Man River", "Catch The A Train" [sic], and "Love For Sale" was fresh and new . . . and they also gave a new flavor to "Mr. Wonderful", a pop tune that is being kicked around by a number of groups and individuals. [Note: in two paragraphs, the word "fresh" appears three times.]

Rudy Ferguson, who serves not only as musical director and band leader, but also master of ceremonies, also added a definite touch to the highly successful show. Rudy plays most danceable music and had the first-nighters give the new dance floor quite a baptism of fire as he had them moving gaily to his mamboing.

So now, we have the name of a second member: Tony Bell. More about him (much, much more) coming up. But we still don't know who "Jimmy" and "Pee Wee" are. Stay tuned.

There's another photo of the group from the same period, but it didn't show up in print until 1962!

When they played Porky's Hideaway (Fort Lauderdale) from June 1-3, 1956, the ad pulled out all the stops: "Recording Artists from New York, Las Vegas and Cailf. Direct from Basin Street." Amazingly, they probably were direct from [Club] Basin Street, although, since the ad left out the word "Club", readers might think it was Basin Street in New Orleans.

And then, the article that provided a photo which identified them all, although a lot of its content is highly questionable. It was from the July 25, 1956 St. Petersburg Times:

VENICE, FL [about 75 miles south of Tampa] - City Jail here Friday night took on an unusual air of Rock 'n' Roll. The police headquarters in the firehouse, which also houses the jail, is usually a quiet place. The tranquility is broken only by the blare of the occasional calls on the police radio, a ringing telephone or the profanity of an occasional intoxicated person brought in to sleep it off.

Friday night, Highway Patrolman David L. McMahone brought in five Negro men accompanied by a young woman, one of whom he had arrested on a charge of illegal passing. The offender was turned over to Deputy Sheriff's Dick Curry and Billy Blackburn.

He explained they did not have $40 for the bond among them, but thought it could be obtained from a friend in Tampa, who would post it at the Hillsborough County's Sheriff's office. The Deputies allowed them to use the phone to arrange for the bond.

While waiting, the group explained they were a Miami singing combination known as Bill Robinson's Quails and en route to an engagement in Clearwater [a city about 20 miles west of Tampa], which they had been trying to reach since that morning.

Besides the arrest, they said they had a flat tire, the fuel pump on the convertible they were driving went out of order and had to be replaced and the top of the vehicle had ripped off. Said one, "last Friday was the 13th, but this seems more like it should be today."

After learning that the quintet were entertainers, the Deputies and others there asked if the boys would do a number. They good naturedly agreed and it was received with such enthusiasm that they obliged with several others.

After more than two hours, bond finally arrived and the group was released. It wasn't known whether they reached their destination without any more bad luck.

However, those that came in contact with the group agreed they were an "unusual group", to be at City Jail.

The photo showed Larry Brown, Bernard Taylor, Tony Bell, James Welch, and Bill Robinson. Three things to note:

1. Larry Brown wasn't in the photo from May. Either he was recently added or was left out of the earlier photo for some reason. So this begs the question: assuming that Bell, Taylor, and Welch were on the recordings, was Brown?

2. They've relocated from Tampa to Miami (although they've never had an appearance ad in Tampa up to this point).

3. This is the only place he's ever referred to as "James Welch"; his name, in all documentation, is "Jimmie" (sometimes "Jimmy").

Here are the other members:

Anthony Theodore "Tony" Bell (second tenor) was born on June 27, 1930, in Palmetto, Florida, to Arthur Bell and Ruby Butts; he died on October 12, 1996 in a Veterans Affairs Hospital in Tampa (he'd been in the army from November 1, 1948 to May 24, 1953). His is the tenor voice you hear in the background of several of their songs.

Jimmie Lorenza Welch (unknown part) was born on July 18, 1939, in Clearwater, Florida, to Samuel Welch and Eliza Gerald; he died April 18, 1997 in Tampa. As I said, he was never in any official documents as "James".

Bernard Jacob "Pee Wee" Taylor (unknown part) was born on March 18, 1933, in Tampa, to John Taylor and Corine Zow; he died on May 12, 1988 in Tampa.

Lawrence E. Brown (unknown part) was born on January 21, 1931, in Tampa, to Herbert Brown and Elnora Dyles; he died on September 14, 2017 in Baltimore. He's not in the photo that ran with the May 1956 article, but is there two months later.

Since Tony Bell and Jimmie Welch were the writers of "Keep Pushin'" (done at their first session), I'll assume they were on all the De Luxe recordings. I can't make any guesses about Bernard and Lawrence. However, other than Tony Bell, not a single member of the Quails was ever named again.

After that auspicious beginning, the Quails won't be heard from again until New Year's Eve 1959. But we will hear about Tony Bell, who is, sadly, more interesting than Bill Robinson.

This appeared in the Miami Times of May 4, 1957:

Elongated Tony Bell, former singer with Bill Robinson's Quails, is doing a bang-up job as emcee at Nassau's [Bahamas] popular Silver Slipper Club. Tony was scheduled to arrive here Thursday on a business trip that may or may not involve a court action. However, the showman and pert Lucille Adderley, night club dancer known on the island as the "Cha-Cha Queen", might tell their troubles to a preacher.

I can find Tony returning from Nassau seven times in 1957: January 30 (on the same flight as Rufus Beacham), March 4, March 21, April 29, May 19, June 7, and August 15. Bernard Taylor was also on that March 21 flight, so I suppose they could have been in some offshoot of the Quails.

Then, all was quiet until July 1958.

Miami News (July 22, 1958) "Bomb Threat Marks Busy Police Night":

A bomb threat, holdup, beating, car theft, and an escape from leg irons kept Metro police hopping through the night....

Anthony Bell, 27, Negro, of 1227 NW 1st Ct., must have read a Harry Houdini book. Bell, in Jackson Memorial Hospital since July 9, with a severe gunshot wound in his stomach, had been chained to his bed until 3 a.m.

Bell, according to the report, "somehow" opened his leg irons. and escaped. He was being held for assault with a gun, investigation of breaking and entering and armed robbery. Bell has a mustache, and was wearing a white shirt and blue-gray suit.

Miami Herald (July 23, 1958) "Tony 'Irons Out' His Troubles With The Police":

Maybe Anthony Bell could become a second Houdini, but not until he straightens out his troubles with the police.

The 27-year-old prisoner, wounded in the stomach in a gun battle with police July 9, neatly picked the lock on his leg irons at Jackson Memorial Hospital Tuesday and escaped. He was being held prisoner while recovering from his wounds.

Police said Bell had already been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and was under investigation for breaking and entering and armed robbery.

The only trace of him Tuesday was the empty leg irons dangling from his sick bed.

Miami News (August 12, 1958) "Confession Drawn By Ballistic Report":

An unemployed Negro singer has confessed to the holdup murder of grocer Joe Jung Deck, Miami homicide detectives reported today.

The killing, police said, was admitted last night by Anthony Theodore Bell, 28, of 1227 NW 1st Pl., who was arrested in connection with another holdup.

Bell was said to have broken down after he was shown a ballistic report which established that Deck was killed by a bullet from a pistol which Bell dropped in a gun fight a month later.

Deck, 62-year-old Chinese, was shot to death June 23 in his little grocery at 1900 NW 5th Ct.

Bell, wanted on a series of charges, attempted to shoot his way out of a police trap July 22 [prior reports said July 9], and was downed by a Negro patrolman. Admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment of a bullet wound, he picked the lock on his leg irons and escaped.

Detectives made a routine ballistic check on Bell's pistol and established that it was the weapon used in the murder of the grocer.

The teletype pickup order for Bell, however, said only that he was wanted in connection with an assault with a deadly weapon, for armed robbery and for investigation of burglary.

Bell was found Sunday in an apartment at 835 NW 1st Ct., and was asked about the Deck murder.

Police said he denied any knowledge of it until the ballistic report was explained to him, after which he admitted shooting Deck in an attempted holdup.

Deck, known for his kindliness in giving away groceries to persons who were unable to pay, had boasted that he was a judo expert and more than a match for any holdup man.

But he was killed instantly by a bullet through the heart as he stood behind his counter, out of reach of the gunman.

Police said Bell was a native of Tampa, but had spent years in Nassau, where he sang as a member of a quartet. He has been out of work since coming here.

Miami Herald (August 13, 1958) "Hophead Singer Confesses Killing Of Kindly Chinese":

A rock 'n roll singer, with the escape talents of Houdini, confessed Tuesday to the June 23 holdup slaying of kindly Chinese grocer Joe Jung Deck, police said.

Lt. C. L. Gunn, head of the Miami Police Homicide Bureau, said Anthony Theodore Bell, 28, of 1227 NW First Pl., signed a written confession after he was confronted with results of an FBI ballistics lab test which showed that a bullet from Bell's gun killed Deck.

Sgt. John DiLucchio also said two witnesses definitely identified Bell as the man who ran from Deck's store after the killing.

Deck, 62, had run his grocery at 1900 NW Fifth Ct. like a charity ward, but his generosity was rewarded with a .32 caliber bullet in the heart.

Shortly after the confession was made, Assistant U.S. Attorney O. B. Cline said Bell, on probation for a narcotics conviction, had tried last month to get permission to leave the country.

Cline said that Probation Officer Herman Robson had turned down Bell's request to go to Nassau because he considered the man a bad risk.

"Of course we didn't know at the time that he had killed a man", Cline said. "We're very glad that we didn't let him go."

Bell's gun was taken when he was captured after a gunfight with policemen in mid-July. But somehow he slipped out of his leg irons at Jackson Memorial Hospital and escaped.

He was arrested in the Northwest Negro section Sunday night.

Gunn said Bell admitted he shot the Chinese during an attempt to rob the little grocery. Bell, a native of Tampa, worked as a singer in a rock 'n roll quartet in Nassau, but had been unemployed here.

Miami Herald (August 14, 1958) "Grocer Slaying Suspect Admits Attack On Woman":

The reefer-smoking son of a minister, who Tuesday admitted slaying a 62-year-old Chinese grocer, confessed Wednesday to the gun-point rape of a 23-year-old Negro mother.

Police said Anthony Bell, 23 [sic; should be 28], had admitted attacking the woman on June 20 after breaking into her home and holding her and her husband at bay with a .32 caliber revolver.

Homicide Detectives Mike Gonzalez and Ernest Bush said Bell's background was "a deeply religious one" in which both his father and grandfather had been ministers.

Diario Las Americas (August 14, 1958) "Cantante Negro Confiesa Crimen" ("Negro Singer Confesses Crime"):

I'll spare you the article. I just wanted you to know that the whole thing was serious enough to be picked up by the Spanish press.

Miami Herald (August 15, 1958) "Slaying Suspect Tells Of Crimes":

Anthony Theodore Bell, the 28-year-old Negro who has been charged with the slaying of a Chinese grocer and the rape of a young Negro mother, admitted Thursday he was responsible for more than 18 break-ins in the city's Negro district.

Bell told Detective B. C. Outlaw that he broke into the homes after watching women in the house through their open windows. Nothing was taken from the homes, Outlaw said, and the women's screams drove Bell out of the houses.

Memphis World (August 20, 1958) "Check On Bullet Leads To Killer":

MIAMI (UPI) - A ballistics check on the bullet that killed a Miami grocer June 23 turned up an unemployed singer as a suspect in the slaying, police reported Tuesday.

Detectives found a gun on the singer, Anthony Theodore Bell, when they arrested him in connection with another holdup. They ran the ballistics test on the gun and bullet that killed Joe Jung Deck, a 62-year-old Chinese Grocer.

When told that the bullet was fired from his gun, Bell confessed to killing Deck....

Jet (August 28, 1958) "Fla. Rock 'N' Roll Singer Admits Holdup-Murder":

A Miami rock 'n' roll singer and dope addict, Anthony Theodore Bell, 28, was charged with murder after he confessed to police he shot Chinese grocer Joe Jung Deck to death during a June 23 holdup. Bell, who worked as a quartet singer in Nassau, Bahamas, had escaped from leg irons at Jackson Memorial Hospital following his arrest, but was recaptured.

Miami Herald (September 12, 1958) - Indicted:

Accused of killing Joe Jung Deck, a Chinese grocer, during a, holdup last June 23, Anthony Theodore Bell, 26-year-old Negro, was indicted Thursday by the Dade County Grand Jury on a charge of first degree murder.

Miami Herald (November 5, 1958) "Grocer's Killer Gets Life Term":

Anthony Theodore Bell, 28, Negro singer who is a son and grandson of ministers, was sentenced to life imprisonment Tuesday for murder.

The sentence was pronounced by Circuit Judge Vincent C. Giblin after Bell pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting of Joe Jung Deck, 62, Chinese grocer, during a June 23 robbery at the grocery, 1900 NW Fifth Ct.

[See? Your mother tried to warn you about that filthy Rock 'N Roll music!]

Bill Robinson & The Quails (whoever they might have been), were at the King O' Hearts Club in Miami for New Year's Eve 1959; they were still there January 3.

On January 20, 1960, three men on a fishing boat disappeared in the waters off the Florida Keys. One of the men was Essix Scott, a member of Bernie Mackey's Ink Spots (with Lorenzo Conyers, Adriel McDonald, and Harold Francis). The boat was finally found on January 25, but no bodies were ever recovered. Orville Brooks was initially brought in to replace Scott, but didn't stay long. He, in turn, was replaced by Bill Robinson for a short while. The February 25, 1960 Jet said: "Bill Robinson, a Miami musician and leader of a vocal group, the Quails, is the substitute for missing Ink Spot singer Essix Scott, Jr., who was lost on a fishing trip." (Amazingly, Scott's name was in a write-up of the group when it appeared in Detroit on April 28, 1960, and again in Bellville, Kansas on August 25, 1961!)

The next mention of the Quails was when they (and Etta Jones) played the Mr. James Club in Miami on October 11, 1961. The Quails were still there on October 25.


By late December, they were at the Sir John Knight Beat in Miami. They'd play, said the ad, the Twist, the Hully Gully, the Pony, the Fly, and even that new dance, the Chicken Scratch. They remained through the first week in January 1962.

The Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) of January 25, 1962 had a big article titled "The Quails Recording Quartet, 'Miss Junkaroo' At The Trinidad". It read, in part:

Trinidad Hotel "house emcee" Bobby Marchan moved two steps closer toward fulfillment of his promise of "bigger and better entertainment" at the establishment this week with the signing of contracts with a vocal recording group from New York and an exotic dancer from Nassau.

The singers, Bill Robinson and the Quails, and the dancer, LaBombi, all will contribute to the hotel's super entertainment bill this weekend, beginning Friday night [January 26]. The Quails will include in their numbers two of their most popular recordings, "Once Upon a Time" and "Gypsy Woman.

The group has performed at New York's Apollo Theatre, on Dick Clark's American Bandstand television show and on various occasions with famous James Brown and the Flames.

Robinson gained nationwide popularity several years ago as a vocalist and arranger with the Ink Spots.

Marchan, himself a vocalist and recording artist [with Huey Smith & The Clowns], recently toured the United States and Nassau with the Quails and describes the group as "tops in their field."

Other than that they weren't from New York; they'd never recorded those songs; they never appeared at the Apollo; they never seem to have appeared on American Bandstand; there's no evidence that they ever appeared with James Brown; Bill Robinson never had nationwide popularity with the Ink Spots; this is the only mention of the Quails with Bobby Marchan; and the accompanying photo was from 1956, it was a pretty accurate article.

They were back at the Mr. James Club on March 20, 1962 as part of the "Big Big Show Of Stars" (a benefit for something or other). Also on the bill were Sam & Dave, Jerry Lewis, and a host of stars I never heard of.

A couple of months later, they hooked up with Leon Claxton, a producer who ran the touring "Harlem Revue". It was part of Royal American Shows, which appeared at carnivals and fairs all over the place. The only appearances that specifically mention the Quails were in St. Louis (May 18 to June 3, 1962; they were in the ad as the "Four Quailes"); Calgary, Alberta (beginning of July; "Four Quailes" again); Edmonton, Alberta (mid July); Regina, Saskatchewan (July 30 to August 4); and Minneapolis (late August). Since those were their only mentions, I can't say how long they were with the show. At least they managed to leave Florida (and even the country) for a change.

On February 15-17, 1963, Jerry Butler was scheduled to appear at the Knight Beat in Miami. However, he was hurt in an auto accident while on his way there, and the Quails were rushed in at the last moment.

The March 21, 1963 Tampa Bay Times said: "Bill Johnson and his famous Quails will return to the Suncoast from Miami this weekend to fill a three night engagement [March 22-24] at the Swain Hotel, 1205 Second Ave. N. [in St. Petersburg]". The term "Suncoast" refers to the part of southwestern Florida that includes cities like St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, and Tarpon Springs.

The Tampa Bay Times of March 22 ran that same 1956 photo, with this caption:

Three big shows and dances this weekend at the Hotel Swain, 1205 Second Ave. N., will spotlight Bill Robinson and his famous Quails. Robinson, pictured above left, was widely acclaimed while singing with the Ink Spots. The vocal group, which has recorded several top rock 'n roll numbers, ended an engagement at a Miami Beach nightspot earlier this week, and will open at the Swain Hotel tonight, Tonight's 10 o'clock until 2 a.m. dance and show will be repeated Saturday and Sunday. [As usual, I have to note that the word "acclaimed", not accompanied by a list of those doing the acclaiming, has no meaning whatever in blurbs like this.]

Although they were only supposed to be at the Swain for three days, the March 27, 1963 Tampa Bay Times reported that they "have been held over by the management of the Hotel Swain for additional performances this week." They were there that evening and the following Friday through Sunday (March 29-31).

Nothing more until November 15, when they returned to the Knight Beat in Miami for the weekend. The ad mentioned that they'd be singing "The Cow".


At some point, probably in October 1963, the Quails (whoever they might have been) recorded some songs for an unknown company (Disco-File only says the masters were purchased in November 1963): "The Cow", "Take Me Back, Baby", "You're Mine", and "Congo Dance Party". These were sold to, and released on, American Records, a Miami company, distributed by Atlantic Records. "The Cow" was written by "Robinson, Wilson, Bowens", so those might have been members of the group.

"The Cow" and "Take Me Back, Baby" were issued, as American 1023, in November 1963. They were almost immediately reissued, as American 6000, in December. The label of the earlier release just says "Miami, Fla.", but the later one says "Distributed by Atlantic Record Sales, 1841 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y.".

The original disk was reviewed in the December 7, 1963 Cash Box:

The Cow (B+): There's a new teen-dance called the Cow, and it's related to teen audiences with lots of bright blues-rock appeal by the songster and his support, tabbed The Quails. Atlantic Records is handling this hectic addition to the teen-step catalog.

Take Me Back, Baby (B): Upbeat blues bouncer. [Note: this is the same song that Jimmy McGowan & the 4 Fellows had done on Glory in 1955.]

Also in December, American released "You're Mine" and "Congo Dance Party". They weren't reviewed (and are the only Quails sides I've never heard).


The Quails were at the Kandy Bar, in West Palm Beach, on December 18. They were followed, the next night, by the Dovells.


Although I don't remember hearing it at the time, I've always liked "The Cow". I wasn't alone; it was their only national hit, making Billboard's "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" chart for two weeks: #103 (January 18, 1964) and #114 (January 25).

When they appeared at Miami's Peppermint Lounge from January 22-26, 1964, the ad used another old photo from 1956. They returned there on April 24-25.

At some point, comedian Jerry Lewis opened the 500 Klub in Miami. The May 7, 1964 Miami News said: "Jerry Lewis is adding Bill Robinson and his Quails, a musical combo, to his weekly show." However, the only ad for them was on May 8.

In 1964, Tony Bell asked for a new trial; it was denied. The October 14 Miami Herald ("Judge Turns Down New Trial For Life Termer At Raiford") said:

Police interrogators protected Anthony Theodore Bell's legal rights as well as an attorney could before they took his confession of murdering a Chinese grocer, Circuit Judge Joe Eaton said Tuesday.

He denied the Bell petition for a new trial on grounds he asked for and didn't get an attorney before confessing the June 23, 1958 shooting of Joe Jung Deck during a robbery. He got an attorney of his own choosing immediately after the confession and before any court hearing.

Bell is serving life in Raiford. Judge Eaton found that police interrogators told Bell that he had the constitutional right not to answer questions "and that is all a lawyer could have told him."

Judge Eaton said that Bell waived his right to challenge the confession by taking advantage of a plea of guilty to get life instead of taking a chance with a jury and a death penalty.

Judge Eaton discarded Bell's charge, denied by witnesses, that he was beaten and given morphine.

Bell, reefer smoking rock 'n roll singer, son and grandson of Negro ministers, who came here for the hearing, was ordered returned to Raiford.

[When Tony Bell died, on October 12, 1996, it was in a Tampa Veterans Affairs Hospital. He must have been paroled at some point, since, when his mother died in 1990, her obituary said he was living in Tampa. Raiford Prison is near Jacksonville and nowhere near Tampa.]

The 500 Klub gig is the last we hear of the Quails until March 1968, when they appeared as part of the Steve Alaimo Show at Marco's Den (Miami). They were only advertised on March 16.

On June 28, 1968, the Quails held their last session. They recorded "Do I Love You" and "Lay My Head On Your Shoulder" for producer (and boxing promoter) Bob Yorey. (He'd also produced "The Masquerade Is Over" by Bill Pinkney & the Originals, on Veep, in 1967.) These were Motown-sound tunes.

The Quails made two appearances on Peppy Fields' midnight radio show (WMBM, Miami): on July 17 and July 20.

In July 1968, Bob Yorey sold his Quails masters to Date Records, which released them in August. "Lay My Head On Your Shoulder" appeared in the "Best Bets" column of the August 31, 1968 Cash Box:

Poignant, soul-filled ballad in the Motown bag could score for Bill Robinson & the Quails. First rate vocal effort stirs emotions. Flip: "Do I Love You".

On December 12, the Quails entertained at the Stork Club (Orlando, Florida), which was having its annual holiday party for secretaries ("No bosses allowed"). They were back for the Stork's New Year's Eve party.

The December 28, 1968 Billboard told us that the Quails were managed by Marianne Cook. A photo from an unknown date said their manager was Stanley Bigeleisen.

From January 30 through February 13, 1969, the Quails were at The Barn in Miami. Also there, the first week, were Betty Wright, Joe Tex, King Curtis, and Wilson Pickett. When the show changed over on February 7, the Quails were joined by Betty Wright, the Toys, King Curtis, Lenny Welch, and Roy Hamilton.

That was the last known appearance of Bill Robinson & the Quails. All mentions of "Bill Robinson" after this were for baseball and basketball players of that name (with occasional nods to Bojangles).

The Quails made some great R&B music. It's a shame they didn't leave a bigger footprint behind.



DE LUXE (Bill Robinson & The Quails)
6030 Lonely Star / Quit Pushin' - 12/53
6047 I Know She's Gone / Baby Don't Want Me No More - 3/54
6057 Somewhere Somebody Cares / A Little Bit Of Love - 7/54
6059 Heaven Is The Place / Why Do I Wait - 8/54
6074 Love Of My Life / Oh Sugar - 1/55
6085 The Things She Used To Do / Pretty Huggin' Baby - 4/55
       The above release was credited to just "The Quails"

AMERICAN (Bill Robinson & The Quails)
1023 The Cow / Take Me Back, Baby - 11/63
6000 The Cow / Take Me Back, Baby - 12/63
1024 You're Mine / Congo Dance Party - 12/63

DATE (Bill Robinson & The Quails)
2-1620 Lay My Head On Your Shoulder / Do I Love You - 8/68