The Velvets

The Velvets ( engl. The Velvet ) was an American doo wop group from Odessa in West Texas. The African-American Quintet was founded in 1959 by Virgil Johnson, an English teacher at the high school, with four of his students. Roy Orbison heard the group and gave her a contract with Monument Records in 1960. The first release was the song That Lucky Old Sun. The most successful single was Tonight ( Could be the Night ), which reached number 26 in the U.S. Billboard charts in 1961. The pieces That Lucky Old Sun and Tonight ( Could Be the Night ) reached 1961 short number 46 or number 50 in the UK Singles Charts. The piece then published Laugh reached number 90 and after about 6 more singles, the group disbanded in 1961.

Overall, about 30 pieces were taken. These were issued in 1996 on a compact disc at Ace Records.

Today, Johnson may sometimes be seen on the Revival concerts.

Members

• Virgil Johnson, Lead
• Will Solomon, baritone
• Mark Prince, bass
• Clarence Rigsby, Lead Tenor (1947-1978, died in a car accident )
• Robert Thursby, tenor