The Harptones

The Harptones never had a top forty pop hit, or even a record on the national R&B charts, yet they are still considered one of the most influential doowop groups, both for their lead singer, Willie Winfield, one of the best voices of the doo-wop era, and their pianist/arranger, Raoul Cita. The Harptones may have been the first doo-wop group to number a full-time arranger among their members, and Cita knew how to work to Winfield's strengths. Their best-known recordings include "Sunday Kind of Love" and "The Shrine of St. Cecilia."