From: Marsha Grant (President of North East Pennsylvania Doo-Wop Society):
"The beginnings of Rock ‘n’ Roll can be traced to many sources and the roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll can be debated from now to the end of time, but everyone must agree that the Du Droppers certainly had a very big hand in the formation of what became Rock ‘n’ Roll. The touches of Blues, a big dose of Gospel and voices like pure velvet with a Rockin’ sound is what the Du Droppers were all about. They came on the scene and left their mark for an eternity.

We are fortunate to have the founder of the Du Droppers’ son living in the Scranton, PA area and more fortunate that he is interested in learning more about the Du Droppers group and possibly forming a new Du Droppers group!"

From: Caleb N. Ginyard III (Son of J.C. Ginyard of the Du Droppers):
"I’m desperately trying to get to know the father I never knew. Through the research of his music, I’m hoping, somehow, to understand what type of person he was, what he felt, what he loved during the years he was not with me. My father spent most of my childhood and all of my adult life in Europe while I lived in the United States. Someday I hope to reform the Du Droppers and carry on his music so that it will not die with him."

J.C. Ginyard was born on January 15, 1910 as Caleb Nathaniel Ginyard in St. Mathews, South Carolina. The J.C. stood for Junior Caleb. He formed The Royal Harmony Singers (Decca label) in 1936, which became The Jubalaires (Decca & King labels) in 1941, and joined The Dixiaires (King, Continental, Sunrise, Prestige, Sittin’ In With & Harlem labels) in 1948.

J.C. Ginyard formed The Du Droppers in 1952 and was lead/tenor. He was a member of The Golden Gate Quartet from 1955 to 1971. Shortly after joining the group in 1955, he and The Golden Gate Quartet moved to Paris, France. After 1971, he moved to Switzerland where he performed solo until his death on August 11, 1978.

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DU DROPPERS RELEASED RECORDS:
• Red Robin 108-Can't Do Sixty No More/Chain Me Baby (Blues Of Desire)-1952
• RCA 5004-Get Lost/Don't Pass Me By-1953
• RCA 5229-I Wanna Know/Laughing Blues-1953
• RCA 5321-I Found Out/Little Girl, Little Girl-1953
• Red Robin 116-Come On And Love Me Baby/Go Back-1953
• RCA 5425-Whatever You're Doin'/Somebody Work On My Baby's Mind-1953
• RCA 5543-Mama's Gone, Goodbye/The Note In The Bottle-1953
• Groove 0001-Dead Broke/Speed King-1954
• Groove 0013-Just Whisper/How Much Longer*-1954
• Groove 0036-Let Nature Take It's Course/Boot 'Em Up-1954
• Groove 0104-Talk That Talk/Give Me Some Consideration-1955
• Groove 0120-You're Mine Already/I Wanna Love You-1955

*To listen in streaming RealAudio, click on Groove label.
*To listen in downloading RealAudio, click HERE.

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Du Droppers Members:
Top Photo; front center-Willie Ray, rear, left to right-Bob Kornegay, Harvey Ray & J.C. Ginyard.
Middle Photo; left to right-Bob Kornegay, Joe Van Loan, J.C. Ginyard & Willie Ray.
Bottom Photo; bottom to top-Harvey Ray, J.C. Ginyard, Bob Kornegay & Willie Ray.

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References: N.E.P.A. Doo-Wop Society Newsletter dated Spring 1997; The Du Droppers, as told to Marv Goldberg and Mike Redmond by Willie Ray; and Bill Board Book of American Singing Groups, A History 1940-1990.

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NOTE: For an extensive article about The Du Droppers by Marv Goldberg, please click HERE. (added 6-17-02)

NOTE: For another article about The Du Droppers by JC Marion, please click HERE.

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Last Updated June 17, 2002 (No new updates are planned)

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