Legacies are established based on achievement so great, they defy the laws of time. In 1961 five young Richmonders made history when they recorded an international hit song on the Laurie Record Label in New York City.
The group was the Jarmels. The international hit song was “A Little Bit of Soap.” It was number 9 in the USA; number 1 in Germany and number 1 in England. The Jarmels were also the first black artist to sing on the Laurie label. The group was comprised of Ray Smith, the late Nathaniel Ruff, Paul Brunette, Earl Christian and Thomas Eldridge.
Simultaneously, on the opposite side of town another music legacy was being established by child prodigy, Tyrone “Lil Tommy” Thomas, of Lil Tommy and the Teenagers. That group was comprised of Tyrone “Lil Tommy” Thomas, popular recording artist of “I’m Hurt” and “Seven Minutes of Funk” a highly sampled composition favored by many of today’s rap artists, Major Harris (Love Won’t Let Me Wait) and former member of the Del Fonics recording group, als