The Sensational Nightingales

The Sensational Nightingales is a traditional black gospel quartet that reached its peak of popularity in the 1950s, when it featured Julius Cheeks as its lead singer. The Nightingales, with several changes of membership, continue to tour and record today. The group was founded in 1942 by Barney Parks, who had formerly sung with the Dixie Hummingbirds. Julius "June" Cheeks joined the group in 1946. Cheeks left and returned to the group several times during its heyday, then left in 1960 to form his own group, "the Sensational Knights", Charles Johnson becoming the new lead singer. In 1984, Charles Johnson was replaced by Calvert McNair. The group presently consists of Joseph 'JoJo' Wallace, Larry Moore, Horace "Sug" Thompson, and guitarist Darrell Luster. Thompson is the grandfather of R&B singer Patrice Jones-Nickols (stage name PatriceLIVE), who credits her grandfather and his group as being one of her most influential mentors in areas including stage presence and "building" one's show.