The Pentagons Biography
The members of this vocal group from San Bernadino, California, USA, were Joe Jones (lead), Carl McGinnis (bass), Otis Munson (tenor) and the brothers Ted (tenor) and Ken Goodloe (baritone, piano). The Pentagons helped to make the early 60s the era of neo-doo-wop renaissance, in which they sang classic 50s vocal harmonies that evoked the past, but with full orchestrated support that reflected the coming soul era. The original Pentagons group, which was assembled in 1958, consisted of the Goodloe brothers, McGinnis, plus Bill James as tenor and Johnny Torrence as lead. They recorded one unsuccessful single for Specialty Records, and then Torrence and James departed to be replaced by Jones and Munson, respectively. Another single for Modern Records was released under the name of the Shields, and then in 1961 the group had a big hit with a Ken Goodloe song, "To Be Loved (Forever)" (number 48 pop). It was released on Bob Keane's Donna label, but after one follow-up on Donna the group moved to the Jamie label. They reached the charts again during 1961 with another Goodloe composition, "I Wonder (If Your Love Will Ever Belong To Me)" (number 84 pop). Ricky Nelson was so impressed with the song he recorded it in 1964. Later Pentagons releases failed to make the charts, and the group broke up in 1962. The Goodloes put together another outfit in 1964, but this, too, disbanded in 1966 after a few failed singles. Ken Goodloe died on 4 August 1991.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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