THE RADIANTS

In the early to mid 1960s, the Chicago-based Radiants made a series of recordings for Chess that helped expedite the transition from doo-wop to soul.

In 1960, Maurice McAlister formed a gospel group with members of the Greater Harvest Baptist Church youth choir in Chicago. He sang lead while Charles Washington handled first tenor, Jerome Brooks became second tenor, Wallace Sampson sang baritone, and Elzie Butler assumed bass duties. Along with gospel numbers, they practiced secular material. After a few months, Washington stepped down and was replaced by Green McLauren.

By 1961, the Radiants had turned exclusively to Rhythm & Blues music. They recorded a demo tape of songs written by McAlister, only to be rejected by a number of record labels, including Chess and Motown. However, their manager knew Leonard Chess, to whom he introduced the Radiants. Their first recording session was in May 1962. Three months later, Chess issued its first single on the Radiants, “Father Knows Best” / “One Day I’ll Show You.” It became a double-sided hit in Chicago and even reached #100 on the Billboard pop chart.

The follow-up, “Heartbreak Society,” came out in February 1963 but failed to make much noise. By the time of their third release, the rollicking “Shy Guy,” in October 1963, the Radiants had a new member, Frank McCollum. He replaced Green McLauren, who had gone into the Army.

Due to internal difficulties, the Radiants broke up in 1964. However, Maurice McAlister and Wallace Sampson got together with Leonard Caston, Jr., and the Radiants were reborn as a trio. They employed the three-part harmony made famous by their fellow Chicagoans, the Impressions, on the sprightly “Voice Your Choice.” Released in November 1964, it hit #1 in Chicago and soon broke nationally, reaching #10 on the Billboard R&B chart and going to #51 on the Hot 100 pop survey.

Caston left the Radiants in 1965 and was replaced by James Jameson. McAlister, the group’s lead singer and chief songwriter, quit the following year. That should have ended the Radiants, but an odd set of circumstances kept the group alive.

In 1965, Chess had recorded a group called the Confessions on a song titled “(Don’t It Make You) Feel Kind of Bad.” However, the group disbanded before the label could release it. Meanwhile, Wallace Sampson and James Jameson were at a loss following Maurice McAlister’s departure from the Radiants. So producer Billy Davis hooked them up with Mitchell Bullock, who had sung lead on the Confessions’ recording. They rounded out the new Radiants with Victor Caston, the kid brother of ex-member Leonard Caston, Jr.

“(Don’t It Make You) Feel Kind of Bad” came out as a Radiants release in early 1967. Though it reached only a modest #47 on Billboard’s R&B chart, it was a much bigger hit in Chicago and several other markets. By now, Leonard Caston was both writing and producing the Radiants. But his only real hit on the group was the intoxicating “Hold On” in 1968. The Radiants left Chess the following year and broke up in 1972.

Two ex-Radiants, Maurice McAlister and Green McLauren, recorded duets as Maurice & Mac. Their 1968 single, “You Left the Water Running,” made the Cash Box R&B chart and resulted in a lucrative Southern tour. The duo performed and recorded from 1966-72.

Rock critic Dave Marsh included "Voice Your Choice" in his 1989 book, The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. He also included Maurice & Mac's "You Left the Water Running."

Charted singles:

“Father Knows Best” (1962) Pop #100
“Voice Your Choice” (1964-65) R&B #10, Pop #51
“Ain’t No Big Thing” (1965) R&B #14, Pop #91
“(Don’t It Make You) Feel Kind of Bad” (1967) R&B #47
“Hold On” (1968) R&B #35, Pop #68