The Four Shades Of Rhythm

Generally considered the first R&B group to emerge from the fertile Cleveland area, the Four Shades of Rhythm formed in 1939 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile in the May 1998 issue of Discoveries, singer/drummer Oscar Lindsay, guitarist Willie Lewis, pianist Sims London and bassist Macon Sims were all neighborhood friends who gigged around the area throughout World War II, developing a large repertoire of standards and jazz tunes. Following the war the original Four Shades split, although Lindsay retained the name for a new lineup comprising guitarist Oscar Pennington, b...