The 1950s
Crewe in 1953 met and partnered professionally with Frank Slay Jr., a young pianist from Texas. Their collaboration created several hit songs (including a small record label XYZ), for which Crewe performed as the demo singer. Crewe and Slay's 1957 recording session with The Rays for their XYZ label (picked up nationally by Cameo Records) produced two big song hits. Produced by Crewe, the record's A-side, "Silhouettes", became a doo-wop anthem of the era. Climbing to #3 on The Billboard Hot 100 for 1957, "Silhouettes" displayed the flair for story-driven lyrics, innovative musical "hooks," and a final lyrical twist that were to become known as Crewe trademarks. In 1965, with a slightly faster tempo, "Silhouettes" became a hit again for the British group Herman's Hermits, reaching #5 on The Billboard Hot 100. Although Bob Dylan also recorded "Silhouettes" during his legendary Basement Tapes sessions of the late '60s, that version remains unreleased.
"Daddy Cool" was the B side of that same 1957 session. The song, also written and produced by Crewe-Slay, achieved considerable note. Both "Daddy Cool" and "Silhouettes" were covered the same year by the Canadian group The Diamonds. The Diamonds' version of "Daddy Cool" reached #10 on the Billboard charts. In 1961, Guy "Daddy Cool" Darrell released another single version on the Warwick label. In 1977, the UK band Darts made the song their first-ever studio recording and, released as a single, it hit #6.
Crewe and Slay built on those successes with a deal with new Philadelphia-based Swan Records. Sessions with Billy and Lillie, singers Billy Ford and Lillie Bryant, produced in 1958 the hit "Lah Dee Dah", which reached the #9 position on The Billboard Hot 100; the following year, Billy and Lillie's recording of "Lucky Ladybug" hit #14.
Also for Swan Records, Crewe and Slay helped continue the rise of hard-driving, raucous popular singer Freddy Cannon with their Top Ten hits "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Okefenokee."
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