Milwaukee’s Favourite Group - The Esquires

 

1957 was an important year for both Milwaukee, and the Moorer family, because that’s the year that Gilbert, Alvis, and Betty Moorer decided to form their own group, naming it, The Esquires. In fact all three siblings were still at school at the time the group was formed, so could only undertake local shows. Several members passed through the group during the first four years, including Harvey Scales, although no recordings were made in their own name.

By 1961 Sam Pace had joined the group, and they began to gain some good local reviews. In addition they also gained some experience in the recording studio providing backing vocals for Lonnie walker. Betty actually recorded a couple of singles on her own and consequently decided that she wanted to have a career as a solo singer, so left the group in 1965. She was replaced by Shawn Taylor, although the two did both sing with the group for a short while.

By 1966, the group had outgrown their Milwaukee roots and wanted to start their recording career. A move to Chicago soon followed.

Group Members

1960 Line Up

Gilbert Moorer
Alvis Moorer
Betty Moorer
Harvey Scales

1961 line up

Gilbert Moorer
Alvis Moorer
Betty Moorer
Sam Pace

1965 line up

Gilbert Moorer
Alvis Moorer
Sam Pace
Shawn Taylor

1966 line up

Gilbert Moorer
Alvis Moorer
Sam Pace
Shawn Taylor
Mill Edwards

1967 line up

Gilbert Moorer
Alvis Moorer
Sam Pace
Mill Edwards

1970 line up

Gilbert Moorer
Alvis Moorer
Sam Pace
Shawn Taylor

Initially auditioning for Curtis Mayfield, the group were turned down for both the Windy C label, and Mayfield Records. This didn’t put them off though, and they continued to approach other producers and label owners. It was an approach to Bill ‘Bunky’ Sheppard that first drew results. Hearing the group’s demo of ‘Get On Up’, he decided to use them as backing singers on the Constellation release by Mill Evans ‘Things Won't Be The Same / I've Got To Have Your Love’ - Constellation 170 in 1965.

Unfortunately Constellation was on the point of collapse at this time, and only a handful of further releases appeared. However, several other tracks were recorded at the same session, and Bill Sheppard was able to sell the finished productions to other labels. Both releases by Mill Evans; King 6084 - Why Why Why / Right - 1967, and Tou-Sea 128 - Trying To Find A Home / When I'm Ready - 1967, contained uncredited backing by The Esquires.

 The financial return from the releases was sufficient to encourage Bill Sheppard to establish another label. This was Bunky Records, and the first release was by The Esquires, now bolstered by the inclusion of Mill Edwards in their line-up. 

Bunky 7750 - Get On Up / Listen To Me , which was written by Gilbert Moorer, was released in early 1967, and almost immediately became first a local, then a national hit. Distributed by the Scepter label the record hit number 3 on the R & B Charts, and almost made it to the top ten of the Pop Charts, peaking at number 11 !

As a debut single it was an amazing achievement, and it moved The Esquires from playing local theatres into the big time, even to appearances at the Apollo Theatre in New York. Sometime in 1967 though, Shawn Taylor was sacked from the group for persistently arriving late for live shows.

The foursome were worked hard by Bill Sheppard, but the rewards made it justifiably hard. The second single, Bunky 7752 - And Get Away / Everybody's Laughing (Again written by Gilbert Moorer) was released in October 1967, and again proved to be a massive national hit for the group (#9 R & B, and #22 Pop) . 

This led to the release of the group’s only LP, which in it’s own right became a hit on the album charts. 

Three more singles followed on Bunky through 1968, and although each one made the charts, none could repeat the huge success of the first two releases and at the end of the year the group moved on from Bunky and signed a recording contract with Scepter Records.

Although the group have a single listed in the Scepter catalogue, (Scepter 12232 - You've Got The Power / No Doubt About It), I’ve never actually seen a copy, and have quite strong suspicions that

it was never released. This is supported by the fact that the same two tracks were released when the group was placed on the Wand imprint. 

The group’s fortunes improved considerably with the release of their first single for Wand.  Whilst their last Bunky singles only just made it into the 40’s in the R & B Charts, Wand 1193 - You've Got The Power / No Doubt About It, and the second release Wand 1195 - Part Angel / I Don't Know, both got into the 20’s.  

Sadly their third release, Wand 12201 - Whip It On Me / It Was Yesterday, also released in 1969, didn’t have the same impact and the group were almost at the end of their tenure with Scepter. 

I say almost because one final single was released which contained the group singing, even though it didn’t credit them on the label. The next release on Wand was by Betty Moorer, and clearly has her brothers’ group providing the background harmonies. 

Teaming up again with Bill Sheppard, Gilbert Moorer, co-wrote the group’s next release, ‘Reach Out’, which came out on Capitol Records. It failed to restore the group to the upper reaches of the Charts, and Mill Evans left the group in late 1969. 

By the beginning of 1970, Shawn Taylor was back singing harmonies with the group, and they released one single on the B & G label. It was later in the same year though that Gilbert Moorer’s writing skills provided the group with another chart entry on the Lamarr label (Lamarr 1001 - Girls In The City / Ain't Gonna Give It Up) 

Further releases followed for a variety of labels, but it wasn’t until 1976 that The Esquires troubled the Chart compilers again. The Ju-Par label released a re-recorded version of the group’s first hit, and ‘Get On Up '76 / Dancing Disco’ on Ju-Par 104 marks the last chart entry for the group. 

The group continued to perform regularly though, and moved back to the Milwaukee area where Gilbert and Alvis Moorer formed the group from a variety of members, and although they cut several singles for local labels they never really got close to the big time again. The death of Gilbert Moorer in 1988 saw the end of the group. 

So, a ten year apprenticeship, three years in the limelight and fifteen years performing and re-living the glory days. The Esquires may never have become superstars like The Temptation, but they paid their dues, and earned the fame they got with well crafted harmonies, and soulful vocals. 

Milwaukee should be proud. 

Discography

The Esquires (members Gilbert Moorer (born in Birmingham, Alabama --- died 28-August-2008 --- cause: throat cancer), Alvis Moorer and Betty Moorer) 1957 line-up.

The Esquires (members Gilbert Moorer, Alvis Moorer, Betty Moorer and Harvey Scales) 1960 line-up  

The Esquires (members Gilbert Moorer, Shawn Taylor (joined 1965), Alvis Moorer and Sam Pace (joined 1961)) 

Lonnie Walker (with uncredited backing from The Ambassadors and The Esquires)

Cuca 1111 - I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell / Let's Talk About Us - 1962

Betty Moore (Betty Moorer with uncredited backing from The Esquires)

Cuca 1134 - Long Hot Summer / Voo Doo Waltz - ?
Cuca 1467 - Long Hot Summer / Voo Doo Waltz - ?

Mill Evans (Millard Edwards. A former member of The Sheppards with uncredited backing from The Esquires)

Constellation 170 - Things Won't Be The Same / I've Got To Have Your Love – 1965
King 6084 - Why Why Why* / Right Now - 1967 *also recorded in 1970 by Otis Leavill on Dakar 617. Co-written by Karl Tarleton and Gerald Sims.
Tou-Sea 128 - Trying To Find A Home / When I'm Ready – 1967

The Esquires (Members Gilbert Moorer, Shawn Taylor, Alvis Moorer, Sam Pace And Millard Edwards  (Became member after collapse of Constellation Records)

Bunky 7750 - Get On Up* / Listen To Me - 1967 *Written By Gilbert Moorer.

The Esquires (Members Gilbert Moorer, Alvis Moorer, Sam Pace And Millard Edwards)

Bunky 7752 - And Get Away* / Everybody's Laughing - 1967 *Written By Gilbert Moorer.
Bunky 7753 - You Say / State Fair – 1968
Bunky 7755 - Why Can't I Stop / The Feelings Gone – 1968
Bunky 7756 - I Know I Can / How Could It Be – 1968
Scepter 12232 - You've Got The Power / No Doubt About It – 1968
Wand 1193 - You've Got The Power / No Doubt About It – 1968
Wand 1195 - Part Angel / I Don't Know – 1969
Wand 12201 - Whip It On Me / It Was Yesterday – 1969

Betty Moorer (With uncredited backing from The Esquires)

Wand 12202 - It's My Thing / Speed Up – 1969

The Esquires (Members Gilbert Moorer, Alvis Moorer, Sam Pace And Millard Edwards)

Capitol 2650 - Reach Out / Listen To Me – 1969

The Esquires (Members Gilbert Moorer, Alvis Moorer, Sam Pace And Shawn Taylor)

B & G 7751 - Ain't No Reason / Ba Ba-Da-Ba-Dop – 1970
Lamarr 1001 - Girls In The City / Ain't Gonna Give It Up* - 1970 *Co-Written By Gilbert Moorer.
Rocky Ridge 403 - That Ain't No Reason / Dancin' A Hole In The World* - 1971 *also recorded in 1968 by Jimmy Delphs on Carla 1904.
Hot Line 103 - Henry Ralph / My Sweet Baby - 1972
New World 101 - Let Me Build You A Whole New World / Stay - 1974   
Ju-Par 104 - Get On Up '76 / Dancing Disco - 1976

The Esquires (Members Gilbert Moorer, Alvis Moorer, ............................)

Lasco 1101 - My Lady / The Fish – 1979
Cigar Man Music 9880 - What Good Is Music / The Show Ain't Over – 1980
New World 101 - Let Me Build You A Whole New World / Stay - ?
Al Bun 6667 - I Can't Get Along Without You Baby / Just Loafin' - ?
Al Bun 70419 - I Can't Get Along Without You Baby / ? - ? 

The O'Kaysions / The Esquires

Collectables Col 031297 - Girl Watcher / Get On Up - ?

Candi Staton / Chick Carbo / Zastrow, Christie & Co. / The Esquires

Ripete 1016 - Suspicious Minds / In The Night /// Moonlight Boogie / Girls In The City - 1988

LPs

Bunky BS-300 - Esquires - Get on Up and Get Away - 1968
Tracks: And Get Away / Listen To Me / How Was I To Know / Groovin' / Everybody's Laughin' / How Could It Be // Get On Up / My Sweet baby / No Doubt About It / Woman / When I'm Ready / Things Won't Be The Same