The Donays

The Donays were a 1960s R&B girl-group out of Hamtramck, Michigan.[1] In 1961 the group recorded Richard P. Drapkin (aka Ricky Dee) song "Devil in His Heart" for Detroit's Correc-tone Records. Possibly produced in Detroit by Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, it and "Bad Boy" may be the only Donays recordings.[2]

In August, 1962 the recording was released as the B-side of "Bad Boy" on larger New York label Brent.[3] The record was somehow discovered (perhaps by George Harrison, who sings the lead vocal) and recorded by the Beatles in 1963, retitled as "Devil in Her Heart".[2]

The lead singer of The Donays was Yvonne Vernee Allen. A decade later, Motown group The Elgins (which broke up in 1967) reunited to tour Britain in 1971 after it enjoyed two unexpected UK Top 20 hits. Yvonne, previously a session vocalist, took the place of former lead vocalist Saundra Mallett Edwards. The reunion sputtered. Yvonne continued singing into the 1990s, working for Ian Levine's Motor City label.[4]

References

  1. ^ ""Devil In Her Heart" History". BEATLES MUSIC HISTORY. DKR Products. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b Peneny, DK. "The Donays". The History of Rock 'n Roll: The Golden Decade 1954 -1963. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ^ Donays, The – Bad Boy / Devil In His Heart Brent 7033.
  4. ^ Colin Larkin, The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, at Oldies.com


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