R.B. Greaves

R.B. Greaves has an interesting family background and history, one that's actually more significant than his R&B track record. Greaves was born on November 28, 1944, at the US Air Force base in Georgetown, British Guyana. Half American Indian, he grew up on a Seminole reservation in California. The nephew of Sam Cooke, Greaves moved to England in 1963 and was lead singer of Sonny Childe & The TNT's. He had his moment of glory in 1969 with "Take a Letter Maria", which peaked at #2 on the pop charts and #10 R&B in December 1969. His remake of "Always Something There to Remind Me" peaked at #27 in February 1970, and he was soon off Atlantic's subsidiary label Atco. In 1977, Greaves tried recording for the Bareback label; it didn't revive his career.