The Beale Street Boys

William Barnes - 1st tenor Bob Davis - 2nd tenor James Pugh - baritone David Pugh - bass The Pughs were twin brothers from Memphis, TN. Barnes was from Rolling Fork, MS, and Davis from Charleston, MS. They met while attending Lemoyne College in Memphis TN. They started their career on WREC radio in Memphis. Morton Downey Sr. discovered them and took them to New York City, where they were signed by CBS radio. The Beale Street Boys first appeared in 1947. They signed to record with MGM Records in 1948. They recorded eight sides for MGM and then just disappeared. Their sound has been compared to that of the Mills Brothers, the Delta Rhythm Boys, and the Ravens. Note: In 1934 and again in 1937, in the files of Columbia Records, six tunes recorded by a group called the Beale Street Boys can be found. However, one cannot confirm if this group is the same as these songs were never released.