Jewell And The Rubies

Rhythm & blues / swamp pop band from Ville Platte, Louisiana, founded in the early 1960s by then James Stephens High School band director Jewell Douglas. Douglas recruited a number of his current and former students to form the group. Their first record, "Kidnapper", became a big hit in 1963, and they ended up recording two more records the same year. The band was busy for a couple of years, performing in high schools, small clubs and sororities. But, the group's inability to travel to support their records (some of the members were still in high school), coupled with the failure to record a notable single after "Kidnapper," and members eventually going off to college or joining other bands, the group just ceased to exist. Line-up in the picture: Hershey Deville - piano; Sylvester Weatherall - lead guitar, Ralph Frank - alto saxophone, Milton Lazar - bass, Rogers Thomas - trombone, vocals, Clarence Gallow - drums, Lannis Fontenot - lead vocals, Jewell "Doug" Douglas - band leader, saxophone, Leroy Alfred - lead vocals