Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp Live!

Praia Entertainment Group presents...

Find us on-line:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • News, Articles, & Interviews
  • Past Shows
  • Obits
  • Contact Us
  • Events Calendar

Wally Roker of The Heartbeats has passed away

December 2, 2015 by Joe Mirrione

Wally Roker has passed away at the age of 78.  As bass singer and one of the leaders of The Heartbeats, he sang on influential seminal R&B recordings including “Crazy for You”, “A Thousand Miles Away” and “Your Way”.  The Heartbeats were a tremendous inspiration to other, mainly white vocals groups, that followed, most notably perhaps The Elegants.

Roker continued on in the music business after the group’s demise, including being instrumental in the formative years and success of Sceptre Records including introducing label owner Florence Greenberg to Luther Dixon, who went on to write many of the hits for The Shirelles and other Sceptre artsits.  Originally from NY, Roker relocated to LA and, through the 1960s until his death, worked for several labels in promotion and distribution, including ABC and TRC as well as running his own Canyon, Roker, RRG, Soul Clock and Stardom, many under the banner of Roker Record Group.  He recently found himself back in the headlines, embroiled in a $155-million-dollar lawsuit after Nina Simone’s ex-husband licensed Simone’s music to Wally against their daughter’s wishes.

Wally was always Wally & the original Heartbeats made occasional returns to the stage to sing their biggest hits for fans with Walter Crump (original Heartbeat Albert Crump’s brother) on lead.

Wally’s health had been failing and he underwent brain surgery in November.  He passed away on December 1, 2015.

Filed Under: Obits

Insider Events Newsletter

Sign up for advance notice of upcoming events & special offers…

Recent Articles & Interviews

Jukebox Jams continue on ABC-TV’s The View

Jukebox Jams continue on ABC-TV’s The View

Much to the delight of doo wopp fans everywhere, ABC-TV’s The View has featured some of the best-known groups of the 50’s and 60’s live on national television over the course of the last several weeks.  The series was sparked by a performance by acappella stars The Persuasions on May 26, in which they mentioned
Read Full Article Here

Recent News

Malt Shop Memories Cruise 2015  line-up announced

Malt Shop Memories Cruise 2015 line-up announced

Neil Sedaka, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, The Four Tops, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Ben E. King, Lou Christie and Darlene Love are just a few of the stars that will grace the stages of the Holland America Eurodam November 1 – 8 of 2015. With cabins starting at $1875 for an inside
Read Full Article Here

Contact Us

Address:

Praia Entertainment Group, Inc.
2385 NW Executive Center Dr Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone:

1-800-385-8205

© Copyright 2018 Premier Entertainment Group, Inc. · All Rights Reserved · Google+