Donnie Elbert

Donnie Elbert (May 25, 1936 – January 26, 1989) was an American soul singer and songwriter, who had a prolific career from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s. His U.S. hits included "Where Did Our Love Go?", and his reputation as a Northern soul artist in the UK was secured by "A Little Piece of Leather", a performance highlighting his powerful falsetto voice.

Career Elbert was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but when aged three his family relocated to Buffalo, New York. He learned to play guitar and piano as a child, and in 1955 formed a doo-wop group, the Vibraharps, with friend Danny Cannon. Elbert acted as the group's guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and background vocalist, making his recording debut on their single "Walk Beside Me". He left the group in 1957 for a solo career, and recorded a demonstration record that earned him a recording contract with the King label's DeLuxe subsidiary. His solo debut "What Can I Do?" reached No. 12 in the U.S. R&B chart, and he followed it up with the less successful "Believe It or Not" and "Have I Sinned?", which became a regional hit in Pittsburgh. He then recorded singles for several labels, including Parkway, Cub and Checker, but with little success. However, although the 1965 Gateway label release of "A Little Piece of Leather" failed to chart in the US, the record became a No. 27 hit when released on the London label in the UK in 1972, and remains a Northern soul favorite.

| 1957

61 12 | 1970

98 26 | 1971

15 6 92 55 8

92 30

22 14 75 37 11

30

27 | 1973

77 | 1974

70 | 1977

94

Albums The Sensational Donnie Elbert Sings (King, 1959) Tribute to a King (1968) Where Did Our Love Go? (All Platinum, 1971) U.S. No. 153, R&B No. 45 Have I Sinned? (Deluxe, 1971) Stop in the Name of Love (Trip, 1972) A Little Bit of Leather (1972) Roots of Donnie Elbert (Ember, 1973) Dancin' the Night Away (All Platinum, 1977)