The Sheppards was an American, Chicago-based soul and blues vocal group. The group was formed in 1959 by the members of the Ballads and the Bel Aires and was active until 1969.[1] The group was named after producer Bill Sheppard[2] and consisted of Millard Edwards (lead and bass), Jimmy Allen (baritone), James Dennis Isaac (bass and fifth tenor), O. C. Perkins (second tenor), Murrie Eskridge (lead and top tenor), and Kermit Chandler (guitar).[1][3] They recorded for Vee-Jay Records, and were featured on compilations such as Tomorrow's Hits (1962).
Bill Bunky Sheppard began working with doo-wop groups in Chicago during the 1950s, independently producing such acts as the Sheppards and the Bel Aires. He operated the Apex label (1959–1962), on which he recorded Danny .
Sheppard was getting some success on the successor group of the Bel Aires called the Sheppards, so Davis teamed up with him to form Pam Productions in 1961. The Sheppards are highly regarded today by those familiar with the group's music, but by and large they remain unknown to the vast majority of rhythm-and-blues fans. Their relative obscurity perhaps can be attributed to the fact that they were popular during the long-denigrated early- 1960s era of rock 'n' roll, when doowop was largely a memory and soul had a few years to go before it would make its impact.
