The Emeralds formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spring of 1953. The group consisted of lead singer Luther Bond, baritone Will Miller, tenors Charles Godfrey and Cedric Cox, and bass Clyde Giles. As they honed their harmonies and stage presence, they began participating in local amateur shows, which were popular in the early 1950s and served as a launching pad for many aspiring vocal groups. Soon, they secured a manager, Ernie Waits, a local radio personality, who sought opportunities for the group to record. His efforts led them to the Savoy Record Company in Newark, New Jersey, where they were signed by Fred Mendelsohn, the label's A&R chief.
Shortly after New Year's Day in 1954, the Emeralds convened in their hometown for a recording session with Savoy. Collaborating with session musicians Russ Hampton, Edwin Conley, Wilbur Jackson, and Charles Montgomery, they recorded "See What You Done" and "What If You," released as Savoy 1124, credited to Luther Bond "And His Emeralds." By March, trade publications reported strong sales in Newark and featured a testimonial from "Moondog" Freed in Cleveland. In June, Savoy released two additional tracks from the January session, "You Were My Love" and "Starlight, Starbright," on Savoy 1131.
On July 4, 1954, Luther Bond & The Emeralds performed at a significant show and picnic organized by radio station WNJR in Newark. Later that month, "You Were My Love" was recognized as a pick hit of the week in Cincinnati. The group continued to make appearances throughout the year to promote their two recordings. In late March 1955, they returned to the studio for another session in Cincinnati, this time with Wardell Fallon replacing Charles Godfrey. They recorded "It's Written In The Stars" and "I Won't Believe You Anymore," released on Savoy 1159. Although they recorded additional songs—"I'll Love Again" and "Chicka-Lee"—these were never released. All songs were penned by Luther Bond, with "It's Written In The Stars" exemplifying the stylistic sound of the era. Throughout the summer, Savoy Records promoted the group, though conflicting advertising identified them variably as "Luther Bond's Emeralds" and "Luther Bond," which may have contributed to the group's dissolution by the year's end.
At the start of 1956, Luther Bond assembled a new lineup of the Emeralds, including John Johnson, Willie King, and Robert Trice, with John McGue accompanying on guitar. This iteration secured a recording contract with Federal Records. In September 1956, Luther Bond & The Emeralds recorded "I Cry" and "He Loves You Baby" on Federal 12279. By November, the record was highlighted as a pick hit in trade publications, particularly in Cincinnati. However, it did not gain significant traction, and the group faded from the R&B scene for several years, punctuated by sporadic live performances and recording attempts.
In the summer of 1959, Luther Bond & The Emeralds signed with Showboat Records, a Nashville-based label associated with New York's Apollo Records. They recorded "Gold Will Never Do" and "Jitterbug Jamboree" for Showboat 1501. While the record received initial airplay in Nashville and Memphis, it failed to achieve national success. In November, Federal Records released two previously unreleased tracks, "Old Mother Nature" and "Six Foot Hole," on Federal 12368. Compounding their challenges, Ray Scrivener was engaged in selling his Republic Records label and buying out his interest in Showboat Records from Apollo.
The group recorded one final session that produced "Someone To Love Me" and "Should I Love You So Much" for Showboat 1505 in early 1960. After this record failed to garner attention, Luther Bond & The Emeralds disbanded, becoming yet another R&B vocal group that lingered on the fringes of the musical landscape. Luther Bond passed away in 1979, but the enduring quality of "It's Written In The Stars" continues to resonate with fans of this musical genre.
