Forming shortly after WWII, the Syncopaters started life as a street-corner group in the neighborhood of 5th and K in Southeast Washington, D.C. Walter Sutler said that they "came from the shadows of the Capitol." Their idols were the Ink Spots and the Charioteers. "We sang sentimental ballads - no shouting," said James Pinkney (no relation to Drifters' bass Bill Pinkney). Although the Syncopaters were young (17-18), they were very popular with older audiences because of their material and delivery.

The group consisted of James Pinkney (lead tenor), George Summers (second tenor), Howard "Ghostie" Smith (baritone), his brother, Theodore Smith (bass, baritone and second lead), and Edmond Johnson (bass, baritone, and guitar).

On August 21, 1949, the Syncopators entered an amateur show at Sparrows Beach. Not only did they win, but they received a large console television as a prize. The accompanying photo (which is of horrible quality, but is the only known picture of the group) was from the Washington Afro-American (8/27/49), and had this caption:

The Syncopators, quintet of Washington, who won first prize in the Sunday talent contest at Sparrows Beach, standing by their television console which was awarded by the Baker Appliance Shop, 1538 Pulaski St, Baltimore. The contest, a battle between two cities, was co-sponsored and emceed by Harold Jackson, disk jockey of radio stations WSID, Baltimore and WOOK, Washington.

Afterwards, the group went to see Harold Jackson, a very influential DJ in the area, to see if he'd manage them. According to Pinkney, he was then on station WINX (which was owned by the Washington Post). However, Jackson, who managed several DC groups at the time, was too busy to even see them. Instead, they turned to another WINX personality, Walter Sutler. He agreed to manage them, but soon Harold Jackson became a co-manager.

Since Sutler and Jackson knew Al Green, owner of National Records, they had him come to the Regal Theater in Baltimore to see the Syncopators perform; Green signed the group on the spot.

The Syncopators journeyed to New York for a session at Bell Studios. Since there were no record companies of any size in the Baltimore/DC area, all aspiring singers had to travel to record. Thus, the Syncopaters journeyed to New York for a session at Bell Studios, in Queens. In October 1949, the group recorded four tunes, all with Pinkney in the lead: "Mule Train," "These Are Things I Want To Share With You," "River Stay Away From My Door," and "Out In The Cold Again." Their session was overseen by Howard Biggs, who had been the arranger for the Ravens (although by this time he'd left them for the Beavers). Phil Rose, who would subsequently own Glory Records, was also involved.

In October, 1949, National issued "Mule Train," backed with "River Stay Away From My Door." This, according to Walter Sutler is the story of "Mule Train." The song (written by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath, and Fred Glickman) was owned by Mercury Records, whose president, Irving Green, just happened to be the son of National's Al Green. It was decided to let National have the rights for about a month to see if one of their artists could do anything with it. The song was given to the Syncopators, and their version is actually the original recording.

When National prepared an ad for "Mule Train," the group was shown as a quartet. To make everything fit, they cut James Pinkney out of the group's photo!

Sutler sent a copy to President Harry S. Truman, who acknowledged it in a letter. This was good for positive press coverage, and the disc started to do well in the DC area. However, there was little in the way of promotion from National, and sales soon trickled off. At this point, Mercury reclaimed the rights and gave the song to Frankie Laine. (National then stopped production of the Syncopators' version so as not to compete with Mercury. This is why "These Are Things I Want To Share With You" was released a second time a month later, with "River Stay Away From My Door" as the flip.)

The Syncopaters appeared at Harlem's Baby Grand, Baltimore's Regal, and DC's Howard (with Sammy Davis, Jr. in his first show televised from a theater).

But then, Harold Jackson relocated to New York's WLIB. Although the Syncopators appeared on his "House That Jack Built" show, he no longer had time to manage them. Within months of their session, with no promotion, little management and some internal problems, the group broke up.

That the group disbanded so quickly was a blow to James Pinkney, since, when they were in New York, he refused to leave the group to become a soloist (he was once rated the highest tenor in DC). Although the Syncopators' sound was a take-off on the Ink Spots, they added a more polished background harmony.

After the Syncopators' break-up. Pinkney tried his hand at being a solo artist, but nothing ever came of it. Bandleader Lucky Millinder held a talent contest in DC, which Pinkney won by singing "Don't Take Your Heart From Me." The first prize was to be a New York recording date and a feature role in a movie. Although Millinder confirmed this by letter, he never sent for Pinkney and the deal fell through. Second lead Teddy Smith went on to become the bass player with the Horace Sliver Quintet.

Although the Syncopators' career was all too brief, we at least have the legacy of their sole session. "These Are Things I Want To Share With You" is one of the most beautiful R&B ballads and "River Stay Away From My Door" is a lively treatment of the old standard.

NATIONAL
9093 These Are Things I Want To Share With You (JP/TS)/Mule Train (JP) - 10/49
9095 These Are Things I Want To Share With You (JP/TS)/River Stay Away From My Door (JP/TS) - 11/49

   UNRELEASED NATIONAL
      Out In The Cold Again (JP/TS)

LEADS: JP - James Pinkney; TS - Theodore Smith