The PERSIANS, hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, cut seven singles on ABC-Paramount, GWP, GWP Grapevine and Capitol Records. The members were James Ellis (first tenor), Leroy Priester (baritone), Freddie Lewis (bass), James Harlee (baritone), and William June Brown (second tenor); Louis Crawley replaced Brown in 1971. "Too Much Pride," their debut on ABC Paramount, released in the summer of 1968, is their most memorable recording. They toured the DJ circuit, doing little television shows at odd hours to promote the record. Turbans (usually the only piece of clothing they wore that matched) and hard passionate singing were the group's trademarks.
