Salome Bey was born and raised in
Philadelphia. He came to Chester in 1971 and that city has claimed
him as its own.
Salome began his journey in music entertainment as a singer at a
young age in South Philly where he grew up and went to school. In
the late Nineteen Fifties, Salome along with Ike Smith, Melvin
Wright, Heywood Royster and John “Buck” McLauglin sang together
and formed The Daytons. The Daytons, a name lifted
from a popular shoe style of the late 1950’s, were ready to take on
all comers.
They began their career doing house parties. They practiced at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center and competed at the recreation center and South Philly HS in “sing- offs”. They competed with home turf rivals – Chubby Checker’s confab – The Quantrells, Bunny Sigler’s boys – The Opals and later, Pat and the Blenders. Plus they sang along side these guys at talent shows in many of the same venues.
Salome with the Daytons went on to record King of Broken hearts for the NORGOLDE record label. Live appearances ensued, including one at the ever popular televised Summer Time at the Pier with Grady & Hurst in glitzy Atlantic City. All this transpired while Salome and the others were still attending Barrett Junior High School. The popularity of King of Broken Hearts and the Daytons subsided. The group took stock of their options and enrolled in high school. Salome attended Bok High and escorted Patty Labelle to the Junior/Senior Prom (11/27/59).
Later, Salome was off singing with Bunny Sigler and his crew. In 1963 Melvin and Ike reunited with Salome forming The Three Jokers and waxed a two-sider for Mercury Records entitled, He’s A Bum/ Hi Diddle Diddle. Salome, Melvin and Ike changed their name to the Three Strangers and recorded with ABC – Paramount and Frantic Records, and later with Broadway Records as The Thieves. Salome was in the early R&B mix and worked with such music greats as Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Tommy Bell.
In the mid Nineteen Sixties, Salome formed a trio named Salome and the Brotherhood. In 1976 he formed another group named Eastern Standard Band. Today they are still working in Atlantic City Casinos, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware County.
Salome Bey has aquired a quiet fame and popularity that can still fill a room with appreciative fans. His coming appearance at André Café Acoustique is sure to result in a return engagement by “popular demand”.
