Mount Laurel Resident’s Musings of a Musical Past

When we think of Black History month, we often neglect to consider strides made in the musical industry by the black community. Mount Laurel is home to resident Sandra Person Pratt, a Sixties sensation, who performed in the “Doo Wop” era as part of the Orlons, a hit-making group from Philadelphia. In a recent interview, Sandra was asked to share memories of her musical sojourn and experiences with the Orlons.

Sandra was invited to join the Orlons in September 1963 by a childhood friend who happened to be the group’s guitarist. She recalled that a replacement singer was needed because one of the girls was getting married. At that time, Sandra had no other employment prospects, so with her parents’ permission and blessing, she became an ‘Orlon’.

In the early to mid 1960’s, the Orlons, (Cameo-Parkway recording artists), had several hit records: ‘Mr. Twenty-One’, ‘South Street’, ‘Don’t Hang Up’, ‘Wah-Watusi’, and ‘Not Me’. Their extensive singles catalog also included several popular albums.

Sandra’s tenure with the Orlons afforded her the opportunity to perform in a variety of theaters such as the Apollo (NY), the Uptown (Philadelphia), the Royal (Baltimore) and the Howard (Washington, DC). She has fond memories of performing with B.B. King, The Shirelles, Gene Chandler (aka “The Duke of Earl”), Marvin Gaye, and a host of other entertainment legends. She also has fond memories of teen dance show appearances and live radio interviews.

However, Sandra’s most memorable and exciting events were two ‘Road Tours’ in 1964. The Jackie Wilson tour featured Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, Dionne Warwick, the Orlons, and other artists. A subsequent tour was headlined by James Brown, The ‘Godfather of Soul’. This tour showcased Otis Redding, The Tams, Dionne Warwick, Garnet Mims and the Enchanters. These tours afforded Sandra the opportunity to perform before large audiences in auditoriums, concert halls, and stadiums in several major mid-western and southern cities.

Sandra recalled that touring by bus was both exhilarating and exhausting. Most of their travel itinerary was filled with one night stands. She explained that traveling in the South in those days was a daunting experience. Jim Crow laws and segregation were prevalent. Accommodations for artists were limited to black-owned hotels; especially in the southern states. Indoor dining was mostly nonexistent on the tour circuit. Therefore, many meals were packaged in brown paper bags for back door pick up. Separate restrooms and drinking fountains were the norm. Even concerts were segregated with white fans on the auditorium floor and black fans in the balconies.

Glimmers of hope were evident because jubilant devotees, both black and white, loved the music. Sandra recalled how eager fans lingered at stage doors to get performers’ autographs. She distinctly remembered a time when a young Caucasian admirer requested that she autograph his tee shirt. Feeling honored by the request, she happily complied.

Sandra’s musical journey with the Orlons was most memorable and rewarding. As she reflected upon that era of division and strife in the South, she remembers how music, (the universal language of love), brought both entertainment and enjoyment to all audiences. Sandra strongly believes people have come a long way since then as the lyrics below affirm.

“Look how far God’s brought us, look how far we’ve come.

We’re not what we want to be, but we’re not what we used to be.

Thank you, Lord for what You’ve done!”