Girl Group Chronicles: The Donays

During the peak years of the girl group era, usually 1961-1966, many obscure groups came and went from the music scene with very little notice. Although these groups recorded many great songs which, in hindsight, should have been classics. One group which could have been just another statistic actually played a part in a rrock and roll revolution.

The Donays, featuring lead vocalist Yvonne Allen (aka Yvonne Vernee) recorded a two sided single in 1961 titled "Devil In His Heart b/w Bad Boy." Although it definitely sounds as though it was recorded in Detroit by members of the Funk Brothers (the Motown houseband), some historians claim it was actually created in Los Angeles. The rresult was a beautiful example of early girl pop. The song did not stir much interest in the record buying public, and the group split up soon afterward.

Yvonne went on to record a few rare solo numbers, but the Donays soon found themselves back in the spotlight when the Beatles cut the top-side of their sole single for their first album. "Devil In Her Heart," as it was now called, gained a wide audience as the Beatles soon became house-hold names. The Donays did not reunite or tour to promote their original version, however, and Allen soon found her way to Motown. She replaced Saundra Mallet as lead voice in the Elgins, and has stayed with that group ever since.