The Kiwis "Counting Stars" (1950's AI music)

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The Kiwis: The Rise and Fall of a Doo-Wop Dream

Travel back to the street corners of 1950s Philadelphia, where the smooth harmonies of The Kiwis once lit up the night air. This talented doo-wop group, formed by five neighborhood friends with a shared love for music, soared to local fame with their soulful hit, “Counting Stars.” The Kiwis captured the spirit of their city, with a sound as vibrant and full of life as the streets they sang on.

It all began in 1957, when The Kiwis—Frankie “T.J.” Jackson, Reggie Taylor, Clarence “Clyde” Washington, Bobby Lee Simmons, and Al “Ace” Johnson—started harmonizing together on the steps of their local high school. With no formal training, just raw talent and a knack for tight harmonies, they performed everywhere they could: at talent shows, street corners, and block parties. Their voices blended seamlessly, a perfect mix of sweet falsettos and deep baritones, catching the ear of a local DJ who was so impressed, he gave them a shot at recording a single.

That single was “Counting Stars,” a dreamy ballad about young love and endless nights under the city sky. The song quickly became a local sensation, climbing the Philly radio charts and getting steady play on jukeboxes across town. The Kiwis were suddenly in demand, performing at packed dance halls and neighborhood theaters, their harmonies drawing crowds of teenagers who swooned over their every note.

But as quickly as they rose, trouble was never far behind. Tensions began to simmer within the group. Frankie, the unofficial leader and lead singer, had a change of heart about the direction his life was heading. Influenced by his strict upbringing and his mother’s prayers, he started feeling pulled toward a higher calling. After a particularly tough show where everything seemed to go wrong, Frankie announced he was leaving the group to join the church. His decision sent shockwaves through the group and the local scene—how could The Kiwis continue without their frontman?

The group tried to move forward, now led by Reggie, but the dynamics had changed. Reggie, who had always been the most passionate and driven, began to struggle under the weight of leadership. As the pressures of keeping the group afloat mounted, he turned to substances to cope. What started as a way to take the edge off gradually spiraled into something darker. Reggie’s growing dependency on drugs began to affect his performances and relationships with the other members, leading to heated arguments and missed rehearsals.

With Tyrone in the church and Reggie battling his demons, The Kiwis started to crumble. The once tightly knit harmonies began to falter, their local gigs grew fewer and further between, and the group’s dreams of a national breakthrough slipped further from reach. Meanwhile, Clarence, Bobby Lee, and Al tried to hold things together, but the magic just wasn’t the same. Audiences sensed the change, and soon, the crowds grew smaller, the applause less enthusiastic.

By 1961, The Kiwis had all but disbanded. Frankie went on to become a beloved minister in his community, his voice still ringing out on Sundays in the church choir. Reggie’s road was rougher—he faced a long battle with addiction but eventually sought help, finding solace in community outreach programs and using his experience to guide other young musicians away from similar pitfalls.

Though The Kiwis' time in the spotlight was brief, the story of their rise and fall became a poignant legend in Philadelphia’s doo-wop history. Their hit, “Counting Stars,” remains a cherished relic of a time when the world was simpler, and dreams seemed just within reach.

Join us as we take a closer look at the story of The Kiwis—their brief burst of fame, their internal struggles, and the impact they left on a city that still remembers the nights they filled with song.

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