The Heartbeats were formed in the mid 1950s in Jamaica, Queens. Originally called "The Hearts", they switched in 1955 when a female group by the same name scored a minor billboard hit. The members were Robbie Tatum, Wally Roker, Vernon Sievers, Albert Crump and James Sheppard.

Lead singer James "Shep" Sheppard co-wrote a series of velvety doo wop ballads for the Heartbeats during the mid-'50s; one entry, "A Thousand Miles Away," was a huge R&B seller in 1956. The Queens, NY, quintet began their string of street-corner classics with "Crazy for You" and "Darling How Long," culminating with "A Thousand Miles Away." The Heartbeats recorded for Hull, Rama, Roulette, Gee, and Guyden before packing it in. In 1961 the lead singer formed a new trio, Shep & the Limelites, and scored on the charts with a heartwarming sequel to his first hit, "Daddy's Home," for Hull. "Our Anniversary" also sold well for the trio the next year, but they broke up soon thereafter.

The Hearbeats still perform to this day with Walter Crump now singing the lead.

http://home.att.net/~uncamarvy/Heartbeats/heartbeats.html

(Internet Article on The Heatbeats)