The Larks were an American vocal group formed in the late 1920s, initially known as the Selah Jubilee Singers. Founded by Thermon Ruth in New York City, the group later based themselves in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they had a radio show and recorded for Decca Records and other smaller labels in the 1940s. The Larks' lineup included Eugene Mumford, Allen Bunn, Hadie Rowe Jr., David McNeil, Raymond "Pee Wee" Barnes, and Orville Brooks. In 1950, they recorded 17 songs for four different labels under various names before settling on The Larks. Their breakthrough came in 1951 with the release of "Eyesight to the Blind", which reached number 5 on the Billboard R&B chart. This was followed by another Top 10 hit, "Little Side Car". The group appeared on popular TV shows like Perry Como and Arthur Godfrey, toured with Percy Mayfield, and recorded with Mahalia Jackson. However, internal changes led to the group's disbandment in 1952. The Larks reformed briefly in 1953 with a new lineup, including Glenn Burgess, David "Boots" Bowers, and Isaiah Bing, but disbanded again in 1955 without significant commercial success. Posthumous releases include The Jerk (1965), I Don't Believe In Tomorrow EP (2006), Birdland (2006), Stolen Love (2007), and Classic Doowop 3 (2009).
