The Esquires, an American R&B group from Milwaukee, were formed in 1957 by siblings Gilbert, Alvis, and Betty Moorer while still in school. They performed at local shows before expanding to include Harvey Scales and, in 1961, Sam Pace. The group first worked as background singers on sessions for Lonnie Walker and Mill Evans. Betty Moorer later pursued a solo career and was replaced by Shawn Taylor. Relocating to Chicago in 1966, they began recording under their own name. Their breakthrough came with “Get On Up” in early 1967, which reached number 3 on the R&B chart and number 11 on the Pop chart, leading to performances at the Regal Theatre in Chicago and the Apollo Theater in New York. The follow-up single “And Get Away” also charted, peaking at number 9, and the group released their debut album Get on Up and Get Away that same year. Further singles for Bunky and later Scepter and Wand Records failed to replicate this success, though they returned briefly to the charts in 1976 with “Get On Up ’76”. Additional albums followed, including The Esquires (1982), Whatcha Got? (1984), and The Esquires (1987), but the group never regained their late-1960s prominence. Gilbert Moorer’s death in 2008 effectively marked the end of the group.
