I Wish That We Were Married by Ronnie & The Hi Lites

[cynthia6637]

YOU ARE SO RIGHT " MARTY"

MEMORIES ARE FREE, BUT PRICELESS

[4doororphan]

In my book, Ronnie Goodson's voice is a very close #2 to Frankie Lyman.

[rf2387]

I just found this song on iTunes . I am also from Jersey City NJ and grew up with Ronnie (fruits) Goodson. He was a great talent and tragically left this world at the height of his career. He along with the Manhattans are Jersey City's claim to fame.

[oldies19631]

Been searching for this song for a long time. Thanks !!!

[robshannon]

How could those times be so long ago.  It was a great world back in those days, how could we mess it up so badly?

[newsboi]

Props to the Chicano's for keeping oldies alive

as an Italian American who use to sing and made records appreciate that you do keep it alive.

Ronnie and The Hi Lites came from Jersey City

I still know and see one of them Alton O'Neil

[scrappypatty2008]

wow can't believe I found this song!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hah13]

all my friends and relatives are white and ar big collectors of old doo-wop music,,,there are record stores that specailise in this type of music...so, no offence, but lots of people save this type of music...its the best there ever was

[kjboogie]

ahhhhhh, ronnie, this is great,

thanks for the post,

ken

[ZapNation21]

Yes very true. If not for Chicanos playing these songs 24/7 they would have been buried by now. Viva La Raza!

[Azishome]

Not true at all. You see the comments left on doo-wop songs. There always has been a wide audience for doo wop music that is not Chicano. Actually, Chicanos adopted good ole American Doo Wop for your own entertainment and identity purposes.

[ZapNation21]

Yes, but these comments are from people that heard these song as youngsters. The "now" generation from any culture, except Chicano, do not listen to these priceless treasure. Chicanos pass these songs down to the next generation. Young Blacks prefer Rap and Hip Hop, Whites like Punk and Hard Metal, but young Chicanos Love these Lowrider Oldies!

[Azishome]

Have now idea what you're talking about. You said that if it were not for Lowriders, these oldies would have been buried. As I said, there has always been a culture of Doo Wop lovers who are NOT Chicanos. We kept these records alive in our little 33 and 45 collections, playing them for ourselves. They would have never been buried. As I said, Chicanos adapted music that was once in the mainstream and brought it to yourselves.

[ZapNation21]

Yes, but once the next generation takes over, they will be buried. Chicanos will keep this music alive forever. No other culture has such a great passion for these oldies more than our culture.

[zeke1312]

@ZapNation21 What's that all about? Get real. Culture? What culture?

[zeke1312]

@Azishome Very true!

[Azishome]

@ZapNation21 You don't see the comments from teenagers and youngsters on these doo-wop songs? I don't think they're all Chicanos. Face it, man. You're talking boo-zwah.

[ZapNation21]

@Azishome Too Late. This Is Chicano Music Now. If You Dont Like It, Lump It.

[Azishome]

@ZapNation21 No, Chicano. YOU lump it. All you guys did was hijack it, decorate it with really ugly art work and ride around in wife beaters. You are really pathetic, and our doo-wop music still belongs to us.

[ZapNation21]

@Azishome Bullcrap, you insipid idiot. Go collect yer welfare check and sit around in your beat up ez chair in your food stained wife beater. You guys made them famous

[barriobajaj]

The Low Rider Culture here in Southern California have kept this song alive for many years. Kinda reminds me of Frankie Lymon.

[gypsyqueen4life]

From my mom Diane Hoffman ~ Lincoln HS had the best assemblies when Ronnie was the main attraction... Miss those times & the people :)

[hotskel2546]

I feel so stupid. I bought this single back in the 60's. This was a huge song in Philly. For almost 50 years I thought Ronnie was a girl. I guess it was the crying.

[WATKINS4859]

Ronnie and I were classmates at P.S.#14.. He used to pinch my cheek and call me "Da-yee" There were those times when he would "call for me" come way down on Minerva Street and he would leave with my older sister. The girls (esp. older ones) just loved him. Ronnie would always have a song for them. Glad to find this site...... Donald

[WATKINS4859]

Went to Lincoln too 61 - 65 ...DLW

[fordoowopmarty]

( Memories are "FREE" but "PRICELESS" )

[beefoneeto]

I saw Kid Kyle do this at a UGHA show.He of course nailed it.

[tonyroma1161]

nice

[pernttree57]

I knew Ronnie, I lived on Lexington Ave.,went to Lincoln high .He used walk down the street singing away, with his dog Caesar at his side......It was a great neighborhood

[kjboogie]

Ahhhhhhhhh, takes me back.

[RXRguy]

This and "I want to dance a slow dance" just don't get the air time any more :-(

[BigIronOnHipMan]

alan ~ I saw Kid Kyle on one of the PBS DOO-WOP Specials on 13 and the boy can chime! I'd particularly like to see and hear him do this classic. I can't imagine though that he'd be able to add all those emotion-filled sobs and such, which for me, really add another layer of poignance to "IWTWWM" by Ronnie & The Hi Lites...

[fordoowopmarty]

You said it ALL, Bigiron!

Would that be Iron City?

[alanhfrank]

A wonderful compliment to the original has been done by another NJ kid (13 year old) Kid Kyle.

[bbbshipley47]

Boy do I thank you for this post. The group from

Jersey City, N.J. Such a great voice and a fun loving person, whom I had the pleasure of knowing as a church member back then in the early 60s. I have not heard this song in so many years -so I truly thank you so very much!!

[sybilian]

From Lincoln High School

[bbbshipley47]

Great days back then in Lincoln High. From 1961 I use to belong to the social group called the "Escorts" with fellow classmate Jack Wells. Lots of great times back then. Good to hear from people from Jersey City; especially from Lincoln High School. From and old "Escort" Reggie!

[sybilian]

Didn't go to Lincoln. Lived on Belmont and Cresent Ave. HS from 59-63. Most all of my buds went there. Used to hang on the Junction down the street. Worked 35 years with good bud from Lafayette class of 64. Great music and good times.

You stay well.....JC was a good place to be.

[bbbshipley47]

No the area quite well; I grew up on Jewett Ave, between Summit and Monticello Ave. Went to Lincoln High from 61'-63', then Dickinson High from 63'-65' before going to Nam in 66' in the Navy. Yes back then JC was a good place to be, but I left in 83' where I now live in San Antonio, Tx. You also stay well!

[BigIronOnHipMan]

I just attended my 40 Year HS Reunion in Wayne, NJ this past Saturday night Oct 25th. Billie Jean who used to have what we called "Make Out" parties was there and this was one of the songs that we turned the lights way way down so we could dance to it. Dang! I wish I owned a Time Machine...

[Paulkyser]

I thank Hal Wiese amd Marion Wiese for taking me into the recording studio when I was a kid and teaching me the rops and making me a better song writer. I developed into a Record producer, writer, arranger and conductor myself.

I went on to Produce Jimmy Briscoe and the Little Beavers, The Soul Generations to name a few hits i produced.

Paul Kyser

[socafeva]

Paul Kyser????? OMG! I'm Jill....Hal and Marion's daughter. The last name is Weiss. My mom is still going strong. Now I do what both of them used to do, but I do reggae music.

[faronfan]

I wished so hard, I did get married in 1962 in Jersey City,NJ...Ronnie's hometown also.

[spoonfedent]

my grandmother marion wess wrote this song and my grandfather hal wess arranged. i couldn't be any prouder of my heritage.

[davesharon5747]

the lead singer, Ronnie Goodson, died of a brain tumor at the age of 31 in 1980. He was only 12 years old when this song was recorded and hit the charts at #16 on 3/31/1962!

[billchew450]

@davesharon5747 I always thought Ronnie was a girl. So sorry to hear of such a short ending to the man's life.

[HIGHSCHOOLHOP]

Years ago I attended a party and everytime they played this recorded I danced with the same girl. This is a wonderful song from a wonderful time (1962).

[gransport160]

haven't heard this since 62/63..thanks

[fordoowopmarty]

We all wished this back when.