Singer, Songwriter. He sang tenor as an original member of The Monotones, a sextet vocal group formed in New Jersey in 1955. They launched their career with a 1956 appearance on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour television program, winning first prize for their rendition of the Cadillacs' "Zoom". The following year, with co-member Warren Davis, Malone wrote the song "Book of Love"; recorded on the Ascot label, it went to number 5 on the charts in 1958 and has remained on Billboard magazine's best-selling songs list to this day. The fame of the Monotones grew in touring with the likes of Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and Frankie Lymon. They also appeared at the Apollo Theater and on TV well into the 1960s. "Book of Love" was used as the theme of TV's "The Newlywed Game" and has been covered by more than 50 different artists, including Doo-Wop revivalists Sha Na Na, who sang it at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. In the 1990s, Malone and the Monotones got back together to perform on the oldies circuit. He died of a stroke.
Singer, Songwriter. He sang tenor as an original member of The Monotones, a sextet vocal group formed in New Jersey in 1955. They launched their career with a 1956 appearance on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour television program, winning first prize for their rendition of the Cadillacs' "Zoom". The following year, with co-member Warren Davis, Malone wrote the song "Book of Love"; recorded on the Ascot label, it went to number 5 on the charts in 1958 and has remained on Billboard magazine's best-selling songs list to this day. The fame of the Monotones grew in touring with the likes of Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and Frankie Lymon. They also appeared at the Apollo Theater and on TV well into the 1960s. "Book of Love" was used as the theme of TV's "The Newlywed Game" and has been covered by more than 50 different artists, including Doo-Wop revivalists Sha Na Na, who sang it at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. In the 1990s, Malone and the Monotones got back together to perform on the oldies circuit. He died of a stroke.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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