the Invictas / the Del Victors

Cleveland, 1958-1964

1959 ad

This Cleveland group was led by Nathaniel 'Nate' Reese.Steve Bell is the only other confirmed member. The started as the Invictas and recorded a 45 for the Pix label run by Perry Stevens and Shelley Haims. "Over the Wall" got some airplay on a couple Cleveland stations. The group opened for Roy Brown for a week at Hound Dog's Den.

There aren't a lot of mentions of the group in the local papers. 

The group changed their name to the Del Victors and recorded a couple more songs at Fortune studios in Detroit. The group still had their strong vocal group style in place. The recordings were "Oh Lover", written and lead by Nate, and "Acting Up", written and lead by Steve Bell. The amazing Fortune records sound elevates the mood of the record making a great 45.

A year or so later, the group returned to Fortune and recorded at least one more song, "Baby Sitter I Love You", credited to Fortune co-owner Devora Brown. The group's use of classic doowop syllables had been smoothed out to meet the emerging soul style. The other side of the record reused "Oh Lover".

That's all we know. Nate Reese had a re-emergence, at least in terms of club listings, during 1970-1973, fronting a few different groups, including recording a 45 with Brown Sugar.

Discography:
Over The Wall / Lest You Forget - Pix 1102, July/Aug 1959
Acting Up / Oh Lover - Hi-Q 5028, 1962
Oh Lover / (Poly Woly Choo Choo Roly Poly Goo Goo) Baby Sitter I Love You - Hi-Q 5028/5082, 1963