Cortez "Winky" Greer
"The Doo-Wop Man"
Winky and the Cupids
Cortez "Winky" Greer was born July 16, 1940, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and died an untimely death on November 4, 1976. One of 8 children, Cortez grew up in Chattanooga and was a 1962 graduate of Howard High School. In 1961, Cortez Greer made his debut professional singer in a Doo-Wop group called The Cupids with Ed Johnson and Bobby Bender. He was discovered as a result of a performance on the Ted Mack Original Talent Show and since then, he traveled the world and performed for the likes of James Brown and toured with Bill Cosby. Cortez completed one album "Live At Scarlett O'Hara's" and another was slated for release in February 1977.
His Impact
He made quite an impression on those who were fortunate enough to hear him perform. Following are only a few of the many rave reviews he received during his short career:
"Behind a mic, he's nothing short of dynamic. With rhythm in his fingertips and sweat running down his face in a continual stream, Cortez has the audience eating out of his hands." -Emmett Weaver of the Birmingham Post Herald, May 19, 1972 (AL)
"From the second he steps into the spotlight he is one large bundle of nervous energy, almost like a pressure cooker ready to burst."
"[Cortez] ends his shows expressing his love of America and his feelings that to make the country better than it already is, everyone must work together and give thanks to the Almighty."-Jeff Kline of The Ledger, December 6, 1974 (Tampa, FL)