The Orioles have been called "the first R&B vocal group." Formed in 1947 as the Vibranaires in their hometown of Baltimore, they changed their name to the Orioles (the Maryland state bird) a year later. These five street-corner harmony pioneers imparted a skilled, soulful edge to the standard pop-crooning style of the day, and their appearance marked a shift in popular taste from big bands to small vocal groups. The Orioles established the basic pattern for the doo-wop sound: wordless, melismatic harmonies surrounding the tenor vocals of Sonny Til (born Earlington Carl Tilghman) and George Nelson's baritone. Their string of hits included three #1 R&B singles in the late Forties and early Fifties: "It's Too Soon to Know," "Tell Me So" and "Crying in the Chapel," all recorded for the Natural label (later Jubilee).