as an eleven-year-old darnell achieved local fame as a gospel singer, and left home at 15 years of age to work as a dancer with a burlesque road show, the brownskin models. in new orleans he gained steady employment as a singer at the dew drop inn. in 1949 he was signed up by fred mendelsohn for the regal label in new jersey. his first two recordings, "i'll get along somehow" and "for you my love", both hit the r&b charts in november 1949, with "for you my love", written by paul gayten, staying at the # 1 spot for eight weeks.