Teen R&B vocal group the Students formed in Cincinnati in 1956 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile in the June 2000 issue of Discoveries, lead Leroy King, first tenor Dorsey Porter, second tenor Roy Ford, baritone John Bolden, bass Richard Johnson, and guitarist Ralph Byrd all met while attending Samuel Ach Junior High School. For the first two years of its existence the group performed as the D'Italians, and after a winning a series of local talent shows caught the attention of Otis Williams & the Charms, at that time Cincinnati's most popular R&B act. Williams not only helped the D'Italians land gigs but also brought them to the attention of Chess Records distributor Mel Herman, and in mid-1958 they signed to Chess' Checkerboard subsidiary. At Herman's urging, they rechristened themselves the Students before traveling to Chess' Chicago studio to cut their debut single, "I'm So Young," a song given to them by writer William "Prez" Tyus, a local high schooler.