Mad Lads was formed in 1964 at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee. John Gary Williams, Julius E. Green, William Brown, and Robert Phillips comprised the original line-up. The group recorded on the Volt label, a subsidiary of the legendary Stax label out of Memphis, Tennessee. They were one of the few groups at Stax whose harmonies were influenced by the doo-wop sound. Their hits include “I Want Someone,” “I Don’t Have to Shop Around,” and “I Want a Girl.” Today, Mad Lads continues to tour with its original lead singer, John Gary Williams.