Garnett Mimms
 

The Gainors (Philadelphia, PA)

Personnel :

Garnett Mimms (Lead)

Howard Tate

Sam Bell

Willie Combo

John Jefferson

Discography :

Singles :
1958 - The Secret / Gonna Rock Tonite (Cameo Parkway 151)
1958 - You Must Be An Angel / Follow Me (Cameo Parkway 156 / Red Top 110)
1959 - She's My Lollipop / Message With Flowers ((Mercury 71466))
1960 - She's Gone / Please Consider (Mercury 71569)
1960 - Nothing Means More To Me / I'm In Love With You ((Mercury 71630/71632)
1961 - This Is Perfect Moment / Where I Want To Be (Talley-Ho 102)
1961 - Tell Him / Darling (Talley-Ho 105)

Unreleased :
N/A - You Don't Send Me Anymore
N/A - Sapphire
N/A - I Love You
N/A - Too Marvelous to Be True
N/A - How Long Will It Last
N/A - My Heart Cries for You
N/A - Shrimp Boats
N/A - Let It Live





Biography :

The Gainors (formerly the Bel-Aires) who scored regionally their first time out-the-box in 1958 on Red Top Records with "The Secret," were Garnett Mimms, Howard Tate, Sam Bell, Willie Combo, and John Jefferson. Mimms formed the group in Philadelphia (where he was raised) after a stint in the Air Force; born Garrett Mimms in Ashland, WV, his family relocated to Philly where he got his start singing gospel with the Evening Stars, the Harmonizing Four, and the Norfolk Four who he cut his first record with in 1953.

   
Howard Tate                                                                                                 

 Howard Tate, the group's other illustrious member, was born in Macon, GA, and previously sang with the Bill Doggett Band. Sam Bell, became a songwriter of some note, writing for the late Lorraine Ellison, Tate (as a solo act), Garnett Mimms & the Enchanters, and others. "The Secret" was their most successful record, but a cover by Gordon McCrae sold even better, making the lower echelons of the charts while the Gainors' rendition failed to register nationally. Red Top followed it with a sweet ballad "You Must Be an Angel," a lesser local/regional hit but a hot item if you can find the original Red Top 45, going for around 500 smackers. Cameo Records picked up both Red Top singles in an attempt to bust 'em nationally.

   
                                                                                                                         Garnett Mimms

The quintet signed with Mercury Records from 1959-1960 and added three more singles, albeit unsuccessful, to their discography: "She's My Lollipop," "Please Consider," and "I'm in Love With You" b/w "Nothing Means More to Me." Two more droppings on Tally-Ho Records in 1961 -- "This Is the Perfect Moment" b/w "Where I Want to Be" and "Tell Him" b/w "Darlin" -- completed the Gainors brief history. They never had a national hit or even one that got as far as the Midwest despite the singing ability of Mimms and Tate. In 1963, Mimms formed Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters with Sam Bell, Charles Boyer, and Zola Pearnell.




Songs :

     
       The Secret                      Gonna Rock Tonite                 You Must Be An Angel

     
Follow Me                     She's My Lollipop                          She's Gone

     
Nothing Means More To Me        I'm In Love With You          This Is Perfect Moment    

  
Where I Want To Be                    Tell Him            



…

The Rubies (1) (New York)

Personnel :

?



Discography :

1961 - He Was An Angel / He's Mine (Empress 103)




Biography :

The Valmor Record Company was started in the fall of 1960 in New York City. It was a division of Countess, International, and owned and run by Gene and Jody Malis . Gene, a businessman, and the musically oriented Jody had started the Finesse label in New York in 1959. The Finesse label folded the same year it began.

In 1961, Valmor opened a subsidiary label, Empress. A group called the Rubies signed with them. The Rubies  recorded "He Was An Angel" b/w "He's Mine" released in September 1961. The Empress label lasted for eight singles or so, and did not put out any albums.




Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
He Was An Angel                             He's Mine           
 





…

Walter Jackson
 

The Velvetones (3) (Detroit)




Personnel :

Walter Jackson (lead)

Ronald Head

Neil Magby

Bobby Jones

Mary Nicholson





Discography :


1959 - Who Took My Girl / Stars Of Wonder (Deb 1008)





Biography :

Walter Jackson began singing in local groups whilst attending High School when His family relocated to Michigan. Walter had been crippled by polio as a child, and spent much of his life on crutches, although he never saw himself as a disabled person, however, his disability did contribute to a very personal and distinctive Soulful delivery. By 1959, Walter had become a member of the vocal group the Velvetones with Ronald Head, Neil Magby, Bobby Jones and Mary Nicholson , who recorded the song 'Who Took My Girl' b/w 'Stars Of Wonder' for the Deb Records imprint.

  
                                                                                                                         Walter Jackson

Walter returned to solo recording following the demise of the group, and, at the age of 24, he was persuaded by Carl Davis to leave Detroit and head for Chicago, following Carl attending a show at Detroit's 20 Grand Club and seeing Walter perform there. Carl was the head of A & R for Columbia's subsidiary, the OKeh label. Walter signed with OKeh in 1962, where he stayed for six years.





Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
Stars Of Wonder                                 Who Took My Girl





…

The Scuzzies (Click on Photo)

The Co-Eds (1) (New York)




Personnel :

Gwen Edwards (Lead)





Discography :

1956 – Love You Baby All The Time / I Beg Your Forgiveness (Old Town 1027)
1957 – I Love An Angel / I’m In Love (Old Town 1033)




Biography :

New York vocal group consisting of two women and three men. They signed a recording contract with Old Town Records owned by Hyman Y. "Hy" Weiss. The Co-eds recorded two singles for Old Town Records. Old Town Records, was established in August 1953 and was active until 1966. The company took its name, and its early stationery, from that of a wholesale paper business based in the same building. Weiss took sole control of the label in 1956.

He was primarily a producer of doo wop groups, as well as blues music. Old Town had its first hit with the 1958 single "We Belong Together" by Robert & Johnny, and had further hits by Billy Bland, the Solitaires, the Capris, the Earls, and others. Arthur Prysock was the label's primary album artist. The Old Town catalog was sold by Weiss to Atlantic Records in 1970.

Songs :

  
Love You Baby All The Time                     I Beg Your Forgiveness  

  
I’m In Love                                       I Love An Angel

…