doo-wop

The Teensters

The Velveteens (1) (Agawam, Massachusetts)




Personnel :

Maureen Grady (Lead)

Nancy Roy

Judy Roy replaced by  Sandy Vigneault





Discography :

1960 - Please Holy Father Pt.1 / Please Holy Father Pt.2. (Stark 12591)
1961 - Teen Prayers / Baby-Baby (Stark 101/102)
1961 - I Thank You / Meant To Be (Stark 105/Laurie 3126)




Biography :

Vocal group from Agawam, Massachusetts, The Teensters (Judy Schinelli, Maureen Grady, Nancy Roy and Judy Roy) sang in their Junior High school choir. After Judy Schinelli left the group, the name was changed to "The Velveteens". The Velveteens' first recording was called "Please Holy Father" on Chuck Lidell's label Stark Records. Backing the girls was a local group called Monty & the Specialties. After the first recording, Judy Roy left the group and was replaced by Sandy Vigneault of West Springfield.

  
The Velveteens                                                                                                                  

Chuck Liddell changed the song a little and the girls went back to New York to record "Teen Prayer", the new title. Maureen Grady was the lead singer and the song reached number one in this area in May of 1961. The same year, the Girls cut "I Thank You" b/w "Meant To Be" on Stark 105 and re-released the next year on Laurie Records. The Velveteens can be heard as stated above SHOUTING behind The Davi recordings on Stark#110 "Go Charley" .





Songs :

     
Please Holy Father                   Teen Prayers                  Meant To Be











...

The Marcels (1)  (Pittsburg, Ca.)
aka  The Inspirations (1)

Personnel :

Carleton Brown (Lead)

Cedric Wilson (Baritone)

Floyd White (Tenor)

Georges White (Bass)

Discography :

The Marcels (1)

Singles :
1958 - Betty Lou / Take Me Back (Bob Jeffries bb the Marcels) (Jody 123)
195? - So Hard To Please  / You'll Never Know (The Mondellos) (Rhythm 118)

Unreleased :
1956 - Wait For Me (Acapella) (Music City)
1956 - Indian Jane (Acapella) (Music City)
1956 - So Hard To Please (Acapella) (Music City)

The Inspirations (1)
1958 - Don't Cry / Indian Jane (Lamp 2019)

Biography :

This was not the "Blue Moon" Marcels, but a local Pittsburg group from California . This vocal group from the West Coast, recorded in the Bay Area by record man Ray Dobard, who spun the label off from his record store. One of his specialties was doo wop and he recorded way more than he released. The Marcels featured lead singer Carleton Brown, backed by Cedric Wilson, Floyd White and Georges White recorded several tracks in 1956 for Ray Dobard'Music City owner : "So Hard To Please", "Wait For Me" and "Indian Jane".

  
Don Barksdale                                                           Bob Jeffries

In 1958, They cut " Betty Lou" and they're behind Bob Jeffries on "Take Me Back" on Rhythm's Jody Records subsidiary (an Oakland label owned by college basketball hall of famer and legendary KDIA-AM  Don Barksdale.) Bob Jeffries was also the lead singer of the Sharptones who recorded on the post label and he had the distinction of being backed bay The Marcels and The Mondellos on two separate recording sessions.


L to R, Cedric Wilson, Don Stevens, Jerry Jackson & Carleton Brown

The group's lineup has changed frequently, the Group-Singer-Songwriter Carleton Brown, Cedric Wilson later joined up with Jerry Jackson and Don Stevens (Aka Rick Stevens), they went nowhere as the Marcels  but later re-recorded "Indian Jane" for Lamp records as the Inspirations.  In the early 1960's Rick Stevens performed in nightclubs around Reno, where he was known as "Mr. Twister". Rick joined the group Tower of Power in 1969.

Songs :

The Marcels (1)

     
Betty Lou                     So Hard To Please                        Take Me Back

The Inspirations (1)

  
Don't Cry                              Indian Jane

.....

Top row (L to R): R. Aglialoro, B.Shupman, J Oswald. Bottom Row (L to R): J. Inzirillo, P.Leone & L.Mandracchia

The Suedes (2) (Brooklyn NY)

Personnel :

Joey Inzirillo (Lead)

Louie Mandracchia (First Tenor)

Billy Shupman (Second Tenor)

John Oswald (Baritone)

Russ Aglialoro (Bass)

Phil Leone (Drummer)




Discography :

Unreleased :
1959 - My Prayer To Heaven
1959 - Girl To Love
1959 - You Are My Only Love
1959 - Bunny
1959 - Ding-A-Long (Our Wedding Day)




Biography :

Vocal group from Canarsie in Brooklyn, formed in 1959, The Suedes is formed by some friends in the area and consists of Joey Inzirillo (Lead), Louie Mandracchia (First Tenor), Billy Shupman (Second Tenor), John Oswald (Baritone), Russ Aglialoro (Bass) and Phil Leone (Drummer). The group will be some personnel changes over time.

They have made numerous appearances at various gatherings around the area and recorded several demos : "My Prayer To Heaven" , "Girl To Love", "You Are My Only Love," "Bunny" and "Ding-A-Long  (Our Wedding Day)". Unfortunately no record company will release their songs… The group disbanded in 1961.

  

Two of the original members of The Suedes, John Oswald and Joe Inzirillo, along with Lou Caporusso who was an original member of The Vivids from Ozone Park Queens created a group in the 80's which many say was the continuation of The Suedes work under a new name. That group was The Revivals. They re-recorded "My Prayer To Heaven" and "Oh Please" on Avenue D. Records.






Songs :

     
My Prayer To Heaven        Ding-A-Long (Our Wedding Day)          Bunny

Girl To Love

...

The Sultans 1962 : R.Metzger, J. St. Clair, B. Summitt, L. Whetley, G. Owens, B.Crabb, G.Fawbush, R.Deetch, F.Rush

The Sultans (3) (Louisville, KY)

Personnel :

Tom "Cosmo" Cosdon (Lead)

John St. Clair (Tenor)

Ralph Zehnder (Baritone)

Lenny Whatley (Bass)

George Fawbush (Lead Guitar)

Vince Tabler (Rhythm Guitar)

Ronnie Deetch (Sax)

Bill Crabb (Bass Guitar)

Frank Rush (Drums)





Discography :

The Sultans (3)
1961 - It'll Be Easy / You Got Me Goin (Tilt 782)
1962 - Toss In My Sleep / I Feel Your Love Growing Cold (Jam 103)
1962 - Mary, Mary / How Far Does A Friendship Go (Jam 107)
1963 - Christina / Someone You Can Trust (Guyden 2079)
1964 - Poor Boy / Don't Tie Me Down (Jam 113)
1964 - She’s Got It / Stay My Love (Backstage 1101)
1965 - Don't You Just Know It / She Loves Me (Afco 522)

Cosmo bb The Sultans (3)
1962 - Sweetheart Please Don't Go / Just Words (Tilt 789)





Biography :

The Sultans were organized in the basement of Charles Woodring in 1959. Michael Woodring started the group and sang with them for eighteen months. He developed ulcers and had to quit. Mr. and Mrs. Woodring continued furnishing the group a place to practice and remained their biggest fans. The basement of the Rush Inn, located at Brownsboro Rd. and Melwood Ave., was also a frequent place to rehearse.

1959 - (L to R) Tom "Cosmo" Cosdon, John St. Clair, Ralph Zehnder  & Lenny Whatley

The Sultans were Tommy “Cosmo” Cosdon, Lead Vocal, replaced by Richard Metzger ‘61, replaced by Wayne McDonald ‘63 ‘til ‘64; John St. Clair, Tenor; Ralph Zehnder, Baritone replaced by Bill Summitt ‘61; Lenny Whatley, Bass; George Fawbush, Lead Guitar; Vince Tabler, Rhythm Guitar, replaced by George Owens on keyboards ‘61; Ronnie Deetch, Sax; Bill Crabb, Bass Guitar; Frank Rush, Drums. Their first paying job was a breakfast at Trinity High School in ‘59. It was after the junior prom and it payed $20. They also frequently played at the VFW’s in St. Matthews.

1959 - Top : George Fawbush, Ronnie Deetch, Frank Rush & Vince Tabler
 Bottom : Eddie Hess, Mike Woodring, Tom "Cosmo" Cosdon & Ralph Zehnder

In 1961 the Sultans recorded their first record, “It’ll Be Easy”, a song written by Charles Woodring. In the sixties, Mr. Woodring’s songs were recorded by several local artists including “Just Words” by Cosmo, “Till I Hear It From You” by the Monarchs, and “Someone Like You” by Eddie Morris. “It’ll Be Easy” was the first record by a local artist to go to the number 1 spot on the local charts. It remained in the number 1 position for five weeks and remained on the charts all summer.

  
                                                                                             1962 - John St. Clair, Bill Summitt & Lenny Whetley 

After the Sultan’s second recording session which produced “Sweetheart Please Don’t Go”, a management decision was made to release the record listing only Cosmo and not the Sultans. Cosmo began appearing with a new backup group, the Counts. He was replaced by Richard Metzger. Through the sixties the Sultans had a string of local and regional hits. In ‘62, “Toss In My Sleep” went to number 7 on WKLO’s charts. In ‘63, “Mary, Mary” went to number 16 on WAKY. “She’s Got It” and “Poor Boy” also charted locally. The group broke up in 1970 and reformed in 1972.




Songs :

The Sultans (3)

     
It'll Be Easy                       You Got Me Goin                 Toss In My Sleep

       
Mary, Mary                 How Far Does A Friendship Go                  Poor Boy

       
She’s Got It                             Stay My Love                        She Loves Me


Don't You Just Know It



Cosmo bb The Sultans (3)

  
Sweetheart Please Don't Go                 Just Words

…

The Vice-Roys : (L to R) Al Linde, Paul Robertson, Bob Zoidis, Charles "Pedro" Buford and Henry Truesdale

The Vice-Roys (2) (Phoenix, Az)
aka Brother Zee & The Decades (1)

Personnel :

Al Linde

Paul Robertson

Bob Zoidis

Charles "Pedro" Buford

Henry Truesdale






Discography :

The Vice-Roys (2)
Singles :
1962 - My Heart /  I Need You Love So Bad (Ramco 3715)
Unreleased :
1962 - Sunday Kind Of Love (Ramco)
1962 - Yancy (Ramco)

Brother Zee & The Decades (1)
1963 - Sha Boom Bang / Smokey The Bear (Ramco 3725)





Biography :

Phoenix, Arizona was host to an exciting musical climate in the 1950’s and 1960’s, which included a mix of rock n’ roll, R&B, and country music, along with a small number of recording studios and record labels.  Floyd Ramsey owned Ramsey’s Recording Studio at 3703 N. 7th Street, which he renamed Audio Recorders in late 1957.  He also owned several record labels including Liberty Bell and Ramco, and was a co-owner of Rev.  Local Arizona-area artists who recorded at Ramsey’s studio included the Vice-Roys and Brother Zee and the Decades.

Audio Recorders of Arizona.

The Vice-Roys were a racially integrated group stationed at nearby Luke Air Force Base west of Phoenix. The Aug.8,1962, session was produced by the inimitable Jim Musiln,Jr., one of the great characters in Arizona music history.  The Vice-Roys were Al Linde, Paul Robertson, Bob Zoidis, Charles "Pedro" Buford and Henry Truesdale. they were backed on the record by the mike Metko Combo. Besides "My Heart" and  "I Need You Love So Bad"the Vice-Roys also breathed new life into the old warhorse "Sunday Kind Of Love". A fourth songs "Yancy" also remained unreleased. Ramco Pressed 300 copies of "My Heart".

Brother Zee & The Decades (L to R) Al Linde, Bob Zoidis and Charles "Pedro" Buford

In 1963, Al Linde, Bob Zoidis and Charles "Pedro" Buford regrouped for another Ramco session as Brother Zee & The Decades. For the June 27, 1963, session, Musil was the producer and once again Metko provided themusical back-up. The A-side was an awesome re-imagination of the Rivingtons' iconic "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and " The Bird's The World" which the group transformed in "Sha Boom Bang". The Sha Boom Bang" acetate got immediate airplay on KRIZ in Phoenix, were it was declared "Champ of The Week" on June 29,1963.  Bob Zoidis soon left music for hair styling and by 1967, Al Linde and Charles "Pedro" Buford had gone hippie in San Francisco and were members of the Salvation Army Bannned, which later recorded as just "Salvation" For ABC records.





Biography :

The Vice-Roys (2)

     
My Heart                     I Need You Love So Bad               Sunday Kind Of Love


Brother Zee & The Decades (1)

  
Sha Boom Bang                     Smokey The Bear






Cds :






...

• The Velveteens (1) | 26-01-2015
• The Marcels (1) aka The Inspirations (1) | 24-01-2015
• The Suedes (2) | 23-01-2015
• The Sultans (3) | 21-01-2015
• The Vice-Roys (2) aka Brother Zee & The Decades (1) | 18-01-2015
• The Ravons (2) | 16-01-2015
• The Chords (1) | 16-01-2015
• The Dukes (2) | 14-01-2015
• The Hi-Liters (2) aka The Hamiltones aka The Stereos (4) | 11-01-2015
• Little Worley & The Drops | 10-01-2015
• The Kings Men | 06-01-2015
• The Hunter's IV | 03-01-2015
• The Dapps aka The Five Dapps | 02-01-2015
• The Five Stars (2) | 31-12-2014
• The Sho Stoppers aka The Show Stoppers (1) ???? | 30-12-2014