doo-wop

 

The Impossibles (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Maniacs

 

 

Personnel :

Richard Albanese (Lead)

Frank Vultaggio (Second Tenor)

Steve Tuttolomondo (First Tenor)

Joe Carrao (Baritone)

Bob Emrick (Bass)

 

 

Discography :

The Impossibles
Singles:
1959 - Well It's Alright / Mr. Maestro (RMP 1030)

1960 - Well It's Alright' (66) / Everywhere I Go (RMP 501)
1961 - I Can't Dance / The Tenants' Blues (RMP 508)

The Maniacs
Unreleased:
1964 - Get The Whip (Chess)
1964 - Dance The Jerk (Chess)

 

Biography :

During the late fifties, in the Ridgewood section of Brooklyn, New York, five young men spent many of their evenings in Grove St. Park harmonizing with various other local neighborhood groups. These five young men were hoping to cut records, as some of the other groups had already done. A meeting was arranged with an independent producer named Joseph Pellegrino, Jr.. He realized the potential of this eager quintet and decided to become their manager. Soon after they were given their name  : The Impossibles.

A few months later, Mr Pellegrino brought his new group to The O.D.O Recording Studios in New York City where they cut "Mr Maestro". It was released on RMP label in November 1959. Locally, the record was received well and almost immediately the Impossibles became celebrities in the eyes of their classmates at Bushwick High School. I Mars of 1960, Pellegrino teamed up with another independent producer, Ken Robertson.

The Clay Cole Show (1963)

The result was a second release for the Impossibles on the Mp label entitled :  Everywhere I Go . By this time, the boys were very busy singing at school dances and many of the local clubs in Brooklyn & Queens. By mid-January 1961, the boys had recorded their third, and least successful, RMP release "I Can't Dance". The Impossibles continued doing local shows and in 1963 made their television debut on the Clay Cole show. In 1964, while performing at the World's Fair, the group was spotted by a talent scout employed by Chess record.

  

An audition was set up during which the boys were asked to do a song written by the famous Poindexter Brothers about a new dance craze called the Whip. The Group's name was changed to the Maniacs. During their first and last recording session with Chess, which including a 30 piece orchestra, the Maniacs cut two sides "Get The Whip" and "Dance The Jerk". While waiting for Chess to release these two sides, month after month dragged and nothing happened. Finally, after singing together for more than six years, the Impossibles decided to call it "quits" in early 1965.



Songs :
(Updated by Hans-Joachim)

 
     
Mr. Maestro                           Every Where I Go                   Well It's Alright

 

 

 

Cds :

 

 

....

The Honey Boys (Baltimore)

 

 

Personnel :

Calvin "Khaki" Rowlette (Lead)

John "Prince" Billy (First Tenor)

Diason "Dixon" Stokes (Baritone)

Roland "Big Boy" Jackson (Bass)

 

 

 

Discography :

1956 - Never Lose Faith In Me / Vippity Vop (Modern 980)

1974 - Unchained Melody / Honey Love (Recorded in 1956) (Boogie Music 1)

 

 

Biography :

This group formed in 1954 and performed as amateurs throughout the East Baltimore vicinity. They came from East Baltimore, the same neighborhood as the Cardinals, the Kings and the Swallows. Through their friend Eddie Rich of the Swallows, they got an audition with Modern records in their New York Facility in 1955.

  
Eddie Rich (Swallows)                                                                                                              

On Their arrival in New York, Modern put them up at a hotel and gave them two songs to familiarize themselves with. They had to learn the songs in ten hours. When they finally got to the studio, Rowlette's voice was hoarse and the final take was not his best. "Never Lose Faith In Me" / "Vippity Vop" did not make recording history.

The Honey Boys (ca.1957):  Eddie Rich, John Billy, Roland Jackson & Diason Stokes

It was only a minor hit locally, even though it was very well done under the circumstances. The Honey Boys was not discouraged. They came home and continued to work night clubs and got some nice bookings at Atlantic City with the Flamingos among others. They never made another record for Modern, although at the group's own experience they cut two sides locally "Unchained melody" / "Honey Love" .

The Honey Boys (ca.1958):  John Billy, Diason Stokes, Roland Jackson & Larry Jones

The two sides were not released until Art Mariano issued them on Boogie Music label in the 1970s.  Eddie Rich does tenor in this sides as Rowlette was gone by them. Larry Jones, of another local group, The Capitals, replaced Khaki when in late 1957, Eddie Rich and Calvin Rowlette decided to resurrect the Swallows.

  
The Honey Boys (1955) (from top) :  Calvin Rowllette John Billy, Diason Stokes & Roland Jackson

The Final chapter of The Honey Boys came about in 1962 or 1963, but not before they recorded four sides for Motown, none of which were ever released.

 

 

Songs :

    
Never Lose Faith In Me                           Vippity Vop

 

 

CDs:

 

 

 

 

....

The Vogues (Los Angeles, California)




Personnel :

Jeffrey Gyle

Bob Bush

Diana Hale




Discography :

1958 - Alabama / Left Over Love (Key 579 / Surf 5020)
1958 - Love Is A Funny Little Game / Which Witch Doctor    (Dot 15798)
1958 - Falling Star / Try, Baby, Try (Dot 15859)   
1959 - Ev'ry Day, Ev'ry Night / Now I Lay Me Down To Cry (Cascade 5908)





Biography :

In 1956, Jeffrey Gyle formed the trio, "The Vogues", with friends Bob Bush and Diana Hale. The Vogues signed a contract to make records with the Key label and released "Alabama" & "Left Over Love". The three appeared on such television programs as The Tonight Show, and Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

 

They were also once the opening act for Frank Sinatra when he appeared at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Vogues had a release on the Cascade label as well as two on Dot between 1958-59. The group have no connection to the Vogues who were successful on Co&Ce and Reprise from 1965-69.





Movies :


Falling Star



Songs :

     
Love Is A Funny Little Game          Falling Star               Which Witch Doctor


Try Baby Try

 

...

The Montereys (1) (Stillwater, OK)




Personnel :

Tommy Padgham (Lead)

Dave Barber (Tenor)

Jim Hadden (Baritone)

Don Radford (Bass)





Discography :

1957 - Ape Shape / You're The Girl For Me  (Rose 109)




Biography :

The Montereys have been singing together since they were in the eight grade. They started it as a Joke, impersonating another vocal group, but they stuck together. They began to polish their harmony as freshmen in high-school with public appearances at assemblies and civic club.

    
(L to R) Hadden, Radford, Padgham & Barber                                                              

The Montereys really slipped into high gear with appearances at Teen Town during the Oklahoma Semi-Centennial Exposition and at local theater Rock and Roll shows. Their repertoire includes about 80 numbers, including at least two Padgham originals : "Ape Shape" and "You're The Girl For Me". They have appeared on variety shows all over the state and recorded the two Padgham songs for Rose records in 1957.

Songs : 
(Updated by Hans-Joachim)

You're The Girl For Me / Ape Shape

 

 

 

....

The Spinners (2) (Detroit)
(The Early Years)
(Updated by Hans-Joachim)

 

Personnel :

Bobby Smith

George Dixon

Billy Henderson

Henry Fambrough

Pervis Jackson







Discography :

The Spinners (2)
1961 - That's What Girls Are Made For / Heebie Jeebies (Tri-Phi 1001)
1961 - Love (I'm So Glad) / Sudbuster (Tri-Phi 1004)
1962 - Itching For My Baby... / What Did She Use (Tri-Phi 1007)
1962 - I've Been Hurt / I Got Your Water Boiling Baby (Tri-Phi 1013)

Harvey & The Spinners (2)
1962 - She Loves Me So / Whistling About You (Tri-Phi 1010)
1962 - She Loves Me So / (Dance) Any Way You Wanta* (Tri-Phi 1017)
1963 - Memories Of You* / Come On And Answer Me** (Tri-Phi 1024)

Bobby Smith & The Spinners (2)
1962 - She Don't Love Me / Too Young, Too Much, Too Soon (Tri-Phi 1018)

*Harvey Fuqua Solo
** Harvey Fuqua backed by the uncredited Spinners

Biography :

In 1954, a group of friends who grew up together in Ferndale, Michigan, a northern suburb bordering Detroit, came together to make music. For a time, several of the band members resided in Detroit's Herman Gardens public housing projects. Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, C. P. Spencer, and James Edwards  called themselves The Domingoes. However James Edwards lasted only a few weeks.

 He was replaced by Bobby Smith, who sang lead on most of the Spinners' early records . C. P. Spencer left the group shortly afterwards, and later went on to be a member of the Voice Masters and The Originals. He was replaced by George Dixon. The group renamed themselves The Spinners in 1961. This name was chosen after looking at popular car hubcaps and noting how they spun around on a car's wheel.

  

In 1961 the group joined the Tri-Phi imprint, a label owened by Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua, who later joined the group before the ensemble joined the Motown imprint in 1964, after Tri-Phi was taken under the Motown umbrella. Although not a member, producer and songwriter Harvey Fuqua sang lead on the group's debut single.

The Spinners first hit the charts in August 1961 on Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi Records, with "That's What Girls Are Made For", peaking at number 27. Bobby Smith sang lead vocal on this track, coached by Fuqua. 

Harvey Fuqua

The group's follow-up, "Love (I'm So Glad) I Found You", also featured lead vocals by Smith, although again some sources credit Fuqua. This track reached number 91 that November, but none of their other Tri-Phi singles charted.

  

James Edwards' brother, Edgar "Chico" Edwards, replaced Dixon in the group in 1963, at which time Tri-Phi and the entire artist roster was bought out by Fuqua's brother-in-law Berry Gordy of Motown Records. The Spinners were then assigned to the Motown label.
http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/harvey.html
http://chancellorofsoul.com/spinners.html
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/spinners.ht



Songs :


The Spinners (2)

      
That's What Girls Are Made For      Heebie Jeebies            Love (I'm So Glad)

     
Sudbuster           What Did She Use / Itching For My Baby...      I've Been Hurt

I Got Your Water Boiling, Baby...

 

Harvey & The Spinners (2)

      
She Loves Me So                    Whistling About You            Any Way You Wanta*

Come On And Answer Me**

Bobby Smith & The Spinners (2)

  
She Don't Love Me       Too Young, Too Much, Too Soon







Cds :










….

• The Impossibles 
aka The Maniacs

 | 03-12-2013
• The Honey Boys | 01-12-2013
• The Vogues | 28-11-2013
• The Montereys (1) | 26-11-2013
• The Spinners (2) | 21-11-2013
• "J" & the Sabers (2) | 15-11-2013
• Ella & The Bee Jays | 15-11-2013
• Bobby Carle & The Blendaires | 07-11-2013
• The Continental Five | 05-11-2013
• Kayo & The Trinities | 15-10-2013
• The Gum Drops aka Ray Allen Trio aka The Upbeats (2) | 11-10-2013
• The Versatiles (4) aka The Four Dimensions | 10-10-2013
• The Four Cheers | 09-10-2013
• The Twiliters (2) aka The Twilighters (5) | 08-10-2013
• The Desires (3) aka The Runarounds (2) aka The Regents (3) | 06-10-2013