Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts (Kaimuki, Honolulu, HI)

Personnel :

Mel Cabang "Mel Calvin" (Lead)

Paul Texeira


Discography :

Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts
1962 - I Love You / My Mummy (Bertram International 215)

The Tilton Sisters & The Kokonuts
1960 - Put Your Arms Around Me Honey / He Knows (not them) (Bertram International 217)

Biography :

Comedian, singer, actor, Mel Cabang, aka the Legend in Hawaii and Uncle Mel is also known in 1962 as Mel Calvin.  Mel was born on the big island of Hawaii and graduated high school in 1960, later receiving a bachelor’s degree in music and a minor in psychology.

Bob Bertram with The Tilton Sisters (Muriel and Gwen Tilton)  (updated by Hans-Joachim) 

He wanted to teach music but ended up being a musician in his own first band under the name of Mel Calvin & the KoKonuts with some Kaimuki boys. They cut one single for Bertram "I Love You" b/w "My Mummy"  and backed the Tilton Sisters on "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey " . Bertram owned several labels, including Lariat, whose artists included Joe Maphis, Polynesian (which released hula records aimed at the tourist trade) and Bertram International, which recorded rock & roll.
http://www.pbase.com/halinhi/khs60misc&page=2

Songs :

Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts

  
I Love You                                          My Mummy

The Tilton Sisters & The Kokonuts

Put Your Arms Around Me Honey

...

(L to R) Denny Brooker, Joe Corbo, Sandy Fiscella, Tony Silvestre, and Michael Basso
 

The Indigos (1) (Mount Vernon, New York)


Personnel :

Sandy Fiscella

Tony Silvestre

Michael Basso

Denny Brooker

Joe Corbo


Discography :

1957 - Servant Of Love / Woo, Woo, Pretty Girl (Cornel 3001)
1958 - Everything Plus / High School Social (Cornel 515)


Biography :

Vocal group from Mount Vernon, New York., The group consisted of Sandy Fiscella (Lead), Denny Brooker, Joe Corbo, Tony Silvestre, and Michael Basso. The Indigos recorded "Servant Of Love" written by Sandy Fiscello and Denny Brooker b/w "Woo, Woo, Pretty Girl" written by Joe Corbo and Mike Bosso. The single was released in November 1957 by new label Cornel.

Cornell Records has been organized by Bill Fisher and Cornel Tanassy, with headquarters at 1674 Broadway. Tanassy is a former pianist-conductor for Marian Marlowe and arranger for Perry Como, Joe Stafford and others. Their first singles were the Indigos & Bob Neblett. Their second and last single was recorded on April 25, 1958 and was written by Brook Benton and King Curtis, both on Cornell Records.



Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

  
   Servant Of Love                              Woo, Woo, Pretty Girl


Everything Plus / High School Social


...

Manuel Pena, Hank Ayala and Eddie Ramirez

Hank Ayala & The Matadors (2) (Weslaco, Texas)

 

Personnel :

Hank Ayala (Lead / High Tenor)

Manuel Pena (High Tenor)

Eddie Ramirez (Second Tenor)

 
Discography :

1960 - Betty Jo / Handsome (Backbeat 530)

Biography:

Hank Ayala was born and raised in the coastal plain town of Weslaco Texas. Hank discovered in Junior High that he had definite musical ability and as was common in those days, formed a singing group. Originally, the group had seven members, but they whittled it down to three. While singing at a local hop, radio DJ Bobby Dixon approached them with the idea of singing locally with his connections.

The group eventually cut a record on the Houston based Backbeat label, and were fortunate to have Bobby Doyle and Kenny Rogers play on the session.They enjoyed it so much, they actually played several gigs with the Matadors in the surrounding area. Once the record was released, they actually played it over the intercom at the Matadors school - Weslaco High School.

Hank Ayala, Manuel Pena and Eddie Ramirez

The record did very well locally, but did not catch on nationally. They didn't really have an effective manager, and that was a stumbling block to their career. The group broke up as they finished high school. Eddie Ramirez Went into the air Force and Manuel Pena went off to college. Hank was left on his own, and did some solo work and assembled a group, but did not continue with it for long.
http://www.colorradio.com/hank_ayala_matadors.htm
http://whitedoowopcollector.blogspot.fr/
 

Songs :

  
Betty Jo                                     Handsome

...

(From left) Herb Price, Jerry Clark, Richard Williams, James Clark Jr. and Virgil Gooding

Herb Price & The Darts (3) (Davenport Iowa)


Personnel :

Herbert Price (Lead)

James Clark Jr. (First Tenor)

Virgil Gooding (Second Tenor)

Richard Williams (Baritone)

Jerry Clark (Bass)


Discography :

1959 - Shimmy Shimmy (Cha Cha Cha) / Gone Too Long (Tempus 1506)


Biography :

The group composed of Herbert Price, James Clark Jr., Virgil Gooding, Richard Williams and Jerry Clark have been entertaining local group for several months. The Boys are well-known to Davenport High students as the "Davenport Darts." Herb & Jerry, both Davenport High School graduates are students at the State University of Iowa and the University of Dubuque respectively. Herb dropped classes to work with the Darts but plans to return to school. Virgil and Jim are seniors at Davenport High school and Richard is a student at J.B. Young Junior High School.

The Darts began singing as a group in early 1958. It all started when several of the boys were sitting in one of their homes singing when they discovered , with the aid of a tape recorded, that they were much in need of practice. After about two weeks of just practicing the scale they really started singing. During the fall months of 1958, the boys received a recording contract with the Tempus Co. of Peoria, Ill, and they recorded "Shimmy Shimmy (Cha Cha Cha)" and "Gone Too Long". The songs are heard frequently over the radio stations.



Songs :

  
          Gone Too Long                       Shimmy Shimmy (Cha Cha Cha)

...

Janis Cox, Left, Donna Crunk,  top, Pam Crunk

The Threeteens (Phoenix, Arizona)
aka The Dreams (4)
aka The Cupcakes (2) 


Personnel :

Donna Crunk

Pam Crunk

Janis Cox

Discography :

The Threeteens
1958 - Dear 53310761 / Doowaddie (Rev 3516)
1959 - For The Love Of Mike / X + Y = Z (Rev 3522/Todd 1021)

The Cupcakes (2)
1959 - It's Willy / Deutsche Rock und Roll (Time 1011)

The Dreams (4)
Singles :
1962 - Too Late / Inexperience (Smash 1748)
Unreleased :
1962 - No Love Lost
1962 - I Forgot About You

Denny Reed bb Donna & Pam Crunk (Uncredited)
1960 -  A Teenager Feels It Too / Hot Water  (Trey 3007)


Biography :

The Threeteens were a Phoenix girl group consisting of Donna and Pam Crunk (daughters of Connie Conway, whose real name is Connie Crunk) and their friend Jan Cox. Connie Conway, a noted musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and music teacher worked with songwriter/producer Lee Hazelwood (writer of “These Boots Are Made of for Walking”(Nancy Sinatra), and producer of Wayne Newton) . The Three girls were from Washington High School in Phoenix and in 1958 Donna, Jan & Pam signed a recording contract with Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood to record at the Audio Recorders studio in Phoenix.

Donna Crunk & Janis Cox

As the Threeteens, they cut four songs released by Rev Records in Phoenix owned by Bill Thorne & Frank Porter . "Dear 53310761"  b/w "Doowaddie" on Rev 3516 and "For The Love Of Mike" b/w  "X + Y = Z" on Rev 3522, This Rev 45 was also released on Todd label. "Dear 53310761" On Rev Records #3516 had Duane Eddy on Guitar (The number "53310761", of course, refers to Elvis' U.S. Army serial number). The girls did most of the girl backgrounds at Audio Recorders.

   
Donna Crunk                                               Janis Cox                                                              Pam Crunk

In 1959 They changed their name as the Cupcakes and cut "It's Willy" b/w "Deutsche Rock und Roll" for Time records. In 1961, Pam & Donna, renamed the Dreams,  drove to L.A. to work with Lee Hazlewood and cut 4 sides for smash Records.  Only the single "Too Late" b/w "Inexperience" was released on Smash 1748 .

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 
 

The Threeteens

  
Doowaddie                                      Dear 53310761

   
X + Y = Z                                  For The Love Of Mike

The Cupcakes (2)

 It's Willy / Deutsche Rock und Roll
 

The Dreams (4)

  
Too Late                                        Inexperience


Denny Reed bb Donna & Pam Crunk (Uncredited)

   
A Teenager Feels It Too                               Hot Water



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