The Invictors (2) (Atlanta, GA)

Personnel :

Levi (Tony) Moon (Lead)

Chat

Tommy

Bill

Eddie

Discography :

The Invictors (2)
1962 - This Thing Called Love / The Wiggle (TPE 8217)
1962 – Don’t Take My Love / Babalonian (TPE 8219)
1963 - Where All Lovers Meet / That's All Right (TPE 8221)
1963 - I Took A Chance/ Put Her Down (TPE 8223)

The New Invictors
1963 - Deeply In Love With You / She Wouldn't Quit It (Hale 500)

Biography :

Little information to date on this excellent group. Vocal group from Atlanta composed by lead singer Levi (Tony) Moon, Tommy, Chat, Bill & Eddie. Between 1962 and 1963 TPE records based in Atlanta released four singles by the Invictors.

In 1963 Hale records, also based in Atlanta released another single from the group as The New Invictors. All the songs of the five singles were composed by Levi (Tony) Moon

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Invictors (2)

  
This Thing Called Love                              The Wiggle         

  
              Don’t Take My Love           Where All Lovers Meet / That's All Right

  
 I Took A Chance/ Put Her Down                          Babalonian                 

 

The New Invictors

  
Deeply In Love With You                       She Wouldn't Quit It  

...

The Chessmen (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Chessman
aka The Preludes (4)
aka The Preludes Five

Personnel :

Floyd Lark (lead)

Discography :

The Chessman (ft Bobby)
1958 – The Keeper Of My Love / Why (Safari 1011)

The Chessmen (1)
1958 - Du-Whop / I Live For You (MiraSonic 1002 & MiraSonic 1868)

The Preludes (4)
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

The Preludes Five
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

Biography :

Whoever Leroy R. Bates was he was on a roll in 1961, for not only was he writer of the Preludes Five's hit "Starlight", he was also the writer of the Crystals "There's No Other (like My Baby)" with hit the charts soon after. In those days the only people making money were the writers and publishers : those who 'merely' recorded their work rarely, if ever, saw anything from a record's sale.The Preludes Fives, if they were still together, would ge nothing which is probably what they got in 1961. Surprisingly for a hit record, both the group and their record label are clouded in obscurity.

Pik Records may have been based on the east coast, an assumption based on the record (Pik 230 "Don’t You Know Love" was the flip) breaking out in New York area June 1961. August 20 it had entered the Billboard hot 100 at 96, subsequently rising to 89 and 86. September 10th and 17th it was No80 and then it disappeared. The first pressing of the record was billed as by the Preludes, subsequent pressings adding the Five, presumably out of the group's concern that at least one other group with the same name could steal their bookings.Remarkably there was no follow-up and it seems the group immediatly disbanded. The quintet were lead by Floyd Lark and were the same group as the Chessman who recorded for Safari in 1958 and the Chessmen on Mirasonic the same year.

Songs :

The Chessman

  
          Why                                    The Keeper Of My Love

The Chessmen (1)

  
Du-Whop                                     I Live For You

The Preludes (4) / The Preludes Five

  
Don’t You Know Love                               Starlight          


...

Gene Serina (1963)

The Vels (2) (Lower East Side, New York)
aka The Styles (2)

 

Personnel :

Ruben Mangual

Orvin Baptiste

Rick Pettignano

Gene Serina

George West


Discography :

The Vels (2)
1963 - Do The Walk / In-Laws (Amy 881)

The Styles (2)
1964 - School Bells To Chapel Bells / I Love You For Sentimental Reasons (Josie 920)


Biography :

The group first began on the lower east side of New York City in 1958, when 4 young men, ranging in age from 13 to 15 and attending Junior High School 22,  first harmonized on street corners, hallways and subway stations perfecting their own unique style. This perfection earned the group invitations to perform at block parties, school functions and becoming the wishful entertainment for everyone’s house parties. This first group was called The Financials with Ruben Mangual, Orvin Baptiste, Rick Pettignano & Gene Serina. Soon after, Ruben introduced George West (a high school friend) to the group, rounding out The Financials to a full 5 man vocal group.

   
                                                                                             Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon

In 1961 the group decided to change the group name from it's wall street sounding Financials to something shorter and slicker and they came up with “The Vels”. In late 1962, the group's manager, Rick Pettignano Sr. (father of group member Rick Pettignano Jr.), landed a recording contract for The Vels with Amy Records (1650 Broadway, NY) and their first record was released in 1963 (Amy #881) “Do The Walk” / “In Laws”, produced by Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel Fame). One year later the group was approached by singer, song writer and producer Vinny Catalano and his partner Pete Alonso for a project he felt was perfect for our group. Before the recording date Gene Serina was inducted into the US Army and was replaced by neighborhood friend Tony Duran.

  
Vinny Catalano                                                                                                   

The group then recorded "School Bells To Chapel Bells" & "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons". Producer Catalano shopped the recordings to Josie Records (a subsidiary of Jubilee Records) and the group was singed to the label. Executives at Josie Records did not like the groups name "The Vels", they changed it to The Styles and released the recordings in 1964 (Josie Records Catalog #920). The Trademark for the name The Styles was granted to another entity in 2014 which now prohibits us from using the name professionally.

The Vels / Styles (2014) Top : George West, Gene Serina & Ruben Mangual - Bottom Rick Pettignano

Gene Serina returned from the Army and was brought back into the group. There were a few personnel changes within the group. The group lost Ruben Mangual, Tony Duran & George West leaving Rick Pettignano, Orvin Baptiste & Gene Serina. They added neighborhood friend Eddie Lebron bringing the group to 4 members. In late 1965 record producer, Joe Webb (who was the manager of the original Bobbettes) asked Eddie Lebron & Gene Serina, (formerly with the The Styles vocal group whose name we can no longer use due to US Trademark issues) if they would be interested in meeting with 2 members of a Long Island group called The Lost Souls who had recorded "Little Eva" as The Locomotions for Gone Records.
http://www.cozycornerradio.com/



Songs :

The Vels (2)

  
Do The Walk                          In-Laws

The Styles (2)

  
School Bells To Chapel Bells         I Love You For Sentimental Reasons


…

The Four Naturals  (Philadelphia)

aka  The Naturals (5)
ref : The Fabulous Four (1) aka The Four J's (1)

Personnel :

Joseph "Junior" Pirollo (Lead)

Bob Finizio (Second Tenor)

Raymond Finizio

Mike Travaglia

Discography :

The Naturals (5)
1959 - Blue Moon / How Strange (Red Top 113/Hunt 325)

The Four Naturals
1960 - When I'm In Your Arms  /  I Hear A Rhapsody  (Red Top 119)
1960 - The Thought Of You Darling / Long Long Ago (Red Top 125)

Biography :

In 1957, four fellows from the South Philadelphia area formed a singing group they named the four J's. they took their name based on the fact that each member's first name began with the letter J. they were Jr. Pirollo, Jimmy Testa, Joe"Judge"Milaro and Joe Paparella . Joe Paprella being replaced by Jr.'s Brother in law Bob Finzio.  After winning a local contest they were approached by Buddy Greco who became their manager and got the group their first recording contract in 1958 with UA records. After several releases, Jr. and Bob became part of the Four Naturals.

The group was a studio group and after recording "How Strange", under the name of the Naturals, they didn't want to tour or perform live. Jr. and Bob replaced the two members who were unhappy and were on all the following releases including their hit "The Thought Of You Darling."

The Fabulous Four (1)

In 1960 Bob Marcucci of Chancellor Records approached Jr and asked if his group would be willing to vocally back up Fabian on both recordings and Tours. a recording contract as back up group for Fabian. Bob Marcucci came up with the group's new name "The Fabulous Four".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Four Naturals

    
I Thought Of You Darling                     Long Long Ago

I Hear A Rhapsody / When I'm In Your Arms

The Naturals (5)


Blue Moon / How Strange

 ...

Tony & The Twiliters (4) (Philadelphia)
Ref The Dynamics (5) aka Anthony & The Sophomores (2) 

Personnel :

Anthony "Tony" Maresco (Lead)

Anthony Barbelle

Michael Bongiorno

Bernard Mastragostino

Discography :

1960 - Be My Girl / Did You Make Up Your Mind (Jalynne 106)
1960 - Key To My Heart / Yes Or No (Red Top 127/ Arcade 7)

Biography :

"Doc" Bagby, Irv Nahan and Marvin "Red Top" Schwartz  founded Red Top Records in 1957. Although they were also cutting such single artists as Donnie Elbert, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Dee Clark and Joe Tex, their next big group didn't come along until the summer of 1960 when they signed Tony & The Twilighters.

  
                                                                               Tony & The Dynamics

The Original South Philly group - Anthony "Tony" Maresco, Anthony Barbelle, Michael Bongiorno and Bernard Mastragostino - did "Be My Girl" and "Did You Make Up Your Mind" on the new Jalynne label (named after dj Georgie Woods' daughters!) on July 5, 1960. This summer afternoon session also produced "Key To My Heart" and "Yes Or No", both issued as one of the last Red Top singles. Tony's first group, Tony & The Dynamics (Anthony "Tony" Maresco, Anthony Perry, Ernest Finaro Jr. and Anthony Donato) recorded "Betty My Own" and "Forever Love" for Herald and became later Anthony & the Sophomores.

Songs :

     
Be My Girl                      Did You Make Up Your Mind           Key To My Heart


Yes Or No

...