The Ivy Three (Garden City, New-York)

Personnel :

Artie Kaye

Charlie Cane

Don Rubin

Discography :

1960 - Yogi / Was Judy There (Shell 720)
1960 - Alone In The Chapel / Hush Little Baby  (Shell 723)
1961 - Nine Out Of Ten / I've Cried Enough For Two (Shell 302)
1961 - Bagoo / Suicide  (Shell 306)

Biography

A trio consisting of Artie Kaye (nee Berkowitz), Charlie Cane (nee Koppelman), and Don Rubin, the Ivy Three were formed at Adelphi University in Garden City, Long Island at the very end of the 1950s, when the three undergraduates started singing together. They were signed to Shell Records in New York, a small independent outfit co-founded by Lou Stallman and Sid Jacobson, a pair of songwriters, and Charles Koppelman helped them finish a song the two were working on called "Yogi," which became the trio's first single.

"Yogi" got all the way to number eight on the national charts in the fall of 1960, but nothing else by the trio ever cut did remotely that well, and they'd broken up within a year. Koppelman and Rubin later formed a management company, Koppelman-Rubin Productions, that handled the likes of the Critters, Tim Hardin, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys, enjoying considerable pop success in the mid-'60s. 

Additionally, the Critters were instrumental in securing the early success of Kama Sutra Records, as well as serving as a vehicle for songwriters Peter Anders and Vince Poncia, two Phil Spector alumni ("Do I Love You," etc.) who were formerly of the vocal group the Videls.
Bruce Eder

Videos :

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

 
         
Suicide                          Alone In The Chapel             I've Cried Enough For Two

        
Was Judy There                       Yogi                                 Nine Out Of Ten

Hush Little Baby

CD :

..

The Chapelaires  (Pittsburgh)
aka The Softwinds

Personnel :

Tony Rausch

Bob Bubarth

Ross Melodia

Fred Ferketic
 

Discography :

The Chapelaires
1961 - I'm Still In Love With You / Not Good Enough (Hac 101)
1961 - Gloria / Under Hawaiian Skies  (Hac 102)

Joni kay & The Chapelaires
1964 - Lonely Star / Happy Memories (Gateway 744)
1965 - It's Impossible, Why Try / Vacation Time (Gateway 746)

John Ivey bb The Chapelaires
1963 - Own A Real Live Clown / Far Far Far Away (Scotty 615)

Marie LaDonna & The Chapelaires
1964 - How Can I Let You Know / Georgie Porgie (Not Them) (Gateway 730) 

The Softwinds
1961 - Cross my heart / Oh Baby (Hac 105)

 

Biography :

It all started back in 1955 when a large group of eighth graders from the Mount Troy / Troy Hill District of Pittsburgh were attending Saint Anthony's Church. The Group of 12-20 boys would pass the chapel along side St. Anthony's every week on their way to church. One day someone suggested they start a singing group and all agreed. Whithin three weeks when the smoke cleared only four remained with a serious commitment to singing Tony Rausch, Paul Young, Ross Melodia and Fred Ferketic who were now the "Chapel Boys".

The group would perform at local hops and by 1957 Paul was replaced by Bob Bubarth. The group made some demos of original tunes they had written, "A Tear", Scarlet Scarf", "Swing Loose" and "Walla Walla Bong Bong". They would acquire amanager in 1958, Bob Ross, who was working with several other groups at the time (i.e. - Mario & the Satellites). A name change also developed and the group became "The Chapelaires".

Soon a management change would have the boys under the direction of DJ Mark Flanagan (Bob Pappas) of Weep. He got the group a contract with HAC Records named after the three song writing partners, Hal-Al-Chuck. Fred was a few years older than the rest of the group and in 1959 elected to go to college. He was replaced with bill Schmidt. So the recordings on HAC in 1961 were Bill, Tony, Ross and Bob. Bill would soon be drafted (1962?) and the group picked up John Lajzo and Wayne Goldie, Both former members of a local acappella group the Suburbans.

The groups sound had now changed so they felt a new name should match their sound, "The Softwinds". Hac Records only had four releases on the label before they closed their doors after less than two years of operation.

The Softwinds

The final release by "The Softwinds" were by the boys themselves. After a lack of succes the group would loose Wayne and go back to the name the "Chapelaires". Elmer Willett heard them and had them do some background vocals for Gateway Records, the label he was affiliated with.
Ed Angel (Crystal Ball Records)

Songs :

The Chapelaires

  
I'm Still In Love With You                  Not Good Enough


Gloria

The Softwinds

  
Cross My Heart                            Oh Baby

John Ivey bb The Chapelaires

  
Own A Real Live Clown                 Far Far Far Away

Marie LaDonna & The Chapelaires


How Can I Let You Know

 ...

The Colts (Bakersfield, California)

Personnel:

Ruben Grundy (Lead)

Joe Grundy

Carl Moland

Leroy Smith

Discography :

The Colts
1955 - Adorable / Lips Red as Wine (Mambo 112/ Vita 112)
1956 - Sweet Sixteen / Honey Bun (Vita 121)
1956 - Never, No More / Hey You, Shoo Bee Ooh Bee (Vita 130)
1957 - Sheik of Araby / Never No More (Antler 4003)
1957 - Guiding Angel / Sheik of Araby (Antler 4007)
1958 - I Never Knew/ Oh When You Touch Me (Antler 4002)
1959 - Oh When You Touch Me / (not on B-side) (Del-Co 4002)
1962 - Sweet Sixteen / Hey Pretty Baby (Plaza 505)

Jackie Kelso & The Colts
1955 - Kwella Kwella / Rat a rat (Vita 114)

Ruben Grundy & The Devilles Sisters
1957 - Every Word / Sail Away (Spry 110)

Biography :

The Colts are best remembered as the group who first recorded "Adorable," a classic doo wop tune subsequently covered by the Drifters, Little Caesar & the Romans and other vocal groups.
The Colts formed in the Mojave desert city of Bakersfield, CA, but commuted by car to L.A., where they attended classes at Los Angeles City College. The group -- Ruben Grundy, his brother Joe Grundy, Carl Morland, and Leroy Smith -- eventually caught the attention of music business veteran and impresario Samuel "Buck" Ram, who at the time was also managing the Platters and the Penguins. In August of 1955, the Colts were signed to Mambo Records in Los Angeles and shortly thereafter recorded "Adorable" and its flipside, "Lips Red As Wine." Just as the single (Mambo number 112) was about to hit retail outlets, however, Ram and the label's reps decided that the Mambo name might confuse some people and lead them to think that the label featured only Latino dance music, so the group was shifted over to the Vita label instead (Vita number 112). Meanwhile, in New York, Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler had heard the Colts' "Adorable" and felt the song should be covered by their Drifters. It proved to be the perfect tune for the group (their first without celebrated lead vocalist, Clyde McPhatter, who by this time had just left the group).

Aided by strong popularity on the West Coast, "Adorable" charted from late October into November before being overtaken in sales by the Drifters' version. In October 1955, the Colts made their very first performance at the 400 Club in San Diego, appeared on local TV shows, and closed out the year by appearing in a big R&B revue in Los Angeles, hosted by DJ Hunter Hancock.  In early 1956, the Colts' next single -- "Sweet Sixteen" b/w "Honey Bun" (written for them by Curtis Williams of the Penguins, the writer of "Earth Angel") -- was released (Vita number 121) and after their next single ("Never No More" b/w "Hey You Shoo-Be-Doo-Be" (Vita number 130), manager Ram moved the Colts over to Dot Records. Mickey Lynn, the wife of Johnny Otis Band singer Mel Williams, joined the group as a vocalist, but this lineup failed to produce any releases for Dot. In the summer of 1957, they released "Sheik of Araby" b/w "Guiding Angel" on Buck Ram's Antler label, but by now, Ram was concentrating on the worldwide success of the Platters. The Colts disbanded shortly thereafter. By December of 1961, the song "Adorable" was still hot, when Little Caesar and the Romans recorded it for their only full-length LP, Those Oldies but Goodies (DFLP 1218) which features a fine version with vocals by Carl Barnett.
Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide

...

The Delights (1) (Reading, Pa)
aka The Delrays aka The  Teen-Kings 

Personnel :

Walter "Buster" Lockman (Lead)

James Keith (Tenor)

Norman Keith (Tenor)

Jimmy Tindall (Baritone)

Bernie Washington (Bass)

Discography :

The Teen-Kings
1958 - That's A Teenage Love / Tell Me I You Know (Bee 1115)

The Delrays
1958 - Our Love is True / One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream (Cord 1101)

The Delights (1)
1961 - My one Desire /   Please Take My Love  (Nite 201 / Nite 1034)

Biography :

James and Norman Keith were performers from their pre-school day when they would entertain they neighbors with their singing and Ukulele playing . By the time they were attending Fitzsimmons Junior High School, they had a quintet assembled consisting of LaVester Littles, Ron Brown, Walter "Buster" Lockman, and themselves. They were called the Victors, and played opening night at the Blue Horizon Club on North broad Street in 1956. For The next two years they played regularly at other clubs, benefits, and neighborhood gatherings, mostly in North Philly. In 1958, Bernie Washington took over the Bass singer, and Jimmy Tindall replaced Littles as Baritone. With "Buster" Lockman on Falsetto lead, they quickly learned that they could get their biggest crowd reaction bodying Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers covers.

The Name change to Teen Kings, reflected their desire to develop their sound close to Lymon's group. Their shows also got the attention of Ben Johnson Jr (who had managed the Re-Vels since 1954), who signed them to a management contract, and a recording session at Virtue Studios, in the 1600 block of North Broad Street. They recorded four songs at Virtue, likely completed at a single session. In addition to "That a Teenage Love" and "Tell Me If You Know", Johnson released another single on his Cord label, credited to the Delrays. "Our Love Is True" (Wich is virtually the same melody as "That's A Teenage Love") and  "One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream", both list Johnson as the writer.

The Teen Kings, the Keith Brothers (Facing each other) and Buster Lockman (at the microphone)

All four sides suffered from a very muddily sound with the lead buried in a poorly placed sigle mike. Lockman was only 13 years old when he made this recordings. The same Lineup made one more records as the Delights ("My one Desire" / "Please Take My Love"), released in 1961. Around the same time, the group auditioned for Richard Barrett in New York but the deal did not materialize. Lockman continued his career as a solo artist through the sixties, releasing one record on the Wand Label in 1967 as Walter Wilson. Norman keith also continued in the music business as a side man, touring with Martha & The Vandellas.

Songs :

The DelRays

   
One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream                  Our Love is True

The Teen-Kings   

   
That's A Teenage Love                          Tell Me If You Know

The Delights (1)

   
My One Desire                             Please Take My Love

...

Mickey & Sylvia (Louisville, Kentucky / New York)
(By Hans-Joachim)

Members :

McHouston Baker aka Mickey Baker

Sylvia Vanderpool

Discography :

"Little" Sylvia Vanderpool & Mickey Baker And His Band
1954- Fine Love / Speedy Life (Cat 102)

Mickey & Sylvia

1955- I'm So Glad (Tra La-La-La-La-La) / See De Boom Run Dun (Rainbow 31)
1955 - Rise Sally Rise / Forever And A Day (Rainbow 318)
1955 - Where Is My Honey? / Seems Like Just Yesterday (Rainbow 330)
1956 - No Good Lover / Walkin' In The Rain (Groove 0164)
1956 - Love Is Strange / I'm Going Home (Groove 0175)
1957 - Love Is Strange / I'm Going Home / No Good Lover / Walkin' In The Rain (Groove EP EGA-18)
1957 - Love Is Strange / I'm Going Home (Vik 0252)
1957 - There Oughta Be A Law / Dearest (Vik 0267)
1957 - Love Will Make You Fail In School / Two Shadows On Your Window (Vik 0280)
1957 - There'll Be No Backing Out / Where Is My Honey (Vik 0297)
1958 - Bewildered / Rock And Stroll Room (Vik 0324)
1958 - It's You I Love / True True Love (Vik 0334)
1958 - To The Valley / Oh Yeah! Uh Huh (RCA Victor 47-7403)
1958 - There Oughta Be A Law / I'm So Glad / Dearest / Se De Boom Run Dun  (Vik EP EXA-262)
1958 - Rock And Roll Room / Bewildered / There 'll Be No Backin' Out / Love Will Make You Fail In School (RCA Victor EP 75449) (France)

1958 - Love Will Make You Fail In School / Peace Of Mind / Rise Sally Rise / Who Knows Why / Say The Word / Too Much Weight / Where Is My Honey / Seems Just Like Yesterday / A New Idea On Love / Forever And A Day / I've Got A Feeling / Shake It Up (Vik LP LX-1102)

1960 - Sweeter As The Day Goes By / Mommy Out De Light (RCA Victor 47-7774) (Mono)
1960 - Sweeter As The Day Goes By / Mommy Out De Light (RCA Victor 61-7774) (Stereo)
1960 - What Would I Do / This Is My Story (RCA Victor 47-7811) (Mono)
1960 - What Would I Do / This Is My Story (RCA Victor 61-7811) (Stereo)
1960 - This Is My Story / Mommy Out Delight / What Would I Do / Sweeter As The Day Goes By (RCA Victor EP 75637) (France)
1961 - Love Lesson / Love Is The Only Thing (RCA Victor 37-7877) (Compact 33 RPM Single)
1961 - Love Lesson / Love Is The Only Thing (RCA Victor 47-7877)
1961 - Baby You're So Fine / Lovedrops (Willow 23000)
1961 - Darling (I Miss You So) / I'm Guilty (Willow 23002)
1962 - Since I Fell For You / He Gave Me Everything (Willow 23004)
1962 - Love Is Strange / Walking In The Rain (Willow 23006)
1963 - Baby Let's Dance / Oh Yea, Ah Ah (King 5737)
1965 - Let's Shake Some More / Gypsy (RCA Victor 47-8517)
1965 - From The Beginning Of Time / Fallin' In Love (RCA Victor 47-8582)
1965 - Love Is Strange / Darling (I Miss You So) (King 6006)

1965 - Love Is Strange / Walkin' In The Rain / Dearest / In My Heart / Mommy Out De Light / Love Is Treasure / Two Shadows On Your Window / Love Will Make You Fail In School / No Good Lover / I'm Going Home (RCA Camden LP 863)

1968 - Lovedrops / Because You Do It To Me (All Platinum 2307)
1969 - Any Time / Soulin' With Mickey & Sylvia (All Platinum 2310)
1969 - Rocky Racoon / Souling With Mickey And Sylvia  (Stang 5004)

1973 - Love Is Strange / What Will I Do / A New Idea On Love / Love Will Make You Fail In School / There'll Be No Backing Out / Bewildered / No Good Love / Dearest / Say The Word / Love Is The Only Thing / There Oughta Be A Law / This Is My Story (RCA LP APM-1-0327)

1973 - Baby You're So Fine / Anytime You Want To (Stang 5047)
1973 - Love Is Strange / Dearest (RCA Victor Apao-0080)
N/A - Love Is Strange / Ooh Wee Baby (Goldies 45 2672)
N/A - Loving You Darling (Willow unreleased)
N/A - Mickey’s Blues (Willow unreleased)
N/A - Sylvia’s Blues (Willow unreleased)
N/A - The Hucklebuck (Willow unreleased)
N/A - Can’t Get You On The Phone (unreleased)
N/A - I Gotta Be Home By Ten (unreleased)
N/A - I Hear You Knockin’ (unreleased)
N/A - I'm Glad For Your Sake (unreleased)
N/A - I'm Working At The Five And Dime (You're At The A And P) (unreleased)
N/A - Let’s Have A Picnic (unreleased)
N/A - Summertime (unreleased)
N/A - Yours (unreleased)

Biography :

“Although this duo is primarily remembered as a one-hit act — for "Love Is Strange," which reached number 11 in 1957 — they actually recorded quite a few exciting hybrids of R&B and rock & roll in the mid- and late '50s. Playing on countless '50s sessions for various labels (especially Atlantic and OKeh), Mickey Baker was one of the greatest guitar players of early rock & roll.

With his partner (and former guitar student) Sylvia Robinson, he got to stretch out a bit from his usual role, with some trailblazing, piercing, lean, and bluesy leads. Vocally, Mickey & Sylvia had an engagingly playful, occasionally sly and sassy repartee that makes up in charm what it might lack in smoke and firepower. Their recordings were inconsistent, but at their best they offered a fetching blend of blues, Bo Diddley, calypso, and doo wop.

After "Love Is Strange," whose devastating licks inspired countless guitarists, the duo notched a couple more substantial R&B hits. But although they recorded as late as 1965, they never approached the Top 20 again. Mickey Baker recorded as a solo artist and enjoyed a fairly successful career as an expatriate sessionman in France. Sylvia Robinson unexpectedly re-emerged with the number three pre-disco hit "Pillow Talk" in 1973, and co-founded the pioneering rap label Sugar Hill in the late '70s.”

Richie  Unterberger, All Music Guide



http://color-radio.com/mickey_sylvia.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/Great_Duos.html
http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/mickeybaker.htm
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/sylviav.htm
http://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursm/mickey&s.htm


CD :