The Townsmen (2) (New-York)

Personnel :

Lewis Lymon (Lead)

Rafael Ramos (First Tenor)

Louis Vasquez (Second Tenor)

McDuffy "Mac" Swaggart (Bass)

Discography:

1963 - I Can't Go / That's All I'll Ever Need (PJ 1341)

Biography :

In 1963, Lewis Lymon (The Teenchords) joined the Townsmen, replacing original lead singer Bobby Rivera (of Hemlocks fame). The others were Rafael Ramos (first tenor), Louis Vasquez (second tenor), and McDuffy "Mac" Swaggart (bass).

They made a single record for the tiny PJ label, released in June of 1963: "I Can't Go" (led by Lewis)/"That's All I'll Ever Need" (fronted by Louis Vasquez).
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Teenchords/teenchords.html
 

Songs :

   
    I Can't Go                                    That's All I'll Ever Need

 ...

Jacqueline Hicks, Louvain Demps,Marlene Barrow

The Andantes (Detroit, Mi.)
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

Personnel :

Jackie Hicks  (First Alto)

Marlene Barrow (Second Alto)

Louvain Demps  (Soprano)

Discography :

The Andantes
1964 - (Like A) Nightmare / If You Were Mine (V.I.P. 25006)

LaBrenda Ben & The Andantes
1963 - Just Be Yourself / I Can't Help It, I Gotta Dance (Gordy 7021)

Billy Kent & The Andantes
1962 - Take All Of Me / Your Love (Mah's 002)

 Mary Wells (Vocal Accompaniment Andantes, Love-Tones)
1963 - Laughing Boy (Motown 1039)

Biography :

The Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s.

( The Andantes with Kim Weston) Jackie Hicks, Kim Weston, Louvain Demps, Marlene Barrow

Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, LaBrenda Ben, among others, along with the occasional non-Motown recording (Jackie Wilson's hit "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" being one example). Barrow also substituted for Florence Ballard of The Supremes in concert on several occasions.

 
Labrenda Ben                                                                                

The Andantes provided back-up singing on Motown singles starting in 1962. The group was most prominently used on all of the Four Tops' Holland–Dozier–Holland-produced hits, including "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "Reach Out I'll Be There", and more. They were credited alongside the male Love-Tones on “Laughing Boy” by Mary Wells. 

Marlene Barrow, Louvain Demps, Jackie Hicks

The Andantes were used as vocal substitutes for Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong on many of The Supremes' recordings done in 1968 and 1969. They were also called upon to overdub and smooth out The Marvelettes' background vocals records; the producers had this done without the Marvelettes' knowledge.

                                                                                                    Jackie Hicks and Marlene Barrow (Andantes)

The final Marvelettes album, The Return of The Marvelettes, was actually recorded by Marvelette Wanda Young with the Andantes, not her groupmates, on backgrounds. Outside of Motown, the trio also backed Jackie Wilson on “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher.” Pat Lewis substituted for Louvain Demps on this track.

Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston  - In the background are The Andantes

The group broke up in 1973 with each of the members going on to do studio and demo work. On February 23, 2015, Marlene Barrow-Tate died, at the age of 73.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/03/09/the-andantes-motowns-secret-weapon
http://metrotimes.com/music/music-features/girl-groups-the-grit-the-glamour-the-glory-1.1443481
http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2013/041213/motown.htm
http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-andantes-mn0000036300
http://history-of-rock.com/andantes.htm
https://books.google.de

Video:

The Andantes Story on the Soul Facts Show

Songs :

The Andantes

  
If You Were Mine                           (Like A) Nightmare


Billy Kent & The Andantes

   
Take All Of Me                                     Your Love

LaBrenda Ben & The Andantes

   
Just Be Yourself                      I Can't Help It, I Gotta Dance

Mary Wells (Vocal Accompaniment Andantes, Love-Tones)

Laughing Boy

.....

Top : Melvin Jennings, Earl Williams - Bottom : DeRoy Green, Robert Richardson and William Pierce

The Twilighters (1) (Baltimore, Maryland)
ref : DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents

Personnel :

Robert "Bob" Richardson (Lead)

Melvin Jennings (Baritone)

Earl Williams (Bass)

DeRoy Green (Second Tenor)

William Pierce (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Twilighters (1)
Single :
1953 - Please Tell Me You Are Mine / Wondering (Marshall 702)
Unreleased :
1953 - Longing For You (Marshall)
1953 - Gee, Baby I Need You So (Marshall)
1953 - I Wonder Who's Calling Her Now (Marshall)

DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents
Single :
1961 - Beggar To A Queen / At The Teen Center (Cee Jay 584)
Unreleased :
1961 - Phoebe (Cee Jay)

Biography :

The Twilighters came from the "Old Town" district of Baltimore where they attented Dunbar High School. They neighborhood also produced the Cardinals & Four Buddies. The Group was composed of Robert "Bob" Richardson (Lead), William Pierce (First Tenor), DeRoy Green (Second Tenor), Melvin Jennings (Baritone) and Earl Williams (Bass).

1953 - The Twilighters

The Twilighters recorded five songs at a recording session in Washington, D.C., in 1953, two of which became the Marshall sides :  "Please Tell Me You Are Mine" b/w "Wondering" with Frank Motley (Dual Trumpets) and his Crew. In 1953, The Twilighters made one of their appearances on a Cesar Romero telethon. Evidently the appearance didn’t generate significant interest in the Marshall record.

1953 - The Twilighters

Without the appearances and record sales necessary to sustain interest in a singing career, and after a dispute with their manager because they are dissatisfied with the background music, the Twilighters broke up.

   
                                                                                                     DeRoy Green

Several years later, after his release from the Army in 1960, DeRoy Green formed the Cool Gents. The group recorded for Lillian Claiborne in D.C and "Beggar To A Queen" b/w "At The Teen Center" was leased to Cee Jay records in the Bronx in 1961. A previously unreleased tune from the same session , "Phoebe" will be released on Roadhouse.

Songs :

The Twilighters (1)

  
         Please Tell Me You Are Mine           I Wonder Who's Calling Her Now           

The Cool Gents

  
Beggar To A Queen                           At The Teen Center

...

The Chesters  (Brooklyn, New York)
aka Little Anthony & The Imperials (3)

Personnel :

Jerome "Little Anthony' Gourdine  (Lead)

Clarence Collins (Baritone)

Ernest Wright, Jr. (Second Tenor)

Tracy Lord (First Tenor)

Glouster Nat Rogers (Bass)

Discography :

1957 - The Fires Burn No More / Lift Up Your Head (Apollo 521)

Biography :

Following the failure of the Duponts Winley and Royal Roost, lead singer Gourdine began looking for another group to sing with. He met the Chesters, and it was a perfect fit. At a party in Jamaica, Queens, the group was introduced to a member of the Cellos, who had "Rang Tang Ding Dong " on the charts at the time.

He got them an audition He got them an audition with Charles Mehrenstein at Apollo. At the audition they sang several of Anthony's original tunes, which were eventually recorded. They officially became the Chesters at this time. Before going to Apollo, the group tried to hook up with Richard Barrett at End Records (the label Anthony would eventually sing for), but Barrett was terribly busy with the Chantels, Isley Brothers, and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.

The Chesters recorded for Apollo, but poor promotion and financial difficulties did not allow their disc to succeed, and they called it quits. Baritone Keith Williams, Collins's predecessor, also recorded with the Highway QCs, as did Collins. Williams left as rehearsals and so on were interfering with his schoolwork. The liner notes accompanying Relic's Apollo-4 CD state that Keith Williams was the baritone for the group and omit Clarence Collins.
Mitch Rosalsky (Encyclopedia of rhythm and blues and doo wop vocal groups)

Songs :

   
The Fires Burn No More                          Lift Up Your Head     

...

Ray Allen Trio (Westchester, New York)
aka The Gum Drops aka The Upbeats (2)  aka The Classmates (1) aka The Four Classmates

Personnel :

Ray "Allen" Albanese (Vocal/Guitar)

Frank Rey (Vocal/Bass)

Harold "Feirstein" Stone (Vocal/Piano)

Discography :

Ray Allen Trio

1954 - Why Should I Love You / Love My Love (King 1383)

1954 - Amapola / Love In Rhyme (King 1399) 

1955 - I Miss You So / Money, Money, Money (King 1438)

1961 - See Africa First / Two Angels (Joy 247)

The Classmates (1)
1955 - What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss (King 1487)

The Four Classmates
1955 - What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss (King 1487)

The Gum Drops

1955 - Gum Drop / Don't Take It so Hard 1955 (King 1496)
1955 - I'll Wait For One More Train / Don't Take It So Hard (King 1499)
1955 - I Wonder and Wonder / I'll Follow You (King 4913) 

1956 - Natural born Lover / Chapel Of Hearts (King 4963)
1957 - Ba-Bee-Da Boat Is Leaving / Pigeon (King 5051)

1958 - You're The One / Gum Drop Shoes and Bells In Her Hair (Decca 30584) 

1958 - My Own True Love / On The Wings Of The Wind 1958 (Coral 62003)
1959 - I Spoke Too Soon / Sie-Tu (It's You, It's You) (Coral 62102)
1959 - It Happens Every Day / They Wake Me 1959 (Coral 62138)

Ray Allen & The Upbeats (2) 

Singles:
1961 - Let Them Talk / Sweet Lorraine (Sinclair 1004)
1962 - Peggy Sue / La Bamba (Blast 204) 

Lps :
1962 - "Tribute To 6" (Blast BLP-6804)
C'mon Everyboby / Peggy Sue / Sittin' In The Balcony / Earth Angel / Chantilly Lace / Battle Of New Orleans / La Bamba / Every Day / Running Bear / Donna / North To Alaska / Goodnight My Love

Biography :

The Ray Allen Trio started recording for King Records in 1954, and "Why Should I Love You / Love Me Love" King 1383 was there first release.

Ray Allen Trio (about 1952) -The Arthur Godfrey Show

The personal were "Ray Allen (Ray Albanese) (Guitar), Frank Rey (Bass) and Harold "Feirstein" Stone (Piano). They had very good success with there first two records, and released a total of three on King. The group added Vinnie Bell (Vinnie Gambella) (Guitar) and recorded " What Am I Gonna Do" b/w "A Kiss Is Not A Kiss" released as The Four Classmates and The Classmates

In 1955, DeLuxe released "Gum Drop" and "Save Me, Save Me" by Otis Williams and his New Group's ."Gum Drop" getting a lot of play from Alan Freed. "Gum Drop" was almost immediately covered by the Crew Cuts on Mercury Records, and that made Syd Nathan mad .

With George Montgomery

Syd Nathan refused to grant a license for "Gum Drop." As a final insult, Syd Nathan re-named the Ray Allen Trio to "The Gum Drops" and released their version of the song on King 1496 to cut into the Crew Cuts' sales. 

The group consisted of "Ray Allen (Ray Albanese), Frank Rey, Harold "Feirstein" Stone and new member Vinnie Bell (Vinnie Gambella) (Guitar), all were from New York. The Gum drops cut 9 singles for King, Decca & Coral. Their last release was as the Ray Allen Trio on the Joy record label.

In 1961 the Ray Allen Trio signing for Sinclair record as Ray Allen & The Upbeats , and released "Let Them Talk" /" Sweet Lorraine" (Sinclair 1004). The next year they released the LP "Tribute to 6" for Blast Records (a division of Sinclair Record Corp.)

Ray Allen & The Upbeats do two songs each by Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, Johnny Horton and Jesse Belvin . "Tribute to 6" Conducted and Arranged by Vinny Catalano. A single from the LP was also released on Blast 204 with "Peggy Sue" and "La Bamba".
Thanks To Alicia Albanese

Songs :
(Updated By Hans-Joachim)

Ray Allen Trio

   
Two Angels                                Amapola

The Classmates (1) aka The Four Classmates

What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss
 

The Gum Drops

       
You're The One                 Don't Take it So Hard               Natural born Lover

       
Gum Drop Shoes and Bells ...                   Gum Drop                            Sei Tu                     

     
I Wonder And Wonder...     Ba-Bee, Da Boat Is Leaving        They Wake Me

     
I'll Wait For One More Train     It Happens Every Day         I Spoke To Soon


Chapel Of Hearts

Ray Allen & The Upbeats (2)

       
    Let Them Talk                      Sweet Lorraine                  Sittin´ In The Balcony

       
Earth Angel                                Donna                              Goodnight My Love

       
North To Alaska                       Peggy Sue                               La Bamba       

 ....