The Preludes (2) (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Bobby Miano (Lead)

Sonny Aaron

Fred Cohen 

Discography :

1958 - Vanishing Angel / Kingdom Of Love (Cub 9005/Acme 730)

Biography :

Robert Miano was born in New York City and raised in the South East Bronx around when Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra played for the New York Yankees. In school, Robert joined the Glee Club and realized that he had a gift for singing. At the age of 15, he started his showbiz career when a talent agent heard him singing with a Du-op Group on a Bronx street corner. This lead to a recording of "Kingdom Of Love" by the Preludes on the Cub Label, a new subsidiary of MGM Records.

Today "Kingdom Of Love" is a collector's item and is still being played on the "Oldies but Goodies" Radio Station in New York. Through the years, Robert continued to make records and ultimately became a Columbia Recording Artist. About 10 years after this recording He did end up studying with Madame DiSimone an operatic coach in NYC. He did recordings as a soloist under Bobby Diamond and used different names like Ruff Diamond, Tony Russel, Jonny Christopher. He signed with Colombia Records when he called himself Ruff Diamond.

Songs :

    
Vanishing Angel                                      Kingdom Of Love

...

The Sherwoods (8) (Danbury, Connecticut)
(by Norm Marcioch)

Personnel :

Norm "Nolan" Marcioch (Lead)

Chuck Spaulding

Bob Benton

Harry Hawkes


Discography :

1965 - The Search Is Over (Unreleased) (Crystal Ball "97")
1965 - That's my Desire (Unreleased) (Crystal Ball "97")


Biography :

The Sherwoods were “born” in 1964 in Connecticut. All four members attended Danbury High School and got together after they had graduated. At first they were a duo, Norm Marcioch and Chuck Spaulding, who’d met in 1961 while both were hanging around Danbury’s musical mecca, the Record Fair record store in downtown Danbury. In 1964 Bob Benton came on board. Number four, Harry Hawkes, joined the group after Bob and Norm had heard him sing in the local Baptist Church choir.

Norm Nolan in action at Candlewood Arena - 1961 

Now that they were at full strength the group practiced as often as they could. Most anytime. Most anywhere. One session especially stands out in their minds. It was a splendid early spring day in 1965 and the foursome set up at Sherwood Island State Park on the shore in Westport. There, with Chuck on his trusty acoustical guitar, the gang ran through their line-up of songs of the day mixed with a healthy dose of oldies.

   
Norm Marcioch                                                                           Chuck Spaulding

It must have been a good blend . . . because suddenly it seemed that there was a sizable crowd clapping and singing along and making requests. “Gee, they must really like us,” Norm recalls himself thinking. Not only did the Sherwood Island outing give the quartet a jolt of confidence, it also gave them a name. When someone in the crowd shouted “What’s your name?” the almost immediate response was “We’re the Sherwoods.” And indeed they were.

A couple of years earlier Norm had heard a home-made demo by a local Elvis sound-alike named Fran Greer entitled Searching For Love. Norm was not impressed. To him, at least, the effort was short, disjointed and utilized lyrics that didn’t rhyme. Norm, however, liked the search idea and, with a little help from Chuck, penned the up-tempo gem proudly presented here.  The Sherwoods played various gigs. They appeared at shows and dances in Danbury, Newtown, Bethel, Ridgefield and New Milford. The boys also ventured across the New York state line into Brewster, Mahopac and Carmel. Harry remembers playing the Birch Hill Ski Area in Patterson. “Our pay was a barbeque meal,” he laughs. Asked what would pay normally be he ponders a second or two, then laughs again and replies “a meal.”

   
The Sherwoods on LP - Crystal Ball Records 'From the Vaults' - Volume #3 - 1997

The group’s biggest thrill was, alas, also their biggest disappointment. It was their venture into “The Big Town,” New York City, to cut a demo at Broadway Recording Studios at 1697 Broadway and then shop it around down the block at the legendary Brill Building.  The four-some, plus a friend of Bob’s to play drums, did the studio work for both songs in one take. Chuck then added a bass and rhythm guitar track as well.The group’s favorite spot: the sock hops held by Sol Goodman, the Record Fair’s proprietor, at the Danbury Roller Rink with Bridgeport disc jockey Harry Downey doing the emceeing.

   
Bob Benton                                                                     Harry Hawkes

So far, so good But that was about to change. A short time later, when the demo copies were ready, Bob and Norm drove to Manhatten, picked them up, and went to work. Some record companies were polite and took a copy and said “We’ll call you.” while others were more direct. Norm recalls a visit to Laurie Records (Dion & the Belmonts’ original label) as typical. The person in charge played about 15 seconds of The Search Is Over and said “Thanks for coming in.” So much for fame and fortune.

Songs :

    
The Search Is Over                            That's My Desire

...

The Five Embers (2) (Owensboro, KY)

Personnel :

Richard Brown (Lead, First Tenor)

Charles Brown (Lead, First Tenor)

Sonny Rates (Second tenor)

Raymond Johnson (Baritone)

Melvin Smith (Bass)

Discography :

1959 - I'm free / My Fragile Heart (Royce 006/X bat 1006)

Biography :

The Five Embers came about from a loosely organized group of individual talents who were part of this scene in the northern Kentucky town of Owensboro.  The members all attended Western High, an all-black school in the area.  An early version of the group had a brush with success in 1957 when they won a NFA competition at Tennessee State College.  Part of the prize was an appearance on WLAC radio, Nashville, with Roy Acuff.

In 1958, the act was organized under the management of Gerald Emberton.  The groups' name was derived from the manager's last name.  They  play in the local clubs, which included the Savoy Club and the Little Brown Jug in Owensboro, as well as several regular appearances in neighboring Indiana.  Evansville's Roberts Stadium provided them with one of their larger audiences. Their manager felt that the Embers needed a record, and, in 1959 contacted Royce Morgan.  Royce and his partner Bobby Anderson were operating a label out of the State (movie) Theater in Central City.  

Released in early 1960, local reaction was excellent, with many jukebox plays, and heavy promotion from LeRoy Woodward, who operated a local record store called the "Wax Works", and had a weekly radio show on WVGS, Owensboro.  The record got as far as Louisville, where Charles recalls it being a pick-of-the week on WHAS. A session at a Nashville studio (near the Ryman Auditorium) followed, and produced a few demos, including a tune called "Marie".  They even cut a background track for Elvis in Nashville, which was, apparently, never used.  In 1961, Richard enlisted in the Army.  Sonny Rates followed.
 http://classicurbanharmony.net/five_embers.htm

Songs :

    
My Fragile Heart                                           I'm Free      

...

The Roulettes (2)

The Roulettes (2)  (Manhattan, New York)
aka Billy & the Patios aka The Singing Roulettes

Personnel :

Billy Galante

Bobby Galante

Bobby Wicks

Victor Points

Lillie Acosta




Discography :

The Roulettes (2)
1958 - I See A Star / Come On Baby (Champ 102)

The Singing Roulettes
1959 - Hasten Jason / Wouldn't Be Going Steady (Scepter 1204)

Billy & The Patios
1961 - Love Is A Story / You Name It (Lite 9002)

Billy Gallant
1962 - Scribbling On The Wall / Thinking Wishing Hoping (Dee Dee 501)
1963 - Thinking Wishing Hoping / If You'd Only Be My Love (Goldisc G6)

Biography :

Bobby Galante was singing with a group of guys from the neighborhood that included himself, Bobby Wicks and Victor Points. Bobby wanted his brother Billy to write a song for his group. Billy wrote two songs, "I See A Star" and "Come On Baby". Victor Points was supposed to do the lead on "I See A Star", Victor simply froze at the microphone, He would open his mouth but nothing came out.

 
Billy at the Arthur Godfrey                                                                       1960 At the Hop with Dick Clark

They had no choice to quickly find a new lead singer for the song. Billy Galante spoke with Johnny Maestro, who mentioned a girl named Lillie Acosta. She was a stand-in for the Crests and the new lead singer for the group. They booked the Allegro Studios in New York and recorded "I See A Star" and "Come On Baby". Bobby Galante sang lead on the flip. After listening to the record, Florence Greenberg from Champ Records on Broadway signed with them a recording contract. Florence contacted Radio DJ Jocko Henderson to acquaint him with the records.

 Contract signing and Autographswith Sal Galante, Bobby Galante, Joan Galante

The record got significant airplay in the Tri-State area and The Roulettes appeared at records Hops all over New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The record appeared as #55 on the CashBox chart. In 1959, they Waxed their second Records "Hasten Jason" and "Wouldn't Be Going Steady" released on Florence’s new Scepter label. the record didn't stand a chance, Florence Greenberg provided no support for "Hasten Jason".

Billy & The Patios

Billy Galante decided to continue singing after group broke up. Billy sang lead for the Intros as they played the club circuit in New York and New Jersey. In 1961, Billy wrote "Love Is A Story" and decided to record the song at the regency Studios in New York City. He assembled a group wing included Bobby Wicks, Victor Points and his wife’s Brother, Robert Malfi. They used the name Billy & The Patios because he wanted a new name and a clean slate. The record was put out on the Lite label but again, the record didn’t have a chance. Billy Galante continued as a solo singer under his name & Billy Vance...






Songs :

The Roulettes (2)

  
I See A Star                                     Come On Baby


The Singing Roulettes

  
    Hasten Jason                            Wouldn't Be Going steady


Billy & The Patios

  
Love Is A Story                                     You Name It


..

The Duvals (4) (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Phil Johnson (Lead)



Biography :

The Duvals (4)
1956 - Yes I Do / I Wanna Be Free (Club 1013)

Phil Johnson & The Duvals (4)
1957 - Yes I Do / I Wanna Be Free (LaSalle 502)
1958 - I Lie To My Heart / Money In The Bank (Floyd Williams And Orch.) (Kelit 7033)
1958 - Kisses Left Unkissed / Three Speed Girl (Royal Notes) (Kelit 7032)
1958 - Wee Small Hours / You Are My Love (Royal Notes) (Kelit 7034)

Jay Saunders & The Duvals (4)
1956 - I'm Still In Love With you / Heaven Have Mercy (Club 1012)

Biography :

The Duvals were from the Bronx, New York. They made three records on Kelit and one on Club (which was reissued on LaSalle). In 1961 Phil Johnson (Lead) replaced J.R. Bailey in the Halos.  The "Jay Saunders & the Duvals" record was originally Club 1012 11/56. It was issued as Jay Saunders only.

Jay Saunders is  a white teenage singer. There's a group on both sides, but they're never identified. They could be the Duvals.

Thanks to Marv Goldberg .

Songs :

Phil Johnson & The Duvals (4)

   
I Lie To My Heart                        Yes I Do                        Wee Small Hours

  
I Wanna Be Free                 Kisses Left Unkissed


Jay Saunders &  The Duvals (4)

  
Heaven Have Mercy              I'm Still In Love With You

...