The Dreamers (4) (Philadelphia)


Personnel:

Kent Peeler (Lead)

Mitchell Stevens

Harry Salters

Eddie Logan

Tony Hodges


Discography :

1955 - 535 / Tears in My Eyes (Grand 131)
1959 - Melba / No Man Is an Island (Rollin' 1001)


Biography :

Consistent with Donn Fileti's statement in his liner notes accompanying Relic's Grand CD, these were probably the same Dreamers who sang Melba / No Man Is an Island for Rollin'. In Lou Silvani's Yesterday's Memories article, he expresses the opinion that these two recordings are by the same Philadelphia Dreamers and were probably cut at the same time in 1954, but the Rollin' song was never released.

A black Philadelphia record shop owner apparently found the tapes and released them on his own Rollin' label in the 1960s. Jared Weinstein and Eddie Gries wound up with the stampers and pressed 200 authentic-looking reissues in 1963. After all this time, we still do not know why it was never released by Grand. Later Kent Peeler sang with the Modern Flamingos and the Universals on MARK-X.
Donn Fileti (liner notes with the Relic CD Grand Records) Louie Silvani (Yesterday's Memories)


Songs :

   
Tears in My Eyes                                     535

   
Melba                                      No Man Is an Island

...

Top : Willie Graham - Middle : Ira Foley & Randolph Bryant - Bottom : Donald Woods

The Bel-Aires (3) (Los Angeles)
aka The Vel-Aires
aka The Rhythm Masters

Personnel :

Donald Woods (Lead)

Randolph Bryant (Tenor)

Willie Graham (Second Tenor)

Ira Foley (Bass)

Discography :

The Bel-Aires (3)
1955 - This Paradise / Let's Party Awhile (Flip 303)
1955 - White Port And Lemon Juice / This Is Goodbye (Flip 304)

Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires
1955 - Death Of An Angel / Man From Utopia (Flip 306)
1955 - Stay With Me Always / My Very Own (Flip 309)
1956 - Heaven In My Arms / Mighty Joe (Flip 312)

The Rhythm Masters
1956 -  Baby We Two / Patricia (Flip 314)

Biography :

Donald "Buster" Woods originally recorded with The Medallions, from Los Angeles, California. The Medallion's group leader was Vernon Green, but when Woods split from Green he took three of the Medallions with him to form The Bel-Aires, who were known as the Vel-Aires when they weren't backing Woods. In 1954, Flip Records, a small, Hollywood based label, that specialized in Doo-Wop, recorded two Singles by The Bel-Aires, "This is Paradise," backed with "Let's Party Awhile," (Flip #303) and "White Port & Lemon Juice," backed with "This Is Goodbye," (Flip #304).

  
                                                                                                                        Darryl Perault (Jivers & Rhythm Masters)

In June, Flip issued the group's third record, but by then their name had been changed to the "Vel-Aires." It's probable that this was due to the existence of another West Coast Bel-Aires, this one a black and white duo that had covered Marvin & Johnny's "Tick Tock" on Crown in 1954.  Flip Records recorded two other Singles by Donald Wood & The Vel-Aires. In 1955, Donald Woods had left to try a solo career. Willie, Randolph, and Ira got a replacement tenor: Darryl Perault (who would go on to sing with the Jivers) and, on December 10, 1955, they recorded "Baby We Two" and "Patricia" for Flip as the "Rhythm Masters".
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Medallions/medallions.html

Songs :

The Bel-Aires (3)

    
This Paradise                                Let's Party Awhile

     
White Port And Lemon Juice                        This Is Goodbye         

Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires

    
 Heaven In My Arms                         Stay With Me Always

     
Death Of An Angel                            Man From Utopia

   
Mighty Joe                                    My Very Own

The Rhythm Masters

   
Baby We Two                                       Patricia

...

The Blackwells and Phil Everly

 The Blackwells (Laytonville, Ca.)
(Update By Hans-Joachim)


Personnel :

Dewayne Blackwell

Ron Blackwell

Glenda Blackwell


Discography :

1959 - Here's the question / Please Don't Come Crying (G&G 126)
1959 - Holey Sombrero / Oh My Love (G&G 131/Guyden 2020)
1959 - You Are Free, I'm Alone / Depot (Jamie 1141)
1959 - Little Match Girl / The Christmas Holiday (Jamie 1146)
1960 - Honey, Honey / Always It's You  (Jamie 1150)
1960 - Unchained Melody / Mansion On The Hill (Jamie 1157)
1960 - Moulin Rouge / You're A Habit With Me  (Jamie 1170)
1960 - Little Match Girl / The Christmas Holiday  (Jamie 1173)
1961 - Love or Money / Big Daddy and The Cat (Jamie 1179)
1961 - You Took Advantage of Me / I (Jamie 1199)
1964 - Playin' Heart Strings / I Must Be Perfect (Hickory 1241)
1964 - Ballad Of A Young Truck Driver / She Loves The Love I Give Her (Hickory 1261)
1964 - I've Been Waiting / The Little Bird (Hickory 1279)


Biography :

DeWayne Blackwell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and he and his parents moved to California in the mid 1950s when he was a baby. Ronald and Glenda Blackwell were born in California. They spent most of their growing up time there but we also lived in Oregon and Alaska.

After DeWayne wrote 'Mr Blue' for The Fleetwoods, they won a recording contract with G&G Records in SFO, however after failing to register a hit there, a distributor scored them a contract with Jamie.

(L to R) Dewayne Blackwell, Wesley Rose, Glenda Blackwell, Harry Finfer , Boudleaux Bryantand Ronald Blackwell.

'Unchained Melody' (with their sister) was their only Top 100 charter at #83, whilst 'Love Or Money' (on 'Teenage Crush 5') was a better record but only made it to #107 on the Bubbling Under charts.

The Blackwells figured in Phil Spector’s early career. Spector was associated with Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill’s Gregmark Music. Hazlewood and Sill produced Duane Eddy and Spector traveled down to Phoenix to watch Duane Eddy sessions, where he picked up many of the echo techniques used on Duane’s recordings from Lee Hazlewood.

Spector then produced the Blackwells on “You Took Advantage Of Me” b/w "I" as Jamie 1199, the last Blackwells recording for Jamie in August 1961.In 1964 the Nashville-based Hickory label released three further records of The Blackwells."

http://jamguy.com/The_Blackwells/main.php
http://www.glendablackwellbaxter.com
http://www.45cat.com/artist/the-blackwells

Songs : 

      
Please Don't Come Crying         Unchained Melody             Little Match Girl

     
You Took Advantage Of Me          Love or Money              The Christmas Holiday

      
Big Daddy And The Cat                       I                      Mansion On The Hill

     
Always It's You                    Holey Sombrero                Here's The Question

      
Oh My Love                            Honey, Honey                  Moulin Rouge

 ...

The Mellokings (Mount Vernon, New York)
aka The Mellotones (2) aka The Mello-Kings

Personnel :

Jerry Scholl (First Tenor)

Robert School (Second Tenor)

Neil Arena (Second Baritone)

Eddie Quinn (First Baritone)

Larry Esposito (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
The Mellotones
1957 - Tonite, Tonite / Do Baby Do (Herald 502)

The Mellokings
1957 - Tonite, Tonite / Do Baby Do (Herald 502)
1957 - Chapel On The Hill / Sassafras (Herald 507) 

1957 - Baby Tell Me (Why, Why, Why) / The Only Girl (Herald 511)

1958 - Valerie / She's Real Cool (Herald 518)
1959 - Chip Chip / Running To You (Herald 536)

1960 - Our Love Is Beautiful / Dear Mr. Jock (Herald 548)

1960 - Kid Stuff / I Promise (Herald 554)

1961 - Penny /' Till There Was None (Herald 1961)

1961 - Love At First Sight / She's Real Cool (Herald 567)
1965 - Tonight, Tonight / Thrill Me (Flashback 2)
1977 - Tonight, Tonight / Chapel On The Hill (Janus 722)

The Mello-Kings
1962 - But You Lied / Walk Softly (Lescay 3009)
1966 - Tonite Tonite / Chip Chip (Lana 124)

___________________

Eps :
1958 -The Fabulous Mello.Kings (Herald EP 451)
Tonite Tonite / She's Real Cool / The Only Girl (I'll Ever Love) / Do Baby Do

____________________________________

Lps :
1960 - The Mellokings Sing (Herald LP-1013)
Tonight Tonight / I Promise, Our Love Is Beautiful / Sassafras / The Only Girl / Once On A Windy Day / Kid Stuff / Chapel On The Hill /Starbright / Valarie / Chip Chip / Baby Tell Me (Why, Why, Why)

Biography :

The group formed in 1956 in Mount Vernon, New York and consisted of Robert School (Second Tenor), his younger brother Jerry Scholl (First Tenor), Eddie Quinn (First Baritone), Neil Arena (Second Baritone) and Larry Esposito (Bass). By the fall of 1956, they were calling themselves the Mellotones, gaining attention in the local area and catching the ear of a black pianist named Dick Levister, who offered to become the group's manager and accompany them during live performances. It was Levister who brought them to the attention of Al Silver, who owned both the Herald and Ember labels.

The Mellokings for their first record: (L to R) Andrew Semansco (director), Robert School (Second Tenor), Eddie Quinn (First Baritone), Jerry Scholl (First Tenor), Larry Esposito (Bass), Neil Arena (Second Baritone) and Richard Leviste

Silver, one of the pioneering R&B label owners, had by this point already recorded and released numerous hit singles by acts , including the Nutmegs , the Five Satins (whose "In the Still of the Night," a smash in 1956, had been leased to Ember; they later scored a hit for the label with "To the Aisle," a Top Ten R&B hit -- number 25 pop -- in the summer of 1957), and the Turbans (whose "When You Dance" was the group's best charter for Herald").

Silver liked what he heard and the group -- with their trademark white jackets (at Levister's insistence, supposedly) - helped them forge an identity with the teenage public. For the Mellotones' first release, Silver chose a tune called "Tonite, Tonite" (Herald number 502), written by Billy Myles (who also penned "All My Love You Were Made For" with Jackie Wilson). It was released during the summer of 1957 and became an immediate regional smash hit.

Unfortunately, Silver discovered too late that there was already a record out that summer on George Goldner's Gee label by a group called the Mello-Tones, (their "Rosie Lee" later climbed into the Top 24 on the pop charts). A quick name change was in order and using Levister's nickname "King," "Tonite, Tonite" (Herald number 502) was quickly re-released as by the Mello-Kings.

  The single was a big seller in the Northeast, again having regional ties. They made more than one TV appearance with Dick Clark on both the daily American Bandstand and his weekly Saturday Night show for ABC network.  The follow-up single in September 1957, Chapel On The Hill was another lovely ballad while the flip, Sassafras was more of a novelty teen rock ‘n’ roller. Before the year was out Herald released a third single, the uptempo Baby Tell Me Why, Why, Why and the ballad The Only Girl. Despite promotional appearances and national exposure on the likes of American Bandstand and working an Irvin Feld 17 day tour featuring the Everly Brothers, the Crickets, the Rays, the Hollywood Flames, Eddie Cochran, and Jimmy Rodgers, they still couldn’t crack the charts.

  In the spring of 1958, the Mellokings became a four-piece when Neil Arena left. Mot long after, Larry Esposito also left, and the Mellokings replaced them with Louis Jannacone and Tony Pinto. This was the line-up that recorded Chip Chip in November 1958. Released in January 1959, Chip Chip is a great novelty that had hit record written all over it. The flip Running To You was a nice slowie that had more than a hint of Dion about it.  It was over a year before the next release, another lovely ballad, Our Love Is Beautiful backed by the neat Dear Mr. Jock. By the end of 1960 the group was back to being a quartet with Jerry Scholl, Bobby Scholl, Lou Jannacone, and Tony Pinto. Kid Stuff and I Promise from September ’60 both have their moments but if Valerie and Chip Chip weren’t going to hit, these certainly wouldn’t.

With doo-wop enjoying a second coming as early as 1961, the Mellokings could have been forgiven for thinking that they were finally in the right place as the right time. Penny is heavily stringed but the vocals are nice enough but it was their final Herald release in October where they hit their highest artistic heights since Tonite Tonite. Love At First Sight has everything a classic doo-wop record should have, relentless ooh-ah’s behind a lifting lead vocal. It’s a beauty and with Bobby Scholl sublime. Among the autographs he was signing at the time, the biggest was for a certain Uncle Sam, as he was drafted.

Videos :


Tonite, Tonite



Songs :

   
Tonite, Tonite / Do Baby Do            Chapel On The Hill / Sassafras

   
Valerie / She's Real Cool                    Chip Chip / Running To You

     
Baby Tell Me (Why...)              The Only Girl              Our Love Is Beautiful

     
Dear Mr. Jock                       Kid Stuff                          I Promise

     
Penny                          Till There Was None                    Love At First Sight

  
Thrill Me                              Once on A Windy Day

...

  
    (L to R) Laura "Lolly" Haskins, Janet Haskins & Mildred Washington  (Front) Peggy Collins
 

The Debonaires (4) (Beaver Falls, PA)

Personnel :

Laura "Lolly" Haskins (Soprano)

Janet Haskins (Alto)

Peggy Collins (Alto)

Mildred Washington (Soprano)

Discography :

1959 - Every Other Day / Jiving Guy (Maske 804)

Biography :

Sister Laura "Lolly" and Janet Haskins along with Peggy Collins were choir members of the 24th Street Baptist Church. Choir participation and desire to extend their vocalizing prompted the threesome to recruit Mildred Washington - a Beaver Falls High School classmate into their no name singing group. Formed in 1957, the quartet members unanimously selected "Debonaires" as their billing. The Debonaires soon became vocal favorites at Beaver Falls High assembly programs and school dances. The Group appeared at local record hops. Frequent appearances with WBVP radio personality Chuck Wilson, at this record hops, proved to be a beneficial conductor to a recording contract. Wilson was a prominent influential Disc Jockey who had a keen ability to recognize talent. An audition was arranged with a representative of Maske records in Philadelphia. "Every Other Day" b/w "Jiving Guy" was issued as Maske 804 sometime during either October or November 1959.



Songs :

   
Every Other Day                                      Jivin Guy