The Fabulous Dials (Philadelphia)
aka The Dials (1)



Personnel :

Ray Eskridge

Michael Franklin

Eddie Smith

James Tindal



Discography :

The Fabulous Dials
1963 - Forget Me Not / Bossa Nova Stomp (Joy 276/D'nB' 1000)

The Dials (1) (Franklin & Tindal)
1961 - No Hard Feelings / Win Yourself A Lover (Hilltop 219)
1961 - Wondering About Your Love / Sorrento (Hilltop 2009)   
1961 - School Bells Are Ringing / Ring Ting-A-Ling (Hilltop 2010)

Lee Johnson bb The Dials (1)
1961 - You love Billy / Get Goin (Arnold 105)

Biography :

The Fabulous Dials who had their shot of Glory with "Bossa Nova Stomp" in early 63.

Ray Eskridge, Michael Franklin, Eddie Smith and James Tindal came from Paoli on the Outskirts of Philly and can perhaps count themselves lucky to even have got a Uk release in view of sales being restricted to the immediate Philadelphia Aera.

Both sides of this 45 were written by Dollee Escourt, who also wrote The Conservative by the Orlons. This was a 2nd issue on Joy, first issued on D 'n' B #1000. Franklin and Tindal were in The Dials on Hilltop, who did "No Hard Feelings," among others, most notably "School Bells Are Ringing."



Songs :

The Fabulous Dials

  
Forget Me Not                             Bossa Nova Stomp


The Dials (1)

     
No Hard Feelings           School Bells Are Ringing       Wondering About Your Love

The Vibra-Tones (2) (Brooklyn & Queens, New york)
aka The Allures aka The Alumes

Personnel :

John Sescila

Sandy Anzalone

John Anzalone

Vinny Lombardy





Discography :

Evelyn Dell & The Vibra-Tones (2)
1961 - Sincerely / Please Tell Me Why (ABC 10218)
 
Art Wayne (bb The Allures)
1961 -Try And Try Again / Let Me Make My Own Mistakes (Xavier 8890)

The Allures
Demo :
1961/63 - Try And Try Again
1961/63 - Dorothy
1961/63 - Plea For Love
1961/63 - At The End Of A Love
1961/63 - You Are On My Mind

The Allumes
1979 - Winner Take All / Tell Me Why (Crystal Ball 118)



Biography :

After a first group called the Embers, John & Sandy Anzalone form a group, The Galaxies In 1960. The group consisted  of John & Sandy, Arlene Pisciotta, John Gilleeny and John Sescila. The group was working the Platter's "Winner Take All" and another version of "You Belong To me"…

  
The Embers                                                         The Galaxies

Some personal changes again were made with Arlene & John Gilleeny departing and Ralph Rega joining the group. This group would record "Winner Take All", "A Thousand Miles Away" and a few other demo's before Ralph would exit to join "The Invitations".

  
The Galaxies                                                                      The Invitations

Ralph was replaced by Vinny Lombardi and a name change to the Allures took place. It was this group between 1961-1963 that would do many recordings, mostly because of their new Manager, Sal Campo. "Winner Take All" b/w "Tell Me Why", a cover of the Norman Fox hit was released in late '79 on the Crystal Ball label as the Allumes (This was because the Writing on the Demo was so faded it was illegible).

   
                                                                                        The Vibra-Tones/Allures

The Group would wax two 45's backup singers. the first on ABC For Evelyn Del as The Vibra-Tones and the second on Xavier records for Piano player, Art Wayne. "Try & Try Again" was originally called "We don't Need A Chaperone" but after a revamping of the Lyrics by the producer on the lead vocals, the background vocals were lowered since the words no longer reflected the background singers response. After the lack of success by the Allures, the Group disbanded.



Songs :


Evelyn Dell & The Vibra-Tones (2)

  
Sincerely                                        Please Tell Me Why


The Allures

     
Try And Try Again                    Dorothy                        Plea For Love

      
At The End Of A Love             You Are On My Mind             Winner Take All


The Allumes


Tell Me Why

Cds :

 Dante & The Evergreens (2) (Santa Monica, California)
aka The Aktones

 

Personnel :

Donald "Dante" Drowty (Lead)

Frank Rosenthal

Bill Young

Tony Moon (Guitar & Vocal)

Discography :

Tony Moon & The Aktones
1959 - L-O-V-E / N-A-C-L (Pan World 514)

Akim & The Aktones
1959 - Fall In Love With Me / Voodoo Drums (with The Ravels) (Pan World 520)

Will Wendel & The Aktones
1960 - Lonely Blue Boy / Lover (Trans American 10 000)

Dante & The Evergreens (2)

Singles:
1960 - Alley-Oop / The Right Time (Madison 130)

1960 - Dream Land / Time Machine (Madison 135)
1960 - Yeah, Baby / What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Madison 143)

1961 - Da Doo / Think Sweet Thoughts (Madison 154)

Unreleased :
1960 - Special kind of love (Madison)
1960 - Starbright (Madison)
1960 - We're Ready For Love (Madison)
1960 - Lover Not A Fighter (Madison)
1960 - I don't Mind Anymore (Madison)
1960 - Love is a miracle Maker (Madison)

Lps:
1960 - Dante & The Evergreens (Madison LP 1002)
Alley-Oop / Dream Lover / Let the Good Times Roll / Glory of Love / Da Doo / Hush A Bye / Time Machine / Venus / The Right Time / Blue Moon

Dante & His Friends (3) (The Rivingtons)

1961 - Are You Just My Friend / Something Happens (Imperial 5798)
1962 - Miss America / Now I've Got You (Imperial 5827)
1962 - Magic Ring / Am I The One (Imperial 5867)

Biography :

Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean) had discovered The Pastels, a trio composed by Don Drowty (Dante), Bill Young, and Frank Rosenthal while attending Santa Monica City College. Producer Kim Fowley asked Tony Moon to help the Pastels improve their harmonies. The group's sound was solidified with the addition of guitarist, arranger, and vocal coach Tony who became a fourth Pastel.

TAt this time, The Pastels also working with Aki Aleong, who put out "L-O-V-E" b/w "N-A-C-L" credited to Tony Moon and the Aktones on his Pan World records. The Pastels backed Aki on  "Fall In Love With Me" again named the Aktones. Aki Aleong used the Pastels to provide backup vocal for Will Wendel on his Trans American label with "Lonely Blue Boy" and "Lover". A year later, Aki had a nice hit himself with 'Trade Winds, Trade Winds' (Reprise 20021).

Dean Torrence introduced the Pastels to Herb Alpert and Lou Adler (Jan & Dean's management and production team). who asked if they would cover ‘Alley Oop’ for Madison. Agreeing to do so, they parted amicably with Aki Aleong and signed with Madison. There was another group of Pastels, known then for the hit "Been So Long",  so they changed their name to Dante and the Evergreens and rushed into the studio. Their 'Alley Oop' (Madison 130) was out in just two or three days!

With Merv Griffin

Gary Paxton had assembled a group which included Dallas Frazier and himself, which he called the Hollywood Argyles, and they had recorded the original version of Alley Oop.There was also a third recording by a similar group known as the Dyna-Sores. Frazier had been inspired by the comic strip of the same name about a caveman and his whereabouts. It was a novelty song and the versions by both Dante and the Evergreens and the Hollywood Argyles entered the charts on May 30, 1960.

Both proved to be big hits. Both went to #1 on the Cash Box chart, Paxton's version made #1 on Billboard while Drowty's settled at #15 on that chart, and the Dyna-Sores charted with it, but fell short of the top forty. Dante and the Evergreens had a hit. The group was popular for a while, particularly on the East Coast, where their version of Alley Oop outsold the original version of the song which had been recorded by Paxton's group. Dante and the Evergreens was a white group that played at some of the venues that were popular with black music lovers, such as the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.

They stayed together for several more years, recording and touring. They had another minor hit with Time Machine. Eventually the various members would pursue other interests, disbanding in 1964. Donald "Dante" Drowty (Lead) recorded six sides for Imperial as DANTE AND HIS FRIENDS, using The Rivingtons as the background group.. One tune recorded by the group, "Little Girl (You're My Miss America)," was covered by the Beach Boys on their 1962 Surfin' Safari album.

Bill Young pursued a career as a solo act, and in acting. Frank Rosenthal returned to college and eventually became a successful Beverly Hills attorney. Tony Moon went on to a career as a record producer in Nashville. And Don "Dante" Drowty worked for many years as a songwriter and producer at Mellin Music Publishing Company, producing records by various artists such as the Isley Brothers and the McCoys.

With Merv Griffin & Joannie Sommers

Drowty in his later years has been active in numerous charitable events on the West Coast. He collects various donated items -- shoes, toys, clothing -- and distributes them to those in need. He has provided music lessons and other services to Native Americans. Drowty directs much of his charitable work through his Project Touch organization, and he has retained his friendship over the years with Alpert and Adler. Dante and the Evergreens are remembered by fans of 60's pop music for their huge hit from 1960 Alley Oop.

http://www.tsimon.com/dante.htm
http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/orchard/dante/



Songs :

Dante & The Evergreens (2)

     
Alley-Oop                       The Right Time                  Dream Land

     
Time Machine             Think Sweet Thoughts    What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

     
Yeah, Baby                           Da Doo                         Hushabye

     
Dream Lover                        Venus                          Blue Moon

     
Special kind of love                 Starbright                  We're Ready For Love

      
Lover Not A Fighter                Glory Of Love             Let The Good Times Roll

Will Wendel & The Aktones

   
Lonely Blue Boy                                     Lover           


Tony Moon & The Aktones

  
L-O-V-E                                                  N-A-C-L


Akim & The Aktones


Fall In Love With Me


...

 The Camerons (1) (Bronx, New-York)

Personnel :

Robert Browne

Pat Gaines

Wiliam Raabe Jr

Charles Atkins (Bass)

Discography ;

The Camerons (1)

 Singles
 :
 1960 - Cheryl / Boom Chic A Bom (Cousins 1/2) 

Unreleased:
1960 - Baby Don't You Know (Cousins)
1960 - She's Got It (Cousins) 

Sonny Dee bb The Camerons (1)

 Unreleased :
1960 - Lonely Teenager (Cousins)
1960 - Cheryl (Cousins)

Biography :

Know at first as the Jiveliers, the first of two Camerons groups, who recorded for Cousins, originated in a neighborhood home for the blind and was renamed by Lou Cicchetti. Cousins 1-2 was the group's only release and the only Cousins master which  Cicchetti never offered to another label.

During the same session Sal Pippa, then billed as "Sonny dee", cut an unreleased Demo of "Lonely Teenager", the same song that he later sold to Dion for an estimated $ 50.00 (and which became Dion's first solo hit). Flip of this demo was an alternate version of "Cheryl", also by Pippa & The Camerons…

 
Sal Pippa                                                                                                          

The Camerons recorded two Unreleased sides in the summer 1960, "Baby Don't You Know" and "She's Got It",  included High tenor Diane Umhauer.

Songs :

The Camerons (1)

   
Cheryl                                          Boom Chic A Bom

   
Baby Don't You Know                            She's Got It       


Sonny Dee (bb the Regents)

   
        Here i stand                               I'm Not The One For You

...

Paste Up Picture : Karl White, Billy Mann, Rene Beard

The Gladiators (1) (Los Angeles)
aka The Glens (2) The aka The Feathers

Personnel :

Roy Allen (Tenor)

Rene Beard (Second Tenor)

Karl White (Baritone)

Cleo White (Bass)

Discography :

The Gladiators (1)
1957 - Girl Of My Heart / My Baby Doll (Dig 135)

The Glens (2)
1960 - A Little Less Talk / Cherish My Love (Laitini 6666/Sudden 104)

Biography :

In 1957, The Feathers with out Johnny Staton (Rene Beard, Karl White, Cleo White, and Roy Allen) then became the Gladiators, releasing "My Baby Doll"/"Girl Of My Heart" on Johnny Otis' Dig label in March 1957 . In 1960, with second tenor Billy Mann in place of Roy Allen, they recorded as the Glens for Laitini ("Cherish My Love"/"A Little Less Talk". That record was re-released on Sudden in the following year.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Feathers/feathers.html


Songs :

The Gladiators (1)


Girl Of My Heart /  My Baby Doll

The Glens (2)

    
Cherish My Love                                 A Little Less Talk

 ...