Eric Nathanson

The Vocal-Airs (Coney Island, Brooklyn)
aka The Blue Sonnets

Personnel :

Louis Fasanaro

Eric Nathanson (Second Tenor)

Joseph Piazza

Robert Kutner (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Vocal-Airs
Single :
1962 - Dance Dance / These Empty Arms (Herald 573)
Unreleased :
1962 - Crying In The Chapel (Herald)
1962 - Out Of Sight Out Of Mind  (Herald)

The Blue Sonnets
1963 - Thank You Mr. Moon / It's Never Too Late (To Fall In Love) (Columbia 42793)

Ricky Reynolds (Eric Nathanson)
1959 - Let's Leave It That Way / Get The Message (Mohawk 201)

Biography :

Louis Fasanaro, Eric Nathanson, Joseph Piazza and Robert Kutner were from Bensonhurst. Eric Nathanson originally sang with Lonnie & the Carollons of Mohawk fame. Eric Nathanson recorded a solo single under the name of Ricky Reynolds before joining The Vocal-Airs. The Vocal-Airs recorded for Herald records "Dance Dance" b/w "These Empty Arms" in 1962.

"Dance Dance" have a little airplay in September 1962.  From the same session, they recorded "Crying In The Chapel" and "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind", unfortunately the two songs were never released. In 1963, Vinnie Fiacco replaced Bob Kutner and the group evolved into the Blue Sonnets and recorded "Thank You Mr. Moon" b/w "It's Never Too Late" on Columbia Records.

"Thank You Mr. Moon" was credited by M. Saunders and D. Blatt. D. Blatt is also known as Jay Black. M. Saunders is Marty Saunders (Sanders). They were members of Jay and the Americans. Bob Kutner also sang in the Boptones on Ember, The Four Romans on Wynne and with the Accents after their recording of "Rag To Riches".


Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)    

The Vocal-Airs

  
   Dance Dance                                    These Empty Arms

  
Crying In The Chapel                   Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
 

The Blue Sonnets

  
Thank You Mr. Moon                       It's Never Too Late 


...

The Delrays (Reading, Pa)
aka The Delights (1)   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

...

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

...

A Pair Of Kings   

A Pair Of Kings (Brooklyn, New York)
aka Johnny & The Kings (4)
aka Johnny & The Tokens (3)
aka The Grace Notes

Personnel :

John Guiffre (Lead)

Jimmy "Sims" Smith

Jerry Vance

John Truscelli

Discography :

The Grace Notes
Unreleased :
1957 - Send Me An Angel / First Love

A Pair Of Kings
1959 - Once / The Monster (RCA 7659)
1960 - Just Two Guys / I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight  (Warwick 608)
1961 - Ev'rytime / Just Two Guys (Warwick 647)

Johnny & The Tokens (3)
1961 - The Taste Of A Tear /  Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Johnny & The Kings (4)
1961 - The Taste Of A Tear /  Never Till Now (Warwick 658)


Biography :

Jerry Vance attended James Madison H.S. with Barry Mann. Jerry played alto sax in the H.S. dance band. In 1956 his senior year, Jerry joined a group called the Grace Notes. Jimmy "Sims" Smith sang lead and two other members were John Guiffre and a girl. The group wrote, produced and arranged their session at Nola Studios. The demo was unmarketable and the group soon broke up. Jimmy and Jerry stayed together and met an independent producer who recorded them at Long Island studio, doing two songs which were unreleased; On both sides, singing background was a young girl named Ellie Greenwich.

                               1959 -    A Pair Of Kings                                                                  1960 - Johnny & The Kings                            

The fellows were becoming disenchanted when they met Howie Epstein, John McCarthy and Terry Phillips. Howie got the group an audition with RCA. As "A Pair Of Kings", Jerry and Jimmy recorded "The Monster". A pair Of Kings moved to Morty Craft's Warwick label, keeping their RCA Name. After two releases, John Guiffre rejoined the group after getting out of the service. With a four member named John Truscelli, they released "The Taste Of A Tear" b/w  "Never Till Now" as Johnny & The Kings.

  
                    1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park                                                                                                  

In 1961, The Tokens were one of the hottest and most talented groups in early 60s. kicking things off with "Tonight i Fell In Love" on the Warwick Label. Big boy RCA-Victor came up with a big money offer, and the Tokens jumped over There, immediately hitting #1 with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". their phenomenal career took all from there.

1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park

 Morty Craft of Warwick was not happy about losing these moneymakers and reacted by changing the Name of Johnny & The Kings into Johnny & The Tokens (his label had done extremely well with Johnny & The Hurricanes) . They were good enough to make a brief appearance on the national chart. This name was never used again.

 

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 
 A Pair Of Kings

  
     The Monster                                         Once                
 

Ev'rytime


Johnny & The Tokens (3) / The Kings (4)

  
       Never Till Now                                The Taste Of A Tear

...