The Beverly's (Penha, Brazil)

 

Personnel :

José Pereira

José Mariano

Benedito Guido de Castro

Amelia de Paula Loureiro

Vander Loureiro


Discography :

1958 - There Goes My Baby / Little Star (Young 108)
1959 - Dance With Me / Yakety Yak (Young 122)
1960 - La Cucaracha / Anjinho Da Gang (RGE 70.114)

Biography :

The Beverlys were the first all-Black rock'n'roll group to come into the Brazilian rock scene circa 1959. The group hailed from Penha, a working-class suburb in the sprawling eastern section of São Paulo. José Pereira, a tall and handsome young man who worked as a clerk in the city's financial district went to see 'European nights', an Italian-French 'mondo film' production (exploitation documentary) showing European night places and was flabbergasted by the performance of The Platters he saw in the big screen. 'You'll never know' and 'My dream' were the 2 numbers sung by the Platters in a night-club in Rome.

When Pereira got back to Penha he told Vander Loureiro, a friend he used to sing along with, that he had seen the light. Pereira insisted Vander would have to go and watch 'Europa de Noite' (the title in Portuguese) to check it out. Pereira said they had to form a group like that; he knew they were capable of singing similar to them. They only needed two more guys and a girl. Soon they had The Beverlys all figured out: Mariano and Castro were the 2 other guys plus Amélia Loureiro, Vander's wife who would pass off as his sister because a rock'n'roll group was not supposed to have a husband-wife team.

Just when The Beverlys were about ready, Vander found out that Radio Panamericana's DJ Miguel Vaccaro Netto was looking for new rock'n'roll outfits - singers, instrumental or vocal groups - to record at his brand new label Young Records. Vander took one of their demo records to show Vaccaro who signed them on the spot. The Beverlys recorded 2 singles for Young Records in 1959 and 1960: covers of The Drifters' 'There goes my baby' and 'Dance with me' plus The Coasters' 'Yakety yak' and The Elegants' 'Little star'. On top of their own records The Beverlys did back up vocals for most of the 60 songs recorded by the other acts Young had under contract.

During 1959 and 1960 The Beverlys were really busy performing at TV and radio shows, travelling all around the country to promote their records and their colleagues at Young. Unfortunately, for one reason or another Young Records folded in late 1960, but The Beverlys continued their activities on TV or singing at balls and parties. The Beverlys existed up to 1962, in their original formation. Then Pereira left the group due to personal problems. Late in 1964, The Beverlys recorded in Portuguese for the first time: 'Anjinho da gang' backed with 'La cucaracha' was released by RGE.

Songs :

  
Little Star                                 Yakety Yak

  
There Goes My Baby                         Dance With Me    

  
Anjinho Da Gang                           La Cucaracha



...

James “Zeke“ Brown

The Blenders (2) (Chicago)

Personnel :

James “Zeke“ Brown (Lead)

Curtis Campbell

Parnell Shaw

Donald Taylor

Discography :

The Blenders (2)
1958 - Two Loves / Soda Shop (Aladdin 3449)

Debbie Stevens bb The Blenders (2)
1958 - What Will I Tell My Heart / If You Can’t Rock Me (Not Them) (APT 25027)

Biography :

Curtis Campbell, Parnell Shaw, Donald Taylor and Willie Jones on Lead formed a singing group called the Blenders when they were in 7th or 8th grade. At that time, the Blenders were singing songs like the Dells’ “Why Did You Have to Go,” and “Oh What A Night,” the Danderleers’ “Chop Chop Boom,” the El Dorados’ “At My Front Door,” “There In The Night” and “A Rose For My Darling,” the Spaniels’ “Peace Of Mind,” the Robins’ “Smokey Joe’s Café” as well as tunes by the Moroccos. The Blenders had been together for two or three years when troubles within the group started to surface. Willie Jones was a guy who was always in trouble and just kind of self-destructed. James “Zeke“ Brown, a member of the Calvaes who cut two records for Cobra in 1956 & 57 replaced Willie Jones on Lead.

   
                                                                                                            Donald Taylor

The Blenders put together two songs to record, “Two Loves” and “Soda Shop.” They recorded the two songs at Univeral Studios, down on East Walton Street. Zeke Brown sang lead on “Two Loves” and Donald Taylor led on “Soda Shop.” The record was released on the Aladdin label out of California. The Blenders association with Jim Lounsbury led to their second recording. Lounsbury was married to singer Reba Jeanette Smith who’d previously recorded as Penny Smith and was now using the stage name Debbie Stevens. In December 1958, Stevens was scheduled to record for the ABC- Paramount subsidiary, APT. The blenders backed Debbie Stevens on “What Will I Tell My Heart“. Uncredited on the Debbie Stevens record and not invited to sing with Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, the Blenders broke up sometime later.

 

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Blenders (2)

  
Two Loves                                Soda Shop

Debbie Stevens bb The Blenders (2) 

What Will I Tell My Heart

...

The Astra-Lites /  The Exotics : Gene Novell, Jerry Abramson, Lenny Melnick & Art Gatti

The Astra-Lites (Queens, New York)

Personnel :

Gene Novel  (Lead)

Jerry Abramson (Second Tenor)

Art Gatti (First Tenor/Falsetto)

Stu Abramson (Bass)

Discography :
Singles :
1961 - Space Hop / It Was A Bomb (Tribute 101)
Unreleased:
1961 - Let's Have A Doo Wop Christmas
1961 - Happy Holidays

Biography :

In 1959, From Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village, Lenny Melnick & Art Gatti are part of Nicky and the Bell Flairs, with Curtis James and the lead, Nick Angelili. The following year the group consists of Lenny Melnick (Baritone/Bass), Art Gatti (First Tenor/Falsetto), Jerry Abramson (Second Tenor) and Gene Novell (Lead). With two new members the group changes name : The Exotics.

Nicky & the Bell Flairs :  Curtis James, Lenny Melnick, Art Gatti & Nick Angelili

The Exotics sang in churches, parks, building basements, subway arcades, subway station platforms and subway trains and begin to occur proffessionally. At this time, Lenny Melnick is replaced by Stu Abramson and the group changes name again, The Astra-Lites. The group have the same manager that Paul Simon had way back then. hey recorded "Space Hop" and "It Was A Bomb" in Feb 1961 at The Brill Building in 1961. "Space Hop" features legendary guitarist Charlie Byrd on guitar and Art Gatti on vocals.

The Astra-Lites /  The Exotics

The Record was released by Tribute records owned by Eddie Heller on West 53d Street, NYC. They Astra-Lites recorded two others songs : "Let's Have A Doo Wop Christmas" and "Happy Holidays". The Group recorded under other names and backed up on numerous hit records. Group was featured on Dick clark's American bandstand.

 Charlie Byrd                                                                                      The Astra-Lites            

The Brill Building, in the early ‘60s, contained everything needed by a young talented singer or songwriter. There you could write a song or make the rounds of publishers until someone bought it. Then you could go to another floor and get a quick arrangement and lead sheet for $10; get some copies made at the duplication office; book an hour at a demo studio; hire some of the musicians and singers that hung around; and finally cut a demo of the song. Then you could take it around the building to the record companies, publishers, artists’ managers or even the artists themselves. If you made a deal, there were radio promoters available to sell the record- all this under one roof.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
Let's Have A Doo Wop Christmas                       Space Hop                 


It Was A Bomb

...

J. Ricci, Aqueleno, Dore Riccuiti (Pat D'Amato not on the photo)

The Crystals (4) (Philadelphia, Pa)

Personnel :

J. Ricci

Dore Riccuiti

Pat D'Amato

Aqueleno

Discography :

The Crystals (4)
1959 - Mary Ellen / Blind Date (Felsted 8566)

Johnny Stevens bb The Crystals (4)
1959 - Hm-Mm-Baby-Hm-Mm / Apple Taffy (Parkway 805)

Bobby Rydell bb The Crystals (4)
1959 - All I Want Is You / For You, For You (Cameo 164)

Biography :

Vocal group from Philadelphia composed by J. Ricci, Dore Riccuiti, Pat D'Amato and Aqueleno. In 1959, The crystals make a train trip to New York's Bell Sound Studios to make the recording. The group recorded two songs "Mary Ellen" and "Blind Date". Felsted Records released the single in Mars 1959. Bobby Rydell who played in several bands in the Philadelphia area and after three unsuccessful singles for small companies, he signed a recording contract with Cameo Records. In May 1959, The Crystals are contacted by Cameo who needs a vocal group to doing backgrounds behind Bobby. Bobby Rydell and the Crystals recorded "For You, For You" released on Cameo 164.

  
                                                                                                                                Bobby Rydell

The Crystals also made a recording at Cameo which was an answer to the hit "Short Shorts" but was never released. The Crystals wrote "Apple Taffy" who was recorded by a young man named Johnny Stevens, who was Disc Jockey Joe Niagara's brother. It was released on Parkway Records (P-805). The group also do background on the other side "Hmm-mm Baby Hmm-mm". The Crystals  also wrote three of Fabian's recordings, "Stop Thief!", "I'm Sincere" and  "Hold Me (In Your Arms)".

Songs :

The Crystals (4)

  
Mary Ellen                                               Blind Date


Bobby Rydell bb The Crystals (4)

  
For You, For You                              All I Want Is You  


Johnny Stevens bb The Crystals (4)

  
          Apple Taffy                               Hmm-mm Baby Hmm-mm

…

 (1955) Left to right: Ray Butler, Ron Emmons, Warren Dickerson, and Francis Bonello.

The Cardinals (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Ray Butler

Ron Emmons

Warren Dickerson

Francis Bonello

Discography :

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