Jeff Okun, James Fischer, Joe Barnett and Cubie Maddox

The Emeralds (4) (South Haven, Mi)


Personnel :

James Fischer (Soprano Lead)

Joe Barnett (Baritone)

Jeff Okun (Tenor)

Cubie Maddox (Bass)


Discography :

1959 - The Lover / Madamoiselle (Venus 1002)
1963 - Marsha / You're Driving Me Crazy  (Venus 1003)

Biography :

By Joel Chandler - Four High School boys from South Haven High School compose a quartet known as the Emeralds. Two sophomores, 15 year old Joe Barnett and sixteener Jeff Okun, and two juniors, 16 year old Cubie Maddox and seventeener James Fischer are the singers who working together since early 1958 . The group started out in 1956 as The Cloves, an unreleased group. They made it on a local TV station, WKZO-TV. The Cloves lasted about a year, until about 1957, when they changed their name to the Dell Chords.

The group of boys that are known as the Emeralds was formed in September of 1958 and began performing almost immediately, as most of them had been in the Dell Chords. Possibly as a result of winning a talent show, The Emeralds got a recording deal with Venus Records, Inc at 1111 W. 62nd Street in Chicago. The first record was Venus 1002, Mademoiselle b/w The Lover, and it was released sometime during the week of May 25, 1958. The second one was Venus 1003 (You're Driving Me Crazy), and it was released sometime after that.

James Fischer, Jeff Okun, Joe Barnett and Cubie Maddox

They attended the Southwestern Michigan Vocal festival at Western Michigan University as members of their choir, they were greatly applauded by almost 1300 attending students, and were commended for their fine harmonisation. The Emeralds entertained frequently in town and in neighboring towns including such places as the boat Show, ’59, Queen Contest, ’59, Post Prom frolics, Bangor and South Haven talent Shows, school dances and at Watervliet High School.

In June of 1959, the group was featured on both Chicago Band Stand (which was on WNBQ-TV) and the Howard Miller Radio Show on WMAQ. After that, the group lasted another year until Maddox and Fischer graduated. The Emeralds got back together in 1961, but it didn't work out and the group was done.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
The Lover                                         Madamoiselle

  
You're Driving Me Crazy                               Marsha         


…

(From Left) Linda, Sandra and Rus

The Lakewoods (Lakewood, CA)

Personnel :

Linda Leeper

Sandra Leeper

Rus Leeper

 

Discography : :

1962 - Everlasting Love / The Golden Locket (Associated Artists 1660)


Biography :

The Lakewoods were a vocal trio from Lakewood, Ca. composed by sisters’ Linda, Sandra and Rus Leeper.  Linda, 14, and Sandra, 13, are students at Hoover Junior High School and Rus attends Holmes Elementary School. In 1962, The Lakewoods recorded the very nice "Everlasting Love"  b/w  "The Golden Locketon" released by Associated Artist Records. Jesse Hodges is credited as producer on the Associated Artists release. Hodges owned Hollywood Sound Recorders and he owned the Associated Artists label, which released about twenty 45s, including a couple of Hodges’ own singles.

 
Songs :


Everlasting Love

…

Laverne Ray & The Raytones (1) (New York)


Personnel :

Laverne Ray (Lead)

John Davis

John Pope

Vera Turner


Discography :

1957 - I've Got That Feeling / I'm In Love Again (Okeh 7091)



Biography :

According to Marv Goldberg' they seemed to be from New York. This vocal group were composed by Laverne Ray, John Davis, John Pope, and Vera Turner. They were around at the same time as Rudy Ray Moore & the Raytones, b Ray and Moore were not the same person. He's probably the Laverne Ray who was backed up by the 3 Riffs on Jubilee in 1949 (http://www.uncamarvy.com/3Riffs/3riffs.html).In 1957, Laverne Ray & The Raytones recorded two songs "I've Got That Feeling" and "I'm In Love Again" released by Okeh Records.
http://www.uncamarvy.com

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
I've Got That Feeling                   / I'm In Love Again


...

The Mixers (Chicago, Illinois)

 

Personnel :

Clyde Walker (Lead)

Percy Chatman

Jimmy Kelly

E. Edwards


Discography :

1958 - Johnny's Got A Girl Friend / You Said You're Leavin (Bold 101)
1959 - Casanova / Love And Kisses (Bold 102)


Biography :

Percy Chatman was born in Shelby, Mississippi to loving parents, Robert and Ernestine Chatman. After the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, Percy began singing as a teenager in various local singing groups. In 1955, Percy Chatman, Clyde Walker, Jimmy Kelly and E. Edwards formed a singing group called The Mixers. The Mixers soon made their way to Chicago, Illinois, where they recorded four sides released by Bold Record "Johnny's Got A Girl Friend" b/w "You Said You're Leavin" in 1958 and "Casanova" b/w "Love And Kisses" in 1959. After returning to Omaha, and for many years thereafter, Percy began a solo singing career, performing in local Omaha night clubs such as The Workman Club, The Off Beat, The Elks Hall, Allen's Show Case, Club Lido and The Midwest Club.


Songs :


You Said You're Leavin / Johnny's Got A Girl Friend


Casanova / Love And Kisses

...

(L to R) : Steve Gaston, Bobby Calhoun, Andre Williams, "One" Riff McGriff (Guitar), Jay Johnson & Geno Parks

Andre Williams & His New Group (2) (Detroit)


Personnel :

Andre Williams (Lead)

Gino Purifoy "Geno Parks"(Tenor)

Steve Gaston (Second Tenor)

Bobby Calhoun (Baritone)

Jay Johnson (Bass)


Discography :

Andre Williams & His New Group (2)
1956 - Bacon Fat /Just Because Of A Kiss (Fortune 831/ Epic 9196)

Andre Williams bb His New Group (2)
1957 - You Are My Sunshine / Mean Jean (Fortune 834)


Biography :

Prior to "Village of Love," Fortune's biggest-selling record was likely "Bacon Fat" (Fortune 831 and Epic 9196, late 1956) by Andre Williams and His New Group, which featured Williams' proto-rap over a sleazy, bluesy arrangement. "Bacon Fat" (the name of the song refers to a dance) reached No. 9 R&B on the Billboard chart in early 1957 after it was leased to Columbia's Epic subsidiary for national distribution. According to the research of Marv Goldberg, who has interviewed many of the people involved, Bacon Fat did not lead to fame and fortune for all of its participants. For the singing group The 5 Dollars, for whom Andre was supposedly a nominal fifth member, and who had written the tune and sung the backing vocals, it threw fat on the fire in their relationship with Fortune.

When the record actually was released, it was no longer Andre Williams and The Five Dollars (or even 'The Don Juans', the pseudonym Andre had encouraged them to adopt for some of their recordings and shows - wearing handkerchief masks) but Andre Williams & His New Group - and the backing voices were somebody else. They belonged to another Detroit group, The Dexatones with Steve Gaston (second tenor), Bobby Calhoun (baritone), and Jay Johnson (bass). The other member of the "New Group" was Andre's friend, Gino Purifoy "Geno Parks". The New Group made several appearances with Andre, including the Flamingo Club in Memphis, and some gigs in Cleveland.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/5Dollars/5dollars.html




Songs :

  
Just Because Of A Kiss                               Bacon Fat             

  
You Are My Sunshine                              Mean Jean          

...