The Master-Tones

Clarence "Pop" Gray , Charlie "Stoney" Dimbo, Emmanuel "Doc" Robinson, Frank McRae & George "Bronx" Rivers

The Master-Tones (White Plains, New York)


Personnel :

Clarence "Pop" Gray (Tenor Lead & Guitar)

George "Bronx" Rivers (First Tenor)

Emmanuel "Doc" Robinson (Second Tenor)

Frank McRae (Baritone)

Charlie "Stoney" Dimbo (Bass)


Discography :

1954 - Tell Me / What'll You Do (Bruce 111)


Songs :

The Master-Tones formed around 1951 while attending Battle Hill Junior High School in White Plains, New York.  They were neighborhood pals who lived on Russell and Fulton Streets.The group lineup consisted of Clarence "Pop" Gray (lead), Charlie "Stoney" Dimbo (bass), Emmanuel "Doc" Robinson (2nd tenor), Frank McCray (baritone) and George "Bronx" Rivers (1st tenor). " They first started singing at school. Once the guys became serious about their singing, they needed a name for the group and chose The Hearts. Billy Barrels, became their manager and had the guys rehearsing at his house in Greenburgh, New York, almost every night.

  
Emmanuel "Doc" Robinson                                                                                                                           

By 1954, they were performing at local clubs. One of those clubs was the Red Rose located in New Rochelle, New York on North Avenue. Like dozens of other young vocal groups at the time, they knew that their path to fame and fortune started at the legendary Apollo Theatre. Record company executives and scouts looking for new talent attended the weekly amateur night shows and were ready to offer contracts on the spot to promising groups. Another friend of the group helped them secure them a contract at Bruce Records in New York City.The Hearts auditioned with four original songs but only two were to be recorded. However, a quick name change was in order due to the fact that there already was a  "Hearts " group in existence. The guys talked it over and because they were making a Master Record … they became the Master-Tones .
http://www.uncamarvy.com/MasterTones/mastertones.html


Songs :

  
   Tell Me                                             What'll You Do


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