The Mohawks (1)

Fred Cohen

The Mohawks (1) (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Fred Cohen (Lead)

Richard Tabron (Lead)

Andrew “Sonny” Adams (Baritone),

Charles “Charlie Boy” Williams (Second Tenor)

Everett “Buzzy” Kilpatrick (Bass)

Discography :

1960 -     I Got A Gal / Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered (Val-ue 211)

Biography :

The Mohawks started as a street corner group in South Philly. Before recording they sang at skating rinks and local talent shows. The Mohawks were together for three or four years before recording. The group went through many personnel changes. Eventually, the personnel stabilized at Richard Tabron (lead, tenor), Fred Cohen (lead, tenor), Andrew “Sonny” Adams (baritone), Charles “Charlie Boy” Williams (second tenor) and Everett “Buzzy” Kilpatrick (bass). The Mohawks were eventually signed by organist and Philly music icon, Doc Bagby in 1960. Bagby co-owned the Val-ue label with Felix Valdera (of Paramount Record stores) and was looking for new artists to record.

  
                                                                                    Fred Cohen

The Mohawks were supposed to audition for someone else. They sang "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" , Doc Bagby liked the new arrangement they did and gave them another tune to record for the flip side. That was "I Got A Gal". They made their own arrangement and Doc Bagby  liked that better, That was supposed to be the A-side”. “I Got A Gal” was written by John Ivy and had been recorded before by Philly’s own Ivy Tones under the title “Oo Wee Baby” (Red Top #105). Since Bagby was connected to Red Top Records, it was natural he was still trying to make the song a hit. The Mohawks version was so different it was barely resembled the original version. Fred Cohen sang lead on "I Got A Gal" and  Richard Taybron sang lead on "Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered". While “Bewitched” sold locally, it never broke nationally. Within six months of the Val-ue release, Fred left the group & rejoined Teddy & The Twilights. The original Mohawks broke up. Some of the other Mohawks continued to sing.

Songs :

  
                       I Got A Gal                    Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered    



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