The Dyna-Sores (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Rene Hall (Lead)

Ty Terrell (Tenor)

Jimmy Norman Scott (Second Tenor)

H.B. Barnum (Baritone/Bass)

Discography :

1960 -  Alley Oop / Jungle Walk (instrumental) (Rendezvous 120)

Biography :

Led by vocalist/guitarist Rene Hall, the Dyna-Sores were the third group to enjoy a hit with "Alley Oop," the Dallas Frazier-penned ode to the comic strip caveman. Although not as successful as Dante & the Evergreens, who reached the 15th chart position, and the Hollywood Argyles, whose version went to number one, the Dyna-Sores helped to turn Frazier's tune into one of the most commercially successful releases of 1960.

   
                                                  Ernie Freeman                                        (paste-up picture) Left to right : Hall, Barum, Terrell and Scott (bottom)  

The group  consisted of Rene Hall, H. B. Barnum (formally of "The Robins"), Jimmy Norman Scott (formally of "The Chargers and who would later become a member of "The Coasters") , Terrell Leonard who went by the name of "Ty Terrell" (also formally of "The Robins") and Ernie Freeman on piano.

Songs :

   
Alley-Oop                                        Jungle Walk








...

The Limelighters (1)  (Bronx, New York)
aka The Rockets (4) aka The Teeners (1) aka The Four Blades aka The Four Angels

Personnel :

Eugene Tompkins (Tenor)

Sammy Fain (Tenor)

William 'Dutch' Nadel (Tenor)

Henry Gunter (Baritone)

Otis Anthony 'Tony' Streeter (Bass)




Discography :

The Limelighters (1)
Singles:
1956 - Cabin hideaway / My sweet Norma Lee (Josie 795)
Unreleased :
1956 - Dreams (Rama)
1956 - Love conquers all (Rama)
1957 - I owe my life to you (Backbeat/Pet)
1957 - Tangiers (Backbeat/Pet)

The Rockets (4)
1956 - Long tall Sally ( Ep Prom 715)
1956 - Church bells may ring ( Ep Prom 716)

The Teeners (1)
1956 - I want you to be my girl ( Ep Prom 715)
1956 - Little girl of mine ( Ep Prom 716)

The Four Blades
1956 - I want you to be my girl ( EP Big 4 Hits 190/Gateway 1170)
1956 - The magic touch / Long tall Sally ( EP 4 Hits 335) 
1956 - Church bells may ring (Gateway 1174)

The Four Angels
1956 - The Magic Touch / Speedo (LP - Today's Items 1910)      
1956 - I Want You To Be My Girl / Little Girl Of Mine / R-O-C-K (LP - Today's Items 1911)
1956 - Church Bells May Ring  / Long Tall Sally (LP - Today's Items 1912)




Biography :

This group was formed in 1954 in the Morrisania section of the Bronx in New York City, patterning themselves after the popular R&B groups of the day. Gunter had been working in a shoe store and one of their styles was called Limelighters; hence, their name.

They got themselves a manager, Buddy Dunk. He was acquainted with someone associated with one of the budget labels and a session was arranged in 1956. The group was given seven songs to familiarize themselves with in one day. They were able to accomplish this. Incredibly, because there was time remaining at the end of the session, two original tunes they wrote, "My Sweet Norma Lee" and "Cabin Hideaway," were recorded.

These two songs were ultimately sold to Jubilee's Jerry Blaine. Eventually both were released on the Jubilee subsidiary label, Josie. The other songs recorded that day found their way to budget LPs, EPs, and singles as by the Rockets, Teeners, Four Blades, or Four Angels. This in spite of the fact that the group was a quintet.

Dunk got them to record for several other labels, including Rama, but nothing else was ever released.  Tenor Willie Williams sang for the Limelighters when Streeter went into the service. Since they were all getting older and nothing ever happened for them professionally, they broke up in 1959. Years later Tompkins and Fain joined with Lillian Leach and the Mellows
Mitch Rosalsky "Encyclopedia of rhythm and blues and doo wop vocal groups"
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Limelighters/limelighters.html




Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Limelighters (1)

     
Love Conquers All      Talking To Myself        Cabin Hideaway /My Sweet Norma Lee

The Four Angels

     
The Magic Touch                       Speedo                         Long Tall Sally

     
R-O-C-K                            Little Girl Of Mine                Church Bells May Ring

 
I Want You To Be My Girl

 

Cds :

The Egyptian Kings : top : Morris Wade -  bottom (L to R): William Suber, Leo Blakely & Paul Moore

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)   (Columbus, Ohio)  

aka The Four Pharaohs
aka The Columbus Pharaohs
aka The Egyptian Kings

Personnel :

Harold Smith "King Pharaoh" (Guitar)

Morris Wade (Lead)

Ronnie Wilson (Baritone)

Paul Moore (Bass)

Leo Blakely (First Tenor)



 


Discography :

The Columbus Pharaohs
1958 - Give Me Your Love / China Girl (Esta 290)

The Four Pharaohs
1958 - Give Me Your Love / China Doll  (Ransom 101)
1957 - Pray For Me / The Move Around  (Ransom 100)

Morris Wade & music by Manhattans bb The Four Pharaohs
1959 - Is It Too Late / It Was A Nite Like This (Ransom 102)

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)
1961 - By The Candlelite / Shimmy Sham (Federal 12413)

The Egyptian Kings
Single:
1963 - Give Me Your Love / I Need Your Love (Nanc 1120)
Unreleased :
1963 - School days (Nanc)
1963 -  Summertime (Nanc)

Biography :

The Four Pharaohs were a top R&B vocal group in Columbus, lasting for more than 10 years and several name changes. The group started as the Columbus Pharaohs by four teenagers, Morris Wade (on lead), Benard Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, and Robert Taylor The Wilsons were brothers who attended Central High School. Taylor attended East High, while Wade had moved between the two schools. The group recorded a 45 for Esta records in Hamilton, singing two original songs, "Give Me Your Love" and "China Girl".

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians  (L to R) Leo Blakely, Morris Wade, Paul Moore, Ronnie Wilson & Harold Smith

On the recording session, they were backed by Tommy Wills and his band, and the recording was done at King. At the time, the band was managed by Howard Ransom in Columbus, and shortly after the Esta record was released, he released the songs on his own Ransom, changing the title from China Girl, the correct name, to China Doll. To make things even more confusing, the Esta 45 had the group name as Columbus Pharaohs. Possibly, Ransom wanted the record to come out under the group's correct name as Four Pharaohs. The record had some sales but only in the Columbus area.

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians with Harold Smith 

After a couple years, Robert Taylor left, replaced by George Smith, and Bernard Wilson was replaced by Robert Lowery, both from Columbus. This new lineup recorded a second 45 on Ransom, the ballad "Pray For Me" and the uptempo "The Move Around". When the record was released, the label name was mispelled as Ranson. Although being on a local label, this record seems to have sold more copies than the first one as plenty of used copies turn up.  

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians with Harold Smith                              The Egyptian Kings

About a half year later (mid 1959), Ransom released a third 45. The artist was credited as Morris Wade with music by the Manhattans. The Four Pharaohs sang, and the backing band was hired by Ransom. The band was a working band that had backed up Sonny Til, Ransom gave them the Manhattans name, presumably to make people think they were a sophisticated group from NYC. The songs were "Is It Too Late"(mispelled 'To' on the label) and "It Was A Nite Like This". Around the time of this release, the group's first 45"Give Me Your Love"/:China Girl" was rereleased on the Paradise label from NYC.

The Egyptian Kings (L to R) : Forest Porter, Leo Blakely, Paul Moore, Harold Smith & Morris Wade

During the time these records were coming out, the group spent a lot of time on the road, playing standard chitlin circuit venues in Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. In 1961 the group was reorganized as King Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The group added a guitarist, Harold Smith, and George Smith left. Then, Robert Lowery left and was replaced by Paul Moore, who brought Leo Blakely with him. Harold Smith was "King Pharaoh". During this time, they recorded a 45 on Deluxe, using their usual style of a ballad "By the Candle Lite" and the uptempo "Shimmy Sham".

In 1959 or 1960, Howard Ransom had moved to California where he continued in the record business. In 1963, with Pete Oden having replaced the last original member (other than Morris Wade)  Bernard Wilson, the group decided to move to Los Angeles. They reconnected with Ransom, who had a new label, Nanc. The group, now known as the Egyptian Kings - without Harold Smith - recorded a 45 on Nanc, featuring a remake of "Give Me Yout Love".

The Egyptian Kings - (L to R) : Paul Moore, Leo Blakely, William Suber & Morris Wade

After a couple years in LA, the group wasn't going anywhere so they returned to Columbus. William Suber replaced Pete Oden. The group tried to get something going with Way Out records in Cleveland, and performed there at clubs like the Music Box, but nothing came of that. There were no more recordings done. Finally, Morris Wade decided to relocate for good to Los Angeles, and that was the end of the Egyptian Kings (and their ancient Egypt inspired outfits!). When he was settled in LA, Morris joined a touring group that did USO shows. He joined fellow Columbus native Bobby Hendricks in a version of the Drifters in 1983. Back in 1974, he had an  appearance as a hit man in the movie "Baby Needs a New Pair Of Shoes", later retitled "Jive Turkey", which was produced by Howard Ransom. Robert Taylor relocated to Vancouver, BC and became Bobby Taylor who recorded the hit "Does Your Mother Know" for Motown.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Pharaohs/4pharaohs.html
http://www.buckeyebeat.com/fourpharoahs.html

Songs :


The Columbus Pharaohs

  
Give Me Your Love                           China Girl


The Four Pharaohs

  
Give Me Your Love                Pray For Me / The Move Around

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)

Shimmy Sham

Morris Wade & music by Manhattans bb The Four Pharaohs


Is It Too Late / It Was A Nite Like This

The Egyptian Kings


Give Me Your Love / I Need Your Love (Nanc 1120)

….

The Shepherd Sisters (Middletown, OH)
(By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :


Martha Shepherd

Gayle Shepherd

Judy Shepherd

Mary Lou Shepherd 

Discography :

The Shepherd Sisters
1954 - Love's Not A Dream / I'll Be There (Benida 5034)
1956 - Gone With The Wind / Rock 'N Roll Cha Cha Cha (Melba 100)
1957 - I Walked Beside The Sea / Remember That Crazy Rock 'N Roll Tune (Melba 108)
1957 - Alone (Why Must I Be Alone) / Congratulations To Someone (Lance T-125)
1957 - Just Multiply / You're In love (Mercury Master)
1957 - The Best Thing There Is / Getting' Ready For Freddy (Mercury 71244)
1958 - Eatin' Pizza / A Boy And Girl (Mercury 71306)
1958 - Is It A Crime / Dancin' Baby (Mercury 71350)   
1959 - Heart And Soul / (it's No) Sin (MGM K12766/58)
1959 - Here Comes Heaven Again / I Think It's Time (Warwick 511)
1960 - Alone / Rocky  (Warwick 530)
1960 - Yea Yea Dixie / How Softly A Heart Beats  (Warwick 548)
1961 - Schoen-a, Schoen-a / Hapsburg Serenade (Big Top 3066)
1961 - Deeply / I'm Still Dancin' (United Artists 350)
1962 - Lolita Ya-Ya / Marvin (United Artists 456)
1963 - Don't Mention My Name / What Makes Little Girls Cry (Atlantic 45-2176)
1963 - Talk Is Cheap / The Greatest Lover (Atlantic 45-2195)
1964 - Finders Keepers / I've Got A Secret (20th CF468)

Peter Marshall & The Shepherd Sisters
1956 - My Lovely Love / Nice And Cozy (Peter Marshall & The Deputees)  (Melba 103)



Biography

The Shepherd Sisters were a female vocal group from the mid-'50s featuring four real life sisters, Martha, Gayle, Judy, and Mary Lou Shepherd, who enjoyed one brief taste of chart success when their signature song, "Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)," hit the Top 20 in 1957.

Originally from the town of Middletown, OH, they had appeared on the TV shows Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

Initially performing as a trio with Martha, Gayle, and Mary Lou, they later added sister Judy to their line-up. Record producer and Lance label owner Morty Craft introduced them to the song "Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)" and they found themselves in the charts alongside competing versions by Petula Clark, The Southlanders, and the Kaye Sisters.

It was their only chart entry both in the U.K. and the U.S. He also introduced them to the DJ Alan Freed and they toured with his America's Greatest Teenage Recording Stars;

the sisters later concentrated on cabaret work rather than recording.
Sharon Mawer, All Music Guide
http://www.theshepherdsisters.com



Videos :

 
Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)



Songs :

   
Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)           Congratulations To Someone

   
Don't Mention My Name                 What Makes Little Girls Cry

...

Jake Porter & The Buzzards (2) (Los Angeles)
aka The Robins




Personnel :

Jake Porter (Lead)

Carl Gardner (Tenor)

Ty Terrell (Tenor)

Grady Chapman (Tenor)

Bobby Nunn (Tenor)

Roy Richards (Baritone)

Billy Richards (Bass)





Discography :

1955 - Wine, Women And Gold / The Bop (Instrumental) (Combo 91)




Biography :

The Robins was the Buzzards who backed  Vernon "Jake" Porter, owner of Combo Records on his recording of "Wine, Women And Gold" Released around June of 1955.

The flip is an instrumental.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Robins/robins.html




Songs :


Wine, Women And Gold