The Suburbans (4) (Passaic, New Jersey)
aka The Five Classics (2)


Personnel :

Harry Arthur (Tenor)

Joseph Pasquino (Tenor)

Ralph Santora (Baritone)

Bernard Nathanson (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Suburbans (4)
1959 - Alphabet Of Love / Sweet Diane Cha Cha (Port 70011)
1960 - Little Bird / King Of Broken Hearts (Kip 221)
1961 - Mississippi Mud / Love Me (Flamingo 539)
1961 - Lovin' Hands / Love Me (Gee 1076)

The Five Classics (2)
1961 - Mississippi Mud / Love Me (Pova 6142)

Biography :

Vocal group from Passaic, New Jersey. Leader of the singers is Harry Arthur, 18 year old, Passaic High School Senior. Writer of most of their songs, Harry has a tenor voice and does all the arranging. Ralph Santora, 17 year old sophomore of Fairleigh Dickinson University, sings Baritone and Joseph Pasquino, 18, is Tenor. Bernard Nathanson, 20, is the Bass. When the Suburbans first organized they had five members. Ronald VanDunk was with them until he was invited to a command performance with the marines. Norman Oldam replaced him for a while. The marines didn't call him, but a bride changed his mind. Joseph Serniglia tried the entertainment field, but decided it wasn(t the profession for him.

They practice about three times a week. Mrs Grace Schurman of the Licoln Music Shop, is their manager. In May 1959, they cut their first record on the Port Label, a subsidiary of Jay-Gee Record, "Alphabet Of Love" b/w "Sweet Diane Cha Cha" both wrote by Harry Arthur. "Alphabet Of Love" is being plugged by disk jockeys like Danny Styles the "Cat Man" and Clint Miller. In September 1960, the Suburbans recorded for Kip records owned by Lonnie Kaufman in New York, "Little Bird" b/w "King Of Broken Hearts", both wrote again by Harry Arthur. The group have entertained at many clubs in the area and across the country and appeared on a number of TV and Radio shows.

At this time, Harry Arthur left and Bruce Starzzo and Angelo Gerardi integrate the group. Joseph Pasquino takes the lead role and wrote the fabtastic "Love Me". Paul Poveromo of The Five Classics  on Arc records produced the group for their third singles. The Suburbans auditioned at Paul's house and recorded "Mississippi Mud" b/w "Love Me". The single  was released on Flamingo records. The same year The single was re-released on Pova records as The Five Classics. The Suburbans re-recorded "Love Me" the same year with different arrangements for Roulette Records . The new "Love Me" was released by Gee Records (Roulette subsidiary) with "Lovin' Hands".

 

Songs :
 

The Suburbans (4)

  
Mississippi Mud                                       Love Me   

  
Lovin' Hands                                         Alphabet Of Love

  
Sweet Diane Cha Cha                      King Of Broken Hearts



Love Me (On gee)





…

top : Mitchell Alexander and Prentice Moreland - bottom : Earl Nelson, Bobby Relf and Bobby Byrd

The Crescendos (1)  (Watts, Los Angeles)
 

Personnel :

Bobby Byrd (Lead)

Bobby Relf (Tenor)

Prentice Moreland (Tenor)

Earl Nelson (Tenor)

Mitchell Alexander (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1956 - Sweet Dreams / Finders Keepers (Atlantic 1109) 

1959 - Sweet Dreams / I'll Be Seeing You (Atlantic 2014)

Unreleased :
1956 - You'll Be There (Atlantic)

Biography :

In September 1956, Bobby Byrd recorded some sides for Atlantic with a group billed as the "Crescendos".  The others were Earl Nelson (tenor with the Hollywood Flames and the voices with Bobby Byrd and many other groups) , Bobby Relf (lead singer of the Laurels) , Prentice Moreland (lead singer of the Chanteclairs)  and Mitchell Alexander (bass of the Feathers).

Atlantic released "Finders Keepers" b/w "Sweet Dreams". January 1959 saw a re-release of Bobby Byrd & the Crescendos' "Sweet Dreams" on Atlantic. This time it had "I'll Be Seeing You" as the flip.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/HollywoodFlames/hollywoodflames.html

Songs :

    
I'll Be Seeing You                            Sweet Dreams


Finders Keepers
 

...

 
 Seated is Wehlan McPherson - Left to right : Randy Williams, Jay Hoyle, Don Florey

The Doodlers (2) (Longview, Texas)

Personnel :

Wehlan McPherson (First Tenor)

Don Florey (Second Tenor)

Jay Hoyle (Baritone)

Randy Williams (Bass)


 

Discography :

 1958 - Linda sue / Solitude (Quality K1765/Jones 1001)
1958 - The Dangerous Dangeroo / It's A Sin To Tell A Lie (Jones 1002)

Biography :

The Doodlers, formerly the "Four Fresh boys" composed of a quartet of former Longview High school students. They listened to many of the pop vocal groups and jazz ensembles of the day, and aspired to sound similar to them. Thanks to an innovative high school choir director, the Doodlers actually met in choir and then formed their own group. Fortunately, William T Jones of the Jones Apothecary (drug stores) in the Houston area, had a chance to hear them perform.

   
Randy Williams, Jay Hoyle, Don Florey and Wehlan McPherson                                                                                                                          

He liked their sound and signed them to a recording and management contract. The Doodlers played some local venues, and then were carted off to Chicago to get choreographed and start performing in the night clubs of the windy city. Along the way, the Doodlers cut two records. The first sold well in the midwest and beyond, and was called Linda Sue.

     
                              Randy Williams, Jay Hoyle, Don Florey and Wehlan McPherson                     

WIND radio DJ Howard Miller gave it a ton of spins. There was a second record called the Dangerous Dangeroo. They had a chance to sing with Elvis Presley once in Kileen, Texas, and it must have been an unforgettable experience. They toured all over the country, mostly in their own station wagon.
http://www.colorradio.com/doodlers.htm






Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim)

 
  
The Dangerous Dangeroo                           Linda sue

  
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie                          Solitude

...

The Ocapello's (East Orange, NJ)

Personnel :

Pat Coleman

Artie Johnson

Jimmy Tymes

Walter Tooney

Vincent Williams

Discography :

1966 - The Stars / Anytime (General 106/107 / Checker 1144)


Biography :

In 1960, Patrick Coleman singing with the East Orange's Cameos, with his brother William and sister Patsy. They only cut one single "Wait up" b/w "Lost Lovers" on the tiny Dean label. Six years later, Patrick became a member of the legendary Ocapellos.

(L to R) Vincent Williams, Jimmy Tymes,Walter Tooney, Pat Coleman and Artie Johnson

The Ocapello's recorded two songs : "The Stars" b/w "Anytime " Members of this one-record group were Pat Coleman, Artie Johnson, Jimmy Tymes, Walter Tooney and Vincent Williams. The single was released in 1966 on General #107.

In June 1966, Checker purchased the General master and released it in August 1966 on Checker (# 1144).  It was again released in 1972. "The Stars" got a lot of play in Pittsburgh, PA over the years.

Songs :

  
The Stars                                         Anytime



…

Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts (Kaimuki, Honolulu, HI)

Personnel :

Mel Cabang "Mel Calvin" (Lead)

Paul Texeira


Discography :

Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts
1962 - I Love You / My Mummy (Bertram International 215)

The Tilton Sisters & The Kokonuts
1960 - Put Your Arms Around Me Honey / He Knows (not them) (Bertram International 217)

Biography :

Comedian, singer, actor, Mel Cabang, aka the Legend in Hawaii and Uncle Mel is also known in 1962 as Mel Calvin.  Mel was born on the big island of Hawaii and graduated high school in 1960, later receiving a bachelor’s degree in music and a minor in psychology.

Bob Bertram with The Tilton Sisters (Muriel and Gwen Tilton)  (updated by Hans-Joachim) 

He wanted to teach music but ended up being a musician in his own first band under the name of Mel Calvin & the KoKonuts with some Kaimuki boys. They cut one single for Bertram "I Love You" b/w "My Mummy"  and backed the Tilton Sisters on "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey " . Bertram owned several labels, including Lariat, whose artists included Joe Maphis, Polynesian (which released hula records aimed at the tourist trade) and Bertram International, which recorded rock & roll.
http://www.pbase.com/halinhi/khs60misc&page=2

Songs :

Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts

  
I Love You                                          My Mummy

The Tilton Sisters & The Kokonuts

Put Your Arms Around Me Honey

...