The Madisons (1) (Syracuse, New York)

Personnel :

Johnny Whipple (aka Johnny Velvet aka Johnny Curtis)

Carl Irvine

Jimmy Foran

Terry Golden

Discography :

Billy Kidd & The Madisons (1)
1961 - First Time / If You Only Cared (Madison 153)

The Madisons (1)
1964 - The Wind And The Rain / Can You Imagine It (Lawn 240)
1965 - Cheryl Anne / Looking For A True Love (MGM 13312)
1965 - Only A Fool / Stagger (Jomada 601)
1965 - Valerie / (flip by The Montereys) (Twin Hit 2685)

 
Biography :

This group of Westsiders was originally known as "The Impressions' and consisted of Chuck Roberts (lead singer), Jimmy Foran, Paul Hall and Doug Jones (formerly with The Dialtones). They changed their name and ventured to New York City and recorded the hit "First Time" for Madison Records in March 1961 as  Billy Kidd and The Madisons. Jones & Hall departed and were replaced by Terry Golden (Centurys) & Carl Irving (Jan & the Radiants). Chuck Roberts married and left being replaced by Johnny Velvet (Whipple). Whipple a Central High alumnus and local early 1960's backup singer switched and sang lead releasing demo recordings with Johnny Velvet & The Revelation ("The D.T.) and Johnny Velvet & The Capitols ("I Really Love You" & Slide By") between 1960-61. The Capitols at this time included Chuck Sgroi, Frank Sgroi, Tony Licameli, John  Latocha and others. Whipple then auditioned with Billy Kidd & The Madisons who just had a national single release "First Time" for the Madison Record label.

With departure of singer Chuck Roberts "The Madisons" reformed under guidance from WNDR Radio DJ "Dandy Dan" Leonard. With a new name and a new lineup that included Carl Irvine, Jimmy Foran, Terry Golden (all three Vocational High alumnis) & Johnny Whipple "The Madisons" were ready for more national attention. And they did. This lineup ventured to New York City to record two songs written by Larry Santos and arranged by Charles Collela of the Four Seasons staff "Looking For A True Love " b/w "Cheryl Ann" that would be released by MGM Records (1965). This recording was selected by Cash Box Magazine as its "Best Bet".

It received heavy air-play in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Boston, Rochester, Providence, DesMoines, Iowa Flint, Michigan, Syracuse and throughout the Northeast. The Madisons made over a dozen TV appearances including the Clay Cole Show in New York City, featured on WKBW TV in Buffalo, and Syracuse WNYS TV-9's (now WSYR TV-9) March of Dimes charity broadcast in 1965 about the same time "Looking For A True Love" was topping the charts. The Madisons also appeared live at the famed 3 Rivers Inn (March 12-17, 1965) and weekly at the Little Brown Jug in downtown Syracuse being backed by Don Barber and The Dukes (Barber, Joe Sawmiller & Fred Winston) or The Dimensions between March- July 1965.

The Madisons had three more regional single releases- "Only A Fool" b/w "The Stagger" (both written by Larry Santos) on Jomada Records produced by WNDR's "Dandy Dan" Leonard and John Periales. They followed by signing a three-year contract with Swan Records out of Philadelphia. With Swan Records came "The Wind and The Rain" b/w "Can You Imagine It" released in June 1964. They appeared on the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars Tour that made a stop at the Syracuse War Memorial on July 9, 1964. Acts included Gene Pitney, The Shirelles, Brian Hyland, The Supremes, The Crystals, Coasters, Major Lance, Round Robin, Rip Chords and others.

  Their final 45 rpm single would be "Valarie" issued on Twin Hits label (July 1966). They were backed instrumentally by Don Barber and The Dukes along with keyboard sensation Kal Dee. The Madison's then toured the Northeast and New England with national recording artists Bobby Vee, Ad-Lids (Boy from New York City) and the Exciters (Tell Him). During this time frame they were backed many times by hugely popular Syracuse band (later to be Hall of Famers) "The Monterays", who appeared on the flip side of the Twin Hits single with their first hit "I'll Be Around."

http://ronwray.blogspot.fr/2013/04/history-of-syracuse-music-official-site_26.html



Songs :

Billy Kidd & The Madisons (1)

   
First Time                            If You Only Cared

The Madisons (1)

       
The Wind And The Rain        Can You Imagine It              Cheryl Anne

       
Looking For A True Love            Valerie                        Only A Fool

Stagger

...

(L to R) Cynthia Badie, Wanda Burt, Ernie, George Banks and Odell Alford

The Crescendos (2)  (Berkeley, CA.)
aka The Casual Crescendos
aka The Creschendos

Personnel :

Wanda Burt (Lead)

Cynthia Badie (Tenor)

Ernie (Tenor)

George Banks (Tenor/Baritone)

Odell Alford (Bass)


Discography :

The Creschendos
1960 - My Heart's Desire / Take My Heart (Music City 831)

The Crescendos (2)
1960 - My Heart's Desire / Take My Heart (Gone 5100)
1960 - I Don't Mind / Teenage Prayer (Music City 839)

Wanda Burt (bb The Crescendos)
1961 - Scheming / Your True Love Is Standing By (not them) (Music City 840)  

The Casual Crescendos
1963 - Wish That You Were Here / Uncle Ben's Concentrated Blueberry Jam (MRC 12001)


Biography :

In 1950, Ray Dobard decided to open a record shop, Berkeley’s Music City in Adeline Street, San Francisco. Not long after that, Ray founded his first record label Delcro Records. Three years later, with his latest business expanding his record store, now called Music City Record Store moved to new premises. Music City Record Store’s new premises were at 1815 Alcatraz Avenue. Behind the shop, there was an empty space. Ray decided to build a small studio. This meant he could record artists, release their music on his own label and sell them in Music City Record Store. In 1960, Dobard signed a quintet composed of two young women and three men. The group had began at Willard Junior High several years before, with tenor/baritone George Banks and Bass Odell Alford . At Berkeley high, a tenor named Ernie, beauty queen alto Cynthia Badie and sweet-voiced lead singer Wanda Burt gravitated to the group, who now called themselves the Crescendos.

(L to R) George Banks, Cynthia Badie, Odell Alford, Wanda Burt and Ernie

Wanda Burt, of all Music City Artists should have achieved a measure of stardom. Born Arkansas in 1942 and raised in Berkeley, she worked at Dobard’s store on the Weekends. One day she gave Dotard a Crescendos’demo. Dobard decided he wanted to record this group. Tough all the members sang lead during their live shows, Wanda became the only Crescendo voice on Music City-and no wonder. The Crescendos first release, "My Heart's Desire" in October 1960, in fact inspired Goldner to lease the record for another one of his labels, Gone. The song made some noise on the East Coast but never broke out. Impressed with Burt Potential, Dobard made a concession to the white mass market on the Crescendos’ next records, "Teenage Prayer" by adding violins. The added expense must have gnawed on him. One thing is certain : Those strings did more harm than good to the ballad, which was in the first place not as interesting as it flipside "I Don't Mind".

 
Wanda Burt (1961)                                                                                                                                         

The Crescendos’ third release, "Scheming" must have disappointed the other members of the group, because their name was nowhere in sight. Instead Dobard put it out as the B-side "Your True Love Is Standing By", which Burt had cut with another group. and he featured Burt as solo on the label. Wanda Burt had also stepped out on her own as a live performer. In late 1961, she appeared on the bill at a huge concert at San Fransisco’ Cow Palace with Chubby Checker, Eugene Church and girl group the Marvelettes. Unfortunately, health and personal problems sidelined her before she could build any momentum, and bought her promising career to a premature close. The Crescendos replaced her with a sound alike, Anna Lois Jones, and recorded as The Casual Crescendos for the MRC label. Cynthia Badie left the group to go to College, and nowadays she’s the manager of a successful young pop group, The New edition.



Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Crescendos (2)

  
My Heart's Desire                            Take My Heart


Take My Heart / I Don't Mind

Wanda Burt (bb The Crescendos)

  
                Scheming                           Your True Love Is Standing By

The Casual Crescendos

  
      Wish That You Were Here       Uncle Ben's Concentrated Blueberry Jam

…

The Internationals (New York)


Personnel :

Cosentino

Muneno

Herrera

Domingo


Discography :

1958 - Going To A Party / I Love You So (ABC Paramount 9964)



Biography :

Vocal group from New York whose members  are probably the four composers inscribed on both sides of the disc : Cosentino, Muneno, Herrera and Domingo.

The Internationsl recorded "Going To A Party" and "I Love You So " released by Abc Paramount in Oct 1958.

Songs :

  
  I Love You So                                     Going To A Party



...

Left to right, Bonnie Burgess, Charlotte Voinche, Kerry Ann Constantin, and Diana Kay Bier

The Chatters (Crowley, Louisiana)


Personnel :

Bonnie Burgess (alto)

Charlotte Voinche (alto)

Kerry Ann Constantin (Soprano)

Diana Kay Bier  (Soprano)



Discography :

1959 - Teenage Love Affair / My Darling One (Viking 1001)



Biography :

Known as "The Chatters," this girl group 16-year-olds from Crowley consisted of Bonnie Burgess, Charlotte Voinche, Kerry Ann Constantin, and Diana Kay Bier. Diana Kay Bier, a talented soprano who plays the piano, plays the lead role in both songs. She also wrote the music and words "at the same time" from the rock'n'roll melody pair and formed the quartet. They  are all part of the school's drumming and drumming corps. Bonnie and Charlotte sing on the viola and Kerry sings the soprano with Diana. Charles "Dago" Redlich, operator of a local record shop who assisted them in cutting the record.

It all started when "Dago" learned that Diana had written the words and music to a couple of tunes. He induced her into forming a quartet and cutting the record on his new Viking label. While "Dago" gathered together some background, consisting of a guitar player, a piana player, a bass player and a few "hummers," Diana called in her three friends and the practice sessionsgot underway. The day finally came, the group gathered in a studio next to the record shop, and "Teenage Love Affair" and "My Darling One" were recorded. The recording was sent to a Houston firm, pressed, and "The Chatters" were in business. The quartet has become a popular source of entertainment since the word got around. They have been called upon to sing at several proms, at the Youth Center dances, at record hops, and with a number of area bands. They have also dipped lightly into those singing television commercials.




Songs :

  
Teenage Love Affair                            My Darling One



...

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 :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)    

The Suburbans (4)

  
Mississippi Mud                                       Love Me   

  
Lovin' Hands                                         Alphabet Of Love

  
Sweet Diane Cha Cha                      King Of Broken Hearts


  
   Little Bird                                   Love Me (On Gee)





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