Jim, Bob, Sandra "Daly" Daley and Tom Esopa

The Forevers (Baldwin, New York)
Ref : Tommy Sawyer & The Twains

Personnel :

Tom Esopa (Lead)

Sandra "Daly" Daley

Jim

Bob

Discography :

The Forevers
1958 - Baby / Slow Down (Apt 25022)

Sandra Daly
1961 - Ooh La La / My Only Cure Is You (TJ 101)

Tommy Sawyer & The Twains
1962 -  Fifteenth Down The Line / How Deep Is The Ocean (Diamond 112)

Biography :

The Forevers from Baldwin, New York were composed by Tom Esopa, Sandra "Daly" Daley, Jim and Bob. They perform locally and eventually have the chance to record a single: "Baby" b/w "Slow Down" released by Apt Records in November 1959. 

                                                                                               Sandra Daley

Three years later singer Sandra Daley will record a solo single. the disc is produced by Tom Esopa who also write one of the songs : "Ooh La La". The story could have ended there, but in 1962, Tom Esopa backed by an unknown group, recorded "Fifteenth Down The Line" b/w "How Deep Is The Ocean" billed as Tommy Sawyer & The Twains.

Songs :

The Forevers

   
Baby                                                  Slow Down

Sandra Daly

  
  My Only Cure Is You                              Ooh La La            

Tommy Sawyer & The Twains

  
Fifteenth Down The Line          How Deep Is The Ocean

 ...

(L to R) Ken Kolok, Jack Covert, Dick Crane, Roger DeLuca and Dave Jones

Kenny Kole & The Huskies (1) (Storrs, Connecticut)

Personnel :

Ken Kolok "Kenny Kole" (Lead)

Jack Covert

Dick Crane

Roger DeLuca

Dave Jones

Discography :

1958 - Who / Sorry  (Klik 8205)

Biography :

Kenny Kole and the Huskies made their debut on the Uconn campus in the early days Of March 1958. At this time they were not yet under their present name but that of The Crystals. As they proceeded from one dorm to another, singing only two numbers which they themselves had composed, they received a rousing ovation and a cry of encore.  Not long after this they again popped up, this time in the Campus Sing at the HUB and under still another name, The Tolland Hall Five. Under what the Judges called "Original work, good blending and bal- ance" they ran away with the show. This was their first milestone. They have made rapid progress, The name of Kenny Kole and the Huskies has been in front of the public constantly. Locally, they have participated in student activities such as Skitsofunia, dorm formals  more serenading and a  appearance In benefit of the CCC. On the outside, on such shows as WHNC TVs Bandstand and an ln person appearance at the Ritz Ballroom in Bridgeport, where such names as Count Basie have appeared.

Kenny Kole and the Huskies have signed a contract with the Klik Records and have released a record on which "Sorry" and "Who" are featured. This record has been termed by Billboard Magazine as "having a sound" and being "eminently danceable." The lead singer Ken Kole comes from Byran Connecticut, and is a sophomore on campus majoring in business. He learned to play the guitar from a book without any private training. The background group is made up of three freshmen and a junior. Dave Jones, a freshman comes from Branford, Connecticut is also majoring In business. Jack Covert is also from Branford and is a freshman majoring In engineering. As previous experience he sang with the Ballads,  a rock and roll group that recorded on the Franwill label. Roger DeLuca Is the third freshman and is from Norwalk, Connecticut. He Is majoring In engineering and most of his previous singing experience was gained In a church choir. The Junior, Dick Crane resides in New Haven, Connecticut, and also Is majoring in business. He earlier sang with a group by the name of the Teardrops.


Songs :

  
Who                                                      Sorry

...

The Pastels with John Wesley Ryles

The Pastels (6) (Bastrop, Louisiana)
aka Jack & Jill

Personnel :

Carolyn Riels

Patricia Riels

Mary Riels

Discography :

Jack & Jill
1963 - Very Few Heartaches (Very Few Tears) / Laurie's Love (Arlen 726 / Smash 1824)

The Pastels (6)
1964 - Do You Ever Think Of Me / Sleep Tight (Pastel 506)

Biography :

The Pastels are the Riels Sisters : Carolyn, Patricia, and Mary. They are originally from Bastrop, Louisiana area, but were singing out of Dallas, TX for their record. They worked in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, singing vocal back-up. They made several recordings under different names, Bill Smith, would record them and give them a different name for each recording. "Sleep Tight"  was record that produced just for them, to try and help them make it on their own. The flip side of this record is a catchy tune called "Do You Ever Think of Me".

They are sisters to John Wesley Ryles (Riels), who was on the top of the Country Charts in the 70's and 80's with songs such as "Kay" and "Once and a Lifetime Thing". Patricia also recorded with Jimmy Ware, one he wrote himself "Very Few Heartaches" under the name, Jack and Jill, this record did very well. The other Song "Laurie's Love" is Jimmy Ware backed by The Pastels.

Songs:

Jack & Jill

  
                     Laurie's Love              Very Few Heartaches (Very Few Tears)


The Pastels (6)

  
         Sleep Tight                            Do You Ever Think Of Me

...

1959 - Little George & the Del-Rays from left : Victor Smith, Carl Sanders, James Ewing, Gilbert Davis & Little George Davis

The Blendtones (Des Moines, Iowa)

Personnel :

George Davis

Gilbert Davis

Audrey Davis

Ronnie Brewer

John Walker

Discography :

Singles :
1963 - Dear Diary / Lovers (Success 101)
1963 - The Slide  / Come On Home (Success 105)

Lps :
1963 - Only For Teenagers And Swinging Adults (Success LP 1011MX)
The Slide  / Come On Home

Biography :

The Blendtones, like so many groups of the time, were formed at their highschool in Des Moines, Iowa in 1959. Originally called the Little George and the Del-Rays, the group consisted of Little George Davis, Victor Smith, Carl Sanders, James Ewing & Gilbert Davis. Several years later Victor Smith, Carl Sanders, James Ewing were replaced by Audrey Davis, John Walker & Ronnie Brewer.They played the local scene until they signed (and changed names : The Blendtones) to Success records in 1963.

The Blendtones

The group enjoyed some significant popularity with a West Coast tour and their song “Lovers” (with lead vocal by George) reached #3 in Los Angeles, behind #2 “Just One Look” (by Doris Troy) and the #1 hit “Fingertips” (by then 12-year-old Stevie Wonder). The flip side of the single was “Dear Diary,” with Ronnie on the lead vocal, making for a potent one-two punch. They only put out 2 45s.

    
                                                                              Ronnie Brewer 

In the summer of '63, the group went on a very successful tour on the West Coast and the chance to open for Ike and Tina in their hometown. While on tour, Success records signed more local groups including The Martinels, The Extensions, and The Casualtones. Upon completion of the tour, it was suggested that an album be produced featuring all of the artists that were currently signed with the company.


Songs :


      
Come On Home                                      Lovers         

     
The Slide                                     Dear Diary

 ...

Top - Joe Bill Loudermilk, Ronnie Wolshaw,  Alton Gill, Jay Foley and Bunky Bartlett
Bottom - Chris Harris, Mikie Harris, Collier Summers

Mikie & The Ardons (Sarasota, Florida )

Personnel :

Mikie Harris  (Lead)

Chris Harris (Vocal)

Jay Foley (Vocal)

Collier Summers (Vocal)

Bunky Bartlett (Vocal)

Discography :

Mikie & The Ardons
1962 - Three's A Crowd / Donnie (Mam'selle 1)
1966 - Three's A Crowd / Man Of La Mancha (by the Bob Wayne Five) (Gallant 3016)

Mikie Harris
1964 - Little Miss Lonely / By Choice Or By Chance (Epic 9749)
1969 - Love Is All I Need / Love Is All I Need (Volare 1002)

Biography :

Mikie (Michaele) Harris was raised in Sarasota, Florida (by way of North Carolina), the eldest daughter of an accomplished businessman and airplane pilot and an airline stewardess mother, both of whom gave their daughter lots of encouragement in anything she wanted to do. Fast-forward to 1962, when, as a Manatee College sophomore, Mikie decided that she wanted to produce a recording session with herself as the lead vocalist and other local vocalists and band members with whom she was working. Since she had no label to back her, she decided to start one of her own, calling it “Mam'selle Records” in honor of a hit song by one of her favorite groups, "the Four Freshmen"

  
         Mikie Harris                                                                                  Mikie Harris with the Rag Dolls

It would become her first attempt as a lady record producer and label CEO. After raising some of the money by working the switchboard at school, Mikie convinced her dad to lend her the rest of the money for the session. To avoid any frivolity on her part, Mikie's dad made her sign a loan note, but gave her his full support as she learned the ropes of becoming a businesswoman. The recording took place in Miami at Criteria Recording and Mikie put up all the musicians (and her mother, who was the chaperone) at The Fontainebleau Hotel, quite a venture for a teenager. Mikie's sister Chris sang the lead harmonies with her. The other singers were Jay Foley, Collier Summers and Bunky Bartlett. The band was The Playboys, featuring Joe Bill Loudermilk (John's cousin), Alton Gill, Ronnie Wolshaw and Paul Cooper. The single did make some inroads on a few local and regional stations. Mikie Harris  will be part of several groups :The Beach Girls, The Rag Dolls, Les Girls.
Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked the World


Songs :

Mikie & The Ardons

  
Three's A Crowd  (1962)                   Three's A Crowd (1966)

Mikie Harris


Little Miss Lonely




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