The Pitch Pikes (Bowling Green, Ohio)

Personnel :

Ed Janeway

Dick Meredith

Tom Garmhausen

Ed Vogel

Discography :

1957 - Zing Zing / Never Never Land (Mercury 71099)
1957 - How Will I Know / Come Back To Me (Mercury 71147)

Biography :

Quartet Finds Key To Succes
In 1957, four college students had no more thought of singing professionally than in flying to the moon. Chance and a few lucky breaks have made all the difference in the world, according to one of the foursome, Tom Garmhausen. It all began in November when a variety show was held on the campus at Bowling Green State University. And so, for the first time, they sang for an audience under the name, The Pitch Pikes.  Getting rave notices in the show, they were encouraged and went on to prove the adage, "home town make good."

They won their way to final competition on a Toledo television show and then made spot appearances around the country. It was not long before they released a record, zing Zing" and never Never Land" for Mercury. "Combining studies and classes and hopskipping around the country for personal appearances has its problems,"reports Gene Davis of Amherst, quartet manager. "we've overcome it partially by scheduling tours on weekends and week nights," so the quartet has been able to appear in such towns as Lyndhurst, Ashland, Detroit Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Philadelphia.

   "the guys worry about their studies and are determined to finish college. But that doesn't mean they won't keep on singing," laughed Gene.Although they have reached singing fame none of the quartet is majoring in music at Ed is in accounting; Dick, physical education; Tom, mathematics, and Glenn, Management.
Marcia Karszewski


Songs :


   
Come Back To Me                          Never Never Land

    
 Zing Zing                                       How Will I Know

...

The Royal Demons (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
aka The Thrillers (2) aka The Madison Brothers aka The Creators (3) aka The Friends (5)



Personnel :

Farris Hill (Lead)

Richard Frazier (Tenor)

Donald Burnett (Baritone)

Harry Pachall (Bass)



Discography :

1959 - What's The Matter Baby / Baby Don't (Rhythm 5004)
1961 - Kiss Kiss / Trembling Hand (Pek 8101)



Biography :

While "Peanuts" was climbing the charts, Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers parted company, supposedly over money issues. Joe continued as a solo, billing himself on his next record as "Little Joe, the Thriller".

Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers

The Thrillers : Farris Hill, Harry Pachall, Richard Frazier and Donald Burnett regrouped, changing their name to the Royal Demons.
the Royal Demons were performing in local Philly clubs and were very much in demand.

A local radio disc jockey was managing the group at that time.  They Cuts two singles, un Pek and on Philadelphia's  Rhythm label. Because they all resembled one another, they became the Madison Brothers…


Songs :

   
Baby Don't                                   Trembling Hand


What's The Matter Baby



Cds :

The Fairmonts (Rhode Island)

Personnel :

Cosmo B. Del Nigro (Lead)

Robert (Bobby) Salvatore (Lead)

Peter

Discography :

1964 - Lucky Guy / Times and Places  (Planet 53)

Biography :

The Fairmonts were from Rhode Island (some from Providence and Cranston, RI).
In 1964, they released one single for Planet record. Cosmo B. Del Nigro wrote and sang "Lucky Guy" & Robert (Bobby) Salvatore sang on "Times and Places".

Songs :

   
Lucky Guy                                         Times and Places

 ...

The Gay Poppers (Charlotte, Nc)

Personnel :

Nathaniel Black

Discography :

1960 - You Better Believe / I Need Your Love (Savoy 1573)
1960 - I've Got It / I Want To Know (Fire 1026)
1961 - You Got Me Uptight / Please Mr. Cupid (Fire 1039)

Songs :

   
Please Mr. Cupid                                I've Got It

   
I Want To Know                           You Got Me Uptight

   
You Better Believe                                I Need Your Love

...

The Royal Jesters (San Antonio,Texas)
(The early Years)



Personnel :

Mike Pedraza (Lead)

Oscar Lawson

Henry Hernandez

Louis Escalante



Discography :

1961 - Ask me to move a mountain / Is that good enough for you (Cobra 611025)
1962 - Love me / Let's kiss and make up (Cobra 2222)
1963 - I want to be loved / I never will forget (Cobra 7777)
1963 - My angel of love / Those dreamy eyes (Harlem 105)

Biography :

The story of this legendary group began in 1956 when Oscar Lesley Lawson and Mike Pedraza, both Sidney Lanier High School students formed The Young Ones with Enrique “Henry” Hernández Jr.

In fact, Hernández dropped out of The Five Angels, a group composed of Our Lady of Guadalupe High School buddies to join The Young Ones.
In the beginning, the Reno Bops and other bands would back up the vocal quintet made up of Hernández, Lawson, Pedraza, Bobby Cantú and Charlie Walker.

By 1959, Louie Escalante, who also played guitar; and Tony Arci had replaced Cantú and Walker. In addition, Hernández played trumpet and Lawson learned to play trombone.
From this point on, the list of vocalists with the Royal Jesters reads like the Bible’s Book of “Numbers.”

Dimas Garza replaced Pedraza in early 1962. When Lawson quit singing to become the group’s full-time manager, he was replaced by José “Joe Jama” Perales, who also played bass.
During the 60s, their hits included “My Angel of Love,” “Your Dreamy Eyes” “Ask Me to Move a Mountain” and “Is That Good Enough for You” on the Harlem and Cobra record labels.

After they started their own labels, Jester and Clown Records, to record their own music.

 


Songs :

   
Ask me to move a mountain               Is that good enough for you

   
Love Me                                              Let's kiss and make up

   
I want to be loved                                 I will never forget

   
My angel of love                                   Those dreamy eyes


CDs :