Johnny Barnes, Bobby Dunn, William Goodman & Les Cooper

The Empires (1) (Harlem, New-York)
aka The Prestos aka The Whirlers





Personnel :

Johnny "Buddy" Barnes (Lead)

Les Cooper (Tenor)

William Goodman (Bass)

Bobby Dunn (Baritone)





Discography :

 
The Empires (1)

Singles :
1954 - My Baby, My Baby / Corn Whiskey (Harlem 2325)
1955 - Magic Mirror / Make Me Or Break Me (Harlem 2333)
1955 - I Want To Know  / Shirley (Wing 90023)
1955 - Tell Me Pretty Baby / By The Riverside (Wing 90050)
1956 - My First Discovery  / Don't Touch My Gal (Wing 90080)
1956 - Whispering Heart / Linda (Whirlin' Disc 104)

Unreleased :
1955 - Happy Am I  (Wing)
1955 - Your Christmas And Mine  (/Wing)
1955 - You Are My Baby (Wing)
1955 - The Clock (Wing)


Lightnin' Junior & The Empires (1)
1955 - Somebody Changed The Lock / Ragged And Hungry (Harlem 2334)   


The Prestos
1955 - Looking For Love  /' Til We Meet Again (Mercury 70747)

The Whirlers
1957 - Magic Mirror / Tonight And Forever (Whirlin' Disc 108/Port 108)

Biography :

The Empires hailed from Harlem, so it's only right that they began their recording career on the Harlem Records label. Consisting of Buddy Barnes, William Goodman, Bobby Dunn, and Les Cooper, the group came together in earnest in 1953, practicing R&B, pop, and gospel tunes, and occasionally performing in the area at small venues.  After a long search for a label to record them, they happened upon Morty Shad's Harlem label and released “Corn Whiskey” backed with “My Baby My Baby” ( Harlem #2325).

Because they were from the Empire State, they first used the name the Empires. That single was a bust, but they got more chances at Harlem Records and in 1955 released the first version of one of their most beloved ballads, “Magic Mirror ,” backed with “Make Me or Break Me” (Harlem #2333).  They were then relegated to providing background vocals for an artist listed as Lightning Junior on Harlem (#2334). Lightning Junior was an alias for blues artist Champion Jack Dupree, but when nothing happened with this single, the Empires were released from Harlem Records. From there, the group landed at Mercury Records and recorded for both Mercury and their Wing imprint label under different names.

Clockwise from top left : James Pender, William Goodman, Bobby Dunn, Johnny Barnes & Les Cooper

On Mercury, they were the Prestos for one great release titled “Till We Meet Again ” backed with “Looking for Love” (Mercury #70747), and on the Wing wing, they kept their Empires name and released three singles, with “By the Riverside” being the most successful of the three (Wing #90050) in 1956. Mercury was really pushing and promoting their Wing subsidiary very heavily in all major markets of the country. Sadly, the records received much more trade promotion than actual airplay, and Wing eventually folded (not for a lack of trying) . Like their label mates the Platters and the Penguins, the Empires/Prestos were also managed by Buck Ram, but they did not attain the same level of success.

Citing the success of the Channels on the Whirlin' Disc label, the group pitched a recording contract with the company and got it. The result was two singles for the label—the first was a two-sided ballad release, “Linda” backed with “Whispering Heart” as by the Empires (Whirlin' Disc #104) in 1956, followed by a remake of “Magic Mirror” backed with a great up-tempo number called “Tonight and Forever". the latter as by the Whirlers (Whirlin' Disc #108) in 1957, a name inspired by the name of their label. This was one of the last releases for Whirlin' Disc, and it never got the push it deserved and flopped. At this point, the Empires/Prestos/Whirlers broke up, but there is a happy ending. Lead singer Les Cooper had a big instrumental hit in 1962 for the Everlast Records label (#5019) called “Wiggle Wobble.” It peaked at number 12 on the R&B charts and number 22 Pop. Despite many follow-ups for a myriad of record labels, Cooper was never able to cash in again.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Empires/empires.html

Songs :


The Empires (1)

     
       Corn Whiskey                        Magic Mirror                      Make Me Or Break Me

     
I Want To Know                          Shirley                                Tell Me Pretty Baby

     
By The Riverside               My First Discovery                      Don't Touch My Gal

  
Whispering Heart                             Linda       


Lightnin' Junior & The Empires (1)

  
Somebody Changed The Lock                    Ragged And Hungry   


The Prestos


Til We Meet Again  / Looking For Love


The Whirlers

  
       Magic Mirror                              Tonight And Forever







…

The Vel-Quin Singers  (St. Paul, Minn.)
aka The Velquins





Personnel :

John Stafford (Lead)

Eddie Ballard (Tenor)

Sylvester "Peachy" Eaves (Baritone)

Clarence "Huffy" Wright (Bass)





Discography :

The Velquins (Valquins)
1959 - My Dear / Falling Star (Gaity 161/162)

Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men  with The Vel-Quin Singers
1962 - I'll Cry / You Don't Believe Me (no group) (Golden Wing 3284)

George Davo bb the Velquins (Uncredited)
1958 - All Through With You / Candy Man (no group)  (North Star-2073)





Biography :

The Same St. Paul, Minnesota scene that brought us the Wisdoms also gave us Gaity labelmates the Velquins, who had started out in 1956 as the Cranes, then the Jades, and ultimately settling on the Velquins as their group name. The Velquins used local rockers the Teen Kings as their backing band.

The Twin cities had fierce territorial rivalries amongst vocal groups but the Velquins were always welcome behind enemy lines. A University of Minnesota frat once asked them to sing a boiling pot at a jungle theme party! The Velquins unsuccessfully auditioned for both Chess and Vee-Jay in Chicago.

They did back George davo on his single "All through with you" on North Star, and recorded their own lone Gaity release "My Dear" / "Falling Star", bringing in Henry Jones of the Five Blind Boys to beef up their sound. All copies misspelled the group name as the Valquins. The Group sang also on "I'll Cry" by Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men under the name of The Vel-Quin Singers.



Songs :

The Velquins

  
Falling Star                                       My Dear


Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men  with The Vel-Quin Singers


I'll Cry

George Davo bb the Velquins (Uncredited)


All Through With You

Cds :

...

The Fabulaires (1) (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Paul Green (Lead)

William J. Lewis

Vernon Ear Monroe

Billy Watson

Charles David Young (Bass)

Discography :

1957 - While Walking / No No (East West 103/main Line 103)

Biography :

From West Philly, Butch Curry (from Lee Andrews & the Hearts) lived across the street from group member Paul Green, and helped them get a record on the Main Line label. The Fabulaires started in 1957. They entered a local singing contest and won first place.  The group lasted about 6 months, did 2-3 shows, and consisted of Paul Green (lead vocals), David Young (bass, later with Broadway Express), Billy Watson (early road manager of Intruders), Vernon Ear Monroe, William J. Lewisand  unknown sixth members.

Songs :

    
       No No                                           While Walking

...

Gabriel & The Angels (6) (Camden, New Jersey)

 


Personnel :

Richard Smith Kellis "Gabriel" (Sax/Lead Vocals)
 


George Jones (Guitar)



Pete Colangelo (Trumpet, Vocals)



Richie Bruno (Bass)



Al Hobbs (Drums)
 



Discography :

1959 - That's Life (That's Tough) /  Don't Wanna Twist No-More (Casino 107/Swan 4118 '62')
1960 - Hey! / Chumba (Amy 802)
1961 - Zing Went The String Of My Heart / The Rooster (Amy 823)
1961 - I'm Gabriel / Ginza (Norman 506)
1963 - The Peanut Butter Song / All Work - No Play (Swan 4133)

 

Biography :


Gabriel And the Angels was the remnants of the Five Sharps. A very Popular Combo well known around N.J, PA, DE and N.Y. Especially the Shore Points and Universities. Gabriel And The Angels only had one minor hit, Thats Life (Thats Tough) (Swan, #51, 1962) but it is one of the most underrated and overlooked, mot to mention unsung, records in rock and roll history.  

   

The song features Gabriel talking about life gone wrong, while the Angels lament Thats Life. The refrain used the call and response pattern typically found in early rhythm and blues: Gabriel asks, Whats life? (The Angels respond, A magazine.) Whats it cost? (20 cents.) But I only got a nickel.   

    (Thats tough.) The song is interesting because it bridges 1950s rock and roll and mid-1960s rock. Its primitive sound and style were a throwback to 1950s R & B rock, while its lyrics contained social commentary, foreshadowing the coming of 1960s folk rock. Backing vocals by a black female trio named The Swans on their first single. In the years the group have many personal changes



 


Songs :



  
Zing Went The String Of My Heart         Don't Wanna Twist No-More     

  
That's Life (That's Tough)
                        All Work, No Play         
 
  
    The Rooster                                               Hey !            

  
            Chumba                                 The Peanut Butter Song 

...

The Five Emeralds (Detroit)
(By Chris)

Personnel :

Norman McLean (Lead Tenor)

Curtis Browder (First Tenor)

Johnny Dawson (Second Tenor)

Duke Miller (Baritone)

George Claybrooks (Bass)

Discography:

1954 - I'll Beg / Let Me Take You Out Tonight (SRC 106)
1955 - Darling / Pleasure Me (SRC 107)

Biography :

They sang at Club Sensation, the 20 Grand club and the Hippodrome in Detroit between 1954 and 1956, maybe longer.

They also did shows in the south especially in Kentucky where some members were from originally. SRC (Sensation Records Company) was connected to Club Sensation where the group sang regularly.

The were referred to as THE EMERALDS in some billings. Their records are labeled The Five Emeralds.




Songs :

   
I'll Beg                   Let Me Take You Out Tonight


   
Darling                                   Pleasure Me