• The Four Gents (1)
    (The Four Gents) Eddie Sullivan, Waymon Bryant, John Staples and Louis Pritchett

    The Four Gents (1) (Chicago)
    Ref: The Belvederes (3)
    Ref: The Twi-Lites (2)

     

    Personnel :

    Eddie Sullivan

    Waymon Bryant

    Louis Pritchett

    John Staples

     

    Discography :
      Single:
    1957 - On Bended Knee / Linda (Park 13)
    Unreleaseds :
    1957 - Our Love (Park)
    1957 - Stormy Weather (Park)

     

    Biography :

    Around 1954, in grade school, Eddie Sullivan meet the futures members of the Four Gents, Sullivan was with these individuals through high school. After being together all those years and practicing for so long, they finally recorded a disc. "On Bended Knee," the ballad side, was weighed down by a rudimentary musical accompaniment and amateurish production. Sullivan, however, could write a solid melody even if the lyrics were simplistic , so the vocal arrangement and tune were carrying the record. "Linda," also written by Sullivan, sported a Latin tempo, as did so many droops of the era.

    The Four Gents (1)  The Four Gents (1) 
                                                                                                                            Eddie Sullivan & John Staples (Belvederes)   

    Around 1958, the Four Gents split in half. Louis Pritchett and Waymon Bryant joined Matthew Perkins and Calvin Baron to form the Twi-lites and Eddie Sullivan and John Staples joined with Willie Crowley, and brothers Jerry and Kenneth Brown to form the Belvederes. Eddie Sullivan on lead and the Belvederes recorded "Let's Get Married" b/w "Wow Wow Mary Mary" on Trend Records, a subsidiary of Kapp Records owned by Fred Kaplan. The latter group lasted one year before breaking up. A few years later, in 1963, Eddie Sullivan recorded another record as a member of the Desideros.




    Songs :
     

        
    On Bended Knee / Linda                                Our Love           




     

     

    ....


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  • The Blue Notes (2)  (Asheboro in North Carolina )
     aka The Bluenotes (4) aka  The Epidemics  



    Personnel :

    Joe Tanner (gtr)

    Pat Patterson

    Tom Underwood

    Ralph Harrington


     

    Discography :

    The Blue Notes (2)
    1955 - Christmas Chimes / There'll Always Be a Christmas (Colonial 408)
    1956 - On A Sleepy Sunday Afternoon / Who's Gonna Sing Your Love Songs  (Colonial 409)

    The Bluenotes (4)
    1958 - You're A Tiger / Let Her Know  (Colonial 7779)
    1958 - I Waited   / Never Never Land  (Colonial 9999)
    1959 - I Don't Know What It Is / Summer Love (Brooke 111)
    1959 - You Can't Get Away From Love / I Don't Know What It Is (Brooke 111)
    1960 - I'm Gonna Find Out / Forever On My Mind  (Brooke 116)


    The Bluenotes (4) (Featuring Doug Franklin)
    1957 - Page One / Mighty Low (Colonial 434)

    The Bluenotes (4) (Featuring Ralph Harington)

    1960 - Summer Love / It Had To Be You (Brooke 119)

    Doug Franklin & The Bluenotes (4)
    1958 - My Lucky Love / Drizzlin' Rain  (Colonial 7777)
    1958 - I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now / I Used To Wonder (Colonial 8888)

    Johnny Dee & Bluenotes (4)
    1957 - Teenage Queen / It's Gotta Be You (Colonial 433)
    1957 - 1000 Concrete Blocks / In My Simple Way (Colonial 435)

    Ebe Sneezer (Johnny Dee)  & The Epidemics
    1957 - Asiatic Flu / That's All I've Got (Colonial 436)




    Biography :

    The Bluenotes were a vocal group featuring Tom Underwood, Joe Tanner, Pat Patterson, and Ralph Harrington.  They recorded at Colonial and Brooke Records, two labels of North Carolina. Their first single, Page One/Mighty Low, was released in 1957 on the Colonial label and the last single, It Had To Be You/Summer Love, was released in 1960 on the Brooke label.

      
    With Ebe Sneezer (Johnny Dee ) &  Cecelia Batten                                                                         

    They also sang on several other records on Colonial with other artists. They had a pop singles chart entry in 1959 with "I Don't Know What It Is."  So, masquerading as Ebe Sneezer with the Epidemics, Johnny Dee recorded the "Asiatic Flu" and "That's All I've Got" with the Bluenotes.
    Joe Tanner had success after the breakup of The Bluenote.

    He worked with Roy Orbison. He also arranged and produced many songs, including In Dreams (Roy Orbison), A Rose and a Baby Ruth (George Hamilton IV), and Sittin' In the Balcony (John D. Loudermilk. He also played guitar on Orbison's hit, Oh, Pretty Woman.


    With Ebe Sneezer (Johnny Dee )
    http://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursb/bluenotes.htm
    http://www.ihesm.com/Loudermilk1.html



    Songs :

       
    I Don't Know What It Is                                   Mighty Low         

       
    Summer Love                                       You're A Tiger

     

     

    ...


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  • The Jac-O-Lacs aka The Flairs (1) (Los Angeles)



    Personnel :


    Cornell Gunter (Lead)

    Thomas 'Pete' Fox (Tenor)

    Obediah 'Obie' Jessie (Baritone)



    Discography :


    The Jac-O-Lacs

    1955 - Cindy Lou  / Sha-Ba-Da-Ba-Doo  (Tampa 103)

    The Dooley Sisters (bb The Jac-O-Lacs)

    1955 -  Shtiggy Boom / Johnny, My Love (Dooley Sisters) (Tampa 101)



    Biography :

    The last recordings done by this Flairs group were  "She Loves To Dance" and "My Darling, My Sweet,"  two more tunes led by Cornell Gunter and released in March 1955.
    After this, Charles Jackson left to join the Chimes (who would soon record "Zindy Lou" for Specialty). Randy Jones departed too, becoming an emergency replacement for Bruce Tate in the Penguins, when they went to New York to do an Alan Freed show.


    Cornell Gunter, Obie Jessie & Pete Fox

    This left the trio of Cornell Gunter, Pete Fox and Obie Jessie. To get some "fast cash," they recorded a single record as the "Jac-O-Lacs" for Robert Scherman and Irving Shorten's Tampa label.
    "Cindy-Lou" and "Sha-Ba-Da-Ba-Doo" were released in May 1955.


    Obie Jessie, Cornell Gunter & Pete Fox

    Since there's a bass present, they might have gotten Randy Jones back for a while, but Pete has no memory of this session at all. Actually, while they were accumulating that fast cash, they also backed up the Dooley Sisters on their version of "Shtiggy Boom," released in February.
    http://www.uncamarvy.com/Flairs/flairs.html



    Songs :


       
    Sha-Ba-Da-Ba-Doo                   Cindy Lou



    Cds :


     

     


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  • The Laddins 

    The Laddins (Harlem, New York)
     (By Hans-Joachim)

     

    Personnel :

    Sylvester 'Sonny' Johnson(Lead)

    Ernest 'Mickey' Goody(Tenor)

    Earl Marcus(Tenor)

    John Marcus(Baritone)

    Robert Jeffers " Bobby Jay" (Bass)

     

    Discography:

    Singles :
    1957 - Did It / Now You`re Gone (Central 2602)
    1959 - Yes, Oh Baby Yes / Light A Candle (Gry Cliff 721)
    1960 - She's The One / Come On (Isle 801)
    1961 - Oh How I Hate To Go Home / There Once Was A Time (Theatre 111)
    1962 - I'll Kiss Your Teardrops Away / If You Need Me, I'll Be There (Angie 1790)
    1962 - Try, Try Again / That's What You Do To Me (Groove 4-5)
    1963 - Push, Shake, Kick And Shout / Push, Shake... (inst.) (Angie 1003 / Bardell 776)
    1963 - Dream Baby / Dizzie Jone’s Birdland (Butane 779)

    Album
    1974 - Bobby Jay presents The Laddins (Central / Relic LP 5018)
    Did It / Now You're Gone / Yes, Oh Baby Yes / Light A Candle / She's The One / Oh How I Hate To Go Home / There Once Was A Time / That's What You Do To Me / Try, Try Again / I'll Kiss Your Teardrops Away / I'll Be There / Dream Baby / Dizzy Jones Birdland / Diamons And Pearls (prev. unrel.) / You Talk Too Much (prev. unrel.) / A Hundred Pounds Of Clay (prev. unrel.) / Tossin' And Turnin' (prev. unrel.) / Every Beat Of My Heart (prev. unrel.) / Mother-In-Law (prev. unrel.)

     

    Unreleased :
    1957 - My Baby's Left Me (Central)
    1957 - I'm Falling In Love (Central)
    1959 - Eternally (Grey Cliff)
    1959 - So Long Darling (Grey Cliff)
    1960 - A Certain Kind Of Love (Isle)
    Diamonds And Pearls (prev. unrel.) 

     

    Biography:

    Originating from Harlem, NY, in the mid-'50s, the Laddins carved an unspectacular recording career from 1957 to 1964 on a succession of hotdog-stand recording companies. The originals members were David "Pinky" Coleman (lead), Ernest "Micky" Goody (first tenor), Early "E.J." Marcus (lead/second tenor), and John Marcus (baritone). Bobby Jay (bass) joined in 1957 and missed seemingly their only early photo session, which depicts the Laddins as a quartet. They scored a now-sought-after single that did little when released, entitled "Did It," on Central Records in 1957. Disappointed, Central allowed scheduled releases for 1958, "My Baby's Left Me" and "I'm Falling In Love," to gather dust.

    The Laddins    The Laddins

    "Yes, Oh Baby Yes" appeared on Grey Cliff Records in 1959; but history repeated itself as proposed follow-ups, "Eternally" and "So Long Darling," never were released. Their next release was "Come On" on Isle in 1960; but its pre-picked successor, "A Certain Kind of Love," was shelved. Initially, companies loved the Laddins, but withdrew the adulation after their first singles with the labels bombed. Their most popular failure came courtesy of Theater Records in 1961. The two-sided pleaser, "Oh How I Hate to Go Home" and "There Was Once a Time," was their only known release on the short-lived label.

    The Laddins  

    After two 1962 releases, "I'll Kiss Your Teardrops Away" b/w "If You Need Me, I'll Be There" on Angie and "Try, Try Again" on Groove, the Laddins left the Big Apple for the Big Orange (Miami, FL). You seldom hear of entertainers leaving New York City for recording opportunities, but that's exactly what they did the winter of 1962. In the interim, Angie unleashed "Push, Shake, Kick and Shout" in late 1962; Bardell Records reissued it in 1963. The Laddins refreshed their lineup with new lead singer Yvonne "Frankie" Gearing, Alfred Ellis, and Dizzy Jones, joining Goody and the Marcus brothers; other members came and went but these were the main cogs. (Bobby Jay joined the military). The new group had one single on Butane Records, "Dream Baby" b/w "Dizzy Jones Birdland," in 1964 before evolving into the Steinways, a group with a similar sound to Motown's Elgins and Philadelphia's Formations.

       The Laddins

    Bobby Jay later worked as a DJ at WWRL and WCBS-FM in New York City, and stations in Augustus, GA; Memphis, TN; and Newark, NJ. Billboard honored him as Air Personality of the Year in 1977. Jay also acted off-Broadway, hosted a magazine-style talk show, appeared in the soap Guiding Light, and toiled as a record producer. He appeared sometimes in a revamped lineup of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers with Lymon's brother, Lewis Lymon; long-time stand in Jimmy Castor; and original members Jimmy Merchant and Herman Santiago.  

    The Laddins     The Laddins

    Frankie Gearing sang with the Coeds, the Steinways (which also included Goody and the Marcus brothers), the Glories, Quiet Elegance, and recorded as a solo artist. She also relocated to her hometown, St. Petersburg, FL, where she's a popular entertainer. David Coleman is deceased. Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis toiled for years as a saxophonist for James Brown.
    Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide

     

    Songs :


         
         Yes, Oh Baby Yes         I'll kiss your teardrops away      If You Need Me I'll Be There 

               
        Oh How I Hate To Go Home       Push, Shake, Kick And Shout           Try, Try Again

         
    Light A Candle                 She’s The One                   Come On

       
    Oh How I Hate To Go Home / There Once Was A Time         Did It / Now You’re Gone

         
    That's What You Do To Me       Push, Shake, Kick And Shou        t Push, Shake, Kick And Shout (inst. vers.)

      
    Dream Baby / Dizzie Jone’s Birdland         Diamonds And Pearls / You Talk Too Much

      
    A Hundred Pounds Of Clay / Tossin' And Turnin'         Every Beat Of My Heart / Mother-In-Law
     

     

     

    ...


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  • The Chancellors (2)

    The Chancellors (2) (Rahway, NJ)

     

    Personnel :

    Paul Bozung (Lead & Piano)

    Don Girvan (Baritone / Guitar)

    Joe Gassaway (Tenor / Bass)

    Georges May (Bass / Drum)

     

    Discography :

    1956 - Too Many Memories / Everything Has A Place (Unique 341)
    1957 - I'm Coming Home / Gotta Little Baby (XYZ 104/601)
    1958 - Seaport At Sunset / Chalypso Train (XYZ 105)

     

    Biography :

    Paul Bozung, Joe Gassaway and Georges May are from Rahway. Don Girvan sings baritone and plays guitar in the quartet. Paul Bozung sings lead and plays piano. Joe Gassaway sings tenor and plays the Bass, Georges May Sings Bass and plays the CocKtail drum. After performing at parties, the group moved into the local club circuit and have little success. In 1956, The Chancellors recorded "Too Many Memories" b/w "Everything Has A Place" released by Unique Records. Unique Records Started in new York early 1955 by Bandleader, arranger, conductor, record producer and trumpeter Joseph J. Leahy , and bought out later by RKO Teleradio leaving Leahy as A&R manager.

    The Chancellors (2)

    Their two next records are for XYZ. XYZ Records was a record label founded by Frank Slay and Bob Crewe, mainly as an outlet for their own songs. The label opened in 1957 and was sporadically active till about 1960. Their only success was with The Rays "Silhouettes" that was taken over for national distribution by Cameo Records in Philadelphia.

        The Chancellors (2)

    Their song, "I'm Coming Home,"  made the Top 10 in 1957, and went to No. 2 later that year when it was recorded by Sammy Davis Jr. Played at the Sands in Las Vegas, met Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Jerry Lewis and others. Has opened at conventions for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, performing before Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Connie Stevens, Lorrie Morgan, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. They appeared on the Today Show and twice on Dick Clark's American Band Stand and had appearances at the Sands in Vegas. Their second single on the label "Seaport at Sunset" b/w "Chalypso Train" goes unnoticed and the band split soon after ...

     

    Songs :
    (updated by Hans-Joachim) 


      
    Too Many Memories / Everything Has A Place

         
    I'm Coming Home            Gotta Little Baby            Chalypso Train


    Seaport At Sunset

     

     


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