Donny Manzo, Teddy Santos, Mike Lanzo and Kenny Marsh

The Precisions (3) (Scranton, Pa)
aka The Magics (2) aka The Palisades (3)

Personnel :

Mike Lanzo (Lead & Bass)

Donny Manzo (Tenor)

Ken Marsh (Baritone)

Teddy Santos  (Second Tenor)

Discography:

The Precisions (3)
1960 - Dream On / You Can't Play Games (Strand 25038)
1963 - Sweet Dreams / Stop Leading Me On (Debra 1001)

Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3)
1962 - The Lover / What Has Happened (Bella 606)

1962 - The Whole World In My Arms / Mama Done (Debra 1007)

Jo Jo Vitale  bb The Precisions (3)    
1962 - My Little Cinderella (May 127)

The Magics (2)
1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

The Palisades (3)
1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts
1964 - At The Fair / Ghost Town (Debra 2006)

Biography :

"The Magics" are best known for their hit recording "Chapel Bells", which reached number three on the local charts in the Northeast part of the country. The song was written by " The Monotones" who had the smash hit " Book of Love". 100 Records pressed under the name of the Palisades, name was changed to the Magics because Palisades was taken.

 
Dick and the Halo's - Ted Santos, Ken Marsh, Dick Plotkin and Dom Manzo

The group was formed in the late 1950's with the original members being, Don Manzo (the founder), Mike Lanzo and Ken Marsh, at that time the group was known briefly as the " Supremes". Ted Santos was the next member to join the group and they then formed an alliance with Dick Plotkin who's group had recently broke up, and the name of the group was changed to Dick and the Halo's.

Dick & The Halo's  - Ken Marsh, Ted Santos, Dom Manzo and Dick Plotkin

The group split up once again and the original 4, Don Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Ken Marsh and Ted Santos moved to Tin Pan Alley in New York to search for a professional management. Nick Quesado Enterprises, the firm that managed the nationally known "Teenagers" of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" fame and "Randy & the Rainbows" of  "Denise" fame, took on the task and the group's name was changed to " The Precision's" then to "The Magics". 

The Magics : Donny Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Kenny Marsh, Teddy Santos

While in New York they recorded for  various New York labels and performed studio background for various artist such as Jo Jo Vitali who had the hit "My Little Cinderella", Jack Bailey from Canada who had hits such as "Tiger Lil" and "Your Magic Touch" all were hits in Canada. 

The group also did background for local artist  "Tommy Genova" who had a local hit "They Call Me the Lover". The group disbanded soon afterward and went on their own individual ways.


Songs :

The Magics (2)

  
Chapel Bells                        She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

The Precisions (3)

     
You Can't Play Games             Sweet Dreams                 Stop Leading Me On 



Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3)

     
The Lover                    What Has Happened                        Mama Done

Jo Jo Vitale  bb The Precisions (3)  

My Little Cinderella

The Palisades (3)

  
Chapel Bells                         She Can't Stop Dancing

Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts

  
At The Fair                            Ghost Town

...

The Premiers (1) (Los Angeles)
aka Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)

Personnel :

Sammy Hagan (Lead)

Donald Frierson (Tenor)

Daniel Fields (Baritone)

Charles Taggart (Bass)

Discography :

The Premiers (1)
Singles:
1956 - Baby / New Moon (Dig 106)
1956 - Have A Heart / My Darling (Dig 113)
Unreleased :
1956 - Red Sails In The Sunset (Dig)
1956 - Your kiss (Dig)
1956 - Can It Be Real (Dig)

Julie Stevens & The Premiers (1)
1956 - Blue Mood / Crazy Bells (Dig 115/Eldo 107 (1960))

Julie Stephens bb The Premiers (1)(Uncredited)
1957 - I Don’t Want To Know / Take My Heart (Dig 129)

Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)
1957 - Out Of Your Heart / Smoochie Poochie (Capitol 3722)
1957 - Don't Cry / Wild Bird (Capitol 3818)
1958 - Tail Light / Snaggle Bunnie (Capitol 3885)

Little Sammy Yates
1959 - Comic Book Crazy / Dodge City Baby (Genie 1003)
1960 - Can You Love Me / Papa Did The Chicken (Shade 1002)

Count Yates
1961 -The Golden Key / Chimpanzee (Regis 1)

Biography :

Johnny Otis his Dig label, including a small recording studio, in his home in Los Angeles in late 1955. He shut down the label in 1957 when his Johnny Otis Show signed a contract with Capitol Records. In the interim, he released 42 singles and 4 LPs, including such talent as Arthur Lee Maye And The Crowns, Tony Allen And The Night Owls, Mel Williams And The Jayos, the Johnny Otis Orchestra and The Premiers.

The Premiers consisted of Sammy Hagan (aka: Little Sammy Yates "Hagan", Donald Frierson, Daniel Fields, and Charles Taggart. Johnny Otis released their first release, "Baby" and "New Moon" in March 1956. The former side, a mid tempo rocker with Yates fronting a unison group chant, Yates referred to as a countermelody. Though The Premiers' first release didn't make much noise. Johnny Otis issued a second pairing by the group In June 1956. "My Darling" and "Have a Heart". Supported by an able studio band led by saxophonist Jackie Kelso (who shared writers' credits with Yates on both sides of the release). Like the first release, however, "My Darling" didn't go anywhere and neither did the group until Johnny Otis decided they should back new singer Julie Stephens, an 18-year old recent high school graduate from Santa Barbara California.

Julie wrote "Blue Mood" and we went in to rehearse it with her, She was in a blue mood when she wrote the song, but when she recorded it, it came out beautiful during the summer of 1958". "Blue Mood" became the biggest hit Dig Records ever had, even though it tailed to make the national charts. With the flip side rocker "Crazy Bells," Otis subsequently reissued it in 1960.  After backing Stephens again on "Take My Heart" in 1957 it was time for The Premiers to move on. "After we left the Johnny Otis Show we went to Capitol Records and managed by Effie Smith and John Criner".

Kenneth Head replacing original bass Charles Taggart. The group now became known as Sammy Hagan & the Viscounts.  Working with guitarist-arranger Jack Marshall and sax man Plash Johnson, among other backing musicians, the group turned out two outstanding ballads, "Out of Your Heart" and "Don't Cry' in 1957, followed by "Tail Light" in February 1958. The latter, which billboard described as a wistful rock ballad told of a guy who trails a car because he thinks his girl is in it with another guy. The tune has touches of the hit "Silhouettes". Unfortunately, the record buying public passed up "Tail Light," Which proved to be the final release for Hagan arid his group.

  

In 1960 Nagan recorded for John Criner as Little Sammy on the standout ballad "Can You Love Me" and ‘Papa Did the Chicken". According to Hagan, the voices heard in the background of "Can You Love Me" belong to Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith, the songwriting. Arranging team known for their work with The Olympics. According Hagan the backing musicians included Don & Dewey, while Hagan himself played piano. Sammy later continued to record as Count Yates and the Rhythm Crusaders.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Premiers (1)

  
Baby / New Moon                             Have A Heart

  
My Darling  / Your kiss           Red Sails In The Sunset


Can It Be Real

Julie Stevens & The Premiers (1)

  
Blue Mood                               Crazy Bells


Julie Stephens bb The Premiers (1) (Uncredited)

  
I Don’t Want To Know                             Take My Heart       
 

Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)

  
Out Of Your Heart                            Smoochie Poochie

  
Don't Cry                                         Wild Bird

  
       Tail Light                                    Snaggle Bunnie

Little Sammy Yates

  
Comic Book Crazy                           Dodge City Baby


Can You Love Me

Count Yates

  
The Golden Key                                   Chimpanzee



…

Tim Tam & The Turn-Ons (Detroit)

Personnel :

Rick Wiesend (Tim Tam) (Lead)

Danny Wiesend

Don Grundman

Nick Butsicaris

John Ogen

Earl Rennie

Discography :

1966 - Wait a Minute / Opelia (Instrumental) (Palmer 5002)

1966 - Cheryl-Ann / Seal it with a kiss (Palmer 5003)
1966 - Kimberly / I leave you in tears (Palmer 5006)

1967 - Don't say Hi / Don't say Hi (Instrumental) (Palmer 5014)

 

Biography :

Allen Park is home to the vocal group, Tim Tam & the Turn-Ons who secured themselves a chapter in pop history from 1964 to 1967. Tim Tam and the Turn Ons are (l-r) Nick Butsicaris, Don Grundman, Earl Rennie, Rick (Tam Tam) Wiesend, John Ogen and Dan Wiesend. Rick “Tim Tam” Wiesend was the lead vocalist with the oustanding falsetto that soared above the harmonies in a Frankie Valli-style sound with a riveting rhythm section.

The boys met at Allen Park High School and all were in concert choir together. While Rick was a student at the Detroit Institute of Technology, he would hear his brother, Danny, practicing with the other boys in their Allen Park basement (at Fox and Garfield). Eventually he joined the group himself and taught them their harmonies. Rick Wiesend was still a student at Allen Park High School when CKLW disc jockey Johnny Williams heard his strong tenor at a school Christmas concert. Williams and Rick co-wrote “Wait a Minute”.

When they were going into United Sound Systems to record that single, they were delayed by the previous recording artist who had been running late on mixing his song. The artist was Bob Seger and he was finishing up his #1 hit, “Heavy Music”. Of the four singles they released on Palmer Records, they had two national hits, the biggest being “Wait A Minute”, which hit Number 1 on the Top 40. It sold 30,000 copies in the first week, and double that figure in the second. Their other hit was “Cheryl Ann”.

The pair of apartment buildings on Champaign near Vine were owned by Rick Wiesend’s father, and were named the Tim Tam building and the Turn-Ons building. The names were removed from the buildings a few years ago, but you can still see evidence of them if you look close enough.

The vocal group consisted of the late Rick “Tim Tam” Wiesend (who died October 22, 2003 of Myelodysplastic Syndrome at age 60), his brother, Danny Wiesend, Don Grundman, Nick Butsicaris, John Ogen and Earl Rennie. The musicians behind the vocals were the Satellites -- fellow APHS classmates -- featuring the late Frank Chauvilli on drums and Dave Faro on lead guitar.
http://www.focusallenpark.com/history/music/

Songs :

   
Wait a Minute                       Cheryl-Ann


Kimberly

 ...

The Chantones (Windsor, Ontario)

Personnel :

Jack Grenier (Lead tenor)

Larry Desjarlais (Tenor)

Jim Nantais (Baritone)

Roy Lesperance (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1957 - Storm In My Heart / Anne Marie (Sparton 491 R)
1958 - It was just a summer love / Five little numbers (Carlton 485)
1960 - Tangerock / Don't open that door (Top Rank 2066)
1961 - Stormy Weather / Sweet Georgia Brown (Capitol 4661)
N/A - From The Very First Rose / Once And Only Once

LPs :
Jack Scott with the Chantones "The Spirit Moves Me" RM-348
1961 - When the Saints Go Marching In / Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Ezekiel Saw The Wheel / Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho / Little David Play On Your Harp / Roll Jordan Roll // Down By The Riverside / Old Time Religion / The Gospel Train / I Wanna Be Ready / Just A Closer Walk With Thee / He'll Understand

Biography :

A vocal quartet best known for their work backing rock & roller and country star Jack Scott, the Chantones at one time bidded fair to become as well known as the Jordanaires. Their three years with Scott and seven years in the recording industry put the group on more than a dozen hit singles, but they never charted a hit of their own in the United States.

The group started out in Windsor, Ontario in the early 1950s as the Teen Tones. Roy Lesperance sang bass, Jim Nantais sang baritone, Larry Desjarlais was the tenor, and Jack Grenier was the lead tenor of the group, which won a talent contest in 1953 sponsored by the Catholic Your Organization. They changed their name to the Chantones and became a standard (if highly polished) white pop vocal group -- the real-life version of the "Four Neat Guys" from SCTV.

Jack Scott with the Chantones

The group's fortunes changed somewhat when they were recruited by Scott to sing back-up on his single of "My True Love." The group did benefit from that record's number three national chart placement; they became the resident backing group on Scott's subsequent records for the next four years, singing on numerous hits.

Jack Scott with the Chantones

They were paired with other artists as well, including Jerry Keller, on whose hit "Here Comes Summer" they sang, but they never managed to secure a hit of their own in America, possibly due in part to the fact that they weren't really a rock & roll group or, for that matter, a white gospel group like the Jordanaires, of Elvis Presley fame.

Jerry Keller

The Chantones were a white pop vocal group, most similar to the Four Lads. The quality of their singing was undeniable but, in contrast to some other white vocal outfits of the time, such as the Mints, the Diamonds, or the Crew Cuts, the Chantones never got closer than arm's length to rock & roll or R&B.

The group ceased working with Scott in 1960, and charted a record of their own that year in Canada with "Tangerock." The following year, they had another Canadian hit with "Stormy Weather." When Lesperance got married in 1962 and left the line-up, the remaining members shifted their sound to folk music, and it was as a folk trio that they ended their history in the late 1960s.
~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

In 1962, Roy Lesperance left the group and THE CHANTONES TRIO was formed by the remaining members, Jack, Jim and Larry. The folk music era had begun and it was decided that the trio would follow that trend. They each learned to play instruments over a several month period with Jack on banjo, Jim on bass and Larry on guitar.

   
The Chantones Trio

This change led them off on a new career performing in nightclus nationally and in 1962 and 1963 were invited to entertain at US bases across Europe for 2 monthes each year. This was a show sponsored by American Motors and was a tremendous success.

The Chantones Trio performed in clubs and for private functions until 1976.

http://thechantones.com/
http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=scot1600



Songs :

The Chantones

   
It was just a summer love            Stormy Weather

    
Storm In My Heart                     Anne Marie

Jack Scott & The Chantones

   
Cry, Cry, Cry                        With Your Love

CDs :

.....

The Four Palms  (Twentynine Palms, California)
aka The Rainbeaus (1)

Personnel :

Hasker Nelson (Lead)

Louis Faison (Tenor)

James Jackson (Baritone)

Nate Thomas (Bass)

Discography :

The Four Palms
1958 - Jeanie, Joanie, Shirley, Toni / Consideration (Aladdin 3411) 

The Rainbeaus (1)
1959 - Maybe It's Wrong / That's All I'm Asking Of You (World Pacific 810)

Biography:

Doo wop combo the Four Palms formed on grounds of Camp Pendleton in Twentynine Palms, California in early 1957 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile on his R&B Notebooks website -- lead Hasker Nelson, tenor Louis Faison, baritone James Jackson, and bass Nate Thomas formed the group to enter a U.S. Navy talent contest, winning top honors and representing their military division at the Worldwide All-Navy Talent Contest in New York City.

James Jackson, Louis Faison, Nate Thomas and Hasker Nelson

When the Four Palms claimed victory in the international showcase, they were the first African-American act to win the event, as well as the first doo wop group; the top prize was an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and in the months to follow the quartet headlined a series of military showcases and related celebrations.

James Jackson, Louis Faison, Nate Thomas and Hasker Nelson

In March 1958 the Four Palms signed to Aladdin Records and cut their debut single "Jeanie, Joanie, Shirley, Toni," promoting its release with a return engagement on Ed Sullivan. The record fared poorly, however, and by early 1959 all four members earned their military discharge, settling into civilian life. Without the military concert circuit to sustain them, the Four Palms faltered.

"Maybe It's Wrong," a 1959 single for the World Pacific label, was credited to the Rainbeaus to avoid contractual conflicts with Aladdin, but few radio outlets or retailers knew of the switch and the disc quickly disappeared. The Four Palms split in early 1960.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Palms/4palms.html

Songs :

The Four Palms

   
Jeanie, Joanie, Shirley, Toni                      Consideration            

The Rainbeaus (1)

  
            Maybe It's Wrong                    That's All I'm Asking Of You     

...