The Delacardos (Charlotte, NC)

Personnel :

Harold Ford

Vernon Hill

Robert Gates

Chris Harris

Discography :

1959 - Letter to a Schoolgirl / I'll Never Let You Down (Elgey 1001)
1961 - I Got It / Thing-A-Ma-Jig  (UA 276)
1961 - Mr Dillon / Hold Back The Tears (UA 330)
1961 - Dream Girl / I Just Want To Know (Shell 308)
1962 - Girl-Girl / Love Is The Greatest Thing (Shell 311)
1963 - On The Beach / Everybody's Rocking (Imperial 5992)
1966 - She's the One I Love / Got No One (Atlantic 2368)
1966 - I Know I'm Not Much / You Don't Have To See Me (Atlantic 2389)
1967 - They Put A Spell On You / A Fool For You (Atlantic 2419)

 
Biography :

This United Artist recording group originated about three years ago in Charlotte, NC The group consists of nine men — four singers and five musicians. The vocalists are: Harold Ford, Vernon Hill, Robert Gates and Christoper Harris. The musicians are: Jeremiah Shepherd, Luther Maxwell,allas Steele, Timothy Donald and James Knight.

The group was formed in their early years of high school. They were given the name "The Delacardos" by a Spanish teacher and the literal translation means "light of heart."The boys became a popular attraction at private parties and high school functions.  This led to a tour of the college circuit and various rock and roil shows.

   
The Delacardos' hit disk on UA, "Hold Back the Tears," is currently making a steady climb on the Hot 100.
(Billboard - 10 juil. 1961)

Songs :

     
Letter To A School Girl          I'll Never Let You Down         Hold Back The Tears

     
 I Just Want To Know           She's the One I Love                  Got No One

     
I Know I'm Not Much       They Put A Spell On You             A Fool For You

...

Left to right: Lorenzo Thomas, Leon Smith, Willie Wilson, Richard Givens & Charlie Watkins

The Fabulous Fabuliers (Jacksonville, Fl.)
Thanks to Juan  (informations)
 

Personnel :

Lorenzo Thomas (Lead)

Richard Givens (First Tenor)

Willie Wilson (Second Tenor)

Leon Smith (Baritone)

Charles Watkins (Bass)


 

Discography :

1959 - She's The Girl For Me / I Found My Baby    (Angle tone 539)

Biography :

Group From Jacksonville, Florida first know as The Petunians and consisted of Lorenzo Thomas-lead, Richard Givens.1st tenor,Willie Wilson 2nd tenor,Leon Smith-Baritone and Charles Watkins-Bass. In later years members of this group were the soul brothers on wanda records.

Songs :

   
I Found My Baby                  She's The Girl For Me

...

The Delrays (Reading, Pa)
aka The Delights (1)   aka The  Teen-Kings 

Personnel :

Walter "Buster" Lockman (Lead)

James Keith (Tenor)

Norman Keith (Tenor)

Jimmy Tindall (Baritone)

Bernie Washington (Bass)

Discography :

The Teen-Kings
1958 - That's A Teenage Love / Tell Me I You Know (Bee 1115)

The Delrays
1958 - Our Love is True / One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream (Cord 1101)

The Delights (1)
1961 - My one Desire /   Please Take My Love  (Nite 201 / Nite 1034)

Biography :

James and Norman Keith were performers from their pre-school day when they would entertain they neighbors with their singing and Ukulele playing . By the time they were attending Fitzsimmons Junior High School, they had a quintet assembled consisting of LaVester Littles, Ron Brown, Walter "Buster" Lockman, and themselves. They were called the Victors, and played opening night at the Blue Horizon Club on North broad Street in 1956. For The next two years they played regularly at other clubs, benefits, and neighborhood gatherings, mostly in North Philly. In 1958, Bernie Washington took over the Bass singer, and Jimmy Tindall replaced Littles as Baritone. With "Buster" Lockman on Falsetto lead, they quickly learned that they could get their biggest crowd reaction bodying Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers covers.

The Name change to Teen Kings, reflected their desire to develop their sound close to Lymon's group. Their shows also got the attention of Ben Johnson Jr (who had managed the Re-Vels since 1954), who signed them to a management contract, and a recording session at Virtue Studios, in the 1600 block of North Broad Street. They recorded four songs at Virtue, likely completed at a single session. In addition to "That a Teenage Love" and "Tell Me If You Know", Johnson released another single on his Cord label, credited to the Delrays. "Our Love Is True" (Wich is virtually the same melody as "That's A Teenage Love") and  "One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream", both list Johnson as the writer.

The Teen Kings, the Keith Brothers (Facing each other) and Buster Lockman (at the microphone)

All four sides suffered from a very muddily sound with the lead buried in a poorly placed sigle mike. Lockman was only 13 years old when he made this recordings. The same Lineup made one more records as the Delights ("My one Desire" / "Please Take My Love"), released in 1961. Around the same time, the group auditioned for Richard Barrett in New York but the deal did not materialize. Lockman continued his career as a solo artist through the sixties, releasing one record on the Wand Label in 1967 as Walter Wilson. Norman keith also continued in the music business as a side man, touring with Martha & The Vandellas.

Songs :

The DelRays

   
One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream                  Our Love is True

The Teen-Kings   

   
That's A Teenage Love                          Tell Me If You Know

The Delights (1)

   
My One Desire                             Please Take My Love

...

Jimmy J & The J's (Philadelphia)

 

Personnel :

Vito Jacono (Vocals/Guitar)

Jim Jacono (Vocals)

Sylvanius "Slip" Franklin (Piano/Vocals)

Elwood "Bunky" Robinson

Herb Campbell (Vocals)

Frank Jacono (Drums)


Discography :

Jim Jacono & The J's
1958 - Take My Money / Jay Walkin (Kay-Y 66783)

Jimmy J & The J's
1961 - Please be My Girlfriend / I've Lost (Salco 647)

Biography :

The J's began as "Jimmy and the J's" in 1958. The original  band included Vito Jacono (vocals and guitar), Jim Jacono (vocals), Sylvanus (Slip) Franklin (piano and vocals), Herb Campbell (vocals), and Frank Jacono (drums). Lou Razzae later joined the band playing sax.  In 1959, the J's made their first recording––an instrumental called, "Jay Walkin'" which became the J's theme song. The flip side was, "Take My Money." Herb Campbell and Lou Razzae left the band in 1960 and were replaced by Bunky Robinson on vocals and Lou DiMattio playing sax and other reed instrument.

The next six years were a time of great growth for the J's. The band went on the road, touring up and down the East Coast of the United States and sharing the stage with such famous musicians as Dave Brubeck, the big band of Les and Larry Elgart, Wilson Pickett, Louis Armstrong, the Dukes of Dixeland, and many others!  It is interesting to note that the J's were always an integrated band! When the band formed in 1958––during the height of the Civil Rights conflicts in the US––  Slip Franklin was its first African-American member. Soon thereafter, Bunky Robinson joined the J's. Slip and Bunky knew Vito Jacono of the J's, because Vito often subbed with the Five Lords––the all black band Slip and Bunky worked with.
http://www.phillyrandb.com/5.html

Songs :

Jimmy J & The J's

   
Please be My Girlfriend                         I've Lost

 

Jim Jacono & The J's


Take My Money

...

The Uniques (1) (Milwaukee, Wisc.)

Personnel :

Earl king (Lead)

Johnny Taylor (Lead)

Charles Jordan (Second Tenor)

Leonard Garr (Baritone)

Bob Morland (Bass)

Discography :

1957 - Right Now / Somewhere (Peacock 1677)
1960 - Mysterious / Picture Of My Baby  (Peacock 1695)



Biography :

This group came together in 1956 as Earl King and the Kingsmen. In 1957 they signed with the Peacock label.  Peacock Records was an American record label, started in 1949 by Don Robey in Houston, Texas, United States. "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton was a hit for Peacock in 1953.

Other significant rhythm and blues artists on Peacock were Marie Adams, James Booker, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Little Richard, Memphis Slim, and former gospel singer Jackie Verdell. The label also dabbled with jazz, releasing albums by vocalist Betty Carter and saxophonist Sonny Criss. In 1952, Robey gained control of the Duke Records label of Memphis, Tennessee. Duke/Peacock Records was formed. 

A Month after signing, The Kingsmen Went to Chicago to record. Robey was there and decided to rename the group the Uniques! Following their second recording for Peacock in 1960, with no hits to their credit, the group split up. In 1963, Taylor joined one of the Ink Spots groups and stayed with them for the next twenty-five Years.
Mitch Rosalsky (Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups)

 

Songs :

   
Mysterious                           Picture Of My Baby


   
Somewhere                          Right Now

...