The Fireflies  (Long Island, New York)
aka The Fireflys

Personnel :

Ritchie Adams (Vocals and Guitar)

Lee Reynolds (Vocals and Bass Guitar)

John Viscelli (Sax and Vocals)

Paul Giacalone (Vocals and Drums)

Discography :

Single :

The Fireflys
1958 - The Crawl / Where The Candlelight Glows (Roulette 4098)

The Fireflies
1959 - You Were Mine / Stella's Got A Fella (Ribbon 6901)
1959 - I Can't Say Goodbye / What Did I Do Wrong (Ribbon 6904)
1960 - My Girl / Because Of My Pride (Ribbon 6906)
1960 - Give All Your Love To Me/ Marianne (Canadian American 117)
1962 - You Were Mine (For Awhile) / One O'Clock Twist (Taurus 355)
1964 - My Prayer For You / Good Friends (Taurus 366)
1966 - Runaround / Could You Mean More (Taurus 376)
1968 - Tonight / A Time For Us (Taurus 380)

Lp :

1963 - The Swingin' Fire Flies (Taurus LP 1002)
You Were Mine / Hully Gully Baby / For Sentimental Reasons / Our Day Will Come / Love Me Do / Bye Bye Love / Walk Don't Run / Moon River / Irresistible You / Twist And Shout / One O'Clock Twist / Please Please Me / Traveling Man / Good Friends

Biography :

The Long Island, New York Doo-Wop quintet The Fireflies (lead Ritchie Adams, Paul Giacalone, John Viscelli, Lee Reynolds and Carl Girosli) managed to avoid becoming members of the bona-fide One Hit Wonder Club thanks to a low-ranking 1960 entry. Produced by Gerry Granahan, after their initial single failed to chart in 1958 - The Crawl b/w Where The Candlights Glow as Roulette 4098 - they joined the tiny and short-lived Ribbon Records of New York City where they scored with their first single. You Were Mine, written by Giacalone, topped out at # 21 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in Sept-Oct 1959 as Ribbon 6901 b/w Stella Got A Fella. Which, in the circumstances, was amazing when you consider the limited promotional clout of Ribbon.

In fact, Ribbon would only ever release 12 singles before folding in 1960, two of which made the national charts. And both belonged to The Fireflies. Their follow-up I Can't Say Goodbye (and also written by Giacalone), billed as The Fireflies Featuring Ritchie Adams, didn't fare even remotely as well, pulling up at # 90 in Jan-Feb 1960 as Ribbon 6904 b/w What Did I Do Wrong? And that would be it in terms of national recognition, although their music did well on a local/regional basis, including Because Of My Pride b/w My Girl as Ribbon 6906 later that spring. Adams also had two singles released in 1960 with solo billing - Lonely One b/w Tell Me Baby Did You Wait? (Ribbon 6910) and Back To School b/w Don't Go My Love, Don't Go (Ribbon 6913) but neither charted.

After four singles for Roulette & Ribbon records, the  Fireflie's broke up. Lee Reynolds & Gerry Granahan recording as Lee & The Sounds. Months later, Lee form a new Fireflies group with Frank Piaza, Robert Saraniero and Richard Spero. Robert Saraniero and Richard Spero, two handsome brothers from the Bronx, had written and recorded two songs in early 1959, "Purple Pedal Pushers" and "Suzzane" which had been released by Golden Crest as Ricky and Robby. The New Fireflies recorded one single in 1960 for Canadian American Records with "Give All Your Love To Me" and the beautiful ballad "Marianne written by Robert and Richard. The group does not appear to have had any singles released in 1961, but Adams did have two solo efforts emerge at Beltone Records - No Mistaken It (I'm In Love) b/w The Right Away (Beltone 1001) and Two Initials (In A Heart) b/w What Took You So Long? (Beltone 1011), and he continued that in 1962 at Imperial Records with I Got Eyes b/w Something Inside Of Me Died (Imperial 5806) and Pakistan b/w My Prayer Of Love (Imperial 5838). None charted nationally.

It was also in 1962 that the group cut the first of four singles for Mike Serby's Brooklyn-based Taurus Records - One O'Clock Twist b/w You Were Mine (For Awhile) as Taurus 355. It would be another year before they had their second at Taurus, Good Friends b/w My Prayer For You (Taurus 366) but by 1964 the British Invasion was in full swing and room on the charts was available only to the best of the North American artists. As well, Doo-Wop was fading fast, so none among Runaround b/w Could You Mean More? (Taurus 376) and Tonight b/w A Time For Us (Taurus 380) could do anything in 1965. In 1966, Adams had his last kick at the can as a solo billing with a re-make of You Were Mine b/w Better Off without You as MGM K13629. The group dissolved in 1967.

The Gypsies (3) (South Carolina)

Personnel :

Lestine Johnson

Ernestine Pearce

Shirley Pearce

Betty Pearce

Discography :

1964 - Hey There, Hey There / Blue Bird (Mr. Jay) (Old Town 1168)
1965 - Jerk It / Diamonds, Rubies, Gold And Fame (Old Town 1180)
1965 - It's A Woman's World / They're Having A Party (Old Town 1184)
1966 - Oh I Wonder Why / Diamonds, Rubies, Gold And Fame (Old Town 1193)


Biography :

In 1962 in New York, four women from South Carolina formed The Gypsies. They were Lestine Johnson and sisters Ernestine Pearce, Shirley Pearce and Betty Pearce. In 1964 they signed to Old Town Records, where they released their debut single "Hey There, Hey There". The song achieved airplay only on local radio stations, but their next single ‚the J.J. Jackson-written "Jerk It" ‚was more successful, reaching #111 (pop) and #33 (R&B) in the spring of 1965. Despite the relative success of "Jerk It", Lestine Johnson left the group, replaced by Viola Billups. The Gypsies released only two singles on Old Town Records in 1966, giving them a total of four.

That year, now on Josie Records, the four women renamed themselves The Flirtations and released the well-regarded northern soul ballad "Change My Darkness Into Light". It was ignored by DJs and sales suffered. The quartet then moved to Festival Records, where they released "Stronger Than Her Love" and "Settle Down" as a single, which failed to spark much interest.

Song :
 (By Hans-Joachim)

     
Jerk It                Hey There, Hey There         Diamonds, Rubies, Gold And Fame

     
It's A Woman's World             They're Having A Party           Oh I Wonder Why

 ...

The Interludes (4) (Boston, MA) 

Personnel :

Bobby Berman (Lead)

Ron Sorgman (First Tenor)

Harvey Robbins

Gil Goldman

Discography :

N/A - Duck Boy (Unreleased)
N/A - That's What You're Doing to Me (Unreleased)

Biography :

Harvey Robbins had brief stints performing with local doo-wopp groups The Zorros and The Cascades, before joining the professional trio The Interludes.  During the three-and-a-half years that he was with the group, Robbins and The Interludes played the local deejay circuit in the 1950s and recorded one single, "Duck Boy"/"That's What You're Doing to Me."  However, due to lack of nationwide distribution, the record never left the shelf and the group disbanded.

 ...

The Distants (Detroit, Michigan)

Personnel :

Richard "Strick" Street (Lead)

Otis Williams

Melvin Franklin

Elbridge "Al" Bryant

James Crawford


Discography :

The Distants
1960 - Come On / Always (Northern 3732 / Warwick 546)
1960 - All Right / Open Your Heart  (Northern 3732/Warwick 577)

Richard Street & The Distants (GM Eddie Kendricks)
1962 - Answer Me / Save Me From This Misery (Thelma/Harmon 1002)



Biography :

The Temptations included members of two local Detroit vocal groups: from The Distants, second tenor Otis Williams, first tenor Elbridge "Al" Bryant and bass Melvin Franklin; and from The Primes, first tenor/falsetto Eddie Kendricks and second tenor/baritone Paul Williams (no relation to Otis). Four of the Distants became members of the world-renowned Temptations, the most popular male recording group ever. They began as Otis & the Siberians with a lineup of Otis Williams, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, James Crawford, Arthur Walton, and Vernard Plain. Detroit DJ Bill Williams discovered them singing at a hop and became their manager, and helped get them their first recording opportunity "Pecos Kid" b/w "All of My Life" for another DJ, Senator Bristol Bryant's label. Williams had little time and no managerial skills, and Bryant had no inclination to promote the record outside of Detroit; so they switched to Johnnie Mae Matthews' Northern Records.

The Primes

The single never took off outside the local Detroit market, and the Siberians changed their name to The El Domingoes shortly afterward. At this time, more changes took place. Montgomery, Alabama native Melvin Franklin replaced Arthur Walton as the bass singer and Franklin's cousin, Detroit-born Richard Street, replaced Vernard Plain as lead singer. The group soon signed with Northern Records, run by Johnnie Mae Matthews, who renamed the group The Distants. The Distants recorded two singles for Northern, "Come On" (1959, featuring additional background vocals by the Andantes), and "Alright" (1960).

The original early 1960s Temptations lineup. Clockwise from top right:
Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and Elbridge "Al" Bryant.

Between these two releases, Albert "Mooch" Harrell replaced Pee-Wee Crawford. "Come On" was a local hit for the Distants, and the Warwick label picked the record up for national distribution. After the release of "Alright", Matthews appointed Williams the group leader, and the group was renamed Otis Williams & the Distants. Though Otis Williams had a pleasant, but unremarkable, lead voice, he organized the group and so became the defacto leader, as he would later with the Temptations.

Songs :

The Distants

    
Come On                                               Always

  
All Right                                 Open Your Heart

Richard Street & The Distants

  
Answer Me                        Save Me From This Misery

...

The Four Winds (6)  (Bound Brook, New Jersey)
aka The Brooks Four aka The Teamates (3)
(By Robert Paladino)

Personnel :

Bob Dileo (Lead & Second Tenor)

Frank Giaretta (First Tenor)

Frank Delisi (Baritone)

Bob Paladino (Lead, Bass & Baritone)

Discography :

The Brooks Four  
1962 - I'm Not Good Enough For You / I'll Be Faithful (Sinclair 1007)

The Four Winds (6)
Single:
1963 - Playgirl / Jennifer (Felsted 8703 /Derby 10022)
Unreleased :
1963 - A chance To Live 

The Teamates (3)
Single:
1964 - Calendar Of Love / I  Say Goodbye (Lemans 006/006)
Unreleased :
1964 - Darlene (Lemans)
1964 - Sadboy (Lemans)

Biography :

The Brooks Four was formed in Bound Brook Highschool in 1960.  All four members were Italian/American friends living within 6 blocks of each other, in Bound Brook, New Jersey, USA.  We had 2 Franks (Frank Giaretta 1st Tenor, Frank Delisi, Baritone) and 2 Bob's (Bob Dileo, 2nd Tenor, Lead Singer, Arranger, Songwriter, myself ,Bob Paladino, Bass/Baritone, Lead Singer, Songwirter, ).  Hence our name The Brooks Four!  We practiced alot, realized that our voices blended well, and sang for school talent shows, private parties, etc. We were attracting adults and musicians who recognized that we could sing 4 part harmony.  As teenagers we sang with big bands, (At the Rutgers University Military Ball, we performed alongside the Duke Ellington Band. We performed original songs written by local adult composers, and guest stared with my brothers band in NJ nightclubs.  In 1961, we entered the battle of the groups in New York City hosted by renowned disc-jockey, "Murray The K". We placed in the top 20 finalists singing a 4 part harmony  song called  "It's a blue World", a vocal jazz standard, not a rock'n roll song!

Bob DiLeo and I composed "I'll Be Faithful" in 1962 and sang it for Vinny Catalano, producer for Sinclair Records.  We recorded for V. Catalano, and that same night he produced "Your my Coney Island Baby", by the Excellents.  They got the hit record, and we did not.  However, Bob DiLeo and I arranged "I'll be faithful" with a great falsetto and harmony introduction, that was cut from the record by V. Catalano, I felt it was a major mistake on his part.  In 1963 we recorded under the name "The Four Winds" for Felsted Records, Jennifer , and Playgirl (written by Mike Paladino, my brother). Playgirl received a red bulllet sure hit potential) by Billboard Magazine in early November, in about 2 weeks Pres.

 
Vinny Catalano                                                                                                                               

John F. Kennedy was assasinated, and "the music stopped", and when it resumed, our record was shelved!  In 1964 we recorded for LeMans Records under the name The Teamates. We recorded "Calendar of Love" (on youtube) written by my brother Mike, and "I say Goodbye", written by me.  We did the first live color TV broadcast from the NY Worlds Fair with the Shangrilas, Joe Williams, Ronnie Dove, etc.  We then did The Clay Cole TV Show from NYC with Jimmy Clanton, Gary U.S. Bonds, etc.  Shortly thereafter, we started to play instruments, and get bookings in seaside resorts.  In 1965 we had an audition set up for the Lawrence Welk TV show, and despite this prospect, Bob Dileo decided to try and make it as a solo performer. 

He had Bob Marcucci, Frankie Avalon & Fabians manager representing him.  He had many opportunities, but to this day, he still performs in local nightclubs.  1n 1968 I wrote, produced and performed on 2 Motown type songs entitled "You don't love Me"and "Where were You" (both on youtube).  The Studio owners were Tony Bongiovi (Jon Bonjovi) uncle, and Tony Camillo.  Tony Camillo arranged the strings/horns for both sides, took my record to Motown, as part of his portfolio of arrangements, and became a " Grammy winner arranger/conductor" for Gladys Knight.  I always hoped that The Brooks Four would reunite!  In 2006, Frank Giaretta passed away!

Upper left is Bob DiLeo, Upper right is  Bob Paladino
lower left is Frank Giarett  and lower right is Frank Delisi

Notes :

Here are a few notes about Darlene and Sadboy unreleased demos by The Teamates, in 1964.  Both songs were written by Robert Paladino and vocally arrranged by Bob DiLeo of the Teamates.  The demo's were recorded in the same timeline with the released record (Calendar of Love, I Say Goodbye), using the same studio (Stea Phillips, NYC), same music arranger (Charles Calello), same Engineer (Gordon Clark).  It should be noted that the exact same staff and studio were utilized by Frankie Vallie/Four Seasons for most of their long list of hit records in the 1960's.  Listeners may be able to hear a similarity between the style of the Seasons and that of The Teamates on these two selections.  The Teamates on many occasions would perform at Record Hops, or on Television, and would sing Calendar of Love (A Side), and encore with Darlene, instead of I Say Goodbye, which was the released B side of the record.  These songs are made available through an old demo that Robert Paladino kept for the last 46 years.

A Chance To Live (Unreleased)
Song written by Tom DeCillis (US Disc Jockey) called "a chance to live".  We recorded this as the Four Winds in 1964 for Nick Massi and Tom DeVito of The Four Seasons.  It was for the Leukemia Foundation and was never released.

Robert Paladino
           The Brooks Four            

Songs :

The Brooks Four 

   
I'll Be Faithful (My favorite Doo Wop)     I'm Not Good Enough For You

The Four Winds (6)

       
    Jennifer                                        Playgirl                                A Chance To Live

The Teamates (3)

   
Calendar Of Love                        I Say Goodbye

   
Darlene                                   Sad Boy

...