• 1957 - L to R : Donald Trotter, Edward Wallace, Donald Burg, Houston Rice & William Keller

     

    The Five Wings (Dyess AFB, Abilene, TX)




    Personnel :

    Donald Trotter (Lead)

    William Keller (First Tenor)

    Donald Burg (Second Tenor)

    Houston Rice (Baritone)

    Edward Wallace (Bass)




    Biography :

    Dyess AFB Vocal group, In Juin 1956, The boys got together and discovered that all had singing experience, several with professional groups. They began practice shortly after, and have sung many engagements both on and off base since. it is composed of Houston Rice, Edward Wallace, Donald Burgs, Donald Trotter and William Keller. Keller, first tenor of the group sand formally with the recording stars Five Keys, Trotter, lead tenor was with the Five Coins, a group out of Bakersfield, Calif. Burgs, second tenor, sang with the Selectones, when that Air Force group was on the AF show "Top In Blue" In 1955. Wallace, Bass, sang with the university's glee club, while Reece, the Baritone, sang in his high school chorus. Burgs is the Writer of the group, The Wings do his own special arrangement of "Hound Dog" and also sing a tune he wrote called "Paradise Hill" plus other compositions. They sang on the March of Dimes telethon, KRBC-TV and also sung over KRBC radio.





    ...


    your comment
  • The Coachmen Five aka Ginny & The Saints (2)

    The Coachmen Five (River Edge N.J.)
    aka Ginny & The Saints (2)

     

    Personnel:

    Ray Davis (Lead Singer)

    Frank Zillitto (Lead Guitar & Vocal)

    Rich Gangi (Rhythm Guitar & Vocal)

    Ricky Keith  (Bass & Vocal)

    Steve Bogue (Drums)

     

    Discography :

    The Coachmen Five Featuring Ray Davis
    1962 - This I Know / Oh Joan (Janson 100)

    Ginny Zee bb The Coachmen Five
    1962 - Bobby Baby / You Can't Imagine (Atco 6218)

    Ginny (Zee) & The Saints (2)
    1962 - Wait, Wait, Wait / Please Be My Boy Friend (Alpene 100)

     

    Biography :

    Vocal & Instrumental group composed by Ray Davis, Frank Zillitto, Rich Gangi, Ricky Keith and Steve Bogue. They live in River Edge N.J., except Frank Zillitto, Oradell N.J.. Ginny Zee was actually Ginny Zillitto, who was the sister of Frankie Zillitto, a member of Ray Davis and the Coachmen Five .

    The Coachmen Five aka Ginny & The Saints (2)    The Coachmen Five aka Ginny & The Saints (2)

    Ray Davis wrote both songs for Ginny Zee, "Bobby Baby" and  "You Can't Imagine". Ginny also has another record on ALPAN records, "Wait,Wait,Wait" & "Please Be My Boyfriend", with the Coachmen backing her up under a new name : The Saints (Ray Davis wrote again both songs for Ginny).  Ray Davis  recorded two of his own , "Oh Joan" & "This I Know", before he passed away in 1962.

     

    Songs:
    (updated by Hans-Joachim) 

    Ginny (Zee) & The Saints (2)

      
    ***Wait, Wait, Wait***                     Please Be My Boy Friend


    Ginny Zee bb The Coachmen Five

      
    Bobby Baby                            You Can't Imagine


    The Coachmen Five Featuring Ray Davis

      
    Oh Joan                             This I Know

     

     

     

     

    ...


    3 comments
  •  

    The Five Keys (Newport News, Va.)
     (Part 1 : Biography, Video & Songs)
    (By Hans-Joachim)

     


    Personnel :

    Rudy West (Lead)

    Ripley Ingram (Tenor)

    Dickie Smith (Tenor)

    Maryland Pierece(Baritone)

    Bernie West(Bass)

     


    Biography:


    The Five Keys are generally regarded by aficionados of 1950s R&B vocal group harmony as one of the finest groups to ever record in this genre. They are best known for their Capitol recordings of "Wisdom of a Fool," "Close Your Eyes," "Ling Ting Tong," and "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." But in collectors' circles their earlier recordings for Aladdin such as "My Saddest Hour," "Glory of Love," and "Red Sails in the Sunset" are even more highly revered and sought after.

    The group originally consisted of two sets of brothers; Rudy and Bernie West and Raphael and Ripley Ingram all hailing from Newport News, VA, part of the "Hampton Roads" area. This region had a rich history of high-caliber vocal music and had previously spawned great vocal ensembles like the Golden Gate Quartet and Norfolk Jazz Quartet. The West and Ingram brothers initially took on the name the Sentimental Four and soon decided to show off their talents by entering a local amateur program at the Jefferson Theater. After winning three consecutive weeks of amateur contests at the Jefferson, they were invited to perform at the prestigious Apollo Theater in New York City, where they also won.


    This led to subsequent engagements at the Royal and Howard Theaters. As the group established their reputation along the Eastern Seaboard, they were noticed by Eddie Mesner, owner of the California-based Aladdin Records, who signed them to a recording contract. About this time, Raphael went into the army and was replaced by Maryland Pierce (formerly of the Avalons). Also added was another singer, Dickie Smith, and a sixth man, piano player Joe Jones.

    Reflecting the personnel changes, their name was changed from the Sentimental Four to the Five Keys. The Keys toured both the East and West Coasts and their Aladdin songs were recorded in New York and Los Angeles. Some of their approximately 17 Aladdin releases in the early '50s consisted of "Glory of Love," "How Long," "Someday Sweetheart," "Red Sails in the Sunset," and "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" with Rudy West and Dickie Smith on leads; and "My Saddest Hour" and "Serve Another Round" with Maryland Pierce on lead.



    In 1953, both Rudy and Dickie entered the army and were replaced by Ramon Loper and Ulysses Hicks. By mid-1954, the Keys' contract with Aladdin was expiring and their last Aladdin release, "Deep in My Heart," was reviewed in June of that year. In July of 1954, the Five Keys found themselves in the RCA studios, where they recorded four tracks. Two remained unreleased, and "Lawdy Miss Mary" backed with "I'll Follow You" were issued in August 1954 on RCA's subsidiary Groove label. The Keys' manager, Saul Richfield, must have been working very hard for his group at this time, for on August 29, 1954, Capitol announced that they had signed the Five Keys.

    RCA immediately stopped production of the Groove release and it is now the rarest of the Five Keys recordings. Now recording for Capitol, the Five Keys released "Ling Ting Tong," with Pierce on lead. The record was successful enough to eventually land them a spot of the Ed Sullivan TV show. When Hicks died suddenly in 1954, and before Rudy returned home from the service, the lead tenor position was filled temporarily by Dickie Smith's cousin, Willie Winfield, of the Harptones.



    But by 1955, Rudy West was back and the Five Keys were in the right place at the right time to be recorded using Capitol's advanced audio production techniques. With Rudy on lead, and backed by the Howard Biggs Orchestra (former Ravens arranger) , they recorded "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" and "Wisdom of a Fool." Another great Capitol release, "Close Your Eyes," featured Maryland Pierce on lead, echoed hauntingly by Rudy's high-floating tenor. Tired of touring, Rudy retired from the group in 1958. In 1959, with the addition of Dickie Threat in Rudy's spot, they recorded several sides for the King label, the most notable being "Dream On" and "One Great Love." Perhaps it was because the record market was changing, or maybe the Keys weren't quite the same without Rudy, but they could not sustain the success they had achieved at Capitol. During this time, Rudy also recorded on his own for King, covering the Passions' "Just to Be With You" and the Fireflies' "You Were Mine" with an unlisted group.



    In 1962, Rudy West produced and re-recorded "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" with a new group of Keys consisting of Rudy, Bernie West, and Dickie Smith, along with John Boyd and Willie Friday, for Seg-Way Records. On this version, the group's background harmonies were more pronounced than the Capitol release. In 1965, Rudy recorded "No Matter" on the Inferno label with yet another configuration of Keys, consisting of Rudy, Edmond Hall, Ollie Sidney, Theodore Jones, and George Winfield (yes, another of Willie's cousins). This grouping was also from the Newport News, VA, area and had previously recorded as the Chateaus on Epic and Warner Bros.


    The mid-'70s saw a resurgence of interest in 1950s doo-wop and Rudy West established another Keys group (similar to the Inferno group) that continued to perform through 1998. In 1992, the United In Group Harmony Association (U.G.H.A.) inducted the original Five Keys in to their Hall of Fame. All original members were present and performed together at the induction ceremony. This was their first time together in 40-plus years and would be the last time they would all take to the stage as a group. Rudy West passed away on May 14, 1998. His last performance was on April 18,1998, at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, NY. Even at that point in time, his voice was still magnificent, and his phrasing impeccable.

    The audience was justifiably thrilled at what would be the final performance of this legendary R&B artist. Ripley Ingram had previously passed away. The surviving original members are Bernie West, Dickie Smith, and Maryland Pierce. Fortunately, most of the Five Keys extensive recorded output is now available on various CDs.

    Jim Dunn & Nikki Gustafson, All Music Guide


    http://home.att.net/~marvy42/5Keys/5keys.html
    http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/fivekeysone.html
    http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/fivekeystoo.html
    http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/five_keys.htm
    http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/rwest.htm
    http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/the_five_keys.html

     


    Videos :


     
    Ling ting tong

     


    Songs:

       
    Glory of Love                        The Gypsy

       
    Wisdom of a fool                   _ghEYpD5B3o

     

       
    That's Right                      Will My Heart Stand a Chance

     

     

     


    1 comment
  •  

    The Five Keys (Newport News, Va.)
     (Part 2 : Discography)
    (By Hans-Joachim)

     


    Personnel :

    Rudy West (Lead)

    Ripley Ingram (Tenor)

    Dickie Smith (Tenor)

    Maryland Pierece(Baritone)

    Bernie West(Bass)




    Discography :

     

    Singles

    1951 - With broken heart / Too late(Aladdin-3085)
    1951 - Glory of love / Hucklebuck with Jimmy(Aladdin-3099)

       

    1951 - Christmas time / Old McDonald(Aladdin-3113)
    1952 - Yes sir, that's my baby / Old McDonald(Aladdin-3118)

    1952 - Darling / Goin' downtown(Aladdin-3119)
    1952 - Red sail in the sunset / Be anything but be mine(Aladdin-3127)
    1952 - Mistakes / How long(Aladdin-3131)
    1952 - I hadn't anymore till you / Hold me(Aladdin-3136)
    1952 - Serve another round / I cried for you(Aladdin-3158)
    1953 - Can't keep from crying / Come go my Bail, Louise(Aladdin-3167)
    1953 - There ought to be a law / Mama(Aladdin-3175)
    1953 - I'll always be in love with you / Rocking and crying blues(Aladdin-3182)
    1953 - These foolish things / Lonesome old story(Aladdin-3190)
    1953 - Teardrops in my heart / I'm so high(Aladdin-3204)
    1953 - My suddest hour / Oh babe(Aladdin-3214)

       


    1954 - Love my loving / Someday sweetheart(Aladdin-3228)
    1954 - Deep in my heart / How do you expect me to get it(Aladdin-3245)
    1954 - My love / Why oh why(Aladdin-3263)
    1954 - Story of love / Serve another round(Aladdin-3312)
    1954 - Ling ting tong / I'm alone(Capitol-2945)

    1954 - Close your eyes / Doggone it, you did it(Capitol-3032)
    1954 - The verdict / Me make um pow wow(Capitol-3127)
    1954 - Don't you know I love you / I wish I'd never learned to read(Capitol-3185)

    1954 - Cause you're my lover / Gee whittakers(Capitol-3267)
    1954 - What goes on / You broke the rules of love(Capitol-3318)
    1954 - She's the most / I dreamed I dwelt in heaven(Capitol-3392)
    1954 - Peace and love / My Pigion's gone(Capitol-3455)
    1954 - Out of sight, out of mind / That's right(Capitol-3502)

      

    1954 - Wisdom of a fool / Now don't that prove I love you(Capitol-3597)
    N/A - Hucklebuck With Jimmy (first version) (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Too Late (first version) (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - With A Broken Heart (first version) (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Happy Am I (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Your Teardrops  (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Just Like Two Drops Of Water  (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Do I Need You  (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Goin' Downtown (8-9-10)  (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Darktown Strutters' Ball  (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Darling  (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - I'll Always Be In Love With You (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Can't Keep From Crying (first version) (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Serve Another Round (first version) (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - If You Only Knew (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Rocking And Crying Blues (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Will My Heart Stand A Chance (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Yearning (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Ghost Of A Chance (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - When You're Gone (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - White Cliffs Of Dover (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    N/A - How Could You Do This To Me (Aladdin) (Unreleased)
    1954 - I'll follow you / Lawdy miss Mary(Groove-0031)
    N/A - When Will My Troubles End(Groove)(Unreleased)

    N/A - Teeth And Tongue Will Get You Hung (Groove)(Unreleased)
    1957 - Let threre be you / Tiger Lily(Capitol-3660)
    1957 - Four walls / It's a groove(Capitol-3710)
    1957 - This I promise / The blues don't care(Capitol-3738)
    1957 - The face of an angel / Boom boom(Capitol-3786)
    1957 - Just for a thrill / The gypsy(Capitol-T 828)
    1957 - Do anything / It's a crying shame(Capitol-3830)
    1957 - From me to you / Whippety whirl(Capitol-3861)
    1957 - With all my love / You're for me(Capitol-3648)
    1957 - With all my love / You're for me(Capitol-3948)
    1957 - Emily please / Handy Andy(Capitol-4009)
    1957 - One great love / Really-o truly-o(Capitol-4092)
    N/A - Trapped, Lost, Gone (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - I'm Just A Fool (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - So Glad (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Shook My Head (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Just Sittin' (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind (alternate take)  (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Open Sesame  (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Every Heart Is Home At Christmas (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    N/A - Dog Gone Baby (Capitol) (Unreleased)
    1959 - I took your love for a toy / Ziggus(King-5251)
    1959 - Dream on / Dancing senorita(King-5273)


    1959 - How can I forget you / I burned your letter(King-5302)
    1960 - Gonna be too late / Rosetta(King-5330)
    1960 - I didn't know / No says my heart(King-5358)
    1960 - Valley of love / Bimbo(King-5398)
    1961 - You broke the only heart / That's what you're doing to me(King-5446)
    1961 - Stop your crying / Do something for me(King-5496)
    1962 - The glory of love / My saddest hour(Imperial-016)
    1964 - Close your eyes / The verdict(Capitol-6049)
    1964 - I'll never stop loving you / I can't wscape from you(King-5877)


    1965 - Run-around / I tell my heart(Bangar-661)
    1972 - Out of sight out of mind / The verdict(Capitol-6186)
    1972 - Ling, ting, tong / Wisdom of a fool(Capitol-6192)
    1972 - Sweetheart / Sittin' here wondering(The Marylanders)(Roadhouse-1003)
    1972 - The glory of love / My saddest hour(United Artists-Xw150)
    1973 - A dreamer / Your teeth and your tongue(Owl-321)

    Rudy West
    1959 - Just to be with you / You were mine(King-5276)
    1959 - My mother's prayers / As sure as I live(King-5385)
    1959 - The measure of my love / This is something else(King-5305)

    Rudy West and The Five Keys
    1961 - Out of sight, out of mind / You're the one(Seg Way-1008)
    1967 - No matter / Hey girl(Inferno-4500)
    1989 - Miracle moment of love / When was the last time(Classic Artists-112)
    1989 - I want you for christmas / Express yourself back home(Classic Artists-115)
    1973 - Goddess of love / Stop what you're doing to me(Ram Landmark-101)
    1973 - Peace And Love (Ram Landmark) (Unreleased)
    1973 - The Verdict (Ram Landmark) (Unreleased)


    Albums

    1956 - Glory Of Love / Oh Baby / My Saddest Hour / Hucklebuck With Jimmy / These Foolish Things / Christmas Time / Red Sails In The Sunset / Too Late Baby / Teardrops / Be Mine / Love My Loving / Serve Another Round (Aladdin LP 806)


    1957 - Glory Of Love / Oh Baby / My Saddest Hour / Hucklebuck With Jimmy / These Foolish Things / Christmas Time / Red Sails In The Sunset / Too Late Baby / Teardrops / Be Mine / Love My Loving / Serve Another Round (Score LP 4003)

     

    1957 - Git On Board, Little Children * / Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho * / This Train */ Ezekiel Saw The Wheel * / Shadrack * / Gonna Shout All Over God's Heaven * / Sing And Shout * / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Goin' Home / Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen / Deep River / Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (The 5 Keys are only on the cuts marked with *.)


    1957 - Just For A Thrill / Who Do You Know In Heaven / Maybe You'll Be There/ Tiger Lily / C'est La Vie / Dream / Let There Be You / All I Need Is You/ The Gypsy / From The Bottom Of My Heart / To Each His Own / Boom-Boom (Capitol LP 828)

    1960 - Ziggus / How Can I Forget You / When Paw Was Courtin' Maw / You Broke The Only Heart / Dancing Senorita / Dream On / I Took Your Love For A Toy / I Burned Your Letter/Gonna Be Too Late / Rosetta / I've Always Been A Dreamer / Your Teeth And Your Tongue (King LP 688)

     

    1960 - Valley Of Love / I Can't Escape From You / Wrapped Up In A Dream / Will You / Do Something For Me / No Says My Heart / Bimbo / That's What You're Doing To Me / Now I Know I Love You / I'll Never Stop Loving You / Stop Your Crying / Girl You Better Stop It (King LP 692)


    1962 - Ling, Ting, Tong / Wisdom Of A Fool / Out Of Sight Out Of Mind / Let There Be You / Doggone It, You Did It / She's The Most / From The Bottom Of My Heart / The Blues Don't Care / The Verdict / Just For A Thrill (Capitol LP1769)


    1964 - Ling Ting Tong / Our Of Sight, Out of Mind / Close Your Eyes / From the Bottom Of My Heart / The Verdict / Wisdom Of A Fool / Let There Be You / With All My Love / The Blues Don't Care / Just For A Thrill (Harlem Hitparade 5004)


    1978 - How Can I Forget You / I've Always Been A Dreamer / I Took Your Love For A Toy / Your Teeth And Your Tongue / Ziggus / Gonna Be Too Late / When Paw Was Courting Maw / You Broke The Only Heart / Dream On / I Burned Your Letter / Dancing Senorita / Rosetta / Girl You Better Stop It / Stop Your Crying  (King LP 5013)


    1982 - Hucklebuck With Jimmy / How Do You Expect Me To Get It / Old MacDonald / Why Oh Why / Serve Another Round / I'm So High / The Glory Of Love / Rockin' & Cryin' Blues / She's The Most / It's A Groove / From The Bottom Of My Heart / Close Your Eyes / Now Don't That Prove I Love You / That's Right / Out Of Sight Out Of Mind / My Pigeon's Gone (Charly LP 1040)

     


    1 comment
  • The Wailers
    (Thanks to Hans-Joachim)

     

     


    Personnel :


    Robert Douglas



    Discography :

    1954 - Hot Love / Stop The Clock (Columbia 40288)

     

     

    Biography :

    ???

     

     

     

     

     

    Songs :

       
    Stop The Clock                       Hot Love

     

     

     

     

    ...


    1 comment