The Avons (3) (Nashville, Tennessee)
aka Jenny & The Jewels (6) ???
 (By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Paula Hester

Beverly Bard

Fran Bard

 

Discography:

The Avons (3)
Singles:
1963 - Push A Little Harder / Oh, Gee Baby (Groove 58-022)
1963 - Rolling Stone / Words Written On Water (Groove 58-033)
1964 - Whatever Happened To Our Love / Tonight Kiss Your Baby Goodbye (Groove 58-0039)
1966 - Be Good To Your Baby / Just As Long As I Live (Sound Stage 7  2561)
1967 - Talk To Me / Got To Get Used To You (A-Bet  9419)
1968 - Since I Met You Baby / He's My Hero (Excello 2296)
1968 - Tell Me Baby (Who Would I Be) / A Sample Of My Love (Ref-O-Ree 700)

Unreleased:
1963 - A Fool / I’ve Got More Love / The Pig  (Groove)
1964 - How Many Tears Til Tomorrow / Don’t Stop / Come Out Dancin’ / Every Little Beat (Groove)
1968 - I Would If I Could (Excello)
1968 - Tell Me Baby (Who Would I Be) (Alternate Take) (Ref-O-Ree)

Jenny & The Jewels (6) (rumoured to be The Avons)
1964 - Baby Love / Baby Don't You Do It (Leroy Jones)  (Hit 153)
1966 - Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart / It's A Man's, Man's World (Leroy Jones)  (Hit 257)
1967 - In And Out Of Love / Everlasting Love (Steve Miller) (Hit 313 )



Biography:

The Avons were formed by Paula Hester, Beverly Bard and her sister  Fran Bard while at Pearl High School, Nashville. They started out on RCA's Groove label in 1963, moved to Sound Stage 7 in 1966, then to Excello in 1967 releasing their last single on Ref-O-Ree. The first single released in 1963 was "Push A Little Harder". Single number two "Rolling Stone" was published in 1964 by Excellorec, the publishing arm of Nashville's Excello label. The group were dropped by RCA apparently because their 2nd and third singles were not as successful as their 1st.

The group were still working with John "Bucky" Wilkin, leader of Ronny and the Daytonas. His co-writer Bobby Russell (also of the Daytonas) had contacts with Monument Records and got them a deal with their subsidiary Sound Stage 7......resulting with the single "Be Good To Your Baby" in 1966. The Sound Stage 7 single didn't work as well as expected so Bob Holmes got the group a contract with Excello Records where he worked as a staff producer.  Excello put the group on their subsidiary A-Bet and produced the single "Talk To Me" in 1967. For the next single the group was promoted to the main Excello Label and had their next single issued in 1968. "He's My Hero" was co-written by Bob Holmes and former Ikette Joshie Armstead. This was the last work they did with Excello.

      
"Night Train To Nashville"                                                                  

 In 1968 The Avons and veteran producer Ted Jarrett were picked to launch the newly formed Ref-O-Ree label. "Tell Me Baby (Who Would I Be) their 1st and last single with the label and was the group's last known work. In the UK, the single was released as by The Novas, so as not to confuse with the British group. The Avons each recorded for the Ref-O-Ree label of Nashville. Both acts also recorded cover versions of charted records for the local budget Hit label. Rumored The Avons used the monicker Jenny & The Jewels...

http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/avons.htm



Songs :

     
Push A Little Harder                Oh, Gee baby                   Rolling Stone

     
Words Written On Water    Whatever Happened To Our Love   Be Good To Your Baby

     
Tonight Kiss Your Baby Goodbye     Just As Long As I Live          Talk To Me

       
Since I Met You Baby         Tell Me Baby (Who Would I Be)     I Would If I Could

Got To Get Used To You

...

Planets, Rockets, Rocketeers, Magic-Tones :( L to R) Billy Steward, Jimmy Brunsen, Vince House & Woody Johnson

The Planets (1)  (Chicago) 

aka The Magic Notes
aka The Rockets (3)
aka The Rocketeers (2) 
aka The Rhythm Aces

Personnel :

Billy Steward (First Tenor)

Woody Johnson (Second Tenor)

Jimmy Brunsen (Tenor)

Vince House (Baritone/Bass)

Discography :

The Rhythm Aces
Singles :
1954 - I Wonder Why / Get Lost (Vee Jay 124)
1955 - Whisper To Me / Olly, Olly, Atsen Free (Vee Jay 138)
1955 - That's My Sugar / Flippety Flop (Vee Jay 160)
Unreleased :
1954-  I Realize Now (Vee Jay)

The Rockets (3)
1956 - You Are The First One / Be Lovey Dovey (Modern 992)

Jimmy Beasley & The  Rockets (3)
1957 - Johnny's House Party, Part 1 / Part 2 (Modern 1021)

The Rocketeers (2)
1956 - Talk It Over Baby / Hey Rube (Modern 999)
1958 - My Reckless Heart / They Turned The Party Out At Bessie's House (M-J-C 501)

Darla Hood & The Rocketeers (2)
1957 - No Secret Now  / Jody (Encino 1007)

The Magic Notes
1957 - The Wrong Door / Never Again (Era 1035)

The Planets (1)
1957 - Stand There Mountain / Never Again (Era 1038)
1957 - Be Sure / Wild Leaves (Era 1049)


Biography :

R&B harmony group the Rhythm Aces formed in 1950 comprising first tenor Billy Steward, second tenor Chuck Rowan, baritone Clyde Rhymes, and bass Vince House; all were members of the U.S. Army's Special Services division stationed in Germany at the time of the quartet's formation, ultimately winning the "All-Army Soldier Singing Contest" and landing an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show as a result. Following their 1954 discharge, the Rhythm Aces returned to the U.S. and mounted a tour of the Midwest -- their performance at Chicago's Crown Propeller Lounge proved such a hit that the club named the group its regular headline act, firing former marquee act the Moonglows in the process.

The Rhythm Aces : Billy Steward, Chuck Rowan, Clyde Rhymes & Vince House

Vee-Jay Records exec Ewart Abner soon caught the Rhythm Aces' act and arranged an audition with label owners Vivian and Jimmy Carter, who immediately extended a contract offer. Their debut single "I Wonder Why" followed in late 1954, but the group's sharp, sophisticated harmonies made few inroads at radio or retail. Vee-Jay issued the Rhythm Aces' luminous sophomore effort "Whisper to Me" in the spring of 1955, but it too failed to attract much attention, and when a similar fate befell their third single, "That's My Sugar," the label terminated the group's contract.

After adding guitarist Sam Alexander and installing Rowan on piano, the Rhythm Aces toured Canada in late 1955, but during a break from the road Rhymes wed while Steward and Alexander spent the holidays in their native Detroit, when only Rowan and House turned up for a scheduled gig in New York City, the group dissolved. After the Vee Jay Rhythm Aces broke up late in 1955, they all returned home. It is not known when or where, but Lloyd McCraw ( Jacks/Cadets) had previously met Vince House.

    
Jimmy Beasley                                                                                                                      

In 1956, he communicated with House, asking him to assemble a group and come west to record for his organization.  House rounded up Steward and Rowan and picked up Jimmy Brunsen, they were now "the Rockets.  McCraw got them a contract and session with Modern Records .  When their Modern disc failed, Rowan left for good, rejoining the service. He was replaced in the group by Brunsen's friend Woody Johnson. Modern then changed the group's name to Rocketeers late in 1956 and released a new single.

 
Johnny Otis Show

Nothing happened with the name change or the Modern release, and the group moved to Era, where House's name was changed to Vince Howard. The Group cut three singles, as the Planets & The Magic Tones. One disc that the Planets released on Era, "Stand There Mountain," became their biggest hit. At this point they hooked up with Johnny Otis and became part of his touring "Johnny Otis Show" (once again as the Rockets). In early 1958, they became the "Rocketeers" again, for a single recording as backup for Willie Davis.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/RhythmAces/rhythmaces.html


Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Rhythm Aces

     
I Wonder Why                        Get Lost                     That's My Sugar

       
Flippety Flop                         Whisper To Me                         I Realize Now


Olly, Olly, Atsen, Free

The Rockets (3)

  
You Are The First One                      Be Lovey Dovey


Jimmy Beasley & The  Rockets (3)

Johnny's House Party, Part 1 / Part 2


The Rocketeers (2)

  
Talk It Over Baby                   Hey Rube


My Reckless Heart / They Turned The Party Out At Bessie's House
 

Darla Hood & The Rocketeers (2)

  
No Secret Now                                      Jody

The Magic Notes


Never Again

The Planets (1)

     
Stand There Mountain              Never Again                         Be Sure


Wild Leaves

….

The Jokers (3) (Hawaii)



Personnel :

Teddy Chinen Tanaka

Marcus Nishikawa

Marvin Furusho

Wayne Amioka

Orin Hakoda

Melvin Ishizu

Discography :

The Jokers (3)
1960 - I Do  / Pretty Little Hula Girl (Danco 117)

Darlene & The Jokers (3)
1960 - Love Me, Love Me / Frankie (Danco 115)

Biography :

The Jokers were known for their hit singles as Frankie (with Darlene Yoshimoto), Pretty Little Hula Girl, Love Me Love Me, & I Do. Group members included Teddy Chinen (Teddy Tanaka) ,Marcus Nishikawa, Marvin Furusho, Wayne Amioka, Orin Hakoda and Melvin Ishizu.

Darlene “Masako” Yoshimoto performed regularly at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, & Kuilima Resort (now Turtle Bay). The Roosevelt High School graduate got into the Doo Wop scene with The Jokers when they covered “Frankie” by Connie Francis.

She was only 16 at the time. Another big hit was Stupid Cupid. Darlene, better known to her fans as Masako recorded an album entitled “Makako” in 1963.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/1998/09/04/news/story8.html

Songs :

Darlene & The Jokers (3)

  
             Frankie                                Love Me, Love Me, Love Me

The Jokers (3)

  
           I Do                                          Pretty Little Hula Girl

.......

The Marvels (2) (Hollywood, CA.)
aka Del Tones (2)


Personnel :

Leo Pegues

Everett Henderson

Jimmy Batten

???


Discography :

The Marvels (2)
1958 - Did She Leave You / Lovely Charms (Magnet 1005)
1959 - You Crack Me Up / Just Another Fool (Munrab 1008)

Del Tones (2)
1959 - Best Wishes / Walkin Out the Back Door (Ro-Ann 1001)


Biography  :

The Marvels from Hollywood, CA. are composed by Leo Pegues, Everett Henderson, Jimmy Batten and and another guy. The group recorded Three fine records around 1959/1959. "Did She Leave You" b/w "Lovely Charms" on Magnet 1005 is probably the easiest to find. Their second single "You Crack Me Up" b/w "Just Another Fool" on Munrab records (H.B. Barnum backwards!) is extremely rare, while their last single "Best Wishes" b/w "Walkin Out the Back Door" released as the Del tones is also very rare.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 
 

The Marvels (2)

  
Did She Leave You                               Just Another Fool 

You Crack Me Up
 

Del Tones (2)


Best Wishes / Walkin Out the Back Door

...

Planets, Rockets, Rocketeers, Magic-Tones :( L to R) Billy Steward, Jimmy Brunsen, Vince House & Woody Johnson

The Planets (1)  (Chicago) 

aka The Magic Notes
aka The Rockets (3)
aka The Rocketeers (2) 
aka The Rhythm Aces

Personnel :

Billy Steward (First Tenor)

Woody Johnson (Second Tenor)

Jimmy Brunsen (Tenor)

Vince House (Baritone/Bass)

Discography :

The Rhythm Aces
Singles :
1954 - I Wonder Why / Get Lost (Vee Jay 124)
1955 - Whisper To Me / Olly, Olly, Atsen Free (Vee Jay 138)
1955 - That's My Sugar / Flippety Flop (Vee Jay 160)
Unreleased :
1954-  I Realize Now (Vee Jay)

The Rockets (3)
1956 - You Are The First One / Be Lovey Dovey (Modern 992)

Jimmy Beasley & The  Rockets (3)
1957 - Johnny's House Party, Part 1 / Part 2 (Modern 1021)

The Rocketeers (2)
1956 - Talk It Over Baby / Hey Rube (Modern 999)
1958 - My Reckless Heart / They Turned The Party Out At Bessie's House (M-J-C 501)

Darla Hood & The Rocketeers (2)
1957 - No Secret Now  / Jody (Encino 1007)

The Magic Notes
1957 - The Wrong Door / Never Again (Era 1035)

The Planets (1)
1957 - Stand There Mountain / Never Again (Era 1038)
1957 - Be Sure / Wild Leaves (Era 1049)


Biography :

R&B harmony group the Rhythm Aces formed in 1950 comprising first tenor Billy Steward, second tenor Chuck Rowan, baritone Clyde Rhymes, and bass Vince House; all were members of the U.S. Army's Special Services division stationed in Germany at the time of the quartet's formation, ultimately winning the "All-Army Soldier Singing Contest" and landing an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show as a result. Following their 1954 discharge, the Rhythm Aces returned to the U.S. and mounted a tour of the Midwest -- their performance at Chicago's Crown Propeller Lounge proved such a hit that the club named the group its regular headline act, firing former marquee act the Moonglows in the process.

The Rhythm Aces : Billy Steward, Chuck Rowan, Clyde Rhymes & Vince House

Vee-Jay Records exec Ewart Abner soon caught the Rhythm Aces' act and arranged an audition with label owners Vivian and Jimmy Carter, who immediately extended a contract offer. Their debut single "I Wonder Why" followed in late 1954, but the group's sharp, sophisticated harmonies made few inroads at radio or retail. Vee-Jay issued the Rhythm Aces' luminous sophomore effort "Whisper to Me" in the spring of 1955, but it too failed to attract much attention, and when a similar fate befell their third single, "That's My Sugar," the label terminated the group's contract.

After adding guitarist Sam Alexander and installing Rowan on piano, the Rhythm Aces toured Canada in late 1955, but during a break from the road Rhymes wed while Steward and Alexander spent the holidays in their native Detroit, when only Rowan and House turned up for a scheduled gig in New York City, the group dissolved. After the Vee Jay Rhythm Aces broke up late in 1955, they all returned home. It is not known when or where, but Lloyd McCraw ( Jacks/Cadets) had previously met Vince House.

    
Jimmy Beasley                                                                                                                      

In 1956, he communicated with House, asking him to assemble a group and come west to record for his organization.  House rounded up Steward and Rowan and picked up Jimmy Brunsen, they were now "the Rockets.  McCraw got them a contract and session with Modern Records .  When their Modern disc failed, Rowan left for good, rejoining the service. He was replaced in the group by Brunsen's friend Woody Johnson. Modern then changed the group's name to Rocketeers late in 1956 and released a new single.

 
Johnny Otis Show

Nothing happened with the name change or the Modern release, and the group moved to Era, where House's name was changed to Vince Howard. The Group cut three singles, as the Planets & The Magic Tones. One disc that the Planets released on Era, "Stand There Mountain," became their biggest hit. At this point they hooked up with Johnny Otis and became part of his touring "Johnny Otis Show" (once again as the Rockets). In early 1958, they became the "Rocketeers" again, for a single recording as backup for Willie Davis.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/RhythmAces/rhythmaces.html


Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Rhythm Aces

     
I Wonder Why                        Get Lost                     That's My Sugar

       
Flippety Flop                         Whisper To Me                         I Realize Now


Olly, Olly, Atsen, Free

The Rockets (3)

  
You Are The First One                      Be Lovey Dovey


Jimmy Beasley & The  Rockets (3)

Johnny's House Party, Part 1 / Part 2


The Rocketeers (2)

  
Talk It Over Baby                   Hey Rube


My Reckless Heart / They Turned The Party Out At Bessie's House
 

Darla Hood & The Rocketeers (2)

  
No Secret Now                                      Jody

The Magic Notes


Never Again

The Planets (1)

     
Stand There Mountain              Never Again                         Be Sure


Wild Leaves

….