The Squires (7) (Chicago)
aka The Antennas 

Personnel :

Shirley Shelton

Robert Bailey

Jerry Royal

Billy McGregor

George McGregor

Discography :

The Antennas
1962 - Fuji-Yama Mama / Be Yourself (Clay 201)

The Squires (7) (With Pirkle Lee Moses)
1964 - Peanut Butter Sandwich / The Docks (Boss 2125)

Shirley & The Squires (7)
1963 - Drip Drop / I'm In Need (Constellation 107)

Biography :

The Antennas formed in the Stateway Gardens homes at 35th and State Street; the group initially formed as the Antennas in 1960 when Billy McGregor, his two brothers, and Robert Bailey decided to form a secular, pop group to try to perform professionally. By 1962, the lineup had finalized to Robert Bailey, Jerry Royal, Billy McGregor, and George McGregor (Billy's brother, who was not related to the Detroit George McGregor, who is Billy's Cousin).  In 1962, Billy Williams came to Stateway Gardens to audition artists to take with him to perform in a revue in Las Vegas. Billy took the Squires as well as Shirley Shelton (as an Etta James-styled solo artist) with him for a 3-month nightclub booking. In Las Vegas, Shirley ended up making friends with and joining the group.

When they returned to Chicago, the Antennas went to different recording companies and endeded up signing with Don Clay's "Clay" record label. They released "Fuji-yama Mama" / "Be yourself" in late 1962. The A-side was a novelty record actually inspired by Robert Bailey's experience with a girlfriend he had while stationed in Japan during the Korean war. The record got some play in Chicago. The flip side was an excellent early soul track, led by Shirley, probably ahead of its time in sound. The Antennas then signed to Don Clay and Ric Williams' Boss record label. The label had previously recorded a group called the Squires and, owning the name, had the Antennas change their name to the Squires, with the idea that they would have a more fashionable stage look, with canes, top hats, etc. The group backed Perk Lee Moses (previously of the El Doradoes) on his solo record "The Docks" / "Peanut Butter", which was released on Boss and also picked up by USA records. At Boss records, Billy McGregor also wrote the track "One Dance" for Ric Lee, which was later recorded by the Creations and by the Classics. The group then moved to Constellation records and released the excellent double-sider "Drip drop" / "I'm in a need" in 1963. "Drip drop" had an excellent soul sound while "I'm in a need" had more of a throwback, Etta James-inspired doowop sound. Although both tracks received much radio play, the record was not distributed to stores and fans were unable to purchase it. Due to frustration over the record, their management, and their lack of the success, the group broke up.

http://indangerousrhythm.blogspot.com/2009/08/billy-mcgregor.html




Songs :

   
Be yourself                           Fuji-yama Mama

...

The Biscaynes (Vallejo, CA) 
aka The Viscaynes aka The V-Tones (1)

Personnel :

Sylvester Stewart "Sly Stone"

Frank Arellano

Charlie Gebhardt

Vern Gebhardt

Charlene Imhoff

Maria Boldway

Discography :

The Viscaynes 
Singles:
1960 - Stop What You are Doing / I Guess I'll Be (Tropo 101)

1961 - Yellow Moon / Heavenly Angel (VPM 1006)
Unreleased:
1961 - Just a Fool For Your Love
1961 - You're My Only Love
1961 - Maybe I'm Wrong

The Vi-Tones (1)
1961 - Stop What You Are Doing / I Guess I'll Be (Arleen 1007)

The Biscaynes
1961 - Yellow Moon / Uncle Sam Needs You (My Friend) (VPM 1006)

Jasper Woods (BB Viscaynes)
1962 - I’m Coming Home / Hully Gully Papa  (VMP 1009)

Sly Stone & The Biscaynes
1976 - Oh What A Nite / You've Forgotten Me (Subarro 489)

Danny (Sly) Stewart
1961 - A Long Time Alone / I'm Just A Fool (Luke 1008)

Sylvester Stewart
1961 - A Long Time Alone / Help Me With My Broken Heart ( G&P 901)

Biography :

Sylvester Stewart was the second of five children. After the family moved from Dallas, Texas to Vallejo, California (near San Francisco), he and his brother Freddie and their sisters Rose and Vaetta formed "The Stewart Four" as children, performing gospel music in the Church of God in Christ and even recording a single in 1952.

All of the Stewart children except oldest sister Loretta would later adopt the surname "Stone" and become members of Sly & the Family Stone. Jon Turk a Childhood friend, had watched Sly Perform in Church and in 1958 noticed him playing guitar and keyboards in San Francisco club with local acts like the Webs and Jimmy Terrel. He Got him to join his own band, the Royal Aces.

L-R: Frank Arellano, Charlie Gebhardt, Charlene Imhoff, Ria Boldway, Vern Gebhardt and Sylvester Stewart.

During the same period Sly managed to talk his way into holding down a weekly job as regular fixture on a San Francisco-based television pop show, the Dick Stewart Show.Slay Briefly changed his name to Danny Stewart and tried his luck as a gospel- pop crooner; releasing a song entitled " A long Time Alone" that enjoyed mild popularity within the Bay Area but not enough to convince him to keep the new name.

  
Sylvester Stewart "Sly Stone" ca.1959                                      Sylvester Stewart "Sly Stone" ca.1961

The same year he reverted to his given name, Sylvester Stewart, and released another single, "Help Me With My Broken Heart", that also vanished quickly. Then he joined high school bands The Vicounts. The Vicounts were a Vallejo singing group that was very unique because it was an integrated band. they had a Filipino. Sly was the Afro. There were girls and boys and all different colors. Sly had  a hell of a time back because he was having an affair with one of the white girl in the band - the most beautiful girl - and they had to keep it secret. When they started recording, the group had to change the name to Viscaynes, because the Vicount name was registered to another group.

Left to right: Charlie Gebhardt, Jim Kozier, Sly, Frank Arellano, Mike Stevens, Art Bigornia and Tom Recknagel
The two Gal's are Charlene Imhoff, and Maria Boldway.

They recorded "Stop What You are Doing" for the Trop label in 1960. it xas fooled by "Yellow Moon" and "Heavenly Angel" for VPM in 1961. There was a typographical error on their third record and The Viscaynes was misspelled the Byscanes for "Uncle Sam Needs You". "Yellow moon wasn't a big hit but it got him the attention of Bob Mitchell and Tom Donahue (San Francisco's two most important disc jockeys of the sixties), who hired him to work at Autumn records. In 1961, Arteen Records released "Stop What You are Doing" b/w "I Guess I'll Be " under the name of The Vi-Tones. Then in 1963 he wrote "The Swim" for the black R'n'B singer Bobby Freeman and had his first gold record.

http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/sstone.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_Stone_discography
http://www.associatepublisher.com/e/s/sl/sly_stone.htm

Songs :


The Viscaynes

     
Yellow Moon                   Heavenly Angel                  Stop What You are Doing

     
I Guess I'll Be                Just a Fool For Your Love       You're My Only Love

      
Maybe I'm Wrong              Uncle Sam Needs You      Help Me With My Broken Heart

The Biscaynes


Yellow Moon


Jasper Woods (BB Viscaynes)

   
I’m Coming Home                       Hully Gully Papa

Sly Stone & The Biscaynes

  
You've Forgotten Me                Oh What A Nite


Danny (Sly) Stewart


A Long Time Alone

...

L to R : Donny Humble, Bill Brumbaugh, Ron Brennan, Jimmy Noonin, John Stehman, Jim Hurst and Emmett Smith

The Exciting Invictas (Middletown, PA)

Personnel :

Jimmy Noonin (Lead)

Donny Humble

Bill Brumbaugh

Ron Brennan

John Stehman (Tenor Sax)

Jim Hurst (Drums)

Emmett Smith (Organ)



Discography :

1962 - I Don't Care / Not Again (Kingston 427)





Biography :

The Exciting Invicta's group was formed in 1960 and based out of Middletown, PA. They played throughout PA and NJ at many places including: White Oaks Park in York, PA - a really great place for dancing to rock'n'roll, VFW's, American Legion Posts, colleges, the Hershey Ballroom, etc....They had a strong following of fans and especially enjoyed being in 'battle of the bands' events with other contemporary groups like the Endells and Thundering Century.  

In 1962, they were discovered by Jamie Rowley, representing the Kingston record label out of Reading, PA and were asked to consider cutting a record. Emmett Smith wrote the music and lyrics to 'I Don't Care'.  The flip side of the record was a cha-cha titled 'Not Again' and it was very popular because of the compelling dance beat. The Exciting Invictas also served as backup for several well-known groups including the Drifters and another popular local group from Hanover, PA - named the Pixies Three (hit song was 'Birthday Party').

Songs :

     
I Don't Care                                        Not Again

...

The Viceroys (2)  (Los Angeles)
aka The Penguins 
ref : The Minor-Tones aka The Classics (1) 

Personnel :

James/Jimmy Conwell (Lead)

Oliver Williams

Jack

Steve


Discography :

The Minor-Tones
1956 - Burning Desire / Gonna Tell The World (Cholly 7094)

The Classics (1)
1959 - Je Vous Aime / Burning Desire (Ro-Ann 1002)

------------------------------------------

The Viceroys (2)
1961 - Uncle Sam Needs You / I'm So Sorry (It's Ending With You) (Little Star 107/ Smash 1716)
1961 - Dreamy Eyes / Ball N' Chain (Original Sound 15)

The Penguins
1963 - Memories Of El Monte / Be Mine (Original Sound 27)



Biography :

James/Jimmy Conwell had been doo-wopping since 1953, when with Oliver Williams, Jack and Steve, he formed the Minor Tones at Carver Junior High School in L.A. (Jesse Belvin was an early mentor). The group debuted on the Cholly label with the street corner ballad “Burning Desire,” then recut it in 1959 as the Classics for producer H.B. Barnum and Ro-Ann Records.

The Group broke up some time later, but Jimmy Conwell and Oliver Williams along with three friends, Andrew Jack White, Charles Jones and Herbert White formed a new group, The Viceroys. They cut a Coasters-influenced “Uncle Sam Needs You” for Barnum in ‘61. First out on the Little Star logo, it was picked up by Mercury’s Smash imprint for national consumption.

  
    Cleve Duncan                                                                         The Exits with James Conwell                            

The group also waxed “Dreamy Eyes” for local deejay Art Laboe’s Original Sound logo the same year and subbed as the Penguins just long enough to back Cleve Duncan on “Memories Of El Monte” in ’63 for Laboe’s logo. Later, Jimmy Conwell went onto to record throughout the late 1960's as a solo artist and with The Exits, The New Group, The Trips and The Light Drivers.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Minor-Tones

Burning Desire / Gonna Tell The World

The Classics (1)

Je Vous Aime / Burning Desire

------------------------------------------------

The Viceroys (2)

I'm So Sorry / Uncle Sam Needs You

  
Dreamy Eyes                                        Ball N' Chain

The Penguins

  
Memories Of El Monte                                  Be Mine            

...

The Videls (2)  (Rhode Island)


Personnel :

Norman Marzano

Peter "Anders" Andreoli 

Vincent Poncia

Bobby Calitri

Herbert Rickey


Discography :

1959 - Be My Girl / A place In My Heart (Rhody 2000/Medieval 203)
1960 - Mr Lonely / I'll Forget You (JDS 504)
1960 - Now That Summer Is Here / She's Not Coming Home (Tic Tac Toe/JDS 5005)
1960 - I'll Keep On Waiting / Street OfLove (Kapp 361)
1961 - A Letter From Anne / This Year's Mister New (Kapp 405)
1963 - We Belong Together / It's All Over (Musicnote 117)

Biography :

In 1956, While a student at Mount Pleasant High School, Peter Anders replaces Donald Baker as the lead singer in the original Videls, joining Norman Marzano, Bobby Calitri, Maurice “Jimmy Boo” Bouchard, Dino Amaral and guitarist John Corsi in the group. Their sound is  based on the classic five-part harmonies of the popular doo-wop groups.

The original Videls 1957 : John Corsi, Bobby Calitri, Dino Amaral, Frank Bianchini, Norman Marzano, Peter Andreoli

Jimmy Bouchard soon steps aside assuming a managerial role and relinquishing his place to Frank Bianchini. The group makes quick headway into the local music scene and within the year, Peter convinces his friend and on-the-side collaborator, Vini Poncia, to join The Videls as vocalist, musical director and guitarist replacing Corsi. Bianchini departs shortly after that leaving the group in its classic five-piece lineup.

The Videls 1960: Norman Marzano, Peter Anders, Vini Poncia, Bobby Calitri, Herbert Rickey

The Videls steadily increase their fan base and make fast progress musically. They become one of the top acts on the Rhode Island teen scene performing at school dances and proms, CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) gatherings, private functions and occasionally (though underaged) in nightclubs.

It was around this time that Peter adopts the anglicized version of his surname as his stage name: Peter Anders. In the summer of 1958, the group’s manager, Jimmy Bouchard, secures a record deal with a local label, Rhody Records, run by building contractor Joe Criscione. Their first record, “Place In My Heart” backed with “Be My Girl , becomes a local smash selling over 5000 copies and reaching #1 on the local charts toward the end of the year.

The Videls become the area’s top attraction performing at larger and larger venues to bigger and bigger crowds. They continue to progress musically and it was during this time that Peter and Vini form their song writing partnership. At this point, Dino Amaral leaves the group to join another local doo-wop group, The Corals, with the Mancini Brothers (Joe and Richard) and Louie Camp (later one of the area’s top saxophonists). He was replaced by Herbert Rickey.

 The Videls "road" group: Norman Marzano, Bobby Calitri & Joe Mancini (left to right), Richard Mancini (seated)

This final Videls lineup lasts until the breakup of the group. Encouraged by the Rhode Island-based hit songwriter Jimmie Crane and armed with a connection to Lucky Carle, a Rhode Island native then working for the large music publishing firm Peer-Southern in New York, the boys begin to make frequent forays into the city to hawk their wares as performers and writers. This quickly pays off in the form of a contract with JDS Records, a division of the powerful Kapp Records empire.

Their first national release, “Mr. Lonely”, an Anders & Poncia original, becomes a big hit while Vini is still in high school and the group is whisked off directly after his graduation ceremony to join Dick Clark’s Caravan Of Stars tour which includes an appearance on American Bandstand.  The Videls never charted another single, but two of their members became reasonably successful songwriters and charted regularly for much of the rest of the '60s. Andreoli, who changed his last name to Anders, and Poncia, found much greater success during the early '60s as songwriters in association with Phil Spector, co-authoring such future classics by the Ronettes as "Do I Love You?" and "(The Best Part Of) Breaking Up."

The Tradewinds

This led to their signing to Red Bird, where they scored under the alias the Tradewinds, with "New York's a Lonely Town," which made the top 40. They later hit again in a small way as the Tradewinds with the single "Mind Excursion," and even got a full LP release out of it on the fledgeling Kama Sutra label.
http://peteranders.net/timeline/

Songs :

   
Be My Girl                        A Place In My Heart                    Mr Lonely

   
I'll Forget You                Now That Summer Is Here       She's Not Coming Home

   
I'll Keep On Waiting                   Street Of Love               A Letter From Anne

 
We Belong Together              It's All Over

...