Nick Marco & The Venetians (Manhattan, New York)
aka Les Ledo & The Consorts (1)

Personnel :

Nick Marco (Lou Bonini) (Lead)

Joe Walsh

Bobby Fava

Danny Conboy

Discography :

Nick Marco & The Venetians
1960 - Little Boy Lost / Would It Hurt You (Dwain 813)

Les Ledo & The Consorts (1)
1959 - Nina /  I Got Me A Sweetheart (Nina 1601)

Biography :

Joe Walsh wound up with four other guys in a group called Les Ledo and his Consorts, a name that particularly vexed the rest of the guys. The group would hang out at local recording studios and get side work as background singers.

Les Ledo & The Consorts

The group even recorded its own 45 rpm on the small Nina studio label. It was at a session for Dion and the Belmonts in 1959 that Walsh had a fleeting brush with fame. One of the Belmonts was unable to attend the scheduled recording session at the famous Brill Building. Walsh was at the studio that day looking for work when he was asked if he could sing second tenor.

Nick Marco & The Venetians

The song, "A Teenager in Love," immediately began to climb the charts, and soon sold over 1 million copies. That same year, Jim Gribble, who managed a number of successful groups, including Jay and the Americans, The Passions, the Fiestas and The Mystics, heard Les Ledo and his Consorts at a studio session. The record companies liked the Consorts but didn't care much for Les Ledo's voice. Gribble offered to manage the Consorts if Ledo wasn't in the group. So at the next rehearsalthe Consorts walked out and went back to Gribble.

Gribble took the boys on, made member Louis Bonini the lead singer, and renamed him Nick Marco. He also changed the name of the group to Nick Marco and the Venetians. Gribble got the group a recording contract in 1959, but unlike some of the other acts he managed, this contract was on Dwain records, a small company with hardly any budget for distribution.

 
Nick Marco & The Venetians 

 The 45 rpm recording of "Little Boy Lost," with "Would It Hurt You" on the flip side, got some regional East Coast air play. But when fans went to the record stores to purchase a copy, it was difficult to find. About the same time, disc jockey Alan Freed of WINS-AM, the premier doo-wop and rock station in New York, was indicted for taking bribes in what became known as the "payola" scandal.

Songs :

Nick Marco & The Venetians 

   
 Little Boy Lost                                 Would It Hurt You

Les Ledo & The Consorts (1)

   
           Nina                                       I Got Me A Sweetheart

 …..

The Ivy's (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
aka The Four Ivy's

Personnel :

Roger J.Luttig

Theodore E.Starcevic

Stanley McCluske Jr.

Charles Knowlan

Discography :

The Ivy's
1959 - Lost Without You / All I Want (Coed 518)

The Four Ivy's
1959 - Lost Without You / All I Want (Coed 518)

Biography :

The (Four) Ivys, were a local singing quartet from Pittsburgh. Pa,. The lads, all between the ages of 20 and 22, entered active duty under the six-month RFA plan At Fort Sill (Lawton, Oklahoma), in August 1959. They enlisted simultaneously for six months so that they can further their careers upon discharge. The four are Theodore E.Starcevic, 22, of 7208 Whipple St., a Journalism graduate of Duquesne University, Roger J.Luttig , 21, of 156 Gaskell St., a Tech student; Stanley McCluske Jr., 20, of 491 Norton St., a South Hills high school graduate and Charles Knowlan, 20, of 157 Virginia Ave., who attended Duquesne University for two years.

The vocal group has worked as a team for the past two years performing on television, radio and in night clubs "m the Pittsburgh. Pa. and got a recording contract with Coed Recording Co.in New York . The week before their departure, they waxed two songs : "Lost Without You" and "All I Want" , released in October 1959 by Coed.


Songs :


Lost Without You / All I Want


......

The Desires (2) (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Bobby

Tony

Frank

Walter Rella Senior (Guitar)

Discography :

1960 - I Don't Know Why / Longing (20th Fox 195)

Biography :

Group from the Bronx who cut only one single for 20th Fox. I DON'T KNOW WHY (I JUST DO), was published in 1931. The music was written by Fred E. Ahlert and the lyrics by Roy Turk. It had three periods of great popularity: 1931 right after its publication; 1946; and 1961 into 1962. The musical arranger on this record is Vince Catalano. He has credits on many records including writing WISHING IS FOR FOOLS by The Melodeers, on a subsidiary label of 20th Fox, Studio #9908 1960. 

Vince Catalano

After his association with 20th Fox, he and Don Ames formed the Mermaid label. I DON'T KNOW WHY (I JUST DO) is considered a standard and has been recorded by many artists through the years: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Marty Robbins, The Andrew Sisters, Linda Scott, Nat King Cole, Joe Williams as well as The Belmonts , The Dreamers and The Ravens just to name a few.

Songs :

   
I Don't Know Why                                 Longing           

 ...

The Magnetics (1)  (Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Leroy Giles (Lead)

Nelson Gomez

Floyd

Angelo

John



Discography :

Unreleased :
1957 - Sardines (Festival)

Biography :

Spanish Harlem group out or near 110 St. in NYC who cut one single in 1958.

...

Jack Mc Knight, Jimmy Mullen, Tony Barbella & Buzzy Shearin

The Vespers (Philadelphia)
Ref : The Four Epics

Personnel :

Jack Mc Knight (First Tenor)

Jimmy Mullen  (Baritone)

Tony Barbella

Buzzy Shearin

Discography :

1963 - Mr Cupid / Walk With My Angel (Swan 4156)

Biography :

Originally a Trio, who formed in 1959 in South Philadelphia, USA, known as The Bancrofts (took their name from Bancroft Street) and originally consisted of Jack McKnight (1st Tenor), Mickey Neil (2nd Tenor) and Jimmy Mullen (Baritone). In early 1961 they added Bobby Riccobene (Bass).
In 1962 they recorded as The Four Epics.

Buzzy Shearin , Jack Mc Knight, Tony Barbella and Jimmy Mullen.

In 1963, After two singles for Laurie records, Mickey Neil and the new Richie Lalli leaving the Four Epics. Jack and Jimmy would go on to form a new group with Tony Barbella (1st Tenor), and Buzzy Shearin (2nd Tenor).  Now known as The Vespers, a proficient, albeit short-lived ensemble. They had only one release  in '63 on Swan Records "Mr Cupid" b/w "Walk With My Angel"  It was a modest hit, however no others would follow and the group soon disbanded.

Songs :

  
    Mr Cupid                                    Walk With My Angel

...