Gene Serina (1963)

The Vels (2) (Lower East Side, New York)
aka The Styles (2)

 

Personnel :

Ruben Mangual

Orvin Baptiste

Rick Pettignano

Gene Serina

George West


Discography :

The Vels (2)
1963 - Do The Walk / In-Laws (Amy 881)

The Styles (2)
1964 - School Bells To Chapel Bells / I Love You For Sentimental Reasons (Josie 920)


Biography :

The group first began on the lower east side of New York City in 1958, when 4 young men, ranging in age from 13 to 15 and attending Junior High School 22,  first harmonized on street corners, hallways and subway stations perfecting their own unique style. This perfection earned the group invitations to perform at block parties, school functions and becoming the wishful entertainment for everyone’s house parties. This first group was called The Financials with Ruben Mangual, Orvin Baptiste, Rick Pettignano & Gene Serina. Soon after, Ruben introduced George West (a high school friend) to the group, rounding out The Financials to a full 5 man vocal group.

   
                                                                                             Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon

In 1961 the group decided to change the group name from it's wall street sounding Financials to something shorter and slicker and they came up with “The Vels”. In late 1962, the group's manager, Rick Pettignano Sr. (father of group member Rick Pettignano Jr.), landed a recording contract for The Vels with Amy Records (1650 Broadway, NY) and their first record was released in 1963 (Amy #881) “Do The Walk” / “In Laws”, produced by Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel Fame). One year later the group was approached by singer, song writer and producer Vinny Catalano and his partner Pete Alonso for a project he felt was perfect for our group. Before the recording date Gene Serina was inducted into the US Army and was replaced by neighborhood friend Tony Duran.

  
Vinny Catalano                                                                                                   

The group then recorded "School Bells To Chapel Bells" & "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons". Producer Catalano shopped the recordings to Josie Records (a subsidiary of Jubilee Records) and the group was singed to the label. Executives at Josie Records did not like the groups name "The Vels", they changed it to The Styles and released the recordings in 1964 (Josie Records Catalog #920). The Trademark for the name The Styles was granted to another entity in 2014 which now prohibits us from using the name professionally.

The Vels / Styles (2014) Top : George West, Gene Serina & Ruben Mangual - Bottom Rick Pettignano

Gene Serina returned from the Army and was brought back into the group. There were a few personnel changes within the group. The group lost Ruben Mangual, Tony Duran & George West leaving Rick Pettignano, Orvin Baptiste & Gene Serina. They added neighborhood friend Eddie Lebron bringing the group to 4 members. In late 1965 record producer, Joe Webb (who was the manager of the original Bobbettes) asked Eddie Lebron & Gene Serina, (formerly with the The Styles vocal group whose name we can no longer use due to US Trademark issues) if they would be interested in meeting with 2 members of a Long Island group called The Lost Souls who had recorded "Little Eva" as The Locomotions for Gone Records.
http://www.cozycornerradio.com/



Songs :

The Vels (2)

  
Do The Walk                          In-Laws

The Styles (2)

  
School Bells To Chapel Bells         I Love You For Sentimental Reasons


…

The Four Naturals  (Philadelphia)

aka  The Naturals (5)
ref : The Fabulous Four (1) aka The Four J's (1)

Personnel :

Joseph "Junior" Pirollo (Lead)

Bob Finizio (Second Tenor)

Raymond Finizio

Mike Travaglia

Discography :

The Naturals (5)
1959 - Blue Moon / How Strange (Red Top 113/Hunt 325)

The Four Naturals
1960 - When I'm In Your Arms  /  I Hear A Rhapsody  (Red Top 119)
1960 - The Thought Of You Darling / Long Long Ago (Red Top 125)

Biography :

In 1957, four fellows from the South Philadelphia area formed a singing group they named the four J's. they took their name based on the fact that each member's first name began with the letter J. they were Jr. Pirollo, Jimmy Testa, Joe"Judge"Milaro and Joe Paparella . Joe Paprella being replaced by Jr.'s Brother in law Bob Finzio.  After winning a local contest they were approached by Buddy Greco who became their manager and got the group their first recording contract in 1958 with UA records. After several releases, Jr. and Bob became part of the Four Naturals.

The group was a studio group and after recording "How Strange", under the name of the Naturals, they didn't want to tour or perform live. Jr. and Bob replaced the two members who were unhappy and were on all the following releases including their hit "The Thought Of You Darling."

The Fabulous Four (1)

In 1960 Bob Marcucci of Chancellor Records approached Jr and asked if his group would be willing to vocally back up Fabian on both recordings and Tours. a recording contract as back up group for Fabian. Bob Marcucci came up with the group's new name "The Fabulous Four".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Four Naturals

    
I Thought Of You Darling                     Long Long Ago

I Hear A Rhapsody / When I'm In Your Arms

The Naturals (5)


Blue Moon / How Strange

 ...

Tony & The Twiliters (4) (Philadelphia)
Ref The Dynamics (5) aka Anthony & The Sophomores (2) 

Personnel :

Anthony "Tony" Maresco (Lead)

Anthony Barbelle

Michael Bongiorno

Bernard Mastragostino

Discography :

1960 - Be My Girl / Did You Make Up Your Mind (Jalynne 106)
1960 - Key To My Heart / Yes Or No (Red Top 127/ Arcade 7)

Biography :

"Doc" Bagby, Irv Nahan and Marvin "Red Top" Schwartz  founded Red Top Records in 1957. Although they were also cutting such single artists as Donnie Elbert, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Dee Clark and Joe Tex, their next big group didn't come along until the summer of 1960 when they signed Tony & The Twilighters.

  
                                                                               Tony & The Dynamics

The Original South Philly group - Anthony "Tony" Maresco, Anthony Barbelle, Michael Bongiorno and Bernard Mastragostino - did "Be My Girl" and "Did You Make Up Your Mind" on the new Jalynne label (named after dj Georgie Woods' daughters!) on July 5, 1960. This summer afternoon session also produced "Key To My Heart" and "Yes Or No", both issued as one of the last Red Top singles. Tony's first group, Tony & The Dynamics (Anthony "Tony" Maresco, Anthony Perry, Ernest Finaro Jr. and Anthony Donato) recorded "Betty My Own" and "Forever Love" for Herald and became later Anthony & the Sophomores.

Songs :

     
Be My Girl                      Did You Make Up Your Mind           Key To My Heart


Yes Or No

...

The GI's (Army Base)
aka  Doug Van Beck Trio


Personnel :

Doug Morris

Richard Vanderbilt

William Beck


 

Discography :
 

The GI's

Singles :
1963 – Please Wait / Dance The Wiggle Wobble (Festival 502)
 

Eps :
1963 - The GI's (Festival FX 1341)
Please Wait / Too Much Dreamin's No Good / Blizzard / Dance The Wiggle Wobble

1964 - The GI's (Festival FX 1368)
When Does It Get To Be Love / Lucy / Indian Surf / Surf No. 1 (Surfin' Little Girl)

Doug Van Beck Trio

Singles :
1964 - Surfin' Little Girl / A Workin' Man's Day Is Never Done (Fargo 1064)
1964 - A Whole Lot Of Surfin' / A Workin (Judy 6500)





Biography :

This vocal group, made up from three US Army soldiers. They met during their military service in France. They sing mostly in American military camps for armed theater. Following an appearance at the french TV, they got a contract with the French's Festival label and cut eight songs.

When they returned to the United States after their military service, they recorded two singles as Doug Van Beck Trio. Doug Morris later wrote "Sweet Talkin' Guy" for The Chiffons and produced many Laurie label acts.

Songs :

The GI's

     
     Lucy                      Too Much Dreamin's No Good                   Please Wait

...

 Clydie King

Little Clydie & The Teens (1) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Clydie King

Discography :

1956 - A Casual Look / Oh Me (RPM 462)

Biography :

Clydie King, a singer who started recording at the age of 13, and progressed to become one of the most in demand singers of the LA music scene.  Clydie Mae Crittendon was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 21, 1943. She is generally thought a backing singer, but in fact has made many records of her own, some of them a surprisingly long time ago. She made her first, ‘A Casual Look’ b/w ‘Oh Me’, in the mid-1950s in Memphis, for the Bihari Brothers’ label RPM, billed as by Little Clydie King & The Teens. Soon afterwards, credited as Clydie King, she made two singles on Speciality. She even did a stint with Don Julian's Meadowlarks.

   
                                                                                                                  Clydie King & the Sweet Things

In early 1962, with Sherlie Matthews, she made three further singles for Philips as Clydie King & the Sweet Things. Later,  Clydie King & Sherlie Matthews was part of Bonnie & The Treasures, The Blackberries… Clydie was a member of Ray Charles' Raeletts for three years and contributed to early 1960s recordings by producer Phil Spector.  But it was a number of mid 60's singles on Imperial that were to be the highmark of her solo career.  Done at Gold Star with most of the 'Wrecking Crew', 'Missin' My Baby' is one of the best records to come out of LA during this time....with No apology to Phil Spector.Clydie went on to sing with a who who's of music superstars....Dylan, Rolling Stones, Streisand, but Pookie will always Think of Clydie with the sound of this one.

Songs : 

  
   Oh Me                                     A Casual Look


...