The Five Owls (Birmingham, Alabama)
aka The Thunderbirds (1) ?

Personnel :

Oliver  (Charles?) Henderson

Robert Harris

Moses B. Dickerson

Thomas Sumlin

Rufus R. White

Discography :

The Five Owls
1955 - Pleading to You / I Like Moonshine (Vulcan 302)

The Thunderbirds (1)
1955 - Baby, Let's PLay House / Pledging My Love (Deluxe 6075)
1955 - Love is A Problem / Rock Boom Boom (G. G. 518)

Biography :

Abbey Records his a little label based in New York City was the creation of Peter Doraine, and was his attempt to become a major player in the world of the Rhythm & Blues independent record companies during the late 1940s. In May of 1955, it is announced that former New York record producer Doraine, now located in Birmingham, Alabama, will begin a new R & B label called Vulcan Records. The first of only two known releases for the label is "Pleading To You" / "I Like Moonshine" by The Five Owls on Vulcan #1025.

Marv Goldberg say : The lead singer on "I Like Moonshine" is the same voice as on the Thunderbirds' "Love Is A Problem" (G G 103 - another Birmingham label - it's from November 1955 and the flip is "Rock Boom Boom"). The writers of "Love Is A Problem" were Peter Doraine (A&R man for the label, as he was for Vulcan) and "Sumtin", who has to be the same guy as the "Sumton" on the 5 Owls label (but I don't know which spelling is correct).  In 1940, there were several people named "Sumton" (all in North Carolina) and only one "Sumtin" (in Florida). It's the only unusual name out of the five, so looking up the others wouldn't do much good. (However, there is a Charles Henderson in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1940 census who was born in 1934, so he's a good choice.) I believe (although I don't remember why) that the lead singer on both those songs is Charles Henderson). I've always thought that the two groups were the same, but that would have to be checked with someone who has a very good ear for voices.
Thanks to Michael Sweeney for the personnel

Songs :

The Five Owls

  
  Pleading to You                                   I Like Moonshine

The Thunderbirds (1)

  
Baby, Let's PLay House                             Pledging My Love    

  
Love is A Problem                                Rock Boom Boom


...

The Premiers (5) 
 (New Haven, Conn.)

aka Roger & The Travelers (4) aka The Frontiers (2)

 
Personnel :



Roger Koob (Lead)



Billy Koob



Gus Delcos

Frank Polimus


Discography :



The Premiers (5)

 Singles :
1958 - Jolene / Oh Theresa (Alert 706)
1960 - Pigtails Eyes of Blue / I Pray (Fury 1029)
1961 - Falling Star / She Gives Me Fever (Rust 5032)

Unreleased :
1958 - I'll Wait For You
1959 - In The Still Of The Night (acap)
1959 - When You Dance (acap)
1960-  I Needed Love
1958 - Linda
1959 - P.S. I Love You (practice session - acap)
1959 - The Glory of Love
1960 - To Be My Love

-----------

Roger & The Travelers (4)


Singles :
1961 - You're Daddy's Little Girl / Just Gotta Be That Way (Ember 1079)

Unreleased :
1961 - Little Boy
1961 - You Are An Angel
1961 - Smile

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

Johnny Maestro bb Roger & The Travelers (4)

Singles :
1961 - I. O. U. / The Way You Look Tonight (Coed 557 )
1961 - Besame Baby / It Must Be Love (Coed 562 )

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

The Frontiers (2)


Singles :
1963 - I Only Have Eyes For You / Don't Come Cryin' (Philips 40113)
1964 - I Just Want You  / I'm Still Loving You (Philips 40148)
1967 - When I See You / You (Only You) (MGM 13722)

Unreleased :
1966 - The 10 Commandments of Love
1967 - Run to Me Baby

Biography :

On November 19, 1956, from New Haven, came Lead singer Roger Koob and the Premiers. Brother Billy, Frank Polimus and Gus Delros took their name from "Premier Theater", a top T.V. Show at the time. Brothers Roger and Billy Koob students at Amity High in Woodbridge. The group performed locally and gained a loyal following. Roger was writing original songs for the group "Oh Theresa", "Linda", "I'll Wait For You". It was at the last moment before an audition with Leo Rogers that he penned the novelty tune "Jolene".

 (1957) - (L to R) : G. Delcos, R. Koob, F.Polimus and  Billy Koob (front)                                                                  

It was this tune that began the groups recording career on the Alert label, a subsidiary of ABC Records. New Haven-area radio stations played the record regularly, and "Jolene"reached the Top 10 on WAVZ's "Giant 13" survey in January 1959. This record's success led the Premiers to an Alan Freed show and an extensive tour through the East Coast, as well a "Star of 59 Show" all through Canada.

Personnel and label changes followed with Joe Vence and Gordy Corvtmanche coming into the group and eventually Johnny Roddi replacing Gordy as they moved to Fury. After a mildly successful release on Fury in 1960 ("Pigtails Eyes of Blue"), The Premiers had their biggest hit and most successful year in 1961 with their recording of "She Gives Me Fever".  

  The disc topped the charts in the East, including a stint at the number one position on the "Fabulous 40" survey of WNHC in New Haven in May, 1961.   A tour with Dick Clark and an appearance on "American Bandstand" also increased their popularity.  Many Commitments and engagements kept the group busy. They were now being managed by Jim Gribble who would suddenly die of a heart attack. Their next single was due to be released on the Ember label when they were informed that another group had the name the Premiers and they had to change theirs.

So was born Roger & The Travellers, in 1961. Before Gribbles death he had Roger and the group contracted to sing background on four songs for Johnny Maestro who had just broke with the Crests. In 1962, Roger teamed up with Bill Baker (Who formally sang with the Five Satins and the Chestnuts) recording as the Buddies.

 

Soon the group would find a new label as well as a new name "The Frontiers". Roger's brother, Billy had left the group to serve in the military and was replaced by Charlie of the Academics (Another local Connecticut group). Now at Philips records working with Van McCoy, Roger and grouper told to style themselves much like the popular Four Seasons of Vee Jay Records. After two releases, Philips signed the Four Seasons and the Frontiers were sent packing although they would have one last release in 1967 . At this time, with Roger Singing lead, the frontiers consisted of Jerry Warner Jr., Phil Vallie, Skip Bianco, Fred Maffeo and Andy Smith.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

 
The Premiers (5)

     
Jolene                        Oh Theresa                     Pigtails Eyes of Blue

     
I Pray                           Falling Star                  She Gives Me Fever

     
I'll Wait For You          The Glory Of Love / To Be My Love        Linda / I Needed Love

In The Still Of The Night / P. S. I Love You / When You Dance

Roger & The Travelers (4)


     
You're Daddy's Little Girl       Just Gotta Be That Way               Little Boy

  
You Are An Angel                         Smile

Johnny Maestro bb Roger & The Travelers (4)

     
I. O. U.                   The Way You Look Tonight              Besame Baby


It Must Be Love

The Frontiers (2)

     
 I'm Still Loving You        I Only Have Eyes For You            Don't Come Cryin'

     
I Just Want You             When I See You          The 10 Commandments of Love

  
Run To Me Baby                    You (Only You) 

 

...

The Slades  (Austin, Texas)
aka The Spades (1)

Personnel :

Don Burch

John Goeke

Tommy Kasper

B.Doyle (Bass)

Discography :

The Spades (1)
1957 - Baby / You Mean Everything To Me (Domino 200/100/ Liberty 55118)

The Slades
Singles:
1958 - You Cheated / The Waddle (Domino 500)
1958 - No Time / You Gambled (Domino 800)
1959 - Summertime / You Must Try (Domino 1000)
1961 - Just You / It's Better To Love (Domino 901)
1961 - Take My Heart / It's Your Turn (Domino 906)
Unreleased :
N/A - I've Had It (Domino)
N/A - Ling Ting Tong (Domino)
N/A - Little Star (Domino)
N/A - So Tough (Domino)
N/A - Gee Whiz (Domino)
N/A - In The Still Of The Night (Domino)

Joyce Webb & The Slades
1958 - After You've Gone / Right Here (Domino 300)

Joyce Harris  & The Slades
1961 - I Cheated / Do You Know What It's Like To Be Lonesome (Joce Harris)(Domino 905)

Biography :

Don Burch, Bobby Doyle, John Goeke, and Tommy Kasper -- formed at Lamar High School in Austin TX, later adding Jimmy Davis. Signing with the fledging Domino Records after graduation, they put college on hold, much to their parents' chagrin. In 1957, Burch's composition "You Mean Everything to Me" started making noise.  Unable to distribute nationally, Domino leased it to Dot Records for $600. On both Domino and Liberty Records they were the Spades, but the name offended people, so Liberty pressed more copies and renamed them the Slades without informing anybody.

Joyce Webb & The Slades

The fellows originally picked Spades after the playing card suit; it had nothing to do with race or trying to be black. The Spades, a white group, had a Black/Chicano sound. "You Cheated" became their biggest hit. Its flip "The Waddle, " a dance song, was the original plug side. Joyce Webb was also on the Slades "You Cheated"- she was singing the Doo Wop   in  the background! She continued singing backups on many Domino sessions and had her  own  group the "Debs". The Slades  recorded at the University of Texas' Radio House, and later at Austin Recording. Bobby Doyle, a blind child prodigy, played standup bass on the sessions. Domino started with 11 people who pooled resources for financing.

Jocks thought little of Domino's pick, but loved "You Cheated" and played the aching ballad. Once again, bigger companies clamored for a lease deal, but Domino refused, upset at the small amount received before, and furious that the sales plummeted under Liberty's imprint. Domino's refusal prompted a distributor to provide funds for George Motola, head of Tender Records, to cut a cover version. Motola assembled a group of Los Angeles R&B singers and cloned the recording. Now you had two choices: the Slades, and the Shields.

 Tender leased the Shields' cover to Dot Records and it smoked the original -- zooming to number twelve, while the Slades' stalled at number 42 in 1958. The cover benefitted Domino, who also published the song. But the competition destroyed the Texas natives' shot at fame. "You Gambled" followed, it made Billboard's Hot Pics then died. In 1959, they released "Summertime" to deaf ears. They had no releases in 1960. "Just You" dropped in 1961, and later that year "Take My Heart" came and went unnoticed. A final release, "I Cheated" answered "You Cheated." Joyce Harris changed the lyrics and sang lead. Caucasian also, Harris developed her soulful singing style by hanging around blues musicians in her hometown, New Orleans. When the answer song failed, the guys called it a date. Only Davis had his heart in music, and their parents wanted them to quit.

Besides, they hated touring: in Arkansas, they practically got booed off the stage, and were only appreciated in West Texas. Kasper operates a business and has a computer degree. Burch is a family man and a grandfather; his son is a doctor. Goeke teaches at a Lutheran college. Davis drifts but stays around music. Harris lives in Bogalusa, LA. The company and Burch profited from "Mr. Blue, " a number one hit, because Dolton Records made the Fleetwoods' remake of "You Mean Everything to Me" the B-side.

The Domino Records Story, available on Ace Records, includes almost every Slades' recording, and some by other Domino artists. According to Lora Jane Richardson, an original owner "Ace didn't want the country songs the group cut." Domino forged on releasing records on Joyce Harris, the Daylighters, and others. You won't find "You Cheated" on many compilation albums. According to Richardson "the little checks (one arrived for $12.64) aren't worth all the paperwork you have to do."
http://www.colorradio.com/Slades.htm
http://www.colorradio.com/joyce_harris.htm

Songs :
 (Update By Hans-Joachim) 

The Spades (1)

  
Baby                          You Mean Everything To Me

The Slades

       
You Cheated                 The Waddle                        No Time 

       
You Gambled                       You Must Try                        Just You 
        
It's Better To Love                    Take My Heart                     It's Your Turn

      
Ling Ting Tong                       Little Star                          So Tough

  
Gee Whiz                        In The Still Of The Night

Joyce Harris  & The Slades

I Cheated

Joyce Webb & The Slades

After you've gone

 ...

(1957) L ro R: Johnny Woodson, John Jennings, Darrell Johnson, Jennell & Gaines Steele

Johnny Woodson & The Crescendos (4) (Los Angeles)
aka The Kuf-Linx


Personnel :

John Jennings (Lead Tenor)

Johnny Woodson (Tenor)

Gaines Steele (Tenor)

George "Biggy" McFadden (Bass)

Leo Z. Manley

Darrell Johnson

Gwen Johnson


Discography :

The Kuf-Linx
1957 - So Tough / What'cha Gonna Do (Challenge 1013/59102)
1958 - Eyeballin' / Service With A Smile (Challenge 59004)
1958 - Climb Love's Mountain / All That's Good (Challenge 59015)

Johnny Woodson & The Crescendos (4)
1957 - Dreamer From My Heart / All That's Good (Spry 108)


Biography :

The Kuf-Linx are not an easy group to follow. Nor is the song So Tough, especially since there were at least three different group that sang the song, and close spellings of the same group. The Kuf-Linx consisted of John Jennings (lead tenor), Johnny Woodson (tenor), Gaines Steele (tenor), George (Biggie) McFadden (bass), Leo Z. Manley, Darrell Johnson, and Gwen Johnson. Jennings and McFadden had been in the Jubalaires in the mid-40s. L.Z. Manley was a well-known gospel lead singer, who had been with the Heavenly Gospel Singers and the Stars Of Harmony.   

Gaines Steele, younger brother of gospel great Silas Steele, sang with Detroit-area gospel groups and a West Coast Ink Spots group (with Clifford Givens); in the mid-60s, he was a member of the 4 Tunes. Gwen Johnson was a Los Angeles session backup singer. This basic group consisting of a whopping seven members, likely recording as John Woodson and the Crescendos on the Spry label. John Jennings was lead singer of the group. They signed to Challenge Records, a Los Angeles label, and recorded several songs including "So Tough" with backup band The Champs who recorded pop hit "Tequila" at the same recording session.

The Kuf-Linx version of "So Tough" was released soon after another version of the song was released by The Casuals (later renamed Original Casuals). The song versions duked it out on the charts. On March 17, 1958, Billboard listed "So Tough" as tied for Number 76 on "Top 100 Sides for Survey Week Ending March 8". The Kuf-Linx only recorded three records in two sessions for Challenge, They disbanded in 1958, and later some of the members went on to other bands.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Cufflinks/cufflinks.html
http://www.colorradio.com/kuf-linx.html



Songs :

Johnny Woodson & The Crescendos (4)

   
Dreamer From My Heart                          All That's Good         

The Kuf-Linx

       
So Tough                     What'cha Gonna Do                            Eyeballin'

      
Service With A Smile             Climb Love's Mountain                  All That's Good       

...

The Run-A-Rounds (Bronx, New York)
aka The Runarounds (2)
ref: The Regents (3)
ref : The Desires (3) 




Personnel :

Guy Villari (Lead)

Chuck Fassert

Ronnie Lapinsky

Sal Corrente

Discography :


The Run-A-Rounds
1963 - Unbelievable / Hooray For Love  (KC 116)
1963 - Let Them Talk / Are You Looking For A Sweetheart (Tarheel 065)

The Runarounds (2)
1964 - Carrie (You're An Angel) / Send Her Back (Felsted 8704)
1966 - Perfect Woman / You're a Drag (Capitol 5644)
1967 - You Lied / My Little Girl (MGM 13763)

Unreleased :
1963- A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
1963- Crazy Love
1963 - Tonight Could Be The Night
1963 - Let Them Talk (alt. version)
1963 - Unbelievable (alt. demo version)
1964 - Carrie (You're An Angel) (alt. version)

Biography :

When Their Last single "Oh Baby" b/w "Lonesome Boy"  received no radio response, the Regentsc decided to separate but reemerged in 1964 as the Runarounds, named after their second release. This contingent contained Guy Villari and Chuck Fassert from the original Regents along with Ronnie Lapinsky of the Tremonts and Sal Corrente.

Much of their fine material was to be written by another Bronxite, Tom Bogdany, who collaborated with Ernie Maresca on a number of local hits. Their single, the Ernie Maresca-Pete Baron song  "Unbelievable" (in an EARLS style), saw lots of New York airplay but limited sales on Nat Cole's K.C. label.

 The Runarounds moved next to the Tarheel label, a subsidiary of London records, where they recorded "Let Them Talk" b/w "Are You Looking For A Sweetheart". Sal Corrente left at this point. 

 

The Remaining Runarounds did "Carrie (You're An Angel)" on Felsted, a Four Seasons imitation that reached the low 30s on local charts.  Although "Carrie" was the closest the Runarouds ever came to a real hit, the group had plenty of public exposure, for they appeared at numerous record hops and related events sponsored by New York's WMCA.

This activity translated into releases on Capitol and MGM, but none with the magic of "Barbara-Ann." Once again they separated, regrouping in 1970 with Warren with Warren Gradus for one ill-conceived release as Cardboard Zeppelin on Laurie (" Ten Story Building").

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
Unbelievable                    Hooray For Love

  
Let Them Talk               Are You Looking For A Sweetheart

  
Carrie (You're An Angel)                Send Her Back

  
Perfect Woman                    You're a Drag

  
You Lied                                 Crazy Love

  
My Little Girll                 Let Them Talk (unrel. alt. version)

  
Carrie (You're An Angel) (alt. version)     Unbelievable (alt. version)  


A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening / Tonight Could Be The Night (unreleased)

...