The Catalinas (3) aka The Inventions (Brooklyn, New-York)

Personnel :

Hank Ferrara (lead)

Sam Infantino (first tenor)

Richie Brooks (second tenor)

Jerry Ascher (Baritone)

Mike Harris (bass)




Discography :

The Catalinas (3)
1958- Marlene / With your girl (Glory 285)
1960 - Peanuts / Row boat (Up 111)

The Inventions
1960 - Peanuts / Row boat (Up 111)



Biography :

1956- Hank Ferrara, Richie Brooks, Jerry Ascher, Sam Infantino & Mike harris were at a local social club in their home of Williamsburg Brooklyn. The club was holding a "talent competition" and decided to try and do some singing. Without any previous singing experience, they gave it a try, after realizing they sounded really good.

While sitting in Hank's car outside, the guys were trying to think of a name for their new found group...being they were sitting in a Pontiac Catalina, the name just fit
The Catalinas later went on to win a talent contest (even beating out younger Johnny Maestro at the time)  For winning they were awarded a trip to Phoenixville PA.

In 1958 they signed with Glory Records. They recorded Marlene (written by Hank). This recording is worth well over $200 dollars in todays collector's market.
One day while working with the machines in the shop, Hank had a "beat" stuck in his head all day long.

He kept humming it until he got home from work. It was so catchy that he started to make up some words to go along. Upon showering after a long hard days work, as fast as the water was flowing from the shower head, the words were starting to flow as well.

He yelled for someone to grab a pen & paper and told them to "write this down" This song later became the hit " Hey Peanuts"

Later the group recorded "Hey Peanuts" and heard their song all over the radio. They were becoming so popular in Brooklyn, and even later sang at the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
A local disk Jockey "Ronnie I" had them sing a jingle every Saturday Night on the radio, and they were on CBS FM.

They were on the top of the charts with "Hey Peanuts"
Unfortunately, their manager made some wrong decisions, and the group slipped through.

http://es-es.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111770985521410



Songs :

The Catalinas (3)

     
Marlene                                             With your Girl

The Inventions

   
Row boat                                           Peanuts

The Suburbans (4) (Passaic, New Jersey)
aka The Five Classics (2)


Personnel :

Harry Arthur (Tenor)

Joseph Pasquino (Tenor)

Ralph Santora (Baritone)

Bernard Nathanson (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Suburbans (4)
1959 - Alphabet Of Love / Sweet Diane Cha Cha (Port 70011)
1960 - Little Bird / King Of Broken Hearts (Kip 221)
1961 - Mississippi Mud / Love Me (Flamingo 539)
1961 - Lovin' Hands / Love Me (Gee 1076)

The Five Classics (2)
1961 - Mississippi Mud / Love Me (Pova 6142)

Biography :

Vocal group from Passaic, New Jersey. Leader of the singers is Harry Arthur, 18 year old, Passaic High School Senior. Writer of most of their songs, Harry has a tenor voice and does all the arranging. Ralph Santora, 17 year old sophomore of Fairleigh Dickinson University, sings Baritone and Joseph Pasquino, 18, is Tenor. Bernard Nathanson, 20, is the Bass. When the Suburbans first organized they had five members. Ronald VanDunk was with them until he was invited to a command performance with the marines. Norman Oldam replaced him for a while. The marines didn't call him, but a bride changed his mind. Joseph Serniglia tried the entertainment field, but decided it wasn(t the profession for him.

They practice about three times a week. Mrs Grace Schurman of the Licoln Music Shop, is their manager. In May 1959, they cut their first record on the Port Label, a subsidiary of Jay-Gee Record, "Alphabet Of Love" b/w "Sweet Diane Cha Cha" both wrote by Harry Arthur. "Alphabet Of Love" is being plugged by disk jockeys like Danny Styles the "Cat Man" and Clint Miller. In September 1960, the Suburbans recorded for Kip records owned by Lonnie Kaufman in New York, "Little Bird" b/w "King Of Broken Hearts", both wrote again by Harry Arthur. The group have entertained at many clubs in the area and across the country and appeared on a number of TV and Radio shows.

At this time, Harry Arthur left and Bruce Starzzo and Angelo Gerardi integrate the group. Joseph Pasquino takes the lead role and wrote the fabtastic "Love Me". Paul Poveromo of The Five Classics  on Arc records produced the group for their third singles. The Suburbans auditioned at Paul's house and recorded "Mississippi Mud" b/w "Love Me". The single  was released on Flamingo records. The same year The single was re-released on Pova records as The Five Classics. The Suburbans re-recorded "Love Me" the same year with different arrangements for Roulette Records . The new "Love Me" was released by Gee Records (Roulette subsidiary) with "Lovin' Hands".

 
Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)    

The Suburbans (4)

  
Mississippi Mud                                       Love Me   

  
Lovin' Hands                                         Alphabet Of Love

  
Sweet Diane Cha Cha                      King Of Broken Hearts


  
   Little Bird                                   Love Me (On Gee)





…

 Gloria Jean Williamson, Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard

The Del-Phis (1) (Detroit)
aka The Del Fi's aka The Vells (2) aka The Fayettes
aka Martha & The Vandellas

Personnel :

Gloria Jean Williamson (Lead)

Martha Reeves (Second Lead)

Rosalind Ashford (Background)

Annette Beard (Background)

Discography :

J J Barnes & The Dell Fi's
1960 - Won't You Let Me Know / My Love Came Tumbling Down (Kable 437)

Leon Peterson & The Dell Fi's
1960 - Silver & Gold / Together Just We Two (Kable 438)

Mike Hanks & The The Del Fi's
1960 - When True Love Comes To Be / The Hawk (Inst.) (Mah's 000.3)

Mike Hanks & The Del-Phis
1961 - I Think About You / I Think About You Part 2 (Mah's 000.4)

The Del-Phis (1)
Singles :
1961 - I'll Let You Know / It Takes Two (Checkmate 1005)
Unreleased :
1961 - My Heart Tells Me so  (Checkmate)

The Vells (2)
1961 - There He Is (At My Door) / You'll Never Cherish A Love So True (Mel-O-Dy 108)

Biography :

After graduating high school, Martha Reeves began singing professionally in 1959 when she joined the Fascinations.  The following year, she joined the Del-Fis - Gloria Williamson (lead), Rosalyn Ashford, Annette Beard - from which the Vandellas later emerged, performing at local talent shows and backing Mike Hanks on his record, Leon Peterson and  J.J. Barnes's 1962 on “Won't You Let Me Know.”

  
J J Barnes                                                                                                                     

Billy Davis snatched them for his Checkmate label for one release as the Del-Phis: "I'll Let You Know" written by Joe Hunter and Martha Reeves and "It Takes Two,". Checkmate folded and Davis moved to Chicago to work for Chess Records. The girls found day jobs but still did backup sessions

   
From the top : Gloria Jean Williamson, Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard                                Marvin Gaye                                                         

A chance for the Del Fi's came later in 1962 when William "Mickey" Stevenson needed background singers for a Marvin Gaye session; the Andantes were moonlighting in Chicago, so Martha called the Del Fi's down to 2648 West Grand Blvd. to do the job. The song "Stubborn Kinda Fella" became Gaye's first smash and introduced the Vandellas' chirpy sound to the world.

  
                                                                                                      1962: Top left to right - Martha Reeves, Annette Beard, Mary Wells & Dick Clark.

They recorded a single on Motown's subsidiary Melody Records. Gloria Williamson led both sides of the record "You'll Never Cherish a Love So True" b/w "There He Is at My Door," released October 1962; It was credited to the Vells since Chess Records owned the name Del Fi's. Mickey Stevenson put the Del Fi's voices on "I'll Have to Let Him Go"; the "demo" became Martha & the Vandellas' debut single.
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/mreeves.htm
http://www.soulfuldetroit.com/archives/3838/2800.html?1051864571
Thanks to ILMJXXX
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-del-fis-mn0001394392

Songs :
 updated by Hans-Joachim

The Del-Phis (1)

   
I'll Let You Know / It Takes Two         My Heart Tells Me So


The Vells (2)

  
There He Is (At My Door)           You'll Never Cherish A Love So True

J J Barnes & The Dell Fi's

   
Won't You Let Me Know                    My Love Came Tumbling Down


Mike Hanks & The The Del Fi's


When True Love Comes To Be

Marvin Gaye bb The Del-Phis (1)

Stubborn Kind of Fellow

Leon Peterson & The Dell Fi's

Together Just We Two / Silver & Gold

...

(The Tones)  L to R : Kenny Cubicotti, Larry D'Angelo, Billy Hebert and Jimmy Avachini.

Little Sammy & The Tones (4) (Philadelphia)
aka Little Sammy Rozzi & The Guys (1)

Personnel :

Sammy Rozzi (Lead)

Kenny Cubicotti

Larry D'Angelo

Billy Hebert

Jimmy Avachini

Discography :

Little Sammy & The Tones (4)
1962 - Christine / Over The Rainbow (Jaclyn 1161)

Little Sammy Rozzi & The Guys (1)
1963 - Christine / Over The Rainbow ( (Pelham 722)

Biography :

Vocal group from from 13th and Wharton in Philadelphia consisted by Kenny Cubicotti, Larry D'Angelo, Billy Hebert and Jimmy Avachini. At that time they just caled the "Tones".Larry D'Angelo went to school with Frank Pescatore, stage name (Dean Randolph) for 12 years. it was Frank who suggested to the group to make a new version of "Over The Rainbow". Kenny Cubicotti wrote the song "Christine" and Frank showed them the different parts and harmony to the song.

    
                         Dean Randolph                                                                                                                              

Unfortunately, Larry D'Angelo was drafted into the army  before the Tones entered the studio to record the two songs. Sammy Rozzi replaced Larry. The Group recorded the two songs into the A.M.S. Recording Studio at 17th & Jackson in South Philadelphia and the single was released by Jaclyn in 1962. Shortly after the release of the single, the Tones broke up. It was minor hit in the Delaware Valley, getting plenty of action, especially on pop stations like WIBG. In 1963, Pelham Records reissued the single as by Little Sammy Rozzi & The Guys.


Songs :

  
       Christine                                         Over The Rainbow


...

Steve Barri

The Nortones (Los Angeles)
ref The Storytellers

Personnel :

Steve Barri (Steven Barry Lipkin)

Bernie Reed

Discography :

The Nortones
1959 - Susie Jones / That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles  (Warner Bros 5065)
1959 - Boy / Smile, Just Smile (Warner Bros 5115)
1960 - Cookie Mon / I'm Gonna Find You (Stack 502)

Steve Barri
1961 - Story Of The Ring / I Want Your Love (Rona 1004)
1961 - Please Let It Be You / Down Around The Corner (Rona 1003)
1962 - Don't Run Away From Love / Two Different Worlds (Rona 1005)
1962 - Never Before /  Whenever You Kiss Me (Rona 1006)

Biography :

Steve Barri was born Steven Barry Lipkin in Brooklyn, New York, on February 23, 1942. His family moved to California when he was just a child. He began his career as a songwriter. He submitted his songs to Screen Gems Music which was run by Lou Adler. Adler liked Barri's songs, and helped him get his first recording of a Barri original. Steve teamed with Bernie Reed. Warner wrote "The Nortones, Bernie Reed and Steve Barry, The two 18-years-olds who comprise the group, play their own guitar accompaniment as well as write their own material". In May Their manager, Norty Beckman sends them to the studio were they record four songs. The same month, Warner released "Suzie Jones" / "That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles" as the Nortones.

  
Steve Barri                                                                                                                              
The single wasn't a hit but it was a way into the business for the newly minted music professional, and over the next few years Barri tried several other avenues of expression, including cutting a few records as a singer, all to no avail. In the early '60s he teamed up with Carol Connors, an ex-member of the Teddy Bears (notable as an early group featuring Phil Spector in its lineup, and for its recording of his "To Know Him Is to Love Him") -- they didn't succeed as a duo, and subsequently formed a trio, the Storytellers, with Connors' sister Cheryl, and their debut single on Dimension, "When Two People (Are in Love)," brought Barri back into the orbit of Lou Adler, who produced the record. This successful entrepreneur then paired Barri with protege (Phil) P.F. Sloan and together the new team began creating material for many of Adler's acts. Jan And Dean, Johnny Rivers and Terry Black were among those benefiting from Sloan/Barri songs, while the duo also recorded in their own right under various pseudonyms, notably the surfing act the Fantastic Baggys.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Nortones

  
I'm Gonna Find You                    Smile, Just Smile

  
Susie Jones                                            Boy

  
                     Cookie Mon                   That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles
 


Steve Barri

  
I Want Your Love                       Please Let It Be You

  
Don't Run Away From Love                      Never Before          


Whenever You Kiss Me

…