• w

  • The Sparkels (New York)
    aka The Sables

    Personnel :

    Barbara Peterkin

    Jo Annis Harding

    Lucille Jackson

    Patricia Villiers


    Discography :

    The Sparkels
    1964 - Try Love (One More Time) / That Boy Of Mine  (Old Town 1160)

    The Sables
    1965 - I'm On Fire / Darling (RCA 47-8521)


    Biography :

    The Sparkels consisted of Four High School Girls who performed together from 1962 to 1966.  Barbara Peterkin, Jo Annis Harding, Lucille Jackson and Patricia Villiers released "Try Love One More Time" and "That Boy Of Mine" on Old Town Records in 1964 (1160)

      

    The Old Town record label was formed in 1953 by Hyman Weiss in New York City. Hy Weiss Old Town was originally a rhythm and blues record company, and was run almost entirely by "The Weiss Guys," Hy and his brother Sam.  He got his experience in rhythm and blues records working as a salesman for many of the legendary R & B labels such as Exclusive, Modern, Jubilee and Apollo.


    July 12,1964 New York State World's Fair- New York State Pavilion - L to R :  B.Peterkin, L. Jackson & J. Harding

    In 1965, They released "I'm On Fire" and "Darling" as The Sables on RCA Records (47-8521).
    http://thesparkels.blogspot.fr


    Songs :

    The Sparkels

      
    Try Love (One More Time)                   That Boy Of Mine

    The Sables


    I'm On Fire

     

    ...


    your comment
  •  The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)
    Teddy & The Twilights (1962) Top: Fred Cohen. Bottom (L to R): Larry Williams, John Odoms, Ben Hart

    The Buddies (7) (Philadelphia)
    aka The Deckers
    aka The Tiffanys (1)
    aka Teddy & The Twilights (4)

     

    Personnel :

    Fred Cohen (Lead)

    John "Odoms" Williams (First Tenor)

    Larry Williams (Baritone)

    Ben Hart (Bass)

     

    Discography :

    Lynn Christie & The Decker's
    1957 - Oh, Where Did You Go / What Did I Do (Nar 225)

    The Deckers
    Singles :
    1958 - Sincerely With All My Heart / Come Back Baby (Yeadon 101)
    1958 - Sincerely With All My Heart / The Thing (Yeadon 1041)
    Unreleased :
    1958 - Love What Have You Done (Yeadon)

    Freddie Cannon bb The Buddies (7)
    1961 -    Buzz Buzz A Diddle-It (Swan 4071)

    The Buddies (7)
    1961 - Spooky Spider / Lebone Delada (Swan 4073)

    The Tiffanys (1)
    1962 - The Pleasure Of Love / Atlanta (Swan 4104)

    Teddy & The Twilights (4)
    Single :
    1962 - Woman Is A Man’s Best Friend / Goodbye To Love (Swan 4102)
    1962 - Running Around Town / You Gotta Be Alone To Cry (Swan 4115)
    1962 - Bimini Bimbo / I’m Just Your Clown (Swan 4126)
    Unreleased :
    1962 - Whispers In The Dark (Swan) 

    Brenda Johnson bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)
    1962 - Ben Casey/ If I Give My Love To You (Swan 4108)

    Esau Isaac  bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)
    1962 - Poison Pen / Every Woman’s Just Alike (Swan 4110)

    Mark Valentino bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)
    1962 - The Push And Kick / Walking Alone (Swan 4121)

    Rochelle Johnson bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)    
    1962 - Playing The Field / Gypsy Ways (Swan 4124)

     

    Biography :

    The Deckers began in Philadelphia in 1954. In 1957, the Deckers consisted of Sam Connors, John Odoms, Larry Williams, Curtis Barnes and Ben Hart. The Deckers appeared on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour TV Show, in 1957. The Deckers' first recording came about in 1957 when the group was asked to back up a young white singer, Lynn Christie, on the NAR label.  "Oh Where Did You Go" b/w "What Did I Do" (NAR 225) came out in the summer of 1957 . Shortly after the NAR recording, Curtis Barnes left The Deckers to join a spiritual group.

     The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)     The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)

    Through Sam Connors, the group met Jack Green. Jack formed the Yeadon label and "Sincerely With All My Heart" became its first release. Four sides were recorded, including "Sincerely With All My Heart," "Come Back Baby," "The Thing"  and "Love What Have You Done". "Sincerely With All My Heart" and "Come Back Baby" were released on Yeadon 101.  "Sincerely With All My Heart" was re-released a short time later with a novelty flip "The Thing".

      The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)    The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)

    In the early 1960's, The Deckers changed their name to the Buddies and signed with Doc Bagby (Red Top and Value labels). The first thing the Buddies did on Swan was back up Freddy Cannon on "Buzz Buzz A Diddle It" (Swan 4071). The record debuted on the Pop Charts in May 1961, reaching #51. During this time, Swan was looking for material for The Buddies to record. The first recordings the Buddies did on their own were "The Spooky Spider" backed with "Lebone Delada". After this single, Sam Connors left the group.  Fred Cohen, a friend of the group who formerly sang with Larry and John’s brother’s group, The Mohawks, joining the Buddies as lead. The group now consisted of Fred Cohen, John Williams, Larry Williams and Ben Hart.

     The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)

    In March of 1962, The Buddies went into the studio and cut four songs. Bernard Bennick and Tony Mammarella, the owners of Swan, decided The Buddies should have a new name to go along with their new lead and style. They gave the group two different names and issued a record under each at approximately the same time. "Woman Is A Man’s Best Friend" backed with "Goodbye To Love" was released as Teddy and The Twilights. Swan issued "Atlanta" backed  with "Pleasure Of Love" as The Tiffanies. The group became known as Teddy and The Twilights. In the spring of 1962, Teddy and The Twilights appeared on American Bandstand. Swan often utilized Teddy & The Twilights to vocally back their soloists. In addition, Fred Cohen often wrote or co- wrote songs for other Swan artists (Brenda Johnson, Esau Isaac, Mark Valentino & Rochelle Johnson) .

     The Buddies (7)   aka Teddy & The Twilights (4) aka The Tiffanys (1)
    Teddy & The Twilights (1962) Top (L to R) : Larry Williams & Fred Cohen. Bottom (L to R): Ben Hart & John Odoms,

    The next release under their own name was "Running Around Town" backed with "You Gotta Be Alone To Cry". Swan gave this release no promotion and it went nowhere. Teddy & The Twilights' third release under their own name was  "Bimini Bimbo" backed with  "I’m Just Your Clown". The record did not catch on elsewhere. The Twilights were disappointed that their records didn't go bigger than they did and blamed Swan for lack of promotion. Swan was busy promoting their big artists like Freddy Cannon and had little time for The Twilights. After 14 years of harmonizing together, the group called it quits. Their last show was at Towne Hall on May 25, 1963.

     

    Songs :

    (updated by Hans-Joachim) 

    Lynn Christie & The Decker's


    Oh, Where Did You Go

    The Deckers

         
    Sincerely With All My Heart                   The Thing                  Love What Have You Done

    The Buddies (7)

      
    Spooky Spider                                 Lebone Delada

    Teddy & The Twilights (4)

         
    Woman Is A Man’s Best Friend        Goodbye To Love          You Gotta Be Alone To Cry

      
       Bimini Bimbo                    I’m Just Your Clown

    Esau Isaac  bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)


    Poison Pen

    Mark Valentino  bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)    

      
    The Push And Kick                                Walking Alone

    Rochelle Johnson bb Teddy & The Twilights (4)    

      
    Playing The Field                                 Gypsy Ways



    ...




    your comment
  • The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)

     The Hi Tensions (Los Angeles)
    aka The Angels (8)


    Personnel :

    Bobby Parker (Lead)

    David Cook (Tenor)

    Jonathan "Sonny" Allen (Baritone/Tenor)

    Roy Haggins (Baritone)

    Jack Johnson (Bass)

     

    Discography :

    The Hi Tensions
    Singles :
    1960 - The Clock / So Far Away (Audio 201)
    1963 - Got A Good Feeling / Ebbing On The Tide (Milestone 2018)
    1964 - She'll Break Your Heart / Mary Had A Little Lamb (Whirlybird 2005)
    Unreleased:
    1963 - Wedding Song (If You Say I Do) (Audio)
    1963 - Old Times (Audio)
    1963 - Traveling Lady (Audio)
    1963 - Come What May (Audio)

    
Leon Peels & The Hi Tensions
    1964 - A Magic Island / Darlene (Whirlybird 2008)

    The Angels (8)
    1960 - I'm Saying Goodbye / A Real Sensation (Audio 203)

     

    Biography :

    A young man from Santa Cruz named Chuck Daniels brought in a teenage group called the Hi Tensions to the Audio Arts Studio in 1960. Daniels had met them in dj Art Laboe's studio, and Laboe suggested that they all try their fortunes with Mrs Baker. During the next four years the Hi Tensions became a kind of studio backup vocal group at Audio Arts; Mrs Baker and her young proteges tried to find the winning formula for for the talented group. The Hi Tensions were ( and are still) led by Bobby Parker, a fine r&b singer who had been with the Chanticleers on Lyric on "Daddy Must Be" "and "To keep Your Love) in 1958-59. Bobby who admired Jerry Butler, Jesse Belvin and The Coasters, met the other Hi Tensions through Roy Haggins, who became the baritone for the group, in 1960. The rest of the group included David Cook (Tenor), Jack Johnson (Bass) and Jonathan "Sonny" Allen (Baritone/Tenor)

 .

    The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)    The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)
                                                                                                                        Leon Peels

    The boys were from South-Central L.A. area around Jefferson High School that also Spawned Belvin, Richard Berry and Arthur Lee Maye. Their first effort for the new Audio label was "The Clock"/ "So Far Away" (Audio 201), recorded on October 20, 1960. Out of the same session came "I'm Saying Goodbye" and "A Real Sensation," buy, for some unknown reason, the Hi Tensions were called the Angels on this release (Audio 203). Roy Haggins  sang the lead on "A Real Sensation," while Bobby Parker handles "I'm Saying Goodbye". This 45 came out shortly after "The Clock" and it's probable that name change was made for just this one record to gain additional airplay.

    The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)
    Jackson & Madelon Baker (Audio Arts recording Studio's Owner)

    Mrs Baker continued to work with the Hi Tensions and "Wedding Song","Old Times", "Traveling Lady" and "Come What May" - all unreleased - were recorded at Audio Arts in the spring of 1961, all unreleased, but "Got A Good Feeling" backed with "Ebbing On The Tide" were tried for a later release on Milestone, but this nice ballad didn't get far. The Hi Tensions then backed up Leon Peels, the former lead of the Blue Jays, and finally recorded "She'll Break Your Heart" B/W "Mary Had A Little Lamb" for the new Whirlybird label. Although they stopped actively recording in the mid-sixties, the Hi Tensions remained close friends.

     

    Songs :

    The Hi Tensions

          
    The Clock                         Come What May   

          
    She'll Break Your Heart                    Wedding Song                  Mary Had A Little Lamb

       
    So Far Away                             Ebbing Of The Tide


    Leon Peels & The Hi Tensions


    A Magic Island / Darlene

     

    The Angels (8)

       
    I'm Saying Goodbye                         A Real Sensation

     

    ..


    your comment
  •  

    The Chaps (1) (Kiski Valley, Pittsburgh)
    aka The Four Chaps (2) 

     

    Personnel :

    George Esposito

    Joe Cesario

    Ron Fulton

    Sonny DiNunzio

    Bob Savastano



    Discography :

    The Chaps (1)
    1960 - Perfect Night For Love / One Lovely Yesterday (Brent 7016)
    1961 - They'll Never Be / Heaven Must Have Run Out Of Angels (Matador 1814)

    The Four Chaps (2)
    1965 - True Lovers / Will You Or Won't You (Co & Ce 231)

    Biography :

    The original lineup, an a cappella vocal group, was The Chaps. When Sonny DiNunzio joined, the group became The Four Chaps. Later Ron Fulton was added. Records of The Chaps: "One Lovely Yesterday" & "Perfect Night For Love" on Brent Records, New York City. "Heaven Must Have Run Out Of Angels" & "They’ll Never Be" Lou Christie sang the high parts.

    The Chaps (1) aka The Four Chaps (2)   
                                                                                                                                             Lou Christie

    Christie achieved success with the following hits: "The Gypsy Cried", "Two Faces Have I", and his biggest National hit "Lightnin’ Strikes". Lou made fame when he was connected to the Cenci Co & Ce Label. The records were released on the Matador label. The Chaps joined with Lennie Martin, a string arranger for The Skyliners of "Since I Don’t Have You" fame. The Skyliners were a successful Pittsburgh doo wop band who went National. The Chaps broke up when the song "Heaven Must Have Run Out Of Angels’" chart steam ran out.


    The Townsmen

    The original lineup moved to the West Coast. While in California, The Chaps recorded on Capitol Records and played the Los Angeles arena. They auditioned for the popular "Shindig" show with Glen Campbell on guitar with the song "Lonesome Traveler".  They phoned DiNunzio and asked him to join thus The Four Chaps. DiNunzio formed The Townsmen afterward.
    http://www.freewebs.com/tracy64/

     
    Songs :

    The Chaps (1)


       
    They'll Never Be                    Perfect Night For Love


    The Four Chaps (2)


    True Lovers

     

    ...
     


    your comment