The Carnations (4) (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
aka The Teardrops (6)

Personnel :

Carl Hatton (Lead)

Matthew Moales (Lead)

Harvey Arrington

Edward Kennedy

Tommy Blackwell (Bass)

Discography :

The Carnations (4)
1961 - Long Tall Girl / Is There Such A World (Lescay 3002)

Bo Diddley bb The Teardrops (6) (Uncredited)
LP :
1959 - Go Bo Diddley (Checker 1436)
 I'm Sorry / Crackin' Up / Don't Let It Go

Bigraphy :

The Carnations  formed in 1954 at Watersville (elementary) school in Bridgeport, Connecticut (they were all 13 years old). Leads Carl Hatton and Matthew Morales, Harvey Arrington, Alan Mason, and Arthur Blackwell called themselves The Startones at first. Service stints broke them up for awhile, but they reformed as The Teardrops with Matthew, Carl, Harvey, Edward Kennedy, and Arthur's younger brother, Tommy Blackwell, taking over as bass. in 1959 as the Teardrops they backed Bo Diddley on "I'm Sorry", " Don't Let It Go" and "Crackin' Up".   While searching for a recording contract at 1650 Broadway (along with the Brill Building, ground zero for New York's indie labels), the quintet took a break to harmonize in the men's room. Beltone A&R man Joe Rene overheard their blend and invited them back to his office. The group had a couple of originals penned by Junius McKeithen: "Long Tall Girl" (bandleader Rene shared writer's credit) and the ballad "Is There Such A World". The riffing trumpet and Blackwell's bopping bass make for an unusual intro on "Long Tall Girl" (Hatton sang lead), cut March 2, 1961 but not out on Lescay until October under a new name: The Carnations. Like his brother before him, Tommy Blackwell joined the military, and the short-lived Carnations splintered. Beltone never bothered with an encore.  Other members of the group at various points in time were Major McCoy, Curtis Wade & Count Kearney.

Discography :

The Carnations (4)

  
     Long Tall Girl                                   Is There Such A World


Bo Diddley bb The Teardrops (6)

     
      I'm Sorry                                  Crackin' Up                             Don't Let It Go   


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