The Embers (9) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers
ref : The Juveniles

Personnel :

Robert "Bobby" Perryman (Lead)

Claude "Indio" Chenet (Second Tenor)

Joseph Durant (Baritone)

Cal Washington (First Tenor)

Peter Reyes (Bass)

Discography :

The Twilights (2)
Single :
1959 - My Heart Belongs To Only You / Oh Baby Love (Finesse 1717)
Demo :
1958 - Soda Pop  (acapella)
1958 - My Heart Belongs To Only You (acapella)

Maria Elena & The Twilights (2)
1962 - I Was Too Careful / Temptation (Countess 113)

The Embers (9)
Singles :
1961 - Solitaire / I’m Feeling All Right Again (Empress 101)
1961 - I Won’t Cry Anymore / I Was Too Careful (Empress 104)
1962 - Abigail / I Was Too Careful (Empress 107)
Unreleased :
1961 - What A Surprise  (Empress)
1961 - I Wish I Didn’t Love You So (Empress)

The Four Embers
1963 - But Beautiful / You’ve Been Away Too Long (Smash 1846)

Biography :

In 1957, Marilyn Bishop Marilyn gave birth to a baby girl, Michelle, and left The Juveniles.  Larry Peters will make even some time after.  At this time, the group has only three members. Robert Perryman  stepped up to become the new lead singer and Cal Washington was recruited by Claude  Chenet to become the new first tenor.  Cal had sung with a local street group, had a background in gospel and blues and also hung out with the Chords.  Pete Reyes was recruited by Bobby to replace Larry Peters as the bass singer. The Twilights now consisted of Robert Perryman (lead) Cal Washington (first tenor) Claude “Indio” Chenet (second tenor) Joseph Durant (baritone) and Peter Reyes (bass).

The Juveniles "Bobby" Perryman , Claude "Indio" Chenet, Marilyn Durant, Larry Peters and Joe Durant

The Twilights recorded “My Heart Belongs To Only You” and “Oh Baby Love,” with Bobby Perryman singing both leads, which came out on Finesse Records in November of 1959. The Twilights also backed up Maria Elena on “I Was Too Careful” and “Temptation,” both of which weren’t released until 1962 on Countess Records. They appeared at one of Clay Cole’s shows in Palisades Park, New Jersey also starring the Drifters, Moonglows, Skyliners, Belmonts, Bobby Rydell and Neil Sedaka.

The Embers : Pete Reyes, Joe Durant, Claude "Indio" Chenet, Robert Perryman and Cal Washington

The Twilights sang “My Heart Belongs To Only You” as well as “Oh Baby Love” and this performance was broadcast live on television. The Twilights also appeared at the RKO Franklin Theatre on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx where they also backed up Maria Elena. The Twilights changed their name to the Embers and signed with Empress Records, owned by Gene and Jody Malis, which was a subsidiary label (as was Valmor) under Countess International.

The Twilights Pete Reyes, Joe Durant, Claude "Indio" Chenet, Cal Washington and Robert Perryman

The Embers had been rehearsing an old standard ballad that Tony Bennett recorded named “Solitaire,” a song that Jody wanted them to record because she felt it had hit potential. The Embers recorded “Solitaire”  with Bobby Perryman singing lead. On the week of August 22, 1961, “Solitaire” reached number 9 on WABC’s radio survey. It was also doing extremely well on Billboard’s charts.  By mid 1963, the Embers were down to four members as Pete Reyes had left the group. The Embers were still under contract with Empress, which wasn’t doing well at the time so Gene and Jody Malis sent them to writer and record producer Wally Zober in order to see what he could do for them.

Wally took them down to Odo Recording Studios on West 54th Street in Manhattan on August 1, 1963 where they recorded “But Beautiful” and “You’ve Been Away Too Long.” A bass player, George Butcher, arranged the orchestra and the group arranged the vocals. “But Beautiful” was recorded first, with Robert Perryman singing lead. “You’ve Been Away Too Long” was a fast number that Jody had given to them but they did not care for. They recorded it with Cal singing lead. The session lasted for most of the day and the songs were released on Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records, in December of 1963 as by the “Four Embers.” By 1964, with the British Invasion underway, the Embers (without a hit record since 1961) broke up and decided to get on with their personal lives.

Songs :

The Twilights (2)

  
My Heart Belongs To Only You                     Oh Baby Love

Maria Elena & The Twilights (2)

  
Temptation                                      I Was Too Careful  

The Embers (9)

     
Solitaire                      I’m Feeling All Right Again           I Won’t Cry Anymore

     
I Was Too Careful                    Abigail                 What A Surprise  


I Wish I Didn't Love You So 

The Four Embers


But Beautiful / You’ve Been Away Too Long

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