(L to R) Wanda Holder, Sandra Howell and Sue McCucthcin

The Melo-Tones (1) (Booneville, Miss.)

Personnel :

Sandra Howell (Lead)

Wanda Holder

Sue McCucthcin

Rubye Penna (Pianist)  

Discography :

1960 - Saturday Sweetheart / Special Delivery (Image 1009)

Biography :

In the fall of 1958, Sandra Howell started the ninth grade at Booneville High School (Miss.). One day early in the year, she was trying out for the high school chorus and was in the process of giving a voice recital on stage in the high school auditorium. Seated in the audience were about twenty other student swho were also trying out for the chorus. One of the people in the audience was Wanda Holder. Wanda was a couple of years older than Sandra and had ambitions of starting up her own singing group. Wanda was impressed with Sandra’s voice, so after the recitals, she contacted Sandra and asked if she would like to join her singing group. Fifteen-year-old Sandra was flattered and immediately said, “Sure!” As it turned out, the group would be called the “Mello-Tones” and would be composed of a piano player, Ruby Penna, and three singers, Wanda Holder, Sue McCutchin, and Sandra Howell. The Mello-Tones became a local phenomenon, singing at the radio station, WBIP, every weekend. Furthermore, one time they were even booked to sing for a week at a night club in Huntsville, Alabama. Another time they went to Birmingham and made a record at the Image Records Company. The À side of the record was a song called “Saturday Sweetheart.” The manager of Image Records, Bill Tucci, was quite impressed with Sandra’s voice. He said that he was interested in managing her as a solo performer. Sandra declined. For years the trio traveled and performed throughout Northeast Mississippi and Northern Alabama. They were also privileged to have recorded backup vocals for many artists at the renowned Sun Studio in Memphis, TN and Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL.


Songs :

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