The Teen Tones (1) (Columbus, GA.)
aka The Meloaires


Personnel :

Gerald Powers (Lead)

Larry Kent (First Tenor)

Bob Burnett (Baritone)

Gordon Barksdale (Bass)

Discography :

The Teen Tones (1)
1958 - Faded Love / Gypsy Boogie (Nu-Clear 1/Wynne 107))

Bill Collins bb The Teen Tones (1)
1958 - Mercy / Turn To Your Bible (NBC-1 / NBC-2)

The Meloaires
Single:
1958 - Indebted To You / You Know Baby (Nasco 6019)
Unreleased :
1958 - I'm So Glad (Nasco/Excello)
1958 - Don't Ever Get Married (Nasco/Excello)


Biography :

Most teen-agers like rock ‘n’ roll, but four local high school boys have built musical careers on it. After a round of Columbus radio, TV and civic club appearances in June 1957, The quartet auditioned June 8 for Pops director Albert Coleman, and were notified that they were to appear on the July 28 program at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

The Original Teen Tones : Charles Brown, Larry Kent, Bob Burnett and Gerald Powers

The “Teen Tones,” all students at Baker High School, were organised six months ago by Gerald Powers, who sings the tenor lead.  The other “Teen Tones” are Larry Kent, first tenor, Robert Burnett, baritone and Gordon Barksdale, bass.Gordon, who at 15 boasts a deep bass voice, joined the quartet when the original bass,  Charles Brown, graduated and went on active duty with the Army Reserve..  The others are 16.

Gerald Powers, Gordon Barksdale, Larry Kent and Bob Burnett

The boys are all members of the Baker High Choral Club and the Concert Choir, and started singing as a quartet “just for kicks."’ Hugh Deen, Baker vocal director, has helped the Teen Tones with their selections, and accompanies them when necessary, although they usually sing without accompaniment. Gerald once studied piano, and Gordon was a member of the Baker High Band, but none of the Teen Tones read music.

  
In early 1958, The Teen Tones signing a recording contract with Sam Persons owner of Nu-Clear Records in Columbus. They cut "Faded Love" b/w "Gypsy Boogie". The Teen-Tones' record will be the first edited by the company in February 1958.  A few months later in the same year, they change their name to the Meloaires and recorded four songs for Ernie Young (founder of Nashboro, Nasco and Excello labels).

"Till The End Of The Dance" b/w "My Pretty Baby" appeared on Nashboro's, subsidiary label Nasco in September 1958. The Nasco label had success with the Crescendos in 1958 with a song called "Oh, Julie," which made the pop music Top 10. The company was a part of Excello rec Music who produced a great many doo wop groups of the 50's.

Songs :

The Teen Tones (1)

  
Faded Love                                     Gypsy Boogie


The Meloaires

  
Indebted To You                        You Know Baby

  
   I'm So Glad                                  Don't Ever Get Married 


...