Jerry Marcellino                                     Lani Woodd                                             Mel Larson  

The Three Honeydrops (Berkeley, Calif)
aka The Naturals (1) aka Jerry & Mel

Personnel :

Jerry Marcellino

Mel Larson

Lani Woodd  replaced Jack Greenbach (The Naturals)

 


Discography :

The Three Honeydrops

Singles :
1957 - Honey Drop / In The Summer (Music City 813)
1957 - You're The One For Me / Rockin Satellite (Music City 814)
Unreleased:
1957 - Chickaboom (Music City)
 

The Naturals (1)
1959 - Don't Send Me Away / The Mummy (Era 1089)

Jerry & Mel
1961 - Once Upon A Time / Cannibal Stew (Boss-Sound 301)
1961 - Confessions Of A North Beach Poet / Double Whammy  (WB 5195)

Biography :

Jerry Marcellino born in Bekerley, California, and graduated from San Lorenzo Hi-School in 1955 as a music major. Lani Woodd, born in the Hawaiian Island and graduated from San Lorenzo Hi-School in 1955 being a soloist in the Hi-School choir. Mel Larson, born in San Francisco and graduated from Hayward Hi-School in 1955 as a music major.

Jerry Marcellino                                        Mel Larson                                            Lani Woodd

The Three versatile young men, Jerry, Mal and Lani organized their group "The Three Honeydrops " while still in High School and have been together since singing and playing everything from rock'n roll  to  Jazz. They  write  and play  their songs and  made appearances  at  Record  Hops and Dances around the area.

They will present their compositions at Music City Records. Music City Records, of Berkeley, California is most closely associated with vocal groups. Ray Dobard’s venerable imprint, in operation for a quarter century from the early 50s on, had its greatest success with records such as ‘WPLJ’ and ‘Ichi Bon Tami Dachi’. Music city release two singles by the group.

 1959 - The Naturals (1)  : Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson & Jack Greenbach 

After the departure of Lani Woodd, musician and composer Jack Greenbach  was hired to replace him in the group. Changing people causes a change in name, it is now The Naturals. As the Naturals, they recorded one single on Era Records. Era was an independent American record label located in Hollywood, California. It was founded by Herb Newman and Lou Bedell in 1955 as a pop, country and western and jazz label. Despite the failure of the single, Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson continue to write and compose songs and in 1961, they cut two singles as Jerry & Mel.  

Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson                                                                                                    

For the next twelve years, Jerry played in clubs in North Beach, San Francisco, and San Mateo. All the while, he and his partner, Mel Larson, were writing songs. It was then Jerry experienced his first songwriting successes. First, a hit record for Trini Lopez called Sad Tomorrows on Reprise Records. Then another for Martin Denny on Liberty Records called Strawberry Tree, and another on the hit album Figurines by The Fleetwoods. But Jerry wasn’t satisfied.

1965 - Jack Greenbach  , Jerry Marcellino & Mel Larson  

Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson went on to become one of the most successful creative forces in the music industry: producing for The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Al Jarreau, Lionel Richie, and countless others. His music has sold over 50 million albums worldwide, including 25 Gold and Platinum records.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Three Honeydrops

  
You're The One For Me                       Rockin Satellite

  
Honey Drop                       In The Summer


Chickaboom 

The Naturals (1)

  
Don't Send Me Away                        The Mummy


Jerry & Mel

  
Once Upon A Time                            Cannibal Stew

...