(L to R) Howard Washington, Chet Stewart, Dave MacPhail, Joan Stewart, Ernie Madison, and Jim Jackson.

The Tranells (Lancaster, PA)

Personnel :

Joan Stewart (Lead)

Chet Stewart (vocals)

Jimmy Jackson  (vocals)

Howard Washington (vocals)

Clyde Lucas (keyboards), Ernie Jamison (lead guitar) , Harry Wilkerson (bass), Al Gates (saxophone), Buddy Gantz (percussion)

Discography :

Singles :
1964 - Come On And Tell Me / The Music Swayed (Chelten 090)
1967 - Blessed With A Love / Take This Heart (Never Break This Heart) (Flo-Jo 101)

Unreleased :
1965 - Phantom Of The Light

Biography :

The Tranells hailed mostly from McCaskey High School in Lancaster. Also, most early 1960s-era groups practiced on the street corner, in church, a garage, school, or wherever they could find decent acoustics and space. For The Tranells, it was the house on Christian Street owned by “Uncle Herbie” Lynch where they got their start in the business. The year was

L to R (Front row) Buddy Gantz, Ernie Jamison, Joan Stewart (Back row) Howard Washington, Jimmy Jackson, Chet Stewart, David McPhail .

Founder Chet Stewart (who previously enjoyed a short stint with The Crystalaires), along with younger sister Joanie, Jimmy Jackson, and Howard Washington (who joined later), were the singers of the group. Band members included Ernie Jamison (early) and Harold Sheetz (later), lead guitar; Clyde Lucas (later replaced by David McPhail) on keyboards; Harry Wilkerson, bass; Al Gates, sax; and Buddy Gantz, drummer. The Tranells was actually the second name of the group, originally known as the Phoenicians. “Chet had the name,” said Washington. “It (The Tranells name) didn’t have meaning – it had a nice sound.” The group was Central Pennsylvania’s version of a Motown act, with a spit-and-polish, clean-cut image: well dressed, no smoking or drinking, always polite and never late. The first single, “Come On and Tell Me”/“The Music Swayed,” was released in 1964 on the Chelten label.

Originally written as an up-tempo number, this ballad had a sweet soul sound, prevalent at the time. The record enjoyed huge local success, especially at Lancaster’s WLAN-AM radio, where it pushed out Dionne Warwick’s “Walk On By” for the top spot. Air personality Chuck Raymond was the driving force in The Tranells’ success at that station. Three years later the second 45RPM, this time on the Flo-Jo label, was released. “Blessed With A Love”/“Take This Heart” is a very rare recording. Music collector sources say there could have been as few as 100 copies to as many as 500 pressed. (In 2005, a legitimate reissue on Lancaster’s X-Bat label was released of this hard-to-get recording.)

Another single, “Phantom of the Light,” was never released. The record was supposed to be released between the first and second singles. It was recorded at Dr. Henry Williams’ house on West Orange Street in Lancaster.Between recordings, the group would perform all over central and eastern Pennsylvania. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Orlons, and Patti and The Emblems were a few of the groups with whom they shared the stage. The Tranells backed Patti Labelle in the studio; however, they never received the credit they were due.
story by Derek Shaw

Songs :

  
Come On And Tell Me                The Music Swayed

  
Take This Heart (Never Break This Heart)         Blessed With A Love           


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