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New Site
THE PALS
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L-R : William Spann, Earl Polite, William Valentine , Norman Grayson and D.J. Joe Finan
The Pals (Brooklyn, New York)
Personnel :
Norman Grayson (Lead)
William Spann
Earl Polite
William Valentine
Discography :
1958 - Summer Is Here / My Baby Likes To Rock (Turf 1000/1 / Guyden 2019)
Biography :
Vocal group from Brooklyn, New York Consisted of; William Spann, William Valentine, Gerald Valentine, Earl Polite, Norman Grayson. In 1958, they recorded "Summer Is Here " and "My Baby Likes To Rock" Released by Turf Records
Songs :
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The Deans (2)
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1963 - (L to R) Willie Howard, Alfred Judkins, Phillip Smith, Larry Knuckles & Alvin English
The Deans (2) (Detroit, Michigan)
Personnel :
Phillip Smith (Lead)
Larry Knuckles (Bass)
Alfred Judkins (Baritone)
Alvin English (Second Tenor)
Willie Howard (First Tenor)
Discography :
The Deans (2)
1962 - Oh Little Star / You Got Me Baby (Star Maker 1928)
1963 - Lady Of The Caravan / Chills, Chills, Chills (Star Maker 1931)
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The Deans (2) ???
1966 - No Not Now / Catch That Train (inst.)(Panik 5007)
Biography :
The “Deans” are a group of young men, gifted with a talent,singing They're five in number and come from the city’s lower eastside. Their “home” is Franklin Settlement where three years go, they assembled in a clubroom and exercised their vocal chords together. This was the beginning. The five came back every night to practice. After six months, they made their debut at a Franklin Settlement Canteen dance, The crowd was surprised at the pleasant, harmonious sounds created by the quintet. This reception imbued them with confidence and the desire to work harder. They concentrated on five- part harmony .. . with Phillip Smith, as lead; Auss Johnson, second tenor; Willie Howard, first tenor; Alfred Judkins, baritone; and Larry Knuckles, bass.
1961- The Deans on the left
While the group was practicing at the Franklin last December, a young man knocked on the door, asked if he could come into listen to them. This was Harry Mackey, a professiona] football player, who had become curious after watching the group practice night after night. Mackey was impressed with the youths’ dedication and deligence and volunteered to “work along with them.” With Mackey as their manager, the “Deans” have sung on amateur shows all over town, was on WWJ-TV for two weeks; worked in clubs in Canada and other cities in Michigan. To date, they have 25 original songs in their repertoire. A booking agent, Al Sparer, heard the “Deans” at a cocktail party and arranged an audition at his office. He was impressed with what he heard. Early in '62 they signed a contract with Star Maker Recording Co. A debut recording entitled “Oh, Little Star” b/w "You Got Me Baby" was released followed in 1963 by "Lady Of The) Caravan" b/w "Chills, Chills, Chills" and maybe it's the same group on "No Not Now" " on the Panik label in 1966.
Songs :
The Deans (2)
Oh Little Star You Got Me Baby
Lady Of The Caravan Chills, Chills, Chills
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The Deans (2) ???
No Not Now Catch That Train
...
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The Crescendos (5)
1957 - The Crescendos : Harrison Smith, Timothy Payton, Joe Stubbs & Richard Beasley
The Crescendos (5) (Detroit)
Personnel :
Joe Stubbs (Lead Tenor)
Harrison Smith "Smitty Boo" (First Tenor)
Timothy Payton (Second Tenor)
Richard Beasley (Baritone)
Discography :
1957- Woe Is Me / Some Say Love (???)
Biography :
Before joining The Famous Falcons, Joe Stubbs had been with the Fabulous Four a quartet from Detroit's Northern High that also had first tenor "Smitty Boo," second tenor Timothy Peyton, and baritone Richard Beasley). According to "The Michigan Chronicle", the group managed by Robert "Rollo" West changed their name to The Crescendos. They perform locally and it is certainly this group that records two titles on a small, local unremembered label: "Woe Is Me" and "Some Say Love".
https://www.uncamarvy.com/Falcons/falcons.html
Songs :
?
...
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The Val-Doros
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The Val-Doros (Detroit)
Personnel :
Charles Pryor
Jonathon Pettiway
John Banett
Wesley Wiley
Discography :
1956 - A Woman A Man (Feat Charles Pryor) / Don't Open The Grave (Silhouette 517)
Biography :
Detroit soul pioneer Robert West was born March 1, 1912, in Montgomery, AL, relocating to the Motor City in 1935. In 1957 he formed Silhouette Records, doubling as manager for the Falcons, a local doo wop group featuring future solo stars Eddie Floyd and Mack Rice. West also produced the Falcons' "Sent Up," far and away the most successful of the eight singles issued on Silhouette during its brief existence, among them records by little-known Detroit acts including Jan Wynn, the Vo-cals, Jim Beasley & the Charmers and the Val-Doros.
The Valdoros makes itself known locally by their appearance in the surrounding clubs. The group signed with Silhouette records in early 1956. This group impressed the people at Silhouette with their simple layed-out approach to music. They had a special blend in their harmony that stood out from the rest of the groups around town. It was said they sounded like a young Orioles group with lead singer Sonny Till when they recorded "A Woman A Man" Feat Charles Pryor and B-side "Don't Open The Grave".
Songs :
Don't Open The Grave A Woman A Man
...
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The Tornados (1)
William Weatherspoon, Ben Knight , Stanley Mitchell & Charles Sutton
The Tornados (1) (Detroit)
Personnel :
Stanley Mitchell (Lead)
William Weatherspoon (Tenor)
Charles Sutton (Baritone)
Ben Knight (Bass)
Discography :
Stanley Mitchell & The Tornados (1)
Single:
1956 - Four O'Clock In The Morning / Would You,Could You (Chess 1649)
Unreleased :
1956 - Don't You Know (Chess)
1956 - River (Chess)
1956 - Papers (Chess)
1956 - Please, Mr. Mailman (Chess)
1956 - Back To School (Chess)
1956 - Your Touch (Chess)
1956 - That's The Way I Feel (Chess)
The Tornados (1)
1959 - Love In Your Life / Geni In The Jug (Bumble Bee 503)
Stan Mitchell
1961 - Devil In Disguise / Lovin' Man (Gone 5106)
Biography :
Charles Sutton, a founding member of the Royals -- who changed to the Midnighters to avoid confusion with the Five Royales -- formed the Tornados when the Midnighters barred his re-entry in the group after a lengthy illness. Attempting to create a lineup as potent as the Midnighters, Sutton recruited Stanley Mitchell (tenor), William Weatherspoon (tenor), and Ben Knight (bass). A session for Chess Records produced five sides of which Chess issued one single "Four O' Clock in the Morning" b/w "Would You, Could You," aka "Hey You," (both sides written by their manager Alonzo Tucker) in 1956. The label credit read Stanley Mitchell & the Tornados and it got home state play (Michigan) but little anywhere else; the three other sides were never released, nor was anything cut at a 1957 or a 1958 session after they fired Tucker. 1956 wasn't all bad for Sutton, he co-wrote the Moonglows' hit "See Saw" with Roquel "Billy" Davis and Harry Pratt.
William Weatherspoon, Stanley Mitchell, Ben Knight & Charles Sutton
A hitch with Bob West in 1959 resulted in "Love in Your Life," written by Sutton and sometimes-Tornado Robert Spencer, and "Geni [sic] in a Jug," written by Sutton and Weatherspoon. West had a family of labels that included Lupine, Flick, Kudo, Contour, and Bumblebee; the Tornados' single came out on the latter. It seemed a natural move as West's A&R Director was ex-Royal/Midnighter Sonny Woods, Sutton's old road dog. But the Bumblebee deal only lasted one record. They next recorded some sides for Winley Records, notably "Clap Your Hand and Skate," written by Dave Clowney, bka Dave "Baby" Cortez, and Paul Winley, but neither it, nor the other sides ever saw the light of day and the Tornados disbanded. Sutton attempted an unsuccessful songwriting career with Correct Tone Records. Weatherspoon made a splash with Motown in the '60s as a songwriter/producer, scoring mightily with Jimmy Ruffin via "What's Become of the Brokenhearted," co-written with James Dean and arranger Paul Riser. He also contributed to Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus/Hot Wax labels in the '70s. Mitchell and Knight blended into the nine to five world and were never heard from again.
Songs :
Stanley Mitchell & The Tornados (1)
Four O'Clock In The Morning Would You,Could You
hat's The Way I Feel
The Tornados (1)
Love In Your Life Geni In The Jug
Stan Mitchell
Devil In Disguise Lovin' Man
...
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The Rockin' Kids aka The Four Queens (1) aka Ace Adams Singers
The Rockin' Kids (New York)
aka The Four Queens (1) aka Ace Adams Singers
Personnel :
?
Discography :
The Rockin' Kids
1958 - Yea Yea (I'm in the Mood) / Black Stockings (Dot 15749)
Ace Adams Singers
1958 - Ooh-Ya Ya Ya / Clang Clang - Click Click (Stan 45300)
1961 - Black Stockings / Gooey Over Louie (Abbco 46300)
The Four Queens (1)
1963 - Black Stockings / It's To Late (ABC 10409)
Biography :
Songs :
The Rockin' Kids
Yea Yea (I'm in the Mood) Black Stockings
Ace Adams Singers
Ooh-Ya Ya Ya Clang Clang - Click Click
Gooey Over Louie
The Four Queens (1)
Black Stockings / It's Too Late
...
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The Astro-Tots
seated : Ann Abernathy, Patsy Mitchell - standing : Jackie Tunell
The Astro-Tots (McKenney, Va.)
Personnel :
Jackie Tunell
Ann Abernathy
Patsy Mitchell
Discography :
1962 - My Dreams / Boy Without A Heart (Johnny B. Denton) (Linda 12254)
Biography
The "Astro-tots" are students at Sunnyside-McKenney High School who got their start in the church choir at Cut Bank Batist Church where Jackie Father, Fred Tunell is the pastor. The Members are Jackie Tunell, Ann Abernathy and Patsy Mitchell. The girls secured a recording contract with Linda Records, an RCA Victor subsidiary and recorded their first and only song. The selection taped in North Carolina is "My Dream" a song written for the girls by Jackie's father.
In addition to their vocal chores, the girls have several dance routines and 'speciality acts which are part of their personal appearance shows. They have appeared several times in McKenney and Dinwiddie County
Songs :
My Dreams
...
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The Chancellors (1) aka The Five Chancellors
Thanks to Sir Hats
The Chancellors (1) (Port Washington, New York)
aka The Five Chancellors
Personnel:
Edward Palatella (Lead)
John "Jiggie" Hopper (First Tenor)
Peter Rocco (Second Tenor)
Rowland Pinkney (Bass)
Donald Fields (Baritone)
Discography :
The Chancellors (1)
1957 - There Goes My Girl / Tell Me You Love Me (Port 5000)
The Five Chancellors
1957 - There Goes My Girl / Tell Me You Love Me (Port 5000)
Biography :
The Chancellors were a Five-man, mixed racial group consisting of three white and two black members, who came from Port Washington, Long Island. The two black members, Donald Fields (Baritone) and Rowland Pinkney were from Mineola High School and the remaining three guys, Edward Palatella (Lead), John Hopper and Peter Rocco (Second Tenor) were from Port Washington.
Jerry Blaine, owner of Jubilee Records send The group to an appearance on the Apollo theatre’s amateur night on February 20, 1957 with other 24 Rock & Roll acts. They became the first mixed racial group to perform at the Apollo Theatre. The group recorded "There Goes My Girl" b/w "Tell Me You Love Me" at the Belltone studios in New York.
Edward Palatella John Hopper Peter Rocco Donald Fields
Somehow, the review of this record in the May 27, 1957 issue of Billboard mistakenly says, "A lively, typical teen-age group side by seven kids from Port Washington, N.Y., High." Due to a threatened lawsuit by another Chancellors group, they quickly changed their name to the Five Chancellors and then vanished into the mists of doo wop soon after.
Songs :
There Goes My Girl Tell Me You Love Me
…
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