Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Harbor Lights aka The Harbor Lites

Posted on July 16 2007 by dion1

The Harbor Lights aka The Harbor Lites
Sandy Yaguda, Sydelle Sherman and Kenny Vance

The Harbor Lights (New York)
aka The Harbor Lites

Personnel :

Sandy Deane "Yaguda"

Sidell Sherman

Kenny Rosenberg "Vance"

Discography:

The Harbor Lites 
1960 - What Would I Do Without You / Is That Too Much To Ask (Jaro 77020) 

The Harbor Lights 
1960 - Angel Of Love / Tick A Tick A Tock (Mala 422)

Anastasia bb The Harbor Lights
1960 - Time Bomb / That's My Kind Of Love (Laurie 3066)

Biography :

In 1959, Kenny Vance and Sandy Yaguda were part of a vocal group called the Harbor lites; so called because they lived in Belle Harbor, New York. The other members were Sydell Sherman, Gail Sherman, Linda Kahn and Richie Graff. They all attended the same school. One of the owners of IVY Records, Stan Feldman, also lived in that neighborhood and the Harbor lites went to his home to audition for his label. He thought that the group was terrible and told them to go home and do a lot of practicing. Linda, Gail and Richie left the group at this point and the three remaining members practiced constantly : Sandy Yaguda, Sidell Sherman and Kenny Vance .

When they thought that they were good enough they went back to his office to audition again. This time they were signed to a contract and their first record was "Is That Too Much To Ask"- originally on Ivy but Jaro Records purchased the master. Jaro stood for The J. Arthur Rank Organization. In 1960, the groups other single "Tick-a Tick-a Toc," which may have been released briefly by Jaro, came out on Mala label, a struggling, medium size New York company.The group backed Anastasia (aka Dean Parrish) on his first single for Laurie Records. Kenny Vance & Sandy Yaguda then formed another group with Howie Kane and Jay Traynor. The new group auditioned for Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who signed them to United Artists Records, and named the group Jay and the Americans.

Songs :

The Harbor Lites

What Would I Do Without You Is That Too Much To Ask

The Harbor Lights

Tick A Tick A Tock Angel Of Love

Anastasia bb The Harbor Lights

That's My Kind Of Love

...

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The Hippies aka The Tams (1) aka The Stereos (1)

Posted on July 16 2007 by dion1

The Stereos (1) (Philadelhia)
aka The Tams (1) aka The Hippies

Personnel :

Carole "Devine" Varletta (Lead)

Howard "Bogey" Boggess (Baritone)

Nancy Orts (Alto)

Jack Felker (Tenor)

Discography :

The Stereos (1)
1959 - Memory Lane / Teenage Kids (Mink 27)

The Tams (1)
1959 - Memory Lane / Teenage Kids (Mink 27)
1960 - Sorry / Valley Of Love (Swan 1960)
1961 - Vacation Time / If Love Were Like Rivers (Heritage 101)
1962 - Memory Lane* / Teenage Kids (Parkway 863)

The Hippies
1963 - Memory Lane* / A Lonely Piano** (Parkway 863)

*Alternate Version
** Reggie Harrisson

Biography :

This group came from The Roxborough high Schoolin Philadelhia in 1957. They were Carole "Devine" Varletta, Howard Boggess, Nancy Orts and Jack Felker. Together they dreamt up the name Impalas; it wasn't long before they entered the requisite talent show at Roxborough High. Amazingly they won. Howard Boggess changed the name to The Stereos and Disk Jockey Bud Bress decided to manage the group.

The Impalas - Howard "Bogey" Boggess, Nancy Orts, Jack Felker & Carole "Devine" Varletta

In 1959, The Stereos came in the Allegro Studio for Mink Records with "Memory Lane" and "Teenage Kids". Mink launched the two-sider in mid-1959. But there was in fact a Stereos group from Ohio, so the label repressed the same versions under the aegis of the Tams. Not long thereafter, Bogey and Brees arranged an audition with Bernie Bennick's Swan complex… Both cuts, "Sorry" , a weeper composed by Bogey, was coupled with Bress' "Valley of Love", were assembled.

Carole "Devine" Varletta

In 1961, Bogey and the group, perhaps augmented by another singer, issue a nifty platter for Heritage Records "Vacation Time" b/w "If Love Were Like Rivers" was fobbed off to a juke warm public. Bernie Lowe owner of Cameo, released "Memory Lane" b/w "Teenage Kids" on his Parkway subsidiary, bust must have been alerted during the first month or so that Joe South's Tams out of Virginia objected the name "Tams".

The Tams/Hippies, with new Members

ABC's Tams had already issued a clutch of recordings on Arlen and General American soon to score a major triumph in "What Kind Of Fool" during the Fall of 1963. Lowe changed the name to Hippies, and switched out the flip to "A Lonely Piano".

Songs :


Memory Lane                         Teenage Kids                            Sorry


Valley Of Love                  If Love Were Like Rivers            Vacation Time

...

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The Wonders (7) - ref : The Satans Four

Posted on July 16 2007 by dion1

The Wonders (7) - ref : The Satans Four
The Satans Four

The Wonders (7) (New York)
ref : The Satans Four

Personnel :

Frankie (Spinale) Paris (First Tenor)

Chuck Howard (Baritone)

Glen Hockaday

Al Vega

Discography :

The Wonders (7)
1963 - Say There / Marilyn (Colpix 699)

The Satans Four
1965 - I Can't Find The Girl On My Mind / Oh Kathy (B.T. Puppy 515)

Biography :

Frankie Spinale was born in 1941 in Boston. In 1958, he found a bunch of guys who felt the same way: the Crescents. That was his first vocal group and they were together for three years. They did a lot of record hops. Frankie took the name Paris from another singer he saw in Boston who was working in the clubs, he had the name Bobby Paris. Frankie need a name that is gonna be easy, Americanized. So he changed it up. Most Italian American artists, like Frankie Avalon, Fabian, they all changed their names becauseit made it easy for the public to remember.

The Wonders (7) - ref : The Satans Four
The Crescents L to R : Nelson Caruso, Jack Carroll, Frankie (Spinale) Paris, Butch Russo.

Then in 1962, Frankie Paris ventured into New York with eighty bucks in his pocket on a Greyhound bus, with one suitcase. He met this guy, who was also in a singing group. His name was Al Vega. They went to Broadway a week later, and met two other guys. The first was Glen Hockaday playing a guitar. He came from Washington, D.C.. So they started singing. And the harmonies sounded great. So then the three walked farther up towards the Ed Sullivan Theater. And a guy comes down the street, his name is Chuck Howard, he hears the harmonies and join the group. An interracial group, Frankie Paris was Italian American, Al Vega was Spanish, the other two guys were black. They started singing in the streets. Later on they got the name the Wonders.

The Wonders (7) - ref : The Satans Four
The Tokens - Hank Medress, Mitch Margo, Phil Margo et Jay Siegel.

There was this rehearsal studio at 1697 Broadway, at 53 rd Street. They rented a hall, for like a buck and a half. And we started rehearsing, singing different songs and next room over was a production company. Independent producers were the thing at that time. They meet the Independent producers, there's four of them, and they’re The Tokens. The Tokens tell them - "The sound is interesting. Go write some songs. Come back on Monday." So The Wonders went to Glen Hockaday 's house in Brooklyn, wrote two songs, came back on Monday. They heard one song, they loved it and signed the Wonders to a two-year contract. Two months later they had a record out, "Say There." The B-side was "Marilyn," written by the Tokens themselves.

The Wonders (7) - ref : The Satans Four
The Satans Four

They got a lot of airplay, although the "Say There" side failed to crack either the Billboard or Cash Box "Top 100" it was a "Top 40" hit in several markets between August and October, 1963...Springfield, MA, Baltimore, MD, Bakersfield, CA, Detroit, MI, Pittsburgh, PA and Columbus, OH. ..also "Top 50" in Buffalo, NY . In 1965 Frankie Paris took off for Vegas with one of the members of the original Wonders, and they put a band together. They were called Satan's Four and did a Motown repertoire, rhythm-and-blues stuff. They were at a club called the Pussycat A Go- Go. The Satans Four recorded "I Can't Find The Girl On My Mind" and "Oh Kathy" released on the B.T. Puppy a company established by The Tokens.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Wonders (7)

Say There Marilyn

The Satans Four

I Can't Find The Girl On My Mind Oh Kathy

…

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The Quills aka The Incinerators

Posted on July 15 2007 by dion1

The Quills aka The Incinerators The Quills (Chester, PA)
aka The Incinerators

Personnel :

Rick Berry

Fred Cox

Otis Freeman

Gus Rainey

Tim Speed

Discography :

The Quills
1959 - Who's Love But Yours / Going To The Moon (Casino 106)

The Incinerators
1961 - You Think You're Cute / I Want To Know (Sound Dex 100)

Biography :

Members of The Quills were Rick Berry, Fred Cox, Otis Freeman, Gus Rainey, & Tim Speed. The group started singing in their early teens. After a few years they got quite good t it became the first group in Chester to start using dance choreography in their act. They sang live on the two most popular radio stations in Philadelphia. and although they sang Rhythm and Blues, or Rock and Roll as some people called it, they also sang in church on one occasion.

The Quills aka The Incinerators

They even sang at the Apollo Theatre in New York city on the Famous Wednesday night talent show. They also happened to make their first professional recording in New York City. The record never made any money for them, but the Quills had fun doing and promoting it. About two years later, the band will record two new songs, this time in Philadelphia. "You Think You're Cute" and "I Want To Know" will be released under the strange name of Incinerators on the Sound-Dex label.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Quills

Who's Love But Yours Going To The Moon

The Incinerators

You Think You're Cute I Want To Know

...

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The Dynamics (1) aka The Lanes

Posted on July 14 2007 by dion1

The Lanes (Brooklyn, NY)
aka The Dynamics (1)

Personnel :

Pat Flugieri (Lead Tenor)

Sonny "Augie" Pirillo (Tenor)

Jerry Giamonco (Bass)

Ben Lanzarone (Piano)

Discography :

The Lanes

Singles :
1956 - You Alone / Open Up Your Heart (Gee 1023)
Unreleased :
1956 - I Wonder (Gee)
1956 - Please Be My Love (Gee)

The Dynamics (1)
1957 - Ka Joom / A Hundred Million Lies (Warner 1016)

Biography :

Vocal group from Brooklyn, The Lanes sign a recording contract with George Goldner, owner of Gee records, the house of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. The group cut "You Alone" b/w "Open Up Your Heart". On the strength of the record, the Lanes were booked into the Apollo Theater, with an Alan Freed show, for the week beginning November 23, 1956.

Also on the bill were several other acts on Goldner's labels: the Harptones, the Cleftones, the Pretenders, the Rhythm Jesters, and the Joytones... In 1957, the group cut "Ka Joom " b/w "A Hundred Million Lies" for Warner under the name of the Dynamics and broke up.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Lanes

You Alone / Open Up Your Heart Please Be My Love I Wonder

The Dynamics (1)

Ka Joom / A Hundred Million Lies

..

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The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets
Eric Nathanson

The Vocal-Airs (Coney Island, Brooklyn)
aka The Blue Sonnets

Personnel :

Louis Fasanaro

Eric Nathanson (Second Tenor)

Joseph Piazza

Robert Kutner (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Vocal-Airs
Single :
1962 - Dance Dance / These Empty Arms (Herald 573)
Unreleased :
1962 - Crying In The Chapel (Herald)
1962 - Out Of Sight Out Of Mind (Herald)

The Blue Sonnets
1963 - Thank You Mr. Moon / It's Never Too Late (To Fall In Love) (Columbia 42793)

Ricky Reynolds (Eric Nathanson)
1959 - Let's Leave It That Way / Get The Message (Mohawk 201)

Biography :

Louis Fasanaro, Eric Nathanson, Joseph Piazza and Robert Kutner were from Bensonhurst. Eric Nathanson originally sang with Lonnie & the Carollons of Mohawk fame. Eric Nathanson recorded a solo single under the name of Ricky Reynolds before joining The Vocal-Airs. The Vocal-Airs recorded for Herald records "Dance Dance" b/w "These Empty Arms" in 1962.

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets

"Dance Dance" have a little airplay in September 1962. From the same session, they recorded "Crying In The Chapel" and "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind", unfortunately the two songs were never released. In 1963, Vinnie Fiacco replaced Bob Kutner and the group evolved into the Blue Sonnets and recorded "Thank You Mr. Moon" b/w "It's Never Too Late" on Columbia Records.

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets

"Thank You Mr. Moon" was credited by M. Saunders and D. Blatt. D. Blatt is also known as Jay Black. M. Saunders is Marty Saunders (Sanders). They were members of Jay and the Americans. Bob Kutner also sang in the Boptones on Ember, The Four Romans on Wynne and with the Accents after their recording of "Rag To Riches".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Vocal-Airs


   Dance Dance                                    These Empty Arms


Crying In The Chapel                   Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

The Blue Sonnets

Thank You Mr. Moon It's Never Too Late

...

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The Pageants (2)

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

The Pageants (2) (New York)

Personnel :

Leroy Bronson (Lead)

Barbara Reeves (Lead)

Melvin Riley

John Flores

Discography :

1961 - Show Them You Can Dance / It's Been So Long (Beacon 559)
1965 - She Is Your Girl / Make It Last (Groove 0056)
1965 - Are You Ever Coming Home / I'm A Victim (RCA 8601)

Biography :

John Flores and bandmates Barbara Reeves, Leroy Bronson and Melvin Riley were contracted to producer, publisher and record label owner Joe Davis for half a year beginning in October of 1963. One week after signing the deal, the Pageants came up with the four songs that were specified as the minimum number of recordings to be cut.Davis' first choice for a single was a pairing of the goading "Show Them You Can Dance" with the impatient "It's Been So Long." Musically there can be no fault found with the backup on these sides, a combo that features session ace guitarist Lawrence Lucie as well as a bassist known for his work with Elmore James, Bob Bushnell. They also recorded on the Groove & RCA Label.

Songs :

It's Been So Long She Is Your Girl

Make It Last

..

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The Metros (2) aka The Crystals (6) aka The Delmonicos (2)

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

The Crystals (6) aka The Metros (2) aka The Delmonicos (2)

The Crystals (6) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Metros (2) aka The Delmonicos (2)

Personnel :

Johnny Angelillo (Baritone)

Joe Patriarca (Second Tenor)

Don Cruz (Lead & First Tenor)

Joe Garcia (Lead & First Tenor)

Jesus "Joe" Carillo (Bass)

Discography :

The Delmonicos (2)
Demo
1957 - Cynthia b/w Baby Sitter

The Metros (2)
1958 - All of My Life / Lookin' (Just 1502)

The Crystals (6)
Singles :
1959 - That's Where I Belong / Better Come Back To Me (Metro 20026)
1960 - Watching You / Oh, My You (Cub 9064) Dee-jay copy
1959 - I've Got My Reasons / Big John Grundy (Metro)
Unreleased
1959- The Beauty & the Beast (Cub)

Biography :

The Original Crystals came from Columbus High School. They are Joe Patriarca, Richie Sozzi, ,Joe Garcia, John Angelillo and Joe Premonts. . The Group changed their name to the Delmonicos and recorded a demo Cynthia b/w Baby Sitter in 1957/1958. Premont and Sozzi were soon replaced by Joe "Bassi" Carillo and Don Cruz respectively. John's brother Louis "Chubby" became the group's co-manager along with Louis Carbonetti. Chubby Angelillo got the group an audition with Moe Gale . Moe Gale changed the group's name to the Metro's and they recorded 2 sides released by Just Record "All of My Life" b/w "Lookin'" .

The Delmonicos The Original Crystals

Moe then formed his own agency (Moe Gale Agency) and took the guys to see Ray Ellis (yes, the band leader) at MGM where they auditioned for him. Some acetate demo 78s were done and sent to different publishing agencies. Ray wanted to record them, but only if they changed their name. The group got together and chose the name Crystals (back then, there were no well- known groups with this name, although hard-core followers of early rhythm and blues know there were several earlier groups with this name).

with Frank Beltran of the Young Tones

They then were signed by Ray for the Metro label (subsidiary of MGM) a 3 years contract releasing 2 45's on Metro and Cub both MGM subsidiaries. On the local strengh of these 45's the group would appear on Alan Freed's Big Beat TV show, Jack Spectors Rhode Island TV show, plus performing at many functions and venues including West Point.
Ed Engel (Crystal Ball records)
http://www.harmonytrain.com/dowoplady/Metros/metros.htm

Film :

Watching You

Songs :

The Delmonicos (2)


Cynthia                                        Baby Sitter

The Metros (2)


All of My Life

Lookin'

The Crystals (6)


That's Where I Belong                Better Come Back To Me


Watching You                       Oh, My You

I've Got My Reasons

...

Premont and Sozzi were soon replaced by Joe "Bassi" Carillo and Don Cruz respectively.
The Group changed their name to the Delmonicos and recorded a demo Cynthia b/w Baby Sitter in 1957/1958.

John's brother Louis "Chubby" became the group's co-manager along with Louis Carbonetti.
Chubby Angelillo got the group an audition with Moe Gale who changed the group's name to the Metro's.

They recorded 2 sides for the Just Record Label.
Soon Moe would open his own agency and took the group up to see Ray Ellis. Ray was the A&R man for MGM. He signed the group to a 3 years contract releasing 2 45's on Metro and Cub both MGM subsidiaries.

Once again the powers in charge decided the Metros on Metro wouldn't work.

The Group elected to take back their original name, The Crystals . It would be several years before the Phil Spector group would hit the charts so this name selection was a keeper.

On the local strengh of these 45's the group would appear on Alan Freed's Big Beat TV show, Jack Spectors Rhode Island TV show, plus performing at many functions and venues including West Point.
Ed Engel (Crystal Ball records)

http://www.harmonytrain.com/dowoplady/Metros/metros.htm

Videos :

Extraordinary song :

Oh, My You (A cappella)

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Kelly Troy & The Jays (3) aka The Three Jays (1)

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

Kelly Troy & The Jays (3) aka The Three Jays (1)

James Leggat (Kelly Troy)

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1) (Georgia, Atlanta )
aka The Jays (3)

Personnel :

James Leggat "Kelly Troy" (Lead)

Marty Jay

Marlyn Jay

Stan Jay

Discography :

The Three Jays (1)
1956 - The Memory Of You / Caught, Caught, Ring-A-Leevio (RCA Victor 6692)
1959 - Rosa / Because Of You (Vee Jay 311)

Kelly Troy
1960 - Hairlooms / Remember When (Corvette CV 100)

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1)
1961 - You’re Lucky In Love / In The Still Of The Night (Tad 101)

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1) (Uncredited)
1961 - You're Lucky In Love / Rockaway Playland (Tad 102)

Kelly Troy & The Jays (3)
1961 - You’re Lucky In Love / In The Still Of The Night (Harvey 102)

Biography :

According youtube through members families, James Leggat under the stage name of Kelly Troy was a Elvis Era rocker (part of the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Tour with Brenda Lee and Neil Sedaka) with slicked back hair, killer clothes, ever with one eye on the ladies and the other seeking out the nearest mirror. Songs under his stage name Kelly Troy “In the Still of the Night” and “Lucky In Love” among others. Originally from London, the eldest son of a Scot carpenter from the Highlands and his wife, a housewife from County Carlo, Ireland, James’ Father (and his siblings) was among the last W.W.I.I. refugees processed at Ellis Island. James Leggat saw America as the land of Opportunity. Though getting radio play and other industry notice, the Army, via the draft, brought James Sr. to Georgia where he met his wife, sister to one of his barrack buddies.

Kelly Troy & The Jays (3) aka The Three Jays (1)

                                                                        James Leggat

The Three jays was Marty Jay, Marlyn Jay and Stan Jay, who were billed as the Jays on the Harvey label . In 1956, the 13 year-old Marty Jay and his 10 and 11 year-old Siblings Stan and Marilyn Jay have a first single with "The Memory Of You (Legend Of James Dean)" b/w "Caught, Caught, Ring-A-Leevio (One, Two, Three)" on Rca Victor. Three Years later another disc is released by Vee-Jay Records; "Rosa" b/w "Because Of You", Unfortunately I don't know if it's the same group.

Songs :

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1)


You’re Lucky In Love                In The Still Of The Night

Kelly Troy

Remember When

The Three Jays (1)

Caught, Caught, Ring-A-Leevio

...

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The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

Posted on July 12 2007 by dion1

The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

The Chessmen (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Chessman
aka The Preludes (4)
aka The Preludes Five

Personnel :

Floyd Lark (lead)

Discography :

The Chessman (ft Bobby)
1958 – The Keeper Of My Love / Why (Safari 1011)

The Chessmen (1)
1958 - Du-Whop / I Live For You (MiraSonic 1002 & MiraSonic 1868)

The Preludes (4)
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

The Preludes Five
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

Biography :

Whoever Leroy R. Bates was he was on a roll in 1961, for not only was he writer of the Preludes Five's hit "Starlight", he was also the writer of the Crystals "There's No Other (like My Baby)" with hit the charts soon after. In those days the only people making money were the writers and publishers : those who 'merely' recorded their work rarely, if ever, saw anything from a record's sale.The Preludes Fives, if they were still together, would ge nothing which is probably what they got in 1961. Surprisingly for a hit record, both the group and their record label are clouded in obscurity.

The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

Pik Records may have been based on the east coast, an assumption based on the record (Pik 230 "Don’t You Know Love" was the flip) breaking out in New York area June 1961. August 20 it had entered the Billboard hot 100 at 96, subsequently rising to 89 and 86. September 10th and 17th it was No80 and then it disappeared. The first pressing of the record was billed as by the Preludes, subsequent pressings adding the Five, presumably out of the group's concern that at least one other group with the same name could steal their bookings.Remarkably there was no follow-up and it seems the group immediatly disbanded. The quintet were lead by Floyd Lark and were the same group as the Chessman who recorded for Safari in 1958 and the Chessmen on Mirasonic the same year.

Songs :

The Chessman

Why The Keeper Of My Love

The Chessmen (1)

Du-Whop I Live For You

The Preludes (4) / The Preludes Five

Don’t You Know Love Starlight

...

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