Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Excellents (2) aka The Ultimates (1)

Posted on August 19 2007 by dion1

The Excellents (2) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Ultimates (1)

Personnel :

Gary Allen (Lead)

Carlos Miranda (First Tenor)

Neil Bernstein (Second Tenor)

Donald Scheer (Baritone)

Dave Strum (Bass)

Discography :

The Ultimates (1)
1961 - I Can Tell You Love Me Too / Lonely Nights (Envoy 2302)  

The Excellents (2)
1962 - I Hear Rhapshody / Why Did You Laugh (Blast 207)

Biography :

The Excellents (1) looked set for a promising career with "Coney Island Baby" until record business skulduggery intervened. Booked for an appearance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand television programme, their record company refused to pay their travelling fees.

The Excellents (1)

When they learned that the group simply could not afford to travel to Philadelphia, the label instead sent a Brooklyn group, The Ultimates. This Group composed by Gary Allen, Carlos Miranda, Neil Bernstein, Donald Scheer and Dave Strum, was from Brooklyn and had previously record for the Envoy record Label the sides "I Can Tell You Love Me Too" / "Lonely Nights".

The Excellents (2)

This substitute Excellents group did record for Blast records "I Hear Rhapshody" b/w Why "Did You Laugh" as The Excellents.

Songs :

The Ultimates (1)

I Can Tell You Love Me Too Lonely Nights

The Excellents (2)

I Hear Rhapsody Why Did You Laugh

...

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The Del Tones (3) aka The Parlaments aka The Deltones (1)

Posted on August 14 2007 by dion1

Ronnie Howard, Tommy Burton, Ron Buonaro and Sammy Basile

The Parlaments (Chicago)
aka The Deltones (1) aka The Del Tones (3)

Personnel :

Sammy Basile (Lead)

Ron Buonaro (First Tenor)

Ronnie Howard (Baritone)

Tommy Burton (Bass)

Discography :

The Deltones (1)

Singles :
1958 - Jerry / Rockin' Cha Cha (with Debbie Stevens) (Roulette 4081)
1958 - Early Morning Rock / I'm 'Coming Home (Vee Jay 288)
1959 - A Lover's Prayer / First Man To The Moon (Vee Jay 303)
Unreleased :
1958 - Baby I Need You (Vee Jay)
1960 - Good Luck Charms (USA Records)

The Del Tones (3)
Singles :
1960 - And The Angels Sang / Please Talk to Me (USA Records 711)
Unreleased :
1960 - Good Luck Charms (USA Records)

The Parlaments
1961 - My Only Love / To Be Alone (USA Records 719)

Biography :

At 12, Sammy Basile and his close friend Tommy Burton would harmonize to the sounds and vocals of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and other groups whose records were on the candy store juke box. They grew up on the west of Chicago, now called K-Town, since all the streets in their neighborhood start with a "K," i.e. Kilborne, Karlov, Keeler, etc. They attended Marshall high school, located on the corners of 5th Ave, and Adams & Kedzie streets.

Debbie Stevens

During their freshmen year (1956) they met Ronnie Howard. Early in 1958, and Ronnie introduced the group to a Ron Buonaro, and the Deltones was formed. Like all other vocal groups, they used to practice harmonizing in the school halls and bathrooms. On Roulette, they backing Debbie Stevens (Debbie Dean) on their own composition : " Jerry" b/w "Rockin' Cha Cha". They recorded "Early Morning Rock" at the Chess Studios on south Michigan Ave. The flip side was a slow song that the unforgettable voice of Ronnie Howard sang, titled "I'm Coming Home,".

Ronnie Howard, Sammy Basile, Tommy Burton and Ron Buonaro

Jim Lounsberry took the songs to Ewart Abner and Calvin Carter. They liked the songs and signed the group to Vee-Jay Records.Within a few weeks the song had seen some success. Their next recording with VeeJay was in early 1959, "A Lover's Prayer" The session was at Universal Recording Studio in Chicago. Ron Bounoro sang the lead on this one. The flip-side, "First Man to the Moon" was selected by Calvin Carter. In 1960 They moved to USA Records. Recordings there included: Please Talk To Me, Good Luck Charms, and remakes of The Angels Sang and under the name of The Parlaments " My Only Love" b/w "To Be Alone" .

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Deltones (1) (with Debbie Stevens)

Jerry / Rockin' Cha Cha

The Deltones (1)


Early Morning Rock                I'm 'Coming Home             A Lover's Prayer


Baby I Need You                 First Man To The Moon

The Del Tones (3)

Good Luck Charms And The Angels Sang Please Talk To Me

The Parlaments

My Only Love To Be Alone

...

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The Ponsi Sisters Aka The Ponsonby Sisters

Posted on August 14 2007 by dion1

The Ponsonby Sisters (Azalea, Oregon)
Aka The Ponsi Sisters

Personnel:

Shella Ponsonby

Sharon Ponsonby

Patty Ponsonby

Donna Ponsonby

Maureen Ponsonby

Discography :

The Ponsi Sisters
1959 - School Bells, Wedding Bells / Chihuahua Cha Cha (Bingo 104)

Leon Smith & The Ponsonby Sisters
1959 - Once I Had A Heart / Little Forty Ford (Leon Smith) (Willamette 101)

Biography :

This group of five sisters from Azalea, started singing since 1955. The Sisters are Shella 8, Sharon 20, Patty 16, Donna 17 and Maureen 18. They have appeared at various county celebrations and win some Talent Contest. Other successes included winning third place on a pacific states talent show held in Portland's Paramount theatre in which 60 musical groups vied for the opportunity to appear on the Patty Page Show in New York City.

Shella in front and from left to right : Sharon , Patty , Donna and Maureen

The group has received some national recognition because of their appearance in March 1959 on The Lawrence Welk television program. They were special guest stars "The Ponsonby Sisters" of Azalea, Oregon. They did two numbers, "Mommy" and "No Other Arms". Thus far, the group has cut one record, "School Bells, Wedding Bells" and "Chihuahua Cha Cha" on the Bingo Label as the Ponsi Sisters.

Bingo Records was owned by Los Angeles DJ and TV personality Jim Specs Hawthorne. During 1959 and 1960 it produced at least seven 45rpm records featuring acts like Bing Crosby soundalike Troy Cori or the Ponsi sisters.

Leon Smith

In 1959, The Ponsonby Sisters backed Leon Smith on "Once I Had A Heart" for Willamette Records Owned by Leon Smith' Father. In 1960, they have signed a contract to record for Capitol, Unfortunately, nothing will be released and the success fades gradually.

Songs :

Leon Smith & The Ponsonby Sisters

Once I Had a Heart

...

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The Cardinals (4) aka The Equadors aka aka The Modern Ink Spots

Posted on August 9 2007 by dion1

The Cardinals (4) aka The Equadors aka aka The Modern Ink Spots

Top : O.Drummond, B.Davis, M.Robinson & R. Grant -   Bottom : R.Foreman, A.Turner & L. Thomas

The Cardinals (4) (Philadelphia, PA)
aka The Modern Ink Spots aka The Equadors

Personnel :

Al Turner (Lead)

Oscar Drummond (First Tenor)

Rilly Foreman (Second Tenor)

Lynn Thomas (Baritone)

Reginald Grant (Bass)

Mitchell Robinson (Guitar)

Billy Davis (Drums)

Discography :

The Equadors

Single:
1958 - Sputnik Dance / A Vision (RCA EPA 4286)
Ep :
1958 - Sputnik Dance / I'll Be The One / A Vision / Stay A Little Longer (RCA EPA 4286)

The Modern Ink Spots
1962 - Spotlight Dance / Together (In Your Arms) (Rust 5052)

The Cardinals (4)
1963 - Why Don't You Write Me / Sh-Boom (Rose 835)

Biography :

Philadelphia R&B group the Equadors formed in 1955. According to Marv Goldberg's profile in the February 1999 issue of Discoveries, lead Al Turner, first tenor Oscar Drummond, second tenor Rilly Foreman, baritone Lynn Thomas, and bass Reginald Grant were all high-school friends born and raised in the same North Philly neighborhood. Originally dubbed the Chants, the quartet typically performed alongside accompanists Mitchell Robinson on guitar and Billy Davis on drums, eventually making them full-time members of the roster. Local real estate salesman Larry Kerrin soon agreed to manage the Chants, landing them a plum gig in New Jersey opening for Ray Charles and Pigmeat Markham. The exposure nevertheless failed to launch the group to the next level, and in mid-1956 they began appearing as the Equadors, replacing Kerrin with WHAT DJ Lloyd "Fatman" Smith. Upon signing with the Jolly Joyce Booking Agency, the group landed a record deal with RCA Victor, and in early 1958 traveled to New York City to record a four-song session issued in full a month later.

The Cardinals (4) aka The Equadors aka aka The Modern Ink Spots
King Curtis

The EP format actually hampered the Equadors' chances at radio, where the conventional single reigned supreme, and although the lead track, "Sputnik Dance" (featuring the great King Curtis on saxophone), was subsequently reissued with flip side "A Vision," the damage was done. The Equadors nevertheless performed the single on American Bandstand, and toured the East Coast on a bill with Frankie Lymon and Paul Anka. In early 1960 Jolly Joyce execs rechristened the Equadors the Modern Ink Spots in a scheme to position the group for the supper-club circuit. The ploy was a success, with gigs at upper-crust nightspots like the famed Peppermint Lounge soon to follow. Although their repertoire now consisted of the usual ballads and standards, the Modern Ink Spots gradually worked some of their old R&B material back into their sets.

The Cardinals (4) aka The Equadors aka aka The Modern Ink Spots

Baritone/tenor Gary Evans joined the lineup in 1962, around the same time drummer Davis left the group. His replacement, Claude Higgs, signed on in time to cut the lone Modern Ink Spots single, the Rust release "Spotlight Dance." Prior to a 1963 booking in Quebec, the Modern Ink Spots learned of a rival group with the same name already touring Canada -- after another quick change, they traveled north as the Cardinals, and under that moniker recorded "Why Don't You Write Me" for the Rose imprint. In the final months of their career they again performed as the Modern Ink Spots, but split in 1965 when Turner signed on with the Philadelphia Police Department.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Equadors/equadors.html

Songs :

The Equadors


Sputnik Dance                           I'll Be The One


        A Vision                       Stay A Little Longer

 The Modern Ink Spots 

Spotlight Dance Together (In Your Arms) 

 The Cardinals (4) 

Why Don't You Write Me Sh-Boom 

….

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The Cupcakes (2) aka The Threeteens aka The Dreams (4)

Posted on August 9 2007 by dion1

The Threeteens aka The Dreams (4) aka The Cupcakes (2)
Janis Cox, Left, Donna Crunk, top, Pam Crunk

The Threeteens (Phoenix, Arizona)
aka The Dreams (4)
aka The Cupcakes (2)

Personnel :

Donna Crunk

Pam Crunk

Janis Cox

Discography :

The Threeteens
1958 - Dear 53310761 / Doowaddie (Rev 3516)
1959 - For The Love Of Mike / X + Y = Z (Rev 3522/Todd 1021)

The Cupcakes (2)
1959 - It's Willy / Deutsche Rock und Roll (Time 1011)

The Dreams (4)
Singles :
1962 - Too Late / Inexperience (Smash 1748)
Unreleased :
1962 - No Love Lost
1962 - I Forgot About You

Denny Reed bb Donna & Pam Crunk (Uncredited)
1960 - A Teenager Feels It Too / Hot Water (Trey 3007)

Biography :

The Threeteens were a Phoenix girl group consisting of Donna and Pam Crunk (daughters of Connie Conway, whose real name is Connie Crunk) and their friend Jan Cox. Connie Conway, a noted musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and music teacher worked with songwriter/producer Lee Hazelwood (writer of “These Boots Are Made of for Walking”(Nancy Sinatra), and producer of Wayne Newton) . The Three girls were from Washington High School in Phoenix and in 1958 Donna, Jan & Pam signed a recording contract with Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood to record at the Audio Recorders studio in Phoenix.

Donna Crunk & Janis Cox

As the Threeteens, they cut four songs released by Rev Records in Phoenix owned by Bill Thorne & Frank Porter . "Dear 53310761" b/w "Doowaddie" on Rev 3516 and "For The Love Of Mike" b/w "X + Y = Z" on Rev 3522, This Rev 45 was also released on Todd label. "Dear 53310761" On Rev Records #3516 had Duane Eddy on Guitar (The number "53310761", of course, refers to Elvis' U.S. Army serial number). The girls did most of the girl backgrounds at Audio Recorders.

Donna Crunk Janis Cox Pam Crunk

In 1959 They changed their name as the Cupcakes and cut "It's Willy" b/w "Deutsche Rock und Roll" for Time records. In 1961, Pam & Donna, renamed the Dreams, drove to L.A. to work with Lee Hazlewood and cut 4 sides for smash Records. Only the single "Too Late" b/w "Inexperience" was released on Smash 1748 .

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Threeteens


Doowaddie                                      Dear 53310761


X + Y = Z                                  For The Love Of Mike

The Cupcakes (2)

It's Willy / Deutsche Rock und Roll

The Dreams (4)


Too Late                                        Inexperience

Denny Reed bb Donna & Pam Crunk (Uncredited)


A Teenager Feels It Too                               Hot Water

...

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The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1)

Posted on August 5 2007 by dion1

The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1) Paste-up photo- Top : Edward Palatella - Bottom (L to R) : Peter Rocco, Donald Fields & John Hopper

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.

The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1)

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.

The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1)

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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The Kings And Queens ake The Orioles (2) with The DellTones

Posted on August 5 2007 by dion1

The Kings And Queens (Queens, N.Y.)
aka The Orioles (2) with The DellTones (1) / Ref The Regals (2)

Personnel :

Della Simpson (Lead)

Sonny Til

Diz Russell

Jerry Holeman

Tex Cornelius

Billy Adams

Bunny Foy

Renée Stewart

Algie Willie

Discography :

1957 - Voices Of Love / I'm So Lonely (Everlast 5003)

Biography :

Della Simpson of the Dell Tones had met and befriended the Orioles. In fact, she ended up marrying Paul Griffin, their pianist. (In the late 70s, Sonny Til lived in Della's house for the last two years of his life.) Since the Orioles were into modern harmony, they hit it off with the Delltones.

Della Griffin, Renee Stewart, Bunny Foy, Billy Adams, Sonny Till, Aaron Cornelius, Jerry Holeman and Albert Russell
The two groups combined to record "Voices Of Love" and "I'm So Lonely," for Danny Robinson's Everlast label, as the Kings And Queens. Released around June 1957, the personnel consisted of: Sonny Til, Diz Russell, Jerry Holeman, Tex Cornelius, Billy Adams, Della Simpson (who leads both sides), Bunny Foy, Renée Stewart, and Algie Willie (who doesn't appear in the only photo taken of them). This group appeared a couple of times at some New York clubs.

Songs :

Voices Of Love / I'm So Lonely

….

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The Demens (1) aka The Emersons

Posted on August 5 2007 by dion1

The Emersons (Manhattan, New-York)
aka The Demens (1)

Personnel :

Eddie “California” Jones (Lead)

Jimmy Caines (First Tenor)

Thomas Cook (Second Tenor, Lead)

Frankie Cook ( Baritone)

Discography :

The Demens (1)
1957 - Take Me As I Am / You Broke My Heart (Teenage 1006)
1957 - The Greatest Of Them All / Hey Young Girl (Teenage 1008)

The Emersons
1958 - Hungry / Joannie, Joannie (Newport 7004)
1959 - Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde / The Hokey Pokey (Cub 9027)
1961 - Down In The Valley / Loneliness (United Artists 379)

Eddie Jones & The Demons
196? - The Greatest Of Them All / Long Tall Texan (Jim Mann & Demons) (Kairay 1003)

Biography :

The Demens (yes, that spelling is correct) formed in New York City and harmonized on street corners. They may have opted for that spelling of the word demon because of a record label called Demon Records famous for “Western Movies” by the Olympics and "Endless Sleep" by Jody Reynolds. The vocal group consisted of Eddie Jones, Thomas Cook, Frankie Cook, and Jimmy Caines. The group then hooked up with the manager of the Bobbettes of “ Mr. Lee” fame (Atlantic #1144), Jim Dailey, and got to record for the small Teenage record label located on Broadway.

The Demens (1) aka The Emersons

This affiliation yielded two singles—the original version of "Take Me As I Am" (Teenage #1006), later covered by the Duprees, and the much less successful “The Greatest of Them All” (Teenage #1008). Shortly after the second release by the Demens, the Teenage label folded and its owners seemingly disappeared. Another label had interest in the group, but couldn't find the owners of Teenage to release the group from their contract, so in order to proceed, a name change occurred.

The Emersons aka The Demens (1)

The group became the Emersons and was more likely named for the electronics company than the college. ow with the Newport Records label, the group recorded a ballad called “Joanie, Joanie” and backed it up with a novelty song titled "Hungry" (Newport 7004) The novelty side became a minor hit, and the owner of Newport Records, Jerry Winston, then brought the group over to MGM's Cub label subsidiary (#9027), where they recorded a two-sided novelty record “The Hokey Pokey” backed with “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

NEven on a major label, the group failed to match the regional success of their earlier releases. They gave it one more try, again for a major label—United Artists (#379—“Loneliness” backed with “Down In The Valley", but it just wasn't meant to be, and the group disbanded. Lead singer Eddie Jones remained in the music business and the group disbanded. Lead singer Eddie Jones remained in the music business and worked with several girl groups, including arranging and playing piano for the Chantels of “ Maybe” fame. Jones continued to work until his passing on August 24, 2008.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Demens (1)


Take Me As I Am            You Broke My Heart          The Greatest Of Them All

Hey Young Girl

The Emersons


Hungry                           Joannie, Joannie              Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde


The Hokey Pokey              Down In The Valley / Loneliness

Eddie Jones & The Demons

The Greatest Of Them All

...

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The Romeos (4)

Posted on August 2 2007 by dion1

The Romeos (4)
Mike Regal

The Romeos (4) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Mike Regal (Lead)

Discography :

1962 - The Tiger's Wide Awake (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) / Hitch Hikin (Amy 840 )

Biography :

The Chord-A-Roys are a vocal group from Brooklyn fronted by Mike Regal with Robert Walden, Shelly Weiss and John Christiano. The group cut one single for JDS Records. The group broke up soon after and Shelly Weiss joined Mike Lasman, Allan Senzan and Ian Kaye & formed the Dreamers / the Accents.

The Romeos (4)

In 1962, Mike Regal became lead singer for another group, The Romeos. The Romeos recorded the answer song to the classic Tokens tune "The Lion Sleep Tonight".

Songs :

The Tiger's Wide Awake

...

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The Runarounds (1) aka The Emotions (1) aka The Moments aka Four Dreams

Posted on August 2 2007 by dion1

The Runarounds (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Emotions (1) aka The Moments aka Four Dreams

Personnel :

Joe Favale (Lead)

Tony Maltese (Tenor)

Larry Cusimano (Second Tenor)

Joe Nigro (Baritone)

Dom Collura (Bass) 

Discography :

1961 - The Nearest Thing To Heaven / Lovers Lane (Pio 107)  

Biography :

The Emotions was formed in 1958 by Joe Favale and Tony Maltese. Recently discharged from the Navy Joe began singing with a group from lower Manhattan called The Moments. After a couple of years of performing but having no luck getting a record contract they disbanded. At the same time Tony Maltese's group, The Runarounds decided to call it quits.

The Moments

One night while singing Doo-Wop harmonies together in Maple Lanes bowling alley in Brooklyn they decided to join forces and start a new group. They enlisted the services of Dom Colurra, Larry Cusamano and Joe Nigro. They called themselves The Runarounds, and acquired a personal manager named Henry Boye.

Tony Maltese's first Runarounds

Henry was responsible for the group's first recording contract with Pio records. In August 1961 their first record of the aforementioned songs was released — and promptly flopped. A year later they changed their name to The Emotions.

Songs :

The Nearest Thing To Heaven / Lovers Lane

...

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