Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Bon-Aires (2)

Posted on November 29 2007 by dion1

From left to tight, Dennis Diamond, Scot McLearie, Mike Paladino & George Lavatelli

The Bon-Aires (2) (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Georges Lavatelli (Lead)

Mike Paladino (Tenor)

Denis Diamond (Second Tenor)

Scotty McLerie (Baritone)

Discography :

Singles :
1962 - Blue Beat / Driving Along (Rust TR3)
1963 - Bye Bye / My Love My Love (Rust 5077)
1964 - The Shrine Of St Cecilia / Jeannie Baby (Rust 5097)
1976 - My Heart's Desire / New Me (Catamount 130)
1976 - Cherry / At Night (Acapella) (Flamingo 1000)
1976 - Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind / I Love You (Acapella) (Flamingo 1001)
1977 - The Angel Sang / What Did She Use (Flamingo 1002)
Unreleased :
1963 - Angel Of Love (Rust)

Biography :

"My Love, My Love", "Jeanne Baby", "Bye, Bye", "The Shrine of St. Celia", "Blue Beat", "Driving Alone", "Angel of Love". All songs on the Rust Record label, produced by Neil Levinson ("Denise") and Steve Duboff. The original Bon-Aires were Dennis Diamond, Scotty McLearie, Mike Paladino and George Lavatelli. Scotty and George were members of a group called the Shades from Englewood, New Jersey. A product of St. Joseph's High School, West New York, Mike and a friend Pete Prince formed the Princetones - Pete Prince - wrote the classic tune Guardian Angel outside of Leone's pizza parlor in West New York. The group was the first to record a demo of the song in 1958.

The Princetones

The "Bon-Aires", were originally called "the Difference". The "Difference" auditioned for Bob Hilliard, a prolific song writer, Broadway and Pop, from Leonia, NJ. He wrote all the Ruby and the Romantics songs. Bob paid for their first demo album and introduced the group to Neil Levinson and Steve Duboff. The Name Bon-Aires was given to the group by Steve Venet, an A&R man at Columbia Records. He also arranged "My Love, My Love". They had picked "My Love, My Love" for the group , which was the flip side of "Have You Heard", by Joni James.

The Duprees took "Have You Heard" and the Bon-Aires got "My Love, My Love". The Duprees' recording came out 3 months before the Bon-Aires. The Bon-Aires received bullets in Cash Box and Billboard Magazines. "My Love, My Love" was Pick Hit of the Week on WINS-AM NY. Then came the Beatles!!!!!

Songs :


Blue Beat                   The Shrine Of St Cecilia                  Jeannie Baby


My Love My Love                    Angel Of Love                    My Heart's Desire


Cherry                            At Night                           Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind


The Angel Sang                       What Did She Use

….

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The Strangers (1)

Posted on November 14 2007 by dion1

The Strangers (1)
(L-R) Woodrow Jackson, John Brizant, William Clarke, Pringle Sims and John Grant

The Strangers (1) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Billy Clark (Second Tenor)

Pringle Sims (First Tenor)

John Grant (Baritone)

Woodrow Jackson (Bass)

Seifert John Brizant II (Piano Arranger)

Discography :

Singles :
1954 - My Friends / I've Got Eyes (King 4697)
1954 - Blue Flowers / Beg And Steal (King 4709)
1954 - Hoping You'll Understand / Just Don't Care (King 4728)
1954 - Drop Down To My Place / Get It One More Time (King 4745)
1955 - Dreams Came True / How Long Must I Wait (King 4766)
1955 - Without A Friend / Think Again (King 4821)

Unreleased :
1955 - It's Too Bad
1955 - Have Fun

Biography :

Considering the popularity of the doo wop genre, this Billy Clark could possibly rate as the most popular, as in widely heard, performer with this name. His competition numbers various performers from early rock, bluegrass, blues, and jazz who, if gathered together, would not be a comfortable size for a dinner party. This Billy Clark was one of many vocally active young men hailing from Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in the '50s; his lead vocals on record with the Strangers include the perceptive "I've Got Eyes," the needy "Beg and Steal," the inviting "Drop Down to My Place," the apathetic "Just Don't Care," the entertaining "Have Fun," and the impatient "How Long Must I Wait."

The Strangers (1)

The Strangers formed in 1952 -- doo wop buffs interested in further subdivisions of local traditions can take note that Clark and accomplices including Pringle Sims, John Grant, and Woodrow Jackson were all pals from the Putnam-Tompkins Avenue homeland. The members were basically all in their late teens, meaning they were still young men in the mid-'50s when their string of record releases on the King label ended. Clark continued performing for decades after this, however. He worked as a drummer in a band accompanying the Spaniels, another doo wop band and not a traveling dog show. But Clark didn't keep his mouth shut on-stage, either, taking on the lead vocal spot in a '70s version of the Flamingos, sobbing through a remake of their hit "Golden Teardrops."

…

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Brother Zee & The Decades (1) aka The Vice-Roys (2)

Posted on November 14 2007 by dion1

The Vice-Roys : (L to R) Al Linde, Paul Robertson, Bob Zoidis, Charles "Pedro" Buford and Henry Truesdale

The Vice-Roys (2) (Phoenix, Az)
aka Brother Zee & The Decades (1)

Personnel :

Al Linde

Paul Robertson

Bob Zoidis

Charles "Pedro" Buford

Henry Truesdale

Discography :

The Vice-Roys (2)
Singles :
1962 - My Heart / I Need You Love So Bad (Ramco 3715)
Unreleased :
1962 - Sunday Kind Of Love (Ramco)
1962 - Yancy (Ramco)

Brother Zee & The Decades (1)
1963 - Sha Boom Bang / Smokey The Bear (Ramco 3725)

Biography :

Phoenix, Arizona was host to an exciting musical climate in the 1950’s and 1960’s, which included a mix of rock n’ roll, R&B, and country music, along with a small number of recording studios and record labels. Floyd Ramsey owned Ramsey’s Recording Studio at 3703 N. 7th Street, which he renamed Audio Recorders in late 1957. He also owned several record labels including Liberty Bell and Ramco, and was a co-owner of Rev. Local Arizona-area artists who recorded at Ramsey’s studio included the Vice-Roys and Brother Zee and the Decades.

Audio Recorders of Arizona.

The Vice-Roys were a racially integrated group stationed at nearby Luke Air Force Base west of Phoenix. The Aug.8,1962, session was produced by the inimitable Jim Musiln,Jr., one of the great characters in Arizona music history. The Vice-Roys were Al Linde, Paul Robertson, Bob Zoidis, Charles "Pedro" Buford and Henry Truesdale. they were backed on the record by the mike Metko Combo. Besides "My Heart" and "I Need You Love So Bad"the Vice-Roys also breathed new life into the old warhorse "Sunday Kind Of Love". A fourth songs "Yancy" also remained unreleased. Ramco Pressed 300 copies of "My Heart".

Brother Zee & The Decades (L to R) Al Linde, Bob Zoidis and Charles "Pedro" Buford

In 1963, Al Linde, Bob Zoidis and Charles "Pedro" Buford regrouped for another Ramco session as Brother Zee & The Decades. For the June 27, 1963, session, Musil was the producer and once again Metko provided themusical back-up. The A-side was an awesome re-imagination of the Rivingtons' iconic "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and " The Bird's The World" which the group transformed in "Sha Boom Bang". The Sha Boom Bang" acetate got immediate airplay on KRIZ in Phoenix, were it was declared "Champ of The Week" on June 29,1963. Bob Zoidis soon left music for hair styling and by 1967, Al Linde and Charles "Pedro" Buford had gone hippie in San Francisco and were members of the Salvation Army Bannned, which later recorded as just "Salvation" For ABC records.

Songs :

The Vice-Roys (2)


My Heart                     I Need You Love So Bad               Sunday Kind Of Love

Brother Zee & The Decades (1)


Sha Boom Bang                     Smokey The Bear

...

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The Wheels (1) aka The Federals

Posted on November 12 2007 by dion1

The Wheels (1) (Brooklyn, New-York)
aka The Federals

Personnel :

Rudy Anderson (Lead)

James Pender (Tenor)

Kenneth Fox (Baritone)

Lorenzo Cook (Bass)

Discography :

The Wheels (1)
singles :
1956 - My Heart's Desire / Let's Have A Ball (Premium 405)
1956 - Teasin' Heart / Loco (Premium 408)
1957 - I Can't Forget / How Could I Ever Leave You? (Premium 410)
1958 - So Young And So In Love / Where Were You (Time 1003/Early bird 006)
1959 - Clap Your Hands, pt.1 / Clap Your Hands, pt.2 (Folly 800)
1960 - No One But You / I've Waited For A LIfetime (Roulette 4271)
Unreleased:
1956 - I can't go on without you (Premium)

Bubber Johnson (bb The Wheels (1))
1955 – Drop Me A Line / Ding Dang Doo (King 4793)

Vikki Nelson (bb The Wheels (1))
1956 - By My Side / Bright And Early (Premium 402)

Arthur Lake (bb The Wheels (1))
1956 - The Good Earth / May I Count On You (Premium 406)

Gloria Lynn (bb The Wheels (1))
1957 – I Can’t Waste My Tears / Run For Your Love(Premium 412)

Rudy & the Wheels (1)
1959 - Copy cat / It's not for me (Curtis 751)

The Federals
singles :
1957 - While Our Hearts Are Young / You're The One I Love (Fury 1005)
1957 - Dear Lorraine / She's My Girl (Fury 1009)
1957 - Come Go With Me / Cold Cash (Deluxe 6112)
Unreleased:
1957 - Good Wishes To You (Fury)
1957 - You Gotta Love Me Baby (Fury)

Biography :

This group was managed by Allen Bunn, Former member of the Larks on Apollo. Bunn would sometimes record with the Wheels. It was Bunn who brought the group to Joe Liebowitz, Owner of Premium, in 1955.

In addition to their recordings for Premium, They Also became the Studio Group for the New Jersey-Based Label. They Backed up Vicki Carr, Gloria Lynne and Arthur Lake at Premium.

As the group began making a name for themselves, Liebowitz passed away and Premium's operations folded.After Premium, the group became The Federals and recorded for Fury and DeLuxe.

Then they went back to the Wheels and recorded for George Goldner's Curtis Label. Next they moved to Time Records, Then to Morris Levy's Label, and Finally to Folly.
Mitch Rosalsky (Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups)
http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/wheels.html

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

Arthur Lake (bb The Wheels 1)

The Good Earth May I Count On You?

Rudy & The Wheels (1)

Copy Cat It's Not for me

The Wheels (1)

Teasin' Heart I Can't Forget How Could I Ever Leave You?

Clap Your Hands (Part 1)              Where Were You   So Young And So In Love


I've Waited For A Lifetime      No One But You               Clap Your Hands (Part 2)


My Heart Desire                     Let's Have a Ball                   Loco

Gloria Lynn (bb The Wheels (1))

I Can’t Waste My Tears / Run For Your Love

Vikki Nelson (bb The Wheels (1))

By My Side Bright And Early

...

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The Ovations (1) aka The Ideals (1)

Posted on November 6 2007 by dion1

The Ovations (1) (New Jersey)
aka The Ideals (1)

Personnel :

Richard Kelly (Lead)

Mario Venancio (Baritone)

Paul Sanzone (Bass)

Augusto Ottilie (First tenor)

Discography :

The Ideals (1)
1958 - Do I Have The Right / You Won't Like It (Cool 108)

The Ovations (1)
1960 - Whole Wide World / My Lullabye (Andie 5017)
1961 - Oh What A Day / Real True Love (Epic 9470)
1961 - The Day We Fell In Love (Oh What A Day) / My Lullabye (Barry 101)
1963 - I Don't Wanna Cry / Loneliness Never Entered My Mind (Capitol 5082)

Biography :

In 1960 on Laurie's Andie Subidiary came "Whole Wide World" / "My Lullabye". Released again in 1962 on Hy Weiss' Old Town Subsidiary Barry records by The Ovations featuring the lead voice of Richard Kelly and background vocal by Paul Sanzone, Mario Venancio & Augusto Ottilie.

The Ideals

Before recording this single, and with Gus Ottobre and Paul Omeletski in place of Paul Sanzone and Augusto Ottilie the group cut "Do I Have The Right" b/w "You Won't Like It " for Cool Records under the name of the Ideals. The Ovations cut "Oh What A Day" and "Real True Love" for Epic records.

The Same year, Barry's Old Town Subsidiary release "Oh What A Day" under the name of "The Day We Fell In Love" backed with "My Lullabye" from their first single on Andie. A last single for Capitol & the group broke up...

Songs:

The Ideals (1)


Do I Have The Right                         You Won't Like It

The Ovations (1)


Whole Wide World                   My Lullabye                     Oh What A Day


I Don't Wanna Cry              Loneliness Never Entered My Mind

...

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