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The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts

Posted on by dion1

The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts

(L to R) Gary Young, Chuck Hatfield & Paul O'Lone.

 The Ly-Dells (Philadelphia)
aka The Len-Dells - Ref : The Four Casts

 


Personnel :

Gary "Skin" Young (Lead,Falsetto, Baritone & Bass)



Chuck "Casino" Hatfield (First & Second Tenor)



Paul "Two Ply" O'Lone (Baritone & Bass)

 

Discography :

The Ly-Dells
1961 - Wizard Of Love / Let This Night Last (Master 251/Apex 76760)
1961 - Genie Of The Lamp  /  Teenage Tears (Master 111)
1962 - Book Of Songs / Hear That Train (SCA 18001)
1963 - Karen / Doin’ The Wiggle Wobble (Roulette 4493)
1964 - Three little Monkeys / Playing Hide & Seek (Southern Sound 122)
1978 - Sherry / Little Lover (King Tut 177)
1989 - Get Off Your High Horse / Oh What A Beautiful Thing (Wonder World 351)

Freddy Cannon bb The Ly-Dells
1962 - Broadway / What's Gonna…(Not Them) (Swan 4117/Quality 1436)

Wee Willie Weaver (Boss-Tones) bb The Ly-Dells
1963 - You're Gonna Be So Glad / Automatic Reaction (Tandy 101)

The Len-Dells
Single :
1964 - Don't Be A Litter Bug / Maryann (Reach 2)
Unreleased :
1964 - The Monkey’s Dead (Reach)

The Four Casts
1964 - Stormy Weather / Working at the Factory (Atlantic 2228)

 

Biography :

Hailing from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia Pa., The Ly-Dells emerged in 1959, during the tail end of the doo-wop era. like many of their contempories from philly, Dovells, Danny & the Juniors, Billy & the Essentials, the Ly-Dells brought a different approach harking back to the harmony structures of the mid 1950’s. The group’s members, Chuck (Casino) Hatfield, Gary (Skin) Young, Paul (Two Ply) O’lone, Bob Oslar (…and various singers featured on their recordings : Billy Daniels, Jackie Butler, Frank Malett , Rich Wetzel) Came from the 46th and Samson, and 64th and Vine St. Section of West Philadelphia.  Around 1961, the act caught the eye of music impresario Inez Ryan of Ridley Park. Ryan would soon manage and handle direction of the group. The Ly-Dells intial waxing of “Wizard Of Love” and “Let This Night Last” came in the summer of 61’. Released on Master records (Master 101). Both sides were recorded at Philly’s sound plus studios, which were owned by Don & Tony Luis, who in return, received production credits on the 45 label. The record was distributed nationally by Morris Levy’s Roulette records.

The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts    The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts

“Wizard Of Love”, was an immediate hit locally, with the help of airplay on WIBG and WFIL. Cash Box magazine listed the record on august 5th as their 14 pick out of 50, that could soon enter their top 100, and later that month it was a huge success in New York, reaching 8 two weeks in a row on WABC’S music survey. By september 25th, it peaked nationally at 54 on Billboard’s hot 100. Toward the end of 1961, the writing team of Hatfield & O’lone came up with a song much in the formula of “Wizard”, entitled “Genie Of The Lamp” backed with the great up-tempo “Teenage Tears”. Once again, the 45 was released on the Master label (Master 111 ) with distribution by SCA and Swan records.

The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts    The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts

During 1962, The Ly-Dells would begin a strong relationship with legendary producer Frank Slay. Known for his extraordinary work in the 50’s/60’s’s with Cameo records, Swan records, and association with Bob Crewe, Slay would lend his production talents and regular studio players to the group’s next side ,“Book Of Songs" b/w “Hear That Train”. Recorded at Bell Sound in NYC. & released on Slay’s SCA Label. It was Frank Slay, who at a recording session of Freddy Cannon recruited “the Ly-Dells” to provide the yells during the roller coaster sequence of "Broadway".

The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts    The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts

Freddy Cannon                                                                                                                                

The Ly-Dells provided vocal backing for two of Jim Drucker’s compositions on a session held oct.16 1962 at sound plus studios. the songs were “The Day Rock & Roll Dies” and “Now That You’ve Gone”. a later session was conducted march 14, 1963, at Philly’s Reco-Art (later known as Sigma Sound), these sides were cut again, plus two of “the Ly-Dells” songs “Karen" and "Doin The Wiggle Wobble ” (written by Hatfield , O’lone & Drucker) the latter sides were released after resolving some legal issues, by roulette records (roulette 4493) in may 1963.

The Len-Dells aka The Ly-Dells aka Four Casts

Jim Drucker worked as a teenager for Jolly Joyce Theatrical Booking Agency (JJA), Philadelphia and ran weekend WIBG Record Hops with Harold B. Childs, for Buzzy Curtis (Promotions) and was in high school at Philly's Edison HS  with members of the Boss-Tones. In 1964 he combined Chuck Hatfield, Paul O' Lone from The Lydells and Babbo and Willie Weaver from the Boss-Tones, and in the dark of night (at Chancellor Records Studios, 9th and Vine Streets), He produced: "Stormy Weather" b/w "Working at the Factory" . Jerry Blavat, Russ Faith (Chancellor Records) and Buzz Curtis sold the master (RCA Tape Recorder deck) tapes to Atlantic Records. The record was released in the spring of 1964, under the name of “the Four Casts” (Atlantic 2228)

The Ly-Dells aka The Len-Dells

1964 - Ly-Dells/Len-Dells - (Top) Gary Young (Bottom) Chuck Hatfield, Billy Shield & Jackie Butler                    

Later in 64’, The Ly-Dells would record under the name of “The Len- Dells” with a single on the Reach label entitled “Don't Be A Litter Bug" backed with "Maryann”. The act also recorded the song “The Monkey’s Dead”, written by Drucker, Hatfield, O’Lone and was cut at a sound plus session, but unreleased in 64’.The year 1965, amidst the height of Beatlemania, and demise of the golden age of doo wop, The group would emerge for what would be their final 45 release.  The a side “Three Little Monkeys”, was written by Inez Ryan & Tony Luis, and backed with “Playing Hide & Seek” composed by Bob Boulanger under the production of Frank Slay and placed on his Southern Sound label.

 

Songs :(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Ly-Dells

  
Wizard of Love / Let This Night Last
    Genie Of The Lamp / Teenage Tears

     
Book Of Songs                    Hear That Train                        Karen

     
Three Little Monkeys              Sherry                            Little Lover


Oh What A Beautiful Thing


Freddy Cannon bb The Ly-Dells 



Broadway


Wee Willie Weaver (Bosstones) bb The Ly-Dells


Automatic Reaction (Tandy 101)


The Len-Dells


  
Don't Be A Litter Bug                Maryann

 

The Four Casts

  
   Stormy Weather                     Workin' At The Factory


…

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The Blue Jays (3) aka The Values

Posted on by dion1



The Blue Jays (3) (Venice, California)
aka The Values

 

Personnel :

Leon Peels（lead）

Van Earl Richardson（Tenor）

Alexander Manigo（Baritone）

Leonard Davidson（Bass）

 

Discography :

The Blue Jays (3)

Singles :
1961 - Lover's Island / You're Gonna Cry (Milestone 2008)
1961 - Tears Are Falling / Tree Tall Len (Milestone 2009)
1961 - Let's Make Love / Rock, Rock, Rock (Milestone 2010)
1962 - The Right To Love / Rock, Rock, Rock (Milestone 2012)
1962 - Venus My Love / Tree Tall Len (Milestone 2014)

Lps :
1962 - The Blue Jays Meet Little Caesar & The Romans (Mileston 1001)
Tears Are Falling / Tree Tall Len / The Right to Love / Rock, Rock, Rock / Let's Make Love / Lover's Island / You're Gonna Cry / Venus My Love

 

Leon Peels & The Blue Jays  (3)
1990 - Once Upon a Love / Alice From Above (Classic Artists 111)

The Values
1962 - Return To Me / That's The Way (Invicta 1002/Ember 211'1965')

 

Leon Peels & The Hi-Tensions
Singles :
1964 - A Magic Island / Darlene (Whirlybird 2008)
Unreleased :
1964 - Woe Is Me  (Whirlybird)
1964 - Thats All It Took  (Whirlybird)

Leon Peels
1964 - A Casual Kiss / Cottonhead Joe (Whirlybird 2002)

Leon Peels & Lolly Vegas Trio
Unreleased:
1965 - The Heart You Break May Be Your Own        
1965 - So Long Lovers Island   

 

Biography :

The Blue Jays perfectly represent the transitional era between '50s R&B and the '60s soul era by singing doo wop-styled songs with a gospelly lead vocal. They are best known for their 1961 Top 40 hit "Lovers Island," which many consider to be the last hit record in true doo wop style. The Los Angeles-based vocal quartet — Leon Peels (b. 1936, Newport, AR), Van Richardson, Alex Manigo, and Leonard Davidson (aka "Len" and "Tree Tall Len") — came together in the suburb of Venice, CA, in 1961.

Following an appearance at an amateur show at the Fox Theater in Venice, the group were put in touch with country singer Werly Fairburn, who signed them to his Milestone label. Milestone's roster consisted mostly of rockabilly bands and had already achieved some success with the Paradons ("Diamonds and Pearls"). The Blue Jays' first single "Lovers Island," written by Peels and Manigeault, seemed almost like a throwback to an earlier time in vocal group music.

  

Though it was not a big seller like other vocal act singles of the time by groups like the Jive Five or the Dreamlovers — it charted in the pop Top 40 at number 31 and performed well on the local L.A. R&B charts — it served as a beautiful swan song for the doo wop era.  The group followed their hit with singles like "Tears Are Falling" (1961) and "The Right to Love" (1962), but nothing came of them and the group change their name to 'the Values' and recorded "Return To Me" b/w "That's The Way" on the Invicta label. The group broke up in early 1962. Leon Peels later recorded a number of singles — including "On a Magic Island" — for Whirlybird Records, backed by the Hi-Tensions.

 

Songs :

The Blue Jays (3)

       
Lover's Island                       You're Gonna Cry                  Tears Are Falling

     
Tree Tall Len                       Let's Make Love                   Rock, Rock, Rock

      
The Right To Love                   Venus My Love                 Once Upon a Love


Alice From Above

The Values

  
That's The Way                                    Return To Me

 ...

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The Tribunes (2)

Posted on by dion1


The Tribunes (2) (Bronx, New York)

 

Personnel :

Tony Acaron (Lead)

Anthony Vasquez

Junior Vasquez

Sonny Lopez

John Costello

 

Discography :

1962 - The Code Of Love / Now That You're Gone (Derrick 502)

 

Biography :

It's 1957, and Tony Acaron and his buddies are singing a Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers song on the corner of 138th St. & Cypress Ave. in the Bronx. Taking their name from movie 'The Robe,' where Victor Mature' was made a Roman Tribune. In 1962, Tony Acaron now had four new members:  Anthony Vasquez, Junior Vasquez, Sonny Lopez and John Costello. They recorded "Code Of Love" on Paul Winley's "Derrick" label. The group made in person appearances at The famous "Apollo" theater in Harlem and The Jazz Corner Of The World "BIRDLAND" in NYC.
http://tribunes.homestead.com/Tribunes2.html

Songs :

   
 The Code Of Love                          Now That You're Gone

….

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Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3) aka The Dreams (1)

Posted on by dion1


The Dreams (1)  (Philadelphia)
 aka Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3)


 

Personnel :

George Tindley (Lead Tenor)

Bernard Harris (First Tenor / Falsetto)

John Wesley "Wes" Hayes (Second Tenor / Guitar)

Robert "Flyright" Henderson (Baritone)

Stephen "Press" Presbery (Bass)

 

 

 

Discography :

The Dreams (1)
1954 - Darlene / A Letter To My Girl (Savoy 1130) 

1954 - Under The Willow / I'm Losing My Mind (Savoy 1140) 

1955 - I'll Be Faithful / My Little Honeybun (Savoy 1157)

Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3)
1956 - They Call Me A Dreamer / Pretty Brown Eyes (Ember 1011)
1957 - Tears Are Just For Fools / Boom Chica Boom (Ember 1021)



Biography :

The Dreams began in 1953 in Philadelphia as the Royal Flames. This name was soon changed to the dreams. Lead George Tindley got the group their appearance at the apollo's amateur night and they took second place. Soon after the Apollo appearance, they were contacted by someone from the Newark-based Savoy Records who apparently was in the audience at the Apollo.

  

They went to Savoy and had their first session in April 1954, during which they recorded "Darlene" "A Letter To My Girl". The record did well locally. The Dreams' next session took place in October 1954, when they recorded "Under The Willow" "I'm Losing My Mind". Their last session with savoy was in March 1955. In this session they recorded "I'll Be Faithful" "My Little Honeybun". Nothing ever happened with their discs, but they made many live appearances and tours on the East Coast. Since Harris was still in school, their touring was limited.

  

In Junes 1956, Herald Records announced that they had signed the Dreams. Henderson could not be found for the first session with Herald, and billy taylor of the Castelles filled in. Before this disc was released, Tindley felt that he wanted his name on the disc. Herald agreed, but Tindley chose Kenny Esquire and changed the group's name to the Starlites.

      

The Record was "They Call me a Dreamer".  George Tindley eventually joined Steve Gibson and the Red Caps, with whom he recorded a number of well-remembered doowop 45s in 1959 and 1960, before Tindley took over leadership duties (changing the group name to the Modern Red Caps), continuing on into 1966.


http://www.uncamarvy.com/Dreams/dreams.html
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/3ROWNEW/ImLosing.htm

 

Songs :

The Dreams (1)

    
Under The Willow                           I'll Be Faithful                Darlene  

     
I'm Losing My Mind                   A Letter To My Girl         My Little Honeybun

 

Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3)

      
They Call Me A Dreamer     Tears Are Just For Fools/ Boom Chica Boom      Pretty Brown Eyes

 

 

 

...

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Eddie & The Starlites (2) aka The Whippoorwills (2)

Posted on by dion1

Eddie & the Starlites (2) Eddie & The Starlites (2) (Brooklyn, New-York)
aka The Whippoorwills (2)       Ref : The Starlites (1)

 

Personnel :

Eddie Jenkins (Lead)

Robert Honey

Teddy Odes

Vel Miller

Archie Price

 

Discography :

Eddie & The Starlites (2)

Singles:
1959 - To Make A Long Story Short / Pretty Little Girl (Scepter 1202)
1963 - Come On Home / I Need Some Money (Aljon 1260/1261)
1972 - Three Steps To Go / Nobody But You And Me (Bim Bam Boom 102)
1973 - I Can Dream / You Told Me So (Vintage 1004) 

Unreleased
1959 - I Love You (Scepter)
1960 - Come On Home (alt. version)

Lp :
1964 - Al Browne Presents Dyno Sounds (Moon AB 1)
To Make A Long Story Short

Eddie & the Starlites (2) 

 

The Whippoorwills (2)
1961 - Deep Within / Going To A Party (Josie 892)


Biography :

 In 1955 Keyes joined a vocal group dubbed the Starlites with Cliff Rice, Sony Eugene, Charlie Saunders & Vic Rice. The Starlites earned a record deal with Al Browne and his tiny Peak label as a result of winning a local talent contest. Their single "Missing You" went nowhere, and in 1958 he joined the Velours, which cut several singles for the Cub label. Al Browne had several different groups which he called the Starlites. The story of Scepter Records starts with Florence Greenberg, who was a thirty-something housewife in the New Jersey suburbs of New York in the mid-1950s.  The first single on the label (Scepter 1201) was "Why Why Why"/"Ugly Duckling" by Don Crawford & the Escorts.

Eddie & the Starlites (2)
Al Browne (Piano) with his band

When Al was producing for the Scepter Label on some early releases, he took the Starlites with him.  Here, They became Eddie & Starlites for their release in Late December 1958 - cut in October at a split session with the Criterions/Kents. At that time the group has been much change members, completely different than the group on Peak and consists of Eddie Jenkins, Robert Honey, Teddy Odes, Vel Miller and Archie Price. Al Browne must have recorded them many times, because of the material that appeared years later on various labels. He Used "Three Steps To Heaven" on his "Dyno Sounds" Moon LP. Five years later, the group’s next record was issued on Al’s reactivated Aljon Label.

Eddie & The Starlites (2)    Eddie & The Starlites (2)

The group made appearances at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre with Murray the K, with Alan Freed at Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, the world famous Apollo theater, the Majestic Theatre in Pennsylvania, the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, and the Uptown Theatre in Pennsylvania. They have made numerous tours arounds the country. In 1961, not seeing their careers take off, lead singer, Eddie Jenkins and Robert Honey and probably the other members of the group recorded as The Whippoorwills for Josie records the titles "Deep Within" (wrote by Eddie Jenkins and Robert Honey) and "Going To A Party ".

 

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Eddie & The Starlites (2)

      
To Make A Long Story Short          Pretty Little Girl              Come On Home

     
I Can Dream                      I Love You                 Come On Home (alt. version)

     
I Need Some Money        Nobody But You And Me / Three Steps To Go     You Told Me So

The Whippoorwills (2)

  
   Deep Within                                   Going To A Party


...

 

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The Four Casts

Posted on by dion1

The Four Casts

Chuck Hatfield & Paul O'Lone. (from The Ly-Dells)

The Four Casts (Philadelphia, PA.)
ref : The Boss-Tones
ref : The Ly-Dells

 

Personnel :

Duval Young "Babbo"

Willie Weaver

Chuck Hatfield

Paul O' Lone

 

Discography :

1964 - Stormy Weather / Workin' At The Factory (Atlantic 2228)

 

Biography :

Jim Drucker worked as a teenager for Jolly Joyce Theatrical Booking Agency (JJA), Philadelphia and ran weekend WIBG Record Hops with Harold B. Childs, for Buzzy Curtis (Promotions) and was in high school at Philly's Edison HS  with members of the Boss-Tones. In 1964 he combined Chuck Hatfield, Paul O' Lone from The Ly-Dells and Babbo and Willie Weaver from the Bosstones, and in the dark of night (at Chancellor Records Studios, 9th and Vine Streets), He produced: "Stormy Weather" b/w "Working at the Factory" . Jerry Blavat, Russ Faith (Chancellor Records) and Buzz Curtis sold the master (RCA Tape Recorder deck) tapes to Atlantic Records. The record was released in the spring of 1964, under the name of “the Four Casts” (Atlantic 2228)

 

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Four Casts

  
   Stormy Weather                     Workin' At The Factory


...

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The Tradewinds (4) aka Norman Fox & The Rob-Roys

Posted on by dion1

Norman Fox & The Rob Roys aka The Tradewinds (4)

Norman Fox & The Rob Roys (Bronx, New-York)
aka The Tradewinds (4)

 

Personnel :

Norman Fox (Lead)

Bob Trotman (First Tenor)

Andre Lilly (Second Tenor)

Robert Thierer (Baritone)

Marshall "Buzzy" Helfland (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Rob-Roys
1957 - Tell Me Why / Audrey (Backbeat 501)

Norman Fox & The Rob-Roys
1958 - Dance Girl Dance / My Dearest One (Backbeat 508)

1959 - Dream Girl / Pizza Pie (Capitol 4128)
1988 - Lover doll / Little Star (Backbeat 499)
1988 - Rainy Day Bells / That's love (Backbeat 500)

1990 - Do Re Mi / Lover Doll (Backbeat 501)

The Tradewinds (4)
 Unreleased:
1962 - Aggravation  (Time)
1962 - Lonely Boy (Time)

 

Biography :

One of the earliest interracial quintets, Norman Fox & The Rob-Roys were also one of the most underrated and overlooked groups ever to cut a 45.  With his distinctive lead voice, Norman Fox (16) of the Bronx hooked up with DeWitt Clinton High School friends Robert Thierer (17, baritone), Marshall "Buzzy" Helfand (17, bass), Bob Trotman (16, first tenor) and Andre Lilly (16, second tenor) in 1956 to form a dynamic vocal mix with their Jewish/black coalition (Trotman and Lilly were originally members of the Harmonaires on Holiday.) Early in 1957 Bob Trotman met Don Carter, New York agent for the Duke/Peacock organization, at Buddy's Record Shop on 167th Street in the Bronx, and told him of their group.  After a live audition in that very same record store, the Bronx boys found themselves contracted to the Texas-based record label. Originally called the Velvetones, they changed their name to the Rob-Roys (after the drink) and recorded their first single for Peacock's new Backbeat affiliate in April 1957 at Bell Sound Studios.

  

Tell Me Why" came out in the summer of 1957.  The single was well received by East Coast radio stations (particularly in New York and Philadelphia), but it was obvious that the gospel conglomerate had no idea of how to market rock and roll. The Rob-Roys turned out to be Backbeat's first integrated group (Fox, Helfand and Thierer were white, Lilly and Trotman black), but they performed at Harlem clubs to the surprise and delight of patrons lucky enough to see them.  For the most part they played New York area record hops with deejays like Jocko while waiting for their next release, the Robert Thierer-Bob Trotman dance doo wop classic, "Dance Girl Dance."

Norman Fox & The Rob Roys aka The Tradewinds (4)

 

In late 1958 the group, weary of lost records, brought two Norman Fox originals to Capitol Records.  They signed the group and issued "Pizza Pie" b/w "Dream Girl" in January 1959.  Paul Schneller (another white Jewish bass) replaced Helfand on bass just before the Capitol sides were recorded. On January 19th, Billboard reviewed "Pizza Pie," stating "a rocker slightly dated in sound and approach, but the side is well made, the boys handle it nicely and the novelty interest is there.  It ties the story of a lifetime in with a pizza pie.  This could catch a spin."  The minute the record came out, Don Robey of Backbeat showed up waving a still-valid contract with the Rob-Roys.  Capitol chose to pull the single before it reached most radio stations. In 1962 Fox and company did two sides, Aggravation" and "Lonely Boy under the name of the Tradewinds," for Bob Shad's Time label, but they were never issued.
http://robroys.homestead.com/Welcome.html



Songs :

Norman Fox & The Rob Roys

     
Tell Me Why                             Audrey                      Dance Girl Dance

     
My Dearest One                      Dream Girl                         Pizza Pie

     
Lover doll                           Rainy Day Bells                        That's love


Do Re Mi


The Tradewinds (4)

  
Aggravation                           Lonely Boy

..

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The Dialtones

Posted on by dion1

The Dialtones  

The Dialtones  (Queens, New York)
(With Hans-Joachim)

 

Personnel :

Rosalie Calindo (Lead)

Dominick Safuto

Frank Safuto (First tenor)

Eddie Scalla

 

Discography :

The Dialtones
Single :
1960 - 'Till I Heard It From You / Johnny (Goldisc 3005/3020)
Unreleased :
1960 - 24 Hours
1960 - Why Don't You Write Me
1960 - Bohemian Daddy (demo)
1960 - Johnny (demo)
1960 - 'Till I Heard It From You (demo)

Billie Daye bb The Dialtones
1961 - Twenty Four Hours / When A Girl Gives Her Heart To A Boy (Bliss 1002)

 

Biography :

In 1959, 12-year-olds Dominick Safuto, his brother Frank, cousin Eddie Scalla, and Rosalie Calindo on lead formed the Dialtones. They managed one obscure single, "Till I Heard It from You," for George Goldner's Goldisc label in 1960. The highlight of that session might have been the period the Dialtones spent sitting in the studio waiting room with idols Little Anthony & The Imperials awaiting their turn to record.

The Dialtones     The Dialtones

In 1961 Goldisc tried again, releasing the Dialtones single for another shot at the charts. It didn't work. Dom (lead) then joined up with friend Mike Zero (baritone) to form a new group with Mike's brother Sal (second tenor) and Ken Arcipowski (Bass) as The Encores. When the Grover Cleveland High School quartet decided to fill out their sound as a quintet, Dom convinced his brother and ex-Dialtone member Frank (first tenor) to join, and they renamed themselves Junior and the Counts.

The Dialtones     The Dialtones
   The Dialtones                                                                                 Junior and the Counts                       

The Counts started playing church festivities, sweet sixteens, and the like until they came to the attention of Fran Carrarie, who became their manager and introduced them to songwriter Neil Levenson. Neil brought them to Bright Tunes Productions, which was really the creative base of singing-group-turned-producers THE TOKENS. The Tokens produced the group on two songs written by Levinson titled "Denise" and "Come Back," but before they could issue them on Rust subsidiary Laurie Records, a more commercially acceptable group name had to be chosen. The Schwartz brothers, owners of Laurie, renamed them Randy and the Rainbows. Dom became Randy and "Denise" became a monster hit.
Jay Warner (American Singing Group)

 

Songs :

The Dialtones

   
'Till I Heard It From You                                Johnny           

     
      24 Hours                      Why Don't You Write Me               Bohemian Daddy  (demo)   

        
'Till I Heard It From You (demo)             Johnny (demo)       

 

Billie Daye bb The Dialtones

    
                           Twenty Four Hours                   

 

...

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The Four J's (1) aka the Fabulous Four

Posted on by dion1

 

 The Fabulous Four (1) (Philadelphia)

aka The Four J's (1)
ref : The Four Naturals aka The Naturals (5)


Personnel :

Joseph "Junior" Pirollo (Lead)

Bob Finizio (Second Tenor)

Joe Milaro (Baritone)

Jimmy Testa (First Tenor)


Discography :

The Fabulous Four (1)
Singles :
1960 - Mister Twist / In The Chapel In The Moonlight (Chancellor 1062)
1961 - Let's Try Again / Precious Moments (Chancellor 1068)
1961 - Sounds Of Summer / Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Chancellor 1078)
1961 - Betty Ann / Prisoner Of Love (Chancellor 1085)
1961 - Everybody Knows / I'm Coming Home (Chancellor 1090)
1961 - Everybody Knows / Mister Twist (Chancellor 1098)
1962 - Forever / It's No Sin (Chancellor 1102)
Unreleased :
N/A - Special Girl (Featuring Mike Dupree)
N/A - Silhouettes
N/A - Story Untold
N/A - (Reach Out for The) Hand of Love
N/A - Talk to Me
N/A - Blame Your Friend
N/A - Little Girl
N/A - Moonlight Shadows
N/A - A  Million Years
N/A - Fools Destiny
N/A - Soldier Boy's Comin' Home

Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1)
1959 - Tiger (Not Them)  / Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart) (Chancellor 1037)
1961 - Long Before / Kissin' And Twistin'(Not Them)(Chancellor 1061)
1961 - You Know You Belong to Someone Else / Hold On (No Group) (Chancellor 1067)
1961 - The Love That I'm Giving to You / You're Only Young Once  (Not Them) (Chancellor 1079)
1961 - A Girl Like You / Dream Factory (Not Them) (Chancellor 1084)
1961 - Tongue-Tied  (Not Them) / Kansas City (Chancellor 1086)
1961 - Wild Party / Made You (Chancellor 1092)

Fabian bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
1959 - I'm A Man / Hypnotized (Chancellor 1029)
1959 - Got The Feeling / Come and Get Me (Chancellor 1041)
1959 - This Friendly World / Hound Dog Man (Chancellor 1044)

Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
1962 - Put' Em Down Joe / I Remember The Night (Chancellor 1122)

Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
1961 - I'm so Young / There Is A Boy (Chancellor 1100)

... 

The Four J's (1)
1958 - Rock and Roll Age / Be Nice, Don't Fight (United Artists 125)
1958 - Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen (Herald 528)
1964 - Here I Am Broken Hearted / She Said That She Loved Me (Jamie 1267)
1964 - By Love Possessed / My Love My Love  (Jamie 1274)
 

The Four J's (1) (featuring Junior Pope)
1969 - Dreamin' / Love My Love  (Congress 6003)

John Capri bb The Four J's (Uncredited)
1959 - When I'm Lonely / Look For Me (BoMarc 306)

Johnny Angel bb The Four J's (Uncredited)
1966 - This Is The Night For Love / You've Been Wrong (Swan 4263)
...

The Naturals (5)
1959 - Blue Moon / How Strange (Red Top 113/Hunt 325)

The Four Naturals
1960 - When I'm In Your Arms  /  I Hear A Rhapsody  (Red Top 119)
1960 - The Thought Of You Darling / Long Long Ago (Red Top 125)


Biography :

In 1957 four fellows from the South Philadelphia area formed a singing group they named The Four J's they took their name based on the fact that each member's first name began with the letter J. they were Jr. Pirollo, Jimmy Testa, Joe "Judge" Milaro and Joe Paparella. Joe Paparella didn't remain with the group long enough to record and left to personal reasons, being replaced by Jr's. brother-in-law Bob Finizio.

After winning a local talent contest they were approached by Buddy Greco, who later became their manager. Greco got the group thier first recording contract with United Artist Records in 1958. After several releases, Jr. and Bob became part of the Four Naturals.

The group was a studio group and after recording "How Strange", under the name of the Naturals, they didn't want to tour or perform live. Jr. and Bob replaced the two members who were unhappy and were on all the following releases including their hit "The Thought Of You Darling."



In 1960 Bob Marcucci of Chancellor Records approached Jr and asked if his group would be willing to vocally back up Fabian on both recordings and Tours. He also promised them several recordings on their own, a promise he kept proving to be one of the few honorable giants in the fields.

  
Fabian , his mother and the Fabulous Four                                       Fabian

 Jr.& Bob once again teamed up with Jimmy Testa and added Ernie Spano to the group (replacing Joe Milano). Ernie was an original member of "the Four Dates", another Chancellor recording act. The group was now backing the famous billed Fabulous Fabian, so Naturally Bob Marcucci came up with the Group's new name "The Fabulous Four"

    The Fabulous Four aka The Four J's (1)

For the next 3-4 years the group recorded with and without Fabian and toured the entire United States (except Alaska) and most of the world. The group has had numerous appearances on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand".

The Fabulous Four aka The Four J's (1)

Fabian  and the Fabulous Four 

The Group backed another artists like Sonny Vito, Maureen Gray as the Fabulous Four, John Capri and Johnny Angel as The Four J's. In late 1964-65 the group changed their name back to "The Four J's" and achieved their biggest success recording for Jamie Records "My Love Possessed" and "Here I Am Broken Hearted". 

  

Johnny October was now a member of the group, Johnny was the original lead singer of the Four Dates.


Songs :

The Fabulous Four (1)

      
Mister Twist              In The Chapel In The Moonlight                Let's Try Again

     
Precious Moments              Sounds Of Summer          Why Do Fools Fall In Love

     
Betty Ann                        Prisoner Of Love                       Everybody Knows

      
I'm Coming Home                        Forever                        It's No Sin

      
Special Girl                          Silhouettes                          Story Untold

      
Blame Your Friend                    Little Girl                     Moonlight Shadows

       
Fools Destiny                    Soldier Boy's Comin' Home      A Million Years

  
(Reach Out For The) Hand Of Love         Talk To Me
 


Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1)

     
You Know You Belong to Someone Else      A Girl Like You          Wild Party

     
The Love That I'm Giving to You        Made You                     Kansas City

     
I'm A Man                                Hypnotized                          Long Before 

     
Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart)     Got The Feeling           Come and Get Me

        
This Friendly World                 Hound Dog Man              

  Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)

   
I'm so Young                                          There Is A Boy

Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)

    
Put' Em Down Joe                             I Remember The Night

The Four J's (1)

     
Rock and Roll Age               Be Nice, Don't Fight        Here I Am Broken Hearted
 
  
Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen      By Love Possessed

  

She Said That She Loved Me         My Love My Love

The Four J's (1) (featuring Junior Pope)

   
Dreamin'                                   Love My Love

John Capri bb The Four J's (Uncredited)


When I'm Lonely

Johnny Angel bb The Four J's (Uncredited)


This Is The Night For Love

 

...

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The Magic-Tones (1)

Posted on by dion1

The Magic-Tones (1)

1957 - Willie "Ricky" Stokes, Gene Hawkins, Bobby Jackson, Arthur "Boxy" Williams & Robert McGhee

The Magic-Tones (1) (Baltimore, D.C.)

 

Personnel :


Joe "Rico" Reed (Lead)


Arthur "Boxy" Williams (First Tenor)


James Williams Bbaritone)


Willie "Ricky" Stokes (Bass)


Gene Hawkins (Second Tenor/Guitar)

 


Discography :



1953 - When I Kneel Down To Pray / Good Googa Mooga (King 4665)
1953 - How Can You Treat Me This Way / Cool Cool Baby (King 4681)
1958 - Spanish Love Song / Tears In My Eyes (Howfum)
 

Biography :

The Magic-Tones were among the myriad Baltimore/D.C. doo wop outfits to emerge in the wake of local heroes and R&B icons the Orioles. According to the profile at Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks website, lead tenor Joe "Rice" Reed, first tenor Arthur "Boxy" Williams, second tenor/guitarist Gene Hawkins, and bass Willie Stokes formed the group in Baltimore in 1951. Originally dubbed the Five Kings, they briefly performed as the Dreamers before settling on the Magic-Tones.

The Magic-Tones (1)

 After becoming a staple of the Baltimore club circuit, the quartet in 1952 signed a management deal with Bill Robertson and Homer Murray, fresh off their success negotiating an Atlantic Records deal for local act the Tilters -- Robertson and Murray also bequeathed the Magic-Tones a clutch of original songs, among them "When I Kneel Down to Pray," which served as the A-side of the group's 1953 King label debut. "How Can You Treat Me This Way?" followed a few months later, and when neither disc garnered much attention at radio, King halted plans for a third session.

The Magic-Tones (1)    The Magic-Tones (1)

In early 1954, Stokes was drafted into military duty, and with new bass Henry Abrams, the Magic-Tones played the famed Apollo Theater as part of a King Records showcase headlined by the Midnighters and the Checkers. A full-fledged tour was planned, but Abrams opted to return to his previous group, the Marylanders, and the Magic-Tones soon dissolved. In early 1956, Stokes returned to Baltimore following his service discharge and recruited Williams and Hawkins for a new Magic-Tones lineup that also featured lead tenor Bobby "Trey" Jackson and second tenor Robert "Shue" McGhee. Two years later, this version of the group cut "Spanish Love Song" for the tiny Howfum label before splitting. http://www.uncamarvy.com/MagicTones/magictones.html


Songs :


When I Kneel Down To Pray / Good Googa Mooga


How Can You Treat Me This Way / Cool Cool Baby

  
Spanish Love Song                             Tears In My Eyes


...

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