The Invictors (2) 1962 - This Thing Called Love / The Wiggle (TPE 8217) 1962 – Don’t Take My Love / Babalonian (TPE 8219) 1963 - Where All Lovers Meet / That's All Right (TPE 8221) 1963 - I Took A Chance/ Put Her Down (TPE 8223)
The New Invictors 1963 - Deeply In Love With You / She Wouldn't Quit It (Hale 500)
Biography :
Little information to date on this excellent group. Vocal group from Atlanta composed by lead singer Levi (Tony) Moon, Tommy, Chat, Bill & Eddie. Between 1962 and 1963 TPE records based in Atlanta released four singles by the Invictors.
In 1963 Hale records, also based in Atlanta released another single from the group as The New Invictors. All the songs of the five singles were composed by Levi (Tony) Moon
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.
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.
The Vels (2) (Lower East Side, New York) aka The Styles (2)
Personnel :
Ruben Mangual
Orvin Baptiste
Rick Pettignano
Gene Serina
George West
Discography :
The Vels (2) 1963 - Do The Walk / In-Laws (Amy 881)
The Styles (2) 1964 - School Bells To Chapel Bells / I Love You For Sentimental Reasons (Josie 920)
Biography :
The group first began on the lower east side of New York City in 1958, when 4 young men, ranging in age from 13 to 15 and attending Junior High School 22, first harmonized on street corners, hallways and subway stations perfecting their own unique style. This perfection earned the group invitations to perform at block parties, school functions and becoming the wishful entertainment for everyone’s house parties. This first group was called The Financials with Ruben Mangual, Orvin Baptiste, Rick Pettignano & Gene Serina. Soon after, Ruben introduced George West (a high school friend) to the group, rounding out The Financials to a full 5 man vocal group.
Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon
In 1961 the group decided to change the group name from it's wall street sounding Financials to something shorter and slicker and they came up with “The Vels”. In late 1962, the group's manager, Rick Pettignano Sr. (father of group member Rick Pettignano Jr.), landed a recording contract for The Vels with Amy Records (1650 Broadway, NY) and their first record was released in 1963 (Amy #881) “Do The Walk” / “In Laws”, produced by Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel Fame). One year later the group was approached by singer, song writer and producer Vinny Catalano and his partner Pete Alonso for a project he felt was perfect for our group. Before the recording date Gene Serina was inducted into the US Army and was replaced by neighborhood friend Tony Duran.
Vinny Catalano
The group then recorded "School Bells To Chapel Bells" & "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons". Producer Catalano shopped the recordings to Josie Records (a subsidiary of Jubilee Records) and the group was singed to the label. Executives at Josie Records did not like the groups name "The Vels", they changed it to The Styles and released the recordings in 1964 (Josie Records Catalog #920). The Trademark for the name The Styles was granted to another entity in 2014 which now prohibits us from using the name professionally.
The Vels / Styles (2014) Top : George West, Gene Serina & Ruben Mangual - Bottom Rick Pettignano
Gene Serina returned from the Army and was brought back into the group. There were a few personnel changes within the group. The group lost Ruben Mangual, Tony Duran & George West leaving Rick Pettignano, Orvin Baptiste & Gene Serina. They added neighborhood friend Eddie Lebron bringing the group to 4 members. In late 1965 record producer, Joe Webb (who was the manager of the original Bobbettes) asked Eddie Lebron & Gene Serina, (formerly with the The Styles vocal group whose name we can no longer use due to US Trademark issues) if they would be interested in meeting with 2 members of a Long Island group called The Lost Souls who had recorded "Little Eva" as The Locomotions for Gone Records. http://www.cozycornerradio.com/
Songs :
The Vels (2)
Do The Walk In-Laws
The Styles (2)
School Bells To Chapel Bells I Love You For Sentimental Reasons
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 Paprella being replaced by Jr.'s Brother in law Bob Finzio. After winning a local contest they were approached by Buddy Greco who became their manager and got the group their first recording contract in 1958 with UA records. 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."
The Fabulous Four (1)
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. a recording contract as back up group for Fabian. Bob Marcucci came up with the group's new name "The Fabulous Four".
1960 - Be My Girl / Did You Make Up Your Mind (Jalynne 106) 1960 - Key To My Heart / Yes Or No (Red Top 127/ Arcade 7)
Biography :
"Doc" Bagby, Irv Nahan and Marvin "Red Top" Schwartz founded Red Top Records in 1957. Although they were also cutting such single artists as Donnie Elbert, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Dee Clark and Joe Tex, their next big group didn't come along until the summer of 1960 when they signed Tony & The Twilighters.
Tony & The Dynamics
The Original South Philly group - Anthony "Tony" Maresco, Anthony Barbelle, Michael Bongiorno and Bernard Mastragostino - did "Be My Girl" and "Did You Make Up Your Mind" on the new Jalynne label (named after dj Georgie Woods' daughters!) on July 5, 1960. This summer afternoon session also produced "Key To My Heart" and "Yes Or No", both issued as one of the last Red Top singles. Tony's first group, Tony & The Dynamics (Anthony "Tony" Maresco, Anthony Perry, Ernest Finaro Jr. and Anthony Donato) recorded "Betty My Own" and "Forever Love" for Herald and became later Anthony & the Sophomores.
Songs :
Be My Girl Did You Make Up Your Mind Key To My Heart
Eps : 1963 - The GI's (Festival FX 1341) Please Wait / Too Much Dreamin's No Good / Blizzard / Dance The Wiggle Wobble
1964 - The GI's (Festival FX 1368) When Does It Get To Be Love / Lucy / Indian Surf / Surf No. 1 (Surfin' Little Girl)
Doug Van Beck Trio
Singles : 1964 - Surfin' Little Girl / A Workin' Man's Day Is Never Done (Fargo 1064) 1964 - A Whole Lot Of Surfin' / A Workin (Judy 6500)
Biography :
This vocal group, made up from three US Army soldiers. They met during their military service in France. They sing mostly in American military camps for armed theater. Following an appearance at the french TV, they got a contract with the French's Festival label and cut eight songs.
When they returned to the United States after their military service, they recorded two singles as Doug Van Beck Trio. Doug Morris later wrote "Sweet Talkin' Guy" for The Chiffons and produced many Laurie label acts.
Clydie King, a singer who started recording at the age of 13, and progressed to become one of the most in demand singers of the LA music scene. Clydie Mae Crittendon was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 21, 1943. She is generally thought a backing singer, but in fact has made many records of her own, some of them a surprisingly long time ago. She made her first, ‘A Casual Look’ b/w ‘Oh Me’, in the mid-1950s in Memphis, for the Bihari Brothers’ label RPM, billed as by Little Clydie King & The Teens. Soon afterwards, credited as Clydie King, she made two singles on Speciality. She even did a stint with Don Julian's Meadowlarks.
In early 1962, with Sherlie Matthews, she made three further singles for Philips as Clydie King & the Sweet Things. Later, Clydie King & Sherlie Matthews was part of Bonnie & The Treasures, The Blackberries… Clydie was a member of Ray Charles' Raeletts for three years and contributed to early 1960s recordings by producer Phil Spector. But it was a number of mid 60's singles on Imperial that were to be the highmark of her solo career.Done at Gold Star with most of the 'Wrecking Crew', 'Missin' My Baby' is one of the best records to come out of LA during this time....with No apology to Phil Spector.Clydie went on to sing with a who who's of music superstars....Dylan, Rolling Stones, Streisand, but Pookie will always Think of Clydie with the sound of this one.
The Deans (2) (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Four Playboys / The Four Deans
Personnel :
Joe Macaluso (Tenor)
Tom Cori (Baritone)
Fred Khoury (Bass)
Discography :
The Deans (2)
Singles : 1960 - My Heart Is Low / I'll Love You Forever (Mohawk 114) 1960 - Humpty Dumpty / Le Chiam (Goodluck) (Mohawk 119) 1961 - It's You / I Don't Want To Wait (Just For Saturday Night) (Mohawk 126) 1961 - Little White Gardenia / I Don't Want To Wait (Just For Saturday Night) (Laurie 3114) 1963 - I'm Gonna Love You / Don't Let Her Cry Tonight (Tin Pan Alley 316) 1963 - Pretty Nola / Ricky Rocky Poo-Poo-Poo (Honeywell Jackson) (Tin Pan Alley 319) Unreleased : 1960 - Walk With Me (Mohawk) 1960 - Carol (Mohawk) 1960 - Little Girl (Mohawk) 1960 - Come On (Mohawk)
The Four Deans (The Four Playboys) 1992 (Recorded 58) - So Very Wrong / Mr Echo (Park Ave.7)
Biography :
The Deans formed in 1956-1957 and went on to record for Mohawk records. Originally, calling themselves The Four Playboys : Ralph Maffei (Lead) , Tom Cori (Baritone), Fred Khoury (Bass)and Joe Macaluso (Tenor) and eventualy lead on all recordings, when Ralph Maffei left the group to get married. The 3-man group liked Dean Martin and for awhile called themselves the Dino’s, eventually settling on the Deans. They auditioned live in 1960 for Irv Spice.
The Four Playboys
Irv Spice owner of Mohawk Records, was a musician who engulfed most of his productions with strings and full orchestration. He is probably best known releasing Dion & The Belmonts and The Dimensions’ first discs, two groups who went on to national fame. Mohawk Records and it’s subsidiaries Wizz, Abel, dragon, Dee and Hawk have been involved in many recordings both released and unreleased.
The Deans
Irv Spice quickly signed them to a contract, their outstanding "Blend and Sound" made them sound like a 5-man group. The group started recording at Dick Charles Studios, and cut three singles from 1960 to 1961 before joining Laurie records for one single: "Little White Gardenia" b/w "I Don't Want To Wait (Just For Saturday Night)". Despite two other records on the Tin Pan Alley Labels in 1963, they never achieved great success.
In the early 1990, Park Avenue released "So Very Much" and "Mr. Echo" recorded in 1958 by the original group, the Four Playboys, with Ralph Maffei on lead. The single was released under the name of The Four Deans .
Songs :
The Deans (2)
My Heart Is Low I'll Love You Forever Humpty Dumpty
Le Chiam It's You I Don't Want To Wait
Little White Gardenia I'm Gonna Love You Don't Let Her Cry Tonight
The Tymes (Philadelphia , PA) aka Billy Abbott & The Jewels (4) (The early Years)
Personnel :
George Williams, Jr (Lead)
George Hilliard (Second Tenor)
Albert Berry (First Tenor)
Norman Burnett (Baritone)
Donald Banks (Bass)
Discography :
The Tymes
Singles : 1963 - So In Love / Roscoe James McClai (Parkway 871) 1963 - Wonderful! Wonderful! / Come With Me To The Sea (Parkway 884) 1963 - Somewhere / View From My Window (Parkway 891) 1963 - Isle Of Love / I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (Parkway 7039) 1964 - To Each His Own / Wonderland Of Love (Parkway 908) 1964 - The Magic Of Our Summer Love / With All My Heart (Parkway 919) 1964 - Here She Comes / Malibu (Parkway 924) 1964 - The Twelfth Of Never / Here She Comes (Parkway 933)
1963 - So Much In Love (Parkway P-7032) Alone / My Summer Love / Wonderful! Wonderful! / That Old Black Magic / Let's Make Love Tonight / Goodnight My Love / So Much In Love / You Asked Me To Be Yours / The Twelfth Of Never / Way Beyond Today / Summer Day / Autumn Leaves
1963 - Sound of the Wonderful Tymes (Parkway P-7038) Wonderful Wonderful / Blue Velvet / One Little Kiss / Hello Young Lovers / Come With Me To The Sea / The Way You Look Tonight / Words Written On Water / And That Reminds Me / Chances Are / I Thank You / Address Unknown / Moonlight Cocktails /
1963 - Somewhere (Parkway P-7039) Somwhere / Stranger In Paradise / Let's Fall In Love Tonight / The Lamp Is Low / There Is Love / Night / Will You Wait For Me / Anymore / Till The End Of Time / Come With Me To The Sea / Why Should I Cry / Sleep Tight My Darling / Isle Of Love / I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Billy Abbott & The Jewels (4) 1963 - Groovy Baby / Come On And Dance With Me (Parkway 871) 1964 - It Isn't Fair / Hey Good Lookin' (Parkway 905)
Biography :
The story of The Tymes begins in 1955, when Norman Burnett met George Hilliard at a Willow Grove, Pennsylvania summer camp. When they returned home they hooked up with neighbors Albert (Caesar) Berry, III and Donald Banks, and formed a vocal group called The Latineers. For the next four years, the quartet made the rounds of the local circuit, performing at record hops, local talent shows and at nightclubs. In 1960, The Latineers brought in George Williams, Jr., whose Johnny Mathis-infulenced tenor would prove to be the missing piece of the puzzle.
The quintet was now set. The group continued to toil around Philadelphia for the next three years while honing their craft. The quintet’s breakthrough occurred in 1963 when they were contestants in the Tip Top Talent Hunt hosted by Philadelphia radio station WDAS. The Latineers performed “Danny Boy” and drew the attention of Leroy Lovett, one of the contest’s judges. He was impressed enough to have them audition for Billy Jackson, the A&R director of Cameo-Parkway records. Billy wanted to record them. Billy took The Latineers into the studio and produced them.
When the group signed with Cameo-Parkway the first matter to be addressed was the selection of the new moniker instead of going with the seemingly dated “Latineers”. The named was changed to The Tymes. George Williams had written the melody and the first verse to a romantic song he called “The Stroll”. He worked with others to complete the tune, and re-titled it “So Much In Love”. The group went into the studio and recorded “So Much In Love” many different ways.
The final version was released in the spring of 1963. Bernie Lowe, owner of Cameo Parkway, needed a backup group to complement Billy Abbott’s voice. Not wanting to use their name, fearing it would take away from their popularity, he dubbed the Tymes them the Jewels, but it was really the Tymes backing up Billy Abbott (who changed his name from Billy Vaughn to avoid confusion with bandleader Billy Vaughn).
By August, it passed Jan and Dean’s “Surf City” to become the number one pop record in the country. It also reached number four on the R&B charts and number twenty-one in the U.K. . They went on tour after “So Much In Love” was released. The Tymes traveled around the country with Dick Clark’s “Cavalcade of Stars”. For their second single, The Tymes took advantage of the similarity of George Williams’ vocal style to that of Johnny Mathis, and covered his 1957 hit “Wonderful! Wonderful!”. The song was given an arrangement in the same vein as it predecessor, and reached number seven on the pop charts that summer.
Near the end of 1963 The Tymes released “Somewhere”, which reached number 19 on the pop charts. “Somewhere” , like the group’s number one hit, did prominently feature finger snaps and “ooh-wee-ooh” background chirps, and contained very little music. Cameo-Parkway again quickly assembled an album, entitled “Somewhere”. In addition to the title song the LP contained “Come With Me To The Sea”; versions of two much-covered classics, “The Lamp Is Low” and “STRANGER IN PARADISE” and “Anymore”, a Billy Jackson and Roy Straigis composition that was given an exotic arrangement.
All three of The Tymes’ Cameo-Parkway albums charted. In the winter of 1964, the quintet released a cover of The Platters’ “To Each His Own”. Next to follow was “Our Summer Love”, a wonderful, bossa nova-flavored tune. The Tymes eventually left Cameo-Parkway and signed with Columbia records.
Songs :
The Tymes
So In Love Roscoe James McClai Wonderful! Wonderful!
Come With Me To The Sea Somewhere View From My Window
Isle Of Love I'm Always Chasing Rainbows To Each His Own
Wonderland Of Love The Magic Of Our Summer Love With All My Heart
Here She Comes Malibu The Twelfth Of Never
That Old Black Magic Alone Let's Make Love Tonight
Goodnight My Love The Twelfth Of Never Way Beyond Today
The Splendors (L to R) : Harold Marcus, Joe DiBartolo, Tommy Tucker, Georgie Moe and Bernie Drosdcz
The Motions (Brooklyn, New York) ref : The Splendors (2) aka The Del-Fons
Personnel :
Tommy Tucker (Lead)
Larry Angeli (Baritone)
Joe Basta (First Tenor)
Richie Merrit (Second Tenor)
Discography :
The Motions Single: 1961 - Mr. Night / Make Me A Love (Laurie 3112) Unreleased : 1958 - Mambo City
The Del-Fons Unreleased: 1959 - I Only Want You / This Is My Love
The Splendors (2) Unreleased: 1963 - Lonely, Lonely Nights / Record Hop (Wilshire) 1964 - Roses Are Red / Embraceable You 1964 - Runday Runday / Mambo City 1964 - Stormy Weather / Make The Knife 1964 - Walkin' My Baby Back Home / I'm In The Mood For Love 1964 - My Vow To You / My Love For You Will Never Die
Biography :
1958, and the Place was the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. During this time, St. Michael's church used to hold dances which were attenuated by the local neighborhood teenagers. At this dances, four guys discovered they enjoyed singing together very much and decided to form a group called the Emotions. Members consisted of Tommy Tucker (Lead), Larry Angeli (Baritone), Joe Basta (First Tenor) and Richie Merrit (Second Tenor). The Group's first songs was "Mambo City" recorded on a demo. The group eventually gained a local following and began appearing at record hops, social clubs… At this time Richie had left the group and was replaced by Eddie Povenelli.
Tommy Tucker (Motions' Lead singer)
The group met a man named Marv Kalfin, who eventually became their manager. He introduced the group to two songs he had written…"Mr Night" and "Make A Love". While the master recordings were being cut, a female member was added to the group. Marv brought the master tape to Laurie and their reaction was quite favorable. Another group who had already gained much popularity in the area, was using the same name. At the last time before going to press, Laurie did the first thing that came to mind. The "E" was dropped and the Guys were named The Motions. The single was released in June 1961. At about the time the Motions' record was released, another Laurie single was "Breaking Big"… The Jarmels' "A lItlle bit of Soap". "Mr Night" never really had a chance, the group rapidly became disguise ted and eventually disbanded.
Vinny Catalano
The Story of the Motions, does not end here. Let us go back to the year 1957 and the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New york. At this time, Three teenagers in the same junior high school, Joe DiBartolo (First Tenor and Lead), Bernie Drosdcz (Baritone and Bass) and Harold Marcus (Second Tenor) and two others Johnny Jerrywicki (Baritone) and Georgie Moe (Lead) joined together to Form a Group called the Del-Fons. Although this group only sang at parties, they recorded a demo 1959 that featured the songs "I Only Want You" and "This is My Love". Soon after this same two songs, released back to back, became a two sided hit for the Passions early in 1960. During 1962, the Del-Fons changed their name to the Splendors. However, due to repeated problems involving members , the group finally broke up, this was the same time that the Motions Disbanded.
Tommy Tucker, Joe DiBartolo and Harold Marcus Joe DiBartolo with group's demos
Early in 1963, Joe DiBartolo met Tonny Tucker and decided to reform the Splendors, consisting of Himself, Tommy Tucker and those two original members Bernie Drosdcz and Harold Marcus. Later that year Joe's cousin, Vinny Catalano, at this time in charge of Wilshire Records, had written two songs for the Splendors, "Lonely, Lonely Nights" and "Record Hop". The group recorded both songs but the reared wasn't released. In 1964, George Moe rejoined the group. They now began appearing at various places throughout New York. The Boys would occasionally buy time at a local recording studio in order to capture some of their harmony on tape. Of course, Demo discs were made of these sessions...
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