Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Hepsters

Posted on October 17 2008 by dion1

The Hepsters (Cleveland, OH.)

Personnel :

Joe Williams (Lead)

Raymond Harvey (First Tenor)

Carl Brown (Second Tenor)

Bobby Woods (Bariton)

Paul Hayes (Bass)

Discography :

1955 - Rockin' N Rollin' With Santa Claus / I Had To Let You Go (Ronel 107)
1956 - This-A-Way / I Gotta Sing The Blues (Ronel 110)  

Biography :

The Hepsters got together in early 1954 as the Five Stars and had been formed by Joe Williams, a student at East Technical High. Other members were Art Kirkpatrick, Raymond Harvey, Carl Brown, and Woody Woodall. Like many inner-city youth, the group practiced at a settlement house, the Friendly Inn Settlement House, and paid their dues playing talent shows and teen benefit affairs.

The Five Stars

The group's break into the recording business came when they auditioned for Estrella Young, who was working for a local booking agency. Young had the group change its name to the Hepsters and worked with the singers in honing their talents for the recording studio and developing original material.

Dave Clark, through nationwide contacts he developed for years as a promotion man, found the group via Young and brought them to Chicago to record. The first release by the Hepsters was "Rock 'n' Rollin' with Santa Claus" backed with "I Had To Let You Go". The Hepsters' second release was "This-a-Way" backed with "I Gotta Sing the Blues." "This-a-Way" was written by the leader, Williams, and the flip was written by Clark.The Hepsters were a talented group but never had the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities with a top-flight hit song.
Doowop The Chicago Scene (Robert Pruter)
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Hepsters/hepsters.html

Songs :

Rockin' N Rollin' With Santa Claus I Had To Let You Go This-A-Way

I Gotta Sing The Blues

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The Colognes aka The Passions (2)

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The Passions (2) (Los Angeles, California)
aka The Colognes

Personnel :

Kenny Sinclair (Lead)

Harold Garcia

Sammy Handy

Earl Sinclair

William DeVase (Bass)

Discography :

The Passions (2)
1958 - Jackie Brown / My Aching Heart (Era 1063 / Capitol F-3963)
1958 - Nervous About Sally / Tango Of Love (Dore 505)

The Colognes
1959 - A Bird And A Bee / A River Flows (Lummtone 102)

Biography :

Harold Garcia, Sammy Handy, Kenny Sinclair from the Six Teens, Earl Sinclair and William DeVase, bass were the Passions on both Era and Dore. On Era, they rendered the uptempo “Jackie Brown” b/w “My Aching Heart” (1063); reissued on Capitol (3963). After this fine two-label release stiffed, The Passions were laid off to the Era sister label of Dore, after the cousins who ran Era, broke their partnership for the less effective “Tango Of Love” b/w “Nervous About Sally” (505) in 1958.

In 1959, most likely because of a competing East Coast Passions group, which had hit big with “Just To Be With You,” they became the Colognes on Lummtone, after which Sinclair and DeVase joined the Elements/Elgins vocal group.

Songs :

The Passions (2)


Jackie Brown My Aching Heart


Nervous About Sally                        Tango Of Love

The Colognes

A River Flows

...

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The Classic IV aka The Classic Four

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The Classic IV aka The Classic Four

The Classic IV (Philadelphia)
aka The Classic Four

Personnel :

Andy Petruzelli (Lead)

Albert Buccini (Baritone)

Johnny Delagol (Tenor)

Bob Camardella (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:

The Classic IV
1962 - Island Of Paradise / What Will I Do (Without You) (Twist 1001) 
1962 - Please Be Mine / Heavenly Bliss (Twist 1003/1004)

The Classic Four
1962 - Early Christmas / Limbo Under The Christmas Tree (Algonquin 1650) 
1962 - What Will I Do (Without You) / True Story (Algonquin 1651)

Unreleased:

1962 - This To Me Is Love (Twist)
1962 - My Mama Told Me (Twist)

Biography :

The Classic Four were from Penn & Magnolia streets in Germantown, Philadelphia. Members were Andy Petruzelli, Johnny Delagol, Al Buccini & Bob Camardella. They cut some demos for Artie Singer (discoverer of Danny & Juniors & owner of Singular & Twist Records) .Two singles was released on his Twist label in 1962 as The Classic IV. "Island of Paradise" was a local hit for the group..

After their two singles on Twist records, Johnny Delagol Left the group. At this time, the group was managed by Jeanette Carey. An enterprising sort, Jimmy Testa from the Fabulous Four was employed by Crisconi Oldsmobile, where he sidled up to the owner’s daughter, Jeanette Carey….

The Classic Four aka The Classic IV

Jeanette Auditioned Jimy on the spot and convincing him to join the Classic IV. Jimmy Testa replaced Johnny Delagol in the group. They signed a recording contract with Algonquin records, a New Yorl Label and cut two new singles as the Classic Four.

The Classic IV's both algonquin disking's were quickly ground into sawdust. With that they went their separate ways.

Songs :


Island Of Paradise                What Will I Do                  Please Be Mine


Heavenly Bliss                  Early Christmas       Limbo Under The Christmas Tree

True Story

….

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The Continders aka The Fabulous Six

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

Clifford Curry

The Continders (Knoxville, TN.)
aka The Fabulous Six

Personnel :

Clifford Curry

Lewey Guy

Dewey Guy

Bob Adams

Jerry Johnson

Wayne Cronan

Discography :

The Continders
1959 - Mr. Dee Jay / Yes I Do (Blue Sky 105)

Dewey Guy & The Fabulous Six
1959 - Rock A While / Can't Stand To Be Alone (Ridgecrest 1201)

Biography :

While The Five Pennies toured during high school, Clifford Curry & four other friends formed a group called The Bingos. That group included, Willie Earl Drummond, Veste Huddleston, Clayton Whittington and Leon “Mickey” Prater. Curry wrote his own songs and sang into his small reel-to-reel tape recorder until the group saved enough money to drive to Nashville to record one 45 on Nashboro Records.

Clifford Curry

Curry was the lead singer on both; “Don’t Say Tomorrow” and “You For Me” the later, a song Curry co-wrote with Mickey Prater. Then the owner of Nashboro Records, Ernie Young, changed their name to The Hollyhocks. The man loved flowers. The following year, he joined a band called the Contenders (Dewey Guy, his twin brother, Lewey Guy, Jerry Johnson, Wayne Cronan, and Bob Adams).

The Continders aka The Fabulous Six
Dewey Guy & the Fabulous Six

In late 1958, they recorded "Mr. Dee Jay"/"Yes I Do" for Earl Dorrance's Blue Sky Records (although the label called them the "Continders"). Then, as "Dewey Guy and the Fabulous Six," they had "Rock A While"/"Can't Stand To Be Alone" on Ralph Stevens' Ridgecrest Records in early 1959.

Songs :

The Continders

Mr. Dee Jay Yes I Do

Dewey Guy & The Fabulous Six

Rock A While Can't Stand To Be Alone

...

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The C-Tones Ref The Dawns (2)

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The Dawns in 1956 - Top : (L to R) Jim Carling and Joel Greenspan Lower : (L to R) Stan Goldstein and Bobby Carling - Center : Billy Campbell (Lead Singer)

The Dawns (2) (Chinatown / Little Italy, New York)
Ref The C-Tones

Personnel :

Mike Caminiti (Lead)

Louie Matos (First Tenor)

Stan Goldstein

Oscar (Baritone)

Harry Solomon (Bass)

Discography :

The C-Tones
1957 - On Your Mark / From Now On (Everlast 5005)

The Dawns (2)
1959 - How Deep Is The Ocean / Why Did You Let Me Love You (Climax 104)

Biography :

The C-Tones were a group from NYC's (Chinatown & Mulberry Street in Little Italy) and was comprised Mike Caminiti on lead, Harry Solomon on bass, Tony Lee on piano & 2nd tenor, Donny DiRienzi on baritone and Louie Matos on 1st tenor. The Group consisted of 5 Italian American teenagers and practiced in Columbus Park. The Group cut "On Your Mark" b/w "From Now On" On Everlast 5005. They re-formed as "The Dawns" with Oscar ? replacing Donnie & Stan Goldstein replacing Tony Lee. They recorded "How Deep is the Ocean" b/w "Why Did You Let Me Love You" .

Jimmy Carling Trio At Willy Pep's Melody Lane, 57th St. NYC, March '62

It was released on the short lived Climax Records founded by Jack Gold, label which issued a grand total of ten records between 1959-60 before closing. Jim Carling replaced Oscar in 1960 but The Group broke up in 1962 without having another record out. In 1962, Jim Carling continued in the music business in the Jimmy Carling Trio (Jim Carling on Piano, Gene Mitchell on Guitar and Bobby Nicastro on Drums) and many other groups over the years.
Thnaks to Jim Carling.

Songs:
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The C-Tones

On Your Mark From Now On

The Dawns (2)

How Deep Is The Ocean / Why Did You Let Me Love You

...

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Jay Walker & The Pedestrians (1)

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

Peter Antell

Jay Walker & The Pedestrians (1) (New York)

Personnel :

Peter Antell (Jay Walker) (Lead)

Nick "Cardell" Cardella (First Tenor)

Discography :

1962 - Hey Now / Never Happen (Amy 348)

Biography :

Pete Antell grew up as Peter Blaise Antonio in St. Albans, Queens, home to musical luminaries like Count Basie. When Pete was 10, his family moved to Levittown, Long Island. Pete took up playing the guitar. By the time he was in high school, Pete had expanded his musical horizons by writing his own songs. His first band was called Tony Leopard and the Spots. This band was fortunate enough to make several 45s as the backing band for the Charades and other vocal groups recording at Allegro Studio in New York City.

Jay Walker & The Pedestrians (1)
Nick Cardell

With John Lindle, Pete Antell was part of the Chants. Pete Antell resumed his creative schedule, recording some sides for Amy Records under the pseudonym Jay Walker and The Pedestrians with Nick Cardell on first tenor. In 1963, Nick Cardell & his new group recorded as the Four Fifths.

Songs :

Hey Now Never Happen

...

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The Encounters

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The Encounters
Charlie DiComo, Peter Milazzo, Steve Matisi and Tony DiGiovanni

The Encounters (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Charlie DiComo

Pete Milazzo

Eddie Almordovur

Steve Matisi

Discography :

1963 - Don't Stop / A Place In Your Heart (Swan 4205)

Biography :

Originated in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, mid 1963. By the end of the year they had a recording contract with Swan Records and recorded an original, "Don't Stop", written by Joe Venneri (Tokens) & Billy Carlucci (Billy & the Essentials).

Charlie DiComo Pete Milazzo Tony DiGiovanni Steve Matissi Live at RKO Madisson

Eddie Almodovar was singing with a group called The Delorients from Ridgewood, Brooklyn. He also sang in 1959 with "The Tropicals" in Puerto Rico . From 1963 to 1979 the group entertained in the Laurel's Country Club,The NY Hilton and the Friars Club as well as hundreds of corporate and private affairs. 
http://www.theencounters.com/

Songs :

Don't Stop A Place In Your Heart

...

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The Monitors (1) aka The Senors aka The Mellow Drops

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The Monitors (1) aka The Senors aka The Mellow Drops

The Monitors

The Monitors (1) (New Orleans, LA)
aka The Senors aka The Mellow Drops

Personnel :

Robert Kidd (Lead Tenor)

Vontell Lane (Tenor)

Adolph Smith (Tenor)

Clarence Phoenix (Contralto)

Billy Tircuit (Bass / Baritone)

Discography :

The Mellow Drops
Singles :
1954 - The Crazy Song / When I Grow Too Old To Dream (Imperial 5324)
Unreleased :
1954 - I Want Your Love (Imperial)
1954 - Mother Will Stand Up For You (Imperial)

The Monitors (1)
Singles :
1956 - Candy Coated Kisses / Tonight's The Night (Aladdin 3309)
1956 - A Little Word / That's What I'll Do (Aladdin 3313)
1957 - Our School Days / I've Got A Dream (Speciality 595)
1957 - Closer To Heaven / Rock 'N' Roll Fever (Speciality 622)
1958 - Mama Linda / Hop Scotch (Speciality 636)
Unreleased :
1956 - Guiding Light (Aladdin)
1956 - O, O, Daddy, O (Aladdin)
1957/58 - Crazy Green Lizard
1957/58 - Groovy Ruby
1957/58 - If I Could See You Again
1957/58 - My Baby's Rockin'
1957/58 - My Greatest Mistake
1957/58 - Red Sails In The Sunset
1957/58 - Too Young
1957/58 - Wobble When She Walks

The Senors
1962 - May I Have This Dance / Searching For Olive Oil (Sue 756)

Biography :

This New Orleans vocal group First got together in New Orleans in 1952, They were friends in their early twenties and calling themselves the Mellow-Drops, playing bars and clubs in the New Orleans vicinity. Finally they were discovered by Imperial's Dave Bartholomew. Bartholomew got them a session on November 15, 1954. "The Crazy Song" and "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" by the Mellow Drops later that year. For some forgotten reason, the group decided to change their name to the Monitors. They met and backed up Shirley and Lee one day. The producer that day was Eddie Mesner of Aladdin Records. That session eventually led to a session for the Monitors with Aladdin. Kidd was the usual lead, but he was unable to make the Monitors session with Aladdin and Vontell Lane filled in. Four tunes were recorded at the one session they had with Aladdin — only two were used.

The Mellow Drops aka The Monitors (1) aka The Senors

Eddie Mesner Billy Tircuit

The Aladdin disc did well locally but received little support from the label, and they next called on Specialty Records in 1956. While this group had been the Mellow Drops on Imperial and was renamed the Monitors and the Senors, it's curious that despite their Louisiana origin, they recorded for the Sue label in New York and for California's Imperial, Aladdin, and Speciality labels. The Monitors' first session for Specialty was held in December 1956 and their first release on that label occurred in January 1957. It did well locally in New Orleans, but Speciality’s Art Rupe failed to support it. Similarly, their two other Specialty releases had good local support but no push. Differences between group members began to surface and they split up in 1958. Later that year,Vontell Lane and Billy Tircuit got together with Johnny Meyers, Simon Washington, and Elaine Edwards to form the Moonbeems .

The Mellow Drops aka The Monitors (1) aka The Senors
Art Rupe

In 1961, many of the Monitors original members got together and renamed themselves again to the Senors. The group members were Billy Tircuit, Adolph Smith, Vontell Lane, and Clarence Phoenix. Their new lead singer was Adolph's brother, Milton Smith. They recorded a couple of sides at Cosimo's: "May I Have This Dance" and "Searching For Olive Oil". By 1964, the Monitors / Señors had disbanded for good.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Monitors/monitors.html

Songs :

The Mellow Drops


The Crazy Song                      I Want Your Love

The Monitors (1)


Candy Coated Kisses / Tonight's The Night      Our School Days / I’ve Got A Dream


Closer To Heaven / Rock 'N' Roll Fever      Mama Linda / Hop Scotch

The Senors


May I Have This Dance                Searching For Olive Oil

….

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The De Vaurs aka Henrietta & The Hairdooz aka Baby Jane & The Rockabyes aka The Elektras aka The Lullabyes (1)

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The De Vaurs
aka Henrietta & The Hairdooz aka Baby Jane & The Rockabyes
aka The Elektras aka The Lullabyes (1) (Bronx, New-York)

Personnel :

Brenda Carrow

Yvonne DeMunn

Paula Hutchinson

Estelle McEwan

Discography :

The De Vaurs
1958 - Baby Doll / Teenager (D-Tone A-3/A-4)
1959 - Where Are You / Boy In Mexico (Moon 105)

Baby Washington Backed by The De Vaurs
1959 - The Bells / Why Did My Baby Put Me Down   (Neptune 104)
1959 - Work Out / Let's Love In The Moonlight   (Neptune 107)
1960 - Medicine Man / Tears Fall   (Neptune 120)
1961 - Nobody Cares / Money's Funny (Neptune 122)

Biography :

Girl group Baby Jane & the Rockabyes formed in the Bronx, New York in 1958 -- according to John Clemente's exhaustive article on the Spectropop web site. The original lineup comprised vocalists Estelle McEwan, Yvonne DeMunn, Paula Hutchinson and Brenda Carrow, schoolmates united in their common affection for the Chantels. Originally dubbed the DeVaurs, a moniker inspired in part by DeMunn's surname, the fledgling group soon won a local talent show, earning the chance to cut a record with the small Brooklyn label D-Tone; Hutchinson assumed lead vocal duties on the finished single, "Baby Doll," a McEwan-penned original that failed to catch on with local radio.

The DeVaurs relocated to the Moon label for the 1959 follow-up, "Where Are You," which hit the Top 20 on local station WNJR; Moon owner Al Browne also recruited the group to handle backing vocals behind a then-unknown Baby Washington, appearing on four of her Neptune label singles, among them "The Bells" and "Nobody Cares".

But despite the regional success of "Where Are You," the DeVaurs began to splinter as its members married and took on day jobs -- Carrow's 1961 exit prompted the addition of five-octave dynamo Madelyn Moore, and following Hutchinson's departure, the remaining group forged ahead as a trio.

While recording demos for songwriter Arthur Crier, the DeVaurs worked with fellow session vocalist Yolanda Robinson, who soon signed on as a full-time member -- the reconstituted quartet would soon become one of the busiest session groups in New York City, regularly recording demos for writers including Bert Berns and the team of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. When Phil Spector protégés Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans scored a Top Ten pop smash in 1962 with their update of the Disney chestnut "Zip-a-Dee Doo-Da," Lieber and Stoller borrowed the formula to remake the Patti Page smash "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?" with the DeVaurs on lead .

Baby Jane & the Rockabyes

The group was shocked when the record appeared on United Artists credited to "Baby Jane & the Rockabyes.
Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

http://www.spectropop.com/BabyJane/index.htm

Songs :


Where Are You                            Boy In Mexico


Teenager                                   Baby Doll

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The Emanons (1) ref : The Sequins (1)

Posted on October 15 2008 by dion1

The Hornets (1) aka Cleveland Quartet

The Emanons (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : The Sequins (1)

Personnel :

Ronald Coleman (Lead)

Carl White (First Tenor)

Ralph Steely (Second Tenor)

James Dukes (Baritone)

James Hill (Bass)

Discography :

The Emanons (1)
Singles :
1956 - Change of Time / Hindu Baby (Gee 1005)
1956 - Blue Moon / Wish I Had My Baby (Josie 801)
Unreleased :
1956 - Itty Bitty Mama (JOZ/Josie 801)

The Sequins (1)
1956 - Don't Fall In Love / Why Can't You Treat Me Right (Red Robin 140)

Biography :

The Emanons hailed from New York. The group members were Ronald Coleman (Lead), Carl White (First Tenor), Ralph Steely (Second Tenor), James Dukes (Baritone) and James Hill (Bass). Coleman also was the lead voice for the Sequins with Carl White when they recorded "Don't Fall In Love" and "Why Can't You Treat Me Right" who was the last record on the Red Robin label. The Emanons (the No Names spelled backward) recorded "Change of Time" / "Hindu Baby" for Gee Records, a New York-based American record label formed as a subsidiary to George Goldner's Tico Records and Rama Records labels. The same year, they recorded "Blue Moon" and it’s the first time it was performed in an up-tempo fashion, five years before Pittsburgh’s Marcels had a #1 hit with it. The Marcels’ version on Colpix #186 charted nationally on Billboard in April 1961 for 14 weeks reaching #1. It stayed #1 for 3 weeks. "Blue Moon" is one of the classic popular standard songs written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. Through its different lyric changes by Hart, it has been featured in many movies through the years and recorded by many artists. Some artists were: Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin, Herb Lance & The Classics, Sam Cooke, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Bobby Vinton, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford - with too many more to list.

Songs :

The Emanons (1)


     Blue Moon                                     Wish I Had My Baby


Change of Time                                  Hindu Baby

Itty Bitty Mama

The Sequins (1)


      Don't Fall In Love                          Why Can't You Treat Me Right

…

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