Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Torches aka The Diadems aka The Rhythm Rascals

Posted on January 31 2009 by dion1

The Diadems aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

The Diadems (Pittsburgh, Pa)
aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

Personnel :

Cleveland "Butch" Martin (Lead)

Earl Thompson (First Tenor)

Robert Thompson (Second Tenor)

Jerry Hill (Baritone)

Jimmy Mitchell (Bass)

Discography :

The Diadems
1961 - What More Is There To Say / Ala Vevo (LaVere 187)
1963 - Why Don't You Believe Me? / Yes I Love You Baby (Star 514)
1964 - I'll Do Anything / Goodnight Irene (Goldie 715)

Jerry Hilton & The Diadems
1964 - Dancing On Moonbeams / My Little Darling (Goodie 207)

The Torches
1965 - Darn Your Love / No I Won't (Ring-O 302)

The Rhythm Rascals
1965 - Why Do You Have To Go / Girl By My Side (Sonic 117)

Biography :

The Diadems got together as a gang of ten Homewood pre-teens in 1953, organized by Cleveland "Butch" Martin (who was blind, though it never hindered his ability to sing or write a song) and Earl Thompson. They called themselves the E l Moroccos.In 1956, the core of the act formed up. Martin was the lead, and was backed by Earl Thompson (first tenor), Jerry Hill (baritone), Alvin Allsberry, Gerald Johnson and Arlene Gore. Allsberry and Johnson left in 1958, and Gore in 1959. They were replaced in the lineup by bass Jimmy Mitchell and Earl's brother Robert, a second tenor that was singing with the LaRells. The revamped group renamed themselves the Countdowns.

They didn't find any angel to back them in Pittsburgh as far as a recording deal went, so they motored to the Big Apple in 1960 and met up with Teacho Wiltshire, of the Tin Pan Alley label. They did a demo of a Top Notes song called "Shake It Up Baby," and Wiltshire wanted them to stay in NYC to record it. But the boys were grown up now, and headed back to Pittsburgh, where their girls were.

Can't beat that home cookin'! They became the Diadems, and recorded "What More Is There To Say" b/w "Ala Vevo" in 1961 on LaVerve #187. Wiltshire didn't forget about them. He called and asked them to come back to New York to cover "Shake It Up Baby," but they were under contract to LaVerve and passed. The Isley Brothers didn't; they recorded the tune as "Twist And Shout." They were that close.

The Diadems aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

The following year, they signed on with Joe Averbach's Fee Bee label, and released some wax for his affiliates. "Why Don't You Believe Me?" b/w "Yes I Love You Baby," (Star #514), written by the group, was released in 1963, and "Dancing On Moonbeams" b/w "My Little Darling," was issued on Goodie #207 in 1964, with Jerry Hilton on lead.The Diadems quickly followed with the doo-wop Martin-Thompson song "I'll Do Anything" b/w "Goodnight Irene" (Goldie #715) the same year. Buddy Sharpe and the Shakers, local rockabilly legends, provided the musical track behind them. That was the last hurrah for the Diadems. Jimmy Mitchell took ill, and the group disbanded for a bit. They came back as the Torches in 1965, and became the Rhythm Rascals in 1966,
http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.fr/search/label/diadems

Songs :

The Diadems

What More Is There To Say               Why Don't You Believe Me


I'll Do Anything                      Yes I Love You Baby

Goodnight Irene Ala Vevo

Jerry Hilton & The Diadems

My Little Darling Dancing On Moonbeams

The Torches

Darn Your Love No I Won't

The Rhythm Rascals

Why Do You Have To GoGirl By My Side

...

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The Quentins aka The Dee-Vines (1)

Posted on January 31 2009 by dion1

The Quentins aka The Dee-Vines (1)
Chuck Smith (seated) - top : Gary Stem, Richard Elter and Don Nicita

The Quentins (Westchester County, N.Y)
aka The Dee-Vines (1)

Personnel :

Don Nicita (Lead)

Chuck Smith

Richard Elter

Gary Stem

Discography :

Neil Stevens & The Dee-Vines (1)
1958 - More And More / What Could Be Better (Brunswick 55095)

The Quentins
1959 - You'll Never Know / Mi Amore (Andie 5014)

The Dee-Vines (1)
1960 - I Believe / Worlds Greatest Lover (Lano 2001/relic 514))

Biography :

in 1959, Laurie Records has launched a new subsidiary label, Andie Records. It will release the same kind of records that Laurie has issued in the pop and jazz fields. But the new label will be serviced by other distributors, according to a.&r. chief Gene Schwartz. First recordings are by the Chippendales, whose disking is "What a Night," and the other is by the Quentins. The group recorded in 1959 the single "You'll Never Know" b/w "Mi Amore". The Quentins come from Westchester County, N.Y. and consisted of Don Nicita (Lead), Richard Elter, Chuck Smith and Gary Stem .

The Quentins aka The Dee-Vines (1)
Neil Stevens & The Dee-Vines (1)

However before being called the "Quentins" the group had already recorded a first record where they accompanied the singer Neil Stevens in October 1958 on "More And More" and "What Could Be Better". The single will be released by Brunswick Records as Neil Stevens & The Dee-Vines. In 1960, Neil Stevens joined the Temptations as Lead singer with Larry Curtis, Artie Sands, and Artie Marin, not to be confused with the famous Motown group by the same name. This lesser-known group from New York released one Top 40 hit, "Barbara," in 1960, about one year before the more famous Temptations were founded. Neil Stevens went solo shortly after the release of "Barbara."

The Quentins aka The Dee-Vines (1)

In October,1960 Don Nicita & his fellows recorded "I Believe" and "Worlds Greatest Lover" released by the Rocco Catalano's Lano label from Port Chester,N.Y.. This time they take back their original name The Dee-Vines . The group appeared on Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour on May 23, 1960 and perform "Lonesome Road" .

Videos :

Lonesome Road

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

Neil Stevens & The Dee-Vines (1)

More And More What Could Be Better

The Dee-Vines (1)

I Believe World's Greatest Lover

The Quentins

Mi Amore You'll Never Know

...

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The Itels

Posted on January 31 2009 by dion1

The Itels : (L to R) Tony Giorgi, Nick Genovese, Mike Lanza and Frank Medicino

The Itels (Port Chester, New York)

Personnel :

Augie DeCrecenzo (Lead)

Mike Lanza

Nick Genovese

Tony Giorgi

Discography :

1961 - Star Of Paradise / Chubby Isn't Chubby Anymore (Magnifico 101)

Biography :

Tony Giorgi came from Port Chester, NY along with his friends Mike Lanza, Nick Genovese and Frank Medicino and formed a group in 1957 called the Itels. In 1961, another friend Augie DeCrecenzo replaced Frank as the Groups lead singer. The Itels recorded a song about Chubby Checker penned by Bernice Ross for the Magnifico label called "Chubby Isn't Chubby Anymore" b/w "Star of Paradise" a group original.

Songs :

Star Of Paradise Chubby Isn't Chubby Anymore

...

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The Rag Dolls aka The Beach Girls (2)

Posted on January 28 2009 by dion1

The Rag Dolls (New York)
aka The Beach Girls (2)

Personnel :

Jean Thomas (Lead)

Mikie Harris

Susan Lewis

Discography :

The Rag Dolls
1964 - Society Girl / Ragen (Society Girl Bossa Nova) (Parkway 921)
1964 - Dusty / Hey, Hoagy (Mala 493)
1964 - Baby's Gone / We Almost Made It (Mala 499)
1965 - Put A Ring On My Finger / Little Girl Tears (Mala 506)

The Beach Girls (2)
1965 - Goin' Places / Skiing In The Snow (Dynovoice 202)

Biography :

Originally from Sarasota, Florida (Though born in Weymouth, Massachusetts) Jean Thomas had moved to New York in the early 60s and recorded as a solo artist for Cadence and M-G-M. Pitch perfect, she began picking up extra work as a demo singer and from there graduated to full session work, sometimes accompanied by an old friend from Sarasota, Mikie Harris who sang with the Ardons. The recording community liked Thomas for her ability to emote with all the chutzpah of an eager novice getting his first break in a recording studio, even though she was a pro in her mid-twenties.

Jean Thomas

Crewe had used Thomas on "Society Girl" by the Rag Dolls (a fabricated 'answer' record to the 4 seasons' "Rag Doll") which had dented the Hot 100 in late 1964. Consolidating with a second release, "Dusty", Crewe had Thomas and Harris lay down their vocals over a storming track by 4 Seasons arranger Charlie Calello. The winning four seasons groove bagged a lot of airplay, pushing "Dusty" to # 55 in February 1965, and led to a demend for a group that did not exist outside the confines of a recording studio.

Thomas preferred the quiet backwaters of studio work to the limelight and toured only briefly as a member of the Rag Dolls. The sessions for ‘Dusty’ were on 24th and 27th October and again on 12th November 1964 to perfect the mix, with ‘Skiing In The Snow’ and ‘Hey Hoagy’ also being recorded. The latter would become the cute ‘B’ side to ‘Dusty’ whilst Bob would release ‘Skiing In The Snow’ as the Beach Girls on Dynavoice 202 to provide another classic harmony laced girl group sound

Songs :

The Rag Dolls

Society Girl                                 Put A Ring On My Finger


Dusty                                         Little Girl Tears


Hey Hoagy                                    Baby's Gone

The Beach Girls (2)

Skiing In The Snow

...

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The Crystals (1) aka The Opals (1)

Posted on January 27 2009 by dion1

The Crystals (1) aka The Opals (1)

top : Johnny Hopson & Earl Wade Bottom - Bottom : Teddy Williams & Marty Brown

The Opals (1) (Harlem, New-York)
aka The Crystals (1)

Personnel :

Earl Wade (Lead)

Marty Brown (Tenor)

Johnny Hopson (Tenor)

Teddy Williams (Bass)

Discography :

The Crystals (1)
1954 - Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby (Luna 100/ 101/5001)

The Opals (1)
1954 - Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby (Luna 100/ 101/5001)
1954 - My Heart's Desire / Oh But She Did (Apollo 462)

Biography :

In June of 1954 Luna Records issues #10-101, its very first recording by a group called The Crystals. The songs are "Come To Me Darling" and "Squeeze Me Baby". Soon after its release they find another group called The Crystals exists and they record for the DeLuxe label.

The Crystals (1) aka The Opals (1)

Six weeks after its initial release the record is re-issued as Luna 5001 by The Opals and the label is now identified as a subsidiary of Apollo Records. In October of that year The Opals record again, this time for the parent label Apollo and #462 is released - "Ooh But She Did" and "My Hearts Desire". That seems to be the entire history of The Opals on record. Later, Wade joined The Cadillacs. Earlier, Williams had been with The Vocaleers.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/ROWNEW2/ComeToMe.htm

Songs :

Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby My Heart's Desire / Oh But She Did

...

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The Tremonts (1) aka The Privateers

Posted on January 27 2009 by dion1

The Tremonts (1) (Bronx, New-York)
aka The Privateers

Personnel :

Dave Romano (Lead)

Julio "Joey Dee" Decicco (Lead)

Billy Frye (Second Tenor)

Ronnie Lapinski (Baritone)

Discography :

The Tremonts (1)
1961 - Legend Of Love / Believe My Heart (Brunswick 55217 /Pat Riccio 101)

Marty & The Tremonts (1)
1961 - Dear Mom And Dad / Since Your Mine (DiVenus 103)

Carlo bb The Tremonts  (1)
Singles :
1963 - Baby Doll / Write Me A Letter (Laurie 3151)
1963 - The Story Of Love / Five Minutes More (Laurie 3175)
1964 - Ring A Ling / Stranger In My Arms (Laurie 3227)
Unreleased :
1963 - Brenda The Great Pretender (Laurie)
1963 - Kansas City (Laurie)

Joyce & The Privateers
1962 - Honor Roll Of Love / The Bunny Tale (Agon 1003)

Biography :

The Tremonts "Julio "Joey Dee" Decicco , Ronnie Lapinsky, Bill Frye & Dave Romano" that used Vito Picone's composition of "Please Believe Me" & recorded this in 1961 as "Believe My Heart". Billy Frye and Ronnie Lapinski with singer Joyce Heath formed the Privateers and have a single for the Dragon Record label owned by Vincent Gagliano : "Honor Roll Of Love" / "The Bunny Tale" . On "The Bunny tale" The Privatters were the Tremonts.

Joyce & The Privateers Carlo Mastrangelo

After recording " Come on Little Angel" with the Belmonts in 1962, Carlo Mastrangelo decided on a solo career, and with Laurie records looking for a replacement for Dion (who left the same year to sign with Columbia) . Laurie even used Carlo's first name only on the label to keep the Dion mystique alive. He recorded three singles backed by the Tremonts. In 1965 Vito Picone signed with Laurie Records and was matched with the Tremonts (Ronnie Lapinsky, Bill Frye, and Dave Romano.

Vito Picone Carlo Mastrangelo

The group became Vito and the Elegants, releasing "A Letter from Vietnam" as a single. Then, thanks to a subtle change, they were the Elegantes for "Wake Up," an up-tempo side marred by a persistent falsetto alarm clock sound. The Elegantes then became the Tremonts, while Vito formed a new Elegants with original Jimmy Moschella, Fred Redman, and ex-Majestics Nino Armotto. Their one Laurie release as Vito and the Elegants ("Belinda") was a Swedish hit translated for the US Market...

Songs :

The Tremonts (1)

Believe My Heart Legend Of Love

Joyce & The Privateers

Honor Roll Of Love

...

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The Arrows aka The Convincers aka The Appeggios

Posted on January 27 2009 by dion1

The Arrows (Los Angeles)
aka The Convincers aka The Appeggios

Personnel :

Leroy Bishop (Lead)

Mel Alexander (Second Tenor)

Frank Alexander (Bass)

Frank Dixon (High Tenor)

Malvin Perkins (Baritone)

Discography :

The Arrows
Singles :
1958 - Indian Bop Hop / Annie Mae (Flash 132)

The Convincers
Singles :
1962 - Rejected Love / Go BacK Baby (Movin' 100)
Demos :
1959 - Betty
1959 - Sufferin With The Blues
1959 - My Baby Don't Love Me
1959 - What Did I do

The Appeggios
Singles :
1963 - Mary / I'll Be Singing (Aries 01)
Demos :
1956 - Rejected Love
1956 - We Belong Together
1956 - She's Not Bad
1956 - Lonely
1956 - Baby Let Me Come To Your House Tonight

Biography :

The group begin as the Arpeggios in New Orleans and sang strictly gospel, switching to the Arrows to sang R&B. The Original members are Mel Alexander (Second Tenor), Frank Alexander (Bass), Leroy Bishop (Lead), Frank Dixon (High Tenor) & Sidney Jones (Baritone).

Mel Alexander

One by one the Arpeggios came out to California. The Arrows composed of Mel Alexander, Frank Alexander, Leroy Bishop, Frank Dixon & Malvin Perkins signed a contract with Charlie 'Flash' Reynolds of Flash record on 29th July,1958. Two months later "Indian Bop Hop" backed with "Annie Mae" hit the Streets.

The Appeggios with Mel Alexander on lead (Los Angeles, 1957)

They Changed their name from the Arrows to the Convincers. The Convincers were made up of Mel, his brother, Jones, Dixon and Willie Gibson on lead. The Group recorded the Beautifull "Rejected Love" spliced with "Go BacK Baby" for Movin' Records. In 1963, Mel & his quarter Friends, now renamed the Arpeggios (Misspelled Appeggios) with the Convincers' Line-up recorded "Mary" backed with "I'll Be Singing" for the Tiny Los Angeles based Aries label.

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

The Arrows

Indian Bop Hop Annie Mae

The Appeggios

I'll Be Singing Mary Baby Let Me Come To Your House Tonight

Lonely She's Not Bad Rejected Love

We Belong Together

The Convincers


Rejected Love                   What Did I do                        Go BacK Baby


My Baby Don't Love Me                       Betty

.....

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The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Cordells aka The Cardells (2) aka The Exceptions

Posted on January 26 2009 by dion1

The Cordells aka The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

The Cordells (Philadelphia)
aka The Cardells (2)
aka The Whirlwinds (2)
aka The Exceptions

Personnel:

Jimmy Ellis (Lead)

Earl Young (Bass)

Val Walker

Russell Boston

Charles Hynes

Discography :

The Cordells
1958 - Please Don't Go / Believe in Me (Bullseye 1017)
1962 - The Beat of My Heart / Laid Off (Bargain 5004)

Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)
1959 - Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy (Bee 1013)

The Whirlwinds (2)
1963 - After The Party / Heartbeat (Phillips)

The Exceptions
1965 - Down by the Ocean / Pancho's Villa (Inst.) (Pro 1/ Cameo 378)

Biography :

Along with the original Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, the Dreamlovers, and others, the Cordells were one of Philadelphia's pioneering R&B groups. The members were Jimmy Ellis, (lead), Earl Young (bass), Val Walker, and Russell Boston, all from the Broad & Lehigh area of North Philly. They recorded "Please Don't Go" b/w "Believe in Me," for Bullseye Records in 1958 and didn't get the opportunity again until 1959 when they Backed Bunny Sigler on "Square From Nowhere" b/w "Laddy Daddy" as the Cardells. Bunny Sigler was a champion swimmer, having won the city Championship representing Bok School in South Phully. Walter "Bunny" Sigler will become a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr. Emotion."

The Cordells aka The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)
Bunny Sigler

Return to Jimmy Ellis and his fellows. The Group didn't get the opportunity again until 1961 when "The Beat of My Heart"/"Laid Off," fell on Bargain Records, this time using their original name, The Cordells. Neither side was more than a local play and while the group kept busy doing local gigs and built a little reputation around town, nothing really happened for them. The Philly singers became the Whirlwinds and recorded in 1963, this time for Phillips Records. "Heartbeat" b/w "After the Party" stiffed. They added Charles Hynes and tried it as The Exceptions. Pro 1 Records released the first Exceptions' single, "Down by the Ocean" b/w "Pancho's Villa," in 1965. It was originally scheduled for Phil Gaber's P & L label, but the deal never consummated. The record created a stir locally so Cameo Records snagged it for national distribution, but it never took off. Switching to Cameo's subsidiary, Parkway Records.

The Cordells aka The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

By the late 1960's Jimmy Ellis and the Exceptions had moved from doo wop into soul music. The signed with the Groovy Grooves label and had two releases. Groovey Groves issued two of their shelved singles in 1972 to piggyback on the Trammps' Buddah recordings. Ellis and Young, two ex-Exceptions, were now Trammps, comprised at that time of members from the Exceptions and the Volcanoes. In addition, Young became a sought after session musician and recorded with Ron Baker and Norman Harris as Baker, Harris, & Young.

Songs :

The Cordells

Please Don't Go / Believe in Me


The Beat of My Heart Laid Off

Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)

Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy

The Whirlwinds (2)


Heartbeat                                   After The Party

The Exceptions


Down by the Ocean                              Pancho's Villa

...

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The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

Posted on January 26 2009 by dion1

The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

The Firesiders (Niagara Falls, NY)
aka The Vel-Tones (2)
aka The Impacts (3)

Personnel :

Calvin 'Cal' Briggs

Neal Davis

Ernie Vendetti

Emilio Giondomenico

Discography :

The Vel-Tones (2)
1958 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (Coy 101)
1959 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (different take) (Kapp 268)

The Firesiders
1961 - (I'll Remember) One And All / No Ones Cares For Me (Swan 4074)

The Impacts (3)
1964 - Take My Love / Where Are You Going (PEH 7345)

Biography :

In 1958, the thought that there could one day be a "Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame" couldn't be anything but a teenage joke. Except for Elvis Presley and a handful of others, R&R was played by kids, for kids, and no one expected it to be more than that. Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry were great but existed in another world - on the radio or TV. The way youngsters experienced R&R was through the local teen combo. Every town or high school or parish had its band. Some were better than others, some could be local stars for awhile after they'd performed at a dance or hop - but for the most part they were just kids from the neighborhood, whose celebrity quickly faded.

If you lived in Niagara Falls in the late 1950s the Vel-Tones were that group. Though their story is a little different. They may not be well-remembered now but they were able to have records released on two national labels and have a career that carried them through the glory days of R&R. Another thing that was unusual was their interracial makeup which is reflected in their eclectic mix of R&R, R&B, DooWop and Rockabilly sounds. Calvin 'Cal' Briggs, Ernie Vendetti, Neal Davis and Emilio Giondomenico recorded two sides in 1958 that were released on the Coy label. Coy was a label in name only - actually put out by Fine Records of Rochester, a legendary name itself to many collectors. Playboy is a greasy teen ballad that is exactly the type of lowrider doowop that Frank Zappa loved to parody, while Cal's Tune is a rocker.

(L to R) Emilio Giondomenico, Ernie Vendetti, Calvin Briggs & Neal Davis

In 1959 these were leased to Kapp Records but the versions released by Kapp are completely different - Cal's Tune had its guitar and piano solos replaced with an sax solo, and both are more tame. The original version of Cal's Tune is highly-regarded by Rockabilly fanatics, to the point that it's recently been reproduced on vinyl. Following this they returned in 1961 as The Firesiders on Swan Records with two genre-bending sides that widen their palette to include influences of country pop and even pre-soul! The rest of their story is mostly unknown, except that they managed to change styles again and issue one more record. Under another name, of course. As The Impacts (on PEH Records) they achieve a typical mid-Sixties garage sound. They will never be in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame but if you were there a the right time in the right place, they may have been your Rock 'N' Roll.
https://www.facebook.com/wnyfm

Songs :

The Vel-Tones (2)

Playboy Playboy (Kapp) Cal's Tunes

The Firesiders

(I'll Remember) One And All No Ones Cares For Me

The Impacts (3)

Where Are You Going

...

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Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4) aka The Veneers aka The Relatives (3)

Posted on January 26 2009 by dion1

The Veneers Aka The Chantels (Clockwise from Top) : Annette Swinson Smith, Valerie Swinson, Barbara Joyner & Lorraine Joyner

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4) (Bronx, New York)

aka The Veneers
aka The Relatives (3)

Ref: The Chantels
Ref: The Swensons

Personnel :

Annette Swinson Smith

Valerie Swinson

Barbara Joyner

Lorraine Joyner

Discography :

The Swensons
1956 - Remember Me To My Darling / Golly Boo (X-Tra 100 )

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)
1959 - Daddy Can I Go To The Hop (Red Lightnin' 0059)

The Veneers
1960 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (Princeton 102)
1963 - With All My Love / Recipe Of Love (Treyco 402)

The Chantels
1961 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (End 1103)

The Relatives (3)
Singles :
1963 - (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zagga Zoom / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 303)
1964 - Never Will I Love You Again / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 306)
1965 - Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally (Musicor 1063)
Unreleased :
1965 - A Change Of Heart (Musicor)

Biography :

The Veneers came from Manhattan and from Brooklyn, in New York City. Sisters, Lorraine and Barbara Joyner joined their cousins, Valerie and Annette Swinson, to sing in the park, for fun, and at family functions. The young teens did began getting the attention of the local songwriters who were looking for artists to record their material. As The Swensons (sic), Annette and her mother recorded one single for X-Tra Records in 1956, entitled, “Remember Me To My Darling”. In 1959, the quartet, now known as The Cashmeres, went into the studio with Eddie Jones ( former lead singer of The Demens & the Emersons) to record a novelty tune called, “Daddy Can I Go To The Hop”. Herb Abramson, founder of Jubilee and Atlantic Records, produced the single. Unfortunately, the single was not released.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels

Richard Barrett

In 1960, The Cashmeres had signed on to be produced and managed by Richard Barrett. He had written two songs for the group, “Believe Me (My Angel)” and “I”. At this time, the young ladies decided to change their name because they found that too many groups had already recorded under the name “Cashmeres”. They Choose the name "Veneers". Two songs were recorded and released on Barrett's short-lived Princeton Records. The record achieved a level of success in New York, but failed to chart nationally. Their release went unnoticed but it helped Barrett solve his Chantels problem by matching Veneers lead singer Annette Swinson with the three remaining Chantels, Sonia, Jackie, and Rene. In April 1960, still trying to capitalize on the group’s name, End released “Whoever You Are,” formerly the B side of “Every Night”; it had all the original Chantels magic but still lacked the driving commitment of the label.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels
The Chantels on Carlton with Annette Swinson Smith

Although The Veneers were not entirely happy about this change of plans, they knew that they could not stop Annette, who needed to be out on the stage. In 1961, she officially joined The Chantels. End 1103* was a reissue of a 1959 recording by The Veneers, with Annette Smith on lead, on Princeton 102. The Veneers, without Annette, recorded as The Relatives for the Canadian- American related Almont Records, with Lorraine taking the lead for “(My Heart Goes) Ziga Ziga Zoom” in 1963 and “Never Will I Love You Again”, released in 1964. In 1965 Barbara, Lorraine and Valerie recorded three songs for the Musicor label before they went their separate ways.