Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Chanters (1) ref Gene & Billy aka The Cats aka The Cats

Posted on January 23 2009 by dion1

Gene & Billy

The Chanters (1) (Santa Monica, CA)
ref Gene & Billy aka The Cats

Personnel :

Ethel Brown

Gene Ford

Billy Boyd

Alan Boyd

Discography :

The Chanters (1)
Singles :
1954 - She Wants To Mambo / Tell Me, Thrill Me (RPM 415)
1955 - Watts / Why (Combo 78)
1955 - I love You / Hot Mama (Combo 92)
Unreleased :
1955 - Do you Remember (Combo)

The Cats
1955 - Get Gone / You're So Nice (Federal 12238)
1955 - I Don't Care No More / After I Gave You My Heart (Federal 12438)

Gene & Billy
1955 - Zerlene / It's Hot / (Spark 120)
1955 - Zerlene / The Whip (Billy & Billygoats) (Loma 702)

Biography :

The Chanters were a Santa Monica vocal group and not to be confused with the Queens, NY group. This group consisted of Ethel Brown from the squires (on Combo) Gene Ford, Alan Boyd, and Billy Boyd. On RPM, they had just this one record. They also had two releases on Combo Records in 1955. Gene Ford had sung with Jim Forrest & The Four Feathers.

The Cats aka Gene & Billy

When the group broke up, Gene & Billy cut "Zerlene " "It's Hot" in 1955 on the short lived Spark label. Spark Records was the brainchild of the clever Jerry Leiber and the gutsy Mike Stoller. The Same year, Gene & Billy cut two Singles for Federal, King Record's subsidiary, under the name of the Cats.

Songs :

The Chanters (1)

She Wants To Mambo Tell Me, Thrill Me

I love You                                       Hot Mama


Watts                                                   Why

Do you Remember

The Cats

I Don't Care No More Get Gone

After I Gave You My Heart You're So Nice

Gene & Billy

Zerlene It's Hot

...

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J

Posted on January 22 2009 by dion1

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

Posted on January 22 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 Cordells aka The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

Posted on January 22 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 Supremes (5) aka Ruby & The Romantics - Ref: The Skarlettones

Posted on January 22 2009 by dion1

The Supremes (5) aka Ruby & The Romantics - Ref: The Skarlettones

Top : Leroy Fann, Ronald Mosely - Bottom : Ed Roberts

The Supremes (5) (Akron, Ohio)
aka Ruby & The Romantics
Ref The Skarlettones

Personnel :

James Porter (First Tenor)

Ed Roberts (Second Tenor)

Ronald Mosely (Baritone)

Arthur Atkinson (Baritone/Bass)

Leroy Fann (Bass)

Discography :  

The Supremes (5)

1960 - Another Chance To Love / Fidgety (APT 25055)

The Skarlettones

 Single :
1959 - Do You Remember / Will You Dream (Ember 1053)

Unreleased:
1959 - How Sentimental Can I Be

Biography :

The Skarlettones formed in 1958 and hailed from Akron, Ohio. Members were Ronald Mosely (whose career eventually took off), James Porter, Columbus Mitchell, Robert Carter, and Willie Tucker. When their Ember recording went nowhere, members Ronald Mosely (baritone) and James Porter (first tenor) joined with Ed Roberts (second tenor), Arthur Atkinson (baritone/bass), and Leroy Fann (bass) eventually calling themselves The Supremes (male Group.) They recorded "Another Chance To Love" b/w "Fidgety" on Apt #25055 which was released in December 1960.

The Supremes (5) aka Ruby & The Romantics - Ref: The Skarlettones

From Top to Bottom : Leroy Fann, Ronald Mosely & Ed Roberts

Still having no success with their recordings 2 members left The Supremes. Ronald Mosely, Leroy Fann and Ed Roberts recruited George Lee (1st tenor), changed their name to The Feilows, and in 1961 auditioned an impressive but inexperienced female vocalist, Ruby Nash who had never been out of Akron. After a year of rehearsing with all 5 singing lead, The Feilows travelled to NYC to record for Kapp Records but their name was changed to Ruby & The Romantics and the rest is history! Having 8 songs charted nationally on Billboard, their signature song (their biggest) was OUR DAY WILL COME - Kapp #501 which charted for 13 weeks and reached #1 in March 1963. Ruby has affirmed in interviews that all 5 members recorded and performed as Ruby & The Romantics until they broke up in 1971.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Romantics/romantics.html

Songs :

The Supremes (5)

Another Chance To Love Fidgety

The Skarlettones 

Do You Remember Will You Dream How Sentimental Can I Be

...

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The Velvetones (5) aka The Saucers

Posted on January 20 2009 by dion1

The Saucers aka the Velvetones (5)

The Saucers (Dallas, Texas)
aka The Velvetones (5)
(with Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Jimmy Beacham

Leonard Allen

Charles Beacham

Verdie Lee Thomas

James Stanley

Discography :

The Saucers

Singles :
1959 - Why Do I Dream? / Cha Wailey Routa (Felco 104)
1959 - Flossie Mae / Hi-Oom (Kick 100)
1964 - Hello Darling / Giggle Goo (Lynne 101)

Unreleased :
1959 - Hey Girl
1959 - Time Gives Me Plasure
1959 - Who Took My Girl
1959 - Old Mother Hubbard
1959 - Please Understand
1959 - Debbie Lee
1959 - Darling
1959 - Mighty Mighty Man
1959 - This Feeling Is Killing Me
1959 - Please Come Back To Me
1959 - Love You Baby
1959 - Come Back To Me
1959 - My Love My Love (Eddy McCall bb The Saucers)

The Velvetones (5)

Singles :
1959 - Come Back / Penalty Of Love (D 1049)
1959 - Worried Over You / Space Man (D 1072)

Biography :

Compsed by Jimmy Beacham, Leonard Allen, Charles Beacham, Verdie Lee Thomas and James Stanley, the Saucers were on of the few doo wop groups from Texas, a blues and R&B stronghold. They are a really good Black quintet with strong, beautiful lead vocals and harmonizing on ballads, uptempo and novelty tunes.

The Saucers aka the Velvetones (5)
Jimmy Beacham, Leonard Allen, Charles Beacham, Verdie Lee Thomas and James Stanley

Native vocal groups were not very popular in texas during the 50s and the style came to the state rather late in the decade after being extremely popular along the east and west coasts. Despite the late arrival, those few groups that did emerge in Texas learned their lesson well. Of these, the Saucers are the Velvetones, who recorded on Dee records under this name, were the Best and certainly equal to many to the more popular groups on either coast.
Note on CD "Presenting the Saucers"

Songs :

The Saucers

Flossie Mae                             Hi-Oom


Why Do I Dream                           Cha Wailey Routa


Hello Darling / Giggle Goo               Please Understand


Time Gives Me Pleasure                         Debbie Lee

Please Come Back To Me

The Velvetones (5)

Come Back                                  Penalty Of Love


Worried Over You                                Space Men

...

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The Sweet Sick Teens aka The Dynamics (8) aka The Dellwoods

Posted on January 20 2009 by dion1

The Dynamics (8) (New York)
aka The Sweet Sick Teens aka The Dellwoods

Personnel :

Victor Buccellato (Lead)

Mike Ellis (First Tenor)

Andy Ventura (Second Tenor)

Amadeo Tese (Baritone)

Saul Zeskand (Bass)

Discography :

The Sweet Sick Teens
1961 - The Pretzel (Lead Mike Russo) / Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy (RCA 7940)

The Dynamics (8)
1963 - Chapel On A Hill / Conquistador (Liberty 55628)

The Dellwoods
1963 - Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / Her Moustache (Big Top 3137)

Lps:

1962 - Mad "Twist" Rock'n Roll (Big Top LP 1305)
(She Got A) Nose Job / Please Betty Jane (Shave Your Legs) / Agnes (The Teenage Russian Spy) / Let's Do The Pretzel (And End Up Like One) / (Even If I Live To Be 22) I'll Always Remember Being You

1963 - Fink Along With Mad (Big Top LP 1306)
I'll Never Make Fun Of Her Moustache Again / Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock / The Neighborhood Draft Board

Biography :

Mad, the American humour magazine, was founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Widely imitated and hugely influential, although a lot of the 'humour' is probably lost on us Brits, it has satirised all aspects of life, from pop culture and politics to entertainment and public figures

Saul Zeskand, Mike Ellis, Andy Ventura, Victor Buccellato & Amadeo Tese

The 1962 album MAD Twists Rock 'n Roll, a 12 track lampoon of then-current rock and roll styles and stars. The material on the album was written and produced independently of MAD, as a parody album, by Norm Blagman and Sam Bobrick, two men who had already scored a couple of hits between them with Elvis Presley's The Girl of My Best Friend and Ral Donner's top 10 US hit To Love Someone. Failing to attract much interest in their rock and roll parody it wasn't until MAD became involved that the duo get managed to this released - on Big Top records in 1962. Sure they were on to a winning formula, they followed this up with the similar Fink Along With MAD a year later.

Mike Russo

Incidentally, the Dellwoods - who recorded the majority of the tracks on both albums both under their original name and as the Sweet Sick Teens - were a real group, consisting of Saul Zeskand, Mike Ellis, Andy Ventura, Victor Buccellato and Amadeo Tese. Unfortunately, before the release of Fink Along... group member Mike Ellis overdosed on drugs. The group went on to change their name to The Dynamics, releasing the 45 Chapel On A Hill/Conquistador for Liberty Records.

http://worldsworstrecords.blogspot.fr/2010/02/its-mad-mad-world.html

Songs :

The Sweet Sick Teens

Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy         The Pretzel (Mike Russo)

The Dellwoods

Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger       Please Betty Jane (Shave Your Legs)       (She Got A) Nose Job

I'll Always Remember Being You     I'll Never Make Fun Of ...      When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock

The Neighborhood Draft Board

The Dynamics (8)

Chapel On A Hill / Conquistador

....

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The Dreamers (16) aka The Accents (3)

Posted on January 20 2009 by dion1

Shelly Weiss, Al Senzon, Mike Lasman, Ian Kay

The Dreamers (16) (Brooklyn, New-York)  
aka The Accents (3)

Personnel :

Mike Lasman (Lead)

Shelly Weiss (First Tenor)

Alan Senzon (Second Tenor)

Ian Kay (Baritone)

Discography :

The Dreamers (16)
Single :
1960 - Mary Mary / Canadian Sunset (Guaranteed 219)
Unreleased :
1960- Zing (Guaranteed)

The Accents (3)
1963 - Where Can I Go / Rags To Riches (Sultan 5500)

Scott English & The Accents (3)
1963 - High On A Hill / When (By the Dedications) (Sultan 4003 / Spokane 4003)
1964 - Here Comes The Pain / All I Want Is You (Spokane 4007)

Biography :

This doo wop quartet in this segment met on the boardwalk of Brighton Beach and formed a group in 1960. They were Shelly Weiss (first tenor), Ian Kaye (baritone), Allan Senzan (second tenor), and Mike Lasman (lead). They were students at Erasmus and Lincoln high schools. Ian Kay sang with several Doo Wop groups from 1957 - 1963. His first group was the Vocal Kings from Flatbush.

The Vocal Kings

Lasman had previously recorded as lead singer of Mike and the Utopians on the Ceejay label. Weiss had recorded for JDS Records in early 1960 as a member of the Bobby Roy and the Chord-a-roys, who also backed Barry Mann on various demo records that reportedly included “Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp Bomp Bomp)” The four boardwalk vocalists originally called themselves the Dreams and practiced regularly on the corner of Church and Flatbush Avenues. They met Jerry Halperin, owner of Halperin Music on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, who liked their intricate pop harmonies and became their manager.

Henceforth the group practiced right in Halperin’s record store.
The boys’ polished pop sound soon earned them a deal with Guaranteed Records of New York, a subsidiary of Carlton Records. The first release was the old standard “Canadian Sunset,” but the bland production and lack of promotion doomed it almost from inception.

Dropped after only one release, the group changed its name to the Accents and its style to doo-wop, putting together a reworking of the old ballad “Rags to Riches.” They also began practicing an old Jewish ballad entitled “Where Can I Go,” complete with middle section sung in Hebrew, and it was this song they performed in an audition for Sultan Records. The audition was successful, and “Rags to Riches” backed with “Where Can I Go” became their first single release as the Accents. “Rags” became a Brooklyn favorite among doo-wop enthusiasts but never hit the charts. It did, however, give them enough exposure to land them a spot in an Allan Freed Show at the Ambassador Hotel in the Catskill Mountains.

The Castaways

Between the group’s local engagements Kaye and Senzan sang backup with the Del Satins on Dion’s hit “Ruby Baby” in late 1962. Weiss began singing with Jay and the Americans and became that group’s road manager for a period in 1965.The group back up to Scott English on his 1963 Spokane’s sides : "High on A Hill", "Heres Comes The Pain" and "All I Want Is You". And finally broke up. Mike Lasman then joined a short lived group called the Castaways with Bobby Kutner, Shelly Weiss and Larry Kasman, who was the lead singer of the Quotations.

Songs :

(Update By Hans-Joachim)

The Dreamers (16)

Canadian Sunset Mary Mary

The Accents (3)

Rags To Riches                       Where Can I Go

Scott English & The Accents (3)

High On A Hill Here Comes The Pain All I Want Is You

...

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The Bluenotes (4) aka The Blue Notes (2) aka The Epidemics

Posted on January 20 2009 by dion1

The Blue Notes (2) (Asheboro in North Carolina )
aka The Bluenotes (4) aka The Epidemics

Personnel :

Joe Tanner (gtr)

Pat Patterson

Tom Underwood

Ralph Harrington

Discography :

The Blue Notes (2)
1955 - Christmas Chimes / There'll Always Be a Christmas (Colonial 408)
1956 - On A Sleepy Sunday Afternoon / Who's Gonna Sing Your Love Songs (Colonial 409)

The Bluenotes (4)
1958 - You're A Tiger / Let Her Know (Colonial 7779)
1958 - I Waited / Never Never Land (Colonial 9999)
1959 - I Don't Know What It Is / Summer Love (Brooke 111)
1959 - You Can't Get Away From Love / I Don't Know What It Is (Brooke 111)
1960 - I'm Gonna Find Out / Forever On My Mind (Brooke 116)

The Bluenotes (4) (Featuring Doug Franklin)
1957 - Page One / Mighty Low (Colonial 434)

The Bluenotes (4) (Featuring Ralph Harington)
1960 - Summer Love / It Had To Be You (Brooke 119)

Doug Franklin & The Bluenotes (4)
1958 - My Lucky Love / Drizzlin' Rain (Colonial 7777)
1958 - I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now / I Used To Wonder (Colonial 8888)

Johnny Dee & Bluenotes (4)
1957 - Teenage Queen / It's Gotta Be You (Colonial 433)
1957 - 1000 Concrete Blocks / In My Simple Way (Colonial 435)

Ebe Sneezer (Johnny Dee) & The Epidemics
1957 - Asiatic Flu / That's All I've Got (Colonial 436)

Biography :

The Bluenotes were a vocal group featuring Tom Underwood, Joe Tanner, Pat Patterson, and Ralph Harrington. They recorded at Colonial and Brooke Records, two labels of North Carolina. Their first single, Page One/Mighty Low, was released in 1957 on the Colonial label and the last single, It Had To Be You/Summer Love, was released in 1960 on the Brooke label.

With Ebe Sneezer (Johnny Dee ) & Cecelia Batten

They also sang on several other records on Colonial with other artists. They had a pop singles chart entry in 1959 with "I Don't Know What It Is." So, masquerading as Ebe Sneezer with the Epidemics, Johnny Dee recorded the "Asiatic Flu" and "That's All I've Got" with the Bluenotes.
Joe Tanner had success after the breakup of The Bluenote.

He worked with Roy Orbison. He also arranged and produced many songs, including In Dreams (Roy Orbison), A Rose and a Baby Ruth (George Hamilton IV), and Sittin' In the Balcony (John D. Loudermilk. He also played guitar on Orbison's hit, Oh, Pretty Woman.

With Ebe Sneezer (Johnny Dee )
http://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursb/bluenotes.htm
http://www.ihesm.com/Loudermilk1.html

Songs :

I Don't Know What It Is Mighty Low

Summer Love You're A Tiger

...

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Cathy Jean & The Roomates aka The Roommates

Posted on January 19 2009 by dion1

Cathy Jean & The Roomates aka The Roommates (Queens, New York)

Personnel :

Cathy Jean Girodano (Lead)

Steve Susskind (Lead)

Jack Carlson (First Tenor and Falsetto)

Felix Alvarez (Second Tenor)

Bob Minsky (Bass)

Discography :

Cathy Jean & The Roomates
1961 - Please Love Me Forever / Canadian Sunset (Valmor 007)
1961 - Make Me Smile Again / Sugar Cake (Valmor 009)
1961 - One Love / I Only Want You (Valmor 011)
1962 - Believe me / Double Trouble (Philips 40143)
1962 - Please Tell me / Sugar Cake (Valmor 016)
1991 - You don't have to say you love me / It's so hard (Cure 91-02801)

The Roomates (Fb Cathy Jean)
1963 - My Heart Belongs To Only You/ I only want you (Philips 40106)

Biography :

From Kew Gardens, Queens New York, the Roommates were fifteen year old Steve Susskind and Bob Minsky of Russell Sage Junior High. Susskind originally sang with a local quartet called the Sparklers, but in 1959 he and Minsky became a duo. Later that year they took second place at a Forest Hills High School competition losing to Tom and Jerry who would later become Simon and Garfunkel.
Deciding to become a group several members came and went until the 1960 members included Steve Susskind (lead), Jack Carlson (first tenor and falsetto), Felix Alvarez (second tenor) and Bob Minsky (bass).

The group practiced after school and began writing songs. Realizing the songs weren't good enough they began going through their 45s to find workable material coming up with "One Summer Night" and "The Glory of Love." The group often sang in the lobby of the Forest Hills apartment building where Jody Malis lived. Malis was the record librarian at WMGM radio, which had one of the nation's first top 40 formats. Along with her husband Gene she signed them to a management contract.
The Roommates first single was a country hit from the '50s "Making Believe". "Making Believe " received some airplay, but soon disappeared.

On May 3, 1960 the Malis' recorded another new single for their recently established Valmor label. The singer, fourteen year old Cathy Jean, recorded the ballad "Please Love Me Forever." Feeling that something was missing the Roommates were brought in and overdubbed the harmony parts. Cathy Jean had already left the studio by the time the Roommates recorded so they never met her. Feeling that if they had a hit they would have two acts, the Malis' credited both on the label.
"Please Love Me Forever" won Murray the K's Boss record of the Week on WINS in New York City in late 1960. On February 27th it entered the Billboard Hot 100 and by April it was at number twelve, reaching number two in New York. None of Cathy's follow-ups sold many copies.
As a reward for their part in "Please Love Me Forever" The Malises gave the Roommates a free session at the Regent Sound Studio. That night, November 25, 1960 they recorded "Band of Gold," "Glory of Love," and "My Foolish Heart." "Glory of Love" entered the charts and rose to #49. "Band of Gold," made it into the top twenty in New York, but failed to chart nationally for a technical reason.

Before Valmor Records closed down in 1962 a Cathy and the Roommates album was issued. George Rodriguez was added to the Roommates. Versions of "Gee" and "A Sunday Kind of Love" were recorded, but no one was buying. In the spring of 1965 the Roommates disbanded.
Cathy later got married and quit the business. With her children grown Cathy is back. As Cathy Jean Ruiz she sings with a new version of the Roommates and has hosted a Saturday morning talk show on WNYG in Long Island, NY.
http://www.bsnpubs.com/la/valmor.html

CD :
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