Discography : The Redcoats 1957 - Perkin / Hi Ho (Kite 2003) 1957 - Jelly / The Girl Can't Help It (Lifetime 6112/3)
Steve Alaimo & The RedCoats 1959 - She's my baby / Should i call (Marlin 6067) 1960 - Blue Fire / My heart never said goodbye (Dickson 6444-6445/Imperial 5699)
Steve Alaimo(bbThe RedCoats) 1959 - Home by eleven / I Wanna Kiss You (Dade 1800) 1959 - Love Letters / You can fall in love (Dade 1805) 1959 - I want you to love me / Blue Skies (Marlin 6064) 1959 - The Weekends Over / Girls! Girls! Girls! (Marlin 6065)
Biography :
Alaimo was born in Omaha, Nebraska on December 6, 1939, and moved to Rochester, New York at the age of five. He entered the music business during his time as a pre-med student attending the University of Miami. He entered music by joining his cousin's instrumental rock band The Redcoats, becoming the guitarist, and eventually, the singer.
The Redcoats consisted of Jim Alaimo on rhythm guitar, Brad Shapiro on bass, and Jim "Chris" Christy on drums. After playing a Sock hop held by local Disc jockey Bob Green and label owner Henry Stone, the band earned a record deal with Stone's "Marlin Records". In 1959, "I Want You To Love Me" became a regional hit for the band.
The Duvals (2) 1956 - Ooh Wee Baby / You Came To Me (Rainbow 335) 1956 - Guide Me / Happiness (Gee 1003)
The Drapers (2) 1960 - Best Love / One more time (Vest 831)
Biography :
Ben E. King was made a soloist (releasing "Show Me The Way"/"Brace Yourself" on Atlantic's Atco subsidiary in April 1960) and Lover Patterson remained his manager. On many of his early sides, Ben E. King was backed up by another of Lover Patterson's groups, the Duvals (also known as the Drapers [an attempt to find a name that sounded like "Drifters"]). (Lover Patterson, aside from being the Drifters' road manager, remained the Duvals' manager. Since there was no longer a Crowns group, he initially re-named the Duvals "The Crowns." [The Duvals on Kelit, LaSalle and Boss are different groups.] In 1960, he changed their name again, this time from the Crowns to the Drapers, a name that was supposed to sound a bit like the "Drifters." As the Drapers, they recorded "Best Love"/"One More Time" for Vest. Note that the Drapers on Gee ["(I Know) Your Love Has Gone Away"/"You Got To Look Up"] from 1963 was a different group, containing Dock Green, Tommy Evans, Johnny Moore, and "Carnation" Charlie Hughes - all former members of the Drifters! Presumably Lover Patterson was their manager.) http://www.uncamarvy.com/5Crowns/5crowns.html
Singles : 1959 - Crewnecks And Khakis / I'll Never Forget You (Rhapsody 71959/60/5159) 1960 - When I First Fall In Love / Rockin' Zombie (Rhapsody 71961/62)
Unreleased : 1960 - Miracles (Rhapsody)
Live 1960 - Oh Baby Doll 1960 - Sometimes
Biography :
The Crewnecks were a popular music singing group from 1957 to 1961 composed of five students from Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: Boyd (Porky) Hoats, Bruce Miles, Jerome Pauley, Bob Martin, and Larry Chase (Choper). The Crewnecks released two records under the Rhapsody and Apex (Canada) labels.
The first, I'll Never Forget You, was a major hit in eastern Pennsylvania and a number of other areas. The second, Rockin' Zombie, is still popular as a Halloween novelty song. The group left college in 1959 to go on a promotional tour with their records appearing on national television on the Alan Freed and Rate the Record shows as well as numerous other local TV shows throughout the East.
They also appeared on several of Dick Clark's touring shows with such stars as Al Martino, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Darin, and others. Their main focus, however, was on their very polished night club act which they performed throughout the Eastern United States and Canada, including in the Catskill Mountains and La Faisan Bleu in Montreal. The group disbanded in 1961 due to military service commitments.
Marty & The Symbols (1) (Astoria, Queens, New York) aka The Devotions (2)
Personnel :
Ray Sanchez
Bob Weibrod
Bob Havorka
Joe Pardo
Frank Pardo
Discography :
The Devotions (2)
Singles : 1961 - Rip Van Winkle / For Sentimental Reasons (Delta 1001/Roulette 4406/4541) 1964 - Sunday Kind Of Love / Tears From A Broken Heart (Roulette 4556) 1964 - Zindy Lou / Snow White (Roulette 4580) 1972 - How Do You Speak To An Angel / Teardrops Follow Me (Kape 701)
Unreleased : 1964 - Practice What You Preach 1965 - Looking For My Baby
Acapella : Seceret Love Soft And Sweet Sunday Kind Of Love Rip Van Winkle Little Girl Of Mine Stormy Weather Who Can She Be Teardrops From A Broken Heart Sincerely Three Wishes
Marty & The Symbols (1) / Mr Bassman & The Symbols (1) 1963 - You're The One / Rip Van Winkle (Graphic arts 1000)
Biography :
The Devotions were formed in 1960, in Astoria (a borough of Queens, New York City), originally as a sextet. Soon they were pared down to a quintet, consisting of Ray Sanchez (bass vocalist), Bob Hovorka, Bob Weinbrod and the brothers Frank and Joe Pardo. After six months of practicing virtually seven days a week, they met record promoter Joe Petralia, who lived down the street from Frank and Joe. Petralia introduced them to Bernie Zimming, owner of the small Delta label in NYC.
Top : Bob Weibrod , Joe Pardo - Bottom : Bob Havorka, Ray Sanchez & Frank Pardo
The Devotions auditioned with doo-wop classics like "Sunday Kind Of Love", "Life Is But A Dream" and "For Sentimental Reasons". Zimming liked the group, but he wanted something more gimmicky that would sell to teens. Ray Sanchez then wrote a novelty song in keeping with the kind that was popular around 1960. The result was "Rip Van Winkle", based on the classic tale of a man who slept for twenty years.
Zimming liked the song so much that he took the group into the studio on the very day he first heard it. For the B-side the Devotions recorded "For Sentimental Reasons". The group would give out copies on the street and leave signs in record shops that they would be giving away autographed copies. Despite these efforts, "Rip Van Winkle" (Delta 1001) slipped into obscurity almost immediately. In 1962, Times Square, a New York oldies store that specialized in vocal group records, began promoting "Rip Van Winkle" on a local radio show hosted by the store's owner, Slim Rose. Roulette Records heard of its popularity among Times Square's customers, bought the Delta masters, and reissued the record on Roulette 4406.
It still didn't chart, but gave the group a chance to appear on Slim Rose's rock and roll show in September 1962 at Palisades Park (New Jersey), one of the first oldies shows and years ahead of Richard Nader's late '60s successes. In late 1963, Roulette released an "oldies but goodies" compilation called "Golden Goodies". Why a flop like "Rip Van Winkle" was included among all those Top 20 hits is a mystery. A disc jockey in Pittsburgh, Porky Chadwick, started plugging "Rip Van Winkle" and the request phone lines started lighting up.
Porky Chadwick The Devotions
This prompted the folks at Roulette to reissue the record once again in January 1964, this time on Roulette 4541. Within a week of its release, "Rip Van Winkle" had sold 15,000 copies in Pittsburgh alone. Three years after its initial release, the song finally became a hit, peaking at # 36 in Billboard, in the midst of Beatlemania.
Top : Joe Pardo, Ray Sanchez - Bottom : Frank Pardo, Andy Sanchez & Bob Havorka
It turned out that two of the original Devotions were in the armed forces, so a new group was formed with Louis DeCarlo replacing Ray Sanchez on lead and Larry Frank as a replacement for Bob Weisbrod. The group went on the road, had two further releases on Roulette, but received no radio attention and Roulette soon lost interest, after which the group disbanded. The Devotions reformed in the 1970s with Andy Sanchez (Ray's brother) on lead, and ironically they performed more in that decade than when they had their only hit. American singing groups: a history from 1940s to today‬ by Jay Warner
Songs :
The Devotions (2)
Rip Van Winkle For Sentimental Reasons Sunday Kind Of Love
Tears From A Broken Heart Zindy Lou Snow White
How Do You Speak To An Angel Soft And Sweet Teardrops Follow Me
Looking For My Baby Practice What You Preach
Marty & The Symbols (1) / Mr Bassman & The Symbols (1)
The Antennas 1962 - Fuji-Yama Mama / Be Yourself (Clay 201)
The Squires (7)(With Pirkle Lee Moses) 1964 - Peanut Butter Sandwich / The Docks (Boss 2125)
Shirley & The Squires (7) 1963 - Drip Drop / I'm In Need (Constellation 107)
Biography :
The Antennas formed in the Stateway Gardens homes at 35th and State Street; the group initially formed as the Antennas in 1960 when Billy McGregor, his two brothers, and Robert Bailey decided to form a secular, pop group to try to perform professionally. By 1962, the lineup had finalized to Robert Bailey, Jerry Royal, Billy McGregor, and George McGregor (Billy's brother, who was not related to the Detroit George McGregor, who is Billy's Cousin). In 1962, Billy Williams came to Stateway Gardens to audition artists to take with him to perform in a revue in Las Vegas. Billy took the Squires as well as Shirley Shelton (as an Etta James-styled solo artist) with him for a 3-month nightclub booking. In Las Vegas, Shirley ended up making friends with and joining the group.
When they returned to Chicago, the Antennas went to different recording companies and endeded up signing with Don Clay's "Clay" record label. They released "Fuji-yama Mama" / "Be yourself" in late 1962. The A-side was a novelty record actually inspired by Robert Bailey's experience with a girlfriend he had while stationed in Japan during the Korean war. The record got some play in Chicago. The flip side was an excellent early soul track, led by Shirley, probably ahead of its time in sound. The Antennas then signed to Don Clay and Ric Williams' Boss record label. The label had previously recorded a group called the Squires and, owning the name, had the Antennas change their name to the Squires, with the idea that they would have a more fashionable stage look, with canes, top hats, etc. The group backed Perk Lee Moses (previously of the El Doradoes) on his solo record "The Docks" / "Peanut Butter", which was released on Boss and also picked up by USA records. At Boss records, Billy McGregor also wrote the track "One Dance" for Ric Lee, which was later recorded by the Creations and by the Classics. The group then moved to Constellation records and released the excellent double-sider "Drip drop" / "I'm in a need" in 1963. "Drip drop" had an excellent soul sound while "I'm in a need" had more of a throwback, Etta James-inspired doowop sound. Although both tracks received much radio play, the record was not distributed to stores and fans were unable to purchase it. Due to frustration over the record, their management, and their lack of the success, the group broke up.
The Teen Queens (Los Angeles, CA) aka The Humdingers (2)
Personnel :
Betty Collins
Rosie Collins
Discography :
Singles :
The Teen Queens 1956 - Eddie My Love / Just Goofed (RPM 453 - Kent 348/359) 1956 - Baby Mine / So All Alone (RPM 460) 1956 - Billy Boy / Until The Day I Die (RPM 464) 1956 - Red Top / Love Sweet Love (RPM 470) 1956 - My First Love / ? (RPM 480) 1957 - Rock Everybody / My Heart's Desire (RPM 484) 1957 - I Miss You / Two Loves And Two Lives (RPM 500) N/A - No Other (RPM) (Unreleased) 1958 - Dear Tommy / You Good Boy, You Get Cookie (RCA 7206) 1958 - First Crush / Movie Star (RCA 7396) 1959 - There's Nothing On Your Mind (Part 1) /""(Part 2) (Antler 4014) 1959 - I'm A Fool / Politician (Antler 4015) 1960 - Donny / Donny (Instrumental) (Antler 4016) 1960 - I Heard Violins / Magoo Can See (Antler 4017)
Betty & Rose 1962 - Doodle Doo Doo / That Twistin Feeling (Press 2805)
1957 - Eddie My Love (CLP5022) Eddie My Love / Red Top / All My Love Belongs to You / Billy Boy / Zig Zag / Until the Day I Die / Love Sweet Love / Just Goofed / Rock Everybody / Baby Mine / So All Alone / Teen Age Idol
1963 - The Teen Queens (CLP 5373) Eddie My Love / So All Alone / Rock Everybody / Baby Mine / Let's Kiss / Billy Boy / Just Goofed / Teenage Idol / Zig Zag / Riding
Biography :
The Teen Queens were two African American sisters from Los Angeles, Betty (born 1939) and Rosie Collins (born 1941). Their brother Aaron Collins was a founding member of the Cadets / Jacks, best known for "Stranded In the Jungle" (1956). This group recorded for RPM / Modern Records and Aaron arranged for his siblings to record for the same label. He had written a song for them, "Eddie My Love", which the Teen Queens recorded in December 1955, coupled with a jumping blues tune, "Just Goofed" (RPM 453). Released in January 1956, "Eddie My Love" was an immediate seller, peaking at # 2 on Billboard's R&B charts and at # 14 on the pop charts.
Aaron Collins
Though Aaron Collins had written the song by himself, he had to share composing credits with arranger / conductor Maxwell Davis and one of the Bihari brothers (owners of the label), who was credited as "Ling". This was more or less common practice at RPM / Modern at the time. "Eddie My Love" spawned numerous cover versions, two of which also made the pop Top 20, by the Fontane Sisters on Dot (# 11) and by the Chordettes on Cadence (# 14). The song has become a classic of its genre. The follow-up was the very similar "So All Alone", which did not sell well. By this time the group was on the road to promote their hit. They toured in the "Biggest Rock 'n' Roll Show Of 1956", alongside Frankie Lymon, Bo Diddley, Big Joe Turner, Bill Haley and his Comets, the Drifters and others. In July 1956, Cash Box picked them as "Up-And-Coming Female Group" in its DJ poll. Yet, by then the hits were already over and the girls were has-beens before they were 18. Later RPM singles concentrated on uptempo numbers, which the sisters sang with clarity and gusto.
The best of these is probably "Rock Everybody" (RPM 484), a variation on "Rag Mop", released towards the end of 1956. In 1957 the Teen Queens received an offer to record for RCA Records. Unfortunately, the label tried to change their image and stripped them of their rhythm and blues style, the factor that made the Teen Queens so popular in the first place. RCA gave them songs like "You Good Boy, You Get Cookie" and "Movie Star", sung in a style so straight they could have been lifted from a Broadway soundtrack. The girls left RCA within a year. After almost two years of not recording, the Teen Queens made four sides for Antler Records, owned by Buck Ram, whose assistant Jean Bennett became their manager.
The Teen Queens 1955 ???
The first Antler single was an answer to Big Jay McNeely's hit "There Is Something On Your Mind", entitled "There Is Nothing On My Mind" (Parts 1 & 2). Each of the sisters takes her turn singing a line, interspersed with a stern spoken lecture. A far cry from the teenage innocence of "Eddie My Love" (which was reissued on Kent in 1961 and on Lana in 1964).
Buck Ram ran the Antler label only as a sideline and "There Is Nothing On My Mind" went nowhere. After one more single on Press Records in 1962, as Rosie & Betty, the Teen Queens ended their recording career. The two sisters met untimely deaths. They had started using dope while on the road in 1956 and could not kick the habit. In 1968, Rosie took an overdose of pills and alcohol, went to sleep and did not wake up. Betty passed away two or three years later. One of rock 'n' roll's tragic stories.
Donny Manzo, Teddy Santos, Mike Lanzo and Kenny Marsh
The Precisions (3) (Scranton, Pa) aka The Magics (2) aka The Palisades (3)
Personnel :
Mike Lanzo (Lead & Bass)
Donny Manzo (Tenor)
Ken Marsh (Baritone)
Teddy Santos (Second Tenor)
Discography:
The Precisions (3) 1960 - Dream On / You Can't Play Games (Strand 25038) 1963 - Sweet Dreams / Stop Leading Me On (Debra 1001)
Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3) 1962 - The Lover / What Has Happened (Bella 606)
 1962 - The Whole World In My Arms / Mama Done (Debra 1007)
Jo Jo Vitale bb The Precisions (3) 1962 - My Little Cinderella (May 127)
The Magics (2) 1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)
The Palisades (3) 1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)
Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts 1964 - At The Fair / Ghost Town (Debra 2006)
Biography :
"The Magics" are best known for their hit recording "Chapel Bells", which reached number three on the local charts in the Northeast part of the country. The song was written by " The Monotones" who had the smash hit " Book of Love". 100 Records pressed under the name of the Palisades, name was changed to the Magics because Palisades was taken.
Dick and the Halo's - Ted Santos, Ken Marsh, Dick Plotkin and Dom Manzo
The group was formed in the late 1950's with the original members being, Don Manzo (the founder), Mike Lanzo and Ken Marsh, at that time the group was known briefly as the " Supremes". Ted Santos was the next member to join the group and they then formed an alliance with Dick Plotkin who's group had recently broke up, and the name of the group was changed to Dick and the Halo's.
Dick & The Halo's - Ken Marsh, Ted Santos, Dom Manzo and Dick Plotkin
The group split up once again and the original 4, Don Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Ken Marsh and Ted Santos moved to Tin Pan Alley in New York to search for a professional management. Nick Quesado Enterprises, the firm that managed the nationally known "Teenagers" of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" fame and "Randy & the Rainbows" of "Denise" fame, took on the task and the group's name was changed to " The Precision's" then to "The Magics".
The Magics : Donny Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Kenny Marsh, Teddy Santos
While in New York they recorded for various New York labels and performed studio background for various artist such as Jo Jo Vitali who had the hit "My Little Cinderella", Jack Bailey from Canada who had hits such as "Tiger Lil" and "Your Magic Touch" all were hits in Canada.
The group also did background for local artist "Tommy Genova" who had a local hit "They Call Me the Lover". The group disbanded soon afterward and went on their own individual ways.

Songs :
The Magics (2)
Chapel Bells She Can't Stop Dancing
The Precisions (3)
You Can't Play Games Sweet Dreams Stop Leading Me On 

The Premiers (1) (Los Angeles) aka Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)
Personnel :
Sammy Hagan (Lead)
Donald Frierson (Tenor)
Daniel Fields (Baritone)
Charles Taggart (Bass)
Discography :
The Premiers (1) Singles: 1956 - Baby / New Moon (Dig 106) 1956 - Have A Heart / My Darling (Dig 113) Unreleased : 1956 - Red Sails In The Sunset (Dig) 1956 - Your kiss (Dig) 1956 - Can It Be Real (Dig)
Julie Stevens & The Premiers (1) 1956 - Blue Mood / Crazy Bells (Dig 115/Eldo 107 (1960))
Julie Stephens bb The Premiers (1)(Uncredited) 1957 - I Don’t Want To Know / Take My Heart (Dig 129)
Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1) 1957 - Out Of Your Heart / Smoochie Poochie (Capitol 3722) 1957 - Don't Cry / Wild Bird (Capitol 3818) 1958 - Tail Light / Snaggle Bunnie (Capitol 3885)
Little Sammy Yates 1959 - Comic Book Crazy / Dodge City Baby (Genie 1003) 1960 - Can You Love Me / Papa Did The Chicken (Shade 1002)
Count Yates 1961 -The Golden Key / Chimpanzee (Regis 1)
Biography :
Johnny Otis his Dig label, including a small recording studio, in his home in Los Angeles in late 1955. He shut down the label in 1957 when his Johnny Otis Show signed a contract with Capitol Records. In the interim, he released 42 singles and 4 LPs, including such talent as Arthur Lee Maye And The Crowns, Tony Allen And The Night Owls, Mel Williams And The Jayos, the Johnny Otis Orchestra and The Premiers.
The Premiers consisted of Sammy Hagan (aka: Little Sammy Yates "Hagan", Donald Frierson, Daniel Fields, and Charles Taggart. Johnny Otis released their first release, "Baby" and "New Moon" in March 1956. The former side, a mid tempo rocker with Yates fronting a unison group chant, Yates referred to as a countermelody. Though The Premiers' first release didn't make much noise. Johnny Otis issued a second pairing by the group In June 1956. "My Darling" and "Have a Heart". Supported by an able studio band led by saxophonist Jackie Kelso (who shared writers' credits with Yates on both sides of the release). Like the first release, however, "My Darling" didn't go anywhere and neither did the group until Johnny Otis decided they should back new singer Julie Stephens, an 18-year old recent high school graduate from Santa Barbara California.
Julie wrote "Blue Mood" and we went in to rehearse it with her, She was in a blue mood when she wrote the song, but when she recorded it, it came out beautiful during the summer of 1958". "Blue Mood" became the biggest hit Dig Records ever had, even though it tailed to make the national charts. With the flip side rocker "Crazy Bells," Otis subsequently reissued it in 1960. After backing Stephens again on "Take My Heart" in 1957 it was time for The Premiers to move on. "After we left the Johnny Otis Show we went to Capitol Records and managed by Effie Smith and John Criner".
Kenneth Head replacing original bass Charles Taggart. The group now became known as Sammy Hagan & the Viscounts. Working with guitarist-arranger Jack Marshall and sax man Plash Johnson, among other backing musicians, the group turned out two outstanding ballads, "Out of Your Heart" and "Don't Cry' in 1957, followed by "Tail Light" in February 1958. The latter, which billboard described as a wistful rock ballad told of a guy who trails a car because he thinks his girl is in it with another guy. The tune has touches of the hit "Silhouettes". Unfortunately, the record buying public passed up "Tail Light," Which proved to be the final release for Hagan arid his group.
In 1960 Nagan recorded for John Criner as Little Sammy on the standout ballad "Can You Love Me" and ‘Papa Did the Chicken". According to Hagan, the voices heard in the background of "Can You Love Me" belong to Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith, the songwriting. Arranging team known for their work with The Olympics. According Hagan the backing musicians included Don & Dewey, while Hagan himself played piano. Sammy later continued to record as Count Yates and the Rhythm Crusaders.
1966 - Wait a Minute / Opelia (Instrumental) (Palmer 5002)
 1966 - Cheryl-Ann / Seal it with a kiss (Palmer 5003) 1966 - Kimberly / I leave you in tears (Palmer 5006)
 1967 - Don't say Hi / Don't say Hi (Instrumental) (Palmer 5014)
Biography :
Allen Park is home to the vocal group, Tim Tam & the Turn-Ons who secured themselves a chapter in pop history from 1964 to 1967. Tim Tam and the Turn Ons are (l-r) Nick Butsicaris, Don Grundman, Earl Rennie, Rick (Tam Tam) Wiesend, John Ogen and Dan Wiesend. Rick “Tim Tam” Wiesend was the lead vocalist with the oustanding falsetto that soared above the harmonies in a Frankie Valli-style sound with a riveting rhythm section.
The boys met at Allen Park High School and all were in concert choir together. While Rick was a student at the Detroit Institute of Technology, he would hear his brother, Danny, practicing with the other boys in their Allen Park basement (at Fox and Garfield). Eventually he joined the group himself and taught them their harmonies. Rick Wiesend was still a student at Allen Park High School when CKLW disc jockey Johnny Williams heard his strong tenor at a school Christmas concert. Williams and Rick co-wrote “Wait a Minute”.
When they were going into United Sound Systems to record that single, they were delayed by the previous recording artist who had been running late on mixing his song. The artist was Bob Seger and he was finishing up his #1 hit, “Heavy Music”. Of the four singles they released on Palmer Records, they had two national hits, the biggest being “Wait A Minute”, which hit Number 1 on the Top 40. It sold 30,000 copies in the first week, and double that figure in the second. Their other hit was “Cheryl Ann”.
The pair of apartment buildings on Champaign near Vine were owned by Rick Wiesend’s father, and were named the Tim Tam building and the Turn-Ons building. The names were removed from the buildings a few years ago, but you can still see evidence of them if you look close enough.
The vocal group consisted of the late Rick “Tim Tam” Wiesend (who died October 22, 2003 of Myelodysplastic Syndrome at age 60), his brother, Danny Wiesend, Don Grundman, Nick Butsicaris, John Ogen and Earl Rennie. The musicians behind the vocals were the Satellites -- fellow APHS classmates -- featuring the late Frank Chauvilli on drums and Dave Faro on lead guitar. http://www.focusallenpark.com/history/music/
Singles : 1957 - Storm In My Heart / Anne Marie (Sparton 491 R) 1958 - It was just a summer love / Five little numbers (Carlton 485) 1960 - Tangerock / Don't open that door (Top Rank 2066) 1961 - Stormy Weather / Sweet Georgia Brown (Capitol 4661) N/A - From The Very First Rose / Once And Only Once
LPs : Jack Scott with the Chantones "The Spirit Moves Me" RM-348 1961 - When the Saints Go Marching In / Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Ezekiel Saw The Wheel / Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho / Little David Play On Your Harp / Roll Jordan Roll // Down By The Riverside / Old Time Religion / The Gospel Train / I Wanna Be Ready / Just A Closer Walk With Thee / He'll Understand
Biography :
A vocal quartet best known for their work backing rock & roller and country star Jack Scott, the Chantones at one time bidded fair to become as well known as the Jordanaires. Their three years with Scott and seven years in the recording industry put the group on more than a dozen hit singles, but they never charted a hit of their own in the United States.
The group started out in Windsor, Ontario in the early 1950s as the Teen Tones. Roy Lesperance sang bass, Jim Nantais sang baritone, Larry Desjarlais was the tenor, and Jack Grenier was the lead tenor of the group, which won a talent contest in 1953 sponsored by the Catholic Your Organization. They changed their name to the Chantones and became a standard (if highly polished) white pop vocal group -- the real-life version of the "Four Neat Guys" from SCTV.
Jack Scott with the Chantones
The group's fortunes changed somewhat when they were recruited by Scott to sing back-up on his single of "My True Love." The group did benefit from that record's number three national chart placement; they became the resident backing group on Scott's subsequent records for the next four years, singing on numerous hits.
Jack Scott with the Chantones
They were paired with other artists as well, including Jerry Keller, on whose hit "Here Comes Summer" they sang, but they never managed to secure a hit of their own in America, possibly due in part to the fact that they weren't really a rock & roll group or, for that matter, a white gospel group like the Jordanaires, of Elvis Presley fame.
Jerry Keller
The Chantones were a white pop vocal group, most similar to the Four Lads. The quality of their singing was undeniable but, in contrast to some other white vocal outfits of the time, such as the Mints, the Diamonds, or the Crew Cuts, the Chantones never got closer than arm's length to rock & roll or R&B.
The group ceased working with Scott in 1960, and charted a record of their own that year in Canada with "Tangerock." The following year, they had another Canadian hit with "Stormy Weather." When Lesperance got married in 1962 and left the line-up, the remaining members shifted their sound to folk music, and it was as a folk trio that they ended their history in the late 1960s. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
In 1962, Roy Lesperance left the group and THE CHANTONES TRIO was formed by the remaining members, Jack, Jim and Larry. The folk music era had begun and it was decided that the trio would follow that trend. They each learned to play instruments over a several month period with Jack on banjo, Jim on bass and Larry on guitar.
The Chantones Trio
This change led them off on a new career performing in nightclus nationally and in 1962 and 1963 were invited to entertain at US bases across Europe for 2 monthes each year. This was a show sponsored by American Motors and was a tremendous success.
The Chantones Trio performed in clubs and for private functions until 1976.
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