Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Four Tops (1) aka The Four Aims

Posted on April 28 2011 by dion1

The Four Tops (1) (Detroit)
aka The Four Aims

(The Doo wop years)

Personnel :

Levi Stubbs

Abdul "Duke" Fakir

Renaldo "Obie" Benson

Lawrence Peyton

Discography :

The Four Aims
1956 - If Only I Had Known / She Gave Me Love (Grady 012)

The Four Tops (1)
1956 - Could it be you / Kiss me baby (Chess 1623)
1956 - Woke Up This Morning (Chess) (Unreleased)
1956 - All my life (Chess) (Unreleased)
1956 - I'm My Baby's Sitter (Chess) (Unreleased)
1960 - Ain't That love / Lonely Summer (Columbia 41755)
1962 - Pennies from heaven / Where you are (Riverside 4534)

Biography :

The Four Tops began life in 1953 (some accounts say 1954), when all of the members were attending Detroit-area high schools. Levi Stubbs and Abdul "Duke" Fakir went to Pershing, and met Northern students Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton at a friend's birthday party, where the quartet members first sang together.

The Four Tops (1) aka The Four Aims

Sensing an immediate chemistry, they began rehearsing together and dubbed themselves the Four Aims. Payton's cousin Roquel Davis, a budding songwriter who sometimes sang with the group during its early days, helped them get an audition with Chess Records in 1956. Although Chess was more interested in Davis, who went on to become Berry Gordy's songwriting partner, they also signed the Four Aims, who became the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers.

The Four Tops' lone Chess single, "Kiss Me Baby," was an unequivocal flop, and the group moved on to similarly brief stints at Red Top and Riverside. They signed with Columbia in 1960 and were steered in a more upscale supper-club direction, singing jazz and pop standards. This too failed to break them, although they did tour with Billy Eckstine during this period.

http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Four_Tops,_The/Biography/
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/fourtops.htm
http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/the_four_tops.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/four_tops.htm
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/four%20tops.html
http://www.thefourtopsoriginal.com

Songs :


Kiss me baby                          I'm My Baby's Sitter


All my life                               Could it be you                    Woke Up This Morning

...

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The Clouds (2)

Posted on April 27 2011 by dion1

The Clouds (2)

The Clouds (2) (Los Angeles, California)

Personnel :

Jerry Ganey (Lead)

Roy Perry

Jerry Dowling

Don Craft

Discography :

1963 - A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening / Say Hey Hey (Vous 1000)
1964 - Night Owl / My Tears Will Go Away (Medley 1001)

Biography :

In the spring of 1964, Bill Medley of Santa Ana, California and Bobby Hatfield of Anaheim, California were enjoying for the most part, local success as the 'Blue-Eyed Soul'/R&B duo, The Righteous Brothers. It wouldn't be until September that they two would become featured performers on the new ABC-TV music show, 'Shindig!'.

The Clouds (2)

Their fortunes would change dramatically by November of that year after recording what would become the most played record of the 20th century, the Phil Spector produced, 'Wall of Sound' masterpiece, 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. So until then, the boys performed often at many southern California venues as well as writing some of their own material. Bill Medley on occasion would produce for other acts. In this case, the Clouds were a quartet of your fellows who he produced two singles with. The second of which being, the Medley & Hatfield composition, 'My Tears Will Go Away' which the duo had already recorded themselves while at Moonglow Records.

The Clouds (2)

The same backing track was utilized for the Clouds single and used again on an unreleased 1964 duet version by Bill Medley and Santa Ana powerhouse vocalist, Betty Willis. Recorded at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood, the backing track features the studio's signature echo chamber, clacking castanets and marvelous backing vocals by the Blossoms. Lead vocalist, Jerry Ganey, would be produced by Bill Medley again as a solo artist with M~G~M records in 1966 & 1967. Those two singles issued on Verve and M~G~M respectively have become pricey collectibles among the Northern Soul crowd.

Songs :


A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening                      Say Hey Hey


       Night Owl My Tears Will Go Away

...

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The Rollettes aka The Blossons aka The Dreamers (3) aka The Angels (4) aka The Playgirls (1) aka The Girlfriends (3) aka The Coeds (2)

Posted on April 24 2011 by dion1

The Rollettes aka The Blossons aka The Dreamers (3) aka The Angels (4) aka The Playgirls (1) aka The Girlfriends (3) aka The Coeds (1)

The Rollettes (Los Angeles)

aka The Blossons
aka The Dreamers (3)
aka The Playgirls (1)
aka The Angels (4)
aka The Girlfriends (3)
aka The Coeds (2)
Ref Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans

Personnel :

Fanita Wright Barrett (First tenor)

Annette Williams (First tenor)

Gloria Jones (Baritone)

Discography :

1957 - Sad Fool / Wham Bam (instrumental) (Class 201)
1957 - Kiss Me Benny / More Than You Realize (Class 203)

Biography :

The Rollettes were not so much a group as a discographical wrinkle. In 1956 the Los Angeles all-girl doo wop group the Dreamers, who recorded both on their own and (more frequently) as Richard Berry's backup group, made a couple of singles for the Class label under the name the Rollettes.

The Rollettes aka The Blossons aka The Dreamers (3) aka The Angels (4) aka The Playgirls (1) aka The Girlfriends (3) aka The Coeds (1)

The Dreamers on Flip Records.(top to right) Gloria Jones, Janell Hawkins, Annette Williams, and Fanita James.

Actually they did only three tracks on those singles, since the B-side of one of them, "Wham Bam," was an instrumental by Googie Rene & His Wham Bams. The best of them was the upbeat "Kiss Me Benny," though on the whole they were forgettable early doo wop. All three of the tracks are on the Dreamers' Ace anthology They Sing Like Angels, which includes sides by various permutations of the Dreamers, among them ones on which they back Berry.

The Rollettes aka The Blossons aka The Dreamers (3) aka The Angels (4) aka The Playgirls (1) aka The Girlfriends (3) aka The Coeds (1) Fanita, Annette & Gloria

The Dreamers changed their name to the Blossoms in 1957 and became one of early rock & roll's most renowned session backup-vocal groups. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

http://www.answers.com/topic/the-rollettes
http://www.redbirdent.com/page2.htm
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/dreamers.html

Songs :

More Than You Realize Kiss Me Benny Sad Fool

...

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The Chaps (1) aka The Four Chaps (2)

Posted on April 15 2011 by dion1

The Chaps (1) (Kiski Valley, Pittsburgh)
aka The Four Chaps (2)

Personnel :

George Esposito

Joe Cesario

Ron Fulton

Sonny DiNunzio

Bob Savastano

Discography :

The Chaps (1)
1960 - Perfect Night For Love / One Lovely Yesterday (Brent 7016)
1961 - They'll Never Be / Heaven Must Have Run Out Of Angels (Matador 1814)

The Four Chaps (2)
1965 - True Lovers / Will You Or Won't You (Co & Ce 231)

Biography :

The original lineup, an a cappella vocal group, was The Chaps. When Sonny DiNunzio joined, the group became The Four Chaps. Later Ron Fulton was added. Records of The Chaps: "One Lovely Yesterday" & "Perfect Night For Love" on Brent Records, New York City. "Heaven Must Have Run Out Of Angels" & "They’ll Never Be" Lou Christie sang the high parts.

The Chaps (1) aka The Four Chaps (2)
Lou Christie

Christie achieved success with the following hits: "The Gypsy Cried", "Two Faces Have I", and his biggest National hit "Lightnin’ Strikes". Lou made fame when he was connected to the Cenci Co & Ce Label. The records were released on the Matador label. The Chaps joined with Lennie Martin, a string arranger for The Skyliners of "Since I Don’t Have You" fame. The Skyliners were a successful Pittsburgh doo wop band who went National. The Chaps broke up when the song "Heaven Must Have Run Out Of Angels’" chart steam ran out.

The Townsmen

The original lineup moved to the West Coast. While in California, The Chaps recorded on Capitol Records and played the Los Angeles arena. They auditioned for the popular "Shindig" show with Glen Campbell on guitar with the song "Lonesome Traveler". They phoned DiNunzio and asked him to join thus The Four Chaps. DiNunzio formed The Townsmen afterward.
http://www.freewebs.com/tracy64/

Songs :

The Chaps (1)

They'll Never Be Perfect Night For Love

The Four Chaps (2)

True Lovers

...

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Tommy Frederick & The Hi-Notes (1) Aka The Vibra-Tones (1)

Posted on April 10 2011 by dion1

Tommy Frederick & The Hi-Notes (1) (Boston, Massachusetts)
Aka The Vibra-Tones (1)

Personnel :

Tommy Frederick (Lead)

Discography :

Sabby Lewis & The Vibra-Tones (1)
1956 - Forgive Me My Love / Regretting (ABC 9687)

Tommy Frederick & The Hi-Notes (1)
1958 - The Prince Of Players / I'm Not Pretending (Carlton 450/London 8555)

Tommy Frederick & Group
1960 - Sundown / ‘Where’d Ja Go (Coral 62170)

Biography :

Sabby Lewis started taking piano lessons when he was 5, and organized his first band in Boston in 1936. He later performed on Broadway and in ballrooms and clubs in Manhattan. He performed with Dinah Washington and Billy Eckstine. During World War II, Lewis' orchestra included long-time Ellington tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, and drummer Alan Dawson spent much of the 1950s in the band. In 1956, he performed in the Boston Area, and recorded with a local vocal group, the Vibra-tones, « Forgive Me My Love » b/w « Regretting » for ABC.

Sabby Lewis

Two years later, The Vibra-Tones changed their name to the Hi-Tones. The Carlton Record Corporation began in October, 1957, in New York, when the late Joe Carlton, a former A&R chief at RCA, set up offices at 157 W. 57th Street. The label started with a single by Tommy Fredericks & His Hi-Notes, "The Prince of Players"/"I'm Not Pretending" [Carlton 450].

In 1961, a different Vibra-Tones’ vocal group recorded for ABC as backup singers For Evelyn Dell . This white Group from Brooklyn & Queens is composed by John Sescila, Sandy Anzalone, John Anzalone and Vinny Lombardy.

Tommy Frederick & The Hi-Notes (1) Aka The Vibra-Tones (1)

Who are they ???

(Sonny, Darryl, Charlie Weils...) According to notes from "Rare 1950's Boston Doo Wop" this unknown group backed Tommy Fredericks on his Coral single in 1960 on "Sundown" and ‘Where’d Ja Go"

Songs :

Sabby Lewis And The Vibra-Tones (1)


Regretting                                  Forgive Me My Love

Tommy Frederick & The Hi-Notes (1)


The Prince Of Players                         I'm Not Pretending

Tommy Frederick & Group


Sundown                                           ‘Where’d Ja Go

…

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The Rollers aka The Jewels (2) aka The Marbles

Posted on April 9 2011 by dion1

Eddie Wilson, Don Sampson, Al Wilson & Willie Willingham

The Rollers (Los Angeles)
aka The Jewels (2) aka The Marbles

Personnel :

Don Sampson (Lead)

Eddie Wilson (Tenor)

Al Wilson (Baritone)

Willie Willingham (Bass)

Discography :

1961 - Got My Eye On You / Bonneville (Liberty 55303)
1961 - The Continental Walk / I Want You So (Liberty 55320)
1961 - The Bounce / The Teenagers' Waltz (Liberty 55357)
1962 - The Bug / Troubles (Bel Star 102)

Biography :

By 1961 Johnny Torrence had left the Jewels, leaving the remaining members of Al & Eddie Wilson, Don Sampson and Willie Willingham to re-brand themselves as "The Rollers". Signing to Liberty records they released three singles starting in January of "61 with "Got My Eye On You" and on the flip, "Bonneville."

Their next single on Liberty is a quirky dance craze tune written by Don Covay and John Barry titled "Continental Walk." It's a bit of a heavier R&B tune with a similar rhythm and beat to the dance track of the 50's "The Stroll." The first two releases on Liberty sold fairly well locally but the relationship between label and artist began to turn sour over royalties and the flop of the last single put out "Teenage Waltz/The Bounce". After parting from Liberty the group released one more single on the Bel Star label.

"Troubles" and the flip "The Bug" were un-impressive tracks even compared to "Continental Walk" or the earlier "Pearlie Mae" on Antler. The group disbanded. Eddie went back to doing spirituals while Sampson joined the Incredibles. Willingham left the industry altogether. Al joined another group.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Jewels/jewels.html

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Got My Eye On You                       The Continental Walk


I Want You So                               The Bounce


A Teenagers' Waltz                               Troubles


Bonneville                                       Troubles

...

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The Buddies (8) aka The Four Winds (3) aka The Tokens (2)

Posted on April 7 2011 by dion1

The Buddies (8) ( aka The Four Winds (3) aka The Tokens (2)

The Buddies (8) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Four Winds (3) aka The Tokens (2)

Personnel :

Hank Medress

JaySiegel

Mitch Margo

Phil margo

Stephen Friedland

Discography :

The Buddies (8)
1964 - On The Go / Only My Friend (Swing 102)

The Four Winds (3)
1963 - Dear Judy / Come Softly To Me (Crystal Ball 102)
1963 - Goodbye Maureen / Arlene (Crystal Ball 105)
1964 - Remember Last Summer / Strange Feelings (Swing 100)
1968 - Let it ride / One Face in the Crowd (B.T. Puppy 555)

Biography :

Originally known as The Linc-Tones when they formed in 1955 at Lincoln High School. Original members Hank Medress, Neil Sedaka, Eddie Rabkin and Cynthia Zolitin didn’t have much impact in their early days recording for Melba. They later disbanded, but Medress re-formed the group in 1960 as The Tokens. Brothers Phil and Mitch Margo and Jay Siegel were the new members, and the group recorded for Warwick in 1960, then had their one glorious hit in 1962, The Lion Sleeps Tonight (based on a Zulu song called Wimoweh). The Tokens formed their own label in 1964 called BT Puppy, but they couldn’t keep the hits coming. In addition to making their own records, The Tokens also recorded under other names, including The Four Winds and The Buddies.

Songs :

The Four Winds (3)


      Dear Judy                              Remember Last Summer


    Arlene                                 Come Softly To Me

...

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The Pirates (4) aka The Temptations (4)

Posted on April 5 2011 by dion1

The Pirates (4) (Detroit, Michigan)
aka The Temptations (4)

Personnel :

Otis Williams

Melvin Franklin

Eddie Kendricks

Paul Williams

Elbrige Bryant

Discography :

1962 - Mind Over Matter / I'll Love You Till I Die (Mel-O-Dy 105)

Biography :

In 1962 Berry Gordy released "Mind Over Matter" on the Mel-O-dy label by The Pirates, who were The Temptations and according to Otis Williams this was the only time they prayed for a flop, and it did. They covering the Nolan Strong & The Diablos classic Detroit hit, "Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine).

Songs :

Mind Over Matter I'll Love You Till I Die

...

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Ray & The Darchaes

Posted on April 4 2011 by dion1

Ray & The Darchaes (Asbury Park, NJ)

Personnel :

Ray Dahrouge (Lead)

Tonny Julian (Falsetto)

Louie Scalpati (Tenor)

Sal Capalungo (Second Tenor)

Denny Testa (Baritone)

Sam Siciliano (Bass)

Discography

Singles:
1962 - Carol / Little Girl So Fine (Aljon 1249/1250)
1962 - Darling Forever / There Will Always Be (Buzzy 202)

Unreleased :
1961 - When I Woke Up This Morning
1962 - To Get A Hold On You
1962 - I Don't Care

Biography :

Long before Bruce Springsteen drew attention to Asbury Park, Ray Dahrouge and his doo-wop group, the Darchaes ruled over the New Jersey coastal city. With Dahrouge's lead vocals accompanied by falsetto Tony Juliano, first tenor Louie Scalpati, second tenor Sal Capalungo, baritone Denny Testa and bass Sam Siciliano, Ray And The Darchaes had the clubs along the seaside jumping.

Dahrouge and the Darchaes recorded two singles -- "There Will Always Be You" and "Little Girl Of Mine" b/w "Carol" .Nickie Addeo replace Dahrouge When he left to embark on a solo career in 1963.

Ray Dahrouge, Barry Rufus Edwards, Louie Scalpati, and Sam Siciliano

Although Ray never broke through to a national audience, he recorded a string of regional hits including "Steppin' Out", "Rendezvous With Destiny", "Lifetime Guarantee Of Love", "Stepping Out" and "I Can See Him Makin' Love To You".

Songs :


             Carol                 Little Girl So Fine     When I Woke Up This Morning


Darling Forever                      There Will Always Be       To Get A Hold On You

...

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Gladys Knight & The Pips

Posted on April 3 2011 by dion1

Gladys Knight & The Pips (Atlanta, Georgia)
(The Doo wop years)

Personnel :

Gladys Knight (Lead)

Merald "Bubba" Knight

William Guest

Edward Patten

Langston George

Discography :

Singles :

The Pips
1958 - Ching Chong / Whistle My Love (Brunswick 55048)
1961 - Every Beat Of My Heart / Room In Your Heart (Huntom 2510/Vee Jay 386)
1962 - Darling / Linda (Fury 1067)

Gladys Knight & The Pips
1961 - Every Beat Of My Heart / Room In Your Heart (Fury 1050)
1961 - Guess Who / Stop Running Around (Fury 1052)
1961 - Letter Full Of Tears / You Broke Your Promise (Fury 1054)
1962 - Operator / I'll Trust In You (Fury 1064)
1963 - Come See About Me / I Want That Kind Of Love (Fury 1073)

Lps :

1962 - Letter Full Of Tears (Fury FULP 1003)
Letter Full Of Tears / You Broke Your Promise / Operator / I’ll Trust In You / Morning, Noon And Night / I Can’t Stand By / Every Beat Of My Heart / Room In Your Heart / Guess Who / Stop Running Around / What Shall I Do ?

Biography :

Gladys Knight was born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of seven in 1952, she won Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour television show contest. The following year, she, her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and their cousins William and Eleanor Guest started a singing group called "The Pips" (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). The Pips began to perform and tour, eventually replacing Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with cousins Langston George and Edward Patten in 1959.

The Pips scored their first hit in 1961 with "Every Beat of My Heart", a cover of a Hank Ballard & The Midnighters song written by Johnny Otis. The group had recorded the song for a friend in Atlanta, who promptly sold the master to Vee-Jay Records and cut the group out of the record's profits. The Pips recorded a second version of "Every Beat" with Bobby Robinson as the producer, and the song became a #1 R&B and #6 pop hit.

Gladys Knight & The Pips
The Pips (1959)

Shortly afterwards, Langston George left the group, and the remaining members continued as a quartet, now billed as Gladys Knight & the Pips. Typically, most of the act's recordings featured Knight's contralto on lead vocals and the three male members of the group, usually referred to as "The Pips" by themselves, providing characteristic background vocals.

After a second Vee-Jay hit, "Letter Full of Tears", in 1962, Knight quit the group to start a family with husband James Newman, giving birth to James Gaston Newman III in August of that year. Her second child Kenya Maria Newman was born in November the following year.The Pips toured on their own for two years, until Knight returned to the act in 1964 in order to support her two children.
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/gknight.htm

Songs :

Gladys Knight & The Pips

Letter Full Of Tears                      Operator


You Broke Your Promise               Every Beat Of My Heart

The Pips
(Merald Knight, William Guest & Edward Patten)

Linda Darling

...

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