Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Passions (2) aka The Colognes

Posted on July 12 2011 by dion1

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

Personnel :

Kenny Sinclair (Lead)

Harold Garcia

Sammy Handy

Earl Sinclair

William DeVase (Bass)

Discography :

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

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

Biography :

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

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

Songs :

The Passions (2)


Jackie Brown My Aching Heart


Nervous About Sally                        Tango Of Love

The Colognes

A River Flows

...

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The Orlandos

Posted on July 11 2011 by dion1

The Orlandos (Pittsburg)

Personnel :

Ronnie Williams (Lead Tenor)

Nate Thomas (Tenor)

Roger Randolph (Tenor)

Charles Raeford (Baritone)

Wallace Berry (Bass)

Discography :

1957 - Cloudburst / Old MacDonald (Cindy 3006)

Biography :

The Orlandos emerged from the same postwar Pittsburgh doo wop community that also launched the careers of the El Capris and the Four Dots. According to Marv Goldberg's profile in the January 2006 issue of Blues & Rhythm, the Orlandos formed in 1954 in the Steel City's low-income Whittaker Projects. At the time, lead tenor Gary Jenkins, tenors Joe Murphy and Roger Randolph, baritone Charles Raeford, and bass John Crowder were all 14-year-olds attending Homeville Junior High School. A few months later Jenkins, Murphy, and Raeford all exited the Orlandos. Lead tenor Ronnie Williams, tenor Nate Thomas, and bass Wallace Berry were named their replacements, with Crowder shifting to baritone as a result of the shuffle. By 1955 the Orlandos were a fixture at Pittsburgh-area record hops, in time catching the attention of WCAE radio personality Jay Michael. Through Michael, they were introduced to erstwhile Roulette Records owner George Goldner, who in 1957 signed the group to his fledgling Cindy label. That summer the Orlandos traveled to Detroit for an aborted recording session. Weeks later, they headed to New York City, cutting the Williams original "Cloudburst" as well as the traditional "Old MacDonald." Goldner did nothing to promote the single, and despite a series of live dates throughout the Midwest, "Cloudburst" went nowhere and soon after Thomas exited the lineup, relocating to Detroit and later filling in with the Four Palms. With replacement tenor Lee Smalls, the Orlandos forged on, but as the various members pursued day jobs and romance, the group finally split in 1960.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Orlandos/orlandos.html

Songs :

Cloudburst Old MacDonald

....

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The Redwoods aka The Flairs (2) aka The Spartans (4) aka Jeff Barry

Posted on July 9 2011 by dion1

The Redwoods (New York)
aka The Spartans (4) aka The Flairs (2) aka Jeff Barry

Personnel :

Jeff Barry

Discography :

The Redwoods
1961 - Shake Shake Sherry / The Memory Lingers On (Epic 5-9447)
1961 - Never Take It Away / Unemployment Insurance (Epic 5-9473)
1962 - Please Mr Scientist / Where You Used To Be (Epic 5-9505)

The Flairs (2)
1961 - Shake Shake Sherry / The Memory Lingers On (Epic 5-9447)

The Spartans (4)
1962 - Can You Waddle? / Can You Waddle (instumental) (Web 1)

Biography :

In 1961, Jeff Barry continues to issue recordings: A solo single on United Artists, a Jubilee release under the pseudonym Billy Mitchell, and pseudo vocal group records (he sings all voices) but were credited to the groups the Redwoods, the Spartans, and the Flairs on Epic and Web Records.

Songwriters Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman hire him to sing demos, some of which are recorded by Elvis Presley. Barry also begins to produce records.
http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/timeline/C128

Songs :

The Redwoods

Where You Used To Be                 Unemployment Insurance


The Memory Lingers On                     Never Take It Away


Please Mr Scientist                          Shake Shake Sherry

The Flairs (2)

Shake Shake Sherry The Memory Lingers On

The Spartans (4)

Can You Waddle?

...

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The Chimes (1) aka The Flairs (1)

Posted on July 8 2011 by dion1

The Chimes (1) (Los Angeles)
aka The Flairs (1)

Personnel :

Cornell Gunter (Lead)

Thomas 'Pete' Fox (Tenor)

Obediah 'Obie' Jessie (Baritone)

Randy Jones (Bass)

Charles Jackson (for recordings only)

Discography :

1954 - Love Me, Love Me, Love Me / My Heart's Crying For You (Flair 1051)

Biography :

The Flairs decided Richard was spreading himself too thin. Not long after Beverly Thompson left, Richard quit too. (A blurb in a September 1954 issue of one of the trades said that Berry, "formerly of the Flairs," was now with the Dreamers.) His place in the Flairs was taken by bass Randy Jones. Therefore, the Flairs were now Cornell Gunter, Charles Jackson (for recordings only), Pete Fox, Obie Jessie, and Randy Jones. In September 1954, Flair released "Love Me, Love Me, Love Me" (led by Cornell) and "My Heart's Crying For You" (the whole group). This time the artist was listed as the "Chimes."
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Flairs/flairs.html

Songs :

Love Me, Love Me, Love Me My Heart's Crying For You

...

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Bobby Chandler & His Stardusters

Posted on July 7 2011 by dion1

Bobby Chandler & His Stardusters (Little Rock, AR.)

Personnel :

Bobby Chandler (Lead)

Bill Sharp

Bobby Blount

Bill Glasscock

Bill Dedman (Guitar)

Discography :

1956 - If You Loved Me / I'm Serious (OJ 1000)
1957 - Shadows Of Love / Me And My Imagination (OJ 1005)

Biography :

Bobby Chandler was born and raised in Little Rock, graduating from Little Rock Central High School in 1956. While a student at LRCHS, he formed a quartet known as “Bobby Chandler and The Stardusters”. they sang “rock and roll” for school and various other local functions and in 1956, They signed a recording contract with OJ Records, out of Memphis, Tennessee. OJ RECORDS was the manufacturing arm of Old Judge Music Publishing whose offices were locate at 1018 North Watkins Street in Memphis, Tennessee. The label seems to have begun operations sometime in 1956 or 1957 under the supervision of Bill Biggs and C. J. (Red) Matthews.

OJ was a small-time operation which tried to capture the public’s fancy by issuing singles in a number of musical fields, including R&B/black doo-wop (Chester Guyden, the Rockin’ Dukes), rockability/white rock ‘n’ roll (Wailin’ Bill Dell, Charles Senns) and 50s teen pop (Wink Martindale, Bobby Chandler and the Stardusters, Nancy Lee, Dave Gardner). The label's first release on OJ 1000 was “I’m Serious” b/w “If You Love’d Me” by Bobby Chandler and the Stardusters, and judging by the number of copies which still turn up regularly in various record auctions, it was the company’s most successful venture.

The Starduster's in 1957 L to R: Bill Sharp, Truman Mitchell, Bobby Chandler, Bob Walters & Bill Glasscock

OJ’s most prolific artist was Bobby Chandler and the Stardusters. Like other white quartets of the period such as the Crescendos (Nasco) and Techniques (Roulette), the Stardusters used a melodic approach to ballad harmony and tried to cross-over into the white pop mainstream of the time. Their follow-up release “Me and My Imagination” (1005) received a full-page in the May 25, 1957 Cash Box issue, with the banner claim: “Just Released, Already Breaking in Memphis, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Spreading.”

Songs :


If You Loved Me      I'm Serious


Shadows Of Love                    Me And My Imagination

...

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The Dartones

Posted on July 6 2011 by dion1

The Dartones

The Dartones

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The Four Jewels aka The Impalas (3) aka The Jewels (5)

Posted on July 5 2011 by dion1

The Four Jewels (Washington, D.C)
aka The Impalas (3) aka The Jewels (5)

Personnel:

Sandra Peoples

Margie Clarke

Carrie Mingo

Grace Ruffin

Discography :

The Impalas (3)
1961 - For The Love Of Mike / I Need You So Much (Checker 999)

The Four Jewels
1962 - Loaded With Goodies / Fire (Start 638)
1963 - Johnny Jealousy / Someone Special (Start 638)
1963 - All That's Good / I Love Me Some You (Start 641)
1963 - Dapper Dan / Loaded With Goodies (Checker 1039)
1964 - Time For Love / That's What They Put Erasers On Pencils For (Checker 1069)
1964 - Baby It's You / She's Wrong For You Baby (Tec 3007)

The Jewels (5)
1964 - Opportunity / Gotta Find A Way (Dimension 1034)
1964 - This Is My Story / My Song (Federal 12541)
1965 - Smokey Joe / But I Do (Dimension 1048)
1966 - Papas Left Mama Holdin' The Bag / This Is My Story (Dynamite 2000)

Biography :

The Four Jewels formed at Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC. The group was first known as the Impalas. They changed their name to the Four Jewels. The Four Jewels consisted of Sandra Bears, Grace Ruffin, Margie Clarke and Carrie Mingo.

Along with other talented young singers out of Washington, DC, such as The Marquees (the first vocal group that Marvin Gaye sang with) and Billy Stewart, The Four Jewels would gather at the home recording studio of the legendary R&B singer, Bo Diddley, who then lived in Northeast Washington. In the early 1960s, Carrie Mingo left the group, and she was replaced by Martha Harvin (now known as Martha High). In 1964 the group released their first national hit "Opportunity" on the Dimensions label.

The Dimensions label was owned by rock and roll promoter, Don Kirshner. The song “Opportunity” stayed on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks.The Jewels have over 20 recordings, which have made an impact on the national and local R&B charts. Jewel’s member, Grace Ruffin, is the cousin of the legendary DC singer, Billy Stewart.

The Jewels The Jewels

The Jewels sing back up on the Billy Stewart song “Reap What You Sow”. They recently appear on the CD, The Velons & Their Divas (October 2007), where they sing new music written by Reese Palmer of The Marquees (which featured a young Marvin Gaye) (“Sugar Wooga Baby”), as well as a song penned by The Jewels (“Someone to Love”) In 1965, now The Jewels Impressed with The Jewels talents, Brown recruited the ladies to join him as part of the legendary “James Brown Revue”. The Jewels went on the road for one year with James Brown as his background singers. They appear on the song “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”. On the James Brown song “Don’t Be A Dropout”, James Brown calls out “The Jewels” during the song, and the Jewels recorded several songs produced by Brown, including “This Is My Story.”

http://www.myspace.com/thefabulousjewels

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The Echoes (5) aka The Innocents

Posted on July 4 2011 by dion1

The Echoes (5) (Los Angeles)

aka The Innocents

Personnel :

Al Candelaria

Darron Stankey

Jim West

Discography :

1962 - Time / Dee Dee Di Oh (Andex 22102)

Biography :

The Innocents were from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. They met in high school around 1958, and the name of their group was originally called the Echoes. . Although the Original group included Larry New, he was dumped in favor of Jim West and his extended vocal ability.

After one recording for Andex / Keen, they had a chance meeting with Kim Fowler and Gary Paxton. Though Fowley initially expressed no interest in hearing the group, once he and Paxton did, they knew the group had a sound they were looking for and directed the Echoes over to the Indigo label under the direction of Jim Lee. The group cut their first record Honest I Do, as the Innocents, which was named after their car club.
http://colorradio.com/innocents.htm

Songs :

Time Dee Dee Di Oh

...

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Scotty Mann & The Masters (1) aka The Clefs (1)

Posted on July 1 2011 by dion1

The Clefs : (L to R) Fred Council, Frank Newman, Scotty Mansfield & Pavel Bess (top) Frank Motley (Bot.) Leo Carter

The Clefs (1) (Arlington, Va)
aka Scotty Mann & The Masters (1)

Personnel :

George Henry "Scotty" Mansfield (Lead Tenor)

Frank Newman (Tenor)

Fred Council (Baritone)

Pavel Bess (Bass)

Discography :

The Clefs (1)
Singles :
1952 - We Three / Ride On (Chess 1521)
1954 - I'll Be Waiting / Please Don't Leave Me (Peacock 1643)
^{Unreleased :}
1952 - Sorry (Chess)
1954 - What Did I Do (Peacock)
1954 - I'm Wondering (Peacock)  

Scotty Mann & The Masters (1)
Singles :
1956 - The Mystery Man / Just A Little Bit Of Loving (Peacock 1665)
Unreleased :
1956 - Your Memory (Peacock)
1956 - Goodness Gracious Baby (Peacock)  
1956 - I'll Be Waiting (Peacock)

Biography :

The Clefs had their beginnings during late 1950 in the greater Washington D. C. area. The members of the original group were Scott Mansfield on lead, tenors Pavel Bess and Frank Newman, baritone Fred Council, and bass Gerald Bullock. They performed at various gigs in and around their home area and put in plenty of time on their harmony and musical presentation. By the spring of 1952 Leroy Flack had replaced Bullock on bass. Soon The Clefs had the opportunity to record a demo record which was heard by Lillian Clairborn, a D. C. music scout and manager. The demo was shopped to Chess Records in Chicago and soon the group had a session in the studio for the label. By late October Chess Records released two tunes by the group with the Frank Motley combo. The songs were "We Three", and a 'B' side jump tune called "Ride On".

Chess # 1521 got a decent review in the trade press and so The Clefs had their first recorded effort on the street. Radio airplay was limited mostly to the Chicago area, and in their home city of Washington D.C., there wasn't much of a ripple for the group's record. For the next year and a half the group kept at it until in 1954. By then they were a foursome as Leroy Flack had left and Bess became the new bass for the group. Somehow, even though there was some interest from Vee-Jay, they were subsequently hooked up with Don Robey in Houston Texas and his Peacock label. The group had a record on Peacock by the end of the year : "I'll Be Waiting" and "Please Don't Leave Me" released on # 1643. When that single by the group did not do much in sales or airplay, the group changed their name to Scotty Mann & The Masters. With their new identity the group had one release for Peacock on # 1665 : "The Mystery Man" and "Just A Little Bit Of Loving". As with their previous attempts, this one was not successful.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Clefs/clefs.html
http://myweb.clemson.edu/~campber/chess1.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/clefs.html

Songs :

The Clefs (1)

We Three Ride On

I'll Be Waiting / Please Don't Leave Me

Scotty Mann & The Masters (1)

The Mystery Man Just A Little Bit Of Loving

….

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