The Troys (Brooklyn, New York) aka Dicky Dell & The Bing Bongs
Personnel :
Lou DeMarco (Lead of The Troys)
Michael John Rampino (Baritone)
Richard Owens "Dicky Dell" (Lead of The Bing Bongs)
Discography :
Dicky Dell & The Bing Bongs 1958 - Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong / Cling (The Bing Bongs) (Dragon 10205)
The Troys 1959 - Cling / Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong (Okeh 7120)
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Lou Demarco 1956 - Careless Love / My Lady Fair (Ferris 903) 1957 - Your Kind Of Love / You Tell Me Your Dream (Ferris 909)
The Four Chimes 19?? - It Grows, It Grows, It Grows / Chitarra, Bring Her Back To Me (Primos 1003)
Biography :
In 1958 Lou Demarco, Michael John Rampino and two neighbourhood friends formed a singing group named The Troys. Their name derived from The street corner they first started to sing on in Brooklyn NY. The corner of Troy ave. and Schenectady boulevard. The Troys recorded two songs "Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong" and "Cling". Dragon Records likes "Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong" but would prefer another vocal lead. Dragon Records forced them to take a singer named Richard Owens to record and forced them to change their name as The Bing Bongs and renames Richard Owens "Dicky Dell". The single of Dicky Dell & The Bing Bongs is released at the end of 1959. Manager of the group sold the demos of the two songs originally recorded by The Troys to the Okeh label who released the Single in the summer of 1959. The Lead Singer of the Troys, Lou DeMarco is probably the same artist who recorded two singles in 1956 and 1957 on The Ferris Label and with The Four Chimes on "It Grows, It Grows, It Grows."
In 1963, producer Phil Gary created one of the more interesting vocal group recordings to come out of Columbus when he paired organist Caleb Talbot and the Emporers, a group whose membership seems to have been rather fluid, on "I'm Yours" backed with "See About Me." He called the result Caleb and the Playboys, but by all accounts it was not typical of the type of material Talbot usually did.
The Cherokees (1) (Philadelphia) aka The Cobras (2)
Personnel:
Russel Carter (Lead)
Melvin Story
Karl English (First tenor)
George Pounds (Bass)
Discography :
The Cherokees (1) 1954 - Rainbow Of Love / I Had A Thrill (Grand 106/Lost nite 321) 1954 - Please Tell Me So / Remenber When? (Grand 109/Lost nite 325) 1963 - Brenda / By The Candlelight (Lost nite 379/Grand 111)
The Cobras (2) 1964 - La La (hey baby) / Goodbye Molly (Casino 1309/Swan 4176) 1964 - Thumpin' / Don't Ever Know Your Name (Monogram 519)
Biography :
The Cherokees got together in 1949-1950. They were trained vocalists who were also able to dance, read music,and perform comedy. They did not do the corner singing that most other groups did — their parents would not permit it.They made several chaperoned appearances at local Philadelphia nightspots in 1949 through 1952.In 1954 they won a Philadelphia talent contest over every other amateur group in town. They won with what is now known as "Please Tell Her So." The prize was a recording contract with Grand Records. And record they did! Tenor Thomas Lee joined the Cherokees on Grand 109.
Billy Taylor
Following Story's draft notification and their second release on Grand, the remaining four Cherokees enlisted in the army in 1954. In 1964 Billy Taylor (The Castelles) was recording for Swan Records in Philadelphia. Needing a backup group, he found English, Story, Thomas Lee, and Pete Kevin, a bass. They recorded "La La" for Swan as the Cobras. Mitch Rosalsky (Enyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop vocal Groups)
1960 - Over The Rainbow / Nursery Rhyme Rock (Mohawk 116) 1960 - Don't Take Your Love From Me / Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (Mohawk 120) 1960 - Ave Maria / God's Christmas (Mohawk 121) 1960 - A Tear Fell / Theresa (Mohawk 123) 1961 - Count Your Blessings / Again (Coral 62277) 1961 - As Time Goes By / Seven Days A Week (Coral 62293/65611) 1962 - Young At Heart / Your Cheatin' Heart (Coral 62323) 1963 - My Foolish Heart / Just One More Chance (Coral 62344) 1963 - Fly Me To The Moon / You'll Never Know (Coral 62359) 1963 - Just A Shoulder To Cry On / Don't Worry About Bobby (Coral 62382) 1963 - Don't Cry, Pretty Baby / A Little White Gardenia (Coral 62392) 1964 - This Time Next Year / My Old Girl Friend (Coral 62432) 1966 - Over The Rainbow / Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (Coral 65559) 1966 - As Time Goes By / My Foolish Heart (Coral 65611)
Unreleased : n/a - Sweet Georgia Brown
Lps :
1963 - Again / Your Cheatin' Heart / My Foolish Heart / Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart / Take My Love / Just One More Chance / As Time Goes By / Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep / Over The Rainbow / Seven Days A Week / Young At Heart / Nursery Rhyme Rock (Coral LP 757430)
1987 - 7 Days A Week / Theresa / China Girl (original version, previously unreleased) / God's Christmas / Ava Maria / Searching (previously unreleased) / Nursery Rhyme Rock / Over The Rainbow / I've Been Searching-(Take 6) / Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart / Don't Take Your Love From Me / Teardrops Fell From My Eyes / Take My Love-(Take 11) / Come With Me (previously unreleased, demo version, piano only) (Crystal Ball LP 108)
Eps : Lenny Del's Demensions 1993 - Over The Rainbow / The Boy From New York City / Unchained Melody / My Foolish Heart (Landford EP 1001)
Biography :
The ultra-talented quartet started at Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx as members of the Melody Singers, ... As the group wanted a name that suggested the depth of their talent, Howie came up with the Demensions, but to be unique he spelled it with an e. They started practicing songs like "In the Still of the Night" (THE FIVE SATINS), and Over the Rainbow". Though they strived for a sound of their own, their sophisticated harmonies and structure showed the influence of THE SKYLINERS and THE PLATTERS.
Often rehearsing at Howie or Lenny's house in the Pelham Parkway-Laconia Avenue sections of the Bronx, The new quartet began getting some help from Lou Dell, a professional trumpet player and father of Lenny. Lou helped to rehearse the group, and when he felt they were ready he brought word of them to his friend Irv Spice, owner of Mohawk Records (distributed by Laurie).
They auditioned right in Lenny's house for Irv, singing "Over the Rainbow," and the mesmerized Spice set a date to record in April at Dick Charles Studios. One week before the session Charlie Peterson decided to drop out to more seriously pursue his education. A desperate Lenny asked his parents what to do and they calmly responded, "Call Uncle Phil."
Lenny at first thought his parents were crazy. After all, Uncle Phil was twice his age (though he looked very young) Besides, he wouldn't want to sing rock and roll! He finally called, and to his shock his uncle was flattered and eager to join. Thus the recording Demensions became Lenny (17, lead and second tenor), Marisa ( 18, soprano), Howie (18, baritone/bass), and Uncle Phil Del Giudice (34, first tenor). In May 1960 the unique block-harmony, Garland's 1939 number five hit "Over the Rainbow" came out and immediately started getting airplay in the East. By July 4, 1960, the Demensions had become the first act in 21 years to hit the national charts with it .
After the fourth single, Mohawk made the unusual move of selling the group's contract to Coral Records. On June 9, 1961, the Demensions began recording their first session of three songs with producer/arranger Henry Jerome. Coral envisioned a return to standards, so the first single was a shuffling, "Rainbow"-styled ballad version of the Doris Day 1949 (#2) hit "Again" with Irving Berlin's "Count your blessing Instead of Sheep" on the flip. "Again" the harmonies were impeccable and the off-the-melody arrangement unique to the Demensions' style, but Coral couldn't sell it to the kids.
The same held true for their November 1961 release of the Rudy Vallee 1931 number 15 (and 1943 #1) hit "As Time Goes By" and the July 1962 single of Frank Sinatra's 1954 number two hit "Young at Heart." Coral might have done better promoting the flip, a rock harmony effort that revitalized the Hank Williams country hit "Your Cheatin' Heart" and gave the first indication after seven singles that the Demensions could do something other than a ballad. In January 1963 Henry Jerome finally came up with a standard that could mix the old and new workably.
With a "shoo do and shooby do" background right out of the Five Satins' "In the Still of the Night," a brilliant Lenny Dell lead, Marisa's dominating soprano riding the top, and the best overall harmonies since THE SKYLINERS, "My Foolish Heart" filled East Coast radios and managed to muster enough action to finally chart on March 2nd, reaching number 95. Two more excellent outings followed in May, a remake of Joe Harnell's 1963 hit ( #14) "Fly Me to the Moon," complete with "ra ta tas" from the Elegants "Little Star", and a rockin version of the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren-scribed Sinatra song (#2, 1943) "You'll Never Know.
From this point through 1965 the group recorded mostly originals like "A Little White Gardenia" and their last single, "Ting Aling Ting Toy (China Girl)." Conspicuous was the absence of Marisa's top notes; she had left the group to get married toward the end of 1963. The threesome of Lenny Dell, Phil Del Giudice, and Howie Margolin continued performing mostly at hotels and resorts throughout New York state and in the Catskill Mountains. Jay Warner (American singing groups)
1953 - Volcano / Gomen Nasai (7-11 2102) 1954 - I'll Hide My Tears / Got A Little Shadow (Aladdin 3247)
Biography :
The Flames (David Ford, Bobby Byrd, Leon Hughes, and Curtis Williams) started their Aladdin career in December 1952 by backing up Patty Anne.
Issued on Aladdin's 7-11 subsidiary in March 1953: "Volcano" and "Gomen Nasai" (both led by David Ford). On this record they're billed (for unknown reasons) as the "Jets." In May 1954, Aladdin issued a couple of their older masters (once again as the "Jets"): "I'll Hide My Tears" /"Got A Little Shadow".
 http://www.uncamarvy.com/HollywoodFlames/hollywoodflames.html
Jeff & The Gino's (Thousand Oaks, Ca.) aka The G-Notes aka The Gino Sisters
Personnel :
Jeff
Linda Gino
Nancy Gino
Discography :
1963 - Let me out / One Summer In a Million (Mercury 72138)
Biography :
Linda and Nancy Gino were part of the vocal trio The G-Notes who cut some singles in late 50s with their little sister Colleen. In 1958, the G-Notes was a female band comprised of Linda (12 yrs) , Nancy (10 yrs) and the youngest Colleen (3 yrs).
The G.Notes The G.Notes with Dick Clark
The girls are from California where their father Sam Gino had built a recording studio in Thousand Oaks. In 1963, Linda and Nancy cut a single for Mercury with a young boy as "Jeff & The Gino's".
The two sisters were later members of a singing group called The Youngfolk which was comprised of 7 members (5 male and 2 female) between the age of 18 and 20 years old.
The Youngfolk
They performed in coffee houses in and around Hollywood, CA and appeared on several television variety shows.
Johnny Guitar & The Moontones 1959 - My Baby Dolly / Raindrop (Planet PX-024)
Brian Penglase & The Moontones 1959 - New lovers / Chattanooga shoe shine boy (Planet PX-031) 1960 - He'll have to go / Pauline (Planet PX-038)
Peter McLean & The Moontones 1961 - Starbright / Clementine (Planet PX-039) 1961 - Starbright / Winter wonderland / Unchained melody / Love walked in (EP PZ-026)
Biography :
The Moontones are a Melbourne vocal group active circa 1959-60. Original line- up was Johnny Edwards, Adrian Ussher, Ron Patrick & Tony Lee. Used frequently as backing group on records by other artists.
The Moontones The Thin Men
They backed up Johhny Guitar, Brian Penglase and Peter Mc Lean. They Later became The Thin Men.
Singles : 1955 - Teller of Fortune / Ay Si Si (Dootone 366) 1962 - Down The Road / Sailor Boy (The Dootones 2) (Dooto 471)
Unreleased : 1955 - Please Don't Stop Me (Dootone) (Unreleased)
Biography :
Ron Barrett was an aspiring musician from L.A.'s Fremont High School and knew of the success that many of the students of that school had met under the tutelage of record producer and entrepreneur, Dootsie Williams. Soon with his friend H.B. Barnum, they joined Charles Garner and Marvin Wilkins and formed a vocal quartet.
In early May of 1955, Dootsie announced the signing of this new group which he christened The Dootones after his newly successful record label. In June Dootone #366 was released - "Teller Of Fortune" and "Ay Si Si". Soon because of the breakup of The Medallions, The Dootones took their place behind Vernon Green and became the new version of The Medallions for the rest of the year.
Singles : 1959 - Everlovin' / You Broke My Heart (Leedon LS565) 1959 - Mr. Blue / You Mean Everything Yo Me (Teen TC-008) 1959 - Mr. Blue / How Important Can It Be? (Leedon LS581) 1960 - The Hand Of God / When You Wish Upon A Star (Lee Gordon LS598) 1960 - One More Kiss / Picture Of Love (Lee Gordon LS602) 1961 - Way Of The Cross / Story Of The Cross (Chris Christensen) (Leedon LK12) 1961 - Get A job / Silhouette (Leedon LK101) 1961 - The Stars Will Remember / Love, Llove, Love (Leedon LS6056)
EP :
1960 - Rock Time Down By The Riverside / Why Do Fools Fall In Love / Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home) / Dreaming (Leedon LEP314)
1960 - Hit It For Six Everlovin' / You Broke My Heart / Mr. Blue / How Important Can It Be? (Leedon EP316)
Biography :
The Crescents were a vocal harmony group which formed in Sydney, Australia in late 1958 under the name The 4 Tops (not associated with American quartet, the Four Tops). The Crescents were best known for their Top 10 hit "Mr. Blue" and for their tours with Lee Gordon's "Big Shows" supporting Johnnie Ray, Fabian, and Ricky Nelson.
Dennis O'Keefe, Kel Palace, Mike Downes, and Col Loughnan formed The 4 Tops, however a few months later O'Keefe left, and the remaining trio changed their name to The Crescents. Johnny O'Keefe became their manager, and promoted his young vocalists with live performances, appearances on his television program, "Six O'Clock Rock", in print media, and by signing them to Leedon Records. O'Keefe used his connection with Gordon to secure inclusion in the Big Shows. This move paid dividends when the audiences showed strong appreciation, in particular teenage girls.
The Crescents released seven singles, and two EPs, with "Mr. Blue" reaching the Top 10 in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, their only hit record. In 1962, Downes left the group, followed later the same year by Loughnan, who joined the Delltones. Shortly thereafter, the group disbanded.
(paste-up picture) Left to right :Davis, Miller, Jones, Collins
The Peppers (3) (Los Angeles) aka The Flares
Personnel :
Willie Davis（Tenor）
Aaron Collins（Tenor）
Thomas Miller (Baritone)
Randy Jones（Bass）
Discography :
Singles : 1961 - One More Chance / A Place In My Heart (Ensign 1706) 1963 - It Wouldn't Be The Same / Little Pieces Of Paper (Press 2809)
Unreleased : 1961 - All I Ask Of You (Ensign)
Biography :
After their last single on Modern Records, Willie Davis and Aaron Collins formed a new Cadets after Dub Jones left to become the bass of Coasters in 1958, at that time at the peak of their success. The new Cadets were Thomas Miller, baritone, and George Hollis, bass, both of the Flairs (ABC). After two singles in 1960 the Cadets (actually half Cadets, half Flairs) were ready to call it a career, but in name only; with Randolph Jones subbing for Hollis on bass, the quartet became the Peppers in 1961 singing "One More Chance" on Ensign. In 1961, with Hollis back on bass, the group became the Flares.
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