Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Baysiders

Posted on May 12 2012 by dion1

The Baysiders (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Jackie Walker (Tenor)

Sally Stevens (Soprano)

Jim Mitchell (Bass)

Jim Patton (Baritone)

Discography :

The Baysiders
1960 - Over The Rainbow / My Bonnie (Everest 19366)
1960 - Trees / Look for the silver lining (Everest 19386)
1961 - The Bells of St. Mary's / Comin' Thru The Rye (Everest 10393)

Jackie Walker & The Baysiders
1962 - I'm Always Chasing Rainbows / Dearly Beloved (Everest 20010)

Jackie Walker
1957 - On The Way Home / Love Sublime (Dot 15552)
1957 - Peggy Sue / Wonderful One (Imperial 5473)
1958 - Only Teenagaers Allowed / Push Pin (Imperial 5490)
1958 - Eternally,Wanting You/ Good,Good Feelin' (Imperial 5521)
1962 - Heart Breakin' News / Take A Dream (Everest 20004)
1963 - Ready Or Not / Come Along With Me (Everest 2026)

LPs :
1961 - The Baysiders "Over The Rainbow" (LP Everest 1124)
Over The Rainbow / Trees / You Were Mean't For Me / Look for the silver lining All I Do Is Dream Of You / My Blue Heaven / I'm Always Chasing Rainbows / The Bells of St. Mary's / Comin' Thru The Rye / Dearly Beloved / Love Somebody / My Bonnie

Biography :

Jackie Walker discovered his musical talent at an early age. At four he was often put on the dining room table to sing to gathered guests. At six he wrote his first song, words and music. By eight he was part of a 15-minute radio show, The Army Hour. He had his first record on Imperial when he was 14 and at 17 had a regional hit on Dot Records, Love Sublime. He entered UCLA at 17 to study music and at 20 had another regional hit with Oh, Lonesome Me, a cover of Don Gibson's recording which he performed on American Bandstand.

The Baysiders
Jackie Walker

Jim Mitchell, Sally Stevens and Jackie Walker were students together at UCLA. With Jim patton they formed a Quartet, The Baysiders. Jackie Walker had been experimenting with arrangements using one female versatile voice and three males. Jim had recorded some sides for Everest Records and was approached about doing the quartet.

Jackie Walker Jim Patton
Sally Stevens Jim Mitchell

The Baysiders recorded some singles and an album for Everest Records entitled Over the Rainbow which included the title song that became another regional hit. After the initial success, things stale-mated and Sally took a job with Ray Coniff Singers. She went on to become one of the best studio singers in Hollywood and has a huge amount of credits.

The Baysiders
Jackie Walker

Jackie Walker was busy with his solo career and as a songwriter/composer. Jim Patton became one of the lead disk-jockeys at KLOS in Los Angeles and died of an over-dose several years ago. We had a lot of fun but it was short lived.
Jack Walker

Songs :


Over The Rainbow                   Love Somebody                    My Bonnie


I'm Always Chasing Rainbows            Trees                    My Blue Heaven


Look For The Silver Lining      Comin' Thru The Rye      All I Do Is Dream Of You


You Were Meant For Me           The Bells of St. Mary's

...

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The Madison Brothers aka The Royal Demons aka The Thrillers (2) aka The Creators (3) aka The Friends (5)

Posted on May 11 2012 by dion1

The Madison Brothers (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
aka The Royal Demons aka The Thrillers (2) aka The Creators (3) aka The Friends (5)

Personnel :

Farris Hill (Lead)

Richard Frazier (Tenor)

Donald Burnett (Baritone)

Harry Pachall (Bass)

Discography :

The Madison Brothers
1959 - Give Me Your Heart / Baby Don't (Sure 1002)
1960 - Trusting In You / What's The Matter Baby (Cedargrove 314/APT 25050)

Farris Hill & The Madison Brothers
1962 - Did We Go Steady Too Soon / The Twirl (V-Tone 231)

Biography :

While "Peanuts" was climbing the charts, Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers parted company, supposedly over money issues. Joe continued as a solo, billing himself on his next record as "Little Joe, the Thriller".

Little Joe Cook

The Thrillers : Farris Hill, Harry Pachall, Richard Frazier and Donald Burnett regrouped, changing their name to the Royal Demons.

After two singles and because They all resembled one another, they became the Madison Brothers…

Songs :


Give Me Your Heart                 Trusting In You             What's The Matter Baby


Baby Don't                        What's The Matter Baby


Did We Go Steady Too Soon    The Twirl

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The Madison Brothers aka The Royal Demons aka The Thrillers (2) aka The Creators (3) aka The Friends (5)

Posted on May 11 2012 by dion1

The Madison Brothers (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
aka The Royal Demons aka The Thrillers (2) aka The Creators (3) aka The Friends (5)

Personnel :

Farris Hill (Lead)

Richard Frazier (Tenor)

Donald Burnett (Baritone)

Harry Pachall (Bass)

Discography :

The Madison Brothers
1959 - Give Me Your Heart / Baby Don't (Sure 1002)
1960 - Trusting In You / What's The Matter Baby (Cedargrove 314/APT 25050)

Farris Hill & The Madison Brothers
1962 - Did We Go Steady Too Soon / The Twirl (V-Tone 231)

Biography :

While "Peanuts" was climbing the charts, Little Joe Cook and the Thrillers parted company, supposedly over money issues. Joe continued as a solo, billing himself on his next record as "Little Joe, the Thriller".

Little Joe Cook

The Thrillers : Farris Hill, Harry Pachall, Richard Frazier and Donald Burnett regrouped, changing their name to the Royal Demons.

After two singles and because They all resembled one another, they became the Madison Brothers…

Songs :


Give Me Your Heart                 Trusting In You             What's The Matter Baby


Baby Don't                        What's The Matter Baby


Did We Go Steady Too Soon    The Twirl

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The Dappers (3)

Posted on May 7 2012 by dion1

The Dappers (3) (Ferndale, Mi)

Personnel :

Ken Fraser

Austin Kollman

Earl Swanson

Bill Sheerhan

Discography :

1958 - We're In Love / Spellbound (Star X 505)

Biography :

The Dappers were classmates at Lincoln H.S. in Ferndale, Michigan. Their career begin with shows at local American Legion and VFW halls; teen club dances, including those at the Ferndale Community Center; a benefit at Ferndale's Radio City Theather with WXYZ's Ed Mckenzie; even a performance on the roof of the Oak Driver-ln Theater concession stand (in Royal Oaks) .

Seventeen fan clubs emerged. And soon the Dappers were appearing at major metro area venues such as the Gav Haven. Edgewater Inn. Elmwood casino (Windsor), Club 509, and Walled Lake Casino - often on the same bill as star of the day : The Shirelles, the Chantells, the Spaniels… Career milestones included selling over 700,000 records in the Chicago area alone; appearing on Dick's Clark's ABC-TV show, American Bandstand; performing at Clark's "Dance Party" shows in major cities in eastern states; and guesting on soupy sales and Johnny Ginger television shows in detroit. Their Most successful record: "We're in love", which they wrote.

The Daydreamers with Ken Fraser aka The Dappers ????

The Group sang together for four Years, 1956-60, some 700 shows in all. Then each member, facing the draft, entered the military and the Dappers Disbanded.

Songs :

We're In Love Spellbound

...

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The Tramps (1) aka Bill Harris & The Continentals (3)

Posted on May 6 2012 by dion1

The Tramps (1) aka Bill Harris & The Continentals (3)

The Tramps (1) (Los Angeles, CA)
aka Bill Harris & The Continentals (3)

Personnel :

Beamon Young (Lead)

Willie King

Norma King

Bill Harris (Baritone)

Discography :

The Tramps (1)
1959 - You're A Square / Ride On (Arvee 548)
1959 - Midnight Flyer / Your Love (Arvee 570)
1959 - I'm So Glad / I Love You So (Arvee 1)

Beamon Young
1959 - The Love I Just Lost / Some Day (Arvee 573)

Bill Harris & The Continentals (3)
1960 - Danny Boy/ I’m So Glad (Eagle 1002)

Biography :

Born in Los Angeles, Fred Sledge Smith often credited as Fred Smith, was an American R&B songwriter and record producer, who worked in particular with The Olympics, Bob & Earl, Bill Cosby, and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. He started his career as a songwriter in the 1950s with his friend Cliff Goldsmith. They wrote the novelty song "Western Movies", which was recorded by vocal group The Olympics.

The Tramps (1) aka Bill Harris & The Continentals (3)

In 1959, Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith Produced The Tramps. The Tramps were Los Angeles based and were Beamon Young (Lead), Willie King, his sister Norma and Bill Harris (Baritone). Members of The Tramps were in the Air Force when they recorded for Arvee. They changed their name to Bill Harris & The Continentals when they finished their tour of duty in the Air Force. Smith and Goldsmith continued to co-write novelty and dance songs together until the early 1960s.

Songs :

The Tramps (1)


You're A Square                                       Ride On


Midnight Flyer                                     Your Love

I'm So Glad

Beamon Young


The Love I Just Lost                                 Some Day

Bill Harris & The Continentals (3)

I’m So Glad / Danny Boy

...

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The Kents (1)

Posted on May 4 2012 by dion1

The Kents (1) (New York)

Personnel :

Dennis Duffy (First Tenor)

Joe Rinando (Lead & Bass)

Little Frankie LaRussa (Lead & High Tenor)

Tony LaMonica (Second Tenor & Lead)

Woody Reynolds (with Guitar & Baritone)

Discography :

Singles :
1958 - I found my girl / Whith all my heart and soul (Argo 5299)
1958 - I love you so / Happy Beat (Dome 501)

Unreleased :
1957 - Nita Juanita
1957 - Sandy
1958 - Little Brother
1958 - I Wish

Biography :

By Joe‬ Rinando.
‪We started in Sept. 1957‬ "‪Nita Juanita‬"‪ & ‬"‪Sandy‬"‪ was our first record that we cut with All Brown's Band in Dec. 1957‬ . Recorded in December 1957 with Al Brown's Band. "‪Nita Juanita‬" was written by Johnny Maestro (Mastrangelo). Originally released as "My Juanita" in 1956 by The Crests on the Joyce Label (Al Brown's Label). This version, arranged by Joe RInando, was a more up-beat version of Johnny's song

‪All the other‬ ‪ were cut on Good Friday 1958 at Belltone Studios in Manhattan with Sammy Lowe's Band‬. He and I worked on all the arrangements and he did each instruments music‬. Dennis Duffy & Tony Baxter left the group in late 1958, then Bobby DeRita took both of their places and he could harmonize better then both of them‬. As far as who we sang with, when & where, it was the Tri-State Area‬.

Joe Rinando

Payola killed us as the DJ Tommy Smalls, Known as Dr. Jive in NYC was a silent partner at Dome Records and he was one of the first indicted for taking payoffs from other record labels and groups to play their songs on his radio show‬. (Thanks to Gilda Tabarez)

Songs :


Happy Beat With All My Heart and Soul


I love you so                                I found my girl


Nita Juanita                                       Little Brother


I Wish   Sandy

...

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

Posted on May 3 2012 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 Delorients

Posted on May 1 2012 by dion1

The Delorients

The Delorients (Brooklyn, NY)

Personnel :

Fred Brown (Baritone / Lead)

Joe Palminteri (Second Tenor)

Carmine Romeo (First Tenor)

Eddie Almodovar (Lead / Baritone)

Discography :

1963 - Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Unreleased)
1963 - Never In This World (Unreleased)
1963 - Kingston Town (Unreleased)
1963 - When I Fall In Love (Unreleased)

Biography :

We were only together for about 2 years. Columbia records heard our demo of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and wanted us to record it.

Columbia Records 30th Street Studio; 207 East 30th Street

There were delays in picking a B side and then the Beatles came out and we were no longer in demand. Carmine was from Queens NY and Joe,Fred and Eddie were for Brooklyn NY.

From left to right, Fred, Joe, Carmine and Eddie

The Delorients were good friends with The Encounters. In fact, Eddie was the lead singer on their recording of "Don't Stop" when one of their members left the group and while he was still a Delorient.
Joe Palminteri .

Songs :

Somewhere Over The Rainbow Never In This World

Kingston Town When I Fall In Love

...

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