Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Five Quails aka The Quails (2)

Posted on June 29 2012 by dion1

The Five Quails (Cleveland, OH)
aka The Quails (2)

Personnel :

Woody Woodall

Art Kirkpatrick

Billy Strawbridge

James Williams

Billy Fulgrum

Discography :

The Five Quails
1957 - Hop Scotch Rock / Jungle Baby (Mercury 71154)
1962 - Been A Long Time / Get To School On Time (Harvey 114)

The Quails (2)
1962 - My Love / Never Felt Like This Before (Harvey 116)
1962 - I Thought / Over The Hump (Harvey 120)

Biography :

The Five Quails debuted on Mercury Records in 1957 and cut three singles on Harvey Records in the early '60s. Originally, the Five Stars formed at Kennard Junior High in the mid-'50s with William Fulgham (lead), Harold Sudberry (second lead), Donald Brown, James Williams, and Clarence Williams (no relation). Like most groups, the members changed for a myriad reasons; the changes continued when they graduated to East Technical High and became the Five Quails. With a lineup of Billy Strawbridge, Billy Fulgrum, Art Kirkpatrick, Donald Brown, and James Williams, they cut "Jungle Baby" b/w "Hop Scotch Rock" on Mercury in 1957.

The Five Stars

The novelty didn't chart, but they found work backing singer Chuck Willis, touring with him briefly before he passed in April of 1958. Harvey Fuqua befriended the Quails in the basement of the Apollo Theater in New York when they were touring with Willis. Discovering they were from Cleveland (his old stomping grounds), he promised to help them one day.

Harvey Fuqua Kirkpatrick & Woodall

After the Willis experience they toured Canada for a year. In 1961, Harvey Fuqua left Chicago for Detroit and hooked up with Gwen Gordy. The two started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records and Fuqua fulfilled his promise to help the Quails. Their first song was a two-sided classic that sold regionally: "Got to Get to School on Time" and the exquisite ballad "Been Such a Long Time." Junior Walker & the All Stars backed them on the Harvey sessions. In 1962, they cut two more singles on Harvey records changing their name to the Quails.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/five-quails-mn0001282679

Songs :

The Quails (2)

Never Felt Like This Before My Love

I Thought / Over The Hump

The Five Quails

Hop Scotch Rock Jungle Baby

Been A Long Time Get To School On Time

...

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The Phaetons (2) aka The Haciendas

Posted on June 27 2012 by dion1

The Phaetons (2) (Hollywood, CA)
aka The Haciendas
Ref The Pledges (2)

Personnel :

Robert Mahoney (Lead)

Larry Buttes

Bob Buttes

Jack Igo

Discography :

The Pledges (2)
1959 - I'm Sorry / Won't You Give Your Love To Me (Hamilton 50028)

The Phaetons (2)
1963 - Road Of Blues / I'm So Lonely (Sahara 102)
1964 - The Beatle Walk / Frantic (The Premiers) (Sahara 103)

The Haciendas
1964 - Sherry Stole My Xke / Marriane (Pacific Challenger 1001)

Biography :

From Hollywood, Ca., in 1959 Bob Mahoney formed his first group "The Pledges" with his wife Dottie, his sister Zella Yurak and a friend of these, Sally Terese. They recorded "I'm Sorry" and " Won't You Give Your Love To Me" both written by Bob Mahoney and released by Pacific Challenger. Thei record sold over 100,000 copies.

The Phaetons (2) aka The Haciendas
Larry Buttes

In 1963, Bob Mahoney formed The Phaetons included Jack Igo and two brothers : Larry and Bob Buttes. They recorded for Sahara record, (out of Arcadia, California) "Road Of Blues" "I'm So Lonely" and "The Beatle Walk "."The Beatle Walk" was written and recorded in response to The Beatles first hitting the American music charts. In 1964, the Phaetons cut a new single on Pacific Challenger with "Sherry Stole My Xke" and "Marriane" under the name of the Haciendas.

Songs :

The Pledges (2)

I'm Sorry Won't You Give Your Love To Me

The Phaetons (2)

Road Of Blues The Beatle Walk

I'm So Lonely

The Haciendas

Sherry Stole My XKE

...

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The Jelly Beans

Posted on June 26 2012 by dion1

The Jelly Beans (Jersey City, NJ)

Personnel :

Charles Thomas

Alma Brewer

Diane Taylor

Elyse Herbert

Maxine Herbert

Discography :

Singles :

1964 - I Wanna Love Him so bad / So Long (Red Bird 10 003) 
1964 - The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget / Baby Be Mine (Red Bird 10 011)
1965 - I'm Hip To You / You Don't Mean No Good To Me (Eskee 001)

Unreleased :

1964 - Chapel Of Love (Red Bird)
1964 - Here She Comes (Red Bird) 
1964 - Ain't Love A Funny Thing (Red Bird)  
1964 - Whisper Sweet Things (Red Bird)  
1964 - Goodnight Baby (Red Bird)
1964 - Do Wah Diddy (Red Bird)

Biography :

The Jelly Beans were a mixed voice quintet (later a quartet) comprised of one man (Charles Thomas) and four women (Alma Brewer, Diane Taylor, Elyse Herbert, Maxine Herbert) who got together while attending high school in Jersey City, NJ. That was where their manager discovered them in 1963, and he brought them to the attention of songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, who were starting up a record label, Red Bird, in association with End/Gone Records founder George Goldner.

The group was put into the hands of songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, then near the peak of their output together, who gave them "I Wanna Love Him So Bad." The third single issued by Red Bird, it reached number ten on the Billboard charts. The Jelly Beans' second single, "Baby Be Mine," didn't reach the Top 50, however, and although The Jelly Beans left behind enough songs for an album.

Despite the hit songs, Red Bird dropped the group in early 1965 and no Jelly Beans album was ever released until the1990s. By 1964, Red Bird had bigger acts to worry about, including The Shangri-Las and The Dixie Cups, and the group was gone from the label by the end of that year.

The group, now pared down to a trio consisting of Elyse, Maxine, and Alma, released one more single for Eskee, the brooding "You Don’t Mean Me No Good" but it didn't garner much play despite it’s harder hitting sound. The Jelly Beans had broken up by 1965.

Songs :

The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget    I Wanna Love Him so bad You Don't Mean Me No Good


So Long                                           Baby Be Mine              I'm Hip To You

Do Wah Diddy                 Ain't Love A Funny Thing       Chapel Of Love

Goodnight Baby Here She Comes Whisper Sweet Things

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The Casuals (1) aka The Casualteens

Posted on June 24 2012 by dion1

The Casuals (1) (Nashville, T.N.)
aka The Casualteens

Personnel :

Buzz Cason (Vocalist)

Richard Williams (Vocalist / Pianist )

Chester Powers (Accordionist / Pianist)

Bill Smith (Drummer)

Johnny McCreery (Guitarist)

Joe Watkins (Saxophonist)

Discography :

The Casuals (1)
1957 - My Love Song For You / Help Me (Nu-Sound 801/Dot Records 15557)
1957 - Till You Come Back me / Hello Love (Dot Records 15671)
1957 - Pardners / We Go Together (Black Hawk 500)

The Casualteens
1958 - Need You So / She's Swinging (Felsted 8529)

Biography :

Buzz Cason sang in the youth choir at his local church, learning harmonies from his mother, Rosa, an alto. He indeed enjoyed performing on camera and met the musicians at the television station, soon forming a group they called, "The Casuals", generally recognized as Nashville's first rock-n-roll band.

Buzz Cason & Richard Williams

Ball produced the band. Their first album, which contained Cason's first song, "My Love Song For You", co-written with Richard Williams, vocalist and keyboardist with the Casuals. The record came out first on Nu-Sound, Ball's label and was later picked up by Dot where the song made the local top ten. By 1957, The Casuals had become a touring act, replacing The Everly Brothers on a tour of 60 fair dates.

Later, legendary manager, Dub Albritton heard the group and The Casuals became Brenda Lee's backing band. The Casuals backed her up and became her back up for many years after that. In 1960, Band members included: Snuffy Smith, Billy Smith, Buzz Cason, Richard Williams, Wayne Moss, Joe Watkins.

Richard Williams & Buzz Cason

By 1958, The Casuals had become the CasualTeens for one single and recorded for Felsted "Need You So" and "She's Swingin".

In 1960 Buzz Cason with Richard Williams and Hugh Jarrett of The Jordanaires recorded as The Statues for Liberty. In 1960, Cason started a solo career under the pseudonym Garry Miles, and had a number 16 hit in 1960 with "Look For A Star".
http://nashlinks.com/shadows.htm

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Casuals (1)

My Love Song For You Till You Come Back

Help Me Hello Love

We Go Together / Pardners

The Casualteens

Need You So She's Swinging

.....

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The Hi-Lites (4)

Posted on June 23 2012 by dion1

The Hi-Lites (4) (Danbury, Conn.)

Personnel :

William Tucker (Lead)

Eugene Hodge (First Tenor)

James E Hodge (Second Tenor)

Allen Gant (Baritone)

Sheldon Highsmith (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1961 - Walkin' My Baby Back Home / I'm Falling In Love (Record Fair 500)
1962 - For Your Precious Love / For Sentimental Reasons (Record Fair 501)

Lps:
1962 - For Your Precious Love (Dandee LP 206)
For Your Precious Love / Walkin' My Baby Back Home / Zoom Zoom / To The Aisle / Gloria / Moonlight / (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / Pretty Face / Maybe You'll Be There / I'm Falling In Love / Everybody's Somebody's Fool / Zoop

Biography :

Hailing from Danbury, Conn. they've been performing since 1957 at local record hops and charity affairs, in addition to a few stints on Connecticut Bandstand. Continuously, The Hi-Lites have succeeded to recapture the sincerity of the "Oldies". Their first recording of "I'm falling in love" started the ball rolling for these boys.

They went on to cut a long playing disc, featuring in addition to the recording mentioned, "For Sentimental Reasons", "Everybody's somebody's fool", "Maybe You'll Be There", "Gloria", "Zoom Zoom", and other standards. It's been said that they sing variations of Rock'n roll, but they can sing any type of song, often with a rock'n roll beat. Rhythm accompaniment for the hi-Lites usually consists of a piano, drums and a bass guitar.

The Hi-lites made their first professional debut in George Tucker's "Oldies But Goodies Show" in New Haven. Attented by well over 10,000 swinging' teens, the Hi-Lites opened the show with "I'm falling in love", followed by their latest smash single of "For your precious love".They were backed by well-know Sam (The Man) Taylor. Also appearing on the same program were the Isley Bros. "Shout" fame.

Songs :


Walking My Baby Back Home                 I'm Falling In Love


To The Aisle                                    For Your Precious Love


Gloria (My Darling)                             Pretty Face


For Sentimental Reasons                        Zoop

Zoom Zoom Zoom Moonlight

Everybody's Somebody's Fool Maybe You'll Be There

...

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The Meridians (2)

Posted on June 21 2012 by dion1

The Meridians (2) (Brooklyn, NY.)

Personnel :

George Valhe

Discography :

1965 - Blame My Heart / He Can't Dance (Parnaso 120)

Biography :

Like the first Meridian's group who recorded for Parnaso Records, this second group from Brooklyn have also a single for Parnaso.

Songs :

Blame My Heart He Can't Dance

...

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The Cameos (5)

Posted on June 19 2012 by dion1

The Cameos (5) (East Orange, NJ)

Personnel :

Patsy Coleman (Lead)

Patrick Coleman (First Tenor)

William Coleman (Second Tenor)

Walter Jones (Baritone)

John "Buster" Sayles (Bass)

Discography :

1960 - Wait up / Lost Lovers (Dean 504/Johnson 108)

Biography :

Here's a rare one by East Orange's Cameos. Patsy Coleman is singing lead, while the two brothers are in the background.The Coleman brothers ended up becoming members of another East Orange group, the legendary Ocapellos (The Stars).

Left to right : A Fan, Billy, Patrick, Buster, Walter & Patsy

The Dean label was a tiny company and only put out two records. "Wait up" was first on Pete Forlini's Dean Label from Nutley, NJ in April 1960. It was re-issued on Johnson later in the same year.

Songs :

Wait Up Lost Lovers

...

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The Delrons (2)

Posted on June 17 2012 by dion1

The Delrons (2) (Queens, New York)

Personnel :

Eddie Savin

Roy Weinstein

Jerry Luben

Artie Shaw

Discography :

1961 - This love of ours / Over the Raimbow (Forum 700)

Biography :

Group from the Queens consisted of Eddie Savin, Roy Weinstein, Jerry Luben and Artie Shaw.

They Cut only one single for Forum records and disbanded. 

Songs :

This love of ours Over the Raimbow

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The Kings (2) aka The Ravens

Posted on June 15 2012 by dion1

The Kings (2) (New York)
aka The Ravens

Personnel :

Joe Van Loan (Tenor)

Paul Van Loan (Tenor)

James Van Loan (Baritone/Second Tenor)

Dave Bowers (Bass)

Bill Chambers (Pianist/Arranger)

Discography :

1957 - Long Lonely Nights / Let Me Know (Baton 245)

Biography :

In 1957 Willie Ray, Willis Sanders, and Bill Sanford all left the Ravens. Joe Van Loan brought in his two brothers, Paul Van Loan (tenor) and James Van Loan (former baritone/second tenor of the Dominoes for three years). To round out the group, there was a new pianist/arranger: Bill Chambers.

Paul Van Loan, Joe Van Loan, Bill Chambers, James Van Loan, Dave Bowers

In June 1957, the new Ravens recorded "Long Lonely Nights," "Let Me Know," "Dear One," and "That'll Be The Day" . Chess leased "Long Lonely Nights"/"Let Me Know" out to Baton Records. Baton issued these as by the "Kings."
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Ravens/ravens03.html

Songs :

Long Lonely Nights Let Me Know

....

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Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1) aka The Cyclones (1) aka The Pharaos

Posted on June 12 2012 by dion1

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1) (Los Angeles)
aka The Cyclones (1) aka The Pharaos

Personnel :

Richard Berry (Lead)

Godoy Colbert (First Tenor)

Robert Harris (Second Tenor)

Noel Collins (Baritone)

Discography :

Ricky & The Pharaohs (1)
1956 - Teenager's Love Song / Watusi (Class 202)

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1)
1956 - Louie Louie / You Are My Sunshine (Flip 321)
1956 - Take the Key/ No Kissin' and A-Huggin' (Flip 318)
1957 - Louie Louie / Rock Rock Rock (Flip 321)
1957 - You're the Girl / You Look So Good (Flip 331)
1958 - Besame Mucho / Do I, Do I (Flip 339)
1959 - Have Love- Will Travel / No Room (Flip 349)
1960 - I'll Never Ever Love Again / Somewhere There's A Rainbow (Flip 352)
1961 - You Look So Good / You Are My Sunshine (Flip 360)

Trudy Williams bb The Pharaohs (1)
1958 - You’re My Boyfriend / A Foolish Little Girl (Flip 340)

The Cyclones (1)
1957 - My Dear / Do You Love Me (Flip 324)

The Pharaos
1960 - Heads Up, High Hopes Over You / The Tender Touch (Donna 1327)

Biography :

The Pharaohs were formed out of the Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, in 1954 by Godoy Colbert and two friends, Robert Harris, and Noel Collins. Richard Berry parted ways with Modern Records after frustations over songwriter royalties. Waiting for his Modern contract to expire, he signed with Max Feirtag's fledgling Flip label, but still seemed hesitant about a solo career. He used the Pharaohs for his new recordings on Flip, trying out a new, Latin influenced sound. Stacked away on the flip of the first Flip single by Richard Berry and the Pharaohs ("You Are My Sunshine", Flip 321) was a little ditty called "Louie Louie", a calypso-styled song that Berry had based on "El Loca Cha Cha" by Rene Touzet.

Richard Berry

It would be an exaggeration to say that "Louie Louie" went unnoticed at the time of its release in March 1957. It sold well enough to be reissued as the A-side, with "Rock Rock Rock" on the reverse, later in 1957. But his future wife Dorothy wanted an expensive wedding ring and Berry decided to sell the rights to "Louie Louie" and three other songs to Max Feirtag for $ 750. In 1958 Trudy Williams (of The Six Teens) recorded “A Foolish Little Girl” and “You're My Boyfriend”, backed The Pharaohs.

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1) aka The Cyclones (1) aka The Pharaos

Berry's recording career petered out in the late '50s, though he remained an active performer. In the early '60s, several Northwest bands seized upon "Louie Louie" as cover material, scoring sizable regional hits. But as was quite common at the time, they also assumed another name for a record on the same label. They chose the name the Cyclones for this release and the true identity of the group is one of the reasons why their coupling of My Dear / Do You Love Me is highly sought after.

Richard Berry

Finally, in 1963 the Kingsmen broke the song nationally, reaching # 2. In the decades since then, "Louie Louie" became one of the most oft-covered rock standards of all time; there probably exist well over 1,000 versions. After the departure of Berry from the group, Colbert and the Pharaohs cut one singles for the Donna (DelFi Subsidiary) Record Label under the name of The Pharaos (h?) , and more performing. It was soon after this that Colbert and the Pharaohs themselves decided to call it quits and disband.

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

Ricky & The Pharaohs (1)


Teenager's Love Song                          Watusi

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1)


Louie Louie                 Have Love Will Travel               You Look So Good


Take the Key                   Rock Rock Rock        Somewhere There's A Rainbow


You Are My Sunshine               You're the Girl       No Kissin’ And A Huggin’


I’ll Never Ever Love Again         Besame Mucho              Do I, Do I, Do I


No Room                     I'll Never Ever Love Again

Trudy Williams bb The Pharaohs (1)

A Foolish Little Girl You’re My Boyfriend

The Cyclones (1)

My Dear Do You Love Me

The Pharaos

The Tender Touch Heads Up, High Hopes Over You

....

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