Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

Donnie & The Del Chords (2)

Posted on August 18 2012 by dion1

Donnie & The Del Chords (2)

Donnie & The Del Chords (2) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Donnie Bartolomeo (Lead)

Al Barbarino

Santo Barbarino

Discography:

Singles :
1961 - When You're Alone / So Lonely (Taurus 352/Epic 9495)
1963 - I Don't Care / I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time (Taurus 357)
1963 - That Old Feeling / Translvania Mist (Taurus 361)
1963 - I Found Heaven / Be With You (Taurus 363)
1963 - I'm In The Mood For Love / I've Got A Woman (Taurus 364)

Lps :
1963 - "Don't Buy This record" (Taurus LP 1000)
Guardian angel / Please say you want me / Out of sight, Out of mind / Tell Me Why / At The Hop / That's My Desire / Oh What a night / I'm In The Mood For Love / I've Got A Woman / My Heart has a mind of it's own / Only You / That'll be the Day

Unreleased :
1965 - Apple Blossom Time / I Gotta Woman / I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time / I've Got A Woman / If Mary's There / My Heart Has A Mind Of It's Own / Pink Cadillac / Take You, Make You Mine / This Is The Last Time / You Were Mine

Biography :

Donnie Barto (Bartolemeo) lived on Humbolt St., between Nassau and Driggs Avenues in Brooklyn (New York). In 1961, Donnie and his cousins Al and Santo Barbarino formed "Donnie and the Del Chords" and released their first record, "When You're Alone" / "So Lonely" on Taurus Record.

In its first week, this song won WABC's Bruce ("Cousin Brucee") Morrow's contest for best new artist release. The single was released by Epic Records for national distribution. The song went on to obtain a respectable position on the charts. Donnie & The Del Chords release five singles and one album in 1963 "1963 - "Don't Buy This record" on Taurus LP 1000.

Donnie & The Del Chords (2)

Donnie and the Del Chords started to record a second album in 1965. Unfortunately, the group broke up and they never finished the LP. It was finally completed recently to add to a new CD.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

I found heaven                   Be With You                         I Don't Care

When You're Alone              Guardian angel                      So Lonely

   Translvania Mist          I'm In The Mood For Love      Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind


                 That's My Desire             Tell Me Why       I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time / I Don't Care


I've Got A Woman           Please Say You Want Me              That Old Feeling


At The Hop         Oh What A Night        My Heart Has A ...


Only You                         That'll Be The Day                      Pink Cadillac

This Is The Last Time

...

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Little Joe & The Morrocos

Posted on August 16 2012 by dion1

Little Joe & The Morrocos (Detroit)

Personnel

Joseph Harris "Little Joe" (Lead)

Jimmy Binion

Billy Brye

Gene McClain

Paul Wooten

Discography :

1958 - Bubble Gum / Trouble In The Candy Shop (Bumble Bee 500)

Biography :

Robert West established the Bumble Bee Label in 1959, and his tracks by the Tornados, Little Joe & The Morrocos, and Five Masters were all released under that logo.

The Writers of "Bubble Gum" are Fred Pride and George Woods, while Lavern Brown wrote " Trouble In The Candy Shop"

Songs :

Trouble In The Candy Shop Bubble Gum

...

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The Chromatics

Posted on August 13 2012 by dion1

The Chromatics (Hollywood, Ca.)

Personnel :

Ben Hughes

Discography :

The Chromatics
1955 - Don't Know Why I Cry / Tell A Lie (Million 2014)
1955 - Believe Me / Who's fooling who (Blend 1005)
1956 - Wild Man Wild / Devil Blues (Crest 1011)

Bob Williams & The Chromatics
1955 - I'll Never Change / Rockin Beat (Blend 1006)

Jules Savoy & The Chromatics
1956 - Would You / Tutti Frutti (Real 1320)
1956 - Lonesome Heart / Give Me The Will (Real 1321)
1956 - Clap Clap / Goofy Love (Real 1323)

Sherry Washington & The Chromatics
1955 - La De Do De Do / Here In The Darkness (Million 2010)
1955 - Wabble Loo / Honey Bug (Million 2016)

Lee Wynn & The Chromatics
1955 - I Couldn’t Take It / Changing Life (Million 2013)

Biography :

The Chromatics - "I'll Never Change" and "Rockin Beat" are recorded by The Chromatics with Bob Williams on lead for Blend Records # 1006, a label located in Long Beach, California. In July the group is on a new label with "Don't Know Why I Cry" and "Tell A Lie" on Million # 2014.

The Chromatics

In October their former label Blend Records releases an older side "Who's Fooling Who" and "Believe Me" on #1005. In March of 1956 The Chromatics show up on Crest records with "Devil Blues" and "Wild man Wild" on # 1011.
http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/unknowns.html

Songs :

The Chromatics

Wild Man Wild Who's fooling who Believe Me

Tell A Lie

Jules Savoy & Chromatics


Would You                             Lonesome Heart             Tutti Frutti Man


Give Me The Will                               Goofy Love

Sherry Washington & The Chromatics

Honey Bug Wabble Loo Here In The Darkness

Bob Williams & The Chromatics

Rockin' Beat I'll Never Change

.....

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The Imaginations (2) aka The Expressions (3)

Posted on August 9 2012 by dion1

The Imaginations (2) (Long Island, New York)
aka The Expressions (3)

Personnel :

Frank Mancuso (Lead)

Bobby Bloom (First Tenor)

Philip Agtuca (Second Tenor)

Pete Agtuca (Baritone)

Richie LeCausi (Bass)

Discography :

The Imaginations (2)
Singles:
1961 - The Search is Over / Goodnight Baby (Music Makers 103)
1961 - Guardian Angel / Hey You (Music Makers 108 / Duel 507)
1962 - Mamma Little Baby / Wait A Llttle Longer Son (Ballad 500)
1976 - I'll Never Let You Go / The Mystery Of You (Harvey 101)
Unreleased :
1961 - I Hate To See A Little Girl Crying (Music Makers)

LPs :
1985 - The Imaginations (Relic LP 5058)
Hey You / Autumn Leaves / The Search is Over / Never Let You Go / The Mystery Of Youu / Harry Goody / Fannie Brown / I Love You So / My Little Girl / Chapel Bells / Will / Wait A Llittle Longer Son / Goodnight Baby / Guardian Angel / Mamma Little Baby

Darlene Day & The Imaginations (2)
1961 - I Love You So / Will (Music Makers 106)

The Expressions (3)
1963 - To Cry / On The Corner (Parkway 892)

Biography :

Formed in Bellmore, Long Island, New York, USA, in 1961, doo-wop group the Imaginations consisted of Frank Mancuso (lead), Bobby Bloom (first tenor), Phil Agtuca (second tenor), Pete Agtuca (baritone) and Richard LeCausi (bass).

The Imaginations (2) aka The Expressions (3)

In April 1961, Music Makers released the group's "Goodnight Baby', which featured King Curtis on saxophone. The Imaginations" second studio engagement came as back-up singers for Darlene Day, and, with studio time remaining, they also recorded two of their own songs, "Guardian Angel" and "Hey You".

When the tracks formed their second single, both sides attracted airplay, and the record was licensed to Duel Records, although too late, apparently, to allow it a chance to reach the national charts. Despite this, "Hey You", primarily through repeated radio plays, became established as one of the most popular vocal group records in the New York area throughout the early 60s.

The Imaginations (2) aka The Expressions (3)
Backing up Darlene Day

However, that impetus was stalled when Mancuso joined the air forces, and Music Makers closed down. Bobby Caupin took over on lead as the group switched to a new title, the Ebonaires. A single was recorded ("Chapel Bells") but never released.

The Imaginations (2) aka The Expressions (3)

Still not dispirited, Bobby Bloom took over on lead as the group then reverted to their former name for "Wait A Little Longer Son", issued on new label Ballad Records. Again a release of genuine quality, it too was picked up for extended distribution, this time by Laurie Records.

By 1963 the group had broken up, but they re-formed when producers Pete Antell and John Linde took an interest in their careers. Bloom, Phil Agtuca and LeCausi were then joined by John Governale (first tenor) and Pete Lanzetta (baritone) in the Expressions. As well as backing Tommy Boyce in the studio, The Expressions released a debut single in 1963, "On The Corner" - a eulogy to the origins of doo-wop on street corners. However, it flopped, and the group broke up once again.

The Expressions The Four Motions : left to right Felix Barreto , Googie Page, David Barreto, sitting Phil Agtuca

In 1964, Phil Agtuca recorded with The Four Motions, they have a demo song "My Hero". Bloom, however, persevered as a solo artist, and was rewarded in 1970 when his "Montego Bay" became a US number 8/UK number 3 hit.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/imaginations-mn0001008944
http://50sspirit.blogspot.fr/2012/01/harmonies-imaginations-entrevista-frank.html

Videos :

"The Search is Over" "Mama's Little Baby"

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

The Imaginations (2)


Guardian Angel                   The Search is Over             Wait A Little Longer Son


Hey You                              Mamma Little Baby                   Goodnight Baby


Never Let You Go               The Mystery Of You                    My Little Girl

Harry Goody Chapel Bells Fannie Brown

Autumn Leaves

Darlene Day & The Imaginations (2)

I Love You So Will

;;;

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The Sherrys aka The De-Los

Posted on August 8 2012 by dion1

The Sherrys (Philadelphia)
aka The De-Los

Personnel :

Delphine 'Sugar' Cook

Dinelle Cook

Charlotte Walker

Delores 'Honey' Wylie

Discography :

The De-Los
1958 - Lullabye Serenade / Pork And Gravy (Cedar 302)

The Sherrys

Singles :
1962 - Pop Pop Pop-Eye / Your Hand In Mine (Guyden 2068)
1963 - Slop Time / Let's Stomp Again (Guyden 2077)
1963 - Saturday Night / I've Got No One (Guyden 2084)
1963 - Monk, Monk, Monkey / That Boy Of Mine (Guyden 2094)
1964 - No No Baby / That Guy Of Mine (Mercury 72256)
1965 - Slow Jerk / Confusion (Roberts 701)
1965 - This Little Boy of Mine / Lullaby Serenade (Sonet 7642)
1966 - Put Your Arms Around Me / I'm A Happy Girl (JJ 1002/Hot 1002)

Lps:
1962 - At the Hop with the Sherrys (GLP-503)
At The Hop/Dance / Slop Time / Dancin' The Strand/Ooh-La-La- Limbo / Let's Stomp Again / Pop Pop Pop-Pie / Bristol Twistin' Danny / The Fly / Double Order Mashed Potatoes / The New Cha-Cha-Cha / The Last Dance

European Singles :

Biography :

The Sherrys were a short-lived girl group with a rich, soulful sound, built around dance numbers that they performed with extraordinary exuberance, organized by Philadelphia singing star Little Joe Cook. A veteran of gospel and R&B, Cook had led a group called the Thrillers from the mid-'50s. In 1958, Little Joe began putting a group together around his two daughters, Delphine and Dinell Cook, Delores "Honey" Wylie, Joyce ? and Clarence Smith, Bass of the Students.

Little Joe Cook

Billed as the De-Los the group recorded "Lullabye Serenade" b/w "Pork And Gravy" both sides lead by Delores Wylie on the Cedar label. In 1961, they changed their name as the Sherrys and did some backup work for Maureen Gray, Billy & the Essentials and Bobby Rydell . Their big moment as a recording act in their own right came when a dance craze arose in New Orleans called the Popeye -- initially, the dance was done to Chris Kenner's "Something You Got," but Eddie Bo soon came along with "Check Mr. Popeye," which became a major seller in New Orleans.

By early 1962, the dance was being touted as a rival to the Twist, with acts as different as Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns and Chubby Checker starting to push it. Cook, who'd seen his own recording of "Let's Do the Slop" become a serious regional hit in 1956, knew a good prospect when he saw it and had the Sherrys record "Pop Pop Pop-Pie," written by producers Johnny Madera and Dave White and aimed at the dance crowd.

American Bandstand then featured the group and the record heavily, and the single (issued on Guyden) charted in October of 1962, for an eight week run that carried it up to number 35 nationally on the pop charts and to number 25 on the R&B lists. The group's success was short-lived, however, as they never came up with a suitable follow-up -- their "Slop Time" didn't chart nearly as well.

A superb album, At the Hop with the Sherrys, made up almost entirely of Madera-White songs, appeared on Guyden in early 1963, but it undeservedly disappeared without leaving much of a trace. Ironically, while the Sherrys' moment in the sun in the U.S.A. proved to be both brief and over, their records were extremely popular and enduring in Europe, where audiences devoured their authentic soul-dance sound. The quartet ended up touring overseas twice, with great success. They might've regained their career momentum in America, but for a series of personnel and business difficulties that ensued over the next several months.

Delphine, the younger Cook daughter, married, and then Butler left the act soon after. Cook held a version of the Sherrys together to fulfill bookings, but during a successful engagement in Boston, the group -- now a trio -- decided to get a new manager. Their history came to an end with this decision, because Cook owned the name the Sherrys. The trio, deprived of the name under which they were known, was never heard from again, and the Sherrys became part of pop music and dance history.

Thanks to Mike Sweeney

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

The De-Los

Lullabye Serenade Pork And Gravy

The Sherrys

Pop Pop Pop-Eye                   Your Hand In Mine                 The Last Dance

Slop Time                     Let's Stomp Again                       The Fly

Saturday Night                       I've Got No One         Oh-La-La Limbo

Monk, Monk, Monkey             That Boy Of Mine       New Cha Cha Cha

Dancin' The Strand Double Order Mashed Potatoes Dance

Bristol Twistin' Danny At The Hop I'm A Happy Girl

Put Your Arms Around Me

Videos :

This Little Boy of Mine

...

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The Cor-Don's

Posted on August 7 2012 by dion1

Joe Williams, Frank Mancuso ,Tony Jackson, John Masson and Leroy Parham

The Cor-Don's (Long Island)

Personnel:

Tony Jackson

Frank Mancuso

John Masson

Leroy Parham

Joe Williams

Discography :

1963 - Some Kinda Wonderful / Is She The One (Rowe 010)

Biography :

Frank Mancuso Moving out to Long Island in 1959, he formed a group called The Imaginations. In 1960 they landed a recording contract at Music Makers and scored a hit with "Guardian Angel". Then, in 1963 he signed with Rowe Records and recorded with a group called "The Cor-don's", "Some Kinda Wonderful" "Is She The One".

Songs :

Some Kinda Wonderful Is She The One

...

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