1955 - 535 / Tears in My Eyes (Grand 131) 1959 - Melba / No Man Is an Island (Rollin' 1001)
Biography :
Consistent with Donn Fileti's statement in his liner notes accompanying Relic's Grand CD, these were probably the same Dreamers who sang Melba / No Man Is an Island for Rollin'. In Lou Silvani's Yesterday's Memories article, he expresses the opinion that these two recordings are by the same Philadelphia Dreamers and were probably cut at the same time in 1954, but the Rollin' song was never released.
A black Philadelphia record shop owner apparently found the tapes and released them on his own Rollin' label in the 1960s. Jared Weinstein and Eddie Gries wound up with the stampers and pressed 200 authentic-looking reissues in 1963. After all this time, we still do not know why it was never released by Grand. Later Kent Peeler sang with the Modern Flamingos and the Universals on MARK-X. Donn Fileti (liner notes with the Relic CD Grand Records) Louie Silvani (Yesterday's Memories)
Top : Willie Graham - Middle : Ira Foley & Randolph Bryant - Bottom : Donald Woods
The Bel-Aires (3) (Los Angeles) aka The Vel-Aires aka The Rhythm Masters
Personnel :
Donald Woods (Lead)
Randolph Bryant (Tenor)
Willie Graham (Second Tenor)
Ira Foley (Bass)
Discography :
The Bel-Aires (3) 1955 - This Paradise / Let's Party Awhile (Flip 303) 1955 - White Port And Lemon Juice / This Is Goodbye (Flip 304)
Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires 1955 - Death Of An Angel / Man From Utopia (Flip 306) 1955 - Stay With Me Always / My Very Own (Flip 309) 1956 - Heaven In My Arms / Mighty Joe (Flip 312)
The Rhythm Masters 1956 - Baby We Two / Patricia (Flip 314)
Biography :
Donald "Buster" Woods originally recorded with The Medallions, from Los Angeles, California. The Medallion's group leader was Vernon Green, but when Woods split from Green he took three of the Medallions with him to form The Bel-Aires, who were known as the Vel-Aires when they weren't backing Woods. In 1954, Flip Records, a small, Hollywood based label, that specialized in Doo-Wop, recorded two Singles by The Bel-Aires, "This is Paradise," backed with "Let's Party Awhile," (Flip #303) and "White Port & Lemon Juice," backed with "This Is Goodbye," (Flip #304).
Darryl Perault (Jivers & Rhythm Masters)
In June, Flip issued the group's third record, but by then their name had been changed to the "Vel-Aires." It's probable that this was due to the existence of another West Coast Bel-Aires, this one a black and white duo that had covered Marvin & Johnny's "Tick Tock" on Crown in 1954. Flip Records recorded two other Singles by Donald Wood & The Vel-Aires. In 1955, Donald Woods had left to try a solo career. Willie, Randolph, and Ira got a replacement tenor: Darryl Perault (who would go on to sing with the Jivers) and, on December 10, 1955, they recorded "Baby We Two" and "Patricia" for Flip as the "Rhythm Masters". http://www.uncamarvy.com/Medallions/medallions.html
1959 - Here's the question / Please Don't Come Crying (G&G 126) 1959 - Holey Sombrero / Oh My Love (G&G 131/Guyden 2020) 1959 - You Are Free, I'm Alone / Depot (Jamie 1141) 1959 - Little Match Girl / The Christmas Holiday (Jamie 1146) 1960 - Honey, Honey / Always It's You (Jamie 1150) 1960 - Unchained Melody / Mansion On The Hill (Jamie 1157) 1960 - Moulin Rouge / You're A Habit With Me (Jamie 1170) 1960 - Little Match Girl / The Christmas Holiday (Jamie 1173) 1961 - Love or Money / Big Daddy and The Cat (Jamie 1179) 1961 - You Took Advantage of Me / I (Jamie 1199) 1964 - Playin' Heart Strings / I Must Be Perfect (Hickory 1241) 1964 - Ballad Of A Young Truck Driver / She Loves The Love I Give Her (Hickory 1261) 1964 - I've Been Waiting / The Little Bird (Hickory 1279)
Biography :
DeWayne Blackwell was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and he and his parents moved to California in the mid 1950s when he was a baby. Ronald and Glenda Blackwell were born in California. They spent most of their growing up time there but we also lived in Oregon and Alaska.
After DeWayne wrote 'Mr Blue' for The Fleetwoods, they won a recording contract with G&G Records in SFO, however after failing to register a hit there, a distributor scored them a contract with Jamie.
(L to R) Dewayne Blackwell, Wesley Rose, Glenda Blackwell, Harry Finfer , Boudleaux Bryantand Ronald Blackwell.
'Unchained Melody' (with their sister) was their only Top 100 charter at #83, whilst 'Love Or Money' (on 'Teenage Crush 5') was a better record but only made it to #107 on the Bubbling Under charts.
The Blackwells figured in Phil Spector’s early career. Spector was associated with Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill’s Gregmark Music. Hazlewood and Sill produced Duane Eddy and Spector traveled down to Phoenix to watch Duane Eddy sessions, where he picked up many of the echo techniques used on Duane’s recordings from Lee Hazlewood.
Spector then produced the Blackwells on “You Took Advantage Of Me” b/w "I" as Jamie 1199, the last Blackwells recording for Jamie in August 1961.In 1964 the Nashville-based Hickory label released three further records of The Blackwells."
The Mellokings (Mount Vernon, New York) aka The Mellotones (2) aka The Mello-Kings
Personnel :
Jerry Scholl (First Tenor)
Robert School (Second Tenor)
Neil Arena (Second Baritone)
Eddie Quinn (First Baritone)
Larry Esposito (Bass)
Discography :
Singles : The Mellotones 1957 - Tonite, Tonite / Do Baby Do (Herald 502)
The Mellokings 1957 - Tonite, Tonite / Do Baby Do (Herald 502) 1957 - Chapel On The Hill / Sassafras (Herald 507) 
 1957 - Baby Tell Me (Why, Why, Why) / The Only Girl (Herald 511)
 1958 - Valerie / She's Real Cool (Herald 518) 1959 - Chip Chip / Running To You (Herald 536)
 1960 - Our Love Is Beautiful / Dear Mr. Jock (Herald 548)
 1960 - Kid Stuff / I Promise (Herald 554)
 1961 - Penny /' Till There Was None (Herald 1961)
 1961 - Love At First Sight / She's Real Cool (Herald 567) 1965 - Tonight, Tonight / Thrill Me (Flashback 2) 1977 - Tonight, Tonight / Chapel On The Hill (Janus 722)
The Mello-Kings 1962 - But You Lied / Walk Softly (Lescay 3009) 1966 - Tonite Tonite / Chip Chip (Lana 124)
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Eps : 1958 -The Fabulous Mello.Kings (Herald EP 451) Tonite Tonite / She's Real Cool / The Only Girl (I'll Ever Love) / Do Baby Do
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Lps : 1960 - The Mellokings Sing (Herald LP-1013) Tonight Tonight / I Promise, Our Love Is Beautiful / Sassafras / The Only Girl / Once On A Windy Day / Kid Stuff / Chapel On The Hill /Starbright / Valarie / Chip Chip / Baby Tell Me (Why, Why, Why)
Biography :
The group formed in 1956 in Mount Vernon, New York and consisted of Robert School (Second Tenor), his younger brother Jerry Scholl (First Tenor), Eddie Quinn (First Baritone), Neil Arena (Second Baritone) and Larry Esposito (Bass). By the fall of 1956, they were calling themselves the Mellotones, gaining attention in the local area and catching the ear of a black pianist named Dick Levister, who offered to become the group's manager and accompany them during live performances. It was Levister who brought them to the attention of Al Silver, who owned both the Herald and Ember labels.
The Mellokings for their first record: (L to R) Andrew Semansco (director), Robert School (Second Tenor), Eddie Quinn (First Baritone), Jerry Scholl (First Tenor), Larry Esposito (Bass), Neil Arena (Second Baritone) and Richard Leviste
Silver, one of the pioneering R&B label owners, had by this point already recorded and released numerous hit singles by acts , including the Nutmegs , the Five Satins (whose "In the Still of the Night," a smash in 1956, had been leased to Ember; they later scored a hit for the label with "To the Aisle," a Top Ten R&B hit -- number 25 pop -- in the summer of 1957), and the Turbans (whose "When You Dance" was the group's best charter for Herald").
Silver liked what he heard and the group -- with their trademark white jackets (at Levister's insistence, supposedly) - helped them forge an identity with the teenage public. For the Mellotones' first release, Silver chose a tune called "Tonite, Tonite" (Herald number 502), written by Billy Myles (who also penned "All My Love You Were Made For" with Jackie Wilson). It was released during the summer of 1957 and became an immediate regional smash hit.
Unfortunately, Silver discovered too late that there was already a record out that summer on George Goldner's Gee label by a group called the Mello-Tones, (their "Rosie Lee" later climbed into the Top 24 on the pop charts). A quick name change was in order and using Levister's nickname "King," "Tonite, Tonite" (Herald number 502) was quickly re-released as by the Mello-Kings.
The single was a big seller in the Northeast, again having regional ties. They made more than one TV appearance with Dick Clark on both the daily American Bandstand and his weekly Saturday Night show for ABC network. The follow-up single in September 1957, Chapel On The Hill was another lovely ballad while the flip, Sassafras was more of a novelty teen rock ‘n’ roller. Before the year was out Herald released a third single, the uptempo Baby Tell Me Why, Why, Why and the ballad The Only Girl. Despite promotional appearances and national exposure on the likes of American Bandstand and working an Irvin Feld 17 day tour featuring the Everly Brothers, the Crickets, the Rays, the Hollywood Flames, Eddie Cochran, and Jimmy Rodgers, they still couldn’t crack the charts.
In the spring of 1958, the Mellokings became a four-piece when Neil Arena left. Mot long after, Larry Esposito also left, and the Mellokings replaced them with Louis Jannacone and Tony Pinto. This was the line-up that recorded Chip Chip in November 1958. Released in January 1959, Chip Chip is a great novelty that had hit record written all over it. The flip Running To You was a nice slowie that had more than a hint of Dion about it. It was over a year before the next release, another lovely ballad, Our Love Is Beautiful backed by the neat Dear Mr. Jock. By the end of 1960 the group was back to being a quartet with Jerry Scholl, Bobby Scholl, Lou Jannacone, and Tony Pinto. Kid Stuff and I Promise from September ’60 both have their moments but if Valerie and Chip Chip weren’t going to hit, these certainly wouldn’t.
With doo-wop enjoying a second coming as early as 1961, the Mellokings could have been forgiven for thinking that they were finally in the right place as the right time. Penny is heavily stringed but the vocals are nice enough but it was their final Herald release in October where they hit their highest artistic heights since Tonite Tonite. Love At First Sight has everything a classic doo-wop record should have, relentless ooh-ah’s behind a lifting lead vocal. It’s a beauty and with Bobby Scholl sublime. Among the autographs he was signing at the time, the biggest was for a certain Uncle Sam, as he was drafted.
Videos :
Tonite, Tonite
Songs :
Tonite, Tonite / Do Baby Do Chapel On The Hill / Sassafras
Valerie / She's Real Cool Chip Chip / Running To You
Baby Tell Me (Why...) The Only Girl Our Love Is Beautiful
(L to R) Laura "Lolly" Haskins, Janet Haskins & Mildred Washington (Front) Peggy Collins
The Debonaires (4) (Beaver Falls, PA)
Personnel :
Laura "Lolly" Haskins (Soprano)
Janet Haskins (Alto)
Peggy Collins (Alto)
Mildred Washington (Soprano)
Discography :
1959 - Every Other Day / Jiving Guy (Maske 804)
Biography :
Sister Laura "Lolly" and Janet Haskins along with Peggy Collins were choir members of the 24th Street Baptist Church. Choir participation and desire to extend their vocalizing prompted the threesome to recruit Mildred Washington - a Beaver Falls High School classmate into their no name singing group. Formed in 1957, the quartet members unanimously selected "Debonaires" as their billing. The Debonaires soon became vocal favorites at Beaver Falls High assembly programs and school dances. The Group appeared at local record hops. Frequent appearances with WBVP radio personality Chuck Wilson, at this record hops, proved to be a beneficial conductor to a recording contract. Wilson was a prominent influential Disc Jockey who had a keen ability to recognize talent. An audition was arranged with a representative of Maske records in Philadelphia. "Every Other Day" b/w "Jiving Guy" was issued as Maske 804 sometime during either October or November 1959.
The Beau-Belles 1958 - Honky Tonk Hop / Wonderful You (Arrow 729) 1959 - Kissing Cha Cha A Reezee Keela / Promise Me (Colpix 109) 1959 - Ivy Covered Mission / In The Valley Of The Moon (Colpix 127)
The Beau-Bells 1959 - There's Some Hawaiian Lyin' / My Heart Keeps A'Rockin (Planet 1004)
Biography :
Trio from Bridgeport composed by the Pauline Sisters (Vicki & Maryann) & Joe Dalla. In 1958, they released a first single for Arrow records in New York "Honky Tonk Hop" with "Wonderful You" (Arrow 729). With this single, The Trio make many appearances on television and radio around the country. In 1959, The Beau-Belles cut "Kissing Cha Cha A Reezee Keela" / "Promise Me" and "Ivy Covered Mission" / "In The Valley Of The Moon" for Colpix.
The Same years, the group (Misspelled "Beau-Bells") recorded for the short lived New York and and Rhode Island based Planet label .The label's principal claim to fame is having recorded the original version of There's A Moon Out Tonight by The Capris which was subsequently acquired by Old Town.
Singles : 1962 - Moonlight In Vermont / He's Got The Whole World In His Hand's (W.B. 5254)
Eps : 1965 - Off Shore / Let The Good Times Roll / Wishing Star / Manana (W.B. 5505)
Biography :
After the Lamplighters/Tenderfoots, Frazier, Carl White and Sonny Harris were joined by Turner "Rocky" Wilson Jr. to form the Four After Fives. The Name came from the "After Five" uniforms they wore on stage. There was only one release by this group. Frazier does not recall the release "Lonesome" by the Ebbtides, but claims that they did that song as the Four After Fives.
A name change to the Sharps preceded the groups' successful reunion with Thurston Harris. Lester Sills of Screen Gems chose the new name. The Same four Vocalists changed their name to the Crenshaws and their releases for Warner Brothers saw the brief return of Matthew Nelson on "Off Shore" and "Moonlight in Vermont".The next and final name change proved to be a Lucky one. Producers Adam Ross and Jack Levy named the group The Rivingtons after a street on the lower east side of New York.
1962 - The Bunny Tale (With the Tremonts) / Honor Roll Of Love (Agon 1003)
Biography :
The Dragon Record label was owned by Vincent Gagliano and distributed by Irving Spices' Mohawk record label.
Vincent Gagliano Joyce & The Privateers
Among the various artists was a young and beautiful female singer, Joyce Heath. Vincent would soon to marry her and he would put her together with another group he had The Tremonts.
Joyce Heath The Tremonts
The Tremonts "Julio "Joey Dee" Decicco , Ronnie Lapinsky, Bill Frye & Dave Romano" that used Vito Picone's composition of "Please Believe Me" & recorded this in 1961 as "Believe My Heart". With Billy Frye and Ronnie Lapinski they formed the Privateers.
They Would record the novelty tune "The Bunny Tale", but it was the "B" Side of the record that the Dee Jays played "Honor Roll Of Love".
On "The Bunny tale" The Privatters were the Tremonts. Joyce Heath recorded many other singles for Vincent Gagliano.
Tommy Wicks (Tenor) (replaced by Richard Curtain in 1961)
Tommy Cooke (Baritone) (replaced by Sam Armstrong in 1961)
Alphonso Howell (Bass)
Discography :
Singles: The Sensations 1955 - Yes Sir, That's My Baby / Sympathy (Atco 6056) 1956 - Cry Baby Cry / My Heart Cries For You (Atco 6075) 1961 - Music, Music, Music / A Part Of Me (Argo 5391) 1961 - Let Me In / Oh Yes, I'll Be True (Argo 5405) 1962 - The Price Of Love / Don’t Take Your Love (River 228) 1963 - We Were Meant To Be / It’s Good Enough For Me (Junior 1002/1021) 1963 - That’s What You Gotta Do / You Made A Fool Out Of Me (Junior 1005) 1963 - Baby / Love Love Love (Junior 1006) 1964 - I Can’t Change / Mend The Tom Peaces (Junior 1010)
The Sensations with Yvonne Mills 1956 - Please Mr. Disc Jockey / Ain't He Sweet (Atco 6067) 1957 - Little Wallflower / Such A Love (Atco 6083) 1957 - Me Debut To Love / You Made Me Love You (Atco 6090) 1958 - Kiddy Car Love / Romance In The Dark (Atco 6115)
Yvonne Baker & The Sensations 1962 - That's My Desire / Eyes (Argo 5412) 1962 - Party Across The Hall / No Changes (Argo 5420) 1963 - That’s What You’ve Gotta Do / You Made A Fool Of Me (Junior 988/Tollie 9009) 1963 - When My Lover Comes Home / Father Dear (Argo 5446)
Unreleased : 1956 - How Much I Love You (Atco) 1955 - Right Or Wrong (Atco) 1956 - Please Believe Me (Atco) 1957 - I Wanna Be Loved (Atco) 1957 - Gotta Little Baby (Atco) 1957 - I Cried For You (Atco) 1957 - Free Hearted (Atco) 1958 - Two Is Company (Atco) 1963 - Before I Give My Love (Argo) 1963 - Pick Up (Argo)
Lps : 1962 - The Sensations (Argo LP 4022) Let Me In / (Oh Yes) I’ll Be True / That’s My Desire / Eyes / No Changes / Twisting The Blues / Music Music Music / Lollipop Baby / Party Across The Hall / A Part Of Me / Yes Sir That’s My Baby / XYZ
Biography :
The Sensations had two separate careers : one on Atco in the fifties and one in the sixties, with a different line-up and style, on Argo and Junior. The group was founded in 1954, in Philadelphia, as the Cavaliers. They were one of the few R&B vocal groups with a female lead, Yvonne Mills.
The other members were the group's founder, Tommy Wicks (tenor), who also sang lead occasionally, Alphonso Howell (1937-1998, bass) and an unidentified fourth member. In July 1955 they were signed by the fledgling Atco label (a subsidiary of Atlantic), where they were renamed the Sensations.
Their first record was released in November 1955 : "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" (Atco 6056), an old Gene Austin standard from 1925. It was an immediate success, peaking at # 15 on the R&B charts in February 1956, and secured the group some worthwhile bookings.
This was followed by another evergreen that was given a major musical overhaul, "Ain't He Sweet" (Atco 6067). However, it was the other side, "Please Mr. Disc Jockey", that charted, reaching a peak position of # 13 in May 1956. Atco released four more singles between July 1956 and April 1958, but there were no further chart entries. After the three-year Atco contract expired, the group decided to disband as Yvonne became Mrs. Yvonne Baker and started raising a family.
In 1961, Alphonso Howell, feeling that vocal groups were once again in demand, convinced Yvonne to re-form the Sensations. Tenor Richard Curtain (ex-Hideaways, MGM) and baritone Sam Armstrong (who had been in the Rays for a brief period) were added, and the group persuaded their old manager, Philadelphia deejay Kae Williams (who had managed the Silhouettes in the meantime) to handle them again.
He arranged a record deal with Chess's Argo affiliate, which released another old standard, "Music, Music, Music" (a # 1 for Teresa Brewer in 1950), complete with walking bass and rocking sax solo. Not only did it go to # 7 on the R&B charts, it also gave the group their first pop hit, reaching # 54 in Billboard. "Put Another Nickel In" was changed to "Put Another Dime In". "Oh well you know, depreciation, man", as Ray Charles would say.
The second Argo single came out in November 1961 and was written by Yvonne Baker. It is the record for which the Sensations are best remembered, "Let Me In". Helped by the catchy "wee-oop-oop-we-ou" harmony, the disc went all the way to # 4 on the pop charts (# 2 R&B). As so often happens after a major hit, the Sensations couldn't record any follow-up hits to sustain their momentum.
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