Composite pictures From left to right, Joe Bello, Joe Rivera and Danny Laboy
The Enchantones (Brownsville, Brooklyn)
Personnel :
Joe Bello (Lead )
Danny Laboy (First Tenor)
Joe Rivera (Second Tenor)
Roger (Baritone)
Woody (Bass)
Discography :
1962 - We Fell in Love / My Picture Of You (Poplar 116)
Biography :
Poplar, founded in New York City in 1962 by Stan Seifer, generally featured doo wop-styled groups, but backed them with often surprisingly sharp early rock arrangements that avoided being derivative by adding in little percussion touches, unusual basslines, and touches of horns. Poplar Recorded the Enchantones in 1962. The group was made up of five members: Joe Bello, as lead singer, Danny Laboy, first tenor, Joe Rivera, second tenor, Roger, baritone and Woody, bass. They lived in what was then a rough neighborhood called Brownsville, Brooklyn. They started singing on street corners, hallways (for echo effect) and school yards, before recording and playing venues visited by the likes of Johnny Mathis and Lou Christie. By Joe Bello.
The Corsairs 1961 - Time Waits / It Won't Be A Sin (Smash 1715) 1961 - Smoky Places / Thinkin’ (Maybe She’s Changed Her Ways) (Tuff/Chess 1808) 1962 - I'll Take You Home / Sittin’ On Your Doorstep (Tuff/Chess 1818) 1962 - Dancing Shadows / While (Tuff/Chess 1830) 1962 - At The Stroke Of Midnight / Listen To My Little Heart (Tuff/Chess 1840) 1963 - Stormy / It's Almost Sunday Morning (Tuff 1847/Chess 1847) 1963 - Save A Little Monkey / "Instrumental Background" (Tuff 375)
Landy Mc Neil & The Corsairs 1964 - The Change In You / On The Spanish Side (Tuff 402)
Biography:
The Corsairs originated from La Grange, NC, releasing seven records as The Corsairs, and one as Landy McNeil & the Corsairs, the first on Smash, and the rest on Tuff Records. Their lineup consisted of three brothers, Jay, James, and Moses Uzell, and cousin George Wooten.
As the Gleems they sang at all the local functions and made their way north to the New Jersey/New York area, and were discovered harmonizing in a Newark, NJ, night spot by Abner Spector. Spector later hit with “Sally Go Round the Roses” by the Jaynettes. The family affair debuted on Smash as The Corsairs with “Time Waits” b/w “It Won't Be A Sin” in 1961, but it went unnoticed.
For their second release Spector switch them to Tuff Records where they scored with “Smoky Places,” which nearly cracked the pop Top Ten, settling at number 12 in 1961. Chess Records distributed this and their subsequent Tuff recordings. They followed with “I'll Take You Home” b/w “Sittin' on Your Doorstep” in 1962, a fine recording that stalled at number 62.
They kept releasing singles until 1964, but “Dancing Shadows,” “At the Stroke of Midnight,” “Stormy” and “Save a Little Monkey” did next to nothing. A versatile group, all three brothers sang lead, their recordings bridged the gap between ‘50s doo wop and ‘60s R&B.
William "Sonny" Forrest, Billy Sutton, Freddy Warner & Larry Lawrence
The Keynoters (2) (Brooklyn, New York) The Pharoes aka The Fantastics (1)
Personnel :
William "Sonny" Forrest（Lead）
Nick Nicholson（First Tenor）
Billy Sutton（Second Tenor）
Freddy Warner（Baritone）
Larry Lawrence（Bass）
Discography :
1962 - Come Back Home / I Wanna Know Who (Keynote 504)
Biography :
The Fantastics continued singing after Sammy Strain left the group. They acquired a new first tenor named Nick Nicholson. They continued singing as the Fantastics for the next couple years. Eric Bernay the owner of A-1 Records decided to rename the group the Keynoters and record them on his Keynote label. The Keynoters recorded “I Wanna Know Who” backed with “Come Back Home” for Keynote Records. “I Wanna Know Who” . . The group soon went back to being the Fantastics. Billy Sutton left the group and was replaced for a short time by Danny Hicks of the Continentals. In 1964, Larry Lawrence, Fred Warner and Nick Nicholson formed the V.I.P.’s, along with Horace Brooks from the Impacts and Blue Chips and a female singer, Jackie Carter. They used to rehearse at the Brill Building on Broadway and the producer’s name was Bill Giant who lived in Matawan, New Jersey. The V.I.P.’s recorded three records for Bigtop Records.
1958 - Who's Gonna Take You Home / Baby (MGM K12630)
Biography :
The girls are members of a professional dance troupe, the "Lucky Girls." They became recording artists in a sort of impromptu way, while appearing at the Triton Hotel in Rochester, N.Y.. While resting between shows, they playfully began harmonizing and were overheard by Vince (Jan) Giancursio, owner of the Fine Recording Studio of Rochester and member of the band playing at the Triton.
He was impressed, and arranged for a recording session. The trio successfully recorded "Baby," and then in another session waxed a catchy tune they composed themselves, "Who's Gonna Take You Home" with musical arrangement by the Rhythm Rogues. Vince Giancursio took the tape recording to New York and sold it to M.G.M Recording. The "Kays" then were offered a six month contract with a year's option. Disc jockeys and jukeboxes over the nation are playing the tune, "Who's Gonna Take You Home,"and it's already reached "hit" status in Buffalo, Syracuse, New York City, Detroit and Boston.
Songs :
Who's Gonna Take You Home / Baby (only a part of the two songs)
1956 - Hey Joe (Let Me Know) / Indeed I Love You (Mercury 70788) 1956 - Don't Be A Bunny / There Were No Angels (Wing 90081 / Mercury 70960) 1957 - Strawberry Shortcake / First Last And Always (Mercury 71034)
Biography:
They were Junior Ryder who was part of the Johnny Otis aggregation, and Blondine Taylor one of the Queens who backed up Shirley Gunter on “You're Mine” and “Oop Shoop”.
They were paired by Buck Ram and signed to Mercury. They recorded “Hey Joe” and “Indeed I Love You” on Mercury # 70788, “There Were No Angels” and “Don't Be A Bunny” (a plea for good conduct at rock 'n roll shows) on Mercury's subsidiary label Wing (# 90081) and finally “Strawberry Shortcake” and “First Last And Always” for Mercury on #71034.
1958 - Need You So / She's Swinging (Felsted 8529)
Biography :
The first Casuals' record came out on Nu-Sound, Ball's label and was later picked up by Dot where the song made the local top ten. After a second single for Dot in 1957, The Casuals had become a touring act, replacing The Everly Brothers on a tour of 60 fair dates.
Richard Williams & Buzz Cason
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.By 1958, The Casuals had become The CasualTeens for one single and recorded for Felsted "Need You So" and "She's Swingin". http://nashlinks.com/shadows
The Dream Kings (1) (Chicago, Indiana) aka The Drakes (1)
Personnel :
Tom "Little Bud" Daniel (Lead)
Robert Anderson (Tenor)
William "Sonny" Anderson (Tenor/Baritone/Bass)
Lincoln Mabins (Baritone)
Ira Anderson (Bass)
Discography :
The Drakes (1) Unreleased: 1955 - Mellow Daddy (United) 1955 - Just A Dream (United) 1955 - Take A Giant Step (United) 1955 - Let Them Talk (United)
The Dream Kings (1) 1957 - M.T.Y.L.T.T. / Oh What A Baby (Checker 858)
Biography :
The Drakes were neighborhood friends and mostly high school students when they formed around 1953. From East Chicago, Indiana. Tom Daniel was the group's tenor lead, and the composer of the songs they recorded for United. The other members were Lincoln Mabins (baritone) and three brothers, William Anderson (baritone), Robert Anderson (tenor), and Ira Anderson (bass).
The Drakes
May 12, 1955 they have a session with United records. Unfortunately, both of The Drakes' sides were left in the can; they did not see release until they were included in a Delmark compilation of vocal group sides done for United. In October 19, again, the group recorded two sides; again they would not see release until many years later. The Drakes changed their name to The Dream Kings and recorded a single for Checker in 1957; "M. Y. T. L. T. T." was a local hit. http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/unitedstates2.html http://www.uncamarvy.com/Drakes/drakes.html Pictures & Songs By Hans-Joachim
/image%2F0655033%2F20241207%2Fob_c217a1_belmonts-site-2.jpeg)
