Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

Johnny & Jackey

Posted on January 31 2014 by dion1

Johnny & Jackey (Detroit, MI)

Personnel :

Johnny Bristol

Jackey Beavers

Discography :

1960 - Lonely & Blue / Let’s Go To A Movie Baby (Anna 1108)
1960 - Hoy Hoy / No One Else But You (Anna 1120)
1961 - Carry Your Own Load / So Disappointing (Tri-Phi 1002)
1962 - Someday We’ll Be Together / Sho Don't Play (Tri-Phi 1005)
1962 - Do You See My Love For You Growing / Carry Your Own Load (Tri-Phi 1016)
1962 - Baby Don’tcha Worry / Stop What You’re Saying (Tri-Phi 1019)

Biography :

Jackey Beavers was born and grew up in Cartersville, Georgia, and, after leaving high school, joined the US Air Force. While stationed at Fort Custer he won a talent competition, and became friends with one of the other competitors, Johnny Bristol.

They began performing together as Johnny and Jackey, and won a residency at the El Grotto Lounge at Battle Creek, Michigan, where the house band was led by Junior Walker. They soon signed for Anna Records, where they were managed by Berry Gordy's sister Gwen. The duo released two singles on the Anna label in 1960, before moving to the Tri-Phi label which Gwen Gordy set up with her husband Harvey Fuqua.

Left to right: marvin gaye and his wife anna gordy gaye, gwen gordy fuqua, and her husband harvey fuqua

The duo's second single for Tri-Phi, "Someday We'll Be Together" in 1962, was co-written by Beavers with Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua, but was not a hit at the time. Finding little commercial success, Johnny and Jackey split up, and Beavers began recording with Roquel Davis at the Checker label.
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/articlejbeavers.htm
http://www.soulmusic.com/index.asp?S=1&T=38&ART=2875

Songs :


No One Else But You                  Hoy Hoy              Someday We'll Be Together


Baby Don'tCha Worry             So Disappointing           Stop What You're Saying


Lonely & Blue      Do You See My Love For You Growing Carry Your Own Load

Let's Go To A Movie Baby

...

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The Four Of A Kind

Posted on January 30 2014 by dion1

The Four Of A Kind (Philapdelhia)

Personnel :

Sal Masi (Lead)

Nick Catucci (First Tenor)

Mike Goida (Second Tenor)

Joe Ardire (Bass)

Discography :

1956 - Dedicated To You / (I'm Gonna) Hock My Heart (Melba 110)
1957 - Fools Fall In Love / Dreamy Eyes (Melba 117)
1958 - Buttercup / It's Better That Way (Chancellor 1012)
1958 - You Were Made To Love / Love Every Moment (Cameo 154)
1959 - I Care For You / It's Better That Way (Bomarc 302)
1961 - Next Fall / U-Turn Baby (Rex 104)

Biography :

Vocal & Instrumental group Group from Philapdelhia, the Four Of A Kind is first know in 1955 as The Four Clefs with Joe Ardire , Nick Catucci , Sal Masi and Mike Goida. They ventured to New York City where they managed to snare General artists corporation to represent them nationwide.

In New York, The Group auditioned for Melba Records owned by Morty Craft . Bob Slay & Franck Crewe convened with Four Of A kind in the Big Apple where the duo plopped a demo of "Dedicated To You". The Group sculpted their own arrangement and cut the song backed with "(I'm Gonna) Hock My Heart".

Nick Terregian, Tony Percalino (Botom) Joe Ardire, Sal Masi and Nick Catucci

"Dedicated To You" have a little success in New York. In 1957, there was a second issuing from Melba "Fools Fall In Love" / "Dreamy Eyes". The Foursome appeared on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" a half-dozen times. The following year, In philadelphia the group cut "Buttercup" and "It's Better That Way" for Bob Marcucci, major doom of Chancellor Records.

The Four of a Kind had to navigate the next few years with a rotating fifth wheel, usually a Sax man. To explain this odd juxtaposition, they labeled themselves Four Of A Kind (Plus One). The Group performed around the country. With some personnel changes, The group cut two new singles for Cameo and Bomarc and the group had one final outing for Rex Records owned by Russ Faith and Herb Gordon.

Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim

Dedicated To You           (I'm Gonna) Hock My Heart        Fools Fall In Love


Dreamy Eyes                    You Were Made To Love             Love Every Moment

It's Better That Way / I Care For You Next Fall / U-Turn Baby

...

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The Cameos (4)

Posted on January 29 2014 by dion1

The Cameos (4) (Coraopolis, Pa.)

Personnel :

Donald Carter (Lead)

Dorlan Nelson (First Tenor)

Fred Wynn (Second Tenor)

Bernard Spencer (Baritone)

Alex Spencer (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1960 - I Remember When / We'll Still Be Together (Matador 1808)
1960 - Never Before / Canadian Sunset (Matador 1813)
1963 - Can You Remember / He (Gigi 100)

Unreleased :
1960 - Wondering (Matador) 
1960 - We Were Young (Matador) 
1960 - Broken Hearted Limbo Guy (Matador)

Biography :

The Cameos were from Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. They were put together by songwriter/arranger Bob Vogelsberger. He assembled the Cameos after auditioning groups to sing his material. The band was made up of Donald Carter, Dorlan Nelson, Fred Wynn, Bernard Spencer and Brother Alex Spencer . A New record company had just been formed in Pittsburgh by Walter Meyers under The name of Matador. In the early month of 1960, the Cameos were signed to record four sides for the company.

"I Remember When" immediately took off in the Pittsburgh area upon its release in June, 1960. The song was a fairly decent hit in the Pittsburgh Area, but did nothing nationally with the exception of Chicago. "I Remember When" put the Cameos on the road doing one-nighters all over the Pittsburgh area. The Cameos made appearances with local favorites such as the Dell Vikings and Skyliners. In the latter part of 1960, "Never Before" and "Canadian Sunset" was released. The record did fairly well but did not equal the popularity of "I Remember When".

Dorlan Nelson, Bernard Spencer, Donald Carter, Fred Wynn and Alex Spencer

The Cameos were making personal appearances into 1961, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, the group abruptly disbanded. Alex and Bernard Spencer joined by Edmund Luton and Earl Littlejohn, formed another group who had also been going under the name of the Cameos. This new group of Cameos was recorded by record producer Jules Kruspir. The new Cameos cut "Can You Remember" and "He" for the Gigi Label.

Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim

I Remember When             We'll Still Be Together              Never Before


Canadian Sunset               Can You Remember / He

Broken Hearted Limbo Guy / We Were Young / Wondering

...

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The Dellwoods aka The Dynamics (8) aka The Sweet Sick Teens

Posted on January 27 2014 by dion1

The Dynamics (8) (New York)
aka The Sweet Sick Teens aka The Dellwoods

Personnel :

Victor Buccellato (Lead)

Mike Ellis (First Tenor)

Andy Ventura (Second Tenor)

Amadeo Tese (Baritone)

Saul Zeskand (Bass)

Discography :

The Sweet Sick Teens
1961 - The Pretzel (Lead Mike Russo) / Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy (RCA 7940)

The Dynamics (8)
1963 - Chapel On A Hill / Conquistador (Liberty 55628)

The Dellwoods
1963 - Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / Her Moustache (Big Top 3137)

Lps:

1962 - Mad "Twist" Rock'n Roll (Big Top LP 1305)
(She Got A) Nose Job / Please Betty Jane (Shave Your Legs) / Agnes (The Teenage Russian Spy) / Let's Do The Pretzel (And End Up Like One) / (Even If I Live To Be 22) I'll Always Remember Being You

1963 - Fink Along With Mad (Big Top LP 1306)
I'll Never Make Fun Of Her Moustache Again / Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock / The Neighborhood Draft Board

Biography :

Mad, the American humour magazine, was founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Widely imitated and hugely influential, although a lot of the 'humour' is probably lost on us Brits, it has satirised all aspects of life, from pop culture and politics to entertainment and public figures

Saul Zeskand, Mike Ellis, Andy Ventura, Victor Buccellato & Amadeo Tese

The 1962 album MAD Twists Rock 'n Roll, a 12 track lampoon of then-current rock and roll styles and stars. The material on the album was written and produced independently of MAD, as a parody album, by Norm Blagman and Sam Bobrick, two men who had already scored a couple of hits between them with Elvis Presley's The Girl of My Best Friend and Ral Donner's top 10 US hit To Love Someone. Failing to attract much interest in their rock and roll parody it wasn't until MAD became involved that the duo get managed to this released - on Big Top records in 1962. Sure they were on to a winning formula, they followed this up with the similar Fink Along With MAD a year later.

Mike Russo

Incidentally, the Dellwoods - who recorded the majority of the tracks on both albums both under their original name and as the Sweet Sick Teens - were a real group, consisting of Saul Zeskand, Mike Ellis, Andy Ventura, Victor Buccellato and Amadeo Tese. Unfortunately, before the release of Fink Along... group member Mike Ellis overdosed on drugs. The group went on to change their name to The Dynamics, releasing the 45 Chapel On A Hill/Conquistador for Liberty Records.

http://worldsworstrecords.blogspot.fr/2010/02/its-mad-mad-world.html

Songs :

The Sweet Sick Teens

Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy         The Pretzel (Mike Russo)

The Dellwoods

Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger       Please Betty Jane (Shave Your Legs)       (She Got A) Nose Job

I'll Always Remember Being You     I'll Never Make Fun Of ...      When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock

The Neighborhood Draft Board

The Dynamics (8)

Chapel On A Hill / Conquistador

....

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The Holidays (8)

Posted on January 26 2014 by dion1

The Holidays (8)

The Holidays (8) (Washington, D.C.)

Personnel :

Charles Mac Bogdonoff (Lead)

Discography :

1962 - Big Brown Eyes / Cold Shoulder (Colt 45 - 106)

Biography :

Charles Mac Bogdonoff was born and lived most of his life in the Washington, D.C. area. At 21, he was the lead singer for The Holidays. The Holidays cut one single for a A small Washington based label owned by Ted & Jim Pedas.

Their recording company, Colt 45 Records, that launched the musical career of Don Covay (who wrote "Chain of Fools" and "Mercy Mercy" among others).   The Holidays had a #8 hit with Charles' composition "Big Brown Eyes."
Charles Mac Bogdonoff

Songs :


Big Brown Eyes                                     Cold Shoulder

...

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The Sheiks (1)

Posted on January 23 2014 by dion1

The Sheiks (1)

The Sheiks in 1961

The Sheiks (1) (Norfolk, Virginie)

Personnel :

Kenneth Kimball (Lead)

Johnny Wilson

Horace Jenkins (Second Tenor)

William Collins

Alton Parker

Discography :

1954 - Give Me Another Chance / Baby Don't You Cry (EF-N-DE 1000)
1954 - Walk That Walk / The Kissing Song (Cat 116)
1960 - Come On Back / Please Don't Take Away The Girl I Love (Amy 807)
1961 - What I'd Do For Your Love / Why Should I Dance (Legrand 1013)
1962 - Cocoanut Woman / Twist That Twist (Legrand 1016)

Biography :

The Sheiks (aka the Five Sheiks) of Norfolk, VA were an R&B harmony vocal group, originally called the Five Pearls. In 1954, the quintet -- consisting at that time of Kenneth Kimball, Johnny Wilson, Horace Jenkins, William Collins, and Alton Parker -- crossed paths with aspiring producer Frank Guida, who had lately relocated to Norfolk from New York City. He liked their sound enough to set up a recording session at a local radio station, which yielded a pair of songs, "Give Me Another Chance" and "Baby Don't You Cry," released as the Five Sheiks but label pics say Sheiks only. As it turned out there was already a group using the Five Pearls name.

Producer Frank Guida Gary U.S. Bond

Guida released it on his own, newly founded Ef-En-De label, and it did well enough that Atlantic Records ended up releasing the group's second single, "Walk That Walk" b/w "The Kissing Song," in December of 1954. The group went on to enjoy a solid recording career in association with Guida. A couple of members became part of The Sheiks group who had a couple of singles on Legrand records in 1961-62. The Sheiks were the vocal backing group on many of Gary US Bonds' early Legrand Records

Songs :


Give Me Another Chance          Baby Don't You Cry           Walk That Walk


The Kissing Song            Why Should I Dance Twist That Twist

Cocoanut Woman

Videos :

Quarter to Three - Gary US Bonds bb The Sheiks ?

...

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The Gales (1) aka The Question Marks (1) aka The Violinaires

Posted on January 21 2014 by dion1

The Gales (1) (Detroit)
aka The Question Marks (1) aka The Violinaires

Personnel :

Isaiah Jones (Lead)

Calvin Fair (Lead)

Bob Gandy

Wilson DeShields (Baritone)

Leo Coney

Discography :

The Violinaires
1954 - Another Soldier Gone / Joy In The Beulah Land (Drummond 4000)

The Gales (1)
1955 - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying / My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble (J.V.B 34)
1955 - Darling Patricia / All Is Well, All Is Well (J.V.B 35/J.O.B. 3001)

The Question Marks (1)
1954 - Another Soldier Gone / Get Some More (Hollywood Flames) (Swing Time 346)

Biography :

Calvin Fair, along with Isaiah Jones, Wilson DeShields, Leo Coney, and Dempsey were the Violinaires singing "Another Soldier Gone." The Pressing plant personnel at Drummond misspelled the Group's name on the label as Voilinaires. The same group of people recorded the four (4) songs attributed to the Gales. Los Angeles label Swing Time issued 'Another Soldier Gone' with the credited artists as The ? Marks. In fact "Another Soldier Gone" seems to be an alternate take by the Violinaires. The group who sing on the flip of the record featured here is in fact The Hollywood Flames.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/another.htm

Songs :

The Violinaires


Another Soldier Gone        Joy In The Beulah Land

The Gales (1)


My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble     Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying      Darling Patricia

All Is Well, All Is Well

The Question Marks (1)

Another Soldier Gone

...

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The Parakeets (1)

Posted on January 16 2014 by dion1

The Parakeets (1) (Washington DC.)

Personnel :

Homer Saunders (Lead)

John Burt (First Tenor)

Charles Hockaday (Second Tenor)

Leroy Wright (Baritone)

Leo Griffin (Guitar)

Harold Brodgins (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1954 - Give Me Time / I'm Losing My Mind (Gem 218)
1973 - Give Me Time / Candy Bar Boogie (Roadhouse 1005)

Unreleased :
1954 - Don't Leave My Broken Heart
1954 - Looking For You
1954 - My Love Is True

Biography :

After school ended at 3 p.m, everyone headed for the corner of Georgia Avenue and Lamont Street in Northwest Washington, where many groups could be found harmonizing together to the latest tunes of the day. One such group to come out of this area was the Parakeets. Originally formed in 1952 at Banneker Junior High, the group consisted of the late Homer Saunders, John Burt, Charles Hockaday, Leroy Wright, Leo Griffin and the late Harold Brodgins.

The Parakeets performed at may shows around town and traveled to New York for an audition with Atlantic Records. While there, they made an amateur appearance at the famed Apollo Theater. Returning To Washington, the group took top billing on Frank Motley and his Crew's Big Revue of 1954. The Group cut one single for the Gem label. Their songs was recorded on March 3, 1954 (for Lillian Clairborne of DC Records). The master was obtained by Les Moss, who released it in 1973 on ROADHOUSE 1005.

Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim)

Looking For You                      Candy Bar Boogie                 My Love Is True


Give Me Time        Don't Leave My Broken Heart      Candy Bar Boogie (alternate take)

...

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Ritchie & The Runarounds (3) aka The Tammys

Posted on January 14 2014 by dion1

Ritchie & The Runarounds (3) (Franklyn, Pittsburgh)

aka The Tammy

Personnel :

Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson (Lead)

Lou Christie

Gretchen Owens

Cathy Owens

Linda Jones

Discography :

1963 - Lost In The Crowd / Don'tcha Backtrack (Ascot 2136)

Biography :

Ritchie & The Runarounds consisted of Kripp Johnson, Lou Christie, and the girl group the Tammys, and put out one single for Ascot in 1963, "Don'tcha Backtrack"/"Lost in the Crowd." Johnson, formerly in the Del Vikings, takes the lead on both sides, which were written by Christie and Christie's songwriting partner Twyla Herbert.

Kripp Johnson The Tammys

The flipside is a typical, and typically dreary, early-'60s bridge between doo wop and teen idoldom, while the more frantic A-side is an up-tempo pop/rocker without much of a melody or idiosyncratic drive to make it stand out from so many other releases of the time. Richie Unterberger, Rovi
http://egyptianshumba.com/

Songs :

Don'tcha Backtrack Lost In The Crowd

...

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Hannibal & The Angels (4) aka The Blossons aka The Dreamers (3) aka The Playgirls (1) aka The Rollettes aka The Girlfriends (3) aka The Coeds (2)

Posted on January 11 2014 by dion1

Paste-up photo : Top : Darlene Wright (Love) Bottom Gloria Jones and Fanita James

Hannibal & The Angels (4) (Los Angeles)

aka The Blossons
aka The Dreamers (3)
aka The Playgirls (1)
aka The Coeds (2)
aka The Rollettes
aka The Girlfriends (3)
Ref Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans

Personnel:

James T. Shaw (Lead)

Darlene Wright "Love" (Tenor)

Gloria Jones (Tenor)

Fanita James (Baritone)

Discography :

1960 - Love Is Funny / Please Take A Chance On Me (Pan World 517)

Biography :

"Hannibal", "The Mighty Hannibal" and "King Hannibal" are all pseudonyms for James T. (Jimmy) Shaw. Born James Shaw he started singing doo wop as an Atlanta teenager, and eventually released a string of moderately successful (and generally highly praised) singles for a variety of independent labels.

James T. (Jimmy) Shaw

Shaw's first group, the Overalls in 1954, included future Pips Edward Patten and Merald Knight. His first notable single as a solo performer (1958's "Big Chief Hug-Um an' Kiss-Um") was released under the name Jimmy Shaw on Concept. Other early singles of note include "Love Is Funny" and "Please Take A Chance On Me" for Pan World . The backing group was The Angels, not the same ones that gained fame years later, but Fanita James, Gloria Jones and Darlene Wright from the Blossoms.
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/mhannibal.htm

Songs :

Love Is Funny Please Take A Chance On Me

….

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