Eklablog
Follow this blog Administration + Create my blog

The Hollywood Playboys

Posted on by dion1

The Hollywood Playboys

The Hollywood Playboys (Newark, NJ)
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 



Personnel :

Hugh Garrity (Piano, Vocals)

Nick Massi (Guitar, Vocals)

Louie Leona (Saxophone)

Joe D'Amore (Drums)





Discography :

The Hollywood Playboys
1959 - You Can't Fool Me Baby / I'm Lonely (Rita 118)
1960 - Talk To Audrey / Ding Dong School Is Out (Sure 105)

Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys
1963 - Too Pooped To Popeye / Bye Bye Travlin' Man (Duel 522)






Biography :

Nick Massi was an original member of the Four Seasons (performing on some of the band's biggest hits, such as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," and "Rag Doll"), supplying the bass vocal parts and helping arrange the band's trademark vocal arrangements. Born Nicholas Macioci in Newark, NJ, on September 19, 1935, Massi honed his singing skills with several bands during his teenage years, before hooking up with the great Frankie Valli in a local band called the Hollywood Playboys .

The Hollywood Playboys

The Hollywood Playboys were mostly a club group in and around Newark and the Jersey Shore fronted by an Irish kid named Hugh Garrity. Tom DeCillis  was introduced to the Hollywood Playboys appearing at a lounge in Newark, NJ. He arranged to record them and released a record on the Rita label "You Can't Fool My Baby" b/w "I'm Lonely ».

The Hollywood Playboys

Another local group, the Four lovers with Frankie Valli had cut many singles , and by 1958 their lineup had changed with Nickie DeVito and Hank Majewski leaving to be replaced by Nick Massi and Hugh Garrity, both of whom drifted in and out of the group. In late 1959, the Four Lovers added Bob Gaudio. Hugh Garrity returned with the Hollywood Playboys who cut "Talk To Audrey" b/w "Ding Dong School Is Out" for Sure Records in 1960.

The Hollywood Playboys   

1963 - Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys

In 1963, Hughie Garrity, Joey D'amora, Louie Leona and Johnny Meikel have a last single on Duel Records as Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys.






Songs:

The Hollywood Playboys

     
 Ding Dong School Is Out           Talk To Audrey                 You Can't Fool My Baby


I'm Lonely

 

 

Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys


Bye Bye Travlin' Man







….

See comments

The Singing Belles

Posted on by dion1

The Singing Belles
The Singing Belles (Brooklyn, New York)

 

Personnel :

Anne Berry

Angela Berry

 

Discography :

1960 - The Empty Mailbox / Someone Loves You, Joe (Madison 126)
1960 - High Noon / Oh Happy Day (Madison 132)

 

Biography :

When Anne And Angela Perry were attending latin classes of Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, they used to entertain fellow pupils by singing at proms and record hops. But it wasn’t until they had graduated that the idea came to them of making it a career. So the world lost a couple of potentially great stenographers and Tin Pan Alley came up with two of its most promising new talents.

The Singing Belles

The Pretty team, (Angela a brunette and Anne a blonde) brought the disk to a record company. The girls signing a recording contract with Larry Uttal owner of Madison Records, and recorded "The Empty Mailbox" b/w "Someone Loves You, Joe". Of course it would be nice to report that it was an immediate hit. It wasn’t. But since then the girls have matured, their singing has developed a unique style and many appearances at club dates, record hops and theaters have polished their delivery.

The Singing Belles     The Singing Belles

"Someone Loves You, Joe" Charted at #91 on Billboard Hot 100 in April 1960. This was the only Hot 100 entry for the girls.   Debuted on the CHUM (Canada) chart in May 1960, peaked at #33 & charted for 5 weeks, Debuted on the Music Vendor pop chart on Apr 4, 1960, peaked at #76 & charted for 7 weeks... On April 16th, 1960, the girls began a road trip with Alan Freed's final mid-west tour. The other acts on the tour were: Teddy Randazzo, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Freeman, The Fireflies, The Mystics, Sonny Til and the Oriols and Eddy Quinteros. The tour only lasted a couple of weeks and went bust.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 


  
Oh Happy Day                 Someone Loves You, Joe

  

High Noon                         The Empty Mailbox

 

…

See comments

The Tu-Tones (2) aka The Tutones

Posted on by dion1

The Tu-Tones (2) aka The Tutones

The Tu-Tones (2) (Clifton, New Jersey)
aka The Tutones

 

Personnel :

Cecile Mastroeni

Vivian Mastroeni

 

Discography :

The Tu-Tones (2)
1962 - Ring Of Virgin Gold / Green Is The Color (Stagedor 1001)

The Tutones
1963 - Ring Around the Christmas Tree / Santa Danced with Our Teacher (Airco 1115)

 

Biography :

The Tu-Tones were Cecile and Vivian Mastroeni of Clifton, New Jersey. "Ring of Virgin Gold" and flip side "Green is the Color" was recorded in 1962 the sisters. They performed with DJ Cousin Bruce Morrow at the Bergen Mall and Palisades Park.  The record never got played on the radio due to the word "virgin" at that time.  Bruce Morrow suggested that they re-cut the record substituting a different word but the song writers refused to do that.  the girls also cut a Christmas 45 "Ring Around the Christmas Tree" and flip side "Santa Danced with Our Teacher". The two songs were recorded on a different independent label "Airco Records" and the name on the label is the Tutones.

 

Songs :

The Tu-Tones (2)

  
Ring of Virgin Gold`                           Green Is The Color


...

See comments

The Hi Tones (3)

Posted on by dion1

The Hi Tones (3)

 The Hi Tones (3) (New Orleans, LA)


Personnel :

"Smooth" Curtis

Reginald Bassett

Ronald Bassett

Paul Williams


Discography :

1961 – What Was The Cause Of It All / Don’t Leave Me No Choice (Eon 101)

 

Biography :

The Hi-tones recorded "What Was The Cause Of It All” (Writer & Composer, Paul Williams) in 1961 at Cosimo Studio in New Orleans. Members of the group included "Smooth" Curtis, Reginald Bassett, Ronald Bassett and Paul Williams. Curtis was originally from Tennessee and sang background vocals for Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz").



The Bassett twins grew up in Jamaica, NY, and were greatly influenced vocally by their older brother, Clarence Bassett, who was an original member of the group, Shep and the Limelites. Clarence also sang with The Videos,

The Five Sharps, The Flamingos and Creative Funk. After Shep died in 1970, Ronald Bassett joined the Limelites, and sang a number of years with his older brother before Clarence passed away in 2005. Ronald continued to sing with The Limelites until his death on 4/3/13.


Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  
What Was The Cause Of It All             Don’t Leave Me No Choice




…

See comments

The Five Reasons

Posted on by dion1

The Five Reasons
The Five Reasons (Manhattan, New York)




Personnel :

 Fred Finati

Chuck Foote

Bobby Castro

Jerry Gold

Stan Hosner

 



Discography :

1958 - Three o'Clock Rock / Go To School (Cub 9006)

 



Biography :

Vocal group from the Lower East Side in Manattan, The group  did a show with the Crests (16 candles) and the Elegants (Little Star) before there smash hits came out.

The Five Reasons    The Five Reasons                                                                           Don Kishner

Sylvester Bradford (writer of "Tears On My Pillow") introduced the young group to Don Kishner of Aldon Music. In 1958, They recorded "Three o'Clock Rock" b/w "Go To School", the two song were released on Cub records. In 1960,  Chuck Foote sang in 1958 with the Johnny Maestro's Crests.




Songs :


  
Three o'Clock Rock                            Go To School


 

 

 



...

See comments

The Veneers aka The Cashmeres (4) aka The Relatives (3)

Posted on by dion1

The Veneers Aka The Chantels   (Clockwise from Top) : Annette Swinson Smith, Valerie Swinson, Barbara Joyner & Lorraine Joyner

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)  (Bronx, New York)

aka The Veneers
aka The Relatives (3)
 

Ref: The Chantels
Ref: The Swensons

 

Personnel :

Annette Swinson Smith

Valerie Swinson

Barbara Joyner

Lorraine Joyner

 

Discography :

The Swensons
1956 - Remember Me To My Darling / Golly Boo (X-Tra 100 )

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)
1959 - Daddy Can I Go To The Hop (Red Lightnin' 0059)

The Veneers
1960 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (Princeton 102)
1963 - With All My Love / Recipe Of Love (Treyco 402)

The Chantels
1961 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (End 1103)

The Relatives (3)
Singles :
1963 - (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zagga Zoom / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 303)
1964 - Never Will I Love You Again / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 306)
1965 - Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally (Musicor 1063)
Unreleased :
1965 - A Change Of Heart (Musicor)

 

Biography :

The Veneers came from Manhattan and from Brooklyn, in New York City. Sisters, Lorraine and Barbara Joyner joined their cousins, Valerie and Annette Swinson, to sing in the park, for fun, and at family functions. The young teens did began getting the attention of the local songwriters who were looking for  artists to record their material. As The Swensons (sic), Annette and her mother recorded one single for X-Tra Records in 1956, entitled, “Remember Me To My Darling”.  In 1959, the quartet, now known as The Cashmeres, went into the studio with Eddie Jones ( former lead singer of The Demens & the Emersons) to record a novelty tune called, “Daddy Can I Go To The Hop”. Herb Abramson, founder of Jubilee and Atlantic Records, produced the single. Unfortunately, the single was not released.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels      The Veneers Aka The Chantels   

Richard Barrett                                                                       

In 1960, The Cashmeres had signed on to be produced and managed by Richard Barrett. He had written two songs for the group, “Believe Me (My Angel)” and “I”. At this time, the young ladies decided to change their name because they found that too many groups had already recorded under the name “Cashmeres”. They Choose the name "Veneers". Two songs were recorded and released on Barrett's short-lived Princeton Records. The record achieved a level of success in New York, but failed to chart nationally. Their release went unnoticed but it helped Barrett solve his Chantels problem by matching Veneers lead singer Annette Swinson  with the three remaining Chantels, Sonia, Jackie, and Rene.  In April 1960, still trying to capitalize on the group’s name, End released “Whoever You Are,” formerly the B side of “Every Night”; it had all the original Chantels magic but still lacked the driving commitment of the label.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels
The Chantels on Carlton with Annette Swinson Smith

 Although The Veneers were not entirely happy about this change of plans, they knew that they could not stop Annette, who needed to be out on the stage. In 1961, she officially joined The Chantels. End 1103* was a reissue of a 1959 recording by The Veneers, with Annette Smith on lead, on Princeton 102. The Veneers, without Annette, recorded as The Relatives for the Canadian- American related Almont Records, with Lorraine taking the lead for “(My Heart Goes) Ziga Ziga Zoom” in 1963 and “Never Will I Love You Again”, released in 1964.   In 1965 Barbara, Lorraine and Valerie recorded three songs for the Musicor label before they went their separate ways.


Songs :

The Swensons

  
Remember Me To My Darling                             Golly Boo

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)


Daddy Can I Go To The Hop

The Veneers

     
Believe Me (My angel)                    I                                Recipe Of Love

The Relatives (3)

     
Never Will I Love You Again      (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zigga Zoom    I'm Just Looking For Love

  
Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally          A Change Of Heart

….

See comments

The Chorals

Posted on by dion1

 

The Chorals (New York)
ref The Charmers


Personnel:

Irwin “Teddy” Williams (Lead)

Alfred Toddman (First Tenor)

Robert Cassidy

Eugene "Sonny" Cooke (Tenor)

George "Danny" Daniels


Discography :

1956 - In My Dream / Rock And Roll Baby (Decca 29914)


Biography :

The vocal group The Charmers was formed in late 1953 and its members were Vikki Burgess, George Daniels, Alfred Toddman, James and Sonny Cooke .  After two singles for Central, Vikki Burgess joins with Myrna Hamilton and Renee Stewart and form a group called The Solirettes. Later Burgess forms another group with Margaret Moore and Estelle Harper and call themselves The Joytones.

Alfred Toddman , Robert Cassidy, Irwin “Teddy” Williams, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke  and George "Danny" Daniels.

In 1954 the Checkers disbanded, Second Tenor Irwin "Teddy" Williams  hooked up with the Charmers as their manager for two new singles on .  In 1956, Irwin "Teddy" Williams replaced James Cooke and with the three other Charmers Alfred Toddman, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke, George "Danny" Daniels and with the addition of Robert Cassidy, they changed their name to the Chorals. They made their name performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on November 1956. The Chorals cut one single for Decca before disbanded.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Checkers/checkers.html


Songs :

  
In My Dream                        Rock And Roll Baby



...

See comments

The Souveniers aka The Preludes (5)

Posted on by dion1

The Souveniers aka The Preludes (5) 

The Souveniers (Harlem, New York)
aka The Preludes (5)

 

Personnel :

Norman Solomon (Lead)

Coleman Solomon

Tommy Dorsey

Little John Rogers

Harold (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Souveniers
1962 - I Could Have Danced All Night / It's Too Bad (Inferno 2001)

The Preludes (5)
1962 - That Would Be So Good / A Place For You (In My Heart)(Octavia 8008)

 

Biography :

Vocal group was from Harlem, New York included two brothers, Norman (Lead Singer) and Coleman Solomon, Tommy Dorsey, John Rogers and Harold (Bass). Joel Turnero (a DJ on Newark's WNJR and former manager of the Mello-Moods) saw them perform and became their manager. Joel Turnero and Norman Solomon wrote the very nice "It's Too Bad" that the band will record with "I Could Have Danced All Night". Both titles will be released under the small label "Inferno" owned by Joel Turnero. The same year, Joel and Norman wrote "A Place For You", and Joel "That Would Be So Good". The Souveniers recorded the two songs and the single will be released under the Octavia label, but the band's name will be changed to The Preludes. Both sides Turnero was the producer, and Larry Lucie the arranger...same as Infernos. Norman Solomon better known later as Norman Feels, an underground soul sensation in the early 1970's and his songs have been sampled by multiple rappers over the years including Schoolboy Q, French Montana, Ghostface Killah, and more.

 

Songs :

The Souveniers

  
            It's Too Bad                          I Could Have Danced All Night

The Preludes (5)

  
    That Would Be So Good               A Place For You (In My Heart)

...

See comments

The Astro-Tots

Posted on by dion1

The Astro-Tots

The Astro-Tots (McKenney, Va.)

 

Personnel :

Jackie Tunell

Ann Abernathy

Patsy Mitchell

 

Discography :

1962 - My Dreams / Boy Without A Heart (Johnny B. Denton) (Linda 12254)

 

Biography

The "Astro-tots" are students at Sunnyside-McKenney High School who got their start in the church choir at Cut Bank Batist Church where Jackie Father, Fred Tunell is the pastor. The Members are Jackie Tunell, Ann Abernathy and Patsy Mitchell. The girls secured a recording contract with Linda Records, an RCA Victor subsidiary and recorded their first and only song. The selection taped in North Carolina is "My Dream" a song written for the girls by Jackie's father.   

The Astro-Tots     The Astro-Tots

In addition to their vocal chores, the girls have several dance routines and 'speciality acts which are part of their personal appearance shows. They have appeared several times in McKenney and Dinwiddie County

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

 

My Dreams



...

See comments

The Floridians aka The Joylarks

Posted on by dion1

The Floridians aka The Joylarks
George "Lucky" Lloyd

The Joylarks (Allentown, Pa)
aka The Floridians

 

Personnel :

George "Lucky" Lloyd

Farouk Kamma

Norman Williams

John Price

 

Discography :

The Joylarks
1959 - Betty My Love / In The Rain (Snag 107)

The Floridians   
1961 - I Love Marie / The Lucky Old Sun (ABC-Paramount 10185)

 

Biography :

In Allentown, George Lloyd was approached by some other guys in the neighborhood who were interested in forming a singing group. The group consisted of Farouk Kamma, Norman Williams, John Price and George Lloyd and rehearsed and practiced the popular hits at the time.  They decided to  to name themselves the Joylarks and participed  to an audition for the “Pepsi-Teen-Show.” A record promoter had the show had this radio and was listening and heard them sing.

The Floridians aka The Joylarks    The Floridians aka The Joylarks

His name was T. Griffin. He approached the group afterward and asked them if we were interested in cutting a record.  Two songs written by two members of the group were recorded. "Betty My Love" which was written by Farouk Kamma and “In The Rain" which was written by John Price. George Lloyd arranged the background vocal and harmony for both songs.” It was officially released in May of 1959 by Snag records. Almost two years later, the group recorded two new titles "I Love Marie" and "The Lucky Old Sun" released in February 1961 as the Floridians.

The Sinceres (1)   

Jay & the Techniques

 

Some years later George Lloyd met young Jay Proctor (from the Sinceres) and started a new group : Jay & the Techniques.


Songs :

The Joylarks

  
Betty My Love                         In The Rain

The Floridians   

  
I Love Marie                           The Lucky Old Sun

...

See comments

1 2 > >>