Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Casanovas (1)

Posted on January 14 2016 by dion1

The Casanovas (1) Frank McWilliams Chester Mayfield Willie McWilliams

The Casanovas (1) (High Point, NC)

Personnel :

Chester Mayfield (Lead)

Willie McWilliams (First Tenor)

Melvin "Mike" Stowe (Second Tenor)

William Samuels (Baritone)

Frank McWilliams (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1955 - That's All / Are You For Real (Apollo 471)
1955 - Hush-A-Meca / It's Been A Long Time (Apollo 474)
1955 - I Don't Want You to Go / Please Be My Love (Apollo 477)
1955 - My Baby's Love / Sleepy Mead Mama (Apollo 483)
1957 - Please Be Mine / For You And You Alone (Apollo 519)
1958 - You Are My Queen / (I Got A) Good Lookin' Baby (Apollo 523)

Unreleased :
Rock A Bye Baby (audition tape)
My Love For You
Love Me Baby
Night Rider (Acapella)
Listen To Those Bells(Acapella)
Please Be Mine (Acapella)
Pleading from My Heart (Acapella)
You Are My Queen (Acapella)
Good Lookin’ Baby (Acapella)

Biography :

The Casanovas were a spiritual quartet turned rhythm and blues group from High Point, North Carolina. They started out as the Jubilee Kings a few years after World War II, joining Frank and Willie McWilliams with nephews Chester and L. D. Mayfield. The teens sang right up to, through, and past the Korean War (they were all drafted and became paratroopers during the campaign) until they were discovered by 5 ROYALES roadie Bob Woodward in 1954. He introduced them to William Samuels, brother-in-law of Lowman Pauling of the 5 Royales, and Melvin Stowe, both from nearby Winston-Salem.

The Casanovas (1)

Bess Berman (Apollo) Chester Mayfield

By 1954 the spiritual quartet became an R&B quintet. Woodward had contacts at Apollo Records and sent owner Bess Berman one of the group's demo tapes. The result was a trip to New York for the vocalists to record their first songs in November 1954. "That's All" (April 1955), with Chester singing lead, was their first release on Apollo. (The group sported three lead singers, and each had several chances to front the group on subsequent recordings.) "That's All" was a straightforward R&B ballad with no particular merit other than the appealing harmony and a sincere reading from the lead. Their second single, out in May, was a blues ballad with harmonic turns reminiscent of THE MOONGLOWS' 1953 Chance masterpiece "Baby Please." Plodding ahead, the group recorded and released a third single in July titled "I Don't Want You to Go."

The Casanovas (1)

Willie McWilliams Frank McWilliams

Though no more distinguished than its predecessors, this song's Chester-penned melody did serve as the nucleus for Lowman Pauling's "Dedicated to the One I Love », which he and his 5 Royales released in 1957 and which later became a hit for THE SHIRELLES in 1961 (#3)and THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS in 1967 (#2). The week before Christmas brought in the Casanovas' next ballad A side (come to think of it, all of their A sides were ballads), a nice high-tenor recording by Melvin Stowe called "My Baby's Love." The Carolina quintet didn't record or have a record out in 1956 and worked mostly on a local club basis. In the summer of 1957 they returned to New York for another shot, recording the beautiful ballad "Please Be Mine". Their last 45 came out in 1958 but by this time it was apparent that Apollo was just going through the motions, and the group gave up singing together by the end of the decade. No, they didn't have any hits,

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)


That's All                      Are You For Real                  Hush-A-Meca


It's Been A Long Time        I Don't Want You to Go            Please Be My Love


My Baby's Love            Sleepy Mead Mama                  Please Be Mine


For You And You Alone             You Are My Queen            Rock A Bye Baby


     My Love For You                  Love Me Baby       (I Got A) Good Lookin' Baby

Night Rider Please Be Mine (Acapella) Listen To Those Bells (Acapella)

Pleading from My Heart (Acapella) Good Lookin’ Baby (Acapella) Please Be My Love (Acapella))

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The Citations (2)

Posted on January 12 2016 by dion1

The Citations (2) (Manhattan, New York)

Personnel :

Nicky Grazan (Lead)

Nino Grazan

Hugo Lopez

Discography :

Nicky North & The Citations (2)
Single :
1963 - Magic Eyes / Mystery Of Love (Canadian American 136)
Unreleased :
1963 - He likes To rock & Roll (Canadian American)

The Citations (2)
1965 - Down Went The Curtain / That Girl Of Mine (MGM 13373)

Biography :

Group from the west side of New York, Hells Kitchen in Manhattan, Home of other groups like the Sunsets and the Young Lads. The Citations starts singing in 1956 and They wait 1963 for cut their first record for Canadian American as Nicki North & The Citations.

The Citations (2)

The Canadian-American record label listed New York and Winnipeg as its main offices, but the company was started in Grand Forks, ND and the Winnipeg office was simply a mailing address to give off an international image. The label was started in 1957 in New York by Leonard Zimmer. The two biggest hits on the label were Santo and Johnny's immortal "Sleepwalk" and Linda Scott's "I Told Every Little Star"

The Citations (2)

The group must wait another two years before recording again, the Citations recorded "Down Went The Curtain" b/w "That Girl Of Mine" released by MGM records in 1965.

Songs :

Nicky North & The Citations (2)

Magic Eyes Mystery Of Love

The Citations (2)

That Girl Of Mine Down Went The Curtain

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The Four Corners

Posted on January 11 2016 by dion1

(L to R) Eddie Idol, Boyce Cruthers, Bill Snell and Bobby Davidson

The Four Corners (Guilford, NC)

Personnel :

Bobby Davidson (Lead)

Bill Snell

Boyce Cruthers

Eddie Idol

Biography :

The Four Corners, Guilford's vocal group, made their first professional debut at The WSG talent show in December 1960. The group, which has risen to great popularity among the student body, is made up of Bill Snell, Boyce Cruthers, Bobby Davidson, and Eddie Idol. The group has started out singing "Rock 'n Boll". They plan to get into more types of popular music as they gain time and experience. Each boy has had previous experience in singing with groups prior to the formation of their new group. In addition to appearing in the WSG Show, the Corners have sung at Woman's College and at private parties.

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The La Vals

Posted on January 10 2016 by dion1

The La Vals

The La Vals (New York)

Personnel :

Johnny Hickson (Lead)

Ann Smith

Sandra Lee

Chhristine Flowers

Biography:

Vocal group that occurred in New York from 1958 to 1959, they had a little success and promises of records ... Have they recorded???

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The Dacrons

Posted on January 10 2016 by dion1

The Dacrons

If anyone have informations .... doowop@club-internet.fr

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The Classmates (7)

Posted on January 9 2016 by dion1

The Classmates (7) Jack Pryor, Tony Mazza, Charlie Sheridan & Joe Cavanna

The Classmates (7) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Tony Mazza (Lead)

Charlie Sheridan

Jack Pryor

Joe Cavanna (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1961 - Homework / Here Comes Suzy (Seg-Way 104) 
1962 - All I Want Is To Love You / Some Of These Days (Radar 3962) 
1963 - Graduation / Teenage Twister (Radar 2624)

Unreleased:
196? - Hug You, Kiss You
196? - You're Too Late

The Classmates (7)

Biography :

This Classmates are from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The group consisted of Lead Singer Tony Mazza, Jack Pryor, Joe Cavanna and Charlie Sheridan. They were friends with The Shy-Tones/Hi-Tones, The Emotions, and the Inspirations. where sang Joe Cavanna in 1959, and recorded on the Sultan label. Back in 1960, The Classmates sang in storefronts and sang at the Green Tea Room.

The Classmates (7)
Tony Mazza, Joe Cavanna, Charlie Sheridan & Jack Pryor

The group cut "Homework" b/w "Here Comes Suzy" , released on The Seg-Way label. The record did very well in sales then Bobby Vinton did ‘Roses Are Red' [overshadowing everything else], Not long after, they were signed by Radar Records Originally owned by Irv Jerome and later purchased by Jerry Roth. Radar Records released two new singles by the Classmates. "All I Want Is To Love You" b/w "Some Of These Days" and "Graduation" b/w "Teenage Twister" in 1962. Then Joe Cavanna got drafted and Their lives changed.

Songs:


Homework                      Here Comes Suzy                All I Want Is To Love You


Some of These Days                  Graduation                Hug You, Kiss You


Teenage Twister             You're Too Late

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The Vibraharps (1) aka The Short Stories

Posted on January 8 2016 by dion1

The Vibraharps (1) aka The Short Stories

The Vibraharps (1) (Buffalo, NY)
aka Lenny O’Henry & The Short Stories

Personnel :

Donnie Elbert

Danny Cannon [aka Lenny O'Henry] (Lead)

Charles Hargrove [Charles Hargro] (Bass)

Donald "Duck" Simmons

Douglas Gibson

Discography :

The Vibraharps (1)
1958 - Walk Beside Me / Cosy With Rosy (Beech 713)
1959 - It Must Be Magic / Nosey Neighbours (Atco 6134)

Charles Hargro The Vibraharps (1)
1959 - Baby Oh Baby / Over And Over (Dab 101)

Lenny O’Henry & The Short Stories
1961 - Cheated Heart / Billy The Continental Kid (ABC 10222)

Biography :

Donnie Elbert and Danny Cannon co-founded the group in 1955, joined by Donald ‘Duck’ Simmons, Douglas Gibson, and Charles Hargro. Donnie was still in the group when they made their first record (written by Buffalonians Bobby Fonville & Ralph Hernandez) for NYC’s Beech Records. In fact Donnie was in the studio but due to a group squabble he didn’t sing on it!So it’s not surprising that he was the first to leave, beginning his solo career on Deluxe Records in 1957. He continued to stay in touch and remained friendly with the group though. As he was hitting the charts the Vibraharps were breaking up – for the first time. During this down time Charles Hargro went to work as his driver.

Donnie Elbert

They reunited, broke up again, reunited again. At one point Danny Cannon and Duck Simmons took off to Toronto to perform as a duet, “Danny & Donnie”, singing Everly Brothers covers! During one of their reunions the Vibraharps brought in Thomas ‘Cookie’ Hardy Jr who had a bonus talent – he could write R&B / R&R songs. He wrote both sides of their 1959 single on Atco Records. Later in 1959 they recorded a single for a local label which saw them working with Bobby Fonville & Ralph Hernandez once again. It featured Hargro and credited only him on the label. Unfortunately not much in the way of financial or chart success resulted from either of these 1959 efforts.

The Vibraharps (1)
L-R Donnie Elbert, Danny Cannon ("Lenny O'Henry"), Donald "Duck" Simmons, Charles Hargrove ("Charles Hargro")

They were drifting in and out of “active” status when local DJ Lucky Pierre took them under his wing. He hooked them up with new local management, a pair of hustlers with all kinds of connections. With the promise of work and good pay the group came solidly together and started performing in and out of town. Somehow the came to the attention of Berry Gordy (maybe through Donnie Elbert, who was also courted by the Gordy empire). They auditioned for Motown Records in Detroit, resulting in a contract offer. Unfortunately they had to turn this offer down. Their managers virtually simultaneously signed them to a deal with business contacts in New York City.

The Vibraharps (1)
Danny Cannon and Donald "Duck" Simmons in their "Danny & Donnie"

In 1961 the Vibraharps went off to NYC to record their first single, for music business powerhouse ABC-Paramount. At this time Danny met the man who would become a friend and guide his career for the next few years: Bob Crewe. The record was “Cheated Heart”. When it came out it was billed to Lenny O’Henry & The Short Stories. Danny was told he was going to be the front man, he would be called Lenny O’Henry, and he was asked to sign a contract a separate contract from the whole group. Danny – not wanting to go behind their backs – disclosed this to the group and asked them what to do. Though they encouraged him to move forward with his career and appeared to accept secondary status as ‘his’ group, it was really the end of the Vibraharps. They never recorded together again, and Danny – though achieving some solo success – never was able to find the same feeling in the music business as he did when he was one of the boys. “Cheated Heart” was written by Danny. Bob Crewe wrote the flip side, a rocking number titled “Billy The Continental Kid”, a tale of hip cat Billy from Philly. Danny didn’t really care for this one that much. In general, he liked to sing ballads or anything in a Sam Cooke direction. Yet producers and his band mates often pushed him to do uptempos and rockers. So – “Cheated Heart” / “Billy The Continental Kid” is the last actual Vibraharps group record and also the first Danny Cannon solo record, though it’s credited to Lenny O’Henry & The Short Stories.
by Bob The Record Guy

Songs :

The Vibraharps (1)


Cosy With Rosy                            Walk Beside Me


It Must Be Magic    Nosey Neighbours

Charles Hargro bb The Vibraharps (1)


Over And Over                           Baby Oh Baby

Lenny O’Henry & The Short Stories

Cheated Heart Billy The Continental Kid

...

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The Chancellors (1) aka The Five Chancellors

Posted on January 7 2016 by dion1

The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1) Paste-up photo- Top : Edward Palatella - Bottom (L to R) : Peter Rocco, Donald Fields & John Hopper

The Chancellors (1) (Port Washington, New York)
aka The Five Chancellors

Personnel:

Edward Palatella (Lead)

John "Jiggie" Hopper (First Tenor)

Peter Rocco (Second Tenor)

Rowland Pinkney (Bass)

Donald Fields (Baritone)

Discography :

The Chancellors (1)
1957 - There Goes My Girl / Tell Me You Love Me (Port 5000)

The Five Chancellors
1957 - There Goes My Girl / Tell Me You Love Me (Port 5000)

Biography :

The Chancellors were a Five-man, mixed racial group consisting of three white and two black members, who came from Port Washington, Long Island. The two black members, Donald Fields (Baritone) and Rowland Pinkney were from Mineola High School and the remaining three guys, Edward Palatella (Lead), John Hopper and Peter Rocco (Second Tenor) were from Port Washington.

The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1)

Jerry Blaine, owner of Jubilee Records send The group to an appearance on the Apollo theatre’s amateur night on February 20, 1957 with other 24 Rock & Roll acts. They became the first mixed racial group to perform at the Apollo Theatre. The group recorded "There Goes My Girl" b/w "Tell Me You Love Me" at the Belltone studios in New York.

The Five Chancellors aka The Chancellors (1)

Edward Palatella John Hopper Peter Rocco Donald Fields

Somehow, the review of this record in the May 27, 1957 issue of Billboard mistakenly says, "A lively, typical teen-age group side by seven kids from Port Washington, N.Y., High." Due to a threatened lawsuit by another Chancellors group, they quickly changed their name to the Five Chancellors and then vanished into the mists of doo wop soon after.

Songs :

There Goes My Girl Tell Me You Love Me

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Lucien Farrar & The Lifesavers

Posted on January 5 2016 by dion1

Lucien Farrar & The Lifesavers

Lucien Farrar & The Lifesavers (New York)

Personnel :

Lucian A. Lewis (Lucien Farrar) (Lead)

Discography :

1957 - Didn’t You Know / Help (Jupiter 1A/B)
1957 - Tomorrow Night / Lucky Penny (No group) (Jupiter 2A/B)

Biography :

Before recording for labels such as RCA, Hanover or Roulette, Lucien Farrar was backed by students vocal group named The Lifesavers on two singles for the Tiny label Jupiter. The two records received only limited regional exposure, then his mother encouraged him to begin his solo career.

Lucien Farrar & The Lifesavers

Lucien Farrar began singing for RCA in 1958 and cut three other singles from 1958 to 1961 on Hanover and Roulette Records. Farrar cut a jazz album around 1958 with The Clarence Williams Trio (Good Morning Heartache For People In And Out Of Love). He sang in club throughout the United state and Canada.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Didn’t You Know Tomorrow Night

Help

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The Mellows (1)

Posted on January 3 2016 by dion1

The Mellows (1)

1955 - John Wilson , Lillian Leach , Harold Johnson & Norman Brown

The Mellows (1) (Bronx, New-York)

Personnel :

Lillian Leach (Lead)

John Tiny Wilson (First Tenor)

Harold Johnson (Second Tenor & Guitar)

Norman Polecat Brown (Bass)

Discography:

The Mellows (1)

Singles:
1954 - How Sentimental Can I Be / Nothin' To Do (Jay Dee 793)
1955 - Smoke From Your Cigarette / Pretty Baby, What's Your Name (Jay Dee 797)
1955 - I Was A Fool To Let You Go / I Still Care (Jay Dee 801)
1955 - Yesterday's Memories / Lovable Lily (Jay Dee 807)
1956 - Lucky Guy / My Darling (Celeste 3002)
1956 - I'm Yours / Sweet Lorraine (Celeste 3004)

Unreleased :
1958 - So Strange (Apollo)
1958 - Be Mine (Apollo)

Demos A cappella :
1956 - I Call To You (Celeste)
1956 - Sweet Lorraine (Celeste)
1956 - Lucky Guy (Celeste)
1956 - My Darling (Celeste)
1956 - I'm Yours (Celeste)
1956 - You're Gone (Celeste)
1956 - Ain't She Got Nerve (Celeste)
1956 - When The Lights Go On Again (Celeste)
1956 - I'm Gonna Pick Your Teeth With An Ice Pick (Celeste)

Lillian Lee & The Mellows (1)
1956 - You've Gone / Moon Of Silver (Candlelight 1011)

Carl Spencer & The Mellows (1)
1957 - Farewell, Farewell, Farewell / No More Loneliness (Candlelight 1012)

Biography :

The original members of this 50s vocal harmony group from the Bronx, New York, USA, were female lead Lillian Leach, first tenor Johnny ‘Tiny’ Wilson, second tenor Harold Johnson and bass Norman ‘Polecat’ Brown. The Mellows never had a national R&B hit, but enjoyed a number of regional hits on the east coast on the strength of the lead voice of Leach, who possessed one of the warmest and most sensual voices in the history of doo-wop.

The Mellows (1)

Joe Davis

The three boys had met as teenagers at the Morris High School in the Bronx, New York, USA. They encountered Leach at a party in 1954 when she joined their harmonizing. The revised blend was an instant hit, and the sound it produced gave the quartet their name (having learned that their original choice, the Mello-Tones, had already been employed elsewhere). They signed a contract with veteran Joe Davis on his Jay Dee label, releasing the Johnson penned ‘How Sentimental Can I Be?’. They made their biggest impact with their second release, the exquisitely romantic ‘Smoke From A Cigarette’, from early 1955.

The Mellows (1)

1956 - Arthur Crier, John Wilson, Harold Johnson , Gary Morrison & Lillian Leach

It achieved substantial local success, and during the neo-doo-wop renaissance of the early 60s became one of the most requested oldies. The next release, another remarkable ballad, ‘I Still Care’ (1955), received modest airplay. Its b-side featured another wonderful ballad, ‘I Was A Fool To Care’. The last release for Jay Dee was ‘Yesterday’s Memories’, another under appreciated masterpiece of its time.

The Mellows (1)

1956 - Harold Johnson, John Wilson, Gary Morrison, Arthur Crier & Lillian Leach with manager' David Levitt

In 1956, the Mellows moved to the Celeste label, and at this point Norman Brown left and vocal group veterans Arthur Crier and Gary Morrison were added. Commercial success at Celeste was not forthcoming, even for the outstanding ‘My Darling’. The group left the company in 1957, and completed one more recording session for Apollo in 1958 (which was left in the can) before disbanding. Johnson and Crier went on to form the Halos, who backed Curtis Lee on ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’ and enjoyed a hit under their own steam with ‘Nag’.

The Mellows (1)

1955 - John Wilson , Lillian Leach , Alan Freed, Harold Johnson & Norman Brown

Lillian Leach And The Mellows probably attained greater fame after the record collecting community rediscovered the group’s recordings during the 60s and lionized them. A reunion of the Mellows took place in 1984 with three of the original members, and the group have continued to peddle sweet R&B pop on the nostalgia circuit ever since.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Mellows/mellows.html

Songs :

The Mellows (1)


How Sentimental Can I Be         Nothin' To Do           Smoke From Your Cigarette


I Was A Fool To Let You Go / I Still Care         Yesterday's Memories / Lovable Lily


Lucky Guy / My Darling                 I'm Yours / Sweet Lorraine

Pretty Baby, What's Your Name              So Strange                              Be Mine

Lillian Lee & The Mellows (1)


You've Gone                             Moon Of Silver

Carl Spencer & The Mellows (1)

Farewell, Farewell, Farewell / No More Loneliness

...

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