Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The V.I.P.'s

Posted on March 30 2016 by dion1

The V.I.P.'s

The V.I.P.'s (New York)
ref : The Fantastics (1)

Personnel :

Jackie Carter

Fred Warner

Larry "Dub" Lawrence

Bill Nicholson

Horace Williams

Discography :

1964 - You Pulled A Fast One / Flashback (Bigtop 518)
1964 - I'm On To You Baby / If He Wants Me (Bigtop 521)
1965 - Don't Pass Me By / You Ain't Good For Nothing (Bigtop 100)

The V.I.P.'s
French Ep

Biography :

From Doo woo To Soul : When Sammy Strain left The Fantastics in 1960, Larry Lawrence, Fred Warner, William Forrest and Billy Sutton acquired a new first tenor named Nick Nicholson. They continued singing as the Fantastics for the next couple years and finally as the Keynoters they recorded “I Wanna Know Who” B/w “Come Back Home” for Keynote Records.

The V.I.P.'s

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. Paul Fulton of the Chips and Blue Chips also reported being in the group. 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, the best selling one being “You Pulled A Fast One”.

The V.I.P.'s

The V.I.P.'s had a good lead with Jackie Carter, But they never charted. They always had regional hits. In Baltimore they did a show at the Royal Theater with Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions. After being together for about a year, the V.I.P.’s broke up and some time shortly after that, Jackie Carter was found dead.
http://classicurbanharmony.net/

Songs :


You Pulled A Fast One                      Flashback


I'm On To You Baby                            If He Wants Me

…

See comments

The CeBeAires

Posted on March 28 2016 by dion1

The CeBeAires

The CeBeAires (San Francisco, CA)

Personnel :

Claudette Reed

Verlin Westbrook

Velma Crayton

Biography :

Talented singing group from Galileo High School in 1957, the CeBeAires are predicted to become a famous singing trio in the future. The singers are Claudette Reed, Verlin Westbrook, and Velma Crayton . Have they recorded ???

….

See comments

Kenny & The Beaus (1)

Posted on March 25 2016 by dion1

Kenny, Frank & Ray
Kenny Chandler

Kenny & The Beaus (1) (Harrisburg, Pa)
ref: Kenny, Frank & Ray

Personnel :

Kenneth Bolognese "Kenny Chandler" (Lead)

Dick Donmoyer

Bob. Napotonia

Frank Desendi

Ralph Stevens

Discography :

Kenny, Frank & Ray
1958 - Everybody Loves Saturday Night / I'm Going Away (Cameo 144)
1959 - If You Love Me / Why Was I Born (PL 13)

Kenny & The Beaus (1)
(Credited to Kenny Beau & The Whirlwinds)
Single:
1959 - You're The Right One / Gift Of Love (PL 1015)
Unreleased :
1959 - What Is Love
1959 - Cindy Lou

Biography :

Kenny Chandler, born Kenneth Bolognese, was originally from. “The Hill” section of Harrisburg,Pa. and was a member of John Harris High School Class of 1959. Interested in music at an early age, Kenny got together with four classmates 1n senior high school to form a group called the Montclaires (later changed to the Clairmonts). This first group consisted of Micky Liddick. (drums), Junie Brown ( congas),Nathanial Edmonds (piano), with. Lee Bradshaw, Ray Carlisle, George Campbell, and Kenny doing vocals. They split up after only a short time but Ken stayed together with Ray Carlisle, in hopes of forming another group. it was after football practice, while singing in the showers, that. Ray got word that teammate Frankie Cacapardo was interested in joining the group. Thus, the trio was formed, calling them- selves Kenny, Frank, and Ray.

Kenny, Frank & Ray

Kenny remembers that, at the time they were singing a lot of street-corner harmony, and became practiced enough to win second place in a talent show at the Senate Theater, Harrisburg. This little bit of notoriety brought the trio to the attention of WHGB disc-jockey Paul Landersman,who was, at the time, doing a live radio show from the Colonial. The boys came down to the theater during one of these live broadcasts and actually auditioned for him on the fire escape during a break. Paul had already established good connections in the music business as manager of the Quintones. (York, Pa), and was impressed enough with the trio's talents that he asked to manage them on the spot. The first big local show that Kenny, Frank, and Ray performed at was at the Zembo Mosque, Harrisburg, featuring Danny and the Juniors and Connie Francis .

Kenny, Frank & Ray

During rehearsals, one of the members of Danny & The Juniors became very impressed with the trio's vocal stylings, and inquired whether they had a record out. This connection soon got them to an office in Philadelphia where they auditioned for Bernie Lowe. They presented 4 orignal songs at the audition, but Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe were more impressed with the talent than the songs and arranged a recording session at Reco-Arts Studios which produced 2 sides: “Everybody Loves Saturday" and "I'm Going Away." Bernie Lowe was the piano player on the session, and Paul played the folding slat chairs (a low-budget version of the drums). Lowe issued it on his own label as Cameo #144. ”Everybody” was written by Cameo staffer Tony Mamerella under the pseudonym. Anthony September. Cameo was one of the new ”hot” labels when the song was released in the summer of 1958. Unfortunately, although “Everybody Loves Saturday" received good local play, it never went national.

Kenny, Frank & Ray

Reco-Arts was again used to record “If You Love Me” and “Why Was I Born” (a Ray Carlisle original). Issued as PL #13 in late 1958, the record received only limited regional exposure. By 1959,. Ray had become disillusioned and dropped out of the group, ending their string of near-hits at two. Kenny, however, had been writing some original material, and formed a new group in 1959 called The Beaus. This group consisted of Dick Donmoyer, Bob Napotonia, Frank Desendi, and Ralph Stevens. Kenny took on the stage name “ Kenny Beau,” and returned to Reco-Arts to cut “You're the Right One” and “Gift of Love". The Session produced a solid 2-sides doo-wop records, released as PL 1015. The Whirlwinds, which is the group credited on the label, were really the studio musicians used on the session, as the name of the group was officially “Kenny and The Beaus".

Kenny, Frank & Ray

The good looking Harrisburg resident hijacked the surname of movie star Jeff Chandler, finally attracting some notice in 1961 with 'Drums', written and produced by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, then creative geniuses in residence at United Artists. Chandler subsequently signed with Laurie about the time Dion was leaving the label for Columbia.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Kenny, Frank & Ray

If You Love Me Why Was I Born

Everybody Loves Saturday Night / I'm Going Away

Kenny & The Beaus (1)

You're The Right One Gift Of Love

...

See comments

The Twilights (2) aka The Embers (9) aka The Four Embers

Posted on March 20 2016 by dion1

The Embers (9) aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers
The Twilights Pete Reyes, Joe Durant, Claude "Indio" Chenet, Cal Washington and Robert Perryman

The Embers (9) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers
ref : The Juveniles

Personnel :

Robert "Bobby" Perryman (Lead)

Claude "Indio" Chenet (Second Tenor)

Joseph Durant (Baritone)

Cal Washington (First Tenor)

Peter Reyes (Bass)

Discography :

The Twilights (2)
Single :
1959 - My Heart Belongs To Only You / Oh Baby Love (Finesse 1717)
Demo :
1958 - Soda Pop (acapella)
1958 - My Heart Belongs To Only You (acapella)

Maria Elena & The Twilights (2)
1962 - I Was Too Careful / Temptation (Countess 113)

The Embers (9)
Singles :
1961 - Solitaire / I’m Feeling All Right Again (Empress 101)
1961 - I Won’t Cry Anymore / I Was Too Careful (Empress 104)
1962 - Abigail / I Was Too Careful (Empress 107)
Unreleased :
1961 - What A Surprise (Empress)
1961 - I Wish I Didn’t Love You So (Empress)

The Four Embers
1963 - But Beautiful / You’ve Been Away Too Long (Smash 1846)

Biography :

In 1957, Marilyn Bishop Marilyn gave birth to a baby girl, Michelle, and left The Juveniles. Larry Peters will make even some time after. At this time, the group has only three members. Robert Perryman stepped up to become the new lead singer and Cal Washington was recruited by Claude Chenet to become the new first tenor. Cal had sung with a local street group, had a background in gospel and blues and also hung out with the Chords. Pete Reyes was recruited by Bobby to replace Larry Peters as the bass singer. The Twilights now consisted of Robert Perryman (lead) Cal Washington (first tenor) Claude “Indio” Chenet (second tenor) Joseph Durant (baritone) and Peter Reyes (bass).

The Embers (9) aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers
The Juveniles "Bobby" Perryman , Claude "Indio" Chenet, Marilyn Durant, Larry Peters and Joe Durant

The Twilights recorded “My Heart Belongs To Only You” and “Oh Baby Love,” with Bobby Perryman singing both leads, which came out on Finesse Records in November of 1959. The Twilights also backed up Maria Elena on “I Was Too Careful” and “Temptation,” both of which weren’t released until 1962 on Countess Records. They appeared at one of Clay Cole’s shows in Palisades Park, New Jersey also starring the Drifters, Moonglows, Skyliners, Belmonts, Bobby Rydell and Neil Sedaka.

The Embers (9) aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers The Twilights (2) aka The Embers (9) aka The Four Embers

The Twilights sang “My Heart Belongs To Only You” as well as “Oh Baby Love” and this performance was broadcast live on television. The Twilights also appeared at the RKO Franklin Theatre on Prospect Avenue in the Bronx where they also backed up Maria Elena. The Twilights changed their name to the Embers and signed with Empress Records, owned by Gene and Jody Malis, which was a subsidiary label (as was Valmor) under Countess International.

The Embers (9) aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers
The Embers : Pete Reyes, Joe Durant, Claude "Indio" Chenet, Robert Perryman and Cal Washington

The Embers had been rehearsing an old standard ballad that Tony Bennett recorded named “Solitaire,” a song that Jody wanted them to record because she felt it had hit potential. The Embers recorded “Solitaire” with Bobby Perryman singing lead. On the week of August 22, 1961, “Solitaire” reached number 9 on WABC’s radio survey. It was also doing extremely well on Billboard’s charts. By mid 1963, the Embers were down to four members as Pete Reyes had left the group. The Embers were still under contract with Empress, which wasn’t doing well at the time so Gene and Jody Malis sent them to writer and record producer Wally Zober in order to see what he could do for them.

The Embers (9) aka The Twilights (2) aka The Four Embers

Wally took them down to Odo Recording Studios on West 54th Street in Manhattan on August 1, 1963 where they recorded “But Beautiful” and “You’ve Been Away Too Long.” A bass player, George Butcher, arranged the orchestra and the group arranged the vocals. “But Beautiful” was recorded first, with Robert Perryman singing lead. “You’ve Been Away Too Long” was a fast number that Jody had given to them but they did not care for. They recorded it with Cal singing lead. The session lasted for most of the day and the songs were released on Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records, in December of 1963 as by the “Four Embers.” By 1964, with the British Invasion underway, the Embers (without a hit record since 1961) broke up and decided to get on with their personal lives.

Songs :

The Twilights (2)


My Heart Belongs To Only You                     Oh Baby Love

Maria Elena & The Twilights (2)


Temptation                  I Was Too Careful

The Embers (9)


Solitaire              I’m Feeling All Right Again           I Won’t Cry Anymore


I Was Too Careful                    Abigail                 What A Surprise

I Wish I Didn't Love You So

The Four Embers

But Beautiful / You’ve Been Away Too Long

...

See comments

The Vels (2) aka The Styles (2)

Posted on March 19 2016 by dion1

The Styles (2) aka The Vels (2)
Gene Serina (1963)

The Vels (2) (Lower East Side, New York)
aka The Styles (2)

Personnel :

Ruben Mangual

Orvin Baptiste

Rick Pettignano

Gene Serina

George West

Discography :

The Vels (2)
1963 - Do The Walk / In-Laws (Amy 881)

The Styles (2)
1964 - School Bells To Chapel Bells / I Love You For Sentimental Reasons (Josie 920)

Biography :

The group first began on the lower east side of New York City in 1958, when 4 young men, ranging in age from 13 to 15 and attending Junior High School 22, first harmonized on street corners, hallways and subway stations perfecting their own unique style. This perfection earned the group invitations to perform at block parties, school functions and becoming the wishful entertainment for everyone’s house parties. This first group was called The Financials with Ruben Mangual, Orvin Baptiste, Rick Pettignano & Gene Serina. Soon after, Ruben introduced George West (a high school friend) to the group, rounding out The Financials to a full 5 man vocal group.

The Styles (2) aka The Vels (2)
Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon

In 1961 the group decided to change the group name from it's wall street sounding Financials to something shorter and slicker and they came up with “The Vels”. In late 1962, the group's manager, Rick Pettignano Sr. (father of group member Rick Pettignano Jr.), landed a recording contract for The Vels with Amy Records (1650 Broadway, NY) and their first record was released in 1963 (Amy #881) “Do The Walk” / “In Laws”, produced by Jerry Landis AKA Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel Fame). One year later the group was approached by singer, song writer and producer Vinny Catalano and his partner Pete Alonso for a project he felt was perfect for our group. Before the recording date Gene Serina was inducted into the US Army and was replaced by neighborhood friend Tony Duran.

The Styles (2) aka The Vels (2)
Vinny Catalano

The group then recorded "School Bells To Chapel Bells" & "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons". Producer Catalano shopped the recordings to Josie Records (a subsidiary of Jubilee Records) and the group was singed to the label. Executives at Josie Records did not like the groups name "The Vels", they changed it to The Styles and released the recordings in 1964 (Josie Records Catalog #920). The Trademark for the name The Styles was granted to another entity in 2014 which now prohibits us from using the name professionally.

The Styles (2) aka The Vels (2)
The Vels / Styles (2014) Top : George West, Gene Serina & Ruben Mangual - Bottom Rick Pettignano

Gene Serina returned from the Army and was brought back into the group. There were a few personnel changes within the group. The group lost Ruben Mangual, Tony Duran & George West leaving Rick Pettignano, Orvin Baptiste & Gene Serina. They added neighborhood friend Eddie Lebron bringing the group to 4 members. In late 1965 record producer, Joe Webb (who was the manager of the original Bobbettes) asked Eddie Lebron & Gene Serina, (formerly with the The Styles vocal group whose name we can no longer use due to US Trademark issues) if they would be interested in meeting with 2 members of a Long Island group called The Lost Souls who had recorded "Little Eva" as The Locomotions for Gone Records.
http://www.cozycornerradio.com/

Songs :

The Vels (2)

Do The Walk In-Laws

The Styles (2)

School Bells To Chapel Bells I Love You For Sentimental Reasons

…

See comments

The Castaways

Posted on March 18 2016 by dion1

The Castaways

The Castaways

After two singles as The Dreamers (16) and The Accents (3) , the group composed by Mike Lasman, Shelly Weiss, Alan Senzon and Ian Kay back up Scott English on his 1963 Spokane’s sides : "High on A Hill", "Heres Comes The Pain" and "All I Want Is You". The Accents broke up but Mike Lasman and Shelly Weiss then joined a short lived group called the Castaways with Bobby Kutner and Larry Kasman who was the lead singer of the Quotations. Unfortunately they do not register.

...

See comments

The Marshans

Posted on March 18 2016 by dion1

The Marshans

The Marshans (Tacoma, Washington State)

Personnel :

Marilyn Lodge (MayAlta Page)

Penny Anderson

Kay Rogers

Discography :

Singles:

The Marshans
1962 - I Remember / It's Almost Tomorrow (Etiquette 08)

The Wailers bb The Marshans
1962 - We're Goin' Surfin / Shakedown (Not on) (Etiquette 06)

MayAlta Page
1964 - Don't Worry About Me Baby / You're So Fine (Etiquette 13)

Lp :

1963 - The Wailers and Company (Etiquette 022)
Shoo Fly Pie

The Marshans

Biography :

The Wailers wanted to expand their stage show into a review by adding other performers. With two flips and a beehive ala 1962, and the departure of Rock' in Robin from the Wailers, they began auditioning several girl singers and formed their own girl singing group…. The MARSHANS. The original members consisted of Marilyn Lodge, Kay Rogers, and Penny Anderson. Later on Mary Ellen Hanson replaced Marilyn Lodge and Nickie Morrill (Kent's wife at the time) had a short run with the group.

The Marshans

The Marshans were a colorful and audience pleasing addition to The Wailers' show during the early sixties backing up Kent Morrill and Gail Harris performances, and doing their own thing singing 'girl trio' R & B songs popular in the early '60's. They were the voices on the Wailers' "We're Goin' Surfin" ET45-06, and had their own single "I Remember" b/w "It's Almost Tomorrow" ET45-08 in 1962. The Marshans were also included on the compilation "WAILERS & COMPANY" ETLP 022 released in 1963 with "Shoo Fly Pie" .

The Marshans

The girls performed with The Wailers until the end of 1964 throughout the Greater Northwest with an occasional tour to Utah, Nevada and California. The changing times and more emphasis on bands, the Wailers "downsized" the "review" and began concentrating on developing the band with the addition of Ron Gardner, Dave Roland and Neil Anderson. The Marshans began doing performances by themselves with an occasional reunion with the Wailers. They were recently featured on the Wailers 40th anniversary shows in Tacoma and Seattle, March 1999. The group disbanded near the end of 1964. Marilyn Lodge had a solo Etiquette single recording shot with "You're So Fine" b/w"Don't Worry About Me Baby" under the stage name of Mayalta Page.
http://fogcity1.com/audiovideomix.com/THEWAILERS/The_Marshans/marshansall.html

Songs :

The Marshans

It's Almost Tomorrow I Remember

MayAlta Page

You're So Fine Don't Worry About Me Baby

The Wailers bb The Marshans

We're Goin' Surfin

...

See comments

The Videos

Posted on March 16 2016 by dion1

(Paste up picture) Clarence Bassett, Ronald Cuffey

The Videos (Jamaica, NY)

Personnel :

Ronald Cuffey (Lead)

Clarence Bassett (First Tenor)

Charles Baskerville (Second Tenor)

Johnny Jackson (Baritone)

Ron Woodhall (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - Trickle, Trickle / Moonglow, You Know (Casino 102)
1958 - Love Or Infatuation / Shoo Bee Doo Bee Cha Cha Cha (Casino 105)

Biography :

A native of Jamaica, Queens, New York, Ronald Cuffey was a member of the 1950s Rhythm and Blues musical group, The Five Sharps, along with tenor Robert 'Bobby' Ward, pianist Thomas 'Tommy Duckett, Mickey Owens, and Clarence Bassett. The group which formed in the early 1950s, is best remembered for there 1952 single, "Stormy Weather." The song which was recorded on the Jubilee Record Label is considered one of the most collectible doo-wop singles ever released. In 1953, a couple of the band members left to join the military, and shortly afterwards the group disbanded, and went there separate ways.

The Videos

Clarence Bassett & Charles Baskerville

In 1958, Clarence Bassett and Ronald Cuffey joined forces and created another musical group, The Videos with Charles Baskerville, Johnny Jackson and Ron Woodhall. They signed with the Casino Record Label and recorded the song, "Trickle Trickle", which was a minor success for them. Before they were able to record a follow-up to their second release for Casino, "Love Or Infatuation," two members had died: Ron Woodhall and Ronald Cussey. This marked the end of the Videos' Singing career. Two years after the Heartbeats' demise, James Sheppard met Clarence Bassett and Charles Baskerville of the Videos and formed Shep & the Limelites. After two flops on Apt. Records, Shep returned to Hull Records and Caslin signed them on the spot. "Daddy's Home" was Shep & the Limelites' first Hull release and it nearly aced the pop chart, stopping at number two.

Songs :


Trickle, Trickle                          Moonglow, You Know


Love Or Infatuation                  Shoo Bee Doo Bee Cha Cha Cha

…

See comments

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Posted on March 14 2016 by dion1

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Shirley & Lee (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Aka The Heart-Throbs

Part I - Discography & Biography (By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel:

Shirley Mae Goodman

Leonard Lee

Discography:

Shirley & Lee

Singles:
1952 - Sweethearts / I'm Gone (Aladdin 3153)
1952 - Baby / Shirley Come Back To Me (Aladdin 3173)
1953 - Shirley's Back / So In Love (Aladdin 3192)
1953 - The Proposal / Two Happy People (Aladdin 3205)
1954 - Lee Goofed / Why Did I (Aladdin 3222)
1954 - Keep On / Confessin' (Aladdin 3244)
1954 - Comin' Over / Takes Money (Aladdin 3258)
1955 - Feel So Good / You'd Be Thinking Of Me (Aladdin 3289)
1955 - Lee's Dream / I'll Do It (Aladdin 3302)
1956 - That's What I'll Do / A Little Word (Aladdin 3313)
1956 - Let The Good Times Roll / Do You Mean To Hurt Me So (Aladdin 3325)
1956 - I Feel Good / Now That It's Over (Aladdin 3338)
1957 - When I Saw You / That's What I Wanna Do (Aladdin 3362)
1957 - I Want To Dance / Marry Me (Aladdin 3369)
1957 - Rock All Nite / Don't You Know I Love You (Aladdin 3380)
1957 - Rockin' With The Clock / The Flirt (Aladdin 3390)
1958 - I'll Thrill You / Love No One But (Aladdin 3405)
1958 - Everybody's Rockin’ / Don't Leave Me Here To Cry (Aladdin 3418)
1958 - Come On And Have Your Fun / All I Want To Do Is Cry (Aladdin 3432)
1959 - When Day Is Done / True Love (Aladdin 3455)
1960 - I’ve Been Loved Before / Like You Used To Do (Warwick 535)
1960 - Let The Good Times Roll / Keep Loving Me (Warwick 581)
1961 - Two Peas In A Pod / Your Love Makes The Difference (Warwick 609)
1961 - Well-A, Well-A / Our Kids (Warwick 664)
1962 - Girl, You’re Married Now / Let’s Live It Up (Warwick 679)
1962 - The Joker / Together We Stand (Divided We Fall) (Imperial 5818)
1962 - My Last Letter / I’m Old Enough (Imperial 5854)
1962 - A Little Thing / Don’t Stop Now (Imperial 5868)
1963 - Hey Little Boy / The Golden Rule (Imperial 5922)
1963 - Dancing World / I’m Gone* (Imperial 5970)
1963 - Somebody Put A Jukebox In The Study Hall / Never Let Me Go (Imperial 66000)
*prev. released on Aladdin 3153 in 1953

Albums:

1956 - {Let The Good Times Roll} Let The Good Times Roll / I'm Gone / Sweethearts / Keep On / Takes Money / Confessin' / Lee's Dream / I'll Do It / Tryin' To Fool Me / Comin' Over / So In Love Why Did I (Aladdin LP-807)

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1958 - {Let The Good Times Roll} Let The Good Times Roll / I'm Gone / Sweethearts / Keep On / Takes Money / Confessin' / Lee's Dream / I'll Do It / Tryin' To Fool Me / Comin' Over / So In Love Why Did I Score SLP-4023)

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1961 - {Let The Good Times Roll} Let The Good Times Roll / Lovers' Mistake / Like You Used To Do / You Moves Me / They've Got To Understand / Who Are We Fooling? / I Love The Way You Love / Keep Loving Me / It's Been So Long / Your Day Is Coming* / I've Been Loved Before / Let's Live It Up (Warwick LP W-2028)
*Leonard Lee solo

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1962 - {Let The Good Times Roll} Let The Good Times Roll / Rock All Night / Feel So Good / Lee's Dream / Deed I Do / Keep On / I'm Gone / I Want To Dance / Sweethearts / Comin' Over / Confessin' / Takes Money (Imperial LP 9179A)

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1973 - {Legendary Masters Series} A Little Word / All I Want To Do Is Cry / Before I Go / Come On And Have Your Fun / Comin’ Over / Do You Mean To Hurt Me So / Don’t Leave Me Here To Cry / Don’t You Know I Love You / Everybody’s Rockin’ / Feel So Good / I Didn’t Want You / I’ll Do It (Deed I Do) / I’ll Thrill You / I’m Gone / Korea / Lee’s Dream / Let The Good Times Roll / Marry Me / Rock All Night / Rockin’ With The Clock / Shirley, Come Back To Me / Shirley’s Back / Sweethearts / That’s What I’ll Do / That’s What I Wanna Do / The Flirt / The Reason Why / True Love (Never Dies) / When Day Is Done / You’d Be Thinking Of Me (United Artists UA-LA-069-H2)

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1981 - {The Best Of Shirley & Lee} Let The Good Times Roll / Rock All Night / Feel So Good / I'm Gone / Lee's Dream / That's What I'll Do / Don't You Know I Love You / Everybody's Rockin' / Why Did I? / I Feel Good / Baby / I'll Thrill You (Ace LP 47)

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1985 - {Happy Days} Bewildered / Good For Nothing Baby / Everybody Needs Somebody / Lover's Mistake / Your Day Is Coming / I'll Never Be Free / Shirley, Come Back / After Last Month* (Manhattan LP 5025)
*actually After Last Night

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1985 - {Respectfully Yours} After Last Night / Two Peas In A Pod / Let's Live It Up / Ya Moves Me* / Everybody** / Lover’s Mistake / Your Day Is Coming*** / I'll Never**** (Manhattan LP 5040)
*actually You Moves Me - **actually Everybody Needs Somebody - ***Leonard Lee solo - ****actually I’ll Never Be Free

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

1986 - {The Imperial Sides 1962/1963} Together We Stand (Divided We Fall) / The Joker / My Last Letter / You Wouldn't / A Little Thing / The Engagement Song* (prev. unrel.) / Don't Stop Now / His Little Boy / Don't Marry Too Soon* / When A Boy Meets A Girl* / When I Fall In Love** / Honey Bee** / Honky Tonk Music / Never Let Me Go / Surf Heaven (prev. unrel.) / Somebody Put A Jukebox In The Study Hall (Imperial LP 1566331)
*actually The Engagement - **Shirley Goodman solo

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Unreleased:

1952 - House Party (Aladdin, lost)
1952 - The Real Thing (Aladdin)
1952 - The Reason Why (Aladdin)*
1952 - Korea (Aladdin)*
1953 - Every Fools Has His Day (Aladdin)
1953 - Glad To Be Home (Aladdin, lost)
1953 - Shirley’s Back (alt.)
1953 - So In Love (alt.)
1954 - I Didn’t Want You (Aladdin)
1956 - Everything (When I Saw You) (Aladdin)
1956 - We Will Be Forever Happy (Aladdin)
1957 - Before I Go (Aladdin)*
1957 - Everything (When I Saw You) (Aladdin)
1960 - After Last Night (Warwick)***
1960 - Bewildered (Warwick)**
1960 - Everybody Needs Somebody (Warwick)*
1960 - I'll Never Be Free (Warwick)**
1960 - Shirley Come Back (Warwick)*
1960 - I Was Lucky (Warwick)
1962 - The Engagement (Imperial)***
1962 - You Wouldn’t (Imperial)****
1963 - Honky Tonk Music (Imperial)****
1963 - Surfer's Hangout (Imperial)
1963 - Surf Heaven (Imperial)****
*released on the United Artists LP UA-LA-069-H2 in 1973
**released on the Manhattan LP 5025 in 1985
***released on the Manhattan LP 5040 in 1985
****released on the Imperial LP 1566331 in 1986

The Heart-Throbs

1957 - So Glad* / All The Way Home** (Lamp 2010 / Aladdin 3394)
*Shirley Goodman backed by an unknown male group - **Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee

Biography:

Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee, born just ten days apart in 1936, scored three massive R&B hits before either one of them were both 20 years old: "Feel So Good," "Let the Good Times Roll", and "I Feel Good" were all written by the talented young couple.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

They were part of a teenage group which harmonized in church and on street corners. The youngsters found out that in exchange for $2 they could make a one-sided demonstration 78 rpm record at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studio. The kids pooled their allowances and one day after school they recorded a song they'd been rehearsing. A few months later, Aladdin Records' [http://www.bsnpubs.com/aladdin/aladdinstory.html] Eddie Mesner was in New Orleans looking for talent when Matassa played him the kids' tape. Mesner went crazy when he heard Goodman's shrill voice and demanded Matassa locate her. Eventually she was found and returned to the studio where she was paired with Leonard Lee.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)
L-R Lee Allen, Leonard Lee, Justin Adams, Shirles Goodman at Cosimo Matassa's studio

Shirley & Lee had one trait in common among their recordings; this New Orleans-based duo almost never sang in harmony, let alone together at all. The duo rarely sang in unison because the range in their voices was so far apart. Shirley had a high voice and Lee's was big and booming, and the contrast between the two gave their act its appeal. Lee usually cooed or posed a question and Shirley answered in sharp innocence. Their contrasting male-female duet style was later influential on early ska and reggae productions from Jamaica. Shirley & Lee recorded extensively for Eddie Messner and Leo Messner's L.A.-based Aladdin label. The Messners - along with former NBC radio executive Lew Chudd's Imperial Records and Art Rupe's Specialty - seemed to have a knack for signing talent straight out of the Crescent City.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Allen Toussaint Justin Adams Earl Palmer

Shirley & Lee's debut single, "I'm Gone," was written and produced by Dave Bartholomew, Imperial's writer/arranger/producer/A&R man and a major contributor to New Orleans-style R&B. (It was Bartholomew's production work with Fats Domino which utilized that talents of a great house band - pianist Allen Toussaint , bassist Frank Fields, guitarist Justin Adams , drummer Earl Palmer , and saxophonists Lee Allen , Red Tyler , and Herb Hardesty - that elevated nearly everything he worked on to "legendary" status.) With their backing "I'm Gone" went on to become a major R&B hit in the fall of 1952. This recording would be deeply influential on the development of ska and reggae.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Frank Fields Herbert Hardesty Red Tyler

Early in their careers, Shirley & Lee became known as "the Sweethearts of the Blues," a nickname given not for their personal relationship, but for their romantic sagas of their songs, which often bordered on telling a fictional soap-opera storyline about two lovers. Their fans would buy the singles simply to keep up with the continuing story of the two sweethearts. The story continued with the very next single, "Shirley Come Back to Me," a heartbreaker released in early 1953, followed by "Shirley's Back," later that year. This happy theme continued through the happy ending for the next single, "The Proposal" b/w "Two Happy People."

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

By the end of the year, Aladdin was reveling in success of the story of Shirley & Lee. Of course, the couple in the songs had already been apart and were now back together, so they had to shake things up with the next release, called "Lee Goofed," and followed that with "Confessin'" but by now the audience seemed to be tiring of the soap opera, so Shirley & Lee moved on to new lyrical subject matter.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Messner decided to try something new for the duo in May of 1955, issuing a medium-tempo rocker called "Feel So Good." The song featured full vocal group backup (reportedly by the Spiders) and did well, but it was the bluesy B-side, "You'd Be Thinking of Me," that put the duo back on the R&B hit charts. "Lee's Dream" also charted. In early 1956, Aladdin released the duo's slow blues ballad, "A Little Word," which received good airplay, but sales weren't spectacular.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

By the middle of 1956, Shirley & Lee were back on top, this time with the biggest hit in their careers. Goodman and Lee borrowed one of New Orleans' most familiar refrains and built a rocking tune around it called "Let the Good Times Roll." The recording was an instant smash and received substantial airplay, climbing up the charts in the process (# 1 R&B). Some DJ’s refused to play it, claiming that it had suggestive lyrics. The song crossed over to the pop charts, where it reached as high as #20. It sold well-over one million copies and for more than 40 years has been a staple of oldies play lists. To date, there are over a hundred cover versions of the song, but most still prefer the original. Aladdin issued a full-length album, Let the Good Times Roll, in December. It was reissued two years later on Score, Aladdin's budget label.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

After the death of Eddie Messner the duo's career began to wane, but they continued to work for the Imperial Record Label [http://www.bsnpubs.com/imperial/imperiala.html] (which took over for Aladdin), and the Warwick Imprint Label [http://www.bsnpubs.com/nyc/warwick/warwick.html], where they ended up re-recording "Let the Good Times Roll." Other tunes followed - "I Feel Good" and "The Flirt" among them - but like many acts, Shirley & Lee were never able to recapture the nationwide success of their biggest hit. After a few final singles in 1962-1963, this time for Imperial - Aladdin and Imperial continued their rivalry and tried to one-up each other until Aladdin was acquired by Imperial outright - the "Sweethearts of the Blues" decided to call it a day.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

Following this Shirley undertook session chores for the likes of Sonny and Cher, Dr John, The Rolling Stones and Jackie DeShannon. Shirley & Lee were briefly reunited in 1972, after Shirley had recorded with several other artistic partners, including Shirley & Jesse, who recorded the song 'Ivory Tower' in 1966.

Shirley & Lee (Part I - Discography & Biography)

In 1974, Shirley Goodman reappeared on the R&B scene, this time paired with studio musicians - they called themselves Shirley and Company - for "Shame, Shame, Shame," released on the Vibration label. (The song also featured Jesus Alvarez supplying lead vocals). The disco-fied hit topped the R&B charts at number one that summer and peaked at number 12 on the pop charts. It was written by producer Sylvia Robinson, who had also been part of a successful '50s duo, Mickey & Sylvia [http://doo-wop.blogg.org/mickey-sylvia-c26503952], with Mickey Baker. Robinson also penned Goodman's less successful follow-up "Cry, Cry, Cry." They issued one more single on Vibration, then dropped out of sight. Leonard Lee passed away on October 23, 1976 at the age of 40, following a heart attack. Shirley Goodman passed away from a stroke on July 5, 2005 at the age of 69.

Shirley & Lee (Part II - Songs & Video)

...

See comments

The Five Blue Notes aka The Blue Jays (2)

Posted on March 11 2016 by dion1

The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes
Andy Magruder

The Blue Jays (2) (Washington, D.C.)
aka The Five Blue Notes

Personnel

Andy Magruder (Lead)

Waymond Mooney (First Tenor)

Robert Stroud (Second Tenor)

Moise Vaughn (baritone / bass)

Discography :

The Blue Jays (2)
1972 (1953) - Could I Adore You / Sweet Pauline (Roadhouse 1004)

The Five Blue Notes
1953 - My Gal Is Gone / Ooh Baby (Sabre 103)
1954 - The Beat Of Our Hearts / You Gotta Go Baby (Sabre 108)
1958 - My Special Prayer / Somethin' Awful (Onda 888)
1959 - My Special Prayer / The Thunderbird (inst by the Jammers) (Onda 888)

Andy Mack
1964 - Do You Wanta Go / Later Than You Think (Chess 1910)

Biography :

This group was founded by Magruder in 1950, when he was in junior High school. "Could I Adore You" and "Sweet Pauline" were recorded by the Five Blue Notes under their prerecording name, the Blue Jays. These songs were eventually released in 1972 by Les Moss of Roadhouse Records. When these unreleased tunes were originally recorded, the group was only a quartet consisting of Magruder, Waymond Mooney, Robert Stroud, and Moise Vaughan. Jackie Shedrick replaced Mooney, who joined the marines. When lead/tenor Fleming Briscoe was added, the group's name became the Five Blue Notes.

The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes

They met William Bosco Boyd, the manager of the Clefs, who suggested that they try to record for a Chicago organization. They spent a month in Chicago before getting a contract to record. The contract was finally reached with Chance Records, and they recorded four songs that were all released on the Chance subsidiary Sabre. Magruder, disappointed that he never heard anything about the recordings, left to join the marines. While he was in the service, "My Gal Is Gone" was finally released by Chance/Sabre. Magruder was discharged in 1958 and found Stroud, Vaughan, Shedrick, and a new tenor, Louis Smalls, performing as the Five Blue Notes. They recorded one record for the Onda label, which went nowhere.

The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes
Andy Magruder (left) with the Spaniels at the Apollo

They stayed together for a year and broke up for good in 1960. Magruder then joined a later Spaniels group, and recorded on their last hit, "I Know," in 1961. He stayed with the Spaniels until 1963, when he tried to go it alone as a solo act. Magruder managed to get one record out by himself, under the name of Andy Mack The titles were "Do You Wanta Go" and "Later Than You Think," and he was backed by a young D.C. group, the Carltons. Aside from a few plays in the D.C. area, the record bombed.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/5BlueNotes/5bluenotes.html

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Blue Jays (2)

Sweet Pauline Could I Adore You

The Five Blue Notes


My Gal Is Gone                  Ooh Baby                      The Beat Of Our Hearts


You Gotta Go Baby               My Special Prayer           ‪Somethin' Awful‬

Andy Mack


Do You Wanta Go               Later Than You Think

…

See comments