Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Dolphins (3) aka The Dual Tones

Posted on October 30 2017 by dion1

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

The Dolphins (3) Port Chester, New York)
aka The Dual Tones

Personnel :

James Cascio

Anthony Fotia

Discography :

The Dual Tones
1959 - Bubble-Gum Bop! / I'll Belong To You (Sabre 203)

The Dolphins (3)
1961 - Rainbow's End / One More For The Road (Empress 102)

Biography :

The Dolphins were were James Cascio and Anthony Fotia. They were from Port Chester, New York. In 1959, James and Anthony recorded two songs : "Bubble-Gum Bop!" b/w "I'll Belong To You". The single was released on the tiny Sabre records in New York. they were billed as the Dual Tones. They had the pleasure of appearing on the stage of an Allan Freed show in the Catskills back in 1959 were and they backed up Johnny Maestro on "16 Candles".

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

At the end of the year 1960, James Cascio and Anthony Fotia sign a recording contract with Empress and change their name to the Dolphins . Empress was a subsidiary of Valmor Records. The Valmor Company was started in the fall of 1960 in New York city. It was a division of Countess, international, and owned and run by Gene and Jody Malis (Jody often used her maiden name, Cameron).

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

In 1961, Valmor opened the subsidiary label, Empress. The Empress label lasted about a year and only released 8 singles. The new renamed Dolphins recorded two ballads : "Rainbow's End" and "One More For The Road" released on Empress 102. After the empress release, Anthony Fotia moved to the Bronx.

Songs :

The Dolphins (3)


One More For The Road                   Rainbow's End

The Dual Tones


I'll Belong To You                            Bubble-Gum Bop!

...

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The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

Posted on October 29 2017 by dion1

The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

The Rajahs (New Haven, Conn.)
aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

Personnel :

Leroy Griffin (Lead)

"Sonny" Washburn (First Tenor)

Eddie Martin (Second Tenor)

"Sonny" Griffin (Baritone)

Leroy McNeil (Bass)

Discography :

Singles
1957 - Shifting Sands / I Feel In love (Klik 7805)
1973 - Rose Ann (a capella) / You're Crying (a capella) (Klik 1019)
1973 - Story To You (a capella) / I Love You So (The Five Satins) (Klik 1020)

Unreleased :
1958 - Help Me (Demo)

Biography :

The Nutmegs were a 1950s American doo wop vocal group from New Haven, Connecticut. They are best known for their songs "Story Untold" and "Ship of Love," both released in 1955. Each single made the national R&B charts, with "Story Untold" reaching #2 and "Ship of Love" peaking at #13. The quintet was led by tenor Leroy Griffin and was signed to Herald Records in New York.

The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

In 1956, The Nutmegs returned home to New Haven, Connecticut, after a disagreement with Alan Freed, who accused them of including obscenities in their act. Billy Emery, who was with the group prior to recording, left to marry and Tyson left to concentrate on his first love, Gospel. The Griffins and McNeil remained and were joined by Washburn from the Five Dukes on Atlas and Eddie Martin from the Five Satins.

The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

To Avoid contractual problems, they changer their name to the Rajahs. A single as the Rajahs on Connecticut's Klik label (1957) with ”Shifting Sands” and ”I Feel In love” have poor result. Griffin soon changed the group right back into the Nutmegs, but it was Washburn who assumed some of the lead vocal chores on later sides by the group such as the 1962 "Crazy 'Bout You." They made records as the Lyres and the Rajahs, but it’s under their main name The Nutmegs had their two big R&B chart hits. Both were composed by the group's distinctive lead singer, Leroy Griffin.

Songs :


Shifting Sands                            I Feel In love


Rose Ann / You're Crying                          Story To You

…

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The Sliders (1)

Posted on October 28 2017 by dion1

Byron Gibson

The Sliders (1) (Los Angeles, CA)

Personnel :

Byron Gibson JR. (Lead)

Judge Dennis

Eugene Jackson

Clarence Alexander (Bass)

Leo Alexander (Tenor)

Discography :

The Sliders (1) as The Pharaohs
Unreleased :
1956 - My Little Girl (Specialty)

Byron "Slick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)
Single :
1956 - The One I Love / Honey-Dew (Specialty 566)
Unreleased :
1956 - I Want 'Cha Baby (Specialty)

"Flick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)
1956 - Footloose And Fancy-Free / Etta Mae (Specialty 587)

The Sliders (1)
1958 - There Is a Great Big Moon / Love Is Like a Mountain (Chevron 750)

Johnny Two-Voice bb The Sliders (1) (Uncredited)
1958 - You And Your Lovin' Ways / Comin' Around The Mountain (Specialty 676)
1959 - Superman / You Done Gone (Specialty 685)

Biography :

Byron "Slick" Gipson & The Sliders (1) were also known as The Pharaohs "I Want 'Cha Baby" was done at Master Recorders On December 7, 1955 and never released (although this session did produce a couple of singles by the young group). The Sliders / Pharaohs were Byron Gibson JR., Judge Dennis, Eugene Jackson, Clarence Alexander & Leo Alexander. Bumps Blackwell’s combo instrumentally Backed their vocals. The Sliders cut two single for Specialty before Byron Gibson joins a group called Freddie Tieken & the Rockers with which he will record some singles under the name of Wild Child Gipson.

The Sliders (1)
Wild Child Gipson & The Rockers

From there The Sliders needed a lead singer and Vernon Garrett joined the group . Joe Gordon and Patricia Slater replace Judge Dennis and Eugene Jackson in the group. The Sliders became a very well known group in L.A. along with the Hollywood Flames, The Penguins, The Fortunes and other groups. They recorded "Love is Like a Mountain" (Vocal Joe Gordon) b/w "There Is a Great Big Moon" (Vocal Vernon Garrett) for George Garabinia.

The Sliders (1)
Johnny Morissette (Johnny Two-Voice)

In 1958, Johnny Morissette (Johnny Two-Voice) had managed to secure a contract with Specialty records, and in October the company released "You And Your Lovin' Ways" and "Comin' Around The Mountain" . Art Rupe & Sonny Bono produced the session with H.B. Barnum arranging & The Sliders (Vernon Garrett, Clarence Alexander, Joe Gordon and Patricia Slater) singing backgrounds. Art Rupe chose to issue the remaining two songs from the initial session two monts later. There were "Superman" coupled with "You Done Gone". In 1959, Gene Mumford hired away Joe Gordon for Billy Ward and The Dominoes. That was the end of the group.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Byron "Slick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)


The One I Love / Honey Dew                      I Want 'Cha Baby

"Flick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)


Footloose And Fancy-Free                     Etta Mae

The Sliders (1)


Love Is Like A Mountain             There's A Great Big Moon Tonight

Johnny Two-Voice bb The Sliders (1) (Uncredited)


Superman                                           You Done Gone


Comin' Around The Mountain              You And Your Lovin' Ways

…

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The Rookies (1)

Posted on October 25 2017 by dion1

The Rookies (1) (Nashville,TN.)

Personnel :

Joe Perkins

Freddie Carpenter "Freddie North"

Discography :

Joe Perkins & The Rookies (1)
1957 - Time Alone Will Tell / Ain’t You Glad Nature Did It (King 5005)
1957 - How Much Love Can One Love Hold / A New Feeling (King 5030)

Freddie Carpenter & The Rookies (1)
1958 - Take Me Back Lover / Money, Money, Money (Athens 705/East West 112)

Biography :

Joe Perkins, Born in Nashville, December 1, 1935 had always wanted to become a professional singer. His family objected to this idea for a long time but after they saw how much singing really meant to him they encouraged him. In school he participated in the Glee Club and Dramatic Club as well as playing baritone saxophone in the school orchestra for a short time. Joe Perkins was graduated from Cameron High School in the spring of 1956. The four others in the group known as the Rookies are still in high school but they devote every spare moment they can to their singing.

The Rookies (1)

Joe Perkins and the Rookies cut "Time Alone Will Tell" b/w "Ain’t You Glad Nature Did It" for release on Cincinnati's King label early in 1957, followed by the Bragg/Riley song "How Much Love Can One Heart Hold" coupled with joe's composition "A New Feeling". Joe Perkins split from the group and Having recorded for several small US labels during the early 60′s, it was only his ‘Little Eefin Annie’ single for Sound Stage 7 in ’63 that charted at #76. One of the members of the group is none other than Freddie Carpenter later known as Freddie North. In 1958, as Freddie Carpenter & The Rookies, they recorded "Take Me Back Lover" b/w "Money, Money, Money" released by Athens Records from Nashville . Atlantic's East West subsidiary gave it national distribution credited just to Freddie Carpenter.

The Rookies (1)
Joe Perkins

After that single, he split from the Rookies and adopted the name Freddie North, releasing "Okay, So What" with Buddy Killen in 1960. He managed to promote the single on American Bandstand but the single stalled. In 1961, he cut a couple of songs with Billy Sherrill that were licensed to Sam Phillips' Phillips International. As North worked at getting his recording career off the ground, he appeared on WLAC-TV's R&B show Night Train and took side gigs as a demo singer for country music publishing houses. He kept recording for various companies -- there was a side on Capitol, and 1964's "The Hurt" for R.I.C. -- but he opted for a job at Nashboro in 1965. He quickly worked his way into the promo department, but when the opportunity to record for Nashboro's fledgling A-Bet subsidiary arrived in 1967, he leaped at the chance. Produced by Bob Holmes, "Don't Make Me Look So Bad" was his first release for the label, followed by "I Have a Dream." North took control of his recordings in 1969, with the bulk of these sessions showing up on the Magnetic North LP in 1970.

Songs :

Joe Perkins & The Rookies (1)


A New Feeling                        Ain’t You Glad Nature Did It


How Much Love Can One Love Hold       Time Alone Will Tell

Freddie Carpenter & The Rookies (1)


Money, Money, Money                    Take Me Back Lover

…

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The Eldorays

Posted on October 22 2017 by dion1

(From left) Jackie, Howie, Johnny & Charlie

The Eldorays (East Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Jackie (Lead)

Howie (Lead)

Johnny (Second Tenor)

Charlie Cintron (Baritone)

Discography :

1961 - Everything's Gonna Be Alright / Nights Of Ecstasy (Bud 114)

Biography :

The Eldorays were from East Harlem on 123rd street. Their manager was Ernest Fogle from the East River Houses (Projects) on 102nd St and 1st Ave. Charlie Cintron also lived there and that's how he met Ernest Fogle. At the time Ernest was also managing The Emanons. Charlie then moved to the Wagner Houses (Projects) on 124th St and 2nd Ave. That's where he met Howie who lived on 123rd St between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. Howie brought in Jackie who was a gospel singer in church. Charlie brought in Johnnie and The Eldorays were born.

The Eldorays

They recorded "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" b/w "Nights of Ecstasy" released on the tiny label Bud. For their recording, Ernest used his friends band "The Cliff Riders". Jackie did lead on "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" and Howie did lead on "Nights of Ecstasy" . "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" got 4 stars and "Nights Of Ecstasy" got 3 stars under "Strong Sales Potential" on Billboard Magazine. Charlie joined the U.S. Air Force in 1961 after this & the group broke up. The Air Force sent him to Massachusetts and he stayed there for 45 years. In 2010, he moved to Florida where he sang with The Casinos (Then you can tell me goodbye) for 5 years.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Nights Of Ecstasy Everything's Gonna Be Alright

...

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The Swans (2)

Posted on October 22 2017 by dion1

The Swans (2) (St Louis, Mo.)
aka The Swans Quartet

Personnel :

Leroy Boyer（Tenor）

Ernest Washington（Baritone）

Walter Harper (Falstto)

?

Discography :

The Faith Douglas Trio bb The Swans Quartet
1953 - For Dreams To Come True / Happy (Ballad 1000-1001)

The Swans (2)
1954 - You May Forgive Yourself / It's A Must (Ballad 1002/1003)
1955 - How Sentimental Can I Be / I’m Dressed Up To Cry (Ballad 1004/1005)
1954 – Night Train / It’s A Must (Ballad 1006)
1955 – Happy / Santa Claus Boogie Song (Ballad 1007)

Biography :

By the early 1950's Oscar Douglas Washington was working in St. Louis, Missouri, as a school teacher, guitar player and poet. He collaborated with saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and the composition "Night Train" become a number 1 R&B hit in 1952. Washington wrote many other songs and recorded under the name Faith Douglas. In 1953 he started the small independent Ballad record label. The label released a series of doo-wop singles, which had some regional success.

The Swans (2)

The first release in mid 1953 was Ballad #1000/1 by The Faith Douglas Trio bb The Swans Quartet "For Dreams Come True". This was followed by "You May Forgive Yourself" b/w "It's A Must " by The Swans on #1002/3. The Swans then recorded "How Sentimental Can I Be " and "I’m Dressed Up To Cry " for #1004/5, "It's A Must" with "Night Train" for #1006 and the seasonal "Santa Claus Boogie" b/w "Happy" was released as Ballad #1007. When the group Broke up, Leroy Boyer, Walter Harper, and Ernest Washington join the "Rex Middleton's Hi-Fi's."

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

It’s A Must / Night Train                  For Dreams To Come True / Happy


     It's A Must                              How Sentimental Can I Be


Santa Claus Boogie Song                   I'm Dressed Up To Cry

…

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The Gainors

Posted on October 19 2017 by dion1

The Gainors
Garnet Mimms

The Gainors (Philadelphia, PA)

Personnel :

Garnet Mimms (Lead)

Howard Tate

Sam Bell

Willie Combo

John Jefferson

Discography :

The Gainors
Singles :
1958 - The Secret / Gonna Rock Tonite (Cameo Parkway 151)
1958 - You Must Be An Angel / Follow Me (Cameo Parkway 156 / Red Top 110)
1959 - She's My Lollipop / A Message With Flowers (Mercury 71466)
1960 - She's Gone / Please Consider (Mercury 71569)
1960 - Nothing Means More To Me / I'm In Love With You ((Mercury 71630/71632)
1961 - This Is Perfect Moment / Where I Want To Be (Talley-Ho 102)
1961 - Tell Him / Darlin’ (Talley-Ho 105)

Garnet Mimms (bb The Gainors) (uncredited)
Unreleased :
N/A - I Love You*
N/A - Sapphire*
N/A - Too Marvelous To Be True*
N/A - You Don't Send Me Anymore*
N/A - How Long Will It Last**
N/A - Let It Live**
N/A - My Heart Cries For You**
N/A - Shrimp Boats**
*released on the Guest Star LP G-1907 / GS-1907 in 1961
**released on the Grand Prix LP K-424 / KS-424 in 1963

Biography :

The Gainors (formerly the Bel-Aires) who scored regionally their first time out-the-box in 1958 on Red Top Records with "The Secret," were Garnett Mimms, Howard Tate, Sam Bell, Willie Combo, and John Jefferson. Mimms formed the group in Philadelphia (where he was raised) after a stint in the Air Force; born Garrett Mimms in Ashland, WV, his family relocated to Philly where he got his start singing gospel with the Evening Stars, the Harmonizing Four, and the Norfolk Four who he cut his first record with in 1953.

Howard Tate

Howard Tate, the group's other illustrious member, was born in Macon, GA, and previously sang with the Bill Doggett Band. Sam Bell, became a songwriter of some note, writing for the late Lorraine Ellison, Tate (as a solo act), Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters, and others. "The Secret" was their most successful record, but a cover by Gordon McCrae sold even better, making the lower echelons of the charts while the Gainors' rendition failed to register nationally. Red Top followed it with a sweet ballad "You Must Be an Angel," a lesser local/regional hit but a hot item if you can find the original Red Top 45, going for around 500 smackers. Cameo Records picked up both Red Top singles in an attempt to bust 'em nationally.

Garnett Mimms

The quintet signed with Mercury Records from 1959-1960 and added three more singles, albeit unsuccessful, to their discography: "She's My Lollipop," "Please Consider," and "I'm in Love With You" b/w "Nothing Means More to Me." Two more droppings on Tally-Ho Records in 1961 -- "This Is the Perfect Moment" b/w "Where I Want to Be" and "Tell Him" b/w "Darlin" -- completed the Gainors brief history. They never had a national hit or even one that got as far as the Midwest despite the singing ability of Mimms and Tate. In 1963, Mimms formed Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters with Sam Bell, Charles Boyer, and Zola Pearnell.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

       The Secret                      Gonna Rock Tonite                 You Must Be An Angel


Follow Me                     She's My Lollipop                          She's Gone


Nothing Means More To Me        I'm In Love With You          This Is Perfect Moment


    Where I Want To Be                   Tell Him                     A Message With Flowers


Please Consider                       Darlin’                                   I Love You


         Sapphire                  Too Marvelous To Be True         You Don’t Send Me Anymore


How Long Will It Last                        Let It Live                 My Heart Cries For You

Shrimp Boats

…

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The Rubies (1)

Posted on October 18 2017 by dion1

The Rubies (1)

The Rubies (1) (New York)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1961 - He Was An Angel / He's Mine (Empress 103)

Biography :

The Valmor Record Company was started in the fall of 1960 in New York City. It was a division of Countess, International, and owned and run by Gene and Jody Malis . Gene, a businessman, and the musically oriented Jody had started the Finesse label in New York in 1959. The Finesse label folded the same year it began.

The Rubies (1)

In 1961, Valmor opened a subsidiary label, Empress. A group called the Rubies signed with them. The Rubies recorded "He Was An Angel" b/w "He's Mine" released in September 1961. The Empress label lasted for eight singles or so, and did not put out any albums.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

He Was An Angel He's Mine

…

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The Velvetones (3)

Posted on October 10 2017 by dion1

Walter Jackson

The Velvetones (3) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Walter Jackson (lead)

Ronald Head

Neil Magby

Bobby Jones

Mary Nicholson

 Discography :

 1959 - Who Took My Girl / Stars Of Wonder (Deb 1008)

Biography :

Walter Jackson began singing in local groups whilst attending High School when His family relocated to Michigan. Walter had been crippled by polio as a child, and spent much of his life on crutches, although he never saw himself as a disabled person, however, his disability did contribute to a very personal and distinctive Soulful delivery. By 1959, Walter had become a member of the vocal group the Velvetones with Ronald Head, Neil Magby, Bobby Jones and Mary Nicholson , who recorded the song 'Who Took My Girl' b/w 'Stars Of Wonder' for the Deb Records imprint.

Walter Jackson

Walter returned to solo recording following the demise of the group, and, at the age of 24, he was persuaded by Carl Davis to leave Detroit and head for Chicago, following Carl attending a show at Detroit's 20 Grand Club and seeing Walter perform there. Carl was the head of A & R for Columbia's subsidiary, the OKeh label. Walter signed with OKeh in 1962, where he stayed for six years.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Stars Of Wonder Who Took My Girl

…

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The Scuzzies

Posted on October 9 2017 by dion1

The Scuzzies (Click on Photo)

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