Female vocal group from Oklahoma City, composed of Diana Johnson, Jan Dye & Betty. In 1958, The Pollyannas recorded “Satisfied” and “Bermuda” in an Oklahoma City studio. The single was released on the tiny Kings-X Records In Oklahoma City.
With this disc, the group occurs locally and appears at Oklahoma Bandstand on Koco-TV. Eventually Diana Johnson will leave the group for a solo career as Diana Allen Johnson.
Freddy Kelley (true spelling) was born in Mount Hope West Virginia in 1937, his family moved to Toledo's East Side in 1946 when he was 9 years old, he went to Navarre grade school and graduated from there in 1953 at which time his family moved to Toledo's South End where he attended and graduated from Libbey high school in 1957. As Kelley told me in 1992, at Libbey he got together with some "colored" fellows and claims to have had the first mixed or integrated group in Toledo, they were a vocal group and they called themselves the 5 lyrics, it was Kelley and 3 other guys from Libbey and 1 guy from Scott high school, they did a show at school and did some pretty nice gigs from here to Akron, they were together about a year.
The Five Lyrics 1957/58 (LtoR) George Boykin, "Wardy" Ward, Freddy Kelley, Gene Boykin, Freddy Marshal
Kelley did not play an instrument but music was a part of him and he sang and wrote songs and was always around the early Rock and Roll and R&B scene in Toledo from the late 50's to the mid 1960's. His first recording was around 1959 with all Toledo fellows, Freddie and the Parliaments, he sang one side and Fred Kutzke sang the other. Johnny (Paris) & the Hurricanes were taking their very first steps into the recording studio to provide back-up for Freddie & the Parliaments . Next Kelley recorded for the MGM subsidiary Metro, two songs that he wrote.
Around 1961 sometime, Kelley was in T-Bones, a club on Main St. on the East Side that later became Kato's, when he first heard the Raging Storms. He started to work with them and got them a recording deal and wrote the tunes that they were to record, one of which was The Dribble Twist. It became a decent regional hit in 1962 and reached the billboard top 100 for a bit, it was well received in Toledo and got good airplay. He also got the B. G. Ramblers recorded and produced their record on Sparkel. He also wrote and produced a record on Connie Little with the Raging Storms as back up.
(l to r) Prentiss Anderson, Lee Moore & George Miller Ross
Lee & The Leopards (1) (Toledo, Ohio)
Personnel :
Lee Moore (Lead)
George Miller Ross
Prentiss Anderson
James Porter
Discography :
Lee & The Leopards (1) Singles: 1962 - Come Into My Palace / Trying To Make It (Gordy 7002/Laurie 3197) 1964 - What About Me / Don't Press Your Luck (Fortune 867) Unreleased : 1964 - The Beatle Slide (Fortune)
The Rivieres (Lee & The Leopards backed by The Rivieres) 1964 - The Gypsy Said / Knock On Wood (K-Zee 811K-5218)
Biography :
Lee and the Leopards, like many Toledo groups, were swept up in the explosion of the Motown powered Detroit R&B/soul explosion of the early 1960s. The group started around 1961, and included Lee Moore as the namesake and lead singer, George Miller Ross, Prentiss Anderson, and James Porter. Anderson had been in the Del-Rios (with William Bell) who recorded for the early Stax records. but had moved to Toledo, where he performed with a self-contrained group called the Gayhawks.. He was recruited to join the group and after a few weeks, they auditioned for Berry Gordy at Motown, who Anderson had met when he was touring with the Del-Rios.
The group had brought some of their own songs, but Gordy wanted them to sing some of the in-house songs. The group went back to Toledo and they reworked one of the songs "Come Into My Palace". The group returned to Detroit a few days later and within a day, they had the song recorded at Motown. James Porter was not able to make the session, so Prentiss Anderson sang Porter's part, with Eddie Kendricks singing Anderson's tenor part. The 45 was the first chronological release on Gordy, although it was the second assigned catalog number. Porter was not included on the contract.
The record was a big hit on WOHO and WTOD in Toledo and also on Detroit stations. The group did some promotonial shows with WTOD. The record was picked up by Laurie records because the Motown operation did not have a full scale national promotional system. The group recorded a second 45 at Fortune, and a final 45 for K-Lee label from Adrian, MI. For the last record, the group recorded their own song "The Gypsy Said" backed by a band called the Rivieres from Adrian. When the record came out, the label credited the Rivieres instead of Lee and the Leopards. Some of the copies had stickers for Lee and the Leopards. After the group ended, Prentiss Anderson spent many years backing up various Motown related groups.
The Nu-Tones (1) (Los Angeles, CA) aka The Nutones (1)
Personnel :
Don Ballard (Lead Tenor)
Joe Green (Lead vocals)
Lionel Dawson (Tenor)
George Webster McNeil (Baritone)
Ed Turner (Bass)
Discography :
The Nu-Tones (1) 1955 - Goddess of Love / Niki Niki Mambo (Cutie Girl) (Hollywood Star 797) 1955 - Annie Kicked The Bucket / Believe (Hollywood Star 798) 1955 - Believe / You’re No Barking Dog (Johnny Dragnet Hill) (Hollywood Star 798)
The Nutones (1) 1956 - At Midnite / Beans ‘N’ Greens (Combo 127)
Biography :
In 1951, Jake Vernon Haven Porter (Jake Porter), a jazz trumpeter founded the label Combo Records, which was active until 1961 and released R&B and doo wop releases in addition to some jazz. Much of the material released on the label was recorded in Porter's basement, and he did a fair bit of songwriting for the releases in addition to recording duties.
Jake Porter
The Nutones came from West Los Angeles and local distributor Sid Talmadge did pretty well with their only Combo platter "At Midnite" b/w "Beans ‘N’ Greens". The single sold well in the immediate Los Angeles area but was not too much to talk about elsewhere. Before their Combo recordings,the Nutones under the name of Nu-Tones also recorded for the elusive Cholly Williams, their legendary "Annie Kicked The Bucket" on Hollywood Star recently reportedly fetched the highest price ever for a rock and roll group.
The Del-Tones from Pittsburgh in 1959. Have they recorded ??? William "Billy" Cox (born October 18, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix.
Discography ?????
1959 - Best Wishes / Walkin Out The Back Door (Ro-Ann 1001)
Bottom : Eddie Rogers & Steve Catallo - Top : Richard Steene, Joe DiVergilio, Tom Pascarella
The Majestics (3) (Everett, MA)
Personnel:
Tommy Pascarella (Lead)
Steve Catallo (Bass)
Frank “Junior” Sanfilippo
Tommy Guanci
Eddie Rogers
Discography :
Singles: 1959 - Lone Stranger / Sweet One (20th Fox 171/Sioux 914/ Foxie 7004) 1973 - Symbol Of Love (1961) / Two Purple Shadows (1961) (Vintage 1002)
Unreleased: 1959 - Rose Ann (Unreleased)
Biography :
The Majestics were actually formed by the fusion of two other groups – the “Cresents” from the far end of Ferry Street, near the Malden Line, and the “Tempo’s” from the area of Orange Court. When the dust settled the “Majestics” were born. Tom Pasacarella did most of the leads, and the harmony was filled out by Frank “Junior” Sanfilippo, and Tom Guanci. They, too, experienced personnel changes, other members at various times were John Falzone (from the Spindrifts), Ritchie Steen, Jackie Neider, and Joe DiVirgilio (all former Emeralds).
(Original Majestics 1956) Tom Guanci, Steve Catallo, Tom Pascarella , John Falzone & Eddie Rogers.
They also had one commercial release “Lone Stranger/Sweet One” in 1959 (Sioux #91459), picked up (too late, however) by Twenty Century Fox (#171). This record had a good chance of “breaking out,” as it was beginning to, as they say ”Make some noise” in California, and Twentieth Fox showed some interest in distributing it.
(Original Majestics 1956)
The group’s manager, and/or the original label “stalled” a bit in an effort to work a better deal, but this tactic apparently backfired. When they did finally get the rights to distribute the record, initial interest had past, and it was too late. One other 45 was released on Vintage (#1002) in the Seventies by an edition of this group. “Symbol of Love/Two Purple Shadows” was recorded in about 1961 by a group consisting of members of both the Majestics, and the Emeralds.
Top : Oscar Boyd, James Denis Isaac, Georges Parker - Bottom : John Pruit , Nathaniel Tucker.
The Sheppards (1) (Chicago)
Personnel :
John Pruit (Lead)
James Denis "Brother" Isaac (First Tenor)
Oscar Boyd (Second Tenor)
Georges Parker (Baritone)
Nathaniel Tucker (Bass)
Discography :
Singles : 1955 - Love / Cool Manbo (Theron 112) 1956 - Sherry / Mozelle (United 198 / B&F 198) Unreleased : 1956 - Pretty little girl (United) 1956 - Just Let Me Love You (United)
Biography :
The group as originally formed was known as the Cavaliers. They got together in late 1953 and were organized by Andre Williams (who later won renown for his novelty numbers "Bacon Fat" and "Jail Bait" and for his work as a producer). The rest of the group came out of DuSable and Tilden Tech high schools on the South Side and consisted of John Pruitt (first tenor and lead), Albert "Pee Wee " Bell (baritone), Nathaniel Tucker (bass), and James Dennis "Brother" Isaac (second tenor and lead). Williams sang baritone, but his principal contribution was to devise various choreographed routines for the group. He was considered the group's "clown.
Andre Williams
The Cavaliers regularly got together at the corner of Fifty-second and Indiana to rehearse and to compete against other vocal groups. This went on for more than a year, and then Williams left the group. He was replaced by Oscar Robinson, a baritone. Robinson had come out of another Chicago ensemble, the Five Thrills, who had already recorded for Parrot. By 1955 the Cavaliers had graduated from being street-corner harmonizers to being real professionals. They were playing teenage hops and such clubs as Martin's Corner, Joe's Deluxe Club, the State Lounge, and the Trianon Ballroom. Eventually a relationship with the pianist Earl Washington and the independent producer Bill Sheppard was established. Then Albert Bell and Oscar Robinson were replaced with George "Sonny" Parker and Oscar Boyd, respectively, and the Sheppards were born. In 1955 they put out "Love" backed with "Cool Mambo" on Connie Toole's Theron label. "Love" flopped, but a second opportunity for the Sheppards came in February 1956, when they recorded "Mozelle" and "Sherry" for United.
"Mozelle" garnered considerable local radio play, so the group enjoyed a degree of celebrity in the Midwest. The Sheppards translated their recording success, such as it was, into an engagement at Club Delisa. They also parlayed a tour from the songs, playing numerous cities in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee with a group of chorus girls and the blues singer Tiny Topsy. Two other songs at the "Mozelle" session were recorded but not released. Around 1957, after Pruitt and Tucker were drafted and Boyd dropped out because he was going blind from a cataract condition, the Sheppards broke up. Isaac eventually drifted into another South Side group called the Bel Aires, a group that did one record and then was forced to split. Three of the Bel Aires, including Isaac, then became a part of yet another group, in 1959. The group? It was the Sheppards, of "Island of Love" fame.
The Nuggets (1) Singles : 1954 - Quirl Up In My Arms / So Help Me I Love You (Capitol 2989) 1955 - Anxious Love / Shtiggy Boom (Capitol 3052) Unreleased : 1954 - No Mama...No Papa (Capitol) 1954 - Ring A Ding A Ding (Capitol)
Frank Sinatra & The Nuggets (1) 1955 - Two Hearts Two Kisses / From The Bottom To The Top (Capitol 3084)
Dean Martin & The Nuggets (1) 1956 - I’m Gonna Steal You Away / Street Of Love (Not Them)(Capitol 3468)
Big Dave & His Orchestra (with The Nuggets) Eps: Arthur Murray - Rock 'N' Roll Part 1 (EAP 1-640) 1955 - Hearts Of Stone (The Nuggets) / Let's Bop / Night Train / That's The Beat
Arthur Murray - Rock 'N' Roll Part 2 (EAP 2-640) 1955 - Tweedlee Dee (Bernice Gooden & The Nuggets) / Shake, Rattle And Roll (The Nuggets)/ Gibraltar Rock / Smilin' Al
Arthur Murray - Rock 'N' Roll Part 3 (EAP 3-640) 1955 - One Mint Julep (The Nuggets) / Ko Ko Mo (The Nuggets)/ John The Rogue / Everybody´s Wailin´
Lp : Arthur Murray Rock ‘n’ Roll (T 640) 1955 - Let’s Bop / Night Train/ Shake Rattle and Roll / Gibraltar Rock / Ko Ko Mo / John the Rogue / Everybody’s Wailin’ / One Mint Julep /Smilin’ Al / Tweedlee Dee / That’s the Beat / Hearts of Stone
Biography :
In November of 1954 David Cavanaugh A & R head of Capitol Records, is in New York to announce the signing of a vocal group called The Nuggets to the label. The Nuggets composed by Herman McCoy, Handel Sutton, O'Reese Corporal, Charles Patillo and Arvel Johnson , with Van Alexander conducting the orchestra, recorded four tracks "Quirl Up In My Arms", "So Help Me, I Love You", "No Mama...No Papa" and "Ring A Ding A Ding" in Los Angeles, California. Late in the same month Capitol releases # 2989 - "Quirl Up In My Arms" and "So Help Me, I Love You" by The Nuggets.
The Nuggets (1)
In February of 1955 Capitol releases # 3052 featuring The Nuggets with "Anxious Love" and "Shtiggy Boom". The Nuggets participates in the album of David "Big Dave" Cavanaugh performed as leader of the band on the album "Arthur Murray's Rock And Roll Party" (# 640) . Album on which we find vocal numbers by The Nuggets including an excellent uptempo version of "Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)," "Tweedlee Dee," "Shake Rattle & Roll," "Hearts of Stone" and "One Mint Julep".
In the spring of 1955 The Nuggets arrive for a very unusual recording session for Capitol. They back up the one and only Frank Sinatra on an R & B cover - The Charms "Two Hearts Two Kisses" and another song "From The Bottom To The Top". In 1956, the Nuggets back up Dean Martin on "I’m Gonna Steal You Away".
1960 - Doin' The Shimmy / Fall Is Here (Shimmy 1055)
Biography :
Born July 30, 1943, Nathaniel Lewis was out in south Memphis with little old groups, doowoppin' up under the street post light whose the El Salvadors caught the ear of a local grocery store owner named Shillingstein who ask them if they got a song that they can recorded. They said they got two tunes they wrote.'"Shimmy In The Daytime, Shimmy At Night." and they got another one, "Fall Is Here." They cuttin' these two tunes. "Fall Is Here" b/w "Doin' The Shimmy" emerged in 1960 on Shimmy Records by Barmey & the Googles.
The Ovations
But the El Salvadors were not pleased when Shimmy changed their name to Barney and The Googles. His name was Barney, Barney Shillingstein. So he felt comfortable with Barney.they were all clustered around at the store, and had told the people in the neighborhood to listen. And Bamey got 'em to play it on the radio about one or two times. they thought they were really a real group then!. Nathaniel Lewis, was subsequently to join The Del-Rios, featuring Louis Williams who had previously sung in The Four Kings (Stomper Time). The Del-Rios were to achieve some success in the mid sixties as The Ovations.
T. B. & The Germs 1962 - Jump & Shout (Part I) / Jump & Shout (Part II) (Nite 1004)
Biography :
The group was formed by five young men from Coatesville when they were students at Scott High School – Tommy Bryant, Arnold Runner, Curtis Allen, Nathan Alston and James Toland. They formed the doo wop group because they used to practice music on the streets of Coatesville for fun. The band was originally going by the name, Little Tommy & the Germs, but then they ended up using the Elgins moniker, named after the watches that were manufactured in Elgin, Illinois. Alston and Allen were the guitarists for the band, while Toland, Bryant and Runner performed vocals.
Little Tommy and the Elgins played at many college campuses in Pennsylvania, such as Muhlenberg College and Shippensburg University. Many of the bandstands were at fire stations, so they would play there, and they also played at some venues in New Jersey. One the band’s biggest concerts was at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City in the summer of 1962, and many of their fans from Coatesville made the trip out to the shore to see them play. The concert was also broadcast in black and white on Grady and Hurst’s “Summertime on the Pier” television show.
Little Tommy and the Elgins’ two most well-known hit songs are “I Walk On” and “Never Love Again.” The band had record deals with three companies for these songs: Elmar, ABC-Paramount and Sparton. Their first band manager under Elmar Records was a man named Billy Jackson, from Philadelphia, who was a founding member of another doo wop band called The Re-Vels. The Same years, Nate Alston composed “Jump & Shout“ (Part I & II) released as the Elgins on Nite and as T. B. & the Germs…
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