Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Horizons (2)

Posted on March 31 2018 by dion1

The Horizons (2)
(L to R) : Vinny, Pepe,John Williams, Denny and Kevin Driscoll

The Horizons (2) (New York)

Personnel :

Vinny

Denny

Pepe

Kevin Driscoll (Lead)

John Williams (Tenor)

Discography :

1964 - Hey Now Baby / Strange Oh Strange (Regina 1321)

Biography :

Inspired by neighborhood acapella groups in the early 1960’s, Kevin Driscoll and John Williams started singing with The Congenials in 1961, which became The Premiers and then The Horizons in 1962 to 1965 where they recorded "Hey now Baby" and "Strange Oh Strange" on the Regina Label

The Horizons (2)

Their local hit "Hey now Baby", won 3rd place against the Beatles in Murray the K's Record review board contest. Johnny Williams was also a lead singer and has been singing with The Devotions (Rip Van Winkle) for the last 17 years. Kevin Driscoll is currently singing with The Tercels and can also be seen often on Long Island NY with The NY Exceptions.

Songs :

Strange Oh Strange Hey Now Baby

…

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The Sparks (8)

Posted on March 27 2018 by dion1

The Sparks (8)

The Sparks (8) (Delaware, Ohio)

Personnel :

Lee Raymond (Lead vocal/Trumpet/Trombone)

Bill Comstock (Vocal/Guitarist)

Bob Jackson (Vocal/Drums)

Bud Warner (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - Robin Red Breast / Something Happened (Arwin 114)

Biography :

The Four Sparks got together as a quartet three months before the recording where they are known locally under the name of the Peps Boys, before choosing the name of the Four Sparks. The group are making quite a reputation for themselves in the music world with their recordings on the Arwin Label, features two original songs by Bill Comstock, leader of the quartet, "Robin Red Breast" and "Something Happened." The single was released as the Sparks. Bob Jackson, drummer, who is also featured on vocals, started his musical career in 1957. Lead singer is Lee Raymond who also gets in some hot licks on the trumpet and is a talented man with a trombone. Bud Warner is the bass-man.

The Sparks (8)
                                                                                                                                      Bill Comstock

In 1959, the group was reformatted into a group called The Standouts until Bill Comstock joined The Four Freshmen to replace one of them and and Jack Tafoya joined. This is completely different material from what The Four Sparks performed, the Standouts had great jazz arrangements of The Great American Songbook and other musical treasures.

Songs :


Something Happened                                  Robin Red Breast

…

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The Twisters (4) aka The Counts (3)

Posted on March 24 2018 by dion1

The Counts (3) aka The Twisters (4)

The Twisters (4) (Athens, Ga)
aka The Counts (3)

Personnel :

Harry White (Waller)

Earl Graves

Joseph L Haynesworth Jr.

Glouze ?

Discography :

The Twisters (4)
1961 - Please Come Back / This Is The End (Sun-Set 501)

The Counts( 3)
1961 - Twist'N All Night / Touch-Me (Sun-Set 502)

Biography :

Sun-Set was a tiny label that only issued two singles. Two singles by the same group, but under two different names, The Counts & The Twisters…

The Counts (3) aka The Twisters (4)

Songs :

The Twisters (4)

Please Come Back This Is The End

The Counts (3)

Touch-Me Twist'N All Night

...

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The Capitols (3)

Posted on March 21 2018 by dion1

Kurtis Scott "Kurt Harris"

The Capitols (3) (Brooklyn NY)

Personnel :

Nathaniel "Butch" Epps (Lead)

Billy Hall (First Tenor)

Eddie Jacobs (Second Tenor)

Clarence Collins (Baritone) replaced By Bruce…

Kurtis Scott "Kurt Harris" (Bass)

Discography :

The Capitols (3)
1958 - Angel Of Love / Cause I Love You (Pet 807)

The Charmers (with Nathaniel "Butch" Epps & Kurtis Scott)
Unreleased :
1956 - Letter Of Love
1956 - Did You Receive The Letter

Biography :

Curtis Futch Jr. was born in Elonia, Georgia. And he was raised in Briswick, GA. At an early age he landed in Brooklyn NY. He began singing as a young kid. Kurtis first sang with a group called the Charmers in 1955, at the tender age of 13. One of those aggregations that started in schools, the members were: Kurtis Harris (bass), Nathaniel "Butch" Epps (lead; also known as "Little John"),Jose Harris (first tenor), and Kenny Harris (baritone; Kurtis' brother). The Charmers played local dances and also recorded a couple of songs at Brooklyn's Polk Studios, but "Letter Of Love" and "Did You Receive The Letter" were never issued. The aggregation didn't last long, however, since Butch Epps (also 13) was sent to a correctional facility in Goshen, New York. When Epps was released, he became a member of the Chips (of "Rubber Biscuit" fame), along with Kinrod Johnson, whom he'd met at the Goshen facility. Kurtis occasionally appeared with them as a fill-in member.

The Capitols (3)
The Chips : Nathaniel "Butch" Epps (top Left)

After the Chips had broken up, Kurtis and Butch took to hanging around 1697 Broadway (the CBS Building),where they were able to encounter other singers looking for that big break. Soon, first tenor Billy Hall, second tenor Eddie Jacobs, and baritone Clarence Collins joined with Kurtis and Butch to form the Capitols. Their first manager was Richard Barrett, (former lead of the Valentines) before switched managers to Marvin Herman. The Capitols sang songs by the Dells, the Penguins, the Velours, and the 5 Keys. However, most of their material was self-penned. They played a lot of dances. They did a show at the Apollo with Dr. Jive. before Clarence Collins left the Capitols to join the Chesters. His place in the Capitols was taken by someone named Bruce. Kurtis met Don Carter (owner of Pet Records) in Goody's Record Shop. Kurtis had known Carter from his time in the Chips and they soon agreed that the Capitols would record for Pet. Sometime in October or November 1958, the Capitols recorded a couple of songs at the Walter Scott Studios in the CBS Building, both led by Nathaniel "Butch" Epps: "Angel Of Love" (with Kurtis' stuttering bass) and "Cause I Love You." Kurtis then turned to solo work, having releases on Josie and Diamond (as "Kurt Harris").
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Capitols/capitols.html

Songs : 

Angel Of Love Cause I Love You   

…

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The Goldenaires

Posted on March 18 2018 by dion1

The Goldenaires
Henry Gabb, Gene Ravain, Roy Picou - Bottom : Augie Wenzel

The Goldenaires (New Orleans, Louisiana)

 Personnel : 

Roy Picou (Lead/Second Tenor)

Augie Wenzel (First Tenor)

Henry Gabb (Baritone)

Gene Ravain (Bass)

 Discography :  

1959 - All About You / My Only Girl (Ron 325)
1960 - Love letters / Ding Bats (Ron 332)

Biography :

Ric and Ron were founded by Joe Ruffino, who named the labels after his two sons. Ruffino had learned how the R&B business worked through his association with Record Sales, the New Orleans record distribution outlet, and with Johnny Vincent, who based his Ace and Vin labels in Jackson, Mississippi but recorded almost exclusively in New Orleans. For a while Ruffino was Vincent’s eyes and ears, bringing several acts to Ace, including the Supremes and Lenny Capello. However, in 1958 Vincent cut him loose to do his own thing.

The Goldenaires
1958 - Henry Gabb, Augie Wenzel, Roy Picou and Gene Ravain

Ruffino started Ric that spring with a handful of Ace masters he’d received as a parting gift from Vincent. He hired guitarist/bandleader Edgar Blanchard as his first A&R head and signed Al Johnson as the label’s initial artist. Blanchard soon moved on but his successors, Harold Battiste and the young Malcolm “Mac” Rebennack, carried on his work without missing a step before they in turn went on to greater fame as the 60s progressed.

1959 - Henry Gabb, Roy Picou and Augie Wenzel               Joe Ruffino

At the beginning of 1959, Joe Ruffino signed a vocal group "the goldenaires", a quartet composed of Roy Picou, Henry Gabb, Augie Wenzel and Gene Ravain. The quartet occurs locally in jazz clubs and other venues under the name of "Four Goldenaires". Ron released two singles "All About You" b/w "My Only Girl" in 1959 and "Love letters" b/w "Ding Bats" at the beginning of the year 1960. From 1959, in spite of the departure of Gene Ravain the Goldenaires continue to occur in trio in the clubs of New Orleans and its surroundings.

Songs :


All About You                                   Love letters


My Only girl                                  Ding Bats

..

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The Melodettes

Posted on March 17 2018 by dion1

Pauline Morgan, (center); Mayola Morgan, Rochelle Cooper and Christine Oliver

The Melodettes (Baltimore)

Personnel :

Pauline Morgan

Mayola Morgan

Rochelle Cooper

Christine Oliver

Discography :

?

Biography :

The Melodettes were featured every weekend at Flame's Skylite Room of the Melody Ballroom along with the “Tilters, “The Skyliters” and Billy Barnhill, as the Master of Ceremony in 1953. They also performed in venues in Virginia, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. They work with local popular groups such as “The Cardinals”, “The Swallows”, “ The Kings”, Shirley and Mickey Fields and the Seven-Tilters. Local promoter, Lou Karpouzie was their manager for four years.

…

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The Showmen

Posted on March 10 2018 by dion1

The Showmen (Norfolk, Virginia)
(The early Years)

Personnel :

General Norman Johnson (Lead)

Dorsey "Chops" Knight (Second Tenor)

Gene "Cheater" Knight (First Tenor)

Leslie "Fat Boy" Felton (Baritone)

Milton "Smokes" Wells (Bass guitar)

Discography :

The Humdingers
Unreleased :
1956 - How Could You Forget (Atlantic)
1956 - One More Kiss (Atlantic)
1956 - Ride Alone (Atlantic)
1956 – Papa Lollipop (Atlantic)

The Showmen
1961 - It Will Stand / Country Fool (Minit 632/Imperial 66033)
1962 - The Wrong Girl / Fate Planned It This Way (Minit 643)
1962 - Com'n Home / I Love You Can't You See (Minit 647)
1962 - True Fine Mama / The Owl See's You (Minit 654)
1964 - 39 - 21 - 46 / Swish Fish (Minit 662)
1964 - Somebody Help Me / Country Fool (Imperial 66071)
1965 - In Paradise / Take It Baby (Swan 4213)
1965 - Our Love Will Grow / You're Everything (Swan 4219)

Carl First & The Showmen
1964 - I’m Still In Love With You / Mind Your Mamma (Lawn 223)

Biography :

The Showmen were one of the R&B groups to bridge the gap between doo wop and soul in the early '60s, creating a buoyant, energetic fusion of harmonies and propulsive R&B beats. The group only had one hit, "It Will Stand," which charted both in 1961 and in 1964, but their lead singer, General Johnson, went on to greater success as the leader of the '70s soul group Chairmen of the Board.

The Showmen

General Norman Johnson and the group had been singing doo wop harmony together in their home town, Norfolk, Virginia, since the mid-'50s when they were barely in their teens and calling themselves The Humdingers. By 1960 their manager, Noah Biggs, had a demo recording made of the group, then consisting of lead singer Johnson, brothers Gene and Dorsey Knight (first and second tenors), baritone Leslie Felton and bass Milton Wells.

The Showmen

In 1961, the group signed with Minit Records, which was based in New Orleans. Their first single was a rock & roll anthem, "It Will Stand." Released in the fall of 1961, "It Will Stand" was a hit, particularly on the East Coast and in the New Orleans era, but it only peaked at number 61 on the pop charts. Nevertheless, the song's popularity never decreased and it became a hit three years later, when re-released on the Imperial label. On its second release, the single peaked at number 80 on both the R&B and pop charts.

The Showmen

Between the two chart appearances of "It Will Stand," The Showmen kept recording and performing. During this time, they had no national hits, but "39-21-46" became a significant regional hit. In 1965, the group signed with Swan Records, but none of the ensuing singles became hits. In 1968, Johnson left the band and moved to Detroit, where he formed the Chairmen of the Board, who would later have hits with "Give Me Just a Little More Time," "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String," and "Everything's Tuesday" in the early '70s. In the three decades after the breakup of The Showmen, "It Will Stand" and "39-21-46" remained popular on the East Coast "beach music" scene and Johnson would later return to this area, carving out a living as a local performer.

Songs :

The Showmen


It Will Stand                      Country Fool                            The Wrong Girl


Fate Planned It This Way           Com 'n Home          I Love You Can't You See


True Fine Mama              The Owl See's You                  39 - 21 - 46


Swish Fish                        In Paradise                      Take It Baby


Our Love Will Grow                 You're Everything

Carl First & The Showmen

Mind Your Mama I'm Still In Love With You

...

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The Serenades

Posted on March 10 2018 by dion1

The Serenades
Willie Wright

The Serenades (Chicago)

Personnel :

Willie Wright (Lead)

James "Doolaby" Wright (Bass)

Willie Daniels (Baritone)

Tommie Johnson

Ronald Sherman

Discography :

1957 - A Sinner in Love / The Pajama Song (Chief 7002)

Biography :

Thei story of The Serenades goes back to Jenner Grade School, where Tommie Johnson, Otha Lee Givens, Terry Collier, Bryan Barlow, and Napoleon Hall formed a group. Tommie Johnson was the brother of Charles Johnson, the bass singer of the Von Gayles. The group graduated to Wells High and soon were playing at parties and talent contests. Johnson then met Willie Wright (aka Willie Dial), who had a group of his own, the Quails.

Jerry Butler Willie Wright

The story of the Quails goes back to the famed soul singer Jerry Butler, before he was a part of the Impressions. While still attending Washburne Trade, he and his classmates formed a group called the Quails. The other members were Willie Wright; his brother, James "Doolaby" Wright; and Ronald Sherman, the latter who used to fill in for missing members of the Von Gayles. Butler left the group when he had to drop out of school to go to work. the Serenades. Members of the Serenades were lead singer Willie Wright, James "Doolaby" Wright, Willie Daniels, Tommie Johnson, and Ronald Sherman. The Serenades got a contract with Mel London's Chief label in early 1957.

The two sides released by the group in March that year were a ballad, "A Sinner in Love," and a jump, "The Pajama Song". The ballad got played on the deejay Sam Evans's show but did little else. Butler vividly remembered "A Sinner in Love" because it credits "Wright" and " Snave" as the writers. "It was my first composition," said Butler. "After I left the group, they recorded it and didn't even put my name on the record. I remember Sam Evans playing it one night, and I said, 'That's my song!' I called the guys up but they were all covering their eyes and feeling ashamed. The Serenades got a bit of recognition in April 1957 when they appeared on the big Mambo Easter Dance sponsored by three local deejays, McKie Fitzhugh, Big Bill Hill, and Richard Stamz. Other acts on the bill included Paul Bascomb, Tommy "Madman" Jones, Harold Burrage, the Clouds, the Gay Tones, and the Five Echoes. Willie Wright soon left the Serenades and formed The Medallionaires.

THE CHICAGO SCENE by Robert Pruter

Songs :

A Sinner in Love The Pajama Song

…

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The Four Rivers

Posted on March 9 2018 by dion1

Bottom, L-to-R: Connie Bailey, Wiley Trass; Top, L-to-R: Van Pleasants, Ken Pleasants, Fred Hughes

The Four Rivers (Oakland, Ca.)

Personnel :

Ken Pleasants (Lead)

Fred Hughes (Lead)

Wiley Trass

Connie Bailey

Discography :

The Four Rivers
Single :
1962 - I Confess / Sooner Or Later (Josie 901)
Unreleased :
1962 - Constantly In My Mind (Music City)
1962 - Nature Boy (Music City)

Little Lynn & The Four River
1962 - Send My Records C.O.D. / I Walk In Circles (Little Lynn) (Music City 845)

Biography :

A quintet comprising of Ken Pleasants, lead, Fred Hughes (who had at times sung in The Holidays) also singing lead, plus Billy Harrison, Wiley Trass who had also served in The Holidays, and Marcellus Matthews. They called themselves The Five Disciples. Fred Hughes had started out as gospel singer at The Good Samaritan Church of God in Christ. The Five Disciples sprang out of the church where Pleasants and Hughes were often featured soloists under the direction of Olla Andrews and Edwin Hawkins of "Oh happy day" fame. By the spring of 1961, all the original members of The Five Disciples had been drawn back into "the devil's music." Out of the ashes sprung The Four Rivers who were formed during the summer of 1961. At first they were a trio of Pleasants, Fred Hughes, and Wylie Trass. Needing a fourth member, they approached Connie Bailey. Bailey was a first class choreographer who soon became an indispensable asset to the quartet. Bailey made showmen of the member singers. Ray Dobard (owner and operator of the Music City Label) took care of the group's recording needs while The Magnificent Montague (R&B disc jockey) handled the group's material."I confess" (formally known as "Matilda") backed by "Sooner or later" plus a song remembered as "Constantly In My Mind" were recorded at Music City without the group under contract. Montague refused initially to release the two songs, claiming they sounded too churchy to click in the commercial market.

The Magnificent Montague Ray Dobard

Being miffed a little by Montague's inaction, the group headed south to get a contract with a bigger label. The Four Rivers landed up at Capitol Records on Hollywood and Vine. At Capitol, under the stewardship of Googie René who rearranged the scores, the group re-recorded "Sooner or later" and "I confess." Capitol loved the results and wanted to issue a single. However, someone had passed along the glad tidings to Montague, and after his threats, Capitol dropped The Four Rivers like a ton of hot bricks. When "I confess" came out, KSAN and KWBR played it with some regularity, thus generating a few paying engagements. Both Montague and Dobard had a stake in The Four Rivers and through contacts back east had the recording placed with Josie Records out of New York. The 45, although one of the best late vocal group recordings ever to come out of the Bay Are, never took off. This was coupled with the fact that the tight harmony vocal group era was coming to a close. Groups who offered dance craze or novelty renderings seemed to hold the strongest formula for success. However, The Four Rivers shared gigs with Ike and Tina Turner and landed back-up vocal track work on Music City sessions behind visiting talent such as Richard Berry, James Brown, and Big Mama Thornton. Much of this activity was in some way related to Dobard. Ken Pleasants also created keyboard and organ accompaniment behind vocal groups at the Music City Studio. Other efforts of his included a single for Music City in support of an artist named Lynn Stevens.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)