Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Splenders

Posted on September 25 2018 by dion1

The Splenders

The Splenders (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Jim Carlock Jr. (Lead)

Richie Laringoine

Danny Sabatino

Joe Colavito

Discography :

Unreleased :
1961 - Winter Time (Demo)
1961 - Senior Year (Demo)
1961 - The Slob (Demo)
1961 - Rita (Demo)

Biography :

Vocal group from the Bronx composed by Jim Carlock, Jr. Richie Laringoine, Danny Sabatino and Joe Colavito. The spenders occurs locally, and 1961 have a few of demos songs as "Winter Time", "Senior Year", "The Slob" and "Rita" but their sides were not released.

…

See comments

The Kidds (1) aka The Pelicans (1)

Posted on September 25 2018 by dion1

The Kidds (1) aka The Pelicans (1)

The Kidds (1) (New Orleans)
aka The Pelicans (1)

Personnel :

Walter Lewis

Willie Hannah

Carl Ledbetter

Wardell Brown

Discography :

The Pelicans (1)
Single :
1954 - Chimes / Ain't Gonna Do It (Imperial 5307)
Unreleased :
1954 - Miss Lucy (Imperial)
1954 - Down In Mexico ((Imperial)

The Kidds (1)
1955 - I Won't Be Back / You Broke My Heart (Post 2003)
1955 - Drunk, Drunk, Drunk / Are You Forgetting Me (Imperial 5335)

Wee Willie Wayne bb The Kidds (1) (Uncredited)
1955 - I Remember / Travelin' Mood (Solo) (Imperial 5355)

Biography :

Vocal group from New Orleans, The Group consisted of Walter Lewis, Willie Hannah, Carl Ledbetter and Wardell Brown. Their tracks were from a session of eight songs (IM-755 to IM-762) recorded by The Pelicans in Los Angeles on August 20 1954 . Tracks were released variously as by the Pelicans or as by The Kidds but they were the same group.

Songs :

The Kidds (1)

You Broke My Heart / I Won't Be Back Drunk, Drunk, Drunk / Are You Forgetting Me

The Pelicans (1)

Chimes / Ain't Gonna Do It Miss Lucy

Down In Mexico

Wee Willie Wayne bb The Kidds (1) (Uncredited)

I Remember / Travelin' Mood (Solo)

…

See comments

The Tabbys

Posted on September 21 2018 by dion1

The Tabbys

The Tabbys (Hackensack, NJ)

Personnel :

Kenny Clay (Lead)

Timmy Scudder (First Tenor)

Butch Henry (Second Tenor)

Melvin Edwards (Bass)

Discography :

The Tabbys
1959 - My Darling / Yes I Do (Time 1008)
1963 - Hong Kong Baby / Physical Fitness Blues (Metro 2/Cleopatra 1)

The Hi Lites (4) (The Tabbys)
1962 - Gloria (My Darling) (The Tabbys) / For Your Precious Love (Hi Lites) (Julia 1105)
1962 - (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (The Tabbys) / For Your Precious Love (Hi Lites) (Record Fair 501)

Biography :

The Tabbys hailed from Hackensack, NJ and group members were Kenny Clay (Lead), Timmy Scudder (First Tenor), Butch Henry (Second Tenor) and Melvin Edwards (Bass). In early 1959, The Tabbys recorded “My Darling“ and “Yes I Do“ released by Time records in Mars. In 1962, The Hi-Lites (4) from Danbury led by William Tucker had a big following.

The Tabbys

They had recorded for the Danbury label called Record Fair but somehow their manager signed a contract with Julia Records led by Tom DeCillis of Newark, NJ. The manager wanted to get some more material for Record fair so while waiting for the group to show up, the Tabbys were also waiting to record. The manager got the Tabbys to record two songs and "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" was one of them released on the Lps “For Your Precious Love“ by The original Hi Lites (4). the other song was "Gloria" which was released on the Julia label under the name Hi-Lites so that he could honor the recording contract he had with Julia Records.

Songs :

The Tabbys


My Darling                                  Yes I Do


Hong Kong Baby                     Physical Fitness Blues


Gloria (My Darling)                 For Sentimental Reasons

…

See comments

The Sputniks (1) aka The Greats

Posted on September 19 2018 by dion1

The Sputniks (1) aka The Greats

The Sputniks (1) (North Richmond, CA.)
aka The Greats

Personnel :

Curtis Stanton (First Tenor/Lead)

George Peeples (Tenor)

Robert Beale (Lead Tenor)

Lawrence Wydermayer (Bass)

Discography :

The Sputniks (1)
1957 - Hey Maryann / My Love Is Gone (Class 217)
1958 - Johnny's Little Lamb / Wait A Little While (Class 222)
1958 - My Love Is Gone / My Baby Twist (Pam Mar 601/602)
1958 - Clap Your Hands / Get Your Kicks (Pam Mar 607/608)

The Greats
1958 - Marching Elvis / Fiddler's Rock (Ebb 145)

Biography :

The Sputniks were originally The Four Doves of North Richmond, California who flowered briefly during the late Fifties. The group included Curtis Stanton, first tenor and lead, George Peeples, tenor, Robert Beale, lead tenor, and Lawrence Wydermayer, bass. Two years would pass before they made a record, Nathan "The Magnificent" Montague getting them signed to Class records in Los Angeles. In the Meantime Wesley Mitchell had replaced Peeples and they made the long trip to L.A for their sole Class recording session.

The Sputniks (1) aka The Greats
Nathan "The Magnificent" Montague

Four sides were cut and such was the label’s confidence that it took a national trad ad to promote "Hey Maryann" in early 1958. Montague thought it was a good gimmick to change the group’s name, given the current media coverage of the Russian Sputnik satellite. Bur despite this and Montague’s heavy airplay of a very infectious and commercial record, it called to sell. Even so, Class already put out the other sides in the can in February "Johnny's Little Lamb" b/w "Wait A Little While". The Sputniks cut a session at Ebb Records, "Marching Elvis" b/w "Fiddler's Rock" released in April 1958 as The Greats . Shortly before The Sputniks disbanded they cut some songs at Sierra Sound in Berkeley for the L.A.-based Pam Mar record company. When the Sputniks (1) decided to call it quits, Stanton signed up for barber school. Beale took up typewriter repair, Mitchell got a job at Chevron, and Wydermayer ended up working for the BART subway system.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Sputniks (1)


Hey Maryann                                My Love Is Gone


Johnny's Little Lamb                   Wait A Little While

My Love Is Gone

…

See comments

Fannie & The Varcells

Posted on September 19 2018 by dion1

Fannie & The Varcells (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Personnel :

Fannie Lee Cobb (Lead)

Bobby Harman

Charles Griffin

Charles Robinson

Discography :

1960 - The Guy / Inside Of Me (Lash 1326)

Biography :

Philadelphia's Fannie & the Varcells' discography consists of one record on Howard Ravisky's Lash label entitled "Inside Me" b/w "The Guy," released May 1963. After it flopped, the group separated and Fannie Lee Cobb joined Honey & the Bees (not the Arctic/Josie group) and re-recorded a better version of "Inside Me," with female backing and a snappier beat. The Varcells were Bobby Harman, Charles Griffin, and Charles Robinson and the foursome had met in north Philadelphia.

Songs :

Inside Of Me The Guy

...

See comments

The Rommels

Posted on September 16 2018 by dion1

The Rommels

The Rommels (Los Angeles, Ca.)

Personnel :

Hendricks Anderson

Ronald Boone

Vernon Wade

Ronald McCloud

Amos Henry

Discography :

1962 - Those Wedding Bells / Mister Sam (New Cop On The Beat) (Trend 4104)

Biography :

Vocal group from Los Angeles composed by Hendricks Anderson, Ronald Boone, Vernon wade, Ronald McCloud and Amos Henry. The Rommels recording two songs at a studio on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood in 1962. "Those Wedding Bells" and "Mister Sam" were released by Trend records, a tiny label in from Hollywood.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Those Wedding Bells Mister Sam

..

See comments

The Genos

Posted on September 15 2018 by dion1

The Genos
L to R : Kenny Shott, Gene Bojnowski & Bobby Kline (Palcak)

The Genos (Reading, Pa.)

Personnel :

Gene Bojnowski (Guitar/Lead Singer)

Kenny Shott

Bobby Kline (Palcak)

Discography :

1959 - Slim Little Annie / Wishful Dreaming (Sundance 202)

Biography :

Vocal trio from Reading, Pa. composed by Gene Bojnowski, Guitar and Lead Singer, Kenny Shott and Bobby Kline (Palcak), background vocal. In 1960, The Gents recorded "Slim Little Annie" and "Wishful Dreaming" released on the Sundance label, which was a product of Reading's Bee Records label. The record sold quite well by a virtue of their appearance on the Grady & Hurst in Atlantic city.

Songs :

Wishful Dreaming Slim Little Annie

..

See comments

The Poets (2)

Posted on September 15 2018 by dion1

The Poets (2)

The Poets (2) (Los Angeles, CA)

Personnel :

Roy Ayers

Frederick Nance

Sherman Clark

James Bedford

Robert Griffith

Discography :

1958 - Dead / Vowels of Love (Flash 129 / Pull 305)

Biography :

The Poets formed at Jefferson High - It seems that every class in school had a building doo top group - and consisted of Roy Ayers, Frederick Nance, Sherman Clark, James Bedford and Robert Griffith. They rehearsed at the back of the shop on Vernon, under the guidance of young "Danny Flash", whose teeth were being cut in record production.

The Poets (2)

Their only record "Dead", a horror novelty, was out in February (Flash 129), bur Cash Box (March 17) tough its flip "Vowels of Love" the more commercial side. Flash was at 623 East Vernon Avenue throughout its active existence from 1955 to 1959. "Dead" got some local recognition for the boys from Jefferson High. Bedford later join the Cubans and Ayers became a successful jazz vibraphonist.

Songs :

Vowels of Love Dead

...

See comments

The Jive Tones

Posted on September 14 2018 by dion1

The Jive Tones
Jim Whittier

The Jive Tones (Rochester, New York)

Personnel:

Jimmy Monroe

John Johnson

John Mays

Bobby Williams

Snooky Williams

Jim Whittier

Discography :

1958 - Ding Ding Dong / Geraldine (Apt 25020)

Biography :

The Jive Tones formed while the members were in Jr. high school in Rochester, New York in 1954. They started singing just for fun. The group began playing in local nightclubs and nightspots.When they felt their vocal and stage acts had been perfected, they went to New York City to look for a recording company. They auditioned for Don Costa at ABC Paramount who thought they were terrific and the Jive Tones were immediately signed to record.

The Jive Tones

Their first session resulted in four sides. ''Ding Ding Dong'' and ''Geraldine'' were released on the ABC Subsidiary APT. The record got some airplay at the start, but quickly faded. The other two tunes were never released. Due to this failure, the Jive Tones folded.Following the disintegration, Whittier went back to New York City to try to start another group. At that time, the group he sang with was called the Students. Upon learning of the checker group from Cincinnati, they changed their name to the Desires .

Songs :

Ding Ding Dong Geraldine

...

See comments

Dougie & The Dudes

Posted on September 14 2018 by dion1

Dougie & The Dudes

Dougie & The Dudes (New York)

Personnel :

Douglas Royal (Lead)

Tony Smith (Bass)

Paul Ortiz (First Tenor)

Tony Gerena (Second Tenor)

Jack Sanchez (Baritone)

Discography :

Dougie & The Dudes
1961 - Fire / Settle Down ‎(Keith 6500)

Dougie The Dude
1962 - Lifetime / Cowboy Joe (Amy 869)

Biography :

Dougie Royal & The Dudes are a group from West 27th Street 10th Ave. NYC. First called the Five Gents, The group consisted by Douglas Royal (Lead vocals), Tony Smith (bass vocals), Paul Ortiz(first tenor vocals), Tony Gerena (second tenor vocals), Jack Sanchez (baritone vocals). Tony Orlando also sang tenor with these guys before his hit record which launched his career. Tony Orlando started his career with the group called the Five Gents. The Five Gents allowed Tony to join the group, and later changed their name to Dougie and the Dudes after a member of The Tops (Little Jimmy & The Tops) began to call them dudes. They recorded two singles for Keith and Amy Records)

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Fire Lifetime

Settle Down Cowboy Joe

…

See comments