Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Flints

Posted on March 30 2019 by dion1

Left to right: James Benett, Len Garret, Harold Montgomery, S.L. McMullen, Dave Burns.

The Flints (Flint, Michigan)

Personnel :

Dave Burns

Len Garrett

Jimmy Jackson

S.L. McMullen

Harold Montgomery

Discography :

The Flints
1959 - Over The Ocean / Chickie Chop Chop (Petite 101) (Fev 59)
1959 - Skippin' And A-Jumpin' / People Say (OKeh 7126) (Nov 59)

The Flint's
1961 - Why Did You Go / When Summer Gets Back (Heart 100)

Biography :

Very fine vocal group from Flint, Michigan composed by James Benett, Len Garret, Harold Montgomery, S.L. McMullen and Dave Burns. The group is managed by Herb Barnes and occurs locally in Michigan area. In 1958, The Flints performed at the Apollo Theater amateur contest in Harlem. The Flints make an enormous impression, as much by their accuracy as by their professionalism.

The Flints
1958 - Apollo Theater (L to R) Harold Montgomery, Dave Burns, S.L. McMullen, Jimmy Jackson, Len Garrett, Herb Barnes (manager).

Following this performance, The group went on to record under the Petite records label in New York. Two songs were recorded : "Over The Ocean" b/w "Chickie Chop Chop". The single was released in Fev 59. The group gained success with their single and in Nov 59, the group signed a recording contract for the New York R&B label Okeh .

The Flints

Okey released their second single : "Skippin' And A-Jumpin'" b/w "People Say". in 1962, their last single "Why Did You Go" b/w "When Summer Gets Back" was released on Heart Records, a Detroit label.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Over The Ocean                                Why Did You Go


     People Say                                Skippin' And A-Jumpin'


       Why Did You Go                        When Summer Gets Back

...

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The Coeds (4)

Posted on March 30 2019 by dion1

The Coeds (4) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Joyce Mioni

Pat D'Auria

Sandy Fischer

Jerry Pellegrino

Discography :

1964 - You’re My First Love / Mark My Words (Swing 101)

Biography :

The Coeds were Joyce Mioni, Pat D'Auria, Sandy Fischer and Jerry Pellegrino. They attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York. In 1964, the Coeds recorded “You're My First Love“ b/w "Mark My Words". Mark My Words was written by the Tokens (Lion Sleeps Tonight) and Swing Records was a subsidiary of the Tokens’ BT Puppy label. The "A" side was called “You're My First Love“ was written by Toni Wine and Artie Kornfeld. They were two of the 60s most distinguished songwriters. Toni co-wrote the Mindbenders’ hit, “Groovy Kind Of Love” and Artie “The Rain The Park And Other Things” for the Cowsills. Together they also wrote “Tonight You’re Gonna Fall In Love With Me” for the Shirelles and “Now That You’re My Baby” (with Gerry Goffin) for Dusty Springfield.

Songs :

Mark My Words You’re My First Love

…

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The Cupids (7)

Posted on March 19 2019 by dion1

Cortez "Winky" Greer, Ed Johnson and Bobby Bender

The Cupids (7) (Chattanooga, TN.)

Personnel :

Cortez "Winky" Greer (Lead)

Bobby Bender (Tenor)

Ed Johnson (Bass)

Discography :

Single :
1962 - Troubles Not At End / I Don't Know (Chan 107)
Unreleased:
1962 - Wanda (Chan)
1962 - Mardi Gras (Chan)

Biography :

Cortez Greer grew up in Chattanooga and was a 1962 graduate of Howard High School. He was discovered as a result of his performance on the Ted Mack Original Talent Show and since then, he traveled the world and performed for the likes of James Brown and toured with Bill Cosby. Cortez completed one album "Live At Scarlett O'Hara's" and another was slated for release in February 1977.

The Cupids (7)
The Squires

In 1961, Cortez Greer made his debut professional singer in a Doo-Wop group called The Cupids with Ed Johnson and Bobby Bender. Both The Squires and The Cupids were from Chattanooga and they were signed by Chan Records at the same time and traveled to Fernwood studios in Memphis, TN to record their first records. The Squires backed The Cupids on Three songs, "Troubles Not At End", "Wanda" and "Mardi Gras". The Squires was composed by Ted Ledford (Guitar), Larry Blanks (Guitar), Allen Lutes (Bass), Don Jackson (Sax), Jimmy Harris (Piano) and Butch Thomas (Drums). "Troubles Not At End" and "I Don't Know" with a different instrumental group and a girls group will be released by Chan Records. Their two other recordings were never released. The Squires will record two singles for Chan Records in 1962.

Songs :


Wanda                                              I Don't Know


Troubles Not At End                              Mardi Gras

…

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The Squires (2)

Posted on March 10 2019 by dion1

Delmer Wilburn

The Squires (2) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Delmer Wilburn (Lead)

Otis White (First Tenor)

Jimmy Richardson (Second Tenor)

James Myles (Baritone)

Maurice Giles (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1953 - Let's Give Love A Try / Whop (Combo 35)
1954 - Oh Darling / My Little Girl (Combo 42)

Unreleased :
1954 - Where Are You Tonight (Combo)
1954 - I Want A Girl (Combo)
1954 - Am I A Fool (Combo)

Biography :

The Squires consisted of Delmer Wilburn (lead), Otis White (first tenor), Jimmy Richardson (second tenor), James Myles (baritone), and Maudice Giles (bass). They first got together in the Greenmeadows Playground in L.A. In the fall of 1953, Jess Willard, who owned a record shop, heard them practice and brought them to the attention of Vernon "Jake" Porter, owner of Combo Records. In late 1953, they recorded at least seven songs for Combo. Two of these, "Let's Give Love A Try"/"Whop," came out that year. Two others, "Oh Darling"/"My Little Girl," were issued in early 1954.

The Squires (2)
Maurice Giles Vernon "Jake" Porter

There are three known unreleased tracks: "Where Are You Tonight," "I Want A Girl," and "Am I A Fool." When they drifted apart, Delmer Wilburn eventually ended up in the Turks with Gaynel and Alex Hodge. Later on, he was part of Eli Price & the Manhattans on Dooto, and then the Mandels, who recorded for Lilly in 1961 [Alice Smith, Ann Cain, Pearline Bradford, and Emily Mayweather]. Maurice Giles became a member of the Hollywood Saxons.  
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Squires/squires.html

Songs :


Let's Give Love A Try / Whop                      Oh Darling


My Little Girl                             Where Are You Tonight


I Want A Girl                               Am I A Fool

...

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The Pyramids (1) aka The Tempo-Mentals

Posted on March 9 2019 by dion1

The Pyramids (1) aka The Tempo-Mentals

The Pyramids (1) (Los Angeles, CA.)
aka The Tempo-Mentals

Personnel :

Sidney Correia (Lead)

Joe Dandy

Lionel Cobbs

Melvin White

Kenneth Perdue

Tom Williams

Discography :

The Pyramids (1)
1955 - Deep in My Heart for You / And I Need You (Federal 12233)

The Tempo-Mentals
1957 - Dearest / Burning Desire (Ebb 112)

Biography :

The group was formed under the leadership of Sidney Correia. The rest of the group includes Joe Dandy, Lionel Cobbs, Melvin White, Kenneth Perdue and Tom Williams. It didn't take Federal A&R man Ralph Bass long to decide that he had a great potential recording act when he first heard the Pyramids sing in a Los Angeles night club. He got the group together in between shows and signed them to a recording contract and immediately made plans for their first recording session. The two sides of the session were "Deep in My Heart for You" and "And I Need You". With this disc the band will perform all over the region. in 1957, with almost the same members, the group changed its name and became The Tempo-Mentals. The group signs a recording contract with Ebb records and recorded two song /"Deep in My Heart for You" was reworked into "Burning Desire" and "Dearest". In, 1959 Melvin White join The Cyclones on Forward Records.

Songs :

The Pyramids (1)


Deep in My Heart for You                            And I Need You

The Tempo-Mentals


Burning Desire                                 Dearest

...

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The Hi-Fidelities

Posted on March 9 2019 by dion1

(L to R) Huey Davis, Sylvester Potts, Juanita Davis and Tony York

The Hi-Fidelities (Detroit, Mi.)

Personnel :

Huey Davis

Sylvester Potts

Juanita Davis

Tony York

Discography :

The Hi-Fidelities
1957 - Street Of Loneliness / Help, Murder, Police (Hi-Q 5000 )

Gino Parks & The Hi-Fidelities
1957- Last Night I Cried / Just Go (Gino Parks) (Fortune 528)

Biography :

Sylvester Potts was a singer and composer as well as an off and on member of The Contours and a one time member of The Four Sonics. Songs that he has either composed or co-composed have been recorded by The Contours, Mamie Galore, Jimmy Ruffin and The Temptations.Sylvester Potts was on January 22, 1938 and attended North Eastern High, the same school where Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, and Bobby Rogers were educated at. Due to his love of the music and the excitement he got from it once said he wanted to die on stage.

Gino Parks

In the late 1950s, Sylvester Potts was a member of a group called The Hi-Fidelities who's line up consisted of Huey Davis, Potts, Juanita Davis and Tony York. They released two singles, "Street Of Loneliness" b/w Pott's own composition, "Help Murder Police" on Hi-Q 5000 in 1957 and backed Gino Parks "Last Night I Cried" on Fortune 528 in 1958. In 1959 late 1950s, Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Potts and Hubert Johnson formed The Blenders in 1959. They would later rename themselves as The Contours.

Songs :

The Hi-Fidelities

Street Of Loneliness Help, Murder, Police

Gino Parks & The Hi-Fidelities

Last Night I Cried

...

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The Selections

Posted on March 2 2019 by dion1

The Selections

The Selections (Brooklyn, NY.)

Personnel :

Al Reno "Di Paola" (Lead)

Joe Rivera (Tenor)

Gerald Bart Emptage (Baritone)

Tony Gravagna (Bass)

John Tari (Tenor)

Discography :

The Selections
1958 - Guardian Angel / Soft and Sweet (Mona-Lee 129/Antone 101)

Al Reno bb The Dials (2)
1961 - Cheryl / Congratulations (Kapp 432)

Biography :

Lou Cicchetti was proprietor of the “Cousins” record label and the owner of the “Cousins Music Shop” in Fordham Road (The Bronx) which was frequented by many local neighborhood groups (Dion/Belmonts, Earls, Consorts). These groups wanted Lou to record the songs they were singing on the street corner and help propell them to stardom. It was in this fashion that Cicchetti first encountered Al Reno, an important influence in the sense that this association led him into the business of producing records as well as selling them. Reno (whose subsequently co-wrote Dions's hit recording of "Lonely Teenager" under his real name, Al Di Paola) had recorded "Guardian Angel" b/w "Soft and Sweet" on the Antone Label with the Selections and had given Cicchetti the record to carry in the store.

The Selections
Al Reno Lou Cicchetti

Cicchetti was impressed not only by the sound of the record but by the relative ease which such a record seemingly could be made. The Selections were a Brooklyn-based group composed by Al Reno, Joe Rivera, Gerald Bart Emptage, Tony Gravagna (Later with the regents) and John Tari. "Guardian Angel" b/w "Soft and Sweet" was reissued by Specialty Records owner Art Rupe's former wife, Lee, on her Mona Lee label in late 1958 and revived a few years later by the Imaginations from the borough of Queens. Al reno will participate in many recordings on Lou Cicchetti's Cousins Records. In 1959 Al Reno recorded a solo single as Mike Prisco on Zp Records and on Kapp Records as Al Reno backed by The Dials.

Songs :

The Selections


Guardian Angel                              Soft and Sweet

Al Reno bb The Dials (2)


     Cheryl                                           Congratulations

...

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The Del-Chords (1)

Posted on March 2 2019 by dion1

The Del-Chords (1)

The Del-Chords (1) (Bunkie, Louisiana)

Personnel :

Frankie Simmons

James Jackson

Arthur Sterling

Marshall Hawkins

Arthur Lee Searcy

Discography :

1960 - Help Me / Say That You Love Me (Jin 126)

Biography :

This group from Bunkie, Louisiana consisted of Frankie Simmons, James Jackson, Arthur Sterling, Marshall Hawkins and Arthur Lee Searcy. When Floyd Soileau (the owner of the Jin Records) first heard The Del-Chords, he had high hopes . So, Floyd took The Del-Chords into the studio. They recorded "Help Me", which became their debut single. It was released on Jin Records in 1960. Floyd also sent copies of "Help me" to the major labels.

The Del-Chords (1)
Floyd Soileau (Owner of the Jin Records)

He thought they would find it hard to resist the combination of a needy vocal and tight harmonies. He was wrong. None of the majors expressed an interest in The Del-Chords. To make matters worse, the single flopped. Even veteran music men get it wrong once in a while. Thus, despite the high-quality harmonies, the group were never called back for a follow up.

Songs :

Help Me Say That You Love Me

...

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