Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Du-Ettes (1)

Posted on July 24 2019 by dion1

The Du-Ettes & The Vanguards

The Du-Ettes (1) (Seattle, Washington)

Personnel :

Bonnie Dee Sloan

Annie Laurie Sloan

Discography :

The Du-Ettes (1)
1960 - Neither You Nor I / Blue Point Drive (Jimmy Phelps) (Mecca 5-6)

The Du-Ettes (1) With The Vanguards
1960 - Donny / Wild (The Vanguards) (Mecca LB 2422/23)

Biography :

The Du-ettes, Bonnie and Annnie Sloan, teenage daughters of longtime Seattle songsmith, Sterling "Bud" Sloan, owner of Mecca Records (920 3rd Avenue Seattle, Washington). In February 1960, they recorded "Neither You Nor I" backed with "Blue Point Drive" by Jimmy Phelps . For their second single, the Du-ettes added the Vanguards, an instrumental group they performed at teen dances with and recorded “Donny”. The flip, “Wild” is an instrumental by the Vanguards.

http://oldwax.blogspot.com/

The Du-Ettes (1) (

Songs :

Donny

…

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The Jarmels

Posted on July 23 2019 by dion1

The Jarmels (Richmond, Virginia)

Personnel :

Paul Burnett (Lead)

Nathaniel Ruff (Tenor)

Earl Christian (Tenor)

Ray Smith (Baritone)

Tommy Eldridge (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1961 - Little Lonely One / She Loves To Dance (Laurie 3085)
1961 - A Little Bit Of Soap / The Way You Look Tonight (Laurie 3098)
1961 - I'll Follow You / Gee Oh Gosh (Laurie 3116)
1962 - Red Sails In The Sunset / Loneliness (Laurie 3124)
1962 - One By One / Little Bug (Laurie 3141)
1963 - Come On Girl / Keep Your Mind On Me (Laurie 3174)
Unreleased:
1962 - Why Am I A Fool For You (Laurie)
1962 - You Don't Believe A Word I Say (Laurie)

Discography :

The Jarmels were one of those one-hit wonder groups, responsible for a number 12 single in 1961 entitled "A Little Bit of Soap." If none of their other five singles did remotely as well, that song has lingered in the public consciousness, partly with help from periodic new hit versions by the Exciters in the mid-1960s and Showaddywaddy in England during the 1980s.

The Jarmels came from Richmond, Virginia, where the five members had all begun singing together in church and school. Nathaniel Ruff (b. 1939), Ray Smith (b. 1941), Paul Burnett (b. 1942), Earl Christian (b. 1940), and Tom Eldridge (b. 1941) may have come from Virginia, but the name of the group they formed in the late 1950s came from a street in Harlem. Their manager was Jim Gribble, who also managed the Mystics and the Passions, and brought the Jarmels to Laurie Records in New York in 1961. They were a rather unusual addition to the Laurie roster, for most of the company's artists were white, and sounded more pop than R&B-influenced. The Jarmels combined pop and R&B influences, most notably the sound of the post-1958 Drifters.

The Jarmels

Their first single, "Little Lonely One," was a hit in New York but never charted nationally. Their second record, "A Little Bit of Soap," written by future Neil Diamond/Van Morrison manager Bert Berns, (who also produced the Drifters), got to number 12 in America in the summer of 1961 during a six-week run on the charts. This was the Jarmels' first and last chart success, none of their four subsequent singles charting at all. They recorded their last single, "Come on Girl," in 1963, and the group soldiered on for a while into the mid-1960s with numerous personnel changes -- their later membership included Major Harris, who subsequently became part of the Delfonics.
Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Songs :

Little Lonely One                   She Loves To Dance               A Little Bit Of Soap


The Way You Look Tonight             I'll Follow You                        Gee Oh Gosh


Red Sails In The Sunset                    Loneliness                        One By One


            Little Bug      Come On Girl                  Keep Your Mind On Me


    Why Am I A Fool For You      You Don't Believe A Word I Say

…

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The Emanons (1) ref : The Sequins (1)

Posted on July 18 2019 by dion1

The Hornets (1) aka Cleveland Quartet

The Emanons (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : The Sequins (1)

Personnel :

Ronald Coleman (Lead)

Carl White (First Tenor)

Ralph Steely (Second Tenor)

James Dukes (Baritone)

James Hill (Bass)

Discography :

The Emanons (1)
Singles :
1956 - Change of Time / Hindu Baby (Gee 1005)
1956 - Blue Moon / Wish I Had My Baby (Josie 801)
Unreleased :
1956 - Itty Bitty Mama (JOZ/Josie 801)

The Sequins (1)
1956 - Don't Fall In Love / Why Can't You Treat Me Right (Red Robin 140)

Biography :

The Emanons hailed from New York. The group members were Ronald Coleman (Lead), Carl White (First Tenor), Ralph Steely (Second Tenor), James Dukes (Baritone) and James Hill (Bass). Coleman also was the lead voice for the Sequins with Carl White when they recorded "Don't Fall In Love" and "Why Can't You Treat Me Right" who was the last record on the Red Robin label. The Emanons (the No Names spelled backward) recorded "Change of Time" / "Hindu Baby" for Gee Records, a New York-based American record label formed as a subsidiary to George Goldner's Tico Records and Rama Records labels. The same year, they recorded "Blue Moon" and it’s the first time it was performed in an up-tempo fashion, five years before Pittsburgh’s Marcels had a #1 hit with it. The Marcels’ version on Colpix #186 charted nationally on Billboard in April 1961 for 14 weeks reaching #1. It stayed #1 for 3 weeks. "Blue Moon" is one of the classic popular standard songs written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. Through its different lyric changes by Hart, it has been featured in many movies through the years and recorded by many artists. Some artists were: Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin, Herb Lance & The Classics, Sam Cooke, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Bobby Vinton, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford - with too many more to list.

Songs :

The Emanons (1)


     Blue Moon                                     Wish I Had My Baby


Change of Time                                  Hindu Baby

Itty Bitty Mama

The Sequins (1)


      Don't Fall In Love                          Why Can't You Treat Me Right

…

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The Classmates (4)

Posted on July 13 2019 by dion1

with CKLW disk Jockey Eddie Chase (L to R) Kris Dorjath. Jack Costello, Jim Beasley and Dick Allman.

The Classmates (4) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Kris Dorjath

Jack Costello

Jim Beasley

Dick Allman

Discography :

The Classmates (4)
1955 - Gotta Go And See My Baby / Washed My Heart Of Love (Silhouette 509/510)
1955 - Little Red Berries / One For The Money (Silhouette 511/512)
1955 - Break Down And Love Me / Two Straws In The Wind (Silhouette 513/514)
1956 - Whose Gonna Take You To The Prom / Return My Heart (Dot 15460)
1956 - Break Down And Love Me / Two Straws In The Wind (Dot 15464)
1956 - Friends / I Want My Love Close By (Dot 15504)
1957 - You Do Something To Me / You Aren't The Only One (Dot 15589)

Jim Beasly & The Charmers
1959 - Caught Roped And Tied / Sweetheart Of Alpha Phi Alpha (Silhouette 519/520)

Jack Costello
1959 - Gotta Go And See My Baby / For Sale One Broken Heart (Silhouette 525/526)
1959 - I'm A Maker Of Dreams / Time Tellin' Mosheen (Silhouette 527/528)

Biography :

The Classmates are Kris Dorjath. Jack Costello, Jim Beasley and Dick Allman. All except Kris were classmates at Bass Tech. Jim is a graduate and attends Wayne University. Kris goes to South Lake High School St. Clair Shores. All four of them sing in the Don Large "Make Way for Youth" Chorus. The Three Detroit boys started singing together privately... were very satisfied with the result... but thought a first tenor was just the note they needed. So Kris became a classmates by adoption.

The Classmates (4)

In Mars 1955, The Classmates cut their first record, "Gotta Go And See My Baby" b/w "Washed My Heart Of Love" on the Silhouette label owned by Robert West. Detroit soul pioneer Robert West was born March 1, 1912, in Montgomery, AL, relocating to the Motor City in 1935. In 1955 he formed Silhouette Records, doubling as manager for the Falcons, a local doo wop group featuring future solo stars Eddie Floyd (West's nephew) and Mack Rice.

The Classmates (4)

Their first record is doing some business in scattered places besides Detroit, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and a place in California. Two more singles will be released by Silhouette Records : "Little Red Berries" b/w "One For The Money" and "Whose Gonna Take You To The Prom" b/w "Return My Heart". In May 1956, with "Break Down And Love Me", The Classmates are No. 7 in Houston on KXYZ, first released on Silhouette then picked up by Dot Record. Dot Records will sign the band and release three more singles. In 1959, Jack Costello and Jim Beasley return to silhouette records for a new attempt but without success

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Classmates (4)

Gotta Go And See My Baby             Washed My Heart Of Love


Break Down And Love Me          Whose Gonna Take You To The Prom


     Return My Heart           You Do Something To Me / You Aren't The Only One


Friends / I Want My Love Close By           Two Straws In The Wind

...

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The Starlings (1) aka The Twilighters (2)

Posted on July 12 2019 by dion1

The Starlings (1) aka The Twilighters (2)
Larry Gales

The Starlings (1) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Twilighters (2)

Personnel :

Larry Gales (Lead)

Stan Gilbert (First Tenor)

Jackie Marshall (Second Tenor)

John E. Johnson (Baritone)

Clyde Franklin (Bass)

Discography :

The Starlings (1)
Singles:
1954 - Music Maestro Please / My Plea For Love (Josie 760)
1955 - I’m Just A Crying Fool / Hokey-Smokey Mama (Dawn 212)
1955 - A-Loo, A-Loo / I Gotta Go Now (Dawn 213)
Unreleased :
1954 - Fine Brown Frame (Josie)
1954 - Ebb Tide (Josie)
1954 - The Girl That I Marry (Josie)

The Twilighters (2)
Singles:
1955 - Little Did I Dream / Gotta Get On The Train (MGM 55011)
1956 - Half Angel / Lovely Lady (MGM 55014)

Biography :

The Starlings who hail from the Bronx, NYC., had a fairly ordinary beginning in 1951: five friends who sang on the street. All Morris High School students, they were: Larry Gales (tenor lead), Stan Gilbert (1st tenor), Jackie Marshall (2nd tenor), Johnny Johnson (baritone), and Clyde Franklin (bass). The group called themselves the "Starlings" from the beginning, as a conscious tribute to the other "bird groups" of the time, their repertoire consisted mostly of songs that they had written themselves.

The Starlings (1) aka The Twilighters (2)

They appeared in talent shows, at the Renaissance Casino and in the Apollo amateur show. Their Music teacher, Herb Miller got them a contract with Jubilee's Jerry Blaine, and he had them record for his new label Josie. In April of 1954, "Music Maestro Please" b/w "My Plea For Love" was Josie's first release. The record failed to get any airplay or a push from Blaine. Johnson and Gales reorganized the group in late 1954 or early 1955 with former Crickets' Bill Lindsay & Donald Redd, the brother of the Fi-Tones’.

The Starlings (1) aka The Twilighters (2)
Bill Lindsay

Gene Redd. Miller brought he revamped Starlings to Dawn Records where they recorded two singles, "I'm Just A Crying Fool"/"Hokey-Smokey Mama" and "A-Loo, A-Loo"/"I Gotta Go Now" in the winter of 1955. After rechristening themselves the Twilighters, the group waxed four tunes for M-G-M Records in June of 1955, "Little Did I Dream"/"Gotta Get On The Train" (released that July), and "Lovely Lady"/"Half Angel", which came out in early 1956.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Starlings/starlings.html

Songs :

The Starlings (1)


   My Plea For Love / Music Maestro Please    I’m Just A Crying Fool / Hokey-Smokey Mama


A-Loo, A-Loo / I Gotta Go Now              Fine Brown Frame

The Twilighters (2)


Little Did I Dream / Gotta Get On The Train       Half Angel / Lovely Lady

…

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Johnny & The Jokers (2)

Posted on July 11 2019 by dion1

Johnny & The Jokers (2)

Johnny & The Jokers (2) (New York)

Personnel :

Johnny "Power" Del Pizzol (Lead)

Ralph

Jimmy

Pat (Baritone)

Discography :

Johnny & The Jokers (2)
Singles :
1959 - Do Re Mi Rock / Why Must It Be (Harvard 804)
1962 - Where Did You My Baby Go / I Know (Beltone 2028)
Unreleased :
1961 - Learning About Love (Rome)
1961 - Comic Book Romance (Rome)
1961 - The Seven Teens (Rome)

Bobby Bare & Johnny & The Jokers (2)
1959 - I’m Hangin' Up My Rifle / That's Where I Want To Be (Fraternity 861)

Biography :

Trade Martin's career has covered so many eras of music -- as a producer, arranger, songwriter, and even occasionally as a recording artist -- that he's almost impossible to pin down as a musical figure. In the late '50s, in a partnership with Johnny Power (Del Pizzol), he began recording acts such as Johnny & the Jokers and released their work on the Harvard Records "Do Re Mi Rock" and "Why Must It Be".

Johnny & The Jokers (2)
Ralph & Johnny Del Pizzol

Johnny & The Jokers consists of lead singer Johnny "Power" Del Pizzol along with Ralph, Jimmy & Pat. Trade Martin and Johnny Del Pizzol formed Rome Records in 1960. The group recorded some songs for Rome records, unfortunately none of these titles will be released. Rome only lasted until 1962, weighted down by its lack of reliable distribution, which prevented the company from succeeding despite signing such talent as the Earls (who went on to score their hits for Old Town Records), Del & the Escorts, and the Glens. Martin usually played all of the instrumental accompaniments for these groups, overdubbing the instruments one at a time.

Johnny & The Jokers (2)

In 1962, "Where Did You My Baby Go" b/w "I Know" by Johnny & The Jokers was released on Beltone Records,a King Records subsidiary. In 1963, following the demise of the Rome label, Martin left the partnership and recorded under his own name on Roulette and other labels through the end of the '60s, and even got an entire LP, Let Me Touch You, out on Buddah Records in 1972.

Songs :

Johnny & The Jokers (2)


Do Re Mi Rock                               Why Must It Be


Where Did You My Baby Go                         I Know


Learning About Love                  Comic Book Romance

The Seven Teens

Bobby Bare & Johnny & The Jokers (2)


I’m Hangin' Up My Rifle                   That's Where I Want To Be

...

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The UpperClassmen

Posted on July 6 2019 by dion1

The Upperclassmen

The UpperClassmen (Inglewood, California)

Personnel :

Richie Rotkin

Arnie Marcus

Discography :

1959 - Cha Cha With The Zombies / Cryin' Towel (Freedom 44010)

Biography :

"The UpperClassmen" had a minor hit in the late 50's/early 60's with "Cha Cha With The Zombies on Freedom Records backed with "Cryin' Towel" . Both sides of the single were written by Eddie Cochran Friend Ray Stanley. Richie Rotkin & Arnie Marcus were members of this group prior to joining The Rip Chords, and are featured on this record. It has become a mainstay of Dr. Demento's Halloween radio shows for years.

Arnie Marcus and Richie Rotkin                                             The UpperClassmen

Freedom Records was a subsidiary of Liberty Records from Hollywood. It was launched during the summer of 1958 and Jerry Capehart was hired as A&R man. One of the artists on the label was Johnny Burnette. Eddie Cochran provided lead guitar on some of the records. Freedom closed down in the summer of 1959. The Rip Chords are known for their 1964 million-seller smash hit "Hey Little Cobra" written by Carol Connors, and their chart hits "Three Window Coupe," "Here I Stand," "Gone," "409" and "Red Hot Roadster" from the Beach Movie "A Swingin' Summer."

Songs :


Cha Cha With The Zombies                           Cryin' Towel

...

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The Madisons (1)

Posted on July 6 2019 by dion1

The Madisons (1)

The Madisons (1) (Syracuse, New York)

Personnel :

Johnny Whipple (aka Johnny Velvet aka Johnny Curtis)

Carl Irvine

Jimmy Foran

Terry Golden

Discography :

Billy Kidd & The Madisons (1)
1961 - First Time / If You Only Cared (Madison 153)

The Madisons (1)
1964 - The Wind And The Rain / Can You Imagine It (Lawn 240)
1965 - Cheryl Anne / Looking For A True Love (MGM 13312)
1965 - Only A Fool / Stagger (Jomada 601)
1965 - Valerie / (flip by The Montereys) (Twin Hit 2685)

Biography :

This group of Westsiders was originally known as "The Impressions' and consisted of Chuck Roberts (lead singer), Jimmy Foran, Paul Hall and Doug Jones (formerly with The Dialtones). They changed their name and ventured to New York City and recorded the hit "First Time" for Madison Records in March 1961 as Billy Kidd and The Madisons. Jones & Hall departed and were replaced by Terry Golden (Centurys) & Carl Irving (Jan & the Radiants). Chuck Roberts married and left being replaced by Johnny Velvet (Whipple). Whipple a Central High alumnus and local early 1960's backup singer switched and sang lead releasing demo recordings with Johnny Velvet & The Revelation ("The D.T.) and Johnny Velvet & The Capitols ("I Really Love You" & Slide By") between 1960-61. The Capitols at this time included Chuck Sgroi, Frank Sgroi, Tony Licameli, John Latocha and others. Whipple then auditioned with Billy Kidd & The Madisons who just had a national single release "First Time" for the Madison Record label.

The Madisons (1)

With departure of singer Chuck Roberts "The Madisons" reformed under guidance from WNDR Radio DJ "Dandy Dan" Leonard. With a new name and a new lineup that included Carl Irvine, Jimmy Foran, Terry Golden (all three Vocational High alumnis) & Johnny Whipple "The Madisons" were ready for more national attention. And they did. This lineup ventured to New York City to record two songs written by Larry Santos and arranged by Charles Collela of the Four Seasons staff "Looking For A True Love " b/w "Cheryl Ann" that would be released by MGM Records (1965). This recording was selected by Cash Box Magazine as its "Best Bet".

It received heavy air-play in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Boston, Rochester, Providence, DesMoines, Iowa Flint, Michigan, Syracuse and throughout the Northeast. The Madisons made over a dozen TV appearances including the Clay Cole Show in New York City, featured on WKBW TV in Buffalo, and Syracuse WNYS TV-9's (now WSYR TV-9) March of Dimes charity broadcast in 1965 about the same time "Looking For A True Love" was topping the charts. The Madisons also appeared live at the famed 3 Rivers Inn (March 12-17, 1965) and weekly at the Little Brown Jug in downtown Syracuse being backed by Don Barber and The Dukes (Barber, Joe Sawmiller & Fred Winston) or The Dimensions between March- July 1965.

The Madisons had three more regional single releases- "Only A Fool" b/w "The Stagger" (both written by Larry Santos) on Jomada Records produced by WNDR's "Dandy Dan" Leonard and John Periales. They followed by signing a three-year contract with Swan Records out of Philadelphia. With Swan Records came "The Wind and The Rain" b/w "Can You Imagine It" released in June 1964. They appeared on the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars Tour that made a stop at the Syracuse War Memorial on July 9, 1964. Acts included Gene Pitney, The Shirelles, Brian Hyland, The Supremes, The Crystals, Coasters, Major Lance, Round Robin, Rip Chords and others.

Their final 45 rpm single would be "Valarie" issued on Twin Hits label (July 1966). They were backed instrumentally by Don Barber and The Dukes along with keyboard sensation Kal Dee. The Madison's then toured the Northeast and New England with national recording artists Bobby Vee, Ad-Lids (Boy from New York City) and the Exciters (Tell Him). During this time frame they were backed many times by hugely popular Syracuse band (later to be Hall of Famers) "The Monterays", who appeared on the flip side of the Twin Hits single with their first hit "I'll Be Around."

http://ronwray.blogspot.fr/2013/04/history-of-syracuse-music-official-site_26.html

Songs :

Billy Kidd & The Madisons (1)

First Time If You Only Cared

The Madisons (1)


The Wind And The Rain        Can You Imagine It              Cheryl Anne


Looking For A True Love            Valerie                        Only A Fool

Stagger

...

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The Crescendos (2) aka The Casual Crescendos aka The Creschendos

Posted on July 5 2019 by dion1

The Crescendos (2) aka The Casual Crescendos aka The Creschendos
(L to R) Cynthia Badie, Wanda Burt, Ernie, George Banks and Odell Alford

The Crescendos (2) (Berkeley, CA.)
aka The Casual Crescendos
aka The Creschendos

Personnel :

Wanda Burt (Lead)

Cynthia Badie (Tenor)

Ernie (Tenor)

George Banks (Tenor/Baritone)

Odell Alford (Bass)

Discography :

The Creschendos
1960 - My Heart's Desire / Take My Heart (Music City 831)

The Crescendos (2)
1960 - My Heart's Desire / Take My Heart (Gone 5100)
1960 - I Don't Mind / Teenage Prayer (Music City 839)

Wanda Burt (bb The Crescendos)
1961 - Scheming / Your True Love Is Standing By (not them) (Music City 840)

The Casual Crescendos
1963 - Wish That You Were Here / Uncle Ben's Concentrated Blueberry Jam (MRC 12001)

Biography :

In 1950, Ray Dobard decided to open a record shop, Berkeley’s Music City in Adeline Street, San Francisco. Not long after that, Ray founded his first record label Delcro Records. Three years later, with his latest business expanding his record store, now called Music City Record Store moved to new premises. Music City Record Store’s new premises were at 1815 Alcatraz Avenue. Behind the shop, there was an empty space. Ray decided to build a small studio. This meant he could record artists, release their music on his own label and sell them in Music City Record Store. In 1960, Dobard signed a quintet composed of two young women and three men. The group had began at Willard Junior High several years before, with tenor/baritone George Banks and Bass Odell Alford . At Berkeley high, a tenor named Ernie, beauty queen alto Cynthia Badie and sweet-voiced lead singer Wanda Burt gravitated to the group, who now called themselves the Crescendos.

(L to R) George Banks, Cynthia Badie, Odell Alford, Wanda Burt and Ernie

Wanda Burt, of all Music City Artists should have achieved a measure of stardom. Born Arkansas in 1942 and raised in Berkeley, she worked at Dobard’s store on the Weekends. One day she gave Dotard a Crescendos’demo. Dobard decided he wanted to record this group. Tough all the members sang lead during their live shows, Wanda became the only Crescendo voice on Music City-and no wonder. The Crescendos first release, "My Heart's Desire" in October 1960, in fact inspired Goldner to lease the record for another one of his labels, Gone. The song made some noise on the East Coast but never broke out. Impressed with Burt Potential, Dobard made a concession to the white mass market on the Crescendos’ next records, "Teenage Prayer" by adding violins. The added expense must have gnawed on him. One thing is certain : Those strings did more harm than good to the ballad, which was in the first place not as interesting as it flipside "I Don't Mind".

The Crescendos (2) aka The Casual Crescendos aka The Creschendos
Wanda Burt (1961)

The Crescendos’ third release, "Scheming" must have disappointed the other members of the group, because their name was nowhere in sight. Instead Dobard put it out as the B-side "Your True Love Is Standing By", which Burt had cut with another group. and he featured Burt as solo on the label. Wanda Burt had also stepped out on her own as a live performer. In late 1961, she appeared on the bill at a huge concert at San Fransisco’ Cow Palace with Chubby Checker, Eugene Church and girl group the Marvelettes. Unfortunately, health and personal problems sidelined her before she could build any momentum, and bought her promising career to a premature close. The Crescendos replaced her with a sound alike, Anna Lois Jones, and recorded as The Casual Crescendos for the MRC label. Cynthia Badie left the group to go to College, and nowadays she’s the manager of a successful young pop group, The New edition.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)