Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Revlons (1) aka The Revelons

Posted on January 17 2020 by dion1

The Revlons (1) aka The Revelons
The Revlons (1962)

The Revlons (1) (New York)
aka The Revelons

Personnel :

Dave Barnes

J. Smith

R. Alexander

S.Wright ?

Discography :

The Revlons (1)
Singles :
1961 - I Promise Love / This Restless Heart (Rae Cox 105)
1962 - Dry Your Eyes / She'll Come To Me (Someday) (Capitol 4739)
1966 - (Oh Oh Oh) What A Love This Is / Did I Make A Mistake (Toy 101/102)
Unreleased :
1962 - Moonlight Angel (Capitol) (Crystal Ball 138)
1962 - You Don't Love Me (Capitol) (Crystal Ball 138)

The Revelons
1961 - I Promise Love / This Restless Heart (Rae Cox 105)

Biography :

Vocal group from New York composed by Dave Barnes, J. Smith, R. Alexander and maybe S.Wright ?. Their first record "I Promise Love" b/w "This Restless Heart" will be released on the Rae Cox label in May 1961. The New-York based Rae-Cox was formed in 1959 by Teddy McRae and Eddie Wilcox. Both men were experienced musicians and arrangers in the world of Big Bands and smaller R&B combos of the late forties and early fifties. They not only released gospel but also some Doo-Wop, R&B and what else was in vogue in the late fifties – early sixties. .

The Revlons (1) aka The Revelons
The Revlons (1966)                                                                                   The Revlons (1966)

In April 1962, The Tokens arranged their DRlFTERS-styled shuffle version of "Dry Your Eyes" for the Revlons . The Revlons records the titles "Moonlight Angel", "You Don't Love Me", "Dry Your Eyes", and "She'll Come To Me" in New York City. Capitol Records will issue "Dry Your Eyes" and "She'll Come To Me" together as a single . It will take four years to finally listen to the group's ultimate single: "(Oh Oh Oh) What A Love This Is" written by Luther Dixon & Larry Lucie and "Did I Make A Mistake" written by The Revlons. The single will be released by toy records owned by Larry Lucie

Songs :


   I Promise Love                               This Restless Heart


         Dry Your Eyes                    She'll Come To Me (Someday)


Moonlight Angel                     (Oh Oh Oh) What A Love This Is

Did I Make A Mistake

...

See comments

The Ontarios

Posted on January 15 2020 by dion1

The Ontarios

The Ontarios (Washington, DC)

Personnel :

Marcus Wright (Lead)

Ernest Champion (First Tenor)

Clayton Roberts (Bass)

Maurice Watkins (Baritone)

Discography :

1973 - I Really Had A Ball (1955) / Sorry (by The Clefs) (Baron 104)
1973 - It's Wrong (1955) / Is This The Real Thing (by The Warblers) (Baron 101)
1973 - Love Me Baby (1955) / Scheming (by The Warblers) (Baron 106)
1974 - I'm Gonna Move (1955) / I’ll Drink A Toast (1955) (Firefly 323)
1974 - Lovers Mambo (1955) / Memories Of You (1955) (Firefly 324)
1974 - My Heart (1955) / Sunset (by The Serenaders) ( Roadhouse 1022)
1974 - Refrigerator Daddy (acapella)

Biography :

The Ontarios were from Washington D.C. and were organised in 1954. The group was composed by Marcus Wright, Clayton Roberts, Maurice Watkins and Ernest Champion and in 1955 went to record for the label DC, owned by Lillian Claiborne. Mrs. Lillian Claiborne was an eight-year veteran of the music publishing and recording field. She had already enjoyed a good run of 78 rpm single releases on DC records from 1947-1950. She had placed her most promising artists on other labels (The Cap-Tans to Gotham, Dot, and Coral, TNT Tribble, The Heartbreakers, and the Young Gospel Singers to RCA Victor, and Frank Motley to Gotham and later to Specialty -all with mixed results. Lillian Claiborne seemed to be determined to record anyone and anything that entered her studio. However, the most of what she recorded remained unreleased. The Ontarios were one of those groups that recorded for Lillian Claiborne, but, none of their tunes was ever released until the mid-70s. The Ontarios will separate in 1956, Clayton Roberts and Maurice Watkins joined the Incas.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

I'm Gonna Move (1955) / I’ll Drink A Toast (1955)


Lovers Mambo (1955)                    Memories Of You (1955)


     My Heart (1955)                        Refrigerator Daddy (1955)


I Really Had A Ball                                 It's Wrong

Love Me Baby

…

See comments

Sax Kari & The Quailtones ref The Fidelitones (1)

Posted on January 12 2020 by dion1

Sax Kari & The Quailtones ref The Fidelitones (1)

Sax Kari & The Quailtones (Detroit, MI)
ref The Fidelitones (1)

Personnel :

Freddie Gorman (Bass)

William « Sonny » Sanders

Johnny Franklin

James Martin

Ted Scruggs

Discography :

Sax Kari & The Quailtones
1955 - Roxanna / Tears Of Love (Josie 779)

The Fidelitones (1)
Unreleased :
1958 - Pretty Girl / Game Of Love (Aladdin 3442) (not issued)
1958 - Is it Too Late (Aladdin)

Biography :

Freddie Gorman (born Frederick Cortez Gorman, April 11, 1939 – June 13, 2006) was an American musician and record producer, most famous as a singer, songwriter for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a native of Detroit, Michigan. A member of the Motown quartet The Originals, Freddie Gorman was also a vital unsung component of the Motown label's formative development. He co-wrote the label's first #1 pop hit "Please Mr. Postman", by the Marvelettes.

Sax Kari & The Quailtones
The Quailtones (1955) : William Sanders (Second from left), Freddie Gorman (Center)

In 1964 the biggest selling group of all time, the Beatles released their version, and in 1975 the Carpenters took it back to #1 again. This was the second time in pop history (after "The Twist" by Chubby Checker) that a song reached #1 in the US twice. Freddie Gorman developed his potent bass harmonizing on local street corners, and was still in high school when he made his recorded debut on the Quailtones 1955 Josie Records. The Quailtones consisted of Freddie Gorman, Sonny Sanders, Johnny Franklin, James Martin and Ted Scruggs.

Sax Kari & The Quailtones ref The Fidelitones (1)
Rufus Thomas & Sax Kari

They made one obscure record for Josie Records in New York which was arranged through a local record store owner and part time Saxophone Player, Sax Kari. Sax Kari and the Qualitones, "Roxanna" b/w "Tears Of Love", came and went without a trace, and soon after, the group disbanded. When that happened, Freddie Gorman and another of the group's members, Sonny Sanders, formed a group called the Fidelitones, which consisted of the two of them, Brian Holland and a singer nicknamed "Bosco" who lived over on the other side of town. As it turned out, Gorman happened to be Berry Gordy's mailman, and it wasn't long before he convinced Berry to listen to his group.

Sax Kari & The Quailtones
The Fidelitones (1958) William Sanders, Freddie Gorman & Brian Holland

One year before Motown was started, Gordy recorded The Fidelitones for the Aladdin record label. This was also Berry's first encounter with Brian Holland . "Pretty Girl" b/w "Game Of Love" on Aladdin 3442 was never released. While under contract for Aladdin, they recorded "Is it Too Late" but again it was never released, possible because of a lack of funds, or for some other reason. It was finally released years later with this "Yesterday" record label release.
Thanks to Marv Goldberg

Songs:

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Sax Kari & The Quailtones

Tears Of Love Roxanna

The Fidelitones (1)

Is it Too Late

…

See comments

The Belvederes (6)

Posted on January 12 2020 by dion1

The Belvederes (6)

The Belvederes (6) (Jersey City, NJ.)

Personnel :

Al Washington

Alfred Jackson

Larry Beckett

Frederick Brown

Discography :

1962 - Why Do You Treat Me This Way / Lost Love (Poplar 114)

Biography :

Poplar, founded in New York City in 1962 by Stan Seifer, generally featured doo wop-styled groups, but backed them with often surprisingly sharp early rock arrangements that avoided being derivative by adding in little percussion touches, unusual basslines, and touches of horns. Poplar Recorded the Belvederes in 1962. The Belvederes were an older group from Jersey City comprised of four members: Al Washington, Alfred Jackson, Larry Beckett and Frederick Brown. The group recorded two splendid titles "Why Do You Treat Me This Way" b/w "Lost Love". Both titles are written by the four members of the group. Unfortunately it seems that this is their only record.

Songs :

Why Do You Treat Me This Way Lost Love

...

See comments

The Unitones

Posted on January 11 2020 by dion1

Sal Roberto

The Unitones (Middletown, Connecticut)

Personnel :

Joe Marino (Lead)

Vin Carta (Bass)

Mike Garafolo (Tenor)

Sal Roberto (Baritone)

Discography :

Singles :
1959 - Judy / The Sound (Candy 005)
Unreleased :
1959 - Land By The Sea (Candy)
1959 - Lorraine (Candy)

Biography:

The Unitones formes as a group in November 1957. All member are from Middletown. The four members, Joe Marino, Vin Carta, Mike Garafolo and Sal Roberto started singing on a Middletown High School basketball bus ride home from an away game. All the singers played basketball for Middletown High. Accompaniment at the Quartet's performances was Frank Baratta (Piano) and Joe Zimmitti (Drums). One of the classmates of the group was the daughter of Mickey Maroni, who later founded M-Z Records. Maroni's daughter listen to the group rehearse, and she persuaded her father to hear the Unitones. Maroni agreed to manage the group, and arranged for them perform at many locations all over Connecticut and Western Massachusetts in 1957, 1958 and 1959. The Group often appears at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Massachusetts. They sang on the same stage t a park in Bridgeport with a young Neil Sedaka in 1957. Maroni arranged for the group to record their single for Candy records. When they recorded, The Unitones utilised the talents of four friends who where members of the High School band, a saxophonist, trumpeter, guitarist and bassist.Frank Baratta and Joe Marino wrote the group's four songs, recorded in New York City in February 1959. Candy released only "Judy" b/w "The Sound".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Judy The Sound

...

See comments

The Velvets (1)

Posted on January 10 2020 by dion1

The Velvets (1) (Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Charles Sampson (Lead)

Donald "Razor" Raysor (Tenor)

Bearle Ashton (Baritone)

George Thorpe (Bass)

Joe Brisbane (Tenor)

Discography :

The Velvets (1)
1953 - They Tried / She's Gotta Grin (Red Robin 120)
1953 - I / At Last (Red Robin 122 / Pilgrim 706 / Event 4285)
1954 - I Cried / Tell Her (Red Robin 127)
1958 - Dance Honey Dance / I-I-I (Love You So-So-So) (Fury 1012)

Charles & Carl
1955 - Lucky Star / One More Chance (Red Robin 137)

Biography :

Teenage vocal group from the Sugar Hill area, just south of Washington Heights in Harlem, NY, in the early 1950s composed by George Thorpe, Bearle Ashton, Charles Sampson, Donald Razor, and Joe Brisbane. "They Tried" b/w "She's Gotta Grin" Issued circa September 1953 as Red Robin 120 was their first of three releases on Bobby Robinson's legendary Red Robin label. Born in Union, South Carolina, in 1917, Morgan C. “Bobby” Robinson moved to New York City in 1946, where he opened "Bobby's Record Shop" (later called "Bobby's Happy House") on the corner of 125th Street and 8th Avenue.

Donald "Razor" Raysor

It was the first black-owned business on Harlem’s famed 125th Street. In 1951, Robinson started the Robin (later changed to Red Robin) record label. "I" b/w "At Last" was their second record and breaking strong on the charts. In early spring 1954, The Velvets spent over three hours on what would become their last Red Robin Singles "I Cried", this was done during the same session where the Scarlets were given to cut "Dear One" and another Ballad called "I’ve Lost."

Bobby Robinson

In late 1954 Donald Razor replace Carl Hogan in The Valentines, Carl Hogan would leave the group before a session at Old Town Records, after a fight with the rest of the group. In 1955, Velvet’s lead singer Charles Sampson & Carl Hogan from the Valentines recorded "Lucky Star" b/w "One More Chance". In 1957, Carl Hogan fronted The Miracles on Fury. In 1958, Fury Records, also owned by Bobby Robinson released the last record of the group with "Dance Honey Dance" b/w "I-I-I (Love You So-So-So)". Members of the group changed on this last single with Carl Hogan and Leon Briggs, brother of Raymond Briggs from The Valentines. Donald Razor & Leon Briggs will be part of The Clippers who recorded "Bella Marie" and "I’m Yours" released by Gee Records and The Du Mauriers on Fury.

Songs :

The Velvets (1)

They Tried                                          She's Gotta Grin


I                                                     At Last


I Cried                                            Tell Her


         Dance Honey Dance            I-I-I (Love You So-So-So)

Charles & Carl


       Lucky Star                                 One More Chance

…

See comments

Jimmy & The Crestones

Posted on January 8 2020 by dion1

Jimmy & The Crestones
Jimmy Appollo, Dennis Walsh , Ralph Circelli, Joe Foti and Harvey Katofski

Jimmy & The Crestones (Bronx N.Y)
By Joe Foti & Jimmy Appollo

Personnel :

Jimmy Appollo (Lead)

Harvey Katofski (Bass)

Joe Foti (Baritone /Second Tenor)

Dennis Walsh (Tenor)

Ralph Circelli

Discography :

1964 - New Girl On My Block / Angel Maureen (Maria 101/Avenue D11)

Biography :

"Jimmy & The Crestones" originated in 1961 from a neighborhood group from Creston Avenue in The Bronx N.Y called The Doveins. The lead singer of The Doveins was Matt Daly , with the group consisting of Harvey Katofski (Bass), Joe Foti ( Baritone/2nd. Tenor), Dennis Walsh (Tenor). Decatur Ave., Bronx N.Y., with an additional voice being added by Ralph Circelli who lived across the hall in my apartment building.

Jimmy & The Crestones

The Doveins had difficulties with the lead singer who was eventually replaced by Jimmy Appollo from With the very tight, almost familial harmony of The Crestones, and Jimmy's unique voice we, over many months of performing in local businesses & schools, branched out to other boroughs of New York City and some parts of New Jersey. Our manager then was D.J. Clark who had written a song for, and about, his then girlfriend Maureen. We picked it up, tweaked it a bit, added our own seasoning and finally cut the song in Brooklyn with Al Browne's musical support on Maria Label and was its first release. Soon after its release we became more familiar with the music business and all its pitfalls and limelight. In 1963 we appeared on the Clay Cole Show in Palisades Park N.J.

Al Browne (Piano) & his band

The experience we absorbed over the previous 2 years was evident to us and over the course of a few more months performing we found ourselves in the offices of Giant & Baum (Bill Giant/Bernie Baum/Florence Kaye) in the Brill Building 1619 Broadway called affectionately "The Mecca of the music writing business in New York City." Giant & Baum!! They wrote for not only Elvis but a myriad of other top stars dating back to the 1940's!!. Well after a few demos of our talents we found out about the pitfalls of the music business.

Although our sound was as solid as it could get in the 1960's the flavor & direction of the constantly evolving music business was changing and we were then turned over to another writing team who offered us an old standard written in 1945 that they wanted to re-record and release, which we just could not quite capture, but itself eventually became a hit by Lenny Welch "Since I don't have you".. We continued as a group throughout the mid 60's but as our eventual maturing ,and the Vietnam war, entered our realm of reality, slowly Jimmy and the Crestones became a memory and a mist.

Jimmy continued his music well into 2009 when he retired, I retired from business in 2006, Denny and Ralph, sadly, passed away in the70's and ol' Harvey?.. Well he's out there somewhere-- someplace!!." Its part of our fabric of life, and we would not change it for all the gold records in the universe!! God Bless!
Joe Foti, Harrisburg Pa. May 2012

Songs :

Angel Maureen New Girl On My Block

...

See comments

Little Tommy & The Teenagers

Posted on January 6 2020 by dion1

Little Tommy & The Teenagers

Little Tommy & The Teenagers (Richmond, Virginia)

Personnel :

Tyrone "Little Tommy" Thomas (Lead)

Major Harris

Jonny Jones

Lawrence Cary

Discography :

?

Biography :

Tyrone Thomas, at the tender age of 10 was known as Lil Tommy. He and Major Harris of "Love Won't Let Me Wait" fame, put together their first quartet, called the "Teenagers" They open for several major league recording artist,such as Sam Cooke, Mary Wells, Fat's Domino, and blues legend Jimmy Reid. The Teenagers stay together for several years. The Teenagers went on to perform and win Amateur Night at the Apollo in the late 50's. Tyrone began to hone his skill as a drummer. Later putting together a band called "Nobody's Children". In the early 70's they became Patti Labelle and the Bluebells back up band. Again touring and opening shows for artist such as Tyrone Davis, Kool and the Gang, The Delfonics, and The Moments, to name a few "Nobody's Children" continue to be Patti Labelle's back up band. They were performing at Lord Price's Turntable, when Patti Labelle was suddenly stricken with a serious throat illness.

...

See comments

The Derbys (3)

Posted on January 5 2020 by dion1

The Derbys (3)

The Derbys (3) (Alameda, CA)

Personnel :

Gary Hedrick

Ronald Eldridge

Norman Garner

James Watkins

Benny Martin

Discography :

Unreleased :
1962 - Lonely One (Music City)
1962 - Happy Birthday Baby (Music City)

Biography :

The Derbys were Gary Hedrick, Ronald Eldridge, Norman Garner, James Watkins and Benny Martin. service men from the nearby naval base in Alameda. The group had more than a passing fondness for the Drifters, particularly the then-current aggregation that featured Rudy Lewis with the added strings "Lonely One" from 1962 sounds like a Drifters records. The group also contributed an a cappella version of the Tune Weavers' hit, "Happy Birthday Baby". The songs were recorded at Music City Recording Studios owned by Ray Dobard, owner, producer and songwriter. He founded the Berkeley, Califrornia label Music City as well as Music City Recording Studios. Dobard also owned a chain of Music City Record Shops in the San Francisco Bay Area. Unfortunately and despite the formidable "Lonely One" Music City will not release the single.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Lonely One Happy Birthday Baby

...

See comments

The Four Haven Knights

Posted on January 5 2020 by dion1

The Four Haven Knights

The Four Haven Knights (New Haven, Connecticut)
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Leroy Griffin "Gomez"

Robert Johnson

Thomas Griffin

Everett Johnson

Carl Haley

Discography:

The Four Haven Knights
1957 - In My Lonely Room / I'm Just A Dreamer (Atlas 1066 / Josie 824)

The Haven Knights
1958 - Why Go On Pretending / Just To Be In Love (Atlas 1092)

Biography :

Hailing from New Haven, CT, the original Nutmegs -- lead Leroy Griffin, Sonny Griffin Dieder Cobb, and a second Leroy Griffin (yes, there were two men with the same exact name) who later became Leroy Gomez , all sang together with other members: Walter Singleterry, Bill Emery, and Gomez's brother Thomas Griffin -- moving in and out of the lineup. The group performed on the street corners of New Haven, especially Webster and Dixon Streets, where Jimmy "Co Co" Tyson was asked to join the key lineup and soon they were a quintet.. The Nutmegs fragmented again and some of the members left to form a group of their own, the Lyres. The Gomez brothers formed the Four Haven Knights.

The Four Haven Knights

The group consisted of Leroy Gomez, Robert Johnson, Thomas Griffin, Everett Johnson and Carl Haley . In 1956, The Four Haven Knights signing a recording contract with Tommy Robinson's Atlas Records. The manaager Atlas Files show Robinson leased two missing Haven Knights's Sides to Buchanan and Goldman's Eldorado label in the fall of '56; unfortunately, no discs or tapes have ever surfaced. First single was a "In My Lonely Room" b/w "I'm Just A Dreamer" in July, 1957 (Later leased to Josie Records), followed by the poignant "Just To Be In Love" b/w "Why Go On Pretending?" in August 1958.

The Four Haven Knights

Tommy Robinson's Harlem-based Atlas Records didn't produce many national hits during its seven-year run in the '50s, but as an independent black-owned label that functioned as an integral part of the local community, it provided a model for later black-owned labels like Detroit's Motown Records. Robinson started Atlas in 1951 and initially recorded a series of saxophone-dominated R&B sides, but increasingly began featuring vocal groups, often with solid regional success. By the mid-'50s, Robinson focused more on his Angle Tone Records imprint, and Atlas was no longer an active label by 1958.

Songs :


     Just To Be In Love                 Why Go On Pretending?


In My Lonely Room                  I'm Just A Dreamer

.

See comments