Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The El Deens

Posted on March 31 2020 by dion1

Connie Pisciotti

The El Deens (Hillside, Il.)

Personnel :

Connie Pisciotti (Lead)

Cathy Maida

Norma

Judy

Discography :

1959 - My Love For You / Why Can't I Find You (Federal 12347)
1959 - Where Are You? / The Club For Broken Hearts (Federal 12356)

Biography :

The El Deens comes from Hillside, a village in Cook County, Illinois. In 1959, Connie Pisciotti and his best friend Cathy Maida along with two other girls Norma and Judy recorded two songs both written by Connie Pisciotti; "My Love For You" b/w "Why Can't I Find You" released by Federal in February 1959.

The El Deens

Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. Four Monts later, the group returns to the studio and recorded "Where Are You?" b/w "The Club For Broken Hearts", two new songs again written by Connie. The Single will be released in June 1959. Despite the separation of the group, Connie and Cathy continue to write songs for other artists ...

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Where Are You?                             My Love For You


The Club For Broken Hearts                Why Can't I Find You

..

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The Dreamers (10)

Posted on March 28 2020 by dion1

The Dreamers (10)

The Dreamers (10) (Yonkers , New York)

Personnel :

Frank Cammarata (Lead)

Bob Malara (First Tenor)

Luc Berardis (Second Tenor / Baritone)

John "Bud" Trancynger (Baritone / Bass)

Dom Canzano (Bass)

Discography :

1960 - Natalie / Teenage Vows Of Love (Goldisc 3015)
1961 - Because Of You / Little Girl (Cousins 1005 / May 133)

Biography :

This group came to Lou Cicchetti's attention via Dario Bianchini, a former member of another group (with with Cicchetti had worked previously) known at the Dials. The Dreamers' sole effort for Cousins was "Because Of You", an old standard (Originally done by Tony Bennett), which was published by the Screen Gems Columbia organisation. Screen Gems also owned Colpix Records, And Cicchetti placed the master with them in the hope that they would plug the record heavily to promote their own copyright. Much to Cicchetti's disappointment, however, the record was relegated to the subsidiary May label and died almost instantly for lack of promotion.

The Dreamers (10)
The Dreamers on the Ted Mack "Original Amateur Hour"

The Dreamers had started their career in 1959 when they appeared on the Ted Mack "Original Amateur Hour" (All but John were cousins). Hailing From Yonkers, New York, they consisted of Frank Cammarata (Lead), John "Bud" Trancynger (Baritone and Bass), Bob Malara (First Tenor), Luc Berardis (Second Tenor and Baritone) and Dom Canzano (Bass). A little later, they were spotted by George Goldner and signed to his Goldisc Label. They recorded "Teenage Vows Of Love" in September of 1960 and it quickly became a top ten hit in many Midwest Cities including New York, after it's release in January of 1961.

The Dreamers (10)
      Lou Cicchetti           Bob Malara, John "Bud" Trancynger, Frank DiGiglio and Dario Bianchini

By 1962, they were disappointed with their label and went on to Cicchetti's Cousins Records. Berardis and Canzano last and were replaced by Frank DiGiglio and Frank Nicholas (The Meridians). A few more songs were recorded in 1964/1965, before the group finally disbanded in 1965. They had a short revival from 1983 to 1988 after an appearance on Don K.Reed's WCBS-FM show, which led a new album production and two single releases. This new formation included Frank, John and Frank Nicholas, together with Tony Frederico and Bruce Goldie (Also from The Meridians).

Songs :


Teenage Vows Of Love                               Natalie


Because Of You                                      Little Girl

...

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The Acorns aka Vinny Catalano aka The Pyramids (5) aka The Original Pyramids

Posted on March 28 2020 by dion1

The Acorns (Bronx, New York)
aka Vinny Catalano aka The Pyramids (5) aka The Original Pyramids

Personnel :

Vinny Catalano (Solo)

Discography :

The Pyramids (5)
1958 - Ankle Bracelet / Hot Dog Dooly Wah (Shell 711)

The Original Pyramids
1961 - Ankle Bracelet / Hot Dog Dooly Wah (Shell 304 / Shell 100)

The Acorns
1958 - Angel / I'm Gonna Stick To You (Unart 2006)
1959 - Please Come Back / Your Name And Mine (Unart 2015)

Vinny Catalano
1963 - Please Mr Juke Box Man / Rags To Riches (Hammer 6312)

Biography :

In November of 1958, The Pyramids recorded "Ankle Bracelet" and "Hot Dog Dooly Wah" .It has quite a pedigree, what with Billy Mure arranging and conducting, on a song co-written by Vincent (Vinny) Catalano. It is very unusual that we can't find any information on This group. Quite who these Pyramids were remains a mystery, but there's every chance that 'they' were really just co-writer Vince Catalano. Around the same time he also disguised himself as The Acorns on singles released on the Spring and Unart label, under which moniker he had two number one songs in Hawaii (on the Unart label): "Angel" and "Your Name And Mine," in 1958 and 1959 respectively. He recorded under many other aliases and group names.

Vince Catalano Donnie & the Dreamers

Vince Catalano was born on a farm in New London, Connecticut. He has spent over 45 years in the music business. As a recording artist he waxed his first 45 on Gee Label in 1956, "Ding Dong" by The Echoes. He went on to have several other releases under many different names - Vinny Downes, Tom Swift under the name The Lonely Boys, Vinny & Sue, Vinny & Kenny, Bea & Dea & the Buttons. His greatest success came under the name The Acorns where he had two number one songs in Hawaii .

The Acorns aka Vinny Catalano
The Excellents

As a songwriter Vinny has penned over 300 tunes. Eventually he would star his own short lived label C&A before becoming partners in Blast Records a subsidiary of Sinclair Records owned by the late Don Ames. Also under the Sinclair Banner, Vinny worked with groups on Mermaid and Whale. It was here Vinny penned one of his best tunes "Conney Island Baby" by the Excellents. Vinny worked with his kid brother's group, Donnie & the Dreamers, recording over 10 excellent sides, most lost and unreleased. When Vinny left Blast he started his own label again, Wilshire, and released several great sides by the Dubs and Love Notes. He Release a great album, The Dubs meet the Shells, rerecording both groups with the end result sounding just like the earlier original recording.

Songs :

The Pyramids (5)

Ankle Bracelet Hot Dog Dooly Wah

The Acorns


               Angel                                 Please Come Back


Your Name And Mine          I'm Gonna Stick To You

Vinny Catalano

Please Mr Jukebox Man Rags to riches

...

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The Supremes (4)

Posted on March 26 2020 by dion1

The Supremes (4)

Top : Alex Rocker, Boyce Foster, William Perry, Ralph Murphy, Peter Lane and Javan Foster
Bottom : Richard A. Ward & Mike Arcidiacono

The Supremes (4) (Lawrence Ma)
Thanks to Marv Goldberg

Personnel :

Ralph Murphy

Alex Rocker

Boyce Foster

William Perry

Peter Lane

Javan Foster

Lee Murphy (Bass)

Discography :

1959 - Could This Be You / Margie (Kitten 6969)

Biography :

The "New England" Supremes were a bunch high school kids who used to hang out near the Supreme Cleaners in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The Group consisted of Alex Rocker, Boyce Foster, William Perry, Ralph Murphy, Peter Lane and Javan Foster. In 1956, they waxed "Could This Be You " b/w "Margie" at Boston's Ace Studios. Ralph Murphy brought along his Uncle Lee - who at thirty was the old man of the group - to handle the Bass vocal chores. A handful of copies were pressed on the Kitten Label by local entrepreneur James Goren. It's unlikely that many escaped the immediate area. most of the Supremes disappeared from music first, and Lawrence second, wich is unfortunate for fans of their superb effort.

Songs :

Could This Be You / Margie

...

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The Elgins (3)

Posted on March 26 2020 by dion1

The Elgins (3) (Bronx, N.Y.)

Personnel :

Michael Jacks (Lead)

Henry Volpato

Kenny Hettinger

Russell Dell

Discography :

1963 - Cheryl / Tell Gina (Dot 16563)

Biography :

Vocal group from the bronx composed by Michael Jacks (lead), Henry Volpato, Kenny Hettinger and Russell Dell. As a result of their hanging out at Cousins' Record Shop on Fordham Road in the Bronx, the Elgins was given the opportunity by shop and label owner, Lou Cicchetti, to record. Lou Cicchetti’s label became very important in the rock and roll music business. his record shop in Fordham Road was an important meeting point for all Italian American doo-wop bands (Dion & the Belmonts, Earls, Consorts) and fans alike. The Elgins recorded "Cheryl" and "Tell Gina". This is one of Four "Cheryl" versions that Cicchetti produced by different artists. Eventually Cicchetti leased their recording to Dot Records.

Songs :

Cheryl Tell Gina

...

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The Orchids (2)

Posted on March 25 2020 by dion1

The Orchids (2)

The Orchids (2) (Chicago)

Personnel :

Gilbert Warren (Lead)

Buford Wright (Bass)

Robert C. Nesbary (Second Tenor)

Charles Williams

Discography :

Singles :
1955 - You're Everything To Me/ Newly Wed (Parrot 815)
1955 - I Can't Refuse / You Said You Loved Me (Parrot 819)

Unreleased :
1955 - Hey Miss Fine (Parrot)
1955 - Fine Sweet Woman (Parrot)
1955 - Met A Girl On The Corner (Parrot)
1955 - You Have Two (I Have None) (Parrot)

Biography :

The Orchids were a vocal group that hailed from the South side of the city of Chicago. In 1954, Gilbert Warren (Lead singer of the Five Thrills) organized a new group : The Orchids. The other members are Buford Wright, Charles Williams and Robert Nesberry. The group practiced their sound and style and soon fopund their way to Parrot Records headed by Chicago deejay and record industry personality Al Benson known as "the Ol' Swingmaster". Warren wrote almost all of the original songs that the group performed, and soon Parrot released "Newlywed" and "You're Everything To Me" on # 815 in July of 1955.

The Orchids (2)
Al Benson

About this time the group had won a local talent contest and soon got an engagement at the Trianon Ballroom at an R & B Revue put together by Al Benson and starring a number of top acts including The Diablos, El Dorados, Eddie Vinson, Billy Boy Arnold and others. In September The Orchids sign on with Al Benson again for a Labor Day week at the Regal Theater along with the Buddy Johnson Orchestra with Ella Johnson and Floyd Ryland, The Spaniels, Four Fellows, Al Savage, and others. By October "Newlywed" with its recognizable bass intro is a top seller in Philadelphia and starting to be heard all over the Northeast.

The Orchids (2)

After a nice run, in November Parrot Records releases the second single by the group with "You Said You Love Me" and "I Can't Refuse" on # 819. The group was not happy with their experience on Parrot Records with the same story as so many R & B artists from the fifties when dealing with small independent labels - the absence of any royalty payments and the theft of publishing rights to the lawful writers and composers of songs recorded. As Parrot Records came to an end in 1956 so did The Orchids.

Songs:


You're Everything To Me                            Newly Wed


       I Can't Refuse                             You Said You Loved Me


   Hey Miss Fine                             Fine Sweet Woman


Met A Girl On The Corner                 You Have Two (I Have None)

...

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The Saints (1) aka The Gents (2)

Posted on March 24 2020 by dion1

Tony Montalbano, Ronnie Kemp, Julian Barnett, Glenn Carlin and Johnny Smith

The Saints (1) (Houston, Texas)
aka The Gents (2)

Personnel :

Tony Montalbano

Glenn Carlin (First Tenor)

Johnny Smith

Ronnie Kemp

Julian Barnett (Vocal & Guitar)

Discography :

The Saints (1)
1957 - I Rocked When I Shoulda Rolled / Will You (Cue 7934)
1957 - Turtle Dove / Take Me Back (Cue 7937)
1958 - Honky Tonk Baby / Ain’t Cha Ever Comin’ Home (Cue 1202)
1958 - Doin The Stroll / Snap Dragon (Prescott 1570)

The Gents (2)
1962 - Golly Golly Dolly / It's Too Late To Cry (All Boy 8501)

Biography :

The Saints, vocal group from Houston, Texas are composed by Tony Montalbano, Glenn Carlin, Johnny Smith, Ronnie Kemp and Julian Barnett. The original singing group begin 1955 as the Velvetones but Montalbano and Kemp were the only original members. When the Velvetones broke up soon afterward, Montalbano, Kemp and two other singers appeared as the Saints at a dance at Oberholtzer Hall. Johnny Smith was present at this dance. He was so impressed with their performance that he decided to try to join them. With Johnny Smith as their new addition, the Saints began practicing for the Crow’s Nest show.

The Velvetones

Their appearance in Fiesta was the turning point in their early careers. Using Fiesta as a springboard, the Saints plunged into a new world-the entertainment field. Since Fiesta, the Saints have made some changes with the addition of Carlin as first tenor and Barnett as featured vocalist and guitar player. Two of the Saints are University students. Montalbano is a senior geology and business major and Smith is a mechanical engineering sophomore The other members of this singing group work full time. In November 1956 after all their performances Jimmy Duncan makes them sign a recording contract.

Jimmy Duncan

Cue Records was owned, in Houston, Texas, by Jimmy Duncan, songwriter, singer, composer, author, arranger and producer, best known for his 1957 song "My Special Angel", a #1 country/western hit for Bobby Helms. Cue release three singles of The Saints between 1957 and 1958, and one in 1958 on the Prescott Label. Four years later, Tony A. Montalbano and and Ronnie Kemp are part of a new group, The Gents. The group recorded two compositions of Tony, "Golly Golly Dolly" and "It's Too Late To Cry" released by All Boy Records.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Saints (1)

Will You / I Rocked When I Shoulda Rolled

Turtle Dove Honky Tonk Baby

The Gents (2)

Golly Golly Dolly / It's Too Late To Cry

...

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The Balladeers (1)

Posted on March 23 2020 by dion1

Gaylord Hannesson, Pat Riordan, Ryan Porteous, Tony Aiello and Jim Blendick

The Balladeers (1) (Winnipeg, Ca)

Personnel :

Jim Blendick (Lead)

Pat Riordan (Tenor)

Tony Aiello (Tenor)

Ryan Porteous (Baritone)

Gaylord Hannesson (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - I Want A Girl / All Of My Life (Regency 781)

Biography :

The Group was formed in Octobre 1957. They took many weeks of hard practice before they thought they were ready to record. During a Rock and Roll Show, a talent school listened to them for a record. The two songs they recorded "I Want A Girl" and "All Of My Life" were composed and arranged by the group. There are nine persons in the recording group. They Are Jim Blendick (Lead), Pat Riordan (Tenor), Tony Aiello (Tenor), Ryan Porteous (Baritone), Gaylord Hannesson (Bass), Jimmy Pirie (Guitar), Brian Rodgers (Drums), Ted Mayor (Bass) and Doug Patterson on the Piano. They range in age from 18 to 22.

Songs :

???

...

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The Villanaires

Posted on March 22 2020 by dion1

The Villanaires (New Bedford, Massachusetts)

Personnel :

Leo Perry (Bass / Guitar)

Babe Perry (First Tenor / Guitar)

Lenny Thompson (Second Tenor)

Billy Perry (Soprano)

Edwin Gonsalves (First Baritone)

Henry Duarte (Second Baritone)

Adelino Pete Paulo (Drums)

Discography :

?

Biography :

The Villanaires was originated by two brothers, Virgillio "Babe" Perry and the late Leo Perry. They first started performing on their front porch, to an audience that grew to the whole neighborhood. The original Villanaires were Leo Perry, bass and guitar player. Babe Perry, first tenor and rhythm guitar player. Lenny Thompson, second tenor. Billy Perry, soprano. Edwin Gonsalves, first baritone. Henry Duarte, second baratone and Adelino Pete Paulo played drums.

The Villanaires

When Lenny left for Military Duty, Kenny Alves joined the group. It was late in the career of the Villanaires when Jerry Alves, Ron Vieira and Eddy Lopes joined the group. Other notable musicians that backed the group were Gene Dias organ/key board. George Andrade, saxaphone. Joe Lewis, multiple instruments. Kenny Pimental, tenor Sax. Phil Riley, lead guitar. Bob Santos, lead/rhythm guitar. Manny Silva, saxaphone. Paul Peterson, multiple instruments. Jimmy Silva, drummer. Donnie Pine, drummer. There were also many more notable musicians.

…

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The Drew-Vels

Posted on March 22 2020 by dion1

The Drew-Vels
Patti Drew, Erma Drew, Lorraine Drew and Carlton Black.

The Drew-Vels (Chicago)

Personnel :

Patti Drew

Erma Drew

Lorraine Drew

Carlton Black (Baritone)

Discography :

1963 - Tell Him / Just Because (Capitol 5055)
1964 - Everybody Knows / It's My Time (Capitol 5145)
1964 - Creepin' / I've Known (Capitol 5244)
1965 - Chilly Kisses / True Enough (Quill 100)

Biography :

The Drew-Vels were sisters Erma Drew, Patti Drew, and Lorraine "Micki" Drew, and Carlton Black. A younger sister, Cynthia Drew, filled in occasionally. The sisters were from Evanston, IL, which is 15 miles north of Chicago, and formed while Patti and Micki attended Evanston Township High. Older sister Erma was married to Black, who also wrote most of their material. Producer/manager Peter Wright signed the Drew-Vels to Carone Productions and produced and managed them. Carone Productions signed an agreement with Capitol Records to release, market, and distribute the Drew-Vels' recordings. The deal struck oil with their first single, "Tell Him" (November 1953), their biggest single; the B-side, "Just Because," credits Patti Drew as the writer, the only song she ever had recorded.

The Drew-Vels

Capitol followed with a two-sided (albeit minor) hit, "It's My Time " b/w "Everybody Knows," in March 1964. After "Creepin'" b/w "I've Known" (June 1964), Capitol didn't issue any more Drew-Vels singles. Wright signed the Drew-Vels to his Quill label and released their last single in 1965 : "Chilly Kisses" b/w "True Enough ." Faced with the continual problem of trying to please and keep together a group, Wright persuaded Patti Drew to go solo; the second Quill release was credited as a Patti Drew solo. Patti was the real singer, and it was easier to manage one person than a group, even if the members were siblings. Black was no problem -- he had been singing and recording with the Duvals (later the Naturals) since 1963 while he was also a member of the Drew-Vels.

The Drew-Vels
Patti Drew, Erma Drew and Lorraine Drew

Erma Drew, Micki Drew, and Cynthia Drew became housewives and nine-to-fivers, while Patti went on to a solo career with Capitol. She was doing fine, hitting with a remake of "Tell Him" and "Working on a Groovy Thing," but started experimenting with drugs while living in Los Angeles. Wright, keeping a promise to Drew's parents to look after her, shut Patti's career down and sent her back to Evanston; the sensuous alto was never heard from again

Songs :

Tell Him Just Because

It's My Time I've Known

Creepin' Chilly Kisses

True Enough

...

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