1958 - Jungle Love / Please Ring My Phone (Checker 895)
Biography :
In 1958, The Starlettes signing a contract with Checker, a record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The Starlettes were a backing vocal group who made one record of their own. The Starlettes cut one single "Jungle Love"/"Please Ring My Phone" for Checker but they also did a lot of background work for other artist. They were Gloria J. Mandly, Edythe Jones, Catherine Cooper, Audrey Maben and Audrey Sparrow.
The Antwinetts for Baltimore is made up of Patricia Diggs, Connie Green, Stella Mae Logan and Vicky Logan. The group were recorded and promoted by Howfum Records, a very small music publishing company, which was based in Baltimore, Maryland. The actual pressing of the records was done on a contract basis with RCA, and - apparently due to some sort of confusion - many, if not most (possibly all) copies of the record ended up mistakenly printed with an RCA label. In 2003, Carroll Williams, who was one of the main figures in Howfum Records, gave an interview of his reminiscences of Howfum in the 1950s, which were published in a book, "Group Harmony", by Stuart L. Goosman (published in 2005). According to Carroll Williams, "The Antwinetts was the very first group we recorded. Young girls, twelve, thirteen, fourteen years old". He added that The Antwinetts "was our star group", and that they sold "thousands" of their records. Unfortunately, in the 1950s, the songs of The Antwinetts seem to have only been heard on the radio in Baltimore and the other major cities of Maryland, with some random airplay on various New York City stations. Howfum did not really have the money or connections to truly promote the group, and so, they faded into obscurity.
The Truetones (Washinton,D.C. / Baltimore) aka The Capitols (2)
Personnel :
Ronald Henderson (Lead)
James Green (First Tenor)
Marshall Hawkins (Second Tenor)
Earl Briscoe (Baritone)
Leonard Campbell (Bass) )
Discography :
The Truetones 1958 - Honey, Honey / Whirlwind (Monument 4501) 1961 - Blushing Bride / Singing Waters (Felsted 8625) 1966 - He's Got The Nerve / That's Love (Josie 950/1103) 1966 – Girls Are Sentimental / One More Time (LSP 0001/0002)
The Capitols (2) 1973 - Honey, Honey / Alone In The Night (The Jones Boys) (Baron 103)
Biography :
This group started as the Capitols, and changed their name to the Truetones when they signed to Monument records. The Truetones were one of those groups whose personnel changed almost continuously. The only constant member was the group's organizer/Manager/writer and lead singer Ronald Henderson.
Top : Ronald Henderson, Gene Williams, Andrew Layer - Bottom : John Johnson, Kenny Willis
Their first records, "Honey, Honey" (not be confused with the Teenchords' song of the same name) is a great medium-tempo harmony group sound from the late 1950's. The group Other three records were spaced rather far apart : "Singing Waters"on Felsted was released in the early 60's and the two other were released on Josie & LSPin the Mid-60s. In 1973, Honey, Honey is released by Baron under their original name, The Capitols.
The Truetones (1966)
At personal appearances, the Truetones would perform as a "double group" that is, they would open the show with their own songs, and then return to sing back-up for another singer, usually, Pookie Hudson after he left the Spaniels. Thanks to Marv Goldberg
Discography : Single : 1956 - Nothing But Love / Until The Day I Die (Dig 112) Unreleased : 1956 - I Don't Wanta Cry (Dig)
Biography :
The Dig Record label was originally called Ultra Records and was formed in late 1955 by Frank Gallo, Eddie Mesner, Leo Mesner and Johnny Otis in Los Angeles California. in February 1956, the name of the label was changed to Dig Records, probably because of the existence of another California record company called Ultra. In 1957, Johnny Otis acquired sole ownership of the Dig Record Label. The Tears, a quartet of Torrance High School since 1954, consisted of blonde vocalist/composer, Teri Akers, Jill Moore, Dick Dawson and Sherwood Tiernan.
Johnny Otis
The Tears impressed johnny Otis at one of his Talent Shows. Their Dig sides, "Nothing But Love"/ "Until The Day I Die" did well in Los Angeles but despite their appearance on the J.O. TV show, it didn’t help record sales all that much. Otis did not follow it up with another record. Yet a second record was ready to be released with the title "I Don't Wanta Cry". Could this group have been the inspiration for "To Know Him Is To Love Him" by the Teddy Bears? Similar lineup with a girl singing lead and boys on harmony.
1964 - The Little White Cloud That Cried /I Believe In You (Port 70041)
Biography :
In 1964, The Harptones recorded "Sunset" released by On Warren Troob's KT Label. After "Sunset was released, Willie Winfield left the group to take a full time job. The Harptones tried it one more time. Hank Jernigan returned, and, along with Nicky Clark, Curtis Cherebin, William Dempsey, Freddy Taylor, and Raoul Cita, recorded "The Little White Cloud That Cried" (led by Nicky) and "I Believe In You" (led by Hank). Possibly feeling that without Willie there was no Harptones, the group called themselves the "Soothers." The disc was released, in July 1964, on the Port label (a subsidiary of Jubilee). Shortly after this, The Soothers disbanded and the members found day time jobs. Nicky Clark moved to Buffalo and died several years later while still in his 30's. http://www.uncamarvy.com/Harptones/harptones.html
Songs:
The Little White Cloud That Cried I Believe In You
All the photos of "The Genies featuring Roy C. Hammond" on the various albums published present a cut photo of the four guys. Marv Goldberg sent me the full picture, and it's titled "The Skylarks". After Five singles and one minor hit , the Genies had two interesting spin-offs. Roy Hammond embarked upon a solo career as Roy C and was rewarded with a hit in 1965 and Claude Johnson teamed with Roland Trone and they became Don (Roland) and Juan (Claude) and hit the # 7 spot on the Billboard charts in the early spring of 1962 with "What's Your Name".
A group of "Skylarks" emerged in 1961 after the separation of "The Genies". Their first record "Everytime It Rains" b/w "Is You Is" release by by Embassy , probably a New York label (though some locate it in Los Angeles). "Everytime It Rains" was written by Chet Barns and Roy Hammond, the two had already written "Mama Blow Your Top" for the Genies. Could it be a reformation of "The Genies" with the other three members and Chet Barnes?. A new single will be released the following year by Everlast Record from New York with "Everybody's Got Somebody" b/w "Jeannie" both written by Barnes....
1956 - Appointment With Love / Come Back (DeLuxe 6100)
Biography :
Lead singer Carlton Lankford, 20; Bass singer Robert Harris, 17; Baritone James Fobbs, 18; First Tenor Robert Banks, 19 and Second Tenor Willie Page, 18 formed their group a short while before their recording session. The group was known as the "Rockets" at this time . Their long hours of rehearsal and practice have made them into a sharp, fresh sounding act that was destined to go a long way in the musical world. All are New Yorkers, Three of them native. The Lead singer, Carlton Lankford was born in Franklin, Virginia. In October 1956, The Blue Chips recorded "Appointment With Love" and "Come Back" both written by Carlton Lankford. DeLuxe Released the single in December 1956.
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