Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Big Five aka The Fabulous Five Flames aka The Fabulous Five aka The Fabulous Flames (1)

Posted on February 28 2021 by dion1

The Fabulous Flames (1) aka The Fabulous Five Flames

The Big Five (Cleveland, Ohio)
aka The Fabulous Five Flames aka The Fabulous Five aka The Fabulous Flames (1)

Personnel :

Otis Carter

Harvey Hall

David McPhatter

Richard Fisher

Ernest Smith

Discography:

The Big Five
1958 - Wob-Ding-A-Ling / Baby, I Need You So (Junior 5000)
1960 - Blue Eyes / Stardust In Her Eyes (Shad 5019)

The Fabulous Flames (1)
1958 - Josephine / My Joan (Rex 3000)

The Fabulous Five
1960 - Janie Made A Monster / Gettin' Old (King 45-5220)

The Fabulous Five Flames
1960 - Lonely Lover / No More Tears (Time 1023)

Biography :

This Vocal group from Cleveland was known locally as The Fabulous Flames. The group included J. C. Tatum, Otis Carter, David McFadden, Ernest Smith, and Harvey Hall. The group started while some of the members were students at East Technical High School. The group performed at local clubs, and in Detroit. Their first single "Wop Ding A Ling" (also Known as "Wab Ding A Ling") plus the flip "Baby, I Need You So" was issued on the Shad predecessor Junior label (Junior 5000) on 29 October 1958. Bobby Shad renamed The Fabulous Flames by The Big Five. Their second single "Josephine" b/w "My Joan " released as their original name (The Fabulous Flames) was a local production, done for the short lived Rex label. Bill Jacocks, a local entrepreneur, wrote the songs and helped get the record released. Jacocks later became known as Cleveland's first African-American TV news anchor, along with producting some records in the mid 1970s.

The Big Five aka The Fabulous Five Flames aka The Fabulous Five aka The Fabulous Flames (1)
Bobby Shad

The group was known as the Fabulous Flames, but changed for The Fabulous Five for their third record for the King label to prevent confusion with other groups with that name. The song "Janie Made A Monster" is a classic R&B Halloween record. Richard Fisher replaced J. C. Tatum. Four sides were recorded at Capitol Studios in New York on 4 December 1959, "Lonely Lover", "No More Tears", "Blue Eyes" and "Stardust In Her Eyes". The first two will be released on the Time (/Shad) Label on April 1960 as The Fabulous Five Flames, and the next two were released on 10 June 1960 on Shad 5019 as The Big Five. Richard Fisher was the brother of Jesse Fisher. He wasn't with the group for long as he left for New York where he ended up joining the Jive Five. Art Blakey replaced him, not long before the group disbanded. Harvey Hall - later known as Harvey Nickerson-Hall - went on to lead Harvey and the Phenomenals. https://www.buckeyebeat.com/

Songs :

The Big Five


Wob-Ding-A-Ling                               Baby, I Need You So


      Blue Eyes                                     Stardust In Her Eyes

The Fabulous Flames (1)

Josephine My Joan

The Fabulous Five

Janie Made A Monster Gettin' Old

The Fabulous Five Flames

Lonely Lover No More Tears

...

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The Three D's

Posted on February 28 2021 by dion1

The Three D's

The Three D's (Cambridge, Boston)

Personnel :

Johnny Dalton

Art Doyle

Dean Paley

Discography :

1956 - Tell Me That You love Me / Broken Dreams (Pilgrim 719)
1957 - Let Me Know / Little Billy Boy (Paris 503)
1957 - Birth Of An Angel / Never Let You Go (Paris 508)
1958 - Crazy Little Woman / Baby Doll (Paris 511)
1958 - I Never See My Baby / Jumpin' Jack (Paris 514)
1959 - Squeeze / Graveyard Cha-Cha (Square 502)
1959 - High School Love / It's The Little Things (Square 503)

Biography :

The group consisted of Johnny Dalton, Dean Paley and myself, Art Doyle. Johnny and I went to high school together in Boston Massachusetts and sang in the church choir. In high school, we started singing as a duo. In our senior year while performing in a variety show we met up with a singer/guitar player Dean Paley and started harmonizing together.

The Three D's

A girl that knew us all was listening and suggested we call ourselves “The Three D’s since we all had D’s in our names. One night after we formed the group we went to see the popular disc jockey Arnie Ginsburg. In between records we asked him why he didn’t have a theme song. He said “why don’t you write me one. We worked on it, liked it and Arnie liked it too! The next day we recorded it and he used it to introduce his radio show for the next 20 years.

Arnie asked us if we had any original songs and hooked us up with the record company “Paris Records”. We went to New York and recorded “Little Billy Boy” with “Let Me Know” on the flip side. In about a month the record was released and all of a sudden we were on our way.

The Three D's

We traveled all over the country appearing with such stars as, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Frankie Avalon, Fabion, Coney Francis and just about every other star at the time, except…..Elvis Presley. It was a great time! We appeared on American Band Stand five times and overall it was a great adventure I will always cherish.
Signed, Art Doyle,

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Birth Of An Angel                 Broken Dreams                    Never Let You Go


Tell Me That You love Me         Little Billy Boy              Crazy Little Woman


Baby Doll                              Jumpin' Jack                          Squeeze


                  Graveyard Cha-Cha           High School Love / It's The Little Things That Count

...

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The Jordan Brothers

Posted on February 27 2021 by dion1

Joe & Frank

The Jordan Brothers (Frackville, PA)
(The Early Years)

Personnel :

Joe Jordan

Frank Jordan

Discography :

1958 - Oh Lolly / Send Me Your Picture (Jordan J-100/1/Jamie 1112)
1959 - Please Tell Me Now / Never, Never (Jamie 1125)
1959 - Be Mine / Dream Romance (Jamie 1133)
1960 - Things I Didn't Say / Polly Plays Her Kettle Drum (Jamie 1169)
1961 - No Wings On My Angel / Living For The Day (Jamie 1176)
1961 - Love's Made A Fool Of You / Whispering Wind (Jamie 1205)

Biography :

The career of the Jordan Brothers began on Halloween Eve in 1954, when instead of the usual trick-or-treating, three (Joe, Frank, and Bobby) of the eventual four brothers, took to the streets with accordion, clarinet and drum. Their musical efforts netted over twenty dollars and a career course was set. The group's first national appearance was on Ted Mack's The Original Amateur Hour on January 22, 1956 on ABC. The group then settled into playing local venues and dances in the middle and southern Coal Region area, with their father Angelo sitting in on bass and managing the group. In 1957, the Jordan Brothers (without Bob, not yet out of high school) reached several milestones. They began a five-year gig at Renninger's Market between Orwigsburg and Schuylkill Haven. This was the first in a series of long term relationships (lasting nearly decades) with several venues in the Schuylkill and Berks County areas.

The Jordan Brothers

The duet from Frackville, Joe and Frank recorded their first record at Philadelphia's Reco-Art Studio, self produced on the "Jordan" label - Send Me Your Picture/ Oh Lolly. This led to a two-year recording contract in 1958 with Jamie Records. The arrangement with Jamie Records, introduced the Jordan Brothers into the teen publicity machine of the late fifties. One of Jamie's stockholders had been Dick Clark who had also become American Bandstand’s host in 1956. The show went national on ABC in 1957. Clark often featured Jamie artists on his show such as Duane Eddy, the Dovells and others. Appearing on American Bandstand three times, the Jordan Brothers also were part of Clark's 49-day "Caravan of Stars" that toured the United States and Canada in 1959.

Traveling in one of two 40-seat busses, Frank and Joe Jordan were accompanied by the likes of the Coasters, the Drifters, the Skyliners, Bobby Rydell, La Verne Baker, Paul Anka, Jimmy Clanton and Duane Eddy and his Band. Frank and Joe Jordan were The Jordan Brothers during this tour. The band also spent time recording in Arizona in 1959 with Donnie Owens (a fellow Pennsylvanian and a guitarist for Duane Eddy) and performing in Los Angeles in 1961 with Alan Freed’s Rock Show alongside Jimmy Clanton, Al Kooper, the Safaris and Jackie Wilson among others. Other than these national shows and tours, the Jordan Brothers were highly popular with Philadelphia radio disc jockeys in this period. These DJs were a key element of any record’s success and the Jordan Brothers were often featured in tours or shows with WIBG’s Good Guys, such as Joe Niagara and Hy Lit. Lit organized one of the first tours in which the Jordan Brothers participated with Dion and the Belmonts and the Coasters.

The Jordan Brothers in 1961 Joe, Lewis Frank & Bob

The Jordan Brothers were also featured on Jerry Blavat's WFIL "Discophonic TV Scene" and appeared on East Coast TV programs, especially in the tri-state area, such as “Summertime on the Pier” in Atlantic City with Ed Hurst. The Jordan Brothers were with Jamie until 1961. However, the Jordan Brothers never broke into the national music charts and as a result the contract with Jamie lapsed. In 1963, The group now included brothers Bobby and Lew to round out the band. Their recording of “Gimme Some Lovin'” in 1966 was their biggest hit, and charted at No. 1 in Boston, Baltimore and other r&b citadels. Other recordings included “Things I Didn’t Say,” “Dream Romance” and “We’ll Make It.”

Songs :


      Oh Lolly                                   Send Me Your Picture


Please Tell Me Now                             Never, Never


Be Mine                                   Dream Romance


     Things I Didn't Say                   Polly Plays Her Kettle Drum


No Wings On My Angel                       Living For The Day


Love's Made A Fool Of You                     Whispering Wind

...

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The Orientals (1)

Posted on February 23 2021 by dion1

The Orientals (1)

The Orientals (1) (Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Ernesto "Tito" DeCoteau (Lead)

Hellen McBride

???

Discography :

1958 - Please Come Back Home / Get Yourself To School (Kayo 927)

Biography:

Ernesto "Tito" DeCoteau started street corner singing with some guys in the early 50's. They formed a group named the Silvertones and was singing at parties and just having fun, they living in Brooklyn then and hung out on the boardwalk at Coney Island (bay 12 ). When they sang a crowd always gathered and people wanted them to record their music.

The Orientals (1)
Three of the Orientals with two of their fans

In the mid 50's moved Tito from Brooklyn back to Harlem and met some guys at Manhattanville Community Center in West Harlem that was looking for a singer and to get a group together. The Orientals was born. The staff at the center gave the group full run to plan shows, dances and other events for the center. After a few weeks they found out their manager had handled a few groups that had made it big. He got the Orientals on a Dr Jive show (June 27,1958) but did not tell them it was a contest . They beat out 15 groups and took 1st place.

The Orientals (1)
The Orientals - Dr Jive Radio Talent Show (June 27,1958)

One of the best show they did was about two months later, the groups manager got them a gig at this dance hall called The Chateau Gardens on Westchester Avenue in New York, not knowing they were an opening act for Celia Cruz and (El Rey) Tito Puente. After They sang, they had a table in front of the stage. When Celia Cruz came on stage and started singing she came down and made them come on stage with her. When they finished, Tito Puente walked over and said They were great and he wanted to be their protege. At the end of the summer of 1958, the group recorded two songs in the studio; "Please Come Back Home" and "Get Yourself To School" released some time later on the small New York label, Kayo records.

Songs :

Please Come Back Home Get Yourself To School

...

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The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)

Posted on February 21 2021 by dion1

The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)

The Hi Tensions (Los Angeles)
aka The Angels (8)

Personnel :

Bobby Parker (Lead)

David Cook (Tenor)

Jonathan "Sonny" Allen (Baritone/Tenor)

Roy Haggins (Baritone)

Jack Johnson (Bass)

Discography :

The Hi Tensions
Singles :
1960 - The Clock / So Far Away (Audio 201)
1963 - Got A Good Feeling / Ebbing On The Tide (Milestone 2018)
1964 - She'll Break Your Heart / Mary Had A Little Lamb (Whirlybird 2005)
Unreleased:
1963 - Wedding Song (If You Say I Do) (Audio)
1963 - Old Times (Audio)
1963 - Traveling Lady (Audio)
1963 - Come What May (Audio)

 Leon Peels & The Hi Tensions
1964 - A Magic Island / Darlene (Whirlybird 2008)

The Angels (8)
1960 - I'm Saying Goodbye / A Real Sensation (Audio 203)

Biography :

A young man from Santa Cruz named Chuck Daniels brought in a teenage group called the Hi Tensions to the Audio Arts Studio in 1960. Daniels had met them in dj Art Laboe's studio, and Laboe suggested that they all try their fortunes with Mrs Baker. During the next four years the Hi Tensions became a kind of studio backup vocal group at Audio Arts; Mrs Baker and her young proteges tried to find the winning formula for for the talented group. The Hi Tensions were ( and are still) led by Bobby Parker, a fine r&b singer who had been with the Chanticleers on Lyric on "Daddy Must Be" "and "To keep Your Love) in 1958-59. Bobby who admired Jerry Butler, Jesse Belvin and The Coasters, met the other Hi Tensions through Roy Haggins, who became the baritone for the group, in 1960. The rest of the group included David Cook (Tenor), Jack Johnson (Bass) and Jonathan "Sonny" Allen (Baritone/Tenor)   .

The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)
Leon Peels

The boys were from South-Central L.A. area around Jefferson High School that also Spawned Belvin, Richard Berry and Arthur Lee Maye. Their first effort for the new Audio label was "The Clock"/ "So Far Away" (Audio 201), recorded on October 20, 1960. Out of the same session came "I'm Saying Goodbye" and "A Real Sensation," buy, for some unknown reason, the Hi Tensions were called the Angels on this release (Audio 203). Roy Haggins sang the lead on "A Real Sensation," while Bobby Parker handles "I'm Saying Goodbye". This 45 came out shortly after "The Clock" and it's probable that name change was made for just this one record to gain additional airplay.

The Hi Tensions aka The Angels (8)
Jackson & Madelon Baker (Audio Arts recording Studio's Owner)

Mrs Baker continued to work with the Hi Tensions and "Wedding Song","Old Times", "Traveling Lady" and "Come What May" - all unreleased - were recorded at Audio Arts in the spring of 1961, all unreleased, but "Got A Good Feeling" backed with "Ebbing On The Tide" were tried for a later release on Milestone, but this nice ballad didn't get far. The Hi Tensions then backed up Leon Peels, the former lead of the Blue Jays, and finally recorded "She'll Break Your Heart" B/W "Mary Had A Little Lamb" for the new Whirlybird label. Although they stopped actively recording in the mid-sixties, the Hi Tensions remained close friends.

Songs :

The Hi Tensions

The Clock                         Come What May


She'll Break Your Heart        Wedding Song              Mary Had A Little Lamb


So Far Away                             Ebbing Of The Tide

Leon Peels & The Hi Tensions

A Magic Island / Darlene

The Angels (8)

I'm Saying Goodbye A Real Sensation

..

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The Palms aka The Five Palms

Posted on February 20 2021 by dion1

The Palms aka The Five Palms
Murrie Eskridge & O.C. Perkins

The Palms (Chicago)
aka The Five Palms

Personnel :

Wilbur Williams (Lead)

Willie Young (Tenor)

M.C. Ward (Bass)

O.C. Perkins (Second Tenor)

Murrie Eskridge (First Tenor and sometimes Lead)

Discography :

Lou Mac bb The Palms
1955 - Slow Down / Baby (Lou Mac) (Blue Lake 114)

The Palms
Single :
1957 - Edna / Tear Drops (United 208)
Unreleased :
1957 - One More Time (United)
1957 - Love Is No Thing to Play With (United)
1957 - I Knew I Had a Chance (United)
1957 - Dianne (United)

Artie Wilkins and The Palms
1957 - Darling Patricia / Please Come Back (Artie Wilkins) ((States 157)

Five Palms
1957 - Little Girl of Mine / Tear Drops (States 163)

Biography :

The Palms were one of those bands who, despite a lot of talent, never really had the opportunity to shine. Based on the West Coast of Chicago, they all attended Creiger and Crane High Schools. The Palms were Wilbur Williams (lead) Willie Young (tenor) M.C. Ward (bass) O.C. Perkins (second tenor) Murrie Eskridge (first tenor and sometimes lead). They recorded two sessions, in February and April 1957, from which the company drew two sides for a lone single release on United U-208 "Edna." a Latin-beat ballad, and "Teardrops." The second single "Little Girl Of Mine" coupled with "Teardrops", which they recorded as The Five Palms on State Records.

The Palms aka The Five Palms
The Sheppards (2)

The two singles were released in early 1957, and despite a certain local audience, none became a hit. The Palms were a prolific band at United, but with two poorly distributed recordings, the opportunity for success was not there. Only two members (O. C. Perkins and Murrie Eskridge) eventually became members of the excellent group The Sheppards, formed by members of The Ballads and The Bel Aires, led by producer Bill Sheppard, hence the name of the group. At both sessions, the Palms were accompanied by the Lefty Bates band, Williams "Lefty" Bates (guitar) Red Halloway (tenor sax) Horace Palm (piano) Quinn Wilson (bass) Paul Gusman (drums).

Songs :

Lou Mac bb The Palms

Slow Down

The Palms

Edna Tear Drops

Artie Wilkins and The Palms

Darling Patricia

Five Palms

Little Girl of Mine / Tear Drops

...

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The Desires (5)

Posted on February 16 2021 by dion1

The Desires (5) (New Haven, CT.)

Personnel :

"Tootsie" Cannon

Maxine McNeil

Joan Smith

Ella Smith

Esther Peeples

Josephine Ross

Discography :

1958 - Cold Lonely Heart / Bobby You (Herald 532)

Biography :

This female vocal Group from New Haven, CT.recorded two magnificent balads which recall the harmonies and the arrangements of the Five Satins. Precisely, it's because it's Fred Parris who Written and produced the group that's these melodies are so familiar. Fred Parris sometimes published under the name Andre Scott.

The Desires (5)
Fred Parris

Under this pseudonym, the same year he composed for Fred Parris And The Satins "A Night To Remember " and "Senorita Lolita" and in 1961 for the New Yorkers (aka the Five Satins), "Dream A Little Dream" and "Miss Fine". The Desires consisted of "Tootsie" Cannon, Maxine McNeil (sister of Leroy McNeil of the Nutmegs), Joan Smith, Ella Smith, Esther Peeples (sister of Lou Peeples of the Five Satins), and Josephine Ross.

Songs :

Cold Lonely Heart Bobby You

...

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Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars

Posted on February 13 2021 by dion1

Thanks to Marv Goldberg

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars (Newark, New Jersey)
aka The Gibralters

Personnel :

Jimmy Barnes (Lead)

The Gibraltars ???

Discography :

Jimmy Barnes bb The Gibralters
1958 - No Regrets / Keep Your Love Handy (Gibraltar 101)

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars
1958 - Be Careful With My Love / I Need You So Much (Gibraltar 102)
1958 - Don't Let Nothing Stand In Your Way / Love Made Me A Fool (Gibraltar 106)

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibralters
Singles :
1959 - Our Wedding Day / Crying Cause I lost (Savoy 1581)
Unreleased :
1959 - Stand By Me (Savoy)
1959 - No More In Life (Savoy)

Jimmy Barnes
1959 - Don't Be Mad With Me / You Thrill Me So Much ((Savoy 1590)

Nappy Brown & The Gibralters
1959 - My Baby Knows / Down In The Alley (Savoy 1582)

Biography :

Jimmy Barnes lived in Newark, New Jersey and was a former member of the Jubalaires, a best known gospel singing group. In early 1958, Jimmy Barnes fronted a singing quartet composed of him, another guy and two females called "The Gilbraltars" sometimes misspelled "Gibralters". At the end of 1958, Jimmy Barnes and the Gibraltars waxed "No Regrets" on the Gibraltar Label. "No Regrets ", a Feb-March 1959 classic R&B swaying ballad written by Otis Blackwell took to # 14 R&B and also had it cross over to the Billboard Pop Hot 100 at # 90. The Single released under the name of Jimmy Barnes (the group is not mentioned )

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars

The Single came out on a tiny East Orange, New Jersey label called Gibraltar Records (Gibraltar 101 b/w Keep Your Love Handy, also written by Blackwell along with Billy Dawn) that likely had zero promotional funding and (except the Gibralters) which appears to have released just one other single - Sweetpea's In Love (written by Luther Dixon b/w another Blackwell tune, A Love For Only You by The Stereos.) Gibraltar Records and Gibraltar Music Co. Inc were owned by Bill Harrington (William Owen Harrington) and operated from at least four diferent NY and NJ addresses over the years.

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars

Building on this first success, the group was at the Apollo Theater the week of March 6, 1959 and at the Blue Angel Ballroom (Indiana, Pennsylvania) on November 28, 1959. Jimmy Barnes and the Gibraltars only ever released 2 more singles on the label - "Be Careful With My Love" b/w "I Need You So Much" and "Don't Let Nothing Stand In Your Way" b/w "Love Made Me A Fool" both as Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars.

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibraltars

It would appear Gibraltar had some connection to Savoy Records and Otis Blackwell. In early 1960, Savoy released "Crying Cause I Lost" b/w Our Wedding Day (billed as Jimmy Barnes & The Gibralters). The group billed as the Gibraltars backed Nappy Brown on "My Baby Knows" b/w "Down In The Alley" (Savoy 1582).

Songs :

Jimmy Barnes & The Gibralta(e)rs


      No Regrets                               Keep Your Love Handy


Be Careful With My Love                   I Need You So Much


Don't Let Nothing Stand In Your Way             Love Made Me A Fool


Our Wedding Day                            Crying Cause I lost

Nappy Brown & The Gibralters


My Baby Knows                            Down In The Alley

Jimmy Barnes

You Thrill Me So Much

...

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The Four Graduates (1)

Posted on February 11 2021 by dion1

The Four Graduates (1)
The Four Graduates (1966)

The Four Graduates (1) (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Personnel :

Tony "Junior" Talotti (Lead)

Al Capuano (Second Tenor)

Joe Mehl (Baritone)

Bobby Loscano (Bass)

Discography :
Singles :
1962 - Lisa / Something In The Air (Benn-X 51)
1963 - Miracles / She Loves Me For My Self (Champ 3469)
Unreleased :
1962 - Happy Tears (Benn-X)

Biography :

The Four Graduates formed in South Philadelphia in 1959. The members are First Tenor/Lead: Tony "Junior" Talotti, Second Tenor: Al Capuano, Baritone: Joe Mehl, and Bass: Bobby Loscano. They were produced for almost their entire career by Leroy Lovett. In the 1960s, musician-producer-songwriters Frank Bendinelli and Leroy Lovett formed a production company, Ben-Lee Music, that generated tracks that were leased to other labels, as well as sides that were put out on their own small Philadelphia labels, like Benn-X and Sonata. The Four Graduates recorded a handful of things ; "Lisa" b/w "Something In The Air " for Benn-X, however, except for this and one release on Champ in 1963 ("Miracles" b/w "She Loves Me For Myself"), none were released. The group was specialising in concert and Night Club entertainment and disbanded at the end of 60s following the untimely death of their lead singer.

Songs :

Something In The Air Lisa

She Loves Me For My Self

...

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Geno & The Encores (2)

Posted on February 8 2021 by dion1

Joseph Sovathy, Julie Matthews, William Matthews, Robert Park and Geno

Geno & The Encores (2) (Finderne, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Eugene "Geno" Viscione (Lead)

William Matthews (Guitarist)

Julie Matthews (Bass)

Joseph Sovathy (Pianist)

Robert Park (Drummer)

Anthony Polnasek (Rhythm Guitarist)

John Rossi (Saxophonist)

Frank Fontinell (Saxophonist)

Disography :

Geno & The Encores (2)
1962 - Loves Encore / Fading Winds (The Encores) (WGW 3001)
1962 - Love Hidden Island / Gerry Gerry (Delree & The Encores) (WGW 3002)
1962 - Rita My Teenage Bride / Midnite Walk (The Encores)(Inst.)(WGW 3003)

Emil Spak & The Encores (2) (Vocal Background, The Plazas)
1962 - Stuck-Up / Hold-Up (Inst.) (WGW 3004)

Biography :

Eugene Geno Viscione got his first job in a barber shop in Somerville at 13, working there after school. He later worked full-time as a barber in Somerville and Manville, and in 1958 opened Geno's Barber Shop on Main street, Finderne. In Bound Brook, where he was born, he began singing when in the 6th grade at Lamont School. He made his debut as a singer on the stage of Somerville High School two years later.

Geno & The Encores (2)
Geno Geno

In 1959, Geno began assembling his recording band, most of the members also are parttime musicians who still earn their livings at other jobs. Lead Guitarist of the Encores is William Matthews, Mrs Julie Matthews, who with her husband teaches at East Brunswick Music Center, also belongs to the band and play Bass. The other member of the band are Joseph Sovathy, Pianist, who works at sears Roebuck, Newark, Robert Park , Drummer, an office worker in Newark, Anthony Polnasek, rhythm guitarist, John Rossi , Saxophonist, a school teacher in Somerset Conty and Frank Fontinell, also a saxophone player and a school teacher.

Geno & The Encores (2)
Frank Fontinell, Anthony Polnasek, William Matthews, Robert Park, Julie Matthews, Joseph Sovathy, John Rossi & Geno

The Encores, who practice in Keyport two nights each week, have concentrated on rehearsing and recording during their first year. Their four single will be released by the WGW label, owned and produced by Geno. Geno has written both songs on the Encores' first record : "Loves Encore" and "Fading Winds" and also is composer of "Love Hidden Island" on their second backed by "Gerry Gerry" composed by Anthony Polnasek. On their third records Geno has written "Rita My Teenage Bride" and William Matthews "Midnite Walk". In a more rock & roll style "Stuck-Up" and "Hold-Up" an instrumental will be released under the name Emil Spak & The Encores.

Songs :

Geno & The Encores

Rita My Teenage Bride Loves Encore

Emil Spak & The Encores

Stuck-Up Hold-Up (Inst.)

...

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