Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Manderins

Posted on March 6 2021 by dion1

The Manderins

The Manderins (Denver, Colorado)

Personnel :

P. Longo

K. Ortega

Discography :

1960 - Going Away / Let The Bells Ring (Band Box 236)

Biography :

Denver, CO. Band Box Records began with Karl Zomar in the early 1950’s as “Columbine” records. Name change to Band Box occurred in the mid-fifties, as the company was then owned by A.V. Pasca (Aurelia Victoria – maiden name) who later became Vicky Morosan. The label lasted until the early seventies.

The Manderins

The Manderins released one single on Band Box in the early days of the label’s founding – 1960. The Manderins were a Denver-based Hispanic group featuring a very soulful sound. They cut "Going Away" and "Let The Bells Ring". First called the Mandarans, they saw their name changed to the Mandarins when the single was released. P. Longo and K. Ortega, the two writers of the songs on both sides are probably part of the group.

Songs :

Let The Bells Ring Going Away

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The Valtairs

Posted on March 6 2021 by dion1

The Valtairs

The Valtairs (Long Branch, NJ)

Personnel :

Harry Ray (Lead)

Gregory Henson

Kenneth Short

Joe Gardner

Discography :

1964 - Soul! / Strangers Way (Selsom 101)
1964 - The Ko Ko Mo / Moonlight In Vermont (Selsom 106)

Biography :

From Doo Wop to Soul : Norman Seldin was raised in Red Bank, NJ, and began taking formal piano lessons at the age of three. While trained in Classical music, Norman soon took an interest in R&B. He started managing groups and started auditioning them.

Gardner, Ray, Short and Henson Norman Seldin (2 from left), Jocko Henderson (3 from left) and the Valtairs

One of the first groups Norman Seldin managed was the Valtairs, a vocal group from Long Branch, NJ. The year was 1964. The Valtairs consisted of lead, Harry Ray (later of the Moments and Ray Goodman & Brown), Gregory Henson, Kenneth Short and Joe Gardner. Their repertoire at the time contained “Dear Lord,” “Oh What A Night” and “Tears On My Pillow” – mostly doo wop standards. The Valtairs became a mainstay of Norman’s shows.

Joe Gardner, Harry Ray, Gregory Henson and Kenneth Short

Having the talent and having completed rehearsals, Norman started putting together stage shows that drew 200 to 300 people – in white venues with the Valtairs, the Shells and Vito & the Salutations on the same show for three bucks. The next logical step for Norman Seldin was to start a record label to record his talent. The Selsom label name grew out of a combination of names of Seldin and an early business partner but also was a play on words – SEL(l) SOM(e).

The Valtairs
Gregory Henson , Joe Gardner, Harry Ray and Kenneth Short

The first record released on Selsom was the Valtairs singing “Soul!” and "Strangers Way", a splendid Ballad. Promotion normally would have been a problem for a then 16-year- old, but Norman got help from noted radio personality, Jocko Henderson. Jocko wielded a lot of influence and liked Norman and his product. Through Jocko, Norman got airplay for his records up and down the East Coast. At the end of 1964, Norman Seldin will record the Valtairs again with the magnificent "Moonlight In Vermont " b/w "The Ko Ko Mo"
From Echoes of the Past, No. 100 (2012).

Songs :


Moonlight In Vermont                        Strangers Way


        Soul!                                     The Ko Ko Mo

...

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The Penndulums

Posted on March 5 2021 by dion1

Walter Pepperman

The Penndulums (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Personnel :

Walter Pepperman (Lead)

Bob Graulich

Alan Emory

Barry Kaufman

Discograhy :

1961 - Masquerader / Time Marches On (May 109)

Biography :

Founded in 1862, the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club (PGC) is one of the oldest continually running glee clubs in the United States and the oldest performing arts group at the University of Pennsylvania. The Club draws its singing members from the undergraduate and graduate men of the University of Pennsylvania. The Club, known for its eclectic mix of Penn standards, Broadway classics, classical favorites, and pop hits, has traveled to over 40 countries and territories on 5 continents. It was in 1961 that four members of Pennsylvania Glee Club went to studio recording two songs; "Masquerader" and "Time Marches On". The quartet consists of Walt Pepperman (Lead), Bob Graulich, Alan Emory & Barry Kaufman. The single c will be released the same year by May Records, a Colpix subsidiary.

Songs :

Masquerader Time Marches On

...

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Rick & Eddy

Posted on March 4 2021 by dion1

Richard Muniz

Rick & Eddy (New York)

Personnel :

Richard "Rick" Muniz

Edward "Eddy" Lehe

Discography :

1961 - Jeannie (With The Bright Red Hair) / I Never Loved (Hit-Teen 887)

Biography :

Richard Muniz from Palmerton, Pennsylvania, and Edward Lehe from Long Island, New York, were "Rick & Eddy". They get a recording contract with Hit-Teen Records. Hit-Teen Records has been formed (in New York) by Ronnie Eden, Billy Mac, and Steve Camhi. At the end of August 1961 Rick & Eddy go into the studio and record two songs they wrote "Jeannie" and "I Never Loved".

Songs

I Never Loved Jeannie

...

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The Maharajahs

Posted on March 2 2021 by dion1

The Maharajahs

The Maharajahs (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Douglas T. Baker (lead)

Leo Alexander (Tenor)

Leroy Sanders (Bass)

Hardy Johnson

James ?

Discography :

1958 - I Do Believe / Why Don't You Answer (Flip 332)
1958 - Sweet Loretta / Oh Shirley (Flip 335)

Biography :

Back in those days there were a lot of names from Arab culture Turks, Rahjahs, Turbans, Sheiks etc. and in 1958, the Maharajahs arrived from Los Angeles and recorded four pretty songs, probably during the same session, for Max Feirtag's Flip label. Max Feirtag's Los Angeles based Flip label started out in early 1955 and had a strong series of singles releases throughout the rest of the 50s.

Leroy Sanders

Slowing down in the early 60s and finally petering out in 1965. The four songs were all written by two of the band members, Douglas T. Baker (lead) and Leo Alexander (Tenor). The other members consisted of Hardy Johnson, James ? and the bass was Leroy Sanders who'd been in the Maharajahs, the Cubans, the Upfronts, and Little Caesar & Romans. The label will release both records in March 1958, and the second just a few months later.

Songs :


          I Do Believe                                Why Don't You Answer


Sweet Loretta                                          Oh Shirley

...

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