Single : 1954 - Lovin' On My Mind / Ain't Nothin' Wrong With That (Okeh 7040) Unreleased : 1954 - Bad, Bad Women (Okeh) 1954 - Jump Ted! (Okeh)
Biography :
Vocal group formed in 1953 in Chattanooga.TN. composed by Cortez Foust, Charlie Young and two other people whose first and last names have been forgotten. They cut "Ain't Nothin' Wrong with That" b/w "Lovin' on My Mind" on Okeh 4-7040. The Shufflers also recorded two other songs for Okeh that were unreleased "Bad, Bad Women" and "Jump Ted!".
1956 - The Glory Of Love / It's You I Love Best (Gee 1024)
Biography :
The Angels R&B were formed in Newark, New Jersey 1954. Lead tenor Bernard Lynn, Tenor Nelson Martin, Baritone Bill Wright, and bass Melvin Maxwell first got together in 1955. In early October 1956, the Angels showed up to record two songs. The first was the old standard “The Glory Of Love,” which had been written by Billy Hill back in 1936, when it had become a #1 hit for the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Nelson Martin
On the strength of the record, the Angels were booked into the Apollo Theater, with an Alan Freed show, for the week beginning November 23, 1956. The end of the Angels came in 1958 with Nelson Martin got married and couldn't devote as much time to the group ,and Herbert Meyers was “locked up for embezzlement.”
The Francettes (Los Angeles, CA) aka The Fran-Cettes
Personnel :
Debra Dion (Lead vocals)
Frances Gray (vocals)
Eleanor Townsel (vocals)
Discography :
The Fran-Cettes 1962 - Cradle Love / Late In The Evening (Besche 100) 1962 - Too Young To Marry / Heart For Sale (Besche 101) 1963 - Two Timing Angel / He Once Belonged To Me (MM 105)
The Francettes 1963 - I'm Leaving You / He's So Sweet (Wolfie 104 / Sleeper 201) 1963 - Won't Somebody Want Me / Anything Baby (Kentone 101) 1964 - Nothing To Write Home About / Young Daddy (Challenge 59255) 1965 - I Know Him Well / Wham (Valiant 718)
Debra Dion 1964 - Don't Bug Me Baby / I Want To Know (If Your Love Is Real) (Sue 103)
Biography :
The Francettes originally were formed by Frances Gray from Jefferson High School in Los Angeles. Named for their manager and song writer frances Gray, the trio's sound veneered from gruff r&b to all-out girl group sweetness. Their first release was "Cradle Love" b/w "Late In The Evening" on Besche from 1962. Sounding a little like the Ikettes, the trio are Debra Dion, Frances Gray & Eleanor Townsel. After another single on Besche, their next release was on the Sleeper label, showing as a Wolfie production. The plug side was "He's So Sweet" backed with "I'm Leaving You." It was then released on the Wolfie label, also in 1963, which just happened to be home to the Perez Brothers, Baby Lloyd, and Billy Joe and the Chessmen. They released half a dozen singles in their three year recording span. Their name is spelt slightly differently on some of their recordings, some as The Fran-cettes, The Francettes and just Francettes. The group went on to record for Maven Kent Harris, who in 1964 successfully shopped a 45 to sue records by their lead vocalist Debra Dion, but never came within a spitting distance of a hit...
Songs :
The Fran-Cettes
Heart For Sale Cradle Love Two Timing Angel
He Once Belonged To Me
The Francettes
I'm Leaving You He's So Sweet Won't Somebody Want Me
Ray Allen Trio (Westchester, New York) aka The Gum Drops aka The Upbeats (2)aka The Classmates (1) aka The Four Classmates
Personnel :
Ray "Allen" Albanese (Vocal/Guitar)
Frank Rey (Vocal/Bass)
Harold "Feirstein" Stone (Vocal/Piano)
Vinnie Bell "Vinnie Gambella" (Guitar)
Discography :
Ray Allen Trio
1954 - Why Should I Love You / Love My Love (King 1383)
 1954 - Amapola / Love In Rhyme (King 1399) 
 1955 - I Miss You So / Money, Money, Money (King 1438)
 1961 - See Africa First / Two Angels (Joy 247)
The Classmates (1) 1955 - What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss (King 1487)
The Four Classmates 1955 - What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss (King 1487)
The Gum Drops
1955 - Gum Drop / Don't Take It so Hard 1955 (King 1496) 1955 - I'll Wait For One More Train / Don't Take It So Hard (King 1499) 1955 - I Wonder and Wonder / I'll Follow You (King 4913) 
 1956 - Natural born Lover / Chapel Of Hearts (King 4963) 1957 - Ba-Bee-Da Boat Is Leaving / Pigeon (King 5051)
 1958 - You're The One / Gum Drop Shoes and Bells In Her Hair (Decca 30584) 
 1958 - My Own True Love / On The Wings Of The Wind 1958 (Coral 62003) 1959 - I Spoke Too Soon / Sie-Tu (It's You, It's You) (Coral 62102) 1959 - It Happens Every Day / They Wake Me 1959 (Coral 62138)
Ray Allen & The Upbeats (2)
Singles: 1961 - Let Them Talk / Sweet Lorraine (Sinclair 1004) 1962 - Peggy Sue / La Bamba (Blast 204)
Lps : 1962 - "Tribute To 6" (Blast BLP-6804) C'mon Everyboby / Peggy Sue / Sittin' In The Balcony / Earth Angel / Chantilly Lace / Battle Of New Orleans / La Bamba / Every Day / Running Bear / Donna / North To Alaska / Goodnight My Love
Biography :
The Ray Allen Trio started recording for King Records in 1954, and "Why Should I Love You / Love Me Love" King 1383 was there first release.
Ray Allen Trio (about 1952) -The Arthur Godfrey Show
The personal were "Ray Allen (Ray Albanese) (Guitar), Frank Rey (Bass) and Harold "Feirstein" Stone (Piano). They had very good success with there first two records, and released a total of three on King. The group added Vinnie Bell (Vinnie Gambella) (Guitar) and recorded " What Am I Gonna Do" b/w "A Kiss Is Not A Kiss" released as The Four Classmates and The Classmates
In 1955, DeLuxe released "Gum Drop" and "Save Me, Save Me" by Otis Williams and his New Group's ."Gum Drop" getting a lot of play from Alan Freed. "Gum Drop" was almost immediately covered by the Crew Cuts on Mercury Records, and that made Syd Nathan mad .
With George Montgomery
Syd Nathan refused to grant a license for "Gum Drop." As a final insult, Syd Nathan re-named the Ray Allen Trio to "The Gum Drops" and released their version of the song on King 1496 to cut into the Crew Cuts' sales.
The group consisted of "Ray Allen (Ray Albanese), Frank Rey, Harold "Feirstein" Stone and new member Vinnie Bell (Vinnie Gambella) (Guitar), all were from New York. The Gum drops cut 9 singles for King, Decca & Coral. Their last release was as the Ray Allen Trio on the Joy record label.
In 1961 the Ray Allen Trio signing for Sinclair record as Ray Allen & The Upbeats , and released "Let Them Talk" /" Sweet Lorraine" (Sinclair 1004). The next year they released the LP "Tribute to 6" for Blast Records (a division of Sinclair Record Corp.)
Ray Allen & The Upbeats do two songs each by Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, Johnny Horton and Jesse Belvin . "Tribute to 6" Conducted and Arranged by Vinny Catalano. A single from the LP was also released on Blast 204 with "Peggy Sue" and "La Bamba". Thanks To Alicia Albanese
Ray Allen Trio (Westchester, New York) aka The Gum Drops aka The Upbeats (2)aka The Classmates (1) aka The Four Classmates
Personnel :
Ray "Allen" Albanese (Vocal/Guitar)
Frank Rey (Vocal/Bass)
Harold "Feirstein" Stone (Vocal/Piano)
Vinnie Bell "Vinnie Gambella" (Guitar)
Discography :
Ray Allen Trio
1954 - Why Should I Love You / Love My Love (King 1383)
 1954 - Amapola / Love In Rhyme (King 1399) 
 1955 - I Miss You So / Money, Money, Money (King 1438)
 1961 - See Africa First / Two Angels (Joy 247)
The Classmates (1) 1955 - What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss (King 1487)
The Four Classmates 1955 - What Am I Gonna Do / A Kiss Is Not A Kiss (King 1487)
The Gum Drops
1955 - Gum Drop / Don't Take It so Hard 1955 (King 1496) 1955 - I'll Wait For One More Train / Don't Take It So Hard (King 1499) 1955 - I Wonder and Wonder / I'll Follow You (King 4913) 
 1956 - Natural born Lover / Chapel Of Hearts (King 4963) 1957 - Ba-Bee-Da Boat Is Leaving / Pigeon (King 5051)
 1958 - You're The One / Gum Drop Shoes and Bells In Her Hair (Decca 30584) 
 1958 - My Own True Love / On The Wings Of The Wind 1958 (Coral 62003) 1959 - I Spoke Too Soon / Sie-Tu (It's You, It's You) (Coral 62102) 1959 - It Happens Every Day / They Wake Me 1959 (Coral 62138)
Ray Allen & The Upbeats (2)
Singles: 1961 - Let Them Talk / Sweet Lorraine (Sinclair 1004) 1962 - Peggy Sue / La Bamba (Blast 204)
Lps : 1962 - "Tribute To 6" (Blast BLP-6804) C'mon Everyboby / Peggy Sue / Sittin' In The Balcony / Earth Angel / Chantilly Lace / Battle Of New Orleans / La Bamba / Every Day / Running Bear / Donna / North To Alaska / Goodnight My Love
Biography :
The Ray Allen Trio started recording for King Records in 1954, and "Why Should I Love You / Love Me Love" King 1383 was there first release.
Ray Allen Trio (about 1952) -The Arthur Godfrey Show
The personal were "Ray Allen (Ray Albanese) (Guitar), Frank Rey (Bass) and Harold "Feirstein" Stone (Piano). They had very good success with there first two records, and released a total of three on King. The group added Vinnie Bell (Vinnie Gambella) (Guitar) and recorded " What Am I Gonna Do" b/w "A Kiss Is Not A Kiss" released as The Four Classmates and The Classmates
In 1955, DeLuxe released "Gum Drop" and "Save Me, Save Me" by Otis Williams and his New Group's ."Gum Drop" getting a lot of play from Alan Freed. "Gum Drop" was almost immediately covered by the Crew Cuts on Mercury Records, and that made Syd Nathan mad .
With George Montgomery
Syd Nathan refused to grant a license for "Gum Drop." As a final insult, Syd Nathan re-named the Ray Allen Trio to "The Gum Drops" and released their version of the song on King 1496 to cut into the Crew Cuts' sales.
The group consisted of "Ray Allen (Ray Albanese), Frank Rey, Harold "Feirstein" Stone and new member Vinnie Bell (Vinnie Gambella) (Guitar), all were from New York. The Gum drops cut 9 singles for King, Decca & Coral. Their last release was as the Ray Allen Trio on the Joy record label.
In 1961 the Ray Allen Trio signing for Sinclair record as Ray Allen & The Upbeats , and released "Let Them Talk" /" Sweet Lorraine" (Sinclair 1004). The next year they released the LP "Tribute to 6" for Blast Records (a division of Sinclair Record Corp.)
Ray Allen & The Upbeats do two songs each by Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, Johnny Horton and Jesse Belvin . "Tribute to 6" Conducted and Arranged by Vinny Catalano. A single from the LP was also released on Blast 204 with "Peggy Sue" and "La Bamba". Thanks To Alicia Albanese
The Pacers (L to R) : Alfred Harris, Jamie Commodore , Pat Allensworth, Frank Tolliver and James Heffner
The Pacers (1) (Ford City, PA)
Personnel :
James Commodore (Lead Tenor)
Alfred Harris (Tenor)
Patricia Allensworth
Frank Tolliver (Baritone)
James Heffner (Bass)
Discography :
1958 - I Wanna Dance With You / I Found A Dream (Calico 101)
Biography :
The Pacers, a Ford City singing group is composed of Alfred Harris (Tenor), Jamie Commodore (Lead Tenor), Pat Allensworth (Later with The Arvettes), Frank Tolliver (Baritone) and James Heffner (Bass). The Pacers have been singing for two years before landing a recording contract with Calico Records. Calico Records was a small, Pittsburgh-based label that is best known for breaking the doo-wop group, The Skyliners. Friends Lennie Martin, Lou Guarino, and attorney Al Capozzi founded the Calico Records label i 1958 to record and promote the music of Pittsburgh musicians.
The pacers will be the first group to record for Calico. Frank Tolliver composed and arranged two songs for the single. The featured song on the record is « I Found A Dream » a ballad. The other side contains « I Wanna Dance With You » a Rock and Roll number. The Group had recorded two other songs also been composed and arranged by Tolliver for a next record. They will perform at record hop and teenage dance around the Pittsburgh area, they will appeared at the Sherwin Hotel in Pittsburgh and appeared on a television program, the Jay Michael Show.
Vocal group from Newark, NJ. Formed in 1959, the Impalas consisted of five members including Johnny Kink and Fred Waller, the other three remain for the moment Unknown. With the release of "Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)" by the Impalas, they changed their name for the Fabulous Idols and recorded " Nellie" and "Baby" released by Kenco Records in 1960.
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