Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Valentines (2)

Posted on January 6 2022 by dion1

The Valentines (2) (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Personnel :

Irene Butler

Nancy Davis

Joy Findlay

Nancy Davis

Discography :

The Valentines (2)
1961 - The Sock / 16 Senoritas (Iona 1003)

Les Vogt (bb The Valentines (2))
1960 - The Blamers / Moon Rocketin' (Iona 1001)

Biography :

The Valentines were founded by three girls from Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada named Miki Shannon, Irene Butler, and Joy Findlay. In 1960 a four member was added named Nancy Davis and in May or June of 1960 they went into studio of Iona records at 6035, Le Doux Road in Los Angeles to sing back up on a Les Voigt session that saw a release in July.

The Valentines (2)
The Valentines Les Vogt

This led to more session work and are almost certainly he reason why they were called in to do session by themselves in October-November 1960. At the time, Irene who had married Les Vogt was pregnant and left the group shortly after the session. The Songs "The Sock" and "16 Senoritas" saw release in late November. The three remaining girls continued to perform live and did radio and TV shows with the local success their records (hit #3 in the local hit parade) had until they broke up in 1962.

The Valentines (2)

Nancy kept on performing with Tom Baird, a local piano player from Vancouver, later she went on To CBC Television show called "Let's Go". Nancy opened a singing studio in West Vancouver where she taught singing, still doing occasional performance.

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

The Valentines (2)

The Sock Sixteen Senoritas

Les Vogt (bb The Valentines (2))

The Blamers Moon Rocketin'

...

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The Syncapates

Posted on January 5 2022 by dion1

The Syncapates (East Haven, CT)

Personnel :

Bonnie Metzo

Sharon O'Connell

Karen Prahovic

Judy Tucker

Discography :

1963 - Your Tender Lips / Praying For A Miracle (Times Sq.7)

Biography :

Vocal Group from East Haven (CT) consisted of Bonnie Metzo, Sharon O'Connell, Karen Prahovic & Judy Tucker. In June 1958, they recorded two songs for Marty Kugell’s Klik Records probably under the name of The Syncopates. Klik was a short-lived New Haven’s label that never really had much in the way of hits but nonetheless cranked out a small batch of absolutely great doo wop sides before the payola scandal of 1959 closed its doors. Kugell, like most of his contemporaries in the record business did not keep detailed files on every group he recorded in the fifties. Many are unfortunately just names on a tape or demo, never tobe fully identified. "Your Tender Lips" and "Praying For A Miracle" was a master Slim Rose purchased and released on his Times Sq.label in 1963 as The Syncapates.

Songs :

Your Tender Lips Praying For A Miracle

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The Expressions (4)

Posted on January 2 2022 by dion1

The Expressions (4)

Johnny Zappula, Steven Matera, Carl Buntz, Anthony Moscato & Jim Fallucca

The Expressions (4) (Staten Island, New York)

Personnel :

Carl Buntz

Steven Matera

Anthony Moscato

Jim Fallucca

Johnny Zappula

Discography :

The Expressions (4)
1961 - My Love, My Love / The Sign Of Happiness (Arliss 1012)

Vito Picone (bb The Expressions (4))
1963 - I Like To Run / Song From Moulin Rouge (Admiral 103)

Biography :

Jim Fallucca started singing at the age of 12. His cousin, Vito Picone of the Elegants, put Staten Island on the map with the #1 song in the country "Little Star". He loved going to watch the Elegants pratice and soon started his own group with Johnny Zappula, Carl Buntz, Steven Matera and Anthony Moscato. In 1961 the Expressions recorded two songs written by Jim Fallucca "My Love, My Love" b/w "The Sign Of Happiness". The record was issued on Arliss Records owned by veteran songwriter, publisher and artists manager Robert Lissauer. The Arliss Records label didn’t have many releases, but in among those by the Expressions, the Preludes, Pancho Villa, and Karl Hammel Jr. The group disbanded after a few years.

The Expressions (4)

Jim Fallucca, Johnny Zappula, Carl Buntz, Steven Matera and Anthony Moscato Vito Picone

In 1962, Laurie record company wanted Vito Picone to do something like Bobby Darin where he broke the mold and started doing songs like “Beyond the Sea” and “Mack the Knife,” so they were looking for something like that for him. They came up with “Song from Moulin Rouge” and Vito written the other side of the record “I Like to Run.” The Expressions backed Vito on the two songs released by Admiral Records, distributed by Laurie records.

Songs :

The Expressions (4)

My Love, My Love / The Sign Of Happiness

Vito Picone (bb The Expressions (4))

Song From Moulin Rouge I Like To Run

…..

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The Silver Sisters

Posted on January 2 2022 by dion1

The Silver Sisters

The Silver Sisters (South Orange, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Andrea Silver

Carol Silver

Discography :

1956 - I Wanna Be Seventeen All Of My Life / Till You Come Back To Me (Rainbow 355)
1959 - Baby - Baby (Whatcha Gonna Do To-Night / Ding Dong (Rock-A-Billy Weddin) (Can-Dee 92/93)
1960 - When A Boy Meets A Girl / Waiting For The Stars To Shine (Shell 718)

Biography :

Andrea and Carol Silver from South Orange, New Jersey made up for the Duo Silver Sisters. Andrea Silver sings and plays the guitar. With her sister Carol, they appearing on various TV programs in New York. The Silver Sisters had three know record releases. The first in 1956 (Andrea, 11 and Carol, 16) for Rainbow records, The Second for the Can-Dee Records an the Last for the Shell label. The Can-Dee label was based at 92 Lock Street, Newark, New Jersey and was owned by Ruths Lyons, a notable vocalist in her own right.

The Silver Sisters

Their Second single "Baby" b/w "Ding Dong" in August 1959 have Billboard's comments were not very encouraging and so the girls were left looking for another record company. This proved to be Shell Records, 697 Broadway, New York City for who the duo recorded the splendid "Waiting For The Stars To Shine" b/w "When A Boy Meets A Girl". Both songs being written by Stallman and Jacobson. Billboard reported that "Waiting For The Stars To Shine" was getting action in Los Angeles in April 1960, but Seemingly Nowhere else.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Waiting For The Stars To Shine / When A Boy Meets A Girl

I Wanna Be Seventeen All Of My Life

...

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The Reactions

Posted on January 2 2022 by dion1

The Reactions
John Scupelliti

The Reactions (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel:

John Scupelliti (Lead)

Richard Scalisi (Tenor)

Richard Candido (Tenor)

Discography :

1964 - Our Wonderful Love / That Girl (Mutual 509)

Biography :

The Reactions came out of Brooklyn in the early 60s. The original group was led by John Scupelliti along with Richard Scalisi (Tenor) and Richard Candido (Tenor, Arranger and Writer). They had one release, "Our Wonderful Love" b/w "That Girl" which was a regional hit for the group. It was recorded in 1962 on the Mutual label but wasn't released until 1964. John re-formed the group in 2018 and they have been very active in the NY/NJ area.

The Reactions

Songs :

That Girl Our Wonderful Love

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The Neons (1)

Posted on January 1 2022 by dion1

The Neons (1)

The Neons (First Group)

The Neons (1) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Frank Vignari (Lead)

Jeff Pearl (Second Tenor)

John D'Avirro (Baritone)

Pat Fatibene (Bass)

Nick Bernini (First Tenor)

Discography :

1956 - Angel Face / Kiss Me Quickly (Tetra 4444)
1957 - Road Of Romance / My Chickadee (Tetra 4449)
1960 - Golden Dreams / Angel Face (Gone 5090)
1974 - Golden Dreams / Honey Bunn (Vintage 1016)

Biography :

Doo-wop group from the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, NY, the Neons' influences included the Harptones, Cadillacs, Moonglows, Spaniels, and the Flamingos. They befriended Raoul Cita, the Harptones' musical arranger, who tightened their harmony and presentation, something he did for many other New York groups. Cita introduced them to Monty Bruce, the owner of Bruce Records and the guy who recorded the Harptones. Bruce formed a new label, Tetra Records, for the Neons' releases. Their Tetra debut dropped in the fall of 1956. "Angel Face" broke out in the New York/Philadelphia area and received some national attention. The members wrote the song and its flip "Kiss Me Quickly." When it took off, the gigs came. Many were surprised to see four white guys doo-wopping, but it worked.

Monty Bruce Raoul Cita

The original Neons group that recorded for Tetra Records in 1956 ("Angel Face") consisted of Frank Vignari - lead, Jeff Pearl - 2nd tenor, John D'Avirro - baritone and Pat Fatibene - bass. Frank Vignari overdubbed the first tenor part on the record. When the record took off, Nick Bernini joined the group as the first tenor for live performances. These five members recorded in 1957 "Road To Romance" on Tetra Records. The Neons had John D'Avirro's best friend Ed Augustyn as their guitar player. Ed was already a professional guitar player and had to be paid union scale. Ed was considered an original Neon and was the lead guitarist on "Angel Face." He dropped out, to go to college, before the Neons recorded "Road To Romance" (Ed became a scientist). The Neons considered the original group a 6 man group.

The Neons (Second Group)

In 1958, The Neons consisted of Frank Vignari, Jeff Pearl and two new members, Ron Derin and Norm Isacoff. They are the 2nd Neons group, that formed to be a Night Club act. The two new members are not on the Tetra Record releases of 1956 and 1957. They are on "Golden Dreams" on Gone Records (with the original "Angel Face" on the flip) which came out in 1960. Ron and Norm are also on "Honey Bun" b/w "Golden Dreams" (recorded for Al Browne in the early 1970s with Frank and Jeff) that came out on Vintage Records. The original Neons did record "Golden Dreams" and "Honey Bun" too, but those versions never came out. --------- By Bobby Diskin - Brooklyn, NY.

Songs :

Angel Face Kiss Me Quickly

Road of Romance My Chickadee

Golden Dreams Honey Bun

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