Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Catalina Six aka Jerry & The Catalinas (10)

Posted on November 26 2022 by dion1

The Catalina Six aka Jerry & The Catalinas (10)

Front : Robert Novello, Morris Amato & Richard Novello - Rear : Jerry Swede, Tom Malin & Frank Sole

The Catalina Six (New Jersey)
aka Jerry & The Catalinas (10)

Personnel :

Frank Sole (Lead Tenor)

Richard Novello (Second Tenor)

Morris Amato (Bass)

Tom Malin (Guitar)

Jerry Swede (Guitar)

Robert Novello (Drums)

Discography :

The Catalina Six
1962 - Moon 2000 (Twist-A-Roo) / Would You Believe It (Flagship 126)
1962 - It Had To Rain Again / Sweet Baby Please Come Home (Twist-A-Roo)(Flagship 127)
1962 - It Had To Rain / Baby Please Come Home (Candlelite 413)

Jerry & The Catalinas (10)
1965 - The Arabian Knight / Away From It All (Veroona 101)

Biography :

The Catalina Six is musical sextet, four Hasbrouck Heights boys and two from Wood-Ridge are The Catalina Six. When they begin to recorded in 1962 They have already done a number of appearance in North Jersey. Their principal activity has been personal appearaces at teen-age dances. Their first record met with a 3-star rating in "Billboard" magazine, "Moon 2,000" and "Would You Believe It" was released on the Flagship label. Just released in the metropolitan area, the disk jockeys had beginning to spin it on local programs.

The Catalina Six aka Jerry & The Catalinas (10)

The group had its origin at aNew Year's Eve party. A singing trio — tenor FrankSole and bass Morris Amato, both of Wood-Ridge, and second tenor Richard Novello of Hasbrouck Heights — discovered the sound of good harmonizing. Richard's brother Robert, had a good instrumental trio. That group included Jerry Swede and Thomas Malin of Hasbrouck Heights, who played Guitar, and Robert on the drums. All teamed up, and the Catalina Six offers a singing trio, dual guitars and sticks.

The Catalina Six aka Jerry & The Catalinas (10)

The sextet's name was chosen because it is a model of car owned by one of the boys and the vehicle appeared ,in one of their publicity photos. The same year, the group recorded another single for the Flagship label : "It Had To Rain Again" b/w "Sweet Baby Please Come Home" and "It Had To Rain" b/w "Baby Please Come Home" on Candlelite. Three years later, the group will have a last single "The Arabian Knight" b/w "Away From It All" released as Jerry & The Catalinas.

Songs :

The Catalina Six


Would You Believe It                    It Had To Rain Again


Sweet Baby Please Come Home            Moon 2000 (Twist-A-Roo)

Jerry & The Catalinas (10)


The Arabian Knight                       Away From It All

...

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The Dell-Coeds

Posted on November 20 2022 by dion1

The Dell-Coeds

The Dell-Coeds (San Jose, California)

Personnel :

Janet Engen

Mary Ann Janovec

Linda Jonas

Richard George

Discography :

1962 - (I Want A Little) Love In Return / Mr Banjo (Enith 712/Dot 16314)

Biography :

Darrell Alexander and Richard George were Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers at UCLA and began singing together, inspired by Jan & Dean. In late 1960 Darrell and Richard (as Spike & Tyke) recorded several of Richard's compositions (including Love In Return). Darrell was dating Janet Engen (whom he later married). Janet's high school friends included Mary Ann Janovec and Linda Jonas. All five began singing together as a group which reversed the then popular vocal roles: in the new group the girls sang lead vocals, and the guys sang background. They developed new vocal arrangements for several of Richard's songs. During the summer of 1961, Richard brought his Spike & Tyke recording of Love In Return to publishers Norman Malkin and Jack Hoffman, whose offices were located just up the block from the famous Hollywood intersection of Sunset and Vine. Norman's wife was legendary singer Margie Rayburn, known for her hit, I'm Available.

The Dell-Coeds

She also had a 1955 success with Norman's song Hey Mr. Banjo, recorded with the Sunnysiders. Norman told Richard that, if he would come up with a modern teen arrangement for Hey Mr. Banjo, he would sign Richard's new group and record Love In Return for the flip side. Steven Venet, a young record producer who had earlier produced Linda Carr's Happy Teenager (another of Richard's songs), recorded the Dell-Coeds at Gold Star Studios, known for their unique echo chamber and a steady stream of hits. Steven (whose brother Nik produced the Beach Boys for Capitol Records) was an extremely in-demand producer, also working frequently for Reprise Records. Steven went on to a long and successful career in songwriting and music production with an impressive discography. Love In Return was released on independent label Enith International in September, 1961. It was then that the group learned they had been named the Dell-Coeds. Richard was happy when Love in Return got all the radio play and became the A side.

The Dell-Coeds

After the record starting going up several radio Top 40 charts, the record was re-released nationwide on Dot Records, a major label, in January, 1962. Cover versions of Love In Return were recorded by the Nightingales on Ray-Star Records (produced by H.B. Barnum) and by Christy Cummins on Belaine Records (produced by Jimmy Bowen). The Dell-Coeds performed extensively, promoting their record. They performed with the Beach Boys. They were featured with Chubby Checker in 1962 at a historic sold-out concert in San Francisco. Coincidentally, H.B. Barnum (who produced one of the cover versions of Love In Return) was musical director for the concert. With nearly 20,000 in attendance, an overflow crowd of 7,000 partied outside the arena!After Happy Teenager and Love In Return, Richard went on to further involvement in the music industry as a songwriter, vocal arranger, and recording artist, and as a music company executive.

Songs :

Love In Return Mr Banjo

...

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The Glens (1) aka The Starlights (1)

Posted on November 19 2022 by dion1

The Glens (1) aka The Starlights (1)

The Glens (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Starlights (1)

Personnel :

William J.Panzo "Bill Perry" (Lead Singer)

Ralph Pascarella

Henry Scarpelli

Anthony Cambria

Discography :

The Glens (1) with Bill Perry
1957 - I Feel So Blue / Image Of Love (Ro-Nan 1002)

Billy & The Glens (1)
1959 - I Believe In You / Oh Boy (Jaro 7706)

Unreleased:
1961 - I’m Not The Guy (Rome)
1961 - Oh Love (Rome)
1961 - I Fell Great (Rome)
1961 - More (Rome)
1961 - The Seven Teens (Rome)

Bill Perry & The Starlights (1)
1959 - Searching For Love / Count Off Blues (Premium 101)

Biography :

In 1957, William J.Panzo started signing with some different guys from Brooklyn. He fronted a vocal group named "The Glens" with Ralph Pascarella, Henry Scarpelli and Anthony Cambria. The group recorded "I Feel So Blue" b/w "Image Of Love" released by Ro-Nan Records, 701 7th Avenue in New York. Two years later, They Recorded "I Believe In You" b/w "Oh Boy" on Jaro International. Shortly after, they recorded "Searching For Love" and "Count Off Blues" released by Premium Records under the name of Bill Perry & The Starlights. Trade Martin and partner Johnny powers started their own label, "Rome" and a subsidiary "Power-Martin". Their claim to fame was the early recording of the Earls. In the 2-2 1/2 years they were together. The Glens recorded five songs, never released. They recorded many different groups. Most of their songs never surfacing.

The Glens (1) aka The Starlights (1)

Among the different guys who sang with William J. Panzo there was Tommy Morrisey. Panzo introduced Tommy to Tom Duffy. Duffy knew two other guys – Sam Capano and Willie Bender. These five guys started practicing and getting songs together as the Laurels. The story goes that two teachers from Brooklyn wrote a song called “Baby Blue.” After Capuno and Bender left the group, the remaining three stuck together as The Echoes and they recorded “Baby Blue.”

Songs :

The Glens (1)


I Believe In You                                     Oh Boy


I Feel So Blue / Image Of Love                       I’m Not The Guy


                          The Seven Teens                    I Fell Great


Oh Love       More

Bill Perry & The Starlights (1)


Searching For Love                            Count Off Blues

...

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The Darby Sisters

Posted on November 19 2022 by dion1

The Darby Sisters (Linden, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Laraine Duckman

Joy Duckman

Discography :

1959 - Send A Picture Postcard / Jimmy (Metro 20020)
1959 - Go Back, Go Back To Your Pontiac / Misunderstood (Cub 9041)
1960 - Why Did You Go / Think Of All The Fun We've Had (41580)
1961 - Don't Let It End / Ya' Gotta'(Musicor 1007)

Biography :

Buddy Kaye discovered the Darby Sisters, (Laraine Duckman and Joy Duckman)
the man in this instance being manager , who asked them to make a demonstration record. In 1959, Joy, sixteen, and Laraine, eighteen, have been singing together for a dozen years. Born into a musical family, they are composers as well, and wrote several pieces of music.

They recorded many songs. Their first appearance was in an amateur contest. when they were but three and five, respectively, and they won a ten-dollar` award. Too young to enter the finals, they continued their schooling in Linden, N.J. The Girls recorded four singles between 1959 and 1961.

Songs

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Don't Let It End                     Think Of All The Fun We've Had


Go Back, Go Back To Your Pontiac                  Why Did You Go


Ya' Gotta'                                       Jimmy

...

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The Sparks (1)

Posted on November 18 2022 by dion1

Photo received under the name "The Sparks on Hull" (not confirmed)

The Sparks (1) (New York)

Personnel :

Joel Allen (Lead)

Wilmon Walker (Lead)

James Springer (Tenor)

Morris Louder (Baritone)

Will Vason (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1957 - Danny Boy / Run Run Run (Hull 723)
1957 - Adreann / Finger (Hull 724)

Unreleased
1957 - Virgin Islands, My Home (Hull)

Lp :
Your Favorite Singing Groups (HULL LP 1002)
1962 - Slowly But Surely (recorded 1957)

The Sparks (1)

Biography :

Hull Records was located in New York's famous Brill Building. It released a meagre sixty odd singles in more than a decade in the business. Their two best doo wop groups, The Heartbeats and Shep and The Limelites, were both very good and shared a lead singer. The Avons are also well regarded by doo wop fans. The Sparks had two consecutive Hull releases issued during the spring of 1956 "Danny Boy" / "Run, Run, Run" (Hull 723) released for the R'n'B market and "Adreann" / "Finger" (Hull 724) issued for calypso listeners (on a green vice red label). The members of the Sparks were Joel Allen (lead vocals), Wilmon Walker (lead vocals), James Springer (tenor vocals), Morris Louder (baritone vocals) and Will Vason (bass vocals).

Songs :


Danny Boy                                  Run Run Run


Finger / Adreann                                    Virgin Islands

Slowly But Surely

...

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Buddy & The Fads aka Ash Bennett & The Ardells (3)

Posted on November 12 2022 by dion1

L to R : Buddy Fowler, Benny Sacco and Nick Giannis

Buddy & The Fads (Los Angeles, Calif.)
aka Ash Bennett & The Ardells (3)

Personnel :

Art "Buddy" Fowler (Vocal & Guitar)

Benny Sacco (Vocal)

Nick Giannis (Vocal)

Discography :

Buddy & The Fads
Single :
1958 - Is It Just A Game / Won't You Love Me (Morocco 1001)
Unreleased :
1958 - Make My Life Worth Living
1958 - He's Caught

Buddy Fowler bb The Fads
1960 - That's Why / I Left My Eyes Behind Me (Crystalette 741)

Ash Bennett & The Ardells (3)
1965 - Thinkin Bout Love / Day After Day (Ash Bennett) (Dottie 1128)

Biography :

Singing trio composed by Art "Buddy" Fowler, Benny Sacco and Nick Giannis, all Southwest residents and graduates of Washington high School. In 1958, The Trio who sang as Buddy and the Fads recorded "Is It Just A Game", a Rock and Roll song and "Is It Just A Game" a nice Ballad released on the Morocco Label out of Los Angeles.

Two years later they recorded for Crystalette Records another ballad "That's Why" backed by "I Left My Eyes Behind Me". The band performed locally and in 1965 They recorded a splendid Doo Wop "Thinkin Bout Love" released by Dottie records as Ash Bennett & The Ardells.

Songs :

Ash Bennett & The Ardells (3)

Thinkin Bout Love

Buddy & The Fads


Is It Just A Game                             Won't You Love Me


         He's Caught                           Make My Life Worth Living

Buddy Fowler bb The Fads

That's Why

...

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Wes Griffith & The Treys

Posted on November 11 2022 by dion1

Wes Griffith & The Treys

Wes Griffith & The Treys (San Francisco)

Personnel :

Wes Griffith (Lead)

Discography :

Wes Griffith & The Treys
1959 - It Hurts So Bad / Rockin' Mary (Bella 17)

George Hamilton & The Treys
1959 - Come To Me / Sugar Baby (Bella 16)

Biography :

The Bella label was created by John Pusateri out of San Jose, California. John, a native of Franklin, Louisiana, had moved to San Jose in the 1920s but kept close contact with musicians in south Louisiana. He produced and created a wealth of great music, mostly doo-wop in the 1950s. He was also a prolific writer and composer for other labels as well.

Wes Griffith & The Treys
John Pusateri

Wes Griffith was the Lead singer of the Treys. The Treys were both black vocal group who alternated sweet vocal sides with driving rock'n'roll material. "Rockin’ Mary" is a fantastic example of combining all kinds of rock ‘n’ roll in one dance tune: the rockin’ R&B basics, Chicano-styled lead vocals by Wes, clanking lead guitar, a rockabilly slap bass, and The Treys’ black doo wop vocals, mirroring the direction that rock and roll had taken by this point. The house band did a great job accompanying

Songs :

Wes Griffith & The Treys

Rockin' Mary It Hurts So Bad

George Hamilton & The Treys

Come To Me / Sugar Baby

...

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The Largos

Posted on November 11 2022 by dion1

The Largos & Ben Branch's Orchestra

The Largos (Memphis, Tennessee)

Personnel :

Lorece Thompson (Lead)

Alvin Standard

George Reed

Willie Mull

Roosevelt Green

Discography :

Singles :
The Largos (Featuring Lorece Thompson with Ben Branch's Orchestra)
1961 - Saddle Up / I Wonder Why (Dot 16292)

Lorece Thompson & The Largos
1965 - Three Hearts In A Tangle / The Night Time Is The Right Time (Dot 16719)

LP :
Lorece Thompson & The Largos
1963 - Beale Street Today (Lp 3524)
Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo-Mo Jo Workout-Do The Dog / The Night Time Is The Right Time / The Morning After / I Found A Love / Have No Teardrops / Drown In My Own Tears/ Three Hearts In A Tangle / You Are My Sunshine

The Largos

Biography :

This vocal group started singing together at Douglass High School in early 1960 (Memphis, Tennessee). The Largos consists of Lorece Thompson, manager and lead singer of the group, along with Alvin Standard, George Reed, Willie Mull and Roosevelt Green. The Group performs at "Currie's club Tropicana" In North Memphis backed by Ben Branch's Orchestra. In 1961 they Signing a three years contract with Dot Records. The record is "Saddle Up" backed by "I Wonder Why", both composed by Lorece Thompson. In early 1962, Lorece Thompson teamed up with Willie Mitchell from the 4 Kings . Calling themselves the Canes, they had a single release for Stax: "Why Should I Suffer With The Blues"/"I'll Never Give Her Up (My Friend)". In 1963, Lorece Thompson & The Largos cut an Album for Dot named "Beale Street Today".

Songs :

I Wonder Why Saddle Up

Have No Teardrops

...

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Lee Collins & The Orbits (5)

Posted on November 11 2022 by dion1

Lee Collins

Lee Collins & The Orbits (5) (Los Angeles, Ca.)

Personnel :

Lee Collins (Lead)

Discography :

1960 - Two Crazy Scientists / Tell Me Baby (Dooto 801 / Supremacy 601)

Biography :

Bandleader, record man and entrepreneur Dootsie Williams is best known for the string of doo-wop records that he made in the mid-50s, 1954’s Earth Angel by the Penguins being by far the most successful.

Lee Collins & The Orbits (5)

Except this photo and an article in Billboard (Nov. 1960), no information was found on Lee Collins and his Group. Billboard : "Dooto's Dootsie Williams acquired the masters to "Two Crazy Scientists" b-w "Tell Me Baby," with Lee Collins and the Orbits originally issued on the Supremacy label."

Songs :

Tell Me Baby Two Crazy Scientists

...

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The Sunbeams (2) aka The Sawyer Sisters aka The Soo Sisters

Posted on November 6 2022 by dion1

The Sawyer Sisters Joanie, Susie and Katie

The Sunbeams (2) (Tacoma, Washington)
The Sawyer Sisters aka The Soo Sisters

Personnel :

Katie Sauer

Susie Sauer

Joanie Sauer

Discography :

The Sunbeams (2)
1955 - I'm Gonna Go Home To Mama / Blue Mountain Waltz (Dot 1271)
1956 - Wrap It Up And Save It / How About It (Dot 1280)

The Soo Sisters
1956 - Three Hearts Later / My World (chic 1005)

The Sawyer Sisters
1959 - Here I Am / Rock-a Boogie Babies (Dynasty 621)

Biography :

This vocal trio is composed by three sisters from Tacoma, Katie, Susie and Joanie Sauer. It is under the name of the Sauer Sisters that they perform locally and begin to attract crowds. In mid-1955, the girls signed a recording contract with Dot Records. Two singles will be released by the Label in October 1955 and in Mars 1956 under the name of the Sunbeams. in December 1956, a new single released By Chic Records from Georgia. They still see their artist name change : The Soo Sisters

In June 1959 Dynasty Records, the new label headed by Lee Palmer released the last single of the trio under The Sawyer Sisters with "Here I Am" and "Rock A Boogie Babies". Between 1961 and 1963, the Sawyer Sisters appeared at Showboat, New Frontier, Flamingo and Riviera Hotels...

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Sunbeams (2)

Wrap It Up And Save It How About It

I'm Gonna Go Home To Mama / Blue Mountain Waltz

The Sawyer Sisters

Here I Am Rock-a Boogie Babies

...

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