Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Nobles (1)

Posted on December 25 2022 by dion1

The Nobles (1) (New Haven, Connecticut)

Personnel :

Dickey Bernardo

Joey Kakulis

Sal Tramauche

Pat Cosenza

Discography :

The Nobles (1)
1957 - Poor Rock'n'Roll / Ting A Ling (Klik 305)
1963 - Why Be A Fool / The Search (Time Square 33)
1964 - Crime Don't Pay / Darkness (Time Square 12)
1976 - Oh Baby / My Confession (by the Blue Dots) (Robin Hood 136)

Nicky & The Nobles (1)
1958 - School Bells / School Day Crush (Gone 5039 / End 098)

Biography :

To fans of "kiddie lead" in the Frankie Lymon tradition Nicky & The Nobles is a good choice. They first recorded for Klik Records from New Haven, Connecticut. The label was owned by the late Marty Kugell. He operated from his own small studio at 944 Chapel Street in downtown New Haven where he recorded countless street-corner group who were trying to emulate the success of the big groups of the time. One of these street-corner groups was The Nobles.

The original members were Dickey Bernardo, Joey Kakulis, Sal Tramauche and Pat Cosenza. One of their first recordings "Why Be A Fool" probably date from 1956. In the winter of 1958 they recorded "Poor Rock'n Roll". It was released on Klik 305 with "Ting A Ling" on the on the flip side. (These two tracks were re-released in the TIMES SQUARE label in 1962 as the label first single) It Was immediatly followed by attacks from Boston and New Haven city officials on the Alan Freed touring "Big Beat" rock and roll stage shows.

A near riot in Boston led to the subsequent banning of Freed's show in New Haven which directly inspired the Nobles'Song "Poor Rock'n Roll" Was handled by the GONE label in the summer of 1958, but it got lost in the buckshot of new releases which owner George Goldner pupped out every week. In 1958 Nickie Delano joined the group and they became Nicky & The Nobles. They had Schoolhouse Rock' released on the END Label in 1958 and in 1959 they released another single on the GONE label: "School Bells" backed with "School Day Crush". This singie was re-released on the END label in 1961.

Songs :

The Nobles (1)


Poor Rock'n'Roll                     Ting A Ling                        Why Be A Fool


The Search                               Darkness                    Crime Don't Pay

Oh Baby

Nicky & The Nobles (1)


School Bells                           School Day Crush

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The Chariots (2)

Posted on December 25 2022 by dion1

The Chariots (2)
(l-r) Keith Lardner, Kenneth Ransome, Jimmy Hinds and Frank Manner]

The Chariots (2) (Liverpool, England)

Personnel :

Jimmy Hinds

Ken Ransome

Frank Manner

Keith Lardner

Discography :

1962 - Problem Girl / Song Of A Broken Heart (Piccadilly 35061)

Biography :

Jimmy Hinds who was born and raised in Liverpool, with the other three members being Keith Lardner from London, West Indian born Ken Ransome and the oldest group member Frank Manner. Nigerian born Frank Manner had been a member of Decca's The Southlanders throughout the 1950's.

The Chariots (2)

The Chariots had aspirations to emulate The Drifters but "Problem Child" proved to be their only release. However, they did manage to tour the UK with Little Eva and Brian Hyland .

Songs :

Song Of A Broken Heart Problem Girl

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The Spotlighters (1)

Posted on December 24 2022 by dion1

The Spotlighters (1)

The Spotlighters (1) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Joy Hall

Bill Harris

Gene Harris

Roy Lyon

?

Discography :

1955 - It's Cold / Bam Jingle Jingle (Imperial 5342)
1958 - Please Be My Girlfriend / Whisper (Aladdin 3436)
1959 - This Is My Story Cha Cha Cha / Preachin' (Aladdin 3441)

Biography :

The Spotlighters are one of many vocal groups of the 1950s fallen into oblivion, although both sides of their first single on Aladdin are remarkably good. "Whisper", a haunting ballad, is probably the preferable side whereas the A-side ("Please Be My Girl Friend"), a polyphonic uptempo song, illuminates the scene that spawned the Beach Boys. Bob Thompson and his band provide a solid backing." Members of the California group on this recording are Joy Hall, Bill Harris, Gene Harris, Roy Lyon @ another guy. The same site offered this about their follow-up single, "This is My Story (Cha Cha Cha)" b/w "Preachin' ": [Aladdin 3441 (Jan 1959) Billboard January 19, 1959, p. 53 (Reviews of New Pop Records); Cash Box January 31, 1959, p. 52 (R & B Reviews)] "The Billboard reviewer saw moderate sales potential in "Preachin'": Bouncy rhythm-novelty is handed an okay vocal treatment by group. The A-side was rated lower: So-so cha-cha-styled rockaballad. The group had 1 earlier release on Imperial (in February 1955).

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

It's Cold                                        Bam Jingle Jingle


Please Be My Girlfriend                            Whisper


                     Preachin'         This Is My Story Cha Cha Cha

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The Lafayettes

Posted on December 18 2022 by dion1

The Lafayettes

The Lafayettes (Baltimore, MD)

Personnel ;

Frank Bonarrigo (Lead singer)

Ben Proctor (Drums)

Jamie Hess (Piano)

Steve Taylor (Guitar)

Lee Bonner (Guitar)

Dick Svehla (Alto Saxophone)

Bob Kirschner (Tenor Saxophone)

Discography :

The Lafayettes
1962 - Life's Too Short / Nobody But You (RCA 47-8044)
1962 - Caravan Of Lonely Men / I Still Do (Dot 47-8082)

Frank James & The Lafayettes
1964 - I Lost My Way / My Heart Keeps Coming Up With You (Bona 1741)

Biography :

One morning in 1962, Lee Bonner and friend Phil Huth sat in the cool basement of a Towson rowhouse and penned a song. There was no particular inspiration, no shadows of Jack Kerouac or Bob Dylan. They were just playing and singing about teen-age love in their local band, the Lafayettes, named after the Baltimore avenue.

The Lafayettes
Back: Ben Proctor, Steve Taylor, Frank Bonarrigo, Jamie Hess Front: Dick Svehla, Bob Kirshner, Lee Bonner

Members included Lee Bonner, Phil Huth, drummer Ben Proctor, pianist Jamie Hess, lead singer Frank Bonarrigo, guitarist Steve Taylor, alto saxophonist Dick Svehla, and Bob Kirschner on tenor sax. Most of them attended Towson High School. In 1962, they won a "battle of the bands" contest on the Buddy Deane Show with their original song "Life's Too Short", which became a national hit on the RCA label. Their hit song 'Life's Too Short' was featured in the original John Water's film 'Hairspray" (1988). In May 2017 they were inducted into the Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame.
https://baltimorejam.org/Lafayettes/lafayettes_SUNart7-28-03.htm

Songs :

The Lafayettes


I Still Do                                        Life's Too Short


Caravan Of Lonely Men                          Nobody But You

Frank James & The Lafayettes


My Heart Keeps Coming Up With You               I Lost My Way

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The Freelancers

Posted on December 10 2022 by dion1

The Freelancers

The Freelancers (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Personnel :

Dan Williams (Lead)

Bob Doan

Charles MacMillen

Frank Santoro

Joe Seta

Discography:

The Freelancers
1962 - Why / High School Flame (Freelance 20)

Dan Williams & The Freelancers
1962 - Why / High School Flame (Beth 45)

Biography :

The Freelancers were students at Central Art Academy in Cincinnati. They were a five member vocal group. The group members were Bob Doan, Charles MacMillen, Frank Santoro, Joe Seta, and Dan Williams. Their two excellent doo wop : "Why" "High School Flame" are recorded at King in late 1962, and releasedt on their own Freelance label. The group appeared on the Bob Braun TV show in December, 1962 and sang both songs. Dan Williams, with Joe Seta and Gene Dennis, are credited as songwriters. The single would be released again the following year on the Beth label, this time as Dan Williams & The Freelancers .
by http://www.buckeyebeat.com

Songs :

High School Flame Why

...

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The Stratfords (1)

Posted on December 6 2022 by dion1

The Stratfords (1) (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Jerry Morano (Lead)

Ritchie Passerino (Second Tenor)

Randy Abbondanza (Baritone)

Sal Dilappi (Bass)

Jimmy Orce (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Stratfords (1)
Single
1961 - Promise Her Anything / Lover's Lullabye (U.A. 1215)
Unreleased
1961 - I'll Never Smile Again
1961 - My Darling

King Louis bb The Stratfords (1)
1962 - Her Eyes Reveal / It Was Fun (U.A. 41562)

Biography :

First know as The Delvineers, the Stratfords were students from Evander Childs HS, Monroe HS in the Bronx and Lincoln HS in Yonkers ,NY and named after Stratford Ave. in the Bronx. The group consisted of Jerry Morano (Lead), Ritchie Passerino (Second Tenor), Randy Abbondanza (Baritone), Sal Dilappi (Bass), Jimmy Orce (First Tenor). They started out with lots of radio play...WINS, WABC, WMGM and sold heavy for two-three weeks while Universal Artists Records was caught in the pay-for-play scandal. Mike D’Agnese, their manager send the group on December,1960 to recording session on the Soundcraft Recording Studio in Manhattan where they recorded the demos "My Darling"and /"I’ll Never Smile Again."

In September,1961 The Stratfords signed with Jim Azar label Universal Artists Records and released in February,1962 the sides "Promise Her Anything"/"Lover’s Lullabye" . The A Side have a big local acceptacion and play on Jocko Herdenson’s and Murray the K’s radio shows also the group have in this time life perfomances in New Jersey and Connecticut. The next recording of the group was also in 1962 as backup vocals for King Louis on his Universal Artist’s sides "Her Eyes Reveal" b/w "It Was A Fun."

Songs :

The Stratfords (1)

Promise Her Anything But Give Her Love                  Lover´s lullabye


I'll Never Smile Again                      My Darling

King Louis bb The Stratfords (1)


Her Eyes Reveal                                    It Was Fun

...

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The Sonics (2)

Posted on December 4 2022 by dion1

The Sonics (2) (Newark, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Donald Sheffield (Lead)

William Franklin (Second Tenor)

Larry Davis (Baritone)

Discography ;

1957 - Evil Eye / Triangle Love (Nocturne 110 / RKO Unique 411)
1958 - Once In A Lifetime / It Ain't True (X-tra 107 / Candlelite 416)
1959 - This Broken Heart / You Made Me Cry (Harvard 801/ Harvard 922 / Checker 922)
1962 - Funny / I Get That Feeling (Armonia 102)
1962 - Preacher Man / It's You (Amco 001)

Biography :

Since The Kodoks, whose former tenor William Franklin and baritone Larry Davis subsequently became two-fifths of The Sonics, hailed from Baxter Terrace Newark, New Jersey (their Oh Gee, Oh Gosh came out on Bobby Robinson's Fury label in 1958, it seems a relatively safe bet that The Sonics hailed from that same vicinity as well. A group by the same name had a 1958 single on the New York-based X-Tra imprint coupling Once In A Lifetime and It Ain't True; the assumption is that it was the same quintet.

William Franklin & Larry Davis

Franklin wrote the delectable ballad This Broken Heart, but it was tenor Donald Sheffield who ably fronted The Sonics on the engaging platter. Sheffield also led the flip side, You Made Me Cry, another Franklin composition. The number made enough East Coast noise on Art Gottfried's Harvard Records, another tiny New York imprint, that Chicago's Checker label picked it up in April of '59 for national consumption (Sheffield's featured billing went by the boards). It was a one-time deal for the group, which bounced from one highly obscure label - Nocturne, Amco, Armonia - to the next during the early '60s without ever attracting the interest that This Broken Heart

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Evil Eye                                             Triangle Love


Once In A Lifetime                                It Ain't True


This Broken Heart                            You Made Me Cry


Funny                                            It's You


I Get That Feeling                           Preacher Man

...

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The Montclairs (1)

Posted on December 3 2022 by dion1

(L to R) James Alen, Bill White, Ricky Long, Tucson & Arthur Perry

The Montclairs (1) (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Arthur Perry (Lead)

Ricky Long (Lead)

James Alen

Bill White

Tucson

Discography :

1956 - My Every Dream / Give Me A Chance ‎(Premium 404)

Biography :

Arthur Perry, a native New Yorker began performing in a church sponsored drum and bugle corps at the age of eight. He studied drums with, Dad Hines the father of the famous Gregory and Maurice Hines until the age of 15. At the age of 16 Arthur formed a singing group called the "Montclairs" with James Alen, Bill White, Ricky Long and Tucson. Arthur Perry lived on Clifton Place in Brooklyn at that time, and the group may have taken its name from the New Jersey town called Montclair. The Montclairs performed at the Apollo Theater amateur contest and won first prize. The group went on to record under the Premium Record label owned by Joe Leibowitz located in Linden, NJ.. The group gained much success with their single recording of "My Every Dream" written by Arthur with Ricky Long on lead and "Give Me A Chance" with Arthur Perry on lead. Later, Arthur has worked with such great artist as James Brown, Papa John Creech, Big Joe Turner, Jessica Williams, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Bobby Timmons and many more. Arthur performed on channel 13 for a Public Television special with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, which is now a TV Jazz classic.

Songs :

Give Me A Chance My Every Dream
...

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Ray & The Quarter Notes (2)

Posted on December 3 2022 by dion1

1959 (Joe, Lou, Ray, Ann and Ed)

Ray & The Quarter Notes (2) (Miami, FL)

Personnel :

Ramón "Ray" Claveria (Lead & Guitar)

Louis "Lou" Claveria (vocal)

Joe (vocal & Guitar)

Ann (vocal)

Ed (vocal)

Discography :

1958 - You'll Always Be Mine and Rose / ---- (Scott 1204)

Biography :

Born July 29, 1942 in Palma Soriano, Oriente, Cuba. Professionally known as Ray and Ray Milan, Ramón Claveria started his musical career in Miami, FL at the age of 15. Under the guidance of his mentor, Henry Stone, He formed the vocal group Ray and The Quarter Notes with his brother Louis, Joe, Ann and Ed. His first single record, “You’ll Always Be Mine and Rose,” was released in 1958 under the Scott Record Label.

Ray & The Quarter Notes (2)

Next, Ramón moved to New York City with his brother Lou and new members, Bob, Greg & Dave. He signed on with the Jolly Joyce Theatrical Agency and was headlined as “Ray Milan and the Quarter-Notes". ABC Paramount Records signed the group and in 1963 released the album, “Million Sellers Go Bossa Nova,” featuring the talented group.

Ray & The Quarter Notes (2)

Ramon performed with the Quarter-Notes throughout the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean, sharing the stage with such greats as Johnny Rivers (“Memphis, Tennessee”), Joey Dee and the Starlighters (“The Peppermint Twist”), and Little Anthony and the Imperials (“Hurts So Bad”). Ramón also toured with the Tokens as a back-up singer. The group toured extensively in Las Vegas and throughout the United States. The Tokens are well known for their 1961 hit, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which was revived in the Disney animated film and the play, The Lion King.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

You'll Always Be Mine

...

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The Symbols (4) aka The Splendors (3) aka The Wonders (8)

Posted on December 3 2022 by dion1

The Wonders (8) aka The Splendors (3) aka The Symbols (4)

The Symbols (4) (Los Angeles, Ca)
aka The Splendors (3) aka The Wonders (8)

Personnel :

James Williams

Donnell Thomas

Charles Morrison

Richard Byrd

Leonard Green

Discography :

The Wonders (8)
1962 - Please Don't Cry / With These Hands (Bamboo 523)

The Splendors (3)
1962 - Island Called Romance / Puddin'Tain (Jano 004)

The Symbols (4)
1963 - Last Year About This Time / Better Get Your Own One Buddy (Doré 666)

Biography :

The Wonders "Please Don't Cry", released in September 1962, was written by Don Thomas (real name Donnell Thomas) but misprinted as Dan Thomas on the label. The song was published by Aee-Cee-Mmm Music and the record was produced by ACM Productions, both of which were Ed Cobb and Lincoln Mayorga's companies. Don Thomas sang with the Splendors, who recorded an also-ran version of "Puddin'Tain", released on Jano concurrently with the Alley Cats' hit version on Philles in December 1962. There was a name switch to the Symbols for "Last Year About This Time" on Dore, released in March 1963, on which Thomas took the lead for his own composition. The Splendors/Symbols were James Williams, Donnell Thomas, Charles Morrison (later of the Larks), Richard Byrd and Leonard Green, and were likely also the Wonders - a group name not to be confused with Tony Allen's Wonders/Wanderers, Don Thomas also composed the Blisters' 1963 vocal group 45 "Shortnin. Bread" / "Cookie Rockin' In Her Stockings" on Liberty. That was another Cobb-Mayorga production; the groups could well be related.

Songs :

The Wonders (8)

Please Don't Cry With These Hands

The Splendors (3)

Island Called Romance                         Puddin'Tain

The Symbols (4)


Last Year About This Time          Better Get Your Own One Buddy

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