According to The Louisiana Weekly (April 1961) Maxine Brown first started as a Gospel singer with prof. Charles Taylor, and switched to polular tunes in 1957, joining forces with four fellows to form a group called The Manhattans composed by Freddy Johnson, Gilbert Monk and two other boys whose names have been forgotten. For Warner Records they Waxed "How Do You Say I'm Sorry" and "Love Is Where You Find It". The group was going well until some of the guys got drafted, leaving The Manhattans a trio, Freddy Johnson, Maxine Brown and Gilbert Monk. Maxine and Freddy The Strollers which clicked in a mild sort of a way with tune called "Crowded Classroom") This was shortly followed by a changeover to Carlton Records and a new vocal group known as the Treys before signing as a solo artist with the Nomar label.
Her recording debut, 1960’s “All In My Mind”, is often cited as one of the first soul singles. The backing was that of a fairly typical tick-tocking rock’n’roll bal- lad, albeit with a great trombone line, but Brown was fantastic, creating a tremendous amount of tension and simmering emotion by restraining her gospel chops and then let- ting them out sparingly. “Funny” followed in a similar style in 1961, and Brown was signed by ABC-Paramount on the back of the two songs’ R&B chart success.
Songs :
The Manhattans (3)
Love Is Where You Find It How Do You Say I'm Sorry
1962 - Oop-Shoobie-Doop Bam-A-Lam / Welcome Me Home (Melic 4114)
Biography :
This Fabulous Four was a black group from Los Angeles. They are not related with the white group from Philly who had numerous releases on Chancellor. They recorded "Oop-Shoobie-Doop Bam-A-Lam" and " Welcome Me Home" for Melic, a Label based in Hollywood at 1607 El Centro Av., a label owned by Lee Young, American jazz drummer and younger brother of saxophonist Lester Young.
1961 - Peek-A-Boo Love / Bongo Love (Regatta 2004)
Biography :
In the Hill District section of Pittsburgh, Edward "Edgy" Sanders and Raymond "Di Di" Davis organised a group called the Youngsters consisted of Quinten Washington (Lead) , Edward Sanders (First Tenor), Dennis Cuff (Second Tenor), Jimmy Malone (Baritone) and Raymond Davis (Bass). In 1957, after some appearances, Dennis Cuff left and was replaced by James Stuart and Edward Sanders took over the lead, Quinten Washington now became the second lead Tenor. They changed their name to the Lavadors. The Lavadors started making appearances at local Teen dances. By the summer of 1959, they billed themselves as The Volchords. In 1959, Quinten Washington opted to leave and was replaced by Bobby "Fat Boy" McClendon. Both Jimmy Malone and James Stuart departed to join the military. Auditions produced several newcomers, Andrew Boyd and Sylvester Harris. In the later part of 1959, the group opened for the Isley Brothers and their new RCA release "Shout". A recording session was arranged. "Peek-A-Boo Love" and "Bongo Love" was released by Regatta during July 1961. The Volchords disbanded in early 1963.
Wesley "Wess" Yhonne Johnson was drum major at Atkins High School and later became a vocalist. He formed a group known as the Teen Tones, featuring Carl Ray Johnson, Harold Moore, George Howell and Aaron Hall. These five teenagers rocked the city with their vocal skills. Wess later traveled to New York, Canada, and eventually Europe, where he became popular as the best black artist in Europe. With headquarters in Rome, Wess became lead vocalist for Wess and the Airedales and performed with such greats as Elton John, Barry White, Curtis Mayfield, Tom Jones, Claude Francois, Johnny Haliday, Lola Falana and many, many others.
(front) Bob Younis, Myrna Lamson (Top) Judee Czerwinski, Victor Vernon III, Kris Van Keuren, Bill Allen
The Echoes (3) (Baldwinsville, New York)
Personnel :
Bob Younis (Lead)
Myrna Lamson
Judee Czerwinski
Victor Vernon III
Kris Van Keuren
Bill Allen
Discography :
1958 - Without You / Heartbeat (Edco 100 / 500) 1958 - Heartbeat / Teenage Love (Edco 510)
Biography :
Vocal Group from Baldwinsville, New York, The group consisted of Bob Younis, Myrna Lamson, Judee Czerwinski, Victor Vernon III, Kris Van Keuren and Bill Allen. With their instrumental group composed by Rick Laporte (Drums), Al Cook (Guitar), Edward Klein (Piano), Ken chapel (Tenor Sax) & Keith Barber (Alto Sax), the Echoes recorded "Without You" b/w "Heartbeat" Released on the tiny Edco Label in New York..
The Echoes with their instrumental group
"Without You" is an original composition by Ed Klein. The Echoes have been doing the song at giant record hops sponsored by WNDR, where they appeared with such national stars as Eileen Rodgers and Bobo Hathaway."Without You" rates as the Number 18 song in the central New York area in July 1958, according to the Wolf Sandman Serenade Chart. The record first appeared on the chart July 6 as number 47. Probably the same year, Edco released another single again with "Heartbeat" coupled with "Teenage Love".
Singles : 1957 - Rose Mary / Millie (Cindy 3002) 1963 - Day By Day / Little Things (Gateway 721)
Unreleased : 1963 - Looking Through The Windows(Gateway) 1963 - My Love Has Gone (Gateway)
Demos: 1958 - Sitting In The Park (Atlantic) 1958 - I Got A Girl (Atlantic) 1958 - Give Me A Thought (Atlantic) 1958 - There's A Reason Why (Atlantic) 1961 - Man Across the Hill (Atlantic) 1961 - Just The Way You Axe (Atlantic)
Biography :
In the summer of 1957, The Capitols, from Pittsburgh’s Homewood district, released two up-tempo sides, “Rose-Marie” and “Millie” on George Goldner's Cindy label. Both sides featured the lead voice of thirteen year old Michael "Mickey" Toliver. The origin of the young group dates back to 1954 consisting of Mickey Toliver (lead), Arthur Dixon (first tenor), Freddy McCray (second tenor), Rick Toliver (baritone) and Frank Hill (bass).
By 1956, the Capitols headlined Bill Powell’s (WILY) Rock n Roll shows. Their records were favorites among local disc-jockeys Sir Walter (WILY), Porky Chedwick (WHOD), Barry Kaye (WJAS) and Al Noble (KQV). In the midst of their hectic schedule, Frank Hill was drafted by the army. A young female singer, Dora "Spike" Hall, replaced Frank which gave Fred the duty of singing bass. With this new lineup, Mickey Toliver and the Capitols (still collectively billed as The Capitols) landed their first record contract.
On July 13, 1957, “Rose-Marie” was ranked 1 on the Jaybird Eyes Best Sellers list and remained there for three consecutive weeks. The group performed at all of the Pittsburgh venues as they rode the crest of their successful Cindy recording. After headlining Jay Michael’s Top Ten Revue Concert in August 1957, Mickey Toliver and the Capitols received national attention.
With a signature five part harmony sound the group enjoyed the success of two chart toppers and concert tour; Ahmet Ertegun offered the group a record contract. In 1958, Mickey Toliver and the Capitols signed with Atlantic Records. As a songwriter, using the name Michael Toliver, Mickey penned “Sitting In The Park”, “I Got A Girl”, “Give Me A Thought” and “There’s A Reason Why” for Atlantic.
In 1960, Mickey was drafted by the U.S. Army and The Capitols continued with Dora Hall on lead, and auditioned at Gateway Studios in Pittsburgh. A superb showing landed them a recording contract. In November 1963, the group released “Day by Day” and “Little Things” (both penned by Eddie Hicks) on Gateway Records.
Ernie Maresca 1962 - Shout Shout Knock Yourself Out / Crying Like A Baby Over You (Seville 117) 1964 - The Beetle Dance / Theme From Lily, Lily (Rust 5076)
The Run-A-Rounds 1963 - Let Them Talk / Run-A-Rounds (Tarheel 065)
Slim Jim Lilly, Lilly / Theme From Lilly Lilly (Inst.) (Laurie 3226)
The Camelots (2) 1963 - Your Way / Don't Leave Me Baby (Aanko 1001) 1963 - My Imagination / Sunday Kind Of Love (Aanko 1004)
The Cupids (6) 1962 - (If You Cry) True Love, True Love / Let's Twist (Say Man Let's Twist) (UWR 4241/4242) 1963 - Brenda / For You (Aanko 1002)
The Decoys (2) 1963 - For You / I Want Only You (Aanko 1005)
The Del-Rons 1964 - Your Big Mistake / Leave Us Alone (Laurie 3262)
Biography :
The Demolyrs (pronounced: DemoLears). In 1958, in the South Brooklyn section of that borough, a couple of friends, ages 11 and 12, put together an instrumental combo named the Bel Aires. Soon after forming the band they started vocalizing as well. It was a short step to the street for Robert Vignapiano (lead), Ralph Marsella (first tenor), Robert Ciappetta (second tenor andfalsetto), Alex Narducci (baritone), and Michael Manno. (bass). The group could befound singing on 19th street and 5th Avenue, on 21st Street and 6th Avenue, under the Coney Island boardwalk, and at the Prospect Avenue train station. Being instrumentalists as well as vocalists soon proved an important asset. Around late 1962 or early 1963 the group was approached by Jimmy Kice who suggested that they change their name to the Versatiles . The Versatiles would sometimes appear as just vocalists and at other times as a band. They became quite popular at St. Michaels, and were known for their version of “Over The Rainbow.”The Versatiles also appeared at St. Johns in Brooklyn, at record hops run by Jack Spector and Cousin Brucie, andataskating rink in Long Island.
Other acts they appeared with were: The Roomates, Randy & the Rainbows, Rocky Fellers, and Santo & Johnny. Management was provided by Joe Ciappetta whose son Robert was one of the Versatiles. It was Joe Ciappetta who walked into a record store on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn, and got the group their initial recording contract. This record store, Aanko Records, sold records in the front and was a recording studio in the back. It was owned by Steve and Bill Jerome who soon signed the Versatites not only to record vocals, but also as house band for their record labels. The Versatiles provided the instrumentation on records by the Cupids, Decoys, Camelots, and Reparata & the Delrons for the Jerome Brothers’ Aanko and UWR labels. Around this time the group changed their name to the Demolyrs and through the Jerome Brothers, hooked up with Emie Maresca.
The Demolyrs were used as instrumentalists (and for some background yelling) on Maresca’s hit “Shout Shout Knock Yourself Out.” Ernie would take the Demolyrs into a recording studio many times to just lay down instrumental tracks for songs later put out by other artists. They recorded many instrumental tracks without knowing what the song was or who would sing it. There were probably many records issued (caturing the Demo1yrs that the group is not aware of. For example, they were the instrumentalists on the Runarounds* “Let Them Talk” b/w “Are You Looking For A Swectheart” released on Tarheel Records in 1963. They not only played but also provided vocal backups on “Hey Jean Hey Dean” b/w “Please Don’t Tell Me Now” by Dean & Jean on Rust Records and “Lilly Lilly” by Slim Jim (actually Jocy Columbo) on Laurie Records in 1963.
April 30, 1964 found the Demolyrs at CBS Studios in Manhattan. They recorded “Rain,” written by group member Robert Vignapiano, and “Hey Little Rosie” written by Ernie Maresca and Lou Zerato. These two sides were released on the Jerome brothers’ UWR label. The Demolyrs soon modernized their sound and recorded “The Normal One” in British-Invasion style. It appeared on a Laurie Records album credited to The Brooklyn Boys. Now the group made club appearances in Brooklyn as the Demolyrs, but in upstate New York they became popular calling themselves The Brooklyn Beatles. But soon afterward the Demolyrs broke up because several members were called into the armed forces.
1960 - Go Away Baby / I'm Lonely (Maske 103) 1961 - What A Wonderful Love / Thanks Mr. Dee-Jay (Maske 701)
Biography :
The Baby Dolls were a young Black female group from north philly that consisted of two sisters. and 2-3 friends. Lead singer is Marion Warren, other group members are Rebecca Warren, Barbara Washington, Rhoda Perry and the late Sylvia Butler. They hooked up with Larry Kerrin, a neighborhood real-estate man, who also dabbled in managing groups. By 1960. many groups were rehearsing at the home of Larry Kerrin on 29th Street, in the Strawberry Mansion section of North Philadelphia. Kerrin had previously worked for Len “Buddy” Caldwell’s V-Tone and Len labels, but was now starting his own Maske label. The Baby Dolls got a record deal with Maske records and recorded two singles in 1960 and 1961.
1960 - Jumpin' Jungle / Moody (Palette 5067) 1961 - It Only Happens With You / Addio Maria (Palette 5075 / Mediaval 202) 1961 - That Lucky Old Sun / Hard Head (Palette 5085) 1962 - Marie That's You / What About Love (Palette 5095)
Biography :
Thearthur Robinson Thearthur Robinson, Arthur Robinson, Art Robins Born in South Norfolk County (which later became Chesapeake), and raised on Liberty Street there, 17 year old, Robinson left the Tidewater area in 1956 to seek better opportunities up North. He landed a job at a Staten Island hospital doing maintenance. One day while sweeping, singing to pass the time faster, he was heard by a young woman whose brother was in a Doo Wop group. Soon, a meeting was set up and next thing he knew, Thearthur Robinson from Virginia, was in a New York singing group called, The Romancers.
The Romancers featured tight harmonies and soaring vocals, with several members taking turn singing lead. The group had a series of songs recorded on Palette Records. (These Romancers were an East Coast group not to be confused with a West Coast group of the same name during the same period or another East Coast group which later became known as The Dreamers). Not only did Robinson sing lead on songs like, “Hard Head,” but he was also writing songs with the group like, “It Only Happens With You.” Eventually, Robinson found himself with The Ad-Libs, a singing group which had been surviving off a hit record, “The Boy From New York City.” The new Ad-Libs were on AGP Records and consisted of Arthur Robinson, Irene Baker, Hugh Harris, Rose Myers and David Watt. Also joining the lineup was Chris Bartley. The group got involved with a highly talented and prolific writer/producer by the name of Van McCoy.
Cleve Duncan & The Radiants (1) (Los Angeles, CA.)
Personnel:
Cleve Duncan (Lead)
Gladys White
Vesta White
Johnny Pope (Tenor)
Discography :
1959 - To Keep Our Love / I'm Betting My Heart (Dooto 451)
Biography :
Cleveland Duncan was born on July 23 of either 1934 or 1935 in Los Angeles, and learned to sing in his church choir and glee clubs. In 1953 he was singing in a talent show attended by Curtis Williams, an aspiring songwriter and baritone singer who thought Mr. Duncan would best give voice to “Earth Angel.” Mr. Duncan and Mr. Williams decided to form a group. They took their name from a pack of Kool cigarettes, whose advertising mascot was a penguin. The Penguins gathered in a garage to make their first recording, the B side of a record by the Dootsie Williams Orchestra. It went unnoticed. In October 1954 they returned to the garage to record “Hey Senorita,” a song indisputably by Curtis Williams, as the A side, with “Earth Angel” on the back. Disc jockeys started playing the B side, and it took off. After the Penguins broke up in early 1959, Cleve Duncan formed a group with two sisters, Vesta and Gladys White and Johnny Pope. They recorded a single "I'm Betting My Hear" / "To Keep Our Love", under the name Cleve Duncan & the Radiants. Using a two-track tape recorder, Duncan sang lead on one track, then harmonised in the background with the girls on the other.
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Maxine Brown
