(L to R) Larry Garner, Ray Bowles, Walt C. Harris, Jessie Lopez and Ron Grueber
The Treveliers (Great Lakes, Illinois)
Personnel :
Walt C. Harris (Lead)
Ray Bowles (Second Tenor)
Jessie Lopez (First Tenor)
Ron Grueber (Bass)
Larry Garner (Baritone)
Discography :
1959 - Pretty Baby / All Alone
Biography :
In 1959, five Navymen from Great Lakes, Illinois composed by Walt C. Harris (Lead), Ray Bowles (Second Tenor) Jessie Lopez (First Tenor), Ron Grueber (Bass), and Larry Garner (Baritone) recorded two songs “Pretty Baby” and “All Alone.” Unfortunately, despite their efforts, no label will publish their recordings.... Maybe one day !!!
The Cinderellas 1959 - The Trouble With Boys / Puppy Dog (Columbia 41540) 1959 - Yum Yum Yum / Mr. Dee Jay (Decca 30830) 1959 - I Was Only Fifteen / You Never Shoulda Gone Away (Decca 30925)
Henry Gaddy Wilson & The Cinderellas 1959 - Nothin' At Night / I'll Never Be Myself Again (solo) (Columbia 41992)
Henry Gaddy Wilson & The Cinderellas
Biography :
The Cinderellas began their singing career as The Three J’s (Julia, Joyce and Jo). Jo (Josephine) was the youngest of the group – 11 years to 13 years old. The Cinderellas started right after that. They had the highest amount of votes in the history of the Ted Mack Amateur Hour Show on TV, then performed at Madison Square Garden. There was a talent scout there and he wanted them to audition for his boss. Their former Manager took them to his NY apartment and they auditioned over the telephone for his boss, who would then become their NY Manager, Buddy Kaye.
The Three J’s are still remembered in Hoboken, NJ. Their former Hoboken Manager is about 92 years old and still gives concerts. One of the girls went to a concert and on the “Program” was written that he was the former Manager of The Three J’s. Also, some time ago Hoboken Elks’ newspaper had a history of Hoboken’s past, which asked if people “remembered The Three J’s”. They were often the entertainment for Frank Sinatra's Mother (Committee Woman in Hoboken, NJ) many Sunday afternoons at the Union Club in Hoboken. For her 25th Anniversary, she invited The Cinderellas to perform. As the Three J’s they went with Cousin Brucie of 1010 WINS NY to perform at Wild West City in Netcong, NJ with other performers such as the Shirelles, Danleers, Chantels, and Tokens They were so young that they didn’t know who these performers were at the time.They also performed at various country fairs in Pennsylvania with some of the afore mentioned groups. As The Cinderellas they appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. They sang on the same broadcast as Tony Bennett when he sang Rags to Riches, at the High Hat on 53rd Street in Bayonne, NJ. The group release three records, one for columbia and two for Decca all in 1959. The first being "The Trouble With Boys/Puppy Dog" Columbia 41540, followed by (Yum Yum Yum/Mister Dee-Jay) Decca 30830 and I Was Only fifteen/You never Shoulda Gone Away,Decca 30925). There were only two girls on this first release, a third girl joined for the other two recordings. http://www.njdoowop.com/Cinderellas/HTML/Cinderella01.html
(L to R) Wanda Holder, Sandra Howell and Sue McCucthcin
The Melo-Tones (1) (Booneville, Miss.)
Personnel :
Sandra Howell (Lead)
Wanda Holder
Sue McCucthcin
Rubye Penna (Pianist)
Discography :
1960 - Saturday Sweetheart / Special Delivery (Image 1009)
Biography :
In the fall of 1958, Sandra Howell started the ninth grade at Booneville High School (Miss.). One day early in the year, she was trying out for the high school chorus and was in the process of giving a voice recital on stage in the high school auditorium. Seated in the audience were about twenty other student swho were also trying out for the chorus. One of the people in the audience was Wanda Holder. Wanda was a couple of years older than Sandra and had ambitions of starting up her own singing group. Wanda was impressed with Sandra’s voice, so after the recitals, she contacted Sandra and asked if she would like to join her singing group. Fifteen-year-old Sandra was flattered and immediately said, “Sure!” As it turned out, the group would be called the “Mello-Tones” and would be composed of a piano player, Ruby Penna, and three singers, Wanda Holder, Sue McCutchin, and Sandra Howell. The Mello-Tones became a local phenomenon, singing at the radio station, WBIP, every weekend. Furthermore, one time they were even booked to sing for a week at a night club in Huntsville, Alabama. Another time they went to Birmingham and made a record at the Image Records Company. The À side of the record was a song called “Saturday Sweetheart.” The manager of Image Records, Bill Tucci, was quite impressed with Sandra’s voice. He said that he was interested in managing her as a solo performer. Sandra declined. For years the trio traveled and performed throughout Northeast Mississippi and Northern Alabama. They were also privileged to have recorded backup vocals for many artists at the renowned Sun Studio in Memphis, TN and Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL.
1961 - Rocking My Blues Away / No One Will Ever Know (MBM 8020)
Biography :
Formerly known as "The Black Cats", The Blondells were composed by Mona Taylor, Martha Love and Ann Allen. However, it was after organizing the trio at Walker College in 1955 that the girls received their first big break. Local Kiwanians sent the girls to entertain at the International Kiwanis Convention in Convention Hall, Atlantic City. “Miss America” contestants have nothing on our gals.
Mona Taylor (L to R) Martha Love, Mona Taylor and Ann Allen
Blonde, shapely and talented — these girls were a natural. Soon after their triumph in Atlantic City came another boost, this time in the form of a first place award in the Farm Bu|reau Nation-wide Talent Contest. They went to Chicago, performing in the Civic Opera House, and making guest apearances in Sherman Hotel's Green Room. In 1961, They recorded "Rocking My Blues Away" b/w "No One Will Ever Know" released par the new label MBM from Birmingham, Alabama.
(Top to Bottom) George Milan, Bob Moody, Jackie Allen and Warren Tippie
The Accents (1) (Los Angeles)
Personnel :
Jackie Allen
George Milan
Bob Moody
Warren Tippie
Discography :
Jackie Allen é The Accents (1) 1955 - Cool-A-Roo (I Love You, Baby) / Don't Go (Ac'cent 1025) 1955 - Bop Me Baby / Mood To Be Wooed (Ac'cent 1027)
The Accents (1) 1955 - Yes Yes / Forever Yours (Ac'cent 1031) 1956 - Where Will You Be / Voice Of The Bayous (Ac'cent 1036) 1956 - The Name Song / This Ole Body (Ac'cent 1037) 1956 - He Guides Me / Good Bye, God Bless You (Ac'cent 1040) 1956 - Put Your Hand In His Hand / Trust In The Lord (Ac'cent 1043)
Lynn Howard & The Accents (1) 1956 - Red Thunderbird / Walkin' After Midnight (Ac'cent 1044)
Nick Lucas bb The Accents (1) 1955 - Kind And Considerate / Soldiers Guitar (Ac'cent 1030)
Biography :
In 1955 George Milan were a popular motion picture and Television personality who has been featured in more 100 television shows and was part of a Pop Vocal group named The Accents with Jackie Allen, Bob Moody and Warren Tippie . The Accents has been seen on Ed Sullivan's "Toast On The Town", in the motion pictures, and are the lead singers with "Voices Of Walter Schumann" and are the voices heard on several commercials over radio and Television.
Scott Seely, a songwriter, arranger, and musician, started Ac'cent Records in 1954 as a way to promote original compositions for which he held the publishing rights. The Accents signed a recording contract with Scott Seely and recorded seven pop singles and backed some artist for the label.
The Criterions (1) (Belmar, N.J.) aka The Kents (2)
Personnel :
John Mangiarcine (Lead)
Tommy Picardo (Tenor)
Tim Hauser (First Tenor)
Jimmy Ruff (Second Tenor)
Steve Casagrandre (Baritone)
Joe Ernst (Bass)
Discography :
The Criterions (1) 1959 - Don't Say Goodbye / Crying The Blues Over You (Cecelia 1010) 1959 - I Remain Truly Yours / You Just You (Cecelia 1208 / Laurie 3305)
The Kents (2) 1965 - Don't Say Goodbye / My Juanita (Relic 1013)
Johnny Starr (John Mangiarcine ) 1960 - The Way You Look Tonight / Love That Girl Of Mine (Cecelia 1212)
Biography
Nowadays the Criterions are chiefly remembered for being the launching pad to the 70s success of Manhattan Transfer, but they boasted a distinctive career in their own right. Essentially a doo-wop group from Belmar, New Jersey, USA, their origins can be traced to 1956 when Tim Hauser (lead) visited a Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers concert in Asbury Park which ended in a riot.
Hauser escaped the trouble by making his way into the stage wings, where Lymon himself invited him into the dressing rooms. That meeting was to prove pivotal, and encouraged Hauser to form his own neighbourhood vocal group. By 1958 he had recruited St. Rose High School classmates Tommy Picardo (top tenor), Jimmy Ruff (second tenor), Steve Casagrande (baritone) and Phil Miller (bass).
John Mangiarcineming
They began rehearsing together after taking their name from a local restaurant, quickly replacing Miller with Joe Ernst. Growing in proficiency, they approached several New York labels, eventually making the acquaintance of producer Al Browne after a failed audition for End Records. They entered the studios with Browne in September 1958, recording live staple ‘Nita Juanita’ (a cover version of the Crests’ ‘My Juanita’) and an original composition, ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’.
However, this brace were rejected by a succession of labels, resulting in the introduction of a new lead vocalist in John Mangi (ex-Point Pleasant), with Hauser switching to first tenor. After declining a contract from home town label Arc Records they eventually signed with Cecilia Records in April 1959. Their debut single was ‘I Remain Truly Yours’, which was picked up for airplay immediately by disc jockey Alan Freed (unsurprising perhaps, as Cecilia Records’ boss Marty Foglia was Freed’s sound engineer).
The Criterions performing at a college function in Pennsylvania
It became a local success, but not enough of one to dissuade the Criterions’ members to defer their impending college careers. A revision of ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’ was their next release. Sessions held with the Fabulous Dominoes, which resulted in the latter band enjoying a hit under the guise of the Viscounts with ‘Harlem Nocturne’, failed to produce any results. The proposed Criterions single from this time, a sizzling arrangement of the gospel standard ‘Over The Rainbow’, instead became a Top 20 US chart success for the Dimensions in 1960. The Criterions played a few more shows and backed singer Jerry Perci’s record for Cecilia, but never recorded afterwards. Picardo went on to become a noted producer and writer (especially through his work with Jim Croce) while the other members, Hauser aside, left the music business. Hauser formed Manhattan Transfer in 1969 and enjoyed global success, though in a direction far removed from his earthy R&B roots.
Songs :
The Criterions (1)
Don't Say Goodbye Crying The Blues Over You I Remain Truly Yours
Edward Nicholson, Woodrow Walker, Earl Tyler, Harvey Lee Jones and Wayne Johnson
The Premiers (3) (Roanoke, Va.)
Personnel ;
Edward Nicholson
Woodrow Walker
Earl Tyler
Harvey Lee Jones
Wayne Johnson
Discography :
The Chevies (& The Premiers (3) Uncredited) 1959 - Come On And Love Me (vocal W. Johnson)/ I Love That Girl So (vocal E. Nicholson) (Dove 1033)
The Chevies & The Premiers (3) Featuring Alice Spinner 1962 - I've Got You (I've Got Everything) / Go Get 'Em (Instrumental) (Intern 1101/1102)
Biography :
Vocal group from Roanoke composed by Edward Nicholson, Woodrow Walker, Earl Tyler, Harvey Lee Jones and Wayne Johnson . In 1959, the group had been singing together for three years feature a singing and cut-up show and perform rock'n' Roll, Jazz, ballads and pop songs often in conjonction with the chevies, a Roanoke band. The Chevies included drummer Jimmy Lewis, Alfred Randolph on baritone sax, baritone Ernest Petty, bass player Bump Bumbry, and guitar player Charles “Slick” Dillon in addition to Allan Walker and Elmer Coles. the Chevies and Premiers played colleges in the region including Virginia, VMI, Virginia Tech, and Washington and Lee. At one such fraternity appearance at W&L, the gig overlapped with a show by Lionel Hampton and his band who were playing elsewhere on campus.
Alice Spinner
In 1959, the Premiers went to Baltimore accompanied by the Chevies for the recording of "Come On And Love Me" (vocal by Wayne Johnson) and "I Love That Girl So" (vocal by Edward Nicholson). Surprisingly the single was released by Dove Record under the name of The Chevies, The Premies disappeared from the single except the two singers, Wayne Johnson and Edward Nicholson. In 1962, the Premiers backed singer Alice Spinner on "I've Got You (I've Got Everything)". Alice’s musical career started with The Chevies and The Premiers Featuring Alice Spinner. The Corvettes, The Artie Sherman Trio, Summer Breeze, The Ron Norfolk Trio featuring Alice Spinner. She also sung with Miles Davis. Her final group was the Communicators formed around 1977.
Songs :
The Chevies (& The Premiers (3) Uncredited)
Come On And Love Me I Love That Girl So
The Chevies & The Premiers (3) Featuring Alice Spinner
1957 - Down In Mexicali / Goodbye Baby (Noel Stookey & His Corsairs) (Shadow 1229/1230)
Biography :
The Michigan State University's Kappaliers were composed by Clarence Peaks, Jim Henry, Sam Harris, Bob Randolph and only girl member, Menotta Britton. In December 1957, The Kappaliers will appear on the Ray Anthony show on the ABC-TV Network. The quintet win an audition on the MSU campus for entertainers to go to the west coast for the show. The same year, hey Cut one song "own In Mexicali" released by Shadow records.
(L to R) Richard Laws, Robert Brown, Joyce Walker, William Walker, Willie Brown.
The Golden Bells (Highland Park, NJ)
Personnel :
Robert Chauncey “Bobby” Brown (Lead)
Willie Brown (Tenor)
Joyce Stateman Walker (Alto)
Billy Walker (Baritone)
Richard Laws (Bass)
Discography :
1957 - Bells Are Ringing / Pretty Girl (Sure 1001/1002)
Biography :
Joyce Stateman was born in Highland Park, NJ, across the river from New Brunswick. One of five children, Joyce was taught harmony by her mother. Joyce Stateman had left high school at the age of 16 and married William “Billy” Walker of South River, NJ. Joyce and Billy Walker would sing together on occasion but not professionally. They were approached by an aspiring talent scout, Wallace Howard, who wanted to put together a group, and he already had Bobby Brown, Richard Laws and Willy Brown who were all still students at New Brunswick High School.
(L to R) Joyce Walker, Bobby Brown, William Walker, Richard Laws, Willie Brown
The group was the Golden Bells consisting of Robert Chauncey “Bobby” Brown (lead), Willie Brown (tenor), Joyce Stateman Walker (alto), Billy Walker (baritone) and Richard Laws (bass). Bobby and Willie Brown were cousins.Before long, Wallace Howard had secured a recording opportunity for the Golden Bells at Sure Records in Linden, NJ. Bobby Brown had written two songs that were recorded and released as a single by Sure Records. Bobby sang lead on “Bells are Ringing” while “Pretty Girl” featured Willie Brown on lead. Both sides were published by Howard Music, presumably by Wallace Howard. In 1967, Joyce Walker sang with the Contessas who cut one single in 1968 for the WGW label.
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