Eulis Mason & The Martells (San Jose, California)

Personnel :

Eulis Mason (Lead)

Joseph Robinson

Andrews

Phillips

Discography :

Eulis Mason / The Martells
1959 - Carol Lee (Eulis Mason)/ Rockin' Santa Claus (The Martells) (Bella 45-B-20)

Eulis Mason & The Martells
1959 - Va Va Voom / Forgotten Spring (Bella 45-B-21-60)

The Martells
2961 - Va Va Voom / Forgotten Spring (Cessna 45-CE-477)

Biography :

The Martells, sometimes spelled The Martels, were a black Bay Area vocal group built around their lead singer Eulis Mason. The other members were Joseph Robinson, plus Andrews and Phillips (their first names are unknown). These Martells not to be confused with a white Martels vocal group from Nashville on the Nasco label. Eulis and his Martells had two releases on Gradie O'Neal and John Pusateri's Cessna and Bella labels.Their first Bella single came in December 1959, and they were right on time for the Christmas season with the groovy up-tempo doo wop number Rockin’ Santa Claus, written by Mason and Robinson and accompanied by The Bella Tones Orchestra.

  
                                                                                                                                 Eulis Mason

Their second Bella single came a year later in December of 1960. That both tracks on Bella 21 were reissued on Cessna 477 in 1961 . Eulis became the lead of Charles Moffitt’s Velours in the mid-1980’s when they became a mainstay at the United in Group Harmony shows.  After Moffitt was murdered in 1986, Eulis continued to keep the Velours going, recording some magnificent songs like “C’est La Vie,” I Wish You Love,” “I Apologize” for labels like Starlight, Clifton and Classic Artists.

Songs :

Eulis Mason bb The Martells

Carol Lee

The Martells

Rockin' Santa Claus

Eulis Mason & The Martells

  
Forgotten Spring                              Va Va Voom

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