Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues - jcpiazza26@gmail.com

The Signeals - Ref : The Celebritys

Posted on December 21 2016 by dion1

The Signeals - Ref : The Celebritys
Leon Hughes

The Signeals (Los Angeles)
Ref : The Celebritys

Personnel :

Leon Hughes

Shirley Hughes

Elder O'Neal

Mack McKent

Grady Bridges

Discography :

The Celebritys
1956 - This Is My Plea / Juanita (Caroline 2301)

Clay Hammond & Johnnie Young & The Celebritys
1956 - We Made Romance / Absent Minded (No group) (Caroline 2302)

The Signeals
Single :
1956 - Juanita / Show Me The Way (Leoneal 1483)
Unreleased :
1956 - Leap Year Cha Cha (Leoneal)

Leoneal & Janet & The Signeals
1956 - No One / What Is This Thing (Leoneal 02)

Biography :

Born Thomas Leon Hughes, August 26, 1932 in Los Angeles County, CA. Started acting with his parents as a child and toured with early lineups of the Hollywood Flames (with which he also recently acted in a 1998 revival show). He was an original member of the Lamplighters during 1952-53 (together with Mathew Nelson and Willie Ray Rockwell). Hughes left the Lamplighters before they recorded with new lead Al Frazier. Leon was recommended by Bobby Nunn (who knew him from Watts, L.A.) for the Coasters´ original line-up.

The Signeals - Ref : The Celebritys
Clay Hammond

Before joining The Coasters, Leon had been a member of doo wop group The Celebritys which included his brother Elder O'Neal, the group cut "This Is My Plea" b/w "Juanita" and backed Clay Hammond & Johnnie Young on "We Made Romance" for the Caroline Label. That same year, he also recorded on his own label Leoneal Records with The Signeals which included his sister Shirley Hughes, his brother Elder O'Neal, Mack McKent and Grady Bridges. Leon also recorded a single as "Leoneal and Janet" (backup vocals by The Signeals). After leaving The Coasters, he teamed with Bobby Nunn to record as The Dukes in 1959 for Flip Records. "Looking For You" b/w "Groceries, Sir" (Flip 343), and "I Love You" b/w "Leap Year Cha Cha" (Flip 344) were the singles released.

The Signeals - Ref : The Celebritys

Leon Hughes

In the 1970s, Leon Hughes recorded with several Coasters groups. In 1975, recorded with "The Coasters Two Plus Two" for Chelan Records. The record "Searchin' 75" b/w "Young Blood" stated that these recordings were from the album called "Reunion." In 1976, he recorded an album with "The World Famous Coasters" which included Will "Dub" Jones. This album was released on American International Records (In Europe on DJM). In 1998, a CD called "Leon Hughes: One Of The First Original Coasters" was released on Oldie CD, and a VHS tape called "The Coasters: Tribute To Their Greatest Hits" was released. Hughes still performs with a Coasters group, sometimes as "Leon Hughes and his Original Coasters." He also has done some performances with a Hollywood Flames group.

Songs :

The Celebritys

This Is My Plea Juanita

Clay Hammond & Johnnie Young & The Celebritys

We Made Romance

The Signeals

Show Me The Way

…

See comments

The Futuretones (1)

Posted on December 19 2016 by dion1

The Futuretones (1)

The Futuretones (1) (Cleveland, Ohio)

Personnel :

Charles Hatcher (Edwin Starr) (Lead)

John Berry

Parnell Burks

Richard Isom

Roosevelt Harris

Discography :

1957 - I Know / Roll On (Tress 1/2)

Biography :

Edwin Starr was born in Nashville, as Charles Edwin Hatcher on 21 January in 1942. Edwin was educated at Cleveland's East Technical High School. Whilst a student at this school his interest in singing developed. Edwin became a member of a group formed at the school, his group adopting the name of the FutureTones. The group got it's name by adapting the name of an established local group, the Metrotones. The FutureTones consisted of Edwin, John Berry, Parnell Burks, Richard Isom and Roosevelt Harris. The group performed at school shows and set about increasing their profile locally after Edwin graduated from school in 1956. They became ground breakers on the Cleveland scene as they soon became the first local outfit to be fully self contained, having their own instrumentalists as members.

The Futuretones (1)
Edwin Starr

The musician members of the group were Russel Evans ( guitar ), Pinhead ( trumpet ), Julius Robertson ( bass ), Brownie ( drummer ) and Gus Hawkins ( sax ). The group would enter local talent contests such as those that were held at the Circle Ballroom. Eventually the FutureTones got to appear on a local TV show, the Gene Carroll Talent Show and not long afterwards they went professional. The first engagement they secured after this was at the Chatterbox Club, which was located on Woodland near 55th Street, as support act to Billie Holliday. Edwin was totally in awe of Billie and although he got the opportunity to visit her dressing room to speak with her he doesn't think that his attempts at conversation would have been too coherent. Further successful engagements followed and in 1959 the group secured a recording contract with Tress Records. A single, "I Know" b/w "Rolling On" was released and made a few waves locally. In 1960 Edwin was drafted into the Army, here his obvious talent as a singer was soon recognised and he got to perform for other servicemen at bases across the USA and Germany.

The Futuretones (1)
Edwin Starr                                                                            The Futuretones

Upon his discharge in 1962 he returned to Cleveland and attemped to pick up the reigns with the group again. In his absence, one of his old friends Demon ( William Isom ) had joined the group but they hadn't been able to progress their career. With Edwin back in the fold they continued to perform locally but they had lost the impetus they had possessed a few years earlier. In 1963 Bill Doggett and his group swung through Cleveland and at the time Doggett was on the lookout for a new vocalist. Edwin caught his eye and so was offered the position. He accepted, quit the FutureTones and left town to tour with his new outfit. Bill Doggett had a great influence on Edwin, especially with regard to his professional attitude to the business. He didn't drink, always expected good discipline   and insisted that those associated with him were accessible to the people they came in contact with.

Songs :

I Know Roll On

...

See comments

The Tune Timers

Posted on December 18 2016 by dion1

The Tune Timers (Long Island, New York)

Personnel :

Sal LaPorta (Vocal & Guitar)

Harvey Sheppard (Vocal & Vibraphone)

Frank Dana (Vocal & Bass)

Carl Oliver (Vocal & Drummer)

Discography :

1957 - Thinking / What Have I Got To Dream About (Okeh 7081)
1960 - Malaguena / Ain't Got Nobody (Adonis 111)

Biography :

Vocal & instrumental group from Long Island composed by Sal LaPorta who plays guitar, Frank Dana takes care of the bass, Carl Oliver handles the duties as drummer and Harvey Sheppard, who scores with crowds at the vibraphone. The group takes its name from the famous club, the Tune Timers Club in Jackson Heights, Long Island, where they perform regularly…for more than eight years. In early 57 the group recorded "Thinking" b/w "What Have I Got To Dream About" on the Okeh label.

The Tune Timers

Their vocal and instrumental talents allow them to perform in the country's largest clubs, Lounge and cabaret. The band will perform for many years, They Performed at the Rainbow Room, Radio City, The Plaza Hotel, The New Yorker Hotel. They perform as Tune Timers Quartette for 12 seasons at The Sands, Las Vegas,...... with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, all performing separately, and at times all on stage ensemble! The Rat Pack!!!

Songs :

What Have I Got To Dream About Thinking

Malaguena / Ain't Got Nobody

...

See comments

The Thor-Ables

Posted on December 11 2016 by dion1

Willie Davis & Lloyd McCraw

The Thor-Ables (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Willie Davis (Lead Tenor)

Bobby Baker (Second Tenor)

James Lanier (Baritone)

Lloyd McCraw (Baritone/Bass)

Discography :

1962 - Our Love Song / Get That Bread (Titanic 1001)
1962 - My Reckless Heart / Batman And Robin (Titanic 1001)

Biography :

Willie Davis has been Lead & first Tenor for the Jacks and The Cadets, In 1958 he joined the Flairs (soon to become the Flares). In June 1961, The Flares were in Europe and Davis who had not gone on tour was working in a car wash. That's where he met Bobby Baker in 1962, who, along with his partner James Lanier, was an aspiring songwriter. Bobby interested Willie in some of his songs and the three of them decided to record. Calling themselves the "Thor-Ables" (after the space satellite launching rocket), they approached Lloyd McCraw (the original baritone of the Jacks/Cadets), who was setting up the Titanic label.

Willie Davis

The Thor-Ables recorded four songs. Two of them ("Our Love Song" and "My Reckless Heart") have the trio of Willie Davis (lead tenor), Bobby Baker (second tenor), and James Lanier (baritone). (Note that "My Reckless Heart" was a remake of a song Willie had done with the Rocketeers/Rockets/Planets on McCraw's M.J.C. label in 1958.) On the other two tunes ("Get That Bread" and "Batman And Robin"), the trio is joined by baritone/bass Lloyd McCraw, who was also the group's manager. All four sides were released in late 1962. While James Lanier remembers the songs being pushed for a short while by Rudy Harvey on KGFJ, the Thor-Ables only had a few appearances (including one in Willow Brook, California and some with Big Jay McNeely) and soon broke up.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Flairs/flairs.html

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Our Love Song                       Get That Bread


Batman And Robin                           My Reckless Heart

...

See comments

The New Notes

Posted on December 10 2016 by dion1

The New Notes

The New Notes (Sydney, Australia)

Personnel :

John Bartlett

Peter Griffiths

Ralph Griffiths

Discography :

Singles :
The New Notes
1960 - I Am / My Sweetie Pie (Rex RS-09)
1960 - Need Someone To Love Me / Sing Sing Sing (Rex RS-015)

Col Joy with the Graduates & The New Notes
1959 - Bad Man / Dreamy Eyes (Festival FK3135)

Col Joy with The Joy Boys & The New Notes
1959 - Rockin’ Rollin’ / Fools Like Me (Not Them) (Festival FK3082)

John Laws & The New Notes
1959 - Be Kind To Each Other / Someone New (Festival FK3098)

The Maori Troubadours & The New Notes
1960 - Lovely Hula Hands / Shakin' In The Shaky Isles (Not Them) (Rex RS-011 / Festival FX10463)

Margaret Hooper With Ron Hardy And The Hardi-Men & The New Notes
1960 - One Step Beyond / The Way We Are (Rex RS-04)

Dig Richards & The R'Jays & The New Notes
1960 - Annie Laurie / South Of The Border (Rex 001)

Eps :

1960 - Rex 4 Star (Rex 1002)
I Am ( The New Notes) / You're Free To Go (Margaret Hooper With Ron Hardy And The Hardi-Men And The New Notes)

The New Notes

1961 - John Laws - A Lover's Question (FX-10,080)
Be Kind To Each Other (John Laws & The New Notes) / Someone New (John Laws & The New Notes)

The New Notes

Lp :

1959 - Dig Richards & The R'Jays (Festival FL7119)
With The New Notes :
You Are My Sunshine / I'm Through / Hush-a-Bye

The New Notes

Biography :

Australian vocal trio from Sydney consisting of John Bartlett, Peter Griffiths & Ralph Griffiths. They starting singing together in 1959. They backed many artists on Festival Records like Col Joy, John Laws or The Maori Troubadours. Festival Records (later known as Festival Mushroom Records) was an Australian recording and publishing company founded in Sydney in 1952 .

The New Notes

Dig Richards & The R'Jays

A new subsidiary label has been started at Festival called Rex Records. Now under contract to Rex, the New Notes write their own material "My Sweetie Pie", "Need Someone To Love Me" and "Sing Sing Sing" and cut two singles under their name in 1960. They backed Dig Richards and his group, The R'Jays on "Hush-a-Bye", "I'm Through" and other .

The New Notes
From Left, Ralph Griffiths, John Bartlett and Peter Griffiths

In 1960, they are rated as the most improved vocal group trio in the country and are also noted for their own compositions. They make regular appearances on "Bandstand" and "Six O'Clock Rock" and are heard on many radio. They make personnel Appearances at Dances and various night-spots in Sidney.

Songs :

The New Notes

I Am

Dig Richards & The R'Jays & The New Notes


       Hush-a-Bye                      I'm Through                    South Of The Border


You Are My Sunshine                            Annie Laurie

John Laws & The New Notes


Be Kind To Each Other                Someone New

Col Joy / The New Notes


   Bad Man                          Dreamy Eyes                                 Rockin’ Rollin’

..

See comments

The Five Owls aka The Thunderbirds (1) ?

Posted on December 8 2016 by dion1

The Five Owls aka The Thunderbirds (1) ?

The Five Owls (Birmingham, Alabama)
aka The Thunderbirds (1) ?

Personnel :

Oliver (Charles?) Henderson

Robert Harris

Moses B. Dickerson

Thomas Sumlin

Rufus R. White

Discography :

The Five Owls
1955 - Pleading to You / I Like Moonshine (Vulcan 302)

The Thunderbirds (1)
1955 - Baby, Let's PLay House / Pledging My Love (Deluxe 6075)
1955 - Love is A Problem / Rock Boom Boom (G. G. 518)

Biography :

Abbey Records his a little label based in New York City was the creation of Peter Doraine, and was his attempt to become a major player in the world of the Rhythm & Blues independent record companies during the late 1940s. In May of 1955, it is announced that former New York record producer Doraine, now located in Birmingham, Alabama, will begin a new R & B label called Vulcan Records. The first of only two known releases for the label is "Pleading To You" / "I Like Moonshine" by The Five Owls on Vulcan #1025.

The Five Owls aka The Thunderbirds (1) ?

Marv Goldberg say : The lead singer on "I Like Moonshine" is the same voice as on the Thunderbirds' "Love Is A Problem" (G G 103 - another Birmingham label - it's from November 1955 and the flip is "Rock Boom Boom"). The writers of "Love Is A Problem" were Peter Doraine (A&R man for the label, as he was for Vulcan) and "Sumtin", who has to be the same guy as the "Sumton" on the 5 Owls label (but I don't know which spelling is correct). In 1940, there were several people named "Sumton" (all in North Carolina) and only one "Sumtin" (in Florida). It's the only unusual name out of the five, so looking up the others wouldn't do much good. (However, there is a Charles Henderson in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1940 census who was born in 1934, so he's a good choice.) I believe (although I don't remember why) that the lead singer on both those songs is Charles Henderson). I've always thought that the two groups were the same, but that would have to be checked with someone who has a very good ear for voices.
Thanks to Michael Sweeney for the personnel

Songs :

The Five Owls

Pleading to You I Like Moonshine

The Thunderbirds (1)


Baby, Let's PLay House                             Pledging My Love


Love is A Problem                                Rock Boom Boom

...

See comments

Linda Carr & The Impossibles (2) aka The Chandeliers (2) aka The Cheerios (1)

Posted on December 4 2016 by dion1

The Chandeliers (2) aka The Cheerios (1) aka The Impossibles (2)
Bobby Sanders

Linda Carr & The Impossibles (2) (Los Angeles)
aka The Chandeliers (2)
aka The Cheerios (1)

Personnel :

Bobby Sanders (Lead)

Ralph Chestnut (Bass)

Clotelle King

Andrew Bayone (Cheerios & Chandeliers)

Joe Lawson (Cheerios & Chandeliers)

Discography :

Linda Carr & The Impossibles (2)
1961 - I'll Never Get Married / Happy Teenager (Skyla 1111)
1961 - (I'm In Love With) The Garbage Man / Shy One (Ray Star 779)

The Cheerios (1)
1961 - Ding Dong Honeymoon / Where Are You Tonight (Infinity 11)

The Chandeliers (2)
1962 - Give Me Your Love / She's A Heartbreaker (Sue 761)

Biography :

Linda Carr was just 14 years of age at the time of this, her debut recording. Her powerful voice belied her tender years. In '61, talent scount, recording artists producer and writer, Bobby Sanders (real name: Jerome Lenoir) brought gifted singer, Linda Carr to producer Steve Venet. Happy Teenager happily launched her long and remarkable international singing career as one of the queens of the Northern Soul musical genre. The writer, Richard George, had written many songs while at UCLA and later while working in the Hollywood film industry.

The Chandeliers (2) aka The Cheerios (1) aka The Impossibles (2)

He wrote Happy Teenager as an answer song to Dion's Lonely Teenager. Steve Venet arranged to record her with Bobby Sanders, Ralph Chestnut and Clotelle King billed as the Impossibles. Steven Venet next recorded Linda's follow-up release, I'm in Love With the Garbage Man, a clever and fun record. In '64, Linda signed with Sam Cooke's Sar label with Steve Venet producing the release with Sanders and Cooke doing the backup work. Next she signed with Don Costa's DCP label and in '65 had a release that got some action. In '66, she had several releases on the Bell label and later with the Ranwood label. She had the talent but never had the song or promotion to make it big.

The Chandeliers (2) aka The Cheerios (1) aka The Impossibles (2)

After their singles with Linda, the Impossibles, Bobby Sanders, Ralph Chestnut and Clotelle King recruited Andrew Bayone & Joe Lawson. The Quintet with Bobby Sanders on Lead had a release on Infinity in September 1961 billed as The Cheerios. They also recorded for Sue Record as The Chandeliers. During this period, Bobby Sanders also recorded as a single artist and with Dorsey High School friends as the Extremes.

Songs :

Linda Carr & The Impossibles (2)


   Happy Teenager      I'll Never Get Married


(I'm In Love With) The Garbage Man                 Shy One

The Cheerios (1)


Ding Dong Honeymoon                    Where Are You Tonight

The Chandeliers (2)


Give Me Your Love                         She's A Heartbreaker

...

See comments

Tony & The Twilights (5)

Posted on December 3 2016 by dion1

Tony & The Twilights (5)
(Paste-up picture) Top : Donnie Milo, Joe Gugliarda & Joe Agugliaro - bottom : Tony Passalacqua

Tony & The Twilights (5) (Brooklyn, NY)

Personnel :

Tony Passalacqua (Lead)

Joe Agugliaro (Baritone)

Joe Gugliarda (Bass)

Donnie Milo (Second Tenor)

Discography :

Tony Richards & The Twilights (5)
Single :
1960 - Paper Boy / Please Believe In Me (Colpix 178)
Unreleased :
1961 - September Song (Colpix)

Tony Richards
1961 - Shout My Name / Summer Is Coming (Colpix 199)

Biography :

Tony & the Twilights, also known as Tony Richards & The Twilights, were an offshoot of three different groups from the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, NY. Tony Richards, aka Tony Passalacqua, had sung with the Fascinators, a quartet formed in Bushwick in 1957. Among the Fascinators' rivals and contemporaries were the Clusters, who were friends of Passalacqua's, and the Markels, another Bushwick-based group, who scored a modest hit in 1958 with "Letter of Love." When the Fascinators broke up in 1961, Passalacqua hooked up with Joe Gugliarda (The Clusters) and Joe Agugliaro (who were cousins) of the Markels, and Donnie Milo, formerly of the Clusters, essentially forming a reconstituted Clusters.

Tony & The Twilights (5)
Tony Passalacqua (Tony Richards)

The new group was called the Twilights and the group was signed to Colpix Records, but they immediately ran into trouble when their first single was issued as The Twilights featuring Tony Richards, which was soon changed to Tony & the Twilights. The inevitable ego clashes ensued and the group split up in the next year. Tony Richards, as he was billed, later recorded as Tony Mitchell, but never recaptured the promise of his early work with the Fascinators.

Songs :

Tony Richards & The Twilights (5)


Please Believe In Me                                    Paper Boy

Tony Richards


Shout My Name                                Summer Is Coming

...

See comments

The Fabulous Tones

Posted on December 2 2016 by dion1

The Fabulous Tones (1960) 1st row: Joe Alexander, Shirley Hunter, Herman Hill;
2nd row: Teddy Rambo, Jesse Davis, Rudy Hunter; 3rd row: Count Yates, John Harris

The Fabulous Tones (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Rudy Hunter (Lead)

Joe Alexander (Baritone)

John Harris

Norman Alexander

Discography :

1957 - You've Broken My Heart / Mr. Hog Face (Rushmore 103)
1958 - Close To You / ??? (Ebb 135)
1959 - Lover, Lover, Lover / I’ll Never Cry Again (Mark 56 819)

Biography :

The Four Tones were a vocal group formed in the mid 1930s at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. By the late 1930s they started their recording career in Los Angeles and they appeared in a few films. Singing bass for this group was Dusty Brooks. He was often the featured performer and on several of their recordings they were billed as Dusty Brooks and the Four Tones.

The Four Tones

In early 1954, Rudy Hunter took over the leadership of the group, which consisted of Joe Alexander and Ruby Thrower Joined by Alexander's brother, Norman, the group became Rudy Hunter & the Fabulous Tones with Brooks joining in as bass on occasion. Their minimum requirement for prospective group members was to have the ability to play 5 separate instruments as well as being able to sing. They make many appearances, for several years all over the country. The Fabulous Tones issued 45's on the Rushmore in 1957, The Ebb label in 1958 and George Garabedian's Mark 56 label in 1959. Garabedian would use the group to back demos that be contracted for songwriters and hopeful singing stars.

Jesse Davis

The group makes numerous staff changes over the years, Jesse Ervin, Rudy Hunter, Count Yates, Sammy Yates, Shirley Hunter, Herman Hill, Teddy Rambo, John Harris and Jazz singer’ Jesse Davis. Jesse Davis is known as a Jazz singer but his repertoire includes, R&B, Pop, Latin, and Swing. Jesse Davis started his professional career singing in a few clubs in Michigan, with the Doug Cook Combo, and on his own, before joining in 1958 The Fabulous Tones in Los Angeles as a featured singer.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

I’ll Never Cry Again You've Broken My Heart

Close To You

…

See comments

Buzz & Al

Posted on November 27 2016 by dion1

Buzz & Al

Buzz & Al (New York)

Personnel :

Ray Buzzeo

A. De Felice

Discography :

1958 - When You're Gone / A Little Bit Of Lovin (Josie 848)
1959 - Will You, Huh? / Caring For You (Jimskip 909)
1960 - Jeannie Marie / Tomorrows That May Never (ABC-Paramount 107)
1961 - Secretly / Wierdo (MGM 13018)
1962 - The Five Senses / For Stealing Her From Me (Columbia 42532)
1962 - Here Come The Tears / Litle White Sneakers (Columbia 42355)

Buzz & Al
(Columbia 42355)

Biography :

Raymond J. Buzzeo is an American session musician and songwriter from New York. He has written for Jeannie C. Riley, Waylon Jennings, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Johnny Paycheck, Ferlin Husky and many other.

Buzz & Al

His career began in 1958 when he premiered a vocal duet with A. De Felice. Under the name of Buzz & Al they recorded a few singles between 1958 and 1962 under various label: Jimskip, ABC, Josie, MGM & Columbia. After his separation with Al, Raymond J. Buzzeo recorded some singles as Buzz Ray, but with little success he focuses on writing.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Jeannie Marie                          Wierdo


Tomorrows That May Never            ill You, Huh? / Caring For You

...

See comments