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

The Teen-Kings aka The Delights (1) aka The Delrays

Posted on November 6 2016 by dion1

The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings

The Delrays (Reading, Pa)
aka The Delights (1) aka The Teen-Kings

Personnel :

Walter "Buster" Lockman (Lead)

James Keith (Tenor)

Norman Keith (Tenor)

Jimmy Tindall (Baritone)

Bernie Washington (Bass)

Discography :

The Teen-Kings
1958 - That's A Teenage Love / Tell Me I You Know (Bee 1115)

The Delrays
1958 - Our Love is True / One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream (Cord 1101)

The Delights (1)
1961 - My one Desire / Please Take My Love (Nite 201 / Nite 1034)

Biography :

James and Norman Keith were performers from their pre-school day when they would entertain they neighbors with their singing and Ukulele playing . By the time they were attending Fitzsimmons Junior High School, they had a quintet assembled consisting of LaVester Littles, Ron Brown, Walter "Buster" Lockman, and themselves. They were called the Victors, and played opening night at the Blue Horizon Club on North broad Street in 1956. For The next two years they played regularly at other clubs, benefits, and neighborhood gatherings, mostly in North Philly. In 1958, Bernie Washington took over the Bass singer, and Jimmy Tindall replaced Littles as Baritone. With "Buster" Lockman on Falsetto lead, they quickly learned that they could get their biggest crowd reaction bodying Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers covers.

The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings

The Name change to Teen Kings, reflected their desire to develop their sound close to Lymon's group. Their shows also got the attention of Ben Johnson Jr (who had managed the Re-Vels since 1954), who signed them to a management contract, and a recording session at Virtue Studios, in the 1600 block of North Broad Street. They recorded four songs at Virtue, likely completed at a single session. In addition to "That a Teenage Love" and "Tell Me If You Know", Johnson released another single on his Cord label, credited to the Delrays. "Our Love Is True" (Wich is virtually the same melody as "That's A Teenage Love") and "One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream", both list Johnson as the writer.

The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings
The Teen Kings, the Keith Brothers (Facing each other) and Buster Lockman (at the microphone)

All four sides suffered from a very muddily sound with the lead buried in a poorly placed sigle mike. Lockman was only 13 years old when he made this recordings. The same Lineup made one more records as the Delights ("My one Desire" / "Please Take My Love"), released in 1961. Around the same time, the group auditioned for Richard Barrett in New York but the deal did not materialize. Lockman continued his career as a solo artist through the sixties, releasing one record on the Wand Label in 1967 as Walter Wilson. Norman keith also continued in the music business as a side man, touring with Martha & The Vandellas.

Songs :

The DelRays

One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream Our Love is True

The Teen-Kings

That's A Teenage Love Tell Me If You Know

The Delights (1)

My One Desire Please Take My Love

...

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The Twilighters (1) - ref : DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents

Posted on November 4 2016 by dion1

The Twilighters (1)
Top : Melvin Jennings, Earl Williams - Bottom : DeRoy Green, Robert Richardson and William Pierce

The Twilighters (1) (Baltimore, Maryland)
ref : DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents

Personnel :

Robert "Bob" Richardson (Lead)

Melvin Jennings (Baritone)

Earl Williams (Bass)

DeRoy Green (Second Tenor)

William Pierce (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Twilighters (1)
Single :
1953 - Please Tell Me You Are Mine / Wondering (Marshall 702)
Unreleased :
1953 - Longing For You (Marshall)
1953 - Gee, Baby I Need You So (Marshall)
1953 - I Wonder Who's Calling Her Now (Marshall)

DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents
Single :
1961 - Beggar To A Queen / At The Teen Center (Cee Jay 584)
Unreleased :
1961 - Phoebe (Cee Jay)

Biography :

The Twilighters came from the "Old Town" district of Baltimore where they attented Dunbar High School. They neighborhood also produced the Cardinals & Four Buddies. The Group was composed of Robert "Bob" Richardson (Lead), William Pierce (First Tenor), DeRoy Green (Second Tenor), Melvin Jennings (Baritone) and Earl Williams (Bass).

The Twilighters (1)
1953 - The Twilighters

The Twilighters recorded five songs at a recording session in Washington, D.C., in 1953, two of which became the Marshall sides : "Please Tell Me You Are Mine" b/w "Wondering" with Frank Motley (Dual Trumpets) and his Crew. In 1953, The Twilighters made one of their appearances on a Cesar Romero telethon. Evidently the appearance didn’t generate significant interest in the Marshall record.

The Twilighters (1)
1953 - The Twilighters

Without the appearances and record sales necessary to sustain interest in a singing career, and after a dispute with their manager because they are dissatisfied with the background music, the Twilighters broke up.

The Twilighters (1)
DeRoy Green

Several years later, after his release from the Army in 1960, DeRoy Green formed the Cool Gents. The group recorded for Lillian Claiborne in D.C and "Beggar To A Queen" b/w "At The Teen Center" was leased to Cee Jay records in the Bronx in 1961. A previously unreleased tune from the same session , "Phoebe" will be released on Roadhouse.

Songs :

The Twilighters (1)

Please Tell Me You Are Mine I Wonder Who's Calling Her Now

The Cool Gents

Beggar To A Queen At The Teen Center

...

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A Pair Of Kings aka Johnny & The Kings (4) aka Johnny & The Tokens (3) aka The Grace Notes

Posted on November 1 2016 by dion1

Johnny & The Tokens (3) aka Johnny & The Kings (4) aka A Pair Of Kings aka The Grace Notes
A Pair Of Kings

A Pair Of Kings (Brooklyn, New York)
aka Johnny & The Kings (4)
aka Johnny & The Tokens (3)
aka The Grace Notes

Personnel :

John Guiffre (Lead)

Jimmy "Sims" Smith

Jerry Vance

John Truscelli

Discography :

The Grace Notes
Unreleased :
1957 - Send Me An Angel / First Love

A Pair Of Kings
1959 - Once / The Monster (RCA 7659)
1960 - Just Two Guys / I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight (Warwick 608)
1961 - Ev'rytime / Just Two Guys (Warwick 647)

Johnny & The Tokens (3)
1961 - The Taste Of A Tear / Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Johnny & The Kings (4)
1961 - The Taste Of A Tear / Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Biography :

Jerry Vance attended James Madison H.S. with Barry Mann. Jerry played alto sax in the H.S. dance band. In 1956 his senior year, Jerry joined a group called the Grace Notes. Jimmy "Sims" Smith sang lead and two other members were John Guiffre and a girl. The group wrote, produced and arranged their session at Nola Studios. The demo was unmarketable and the group soon broke up. Jimmy and Jerry stayed together and met an independent producer who recorded them at Long Island studio, doing two songs which were unreleased; On both sides, singing background was a young girl named Ellie Greenwich.

Johnny & The Tokens (3) aka Johnny & The Kings (4) aka A Pair Of Kings aka The Grace Notes

1959 - A Pair Of Kings 1960 - Johnny & The Kings

The fellows were becoming disenchanted when they met Howie Epstein, John McCarthy and Terry Phillips. Howie got the group an audition with RCA. As "A Pair Of Kings", Jerry and Jimmy recorded "The Monster". A pair Of Kings moved to Morty Craft's Warwick label, keeping their RCA Name. After two releases, John Guiffre rejoined the group after getting out of the service. With a four member named John Truscelli, they released "The Taste Of A Tear" b/w "Never Till Now" as Johnny & The Kings.

A Pair Of Kings aka Johnny & The Kings (4) aka Johnny & The Tokens (3) aka The Grace Notes Johnny & The Tokens (3) aka Johnny & The Kings (4) aka A Pair Of Kings aka The Grace Notes
1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park

In 1961, The Tokens were one of the hottest and most talented groups in early 60s. kicking things off with "Tonight i Fell In Love" on the Warwick Label. Big boy RCA-Victor came up with a big money offer, and the Tokens jumped over There, immediately hitting #1 with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". their phenomenal career took all from there.

Johnny & The Tokens (3) aka Johnny & The Kings (4) aka A Pair Of Kings aka The Grace Notes
1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park

Morty Craft of Warwick was not happy about losing these moneymakers and reacted by changing the Name of Johnny & The Kings into Johnny & The Tokens (his label had done extremely well with Johnny & The Hurricanes) . They were good enough to make a brief appearance on the national chart. This name was never used again.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)
A Pair Of Kings


     The Monster                           Once

Ev'rytime

Johnny & The Tokens (3) / The Kings (4)


   Never Till Now    The Taste Of A Tear

...

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The Tempos (2) aka Those Four El Dorados

Posted on October 31 2016 by dion1

The Tempos (2) aka Those Four Eldorados
(Paste up picture) top : Louis Bradley, James Maddox & Jewel Jones - Bottom : Marvin Smith

The Tempos (2) (Chicago)
aka Those Four El Dorados

Personnel :

Marvin Smith (Lead)

Louis Bradley (Second Tenor)

Jewel Jones (First Tenor)

James Maddox (Baritone)

Discography :

Those Four Eldorados
1958 - A Lonely Boy / Go Little Susie (Academy 8138)

The Tempos
Single :
1958 - Promise Me / Never Let Me Go (Rhythm 121)
Unreleased :
1958 - Patricia ( (Rhythm)
1958 - To Love Again ( (Rhythm)

Biography :

When Nickens left the El Dorados they soldiered on as a quartet. A few additional singles performed well in certain U.S. cities, but didn't measure up to their prior hit status. Their next single, "Tears on My Pillow" (a different song from Little Anthony and the Imperials' hit record), was the last by all of the original El Dorados; soon after its release, the group and Pirkle Moses Jr. separated over a disagreement on new management. Moses Jr. soon joined another Vee Jay act, the Kool Gents, who had been left without a singer when their frontman, Dee Clark, departed for a solo career. John McCall (tenor), Douglas Brown (second tenor), Teddy Long (second tenor and baritone), and Johnny Carter (bass) of the Kool Gents joined with Moses Jr., to become the New El Dorados.

The Tempos (2) aka Those Four Eldorados
Jewel Jones, Louis Bradley, James Maddox

During this same time, the remaining El Dorados -- Jones, Bradley, and Maddox -- joined up with new lead singer Marvin Smith. Smith had moved with his family to the west side of Chicago in the late '40s, where he attended Crane High and sang on street corners and in church choirs, before joining the group as their new lead vocalist. To avoid legal problems with Vee Jay, the group's name was changed to Those Four El Dorados for 1958's "A Lonely Boy," Academy Records of Chicago. Jewel Jones' name on the label was spelled J-u-e-l-l (each member's name was listed). Those Four El Dorados' later traveled to the West Coast, and connected with a former NBA basketball star Don Barksdale, who had formed his Rhythm Record Company in Oakland, CA. The group changed monikers again, this time calling themselves the Tempos, but the group faltered again, and returned to Chicago, splitting up in 1961.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/ElDorados/eldorados.html

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Tempos

Promise Me Never Let Me Go

To Love Again Patricia

Those Four Eldorados

A Lonely Boy Go Little Susie

...

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The Cameos (1)

Posted on October 29 2016 by dion1

The Cameos (1)
Vernon Green

The Cameos (1) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Vernon Green (Tenor)

Frankie Marshall (Tenor)

Kenneth Williams (Tenor)

Discography :

1955 - Only for You / Craving (Dooto 365)

Discography :

The Medallions were formed by lead singer Vernon Green in Los Angeles, California, USA, after record company boss Dootsie Williams commented on the quality of his voice as he was walking down the street one day. The rest of the group were built around Green’s strong vocal abilities, and took their collective name from their leader’s fondness for jewellery. They released three singles for Dootone’s Dooto subsidiary between 1956 and 1957 in this manner.

The Cameos (1)
                                                                         Dootsie Williams

Green responded by putting together a new group featuring Kenneth Williams and Frank Marshall, issuing "Only For You" b/w "Craving" on Dootone in June 1955. Billed as the Cameos, this formation did not last, however, and Dootsie Williams then placed Green as singer with another of his groups, the Dootones (who shared the name of the label).

Songs :


Only for You                                            Craving

…

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The Savoys (4) aka The Savoy's aka Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)

Posted on October 28 2016 by dion1

The Savoys (4) aka Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)

The Savoys (4) (San Jose, CA)
aka The Savoys's aka Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)

Personnel :

Albert Richie (lead Vocals, Piano)

Beverly Soares (Vocals, Percussion)

Chris Ray (Lead Guitar, Vocals)

Bruce Hird (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals)

Discography :

The Savoys (4)
1959 - The Mortal Monster Man / Watching The Sea ‎(Bella 2212/13-58)
1960 - You're The Beating Of My Heart / You Heartless One (Christy 130)

The Savoy's
1959 - I Love My Baby / You And I (Bella 18)

Marguerite Trina & The Savoys (4)
1959 - The Rocking Tree / The Brat (Bella 19)

Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)
1960 - You And I / Baby Pie (Shelby 1)

Pat La Rocca & The Savoys (4)
1959 - Rowena / Don't Do Me Wrong (Bella 15)

The Savoys (4) aka Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)

Biography :

This group hailed from San Jose, CA and played throughout the bay area during the late 50s and early 60s.. The Savoys were composed by Albert Richie (lead Vocals, Piano), Beverly Soares (Vocals, Percussion), Chris Ray (Lead Guitar, Vocals) and Bruce Hird (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals). In 1959 The Savoys signed a recording contract with Bella Records. The Bella label was created by John Pusateri out of San Jose, California. John, a native of Franklin, Louisiana, had moved to San Jose in the 1920s but kept close contact with musicians in south Louisiana. He produced and created a wealth of great music, mostly doo-wop in the 1950s. He was also a prolific writer and composer for other labels as well.

The Savoys (4) aka Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)

John Pusateri Pat La Rocca

The Savoys cut two singles for Bella , "The Mortal Monster Man" b/w "Watching The Sea" and "I Love My Baby" b/w "You And I" and backed Pat La Rocca and Marguerite Trina. In early 1960, They recorded "You're The Beating Of My Heart" b/w "You Heartless One" at Christy Records of Los Gatos (California). "I Love My Baby" and "You And I" on Bella Records by The Savoys were released under Cindy Adams (Beverly Soares) & The Kingsmen on Shelby Records. The Doo Wop intro to "You And I" was removed from this release and "I Love My Baby" was renamed "Baby Pie". Albert Richie married Beverly and formed a new group in the late sixties called Beverly Rich & The Poor Boys with a different lineup.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Savoys (4) / The Savoy's


You're The Beating Of My Heart                     You And I


The Mortal Monster Man                Watching The Sea

Pat La Rocca & The Savoys (4)


Rowena                                        Don't Do Me Wrong

Marguerite Trina & The Savoys (4)

The Rocking Tree / The Brat (Bella 19)

...

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The Short Twins

Posted on October 24 2016 by dion1

The Short Twins

The Short Twins (Hollywood, CA)

Personnel :

Robert Labnon

Ray Labnon

Discography :

1958 - Take A Look / I'm Gonna Love You More And More (Apex 76428 /Eagle 1005)
1960 - Love Is Just A Game To You / We Are In Love (Apex 76652/Jewel 1656)
1961 - Lover Boy / Plymouth Rock (20th Fox 283)

Biography :

Robert Labnon and Ray Labnon, twin brother, were living out in Hollywood, California after Robert had traveled all around out in Hollywood, California. They decided to come back home and visit and go to New York City and audition, audition for the Godfrey. Arthur Godfrey and his whole entourage liked the twin brothers, so they we were on the show. They won the grand prize and performed the first week with two other acts and they won. That entitled the twin brothers to come back three weeks later to compete with the three winning acts and they won that which was the grand prize of five thousand dollars. They finished that and get a phone call from Jimmy Dean. Jimmy Dean calls them up and says "I would love to have the boys in Washington D.C. on my TV show next Wednesday or whenever, if they can make it.” They “We will Make it. "So they went out there and they had a national hook up with Jimmy Dean's TV show .

The Short Twins

So they did that and came back to New York on completion of that and started living in New York City now. they had rented a nice apartment and started going to all the various offices, agents, writers, music writers, and they were looking to try to get some recordings going. One thing led to another and they met another set of twins in New York. They were from Canada and they said “Boys why don't you come with us to our Office. They are looking for some talent to record.” So, they went and met these writers , they sang and auditioned for them. They liked the twins very much and said “OK, we will record you.” . The first record was released in 1958 : "Take A Look" b/w "I'm Gonna Love You More And More" on Apex.

The Short Twins

This was the first record that they put out, and then they went out on a thirty-one day tour with the company sending the Short-Twins to Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, New Hampshire, for thirty-‐one days going to all the radio stations, all the disc jockeys getting that record going. They went back to New York and recorded “Love Is Just A Game To You" b/w "We Are In Love” for Apex. The Short Twins recorded a third single in 1961 for 20th Fox "Lover Boy" b/w "Plymouth Rock". In 1962, Ray met a beautiful lady named Donna, They became Donna & The Short Twins. They used to do songs in French, Italian. They traveled. They got hooked up with the shows in Europe and went to Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, Tripoli entertaining all the military bases, a state‐side contract, all the Military Bases for some years.

Songs :

Love Is Just A Game To You

...

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The Imperials (2) aka The Gaylords

Posted on October 23 2016 by dion1

The Gaylords aka The Imperials (2)

The Gaylords (Newark, New Jersey)
aka The Imperials (2) Maybe The Ambassadors (1)

Personnel :

George Copes

Rudy Copes

James Morris

Earl Thomas

Louis Van Dyke

Discography :

The Gaylords
1953 - Get Mad, Baby / Go On, Baby (Savoy 852)

The Imperials (2)
1953 - My Darling / You Should Have Told Me (Savoy 1104)
1954 - Why Did You Leave Me / Hard Workin' Woman (Derby 858)

The Ambassadors (1)
Single :
1954 - Darling I'm Sorry (I Made You Cry) / Willa Bea (Timely 1001)
Unreleased :
1954 - Calling For love (Timely)
1954 - Moanin' (Timely)

Biography :

Vocal group from Newark, New Jersey, The Gaylords consisted of George Copes, Rudy Copes, James Morris, Earl Thomas, Louis Van Dyke. May 23, 1952, the group recorded four sides in the same session : "Get Mad Baby","Go On Baby", "My Darling" and "You Should Have Told Me". Savoy released "Get Mad Baby" b/w "Go On Baby" as the Gaylords (# 852).

The Gaylords aka The Imperials (2)

Because there was a pop group at mercury also called the Gaylords, Savoy changed this group's name to the Imperials and released " My Darling" b/w "You Should Have Told Me". The same Imperials, in July 1954, had a release on Derby (# 858): "Why Did You Leave Me" b/w "Hard Workin' Woman". Louis Van Dyke was part of the Ambassadors that recorded for Timely in Sept '53, maybe the imperials became the Ambassadors…???

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Gaylords


       Go On, Baby                              Get Mad, Baby

The Imperials (2)


              My Darling                           You Should Have Told Me


Why Did You Leave Me                    Hard Workin' Woman

The Ambassadors (1)


Willa Bea / Darling I'm Sorry.....                       Calling For love

Moanin'

...

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The Debonairs (1) aka The Debonaires (2) aka The Jades (4)

Posted on October 22 2016 by dion1

The Jades (4) aka The Debonairs (1) aka The Debonaires (2)

The Debonairs (1) (Long Beach, CA)
aka The Debonaires (2) aka The Jades (4)

Personnel :

Arthur Holly (Lead)

David Kelly

Joe Sprewell (Tenor , Piano)

Willie "Hootie" Melvin

Bobby Miles (Bass)

Discography :

The Debonairs (1)
Singles :
1957 - Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are / The Bill Collector (Combo 129)
1957 - Cause Of A Bad Romance / For The Woman I Love (Combo 149)
Unreleased :
1957 - In My Memories (Combo)
1957 - Christmas Time (Combo)
1957 - Crazy Santa Claus (Combo)
1957 - Nita (Combo)

The Debonaires (2)
Singles :
1959 - Every Once In A While / Mama Don't Care (Dore 526)
1961 - Every Once In A While / Gert's Skirt (Dore 592/702/795)
1962 - Hold Back The Dawn / Mama Don't Care (Dore 654)
1964 - Everybody's Movin' / Mama Don't Care (Dore 712)
Unreleased :
1959 - Dorothy (Dowley)
1959 - Laura (Dowley)
1959 - Fare Thee Well (Dowley)

The Jades (4)
1963 - Hold Back The Dawn / Mama Don't Care (Dore 687)

Biography :

The Debonairs from Long Beach, California, evolved through numerous line-up changes into an accomplished amateur vocal group in the early 50s. They recorded some material for Johnny Otis' Dig label in 1956 and for Dootsie Williams in 1957 but this was shelved.

The Jades (4) aka The Debonairs (1) aka The Debonaires (2)

Jake Porter

Jake Porter was one of the select group of independent record company owners who gave us the best of West Coast R&B and doo-wop music. Starting in the early 50s and persevering until the early 70s, Jake recorded numerous groups, duos and R&B outfits for his Los Angeles-based Combo label. Jake Porter recorded the Debonairs and released "Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are" b/w "The Bill Collector" and "Cause Of A Bad Romance" b/w "For The Woman I Love". When these failed to sell, they split up.

The Jades (4) aka The Debonairs (1) aka The Debonaires (2)

Reforming in 1959 with different personnel, the Debonaires laid down some tunes for the Downey label, run from a record store in the LA suburb of that name but, yet none of this was issued. Their next stop, a session for Dore on 17 June 1959, 'Every In A While', an outstanding ballad featuring Joe Sprewell on lead. It became such a favourite of Bedell's that he issued it four times between 1959 and 1967. In an attempt to update the arrangement, some extraneous overdubs including strings were added to the 1967 pressing .

Songs :

The Debonairs (1)


Cause Of A Bad Romance             The Bill Collector


Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are          For The Woman I Love


Crazy Santa Claus                              Christmas Time


    Nita                                     In My Memories

The Debonaires (2)


              Doroyhy                         Every Once In A While / Gert's Skirt


Hold Back The Dawn                            Mama Don't Care

Everybody's Movin'

…

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The Combo-Netts aka The Combonets aka The Combo-Nets

Posted on October 20 2016 by dion1

The Combo-Netts aka The Combonets aka The Combo-Nets
Jennell Hawkins

The Combo-Netts (Los Angeles, CA)
aka The Combonets aka The Combo-Nets

Personnel:

Jennell Hawkins

Mary Ann Miles

Dora Lee Pickett

Darlene Powell

Discography :

Singles :

Jake Porter & The Combo-Netts
1955 – If I Had My Wish / Hi-Diddle Diddle (Combo 74)

Clemons Penix & The Combonets
1956 - No Evil / I’ve Been Searching (no backing group) /(Combo 117)

Jake Porter & The Combo-Nets
1956 – I Ain’t Got Time / What Kinda Man Is This (Combo 118)

Unreleased :
1956 – Got To Have You Baby (Combo)

Discography :

A student at Jefferson and Freemont High Schools, Jennell gained her first singing experience with Ray Brewster, Bill Piper and Marc Gordon in the Fidelitones. (The group never recorded, but Gordon eventually became a successful producer of acts like the Fifth Dimension.) While at school, Jennell met Richard Berry (of 'Louie, Louie' fame). One day early in 1954 Berry told Jennell he was going to the studio and asked her if she wanted to accompany him. They met [arranger] Maxwell Davis and ended up recording that same afternoon. The result was 'Each Step', which was released by Flair Records under the monicker Ricky & Jennell.

The Combo-Netts aka The Combonets aka The Combo-Nets
Jake Porter

The experience of making a record helped Jennell establish herself in local music circles. A reluctant vocalist, she preferred playing the piano and organ, so when Berry asked her to join Fanita Barrett, Gloria Jones and Annette Williams in the Dreamers, the group with which he regularly recorded, she initially declined. Her piano, however, was heard on 'My Aching Heart', a 1955 release on Flip Records by the Flippers. Jennell subsequently joined the Dreamers on the same label for 'Since You've Been Gone', on which she sang lead. Also during 1955-56, she teamed with Mary Ann Miles, Dora Lee Pickett and Darlene Powell in the Combo-Netts, who recorded three singles for Jake Porter's Combo label, including their best-known side, 'Hi Diddle Diddle'.

The Combo-Netts aka The Combonets aka The Combo-Nets
Jennell Hawkins

As a solo vocalist, Jennell enjoyed her biggest success late in 1961 with the Richard Berry-written tune 'Moments To Remember' on Titanic, which was reissued as 'Moments' on Amazon, a label owned by the DJ Rudy Harvey.Around the same time, Flip re-released 'Since You've Been Gone' as Jennell Hawkins and the Dreamers. Another single, her version of Barrett Strong's 'Money (That's What I Want)', reached the R&B chart in 1962. Jennell also released 'In The Groove' on Harvey's Azuza label, but his shady business practices (which may well have ultimately led to his unsolved murder) left her disillusioned with the recording industry and she quit the business, dedicating herself to her marriage and the church.