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

The Endeavors

Posted on May 29 2016 by dion1

The Endeavors

The Endeavors (Asbury Park, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Virginia Davis (Lead)

Eleanor Morris

Constance Morris

Kenneth Wilson

Discography :

1959 - Suffering With My Heart / I Got The Feeling (J&S 254/255)

Biography :

Virginia Davis graduated a boarding school in Bordentown, NJ, in the summer of 1955. When she returned to Asbury Park. Someone told a local vocal group, the Mar-Keys, about Virginia’s singing experience in the choir and she was invited to join the group. with the departing of Joe Major, The Mar-Keys consisted of Lenny Welch, Leroy Brown, Virginia Davis, Raymond Morris and William Penha. The group just sang at local places and went to the Apollo theatre where they finished second.

The Mar-Keys (L to R) Raymond Morris, Leroy Brown, Virginia Davis, Lenny Welch, William Penha

Leroy Brown and Virginia Davis were married in 1957. By then, Lenny Welch, Joe Major and William Penha were singing with Bobby Thomas as The Vibes. Virginia Davis Brown now started singing with Arthur Morris’ two daughters, Eleanor and Constance Morris. This group became the Endeavors. Rounding out the Endeavors was Kenneth Wilson, a former disc jockey on WJLK radio. Wilson was also a songwriter and the group soon was singing many of his songs.

                                                                                 Arthur Morris

The group would often rehearse at the Morris family home and quickly drew the attention of Arthur Morris. Arthur booked the Hearts (“Lonely Nights”) into Asbury Park’s Convention Hall in the late 1950’s and introduced the Endeavors to the Hearts’ manager, Zelma “Zell” Saunders. Saunders had formed her own record label, J&S Records, and signed the Endeavors to record. The Endeavors recorded “Suffering With My Hearts” backed with “I Got The Feeling” (J&S # 254/255) in 1959. Virginia sang lead. Both sides were written by Kenneth Wilson. Even so, the Endeavors’ first record was their last. It failed to chart and the group did not record again.The Endeavors did continue singing for a while, opening for big name acts at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall, including the Miracles.
http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Endeavors-Story.pdf

Songs :


Suffering With My Heart                      I Got The Feeling

.

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The Parliaments (1)

Posted on May 25 2016 by dion1

The Parliaments (1) (Plainfield, New Jersey)
(The Early Years)

Personnel :

George Clinton (Lead)

Ray Davis

Fuzzy Haskins

Calvin Simon

Grady Thomas

Discography :

Singles :
1958 - Poor Willie / Party Boys (APT 25036)
1959 - Lonely Island / You Make Me Wanna Cry (Flip 100)
1965 - Heart Trouble / That Was My Girl (Golden Word-46)

Unreleased :
1959 - Daisy Mae (APT)
1959 - I Know (APT)
1963 - You're Not Hurting Him (Jobete)

Biography :

The Parliaments were a doo-wop quintet from Plainfield, New Jersey, formed in the back room of a barbershop in the late 1950s and named after the cigarette brand. After some early personnel changes their lineup solidified with George Clinton, Ray Davis, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas. Clinton was group leader and manager, and part owner of the barbershop where the group convened to entertain customers.

The Parliaments (1)

The Parliaments were supposed to be Clinton’s take on Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, but as you might expect from something that Clinton was involved in, they developed their own funky style. Still, hits weren’t easy to come by. The group had a tough time through most of the ’60s, recording singles that went nowhere for a variety of small labels. Early efforts included “Poor Willie” on Apt Records, “Lonely Island” on Flip Records, and “Heart Trouble” on Golden World Records.

The Parliaments (1)

Eventually, Clinton gained employment at Motown Records as a songwriter and producer, making weekly trips to Detroit to produce for The Pets, Roy Handy, and other acts. In 1967 the Parliaments released "(I Wanna) Testify" on Revilot and finally achieved a hit single, with the song reaching #3 R&B and #20 Pop on the Billboard charts.

Songs :

Poor Willie                               Party Boys


You Make Me Wanna Cry                      Lonely Island


Heart Trouble                                  That Was My Girl

Daisy Mae
….

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Linda Martell & The Anglos (1) aka The Angelos

Posted on May 23 2016 by dion1

The Angelos aka Linda Martell & The Anglos (1)

Linda Martell & The Anglos (1) (Leesville, South Carolina)
aka The Angelos

Personnel :

Thelma Bynem "Linda Martell"

L. Bynem

Discography :

Linda Martell & The Anglos (1)
1962 - A Little Tear (Was Falling From My Eyes) / The Things I Do For You (Fire 512)

The Angelos
1963 - Lonely Hours / Just Like Taking Candy From A Baby (Vee Jay 531)
1964 - Bad Motorcycle (Wooden Wooden) / Backfield In Motion (Tollie 9003)

Discography :

Linda Martell (born Thelma Bynem) was born in Leesville, South Carolina the daughter of pastor Clarence Bynem. Singing began for Linda in Leesville's (S. C.) St. Mark's Baptist Church, where Linda, her sister and three brothers sang in the choir. When Linda turned 16, her voice seemed a natural for rhythm and blues and she began singing around her home state with her sister, a cousin and her brothers who formed a band.

The Angelos aka Linda Martell & The Anglos (1)
Linda Martell

In 1961, the girls, Linda, her sister and her cousin formed a vocal trio called the Anglos. The Anglos cut "A Little Tear" b/w "The Things I Do For You" on Bobby Robinson's Fire Records (1962, as Linda Martell & the Anglos). The group also recorded two singles for Vee-Jay records and Vee-Jay’s subsidiary Tollie Records as The Angelos with "Lonely Hours" written by Linda and "Backfield In Motion" by her brother Elzie - both produced by Ray Stevens

The Angelos aka Linda Martell & The Anglos (1)

The family group enjoyed a modest success for eight years. They sang behind the Drifters and recorded behind Jimmy Hughes. They really divided when her cousin got married. In 1969, she joined Shelby Singleton's Plantation Records. Linda Martell was a chocolate-brown beauty from South Carolina who had a hit song, "Color Him Father," on the country radio.

Songs :

Linda Martell & The Anglos (1)


        A Little Tear                            The Things I Do For You

The Angelos


    Lonely Hours                   Just Like Taking Candy From A Baby


Bad Motorcycle (Wooden Wooden)                  Backfield In Motion

…

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The Rhythm Heirs

Posted on May 20 2016 by dion1

The Rhythm Heirs & Art Wheeler

The Rhythm Heirs (El Paso, Texas)
Featuring Evelyn & Virgie / Art Wheeler (Mello-Tones)

Personnel :

Eugene Anchondo (Guitarist)

Beto Velez (Tenor Sax)

Fernando "Ferny" Pena (Sax)

Adolfo H. Molinar, Sr (Drummer)

Discography :

1959 - Strange World / Cradle Rock (Yucca 105)

Biography :

By 1960 there was Little Joe and the Latinaires up north in Temple, Los Dinos in Corpus Christi, Junior & The Starlites in Waco, The Playboys in Seguin, Freddy Frender in San Benito, and the The Rhythmairs in El Paso. The Rhythmairs who along the way changed to the Rhythm Heirs. The band was started five years ago when a South El Paso boy suggested to the Rev. Harold J. Rahin that the Center director organize a group of musicians.

The Rhythm Heirs
Virgie and Evelyn Galleges

The band consisted of two saxophones, two guitars, a trumpet, pianist and drums. The musicians doubled up for vocals and for a short while Virgie and Evelyn Galleges, two cute girls from El Paso High added a new dimension to the group with a flair for dress and good harmony. The Mello-tones, a quartet of the band led by Art Wheeler also participate in the show backed by the Band. Competition kept the band practicing to excel as the Blue Kings, Night Dreamers, Kingsmen and others .

The Rhythm Heirs

After numerous concerts and performance and growing popularity, the Band signed a recording contract with Calvin Boles, owner of the label Yucca Records of Alamogordo (New Mexico). Virgie and Evelyn Galleges with The Rhythm Heirs sang "Cradle Rock", The other side of the record is "Strange-World", by Art Wheeler and the Mello-Tones (uncredited) backing by the The Rhythm Heirs.

The Rhythm Heirs & The Mello-Tones

Ruben Molina places Evelyn and Virgie in El Paso in his book Chicano Soul, even referring to "Cradle Rock" as one of the very first doo wop-styled recordings to come out of the border town. And yet this February 1959 release sounds earlier.

The Rhythm Heirs

The vocal group sound hit El Paso a bit late, but just as it was in cities like Los Angeles and San Antonio the Chicanos hung on to the 'oldies' sound loooooong after it had fallen out of favor on radio. The most interesting thing about "Cradle Rock" is that it was remade by brothers Benny and Joe Rodriguez who, as members of L.A.'s Heartbreakers, re-recorded the song for Bob Keane's Donna Records in 1964.

http://lonestarstomp.blogspot.fr/2010/04/rock-bye-baby.html

Songs :

Art Wheeler (& The Mello-Tones) bb The Rhythm Heirs

Strange World

Evelyn & Virgie bb The Rhythm Heirs

Cradle Rock

…

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The Elgins (1) aka The Elements aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads

Posted on May 19 2016 by dion1

The Elements aka The Elgins (1) aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads
The Elgins 1959 (L to R) William DeVase, Oscar McDonald, Kenny Sinclair, Darryl Lewis and Jimmy Smith.

The Elgins (1) (Southern California)
aka The Elements aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads

Personnel:

Jimmy Smith (Lead)

William Devase

Darryl Lewis

Kenny Sinclair

Oscar McDonald

Discography :

The Elements
1960 - Lonely Hearts Club / Bad Man (Titan 1708)
1961 - My Illness / Extra Extra (By the Elgins) (Titan 1724)

The Elgins (1)
1961 - Uncle Sam's Man / Casey Cop (Flip 353)
1961 - Extra Extra / My Illness (By the Elements) (Titan 1724)
1961 - Extra! Extra! / Heartache, Heartbreak (Titan 1724)
1962 - A Winner Never Quits / Finally (Lummtone 109)
1962 - A Winner Never Quits / Johnny I'm Sorry (Lummtone 109)
1962 - Johnny I'm Sorry / You Got Your Magnet On Me (Lummtone 110)
1963 - Lost My Love In The Big City / Finally (Lummtone 112)
1963 - Your Lovely Ways / Finding A Sweetheart (Lummtone 113)
1965 - Street Scene / You Found Yourself Another Fool (Valiant 752)

The Daniels
1963 - Big City / Finally (Lantam 01)

The Bagdads

Singles :
1968 - Livin' In Fear / Let's Talk About the Bad Times (Double Shot 128)
1968 - Bring Back Those Doo-Wopps / Green Power 1968 (Double Shot 133)
1969 - Love Has Two Faces / Jelly (Double Shot 140)
1970 - Keep Those Mini Skirts Up / Let's Talk About the Bad Times (Double Shot 151)
Unreleased:
1969 - Push Me Baby (Double Shot)

Biography :

Oscar McDonald and Jimmy Smith attended high school together in Beaumont, Texas. Jimmy, on occasion, laments the fact that he came in second place in several talent contests in Texas to Johnny Nash, of "I Can See Clearly Now" fame. Darryl Lewis, Kenny Sinclair and William Devase attended high school in southern California. Darryl and Kenny were original members of the Six Teens, of "A Casual Look" fame, along with Darryl's cousin Trudy Williams. After leaving the Six Teens, Kenny hooked up with William to sing in various groups while in high school.

The Elements aka The Elgins (1) aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads
The Elgins (1960)

Cappie, as Darryl is affectionately called by close friends, reunited with Kenny, his brother Carl, and William. He brought Jimmy into the group to sing lead. This quintet recorded "Lonely Hearts Club" b/w "Bad Man" for the Titan label in 1960 under the name of the Elements. They also recorded "My Illness" as the Elements for Titan, but this was to go unreleased at the time. Soon thereafter, Carl left the group to devote more time to pursuing an acting career. Jimmy brought Oscar McDonald into the group and the Elgins were born. Along with a change in personnel was a label change to Flip.

The Elements aka The Elgins (1) aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads

This was a return to familiar shores. Flip had been the recording home for the Six Teens. Jimmy Smith had also recorded "I Cry And Cry Every Night" b/w "Night Time" for Flip in 1959 backed by the Lockettes. The Elgins recording on Flip of "Uncle Sam’s Man" b/w "Casey Cop" was released in 1960 and established the group on the west coast. The success of "Uncle Sam’s Man" certainly caught the attention of George Brown at Titan records.

The Elgins (1) aka The Elements aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads
The Bagdads (1968)

Rembering that he still had an unreleased recording by the group (prior to the name change) still in the vaults, Brown decided to capitalize on their recent success and issued "My Illness" b/w "Extra Extra" in 1961 under the name Elgins rather than the Elements . 1962 saw the record reissued with the title of "My Illness" changed to "Heartaches Heartbreak", a somewhat less somber name for the tune. 1962 saw yet another label change for the group, this time to Lummie Fowler's Lummtone label. Their first release, Lummtone 109 was "Finally" b/w "A Winner Never Quits". Barbara Lewis, who had replaced Devase in the group at the time, is heard on "Finally", behind the lead of Darryl Lewis. Their next release, also in '62 was "Johnny I'm Sorry" b/w "A Winner Never Quits", and was also issued as Lummtone 109. "Johnny I'm Sorry" took on new life when it was issued again as Lummtone 110 this time b/w "You Got Your Magnet On Me Baby".

The Elements aka The Elgins (1) aka The Daniels aka The Bagdads
The Elgins (2003)

Devase was back in the group for their next outing on Lummtone which was "I Left My Heart In The Big City" b/w "Finally", which was resurrected from their previous release. This record was also released on the Lantam label as by the Daniels. The Elgins final recording for Lummtone in 1963 was "Your Lovely Ways" b/w "Finding A Sweetheart". In 1965, the Elgins released a more POP sounding record "Street Scene" b/w "You Found Yourself Another Fool" for the Valiant label. Sinclair, Devase and McDonald recorded again between 1968-1970 as the Bagdads, putting out four singles, most notable of which was "Bring Back Those Doo-Wops" b/w "Green Power" for the Double Shot label.

http://www.harmonytrain.com/Artists/Elgins.htm
http://www.colorradio.com/elgins.html
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/elgins.html

http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/bagdads.htm

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Elements


Lonely Hearts Club / Bad Man                          My Illness

The Elgins (1)


Uncle Sam's Man / Casey Cop          Extra! Extra!                Heartache, Heartbreak


A Winner Never Quits / Johnny I'm Sorry

    You Got Your Magnet On Me        Lost My Love In The Big City / Finally


Your Lovely Ways / Finding A Sweetheart          You Found Yourself Another Fool


Street Scene Finally

The Daniels

Big City

The Bagdads


Bring Back Those Doo-Wopps / Green Power


                 Push Me                      Livin' In Fear            Let's Talk About The Bad Times


Love Has Two Faces                 Jelly

….

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The Marquis (1)

Posted on May 18 2016 by dion1

June Bateman

The Marquis (1) (Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

June Bateman (Lead)

Charlie (First tenor)

Ronald Mack (Second Tenor)

Lloyd Lomelino (Baritone)

Robert "Babe" Stowers (Bass)

Discography :

1956 - Bohemian Daddy / Hope He's True (Onyx 505)

Biography :

Before recording, the Marquis sang on the street corners of Manhattan's upper west side. Lomelino's neighbor became their manager. The Marquis cut a demo for their manager to take with him to record companies on Broadway. Through this endeavor, he got the group a contract with Onyx label. Onyx was owned by Jerry Winston who was another of those busy New York music people. He had several other labels in the '50s including Mardi-Gras which was taken over by George Goldner's Gone label and Newport Records. Winston was also A&R at Orbit [NY] which evolved into MGM's Cub subsidiary.

Their first record was released in the fall of 1956. It was unfortunate that Onyx and Winston were paying so much attention to the Pearls and the Velours and virtually none to the label's other groups — particularly the Marquis. Because of this they decided to disband. The Marquis may have been the first integrated male group with a female lead.

Songs :

Bohemian Daddy Hope He's True

...

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The Gleams (2)

Posted on May 8 2016 by dion1

The Gleams (2)

The Gleams (2) (Wantagh, New York)    

Personnel :  

Frankie "Love" Montanaro (Lead) 

John ?

   Discography :

The Gleams (2)
1961 - You Broke My Heart / I Don't Know Why You Sent For Me (Kip 236/237)

Frankie Love
1962 - Save Her Love For Me / First Star (La Rosa 101)
1963 - Stranger At The Dance / Moon Of Love (La Rosa 102)
1966 - First Star / You've Been Wrong (Loma 2033)

Biography :

The Gleams got on the nationwide Bubbling under chart in September 1961 after a month of good regional sales and stayed there for two weeks. But competition was tough in the vocal group arena. The Cleftones were breaking big with "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons," and The Belmonts "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" had jumped on the Charts at #78.

The Gleams (2)
Frankie "Love" Montanaro

"You Broke My Heart" was penned by Steve Verroca, who came to the US from Italy in the late 50s and went on to produce Link Wray's comeback albums for Virgin, in the early 1970s. One more week at the very bottom, and the Gleams disappeared under the shadow of such new hits as "Sweet For My Sweet" by the Drifters and The Dovells "Bristol Stomp". If the Gleams had a bigger push than that from the Pik/Kip operation, they might have made the big time.

The Gleams (2)
Ferris & The Wheels (2)

This smooth rockin'doo wop is a classic of the style, spotlighting a great lead singer know as Frankie "Love" Montanaro. Frankie will join Ferris & The Wheels (2) and recorded two singles on Bambi & United Artists before trying his luck solo.

Songs :

The Gleams

You Broke My Heart I Don't Know Why You Sent For Me

Frankie Love

Moon of Love Stranger at the Dance First Star

Save Her Love For Me

...

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The Chord-Elles

Posted on May 8 2016 by dion1

The Chord-Elles

The Chord-Elles (Collyer, Kansas)

Personnel :

Mary Ziegler

Marilyn Mclntosh

Paula Rajak

Janie Berger

Discography :

Unreleased ?:
1962 - Farewell (Ran Dee)
1962 - New Love (Ran Dee)
1962 - An Angel (Ran Dee)
1962 - My Little Angel (Dee-Jay)

Biography :

Girls quartet from the Collyer High Schoolin composed by Mary Ziegler, Marilyn Mclntosh, Paula Rajak and Janie Berger. Accompanied by their pianist, Kenny Lewis, The Chord-Elles performed in the area and its surroundings and quickly became popular.

The Chord-Elles

The Chord-Elles With Larry "Green" Hester

Managed by James Wiggins, The Girls signed a recording contract with Ran-Dee records and cut three songs "Farewell", "New Love" & "An Angel". Unfortunately, it seems that these titles were never released. The Same year, On Dee-Jay records, the girls cut "My Little Angel", but again, he will not be released.…

...

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The Four Seasons (1)

Posted on May 6 2016 by dion1

The Four Seasons (1)

The Four Seasons (1) (Pittsburgh)

Personnel :

Don Fanzo (Bass)

Danny McGinnis (Lead)

Bill Stammer (First tenor)

Chet Mertz (Second tenor)

Discography :

1959 - I'm Still In Love With You* / That's The Way The Ball Bounces (Alanna 555)
1959 - Don't Sweat It Baby / That's The Way The Ball Bounces (Alanna 555)
1960 - Love Knows No Season / Hot Water Bottle (Alanna 558)
1960 - Mirage / Nancy's Trampoline (Robbee 106)
*printers' mistake

Biography :

Four grads of Baldwin High hung together in the summer of 1959. Not satisfied with loafing in the parking lot of the Big Boy and watching the waitresses skate by (one of Old Mon's fav pastimes in his Highlander days), they formed a group. The singers were Bill Stammer (first tenor), Ched Mertz (second tenor), Dan McGinnis (lead tenor) and Don Fanzo (bass). They didn't have a name, but they did have a song they wrote - "Don't Sweat It, Baby." Mertz had an in with local music impressario Bill Lawrence, and he agreed to let the guys audition for him at Lenny Martin's Carlton House studio in town. They sang "Don't Sweat It, Baby." Lawrence and Martin weren't keen on the arrangement, but liked the lyrics and the singing. They had the group rework the music, and they did. The second audition was a success.

The Four Seasons (1)

Lawrence offered them a contract, and a deal was struck. In October, they traveled to New York City with Martin and Lawrence to record the song at Capitol Recording Studios. They backed it with "That's The Way The Ball Bounces." And they also picked up their name during the process. That same week, the Four Seasons Restaurant opened in New York and Lawrence proclaimed, "That will be the name of the new group." The guys dug it too, and The Four Seasons were born, a year ahead of those falsettos from Jersey. They did more with that slab of wax than launch a song; they launched a label. "Don't Sweat It" was the first release of Lawrence's new Alanna impress. Both got off to a flying start. The Billboard "Review of New Pop Records" of November 23rd, 1959 posted "The Four Seasons bow on the new label with a cute rhythmic reading of a rocker that moves. It has a chance." And it did take off, albeit in Pittsburgh.

The Four Seasons (1)

It entered the KQV charts in mid-November and stuck in the Top 40 until mid-January of 1960. It reached #4 locally, and was in the Groovy QV's Top Ten for five weeks. They toured in support of the song, traveling through the midwest with Bob Kobert (aka Bobby Shawn of the Donnybrooks, who had the 1958 hit "Everytime We Kiss") taking the lead. Alanna's second pressing of the record was retitled "I'm Still In Love With You Baby," which as we understand was "Don't Sweat It Baby" with a different name. Whatever the reason for the old switcheroo, the Four Seasons moved on and followed with "Love Knows No Season" b/w "Hot Water Bottle"," but the ballad didn't catch on. In July of 1960, Mertz married and left the group; Chuck Isler replaced him. The Four Seasons signed with Lennie Martin's new Robbee Records label and as one of his first handful of acts recorded "Mirage" b/w "Nancy's Trampoline." The doo-wop/novelty combo didn't move, and the disc was the final platter the Four Seasons cut. After that last record, Stammer left the group to answer Uncle Sam's call, and the rest of the gang called it a day shortly thereafter.

http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.fr/2011/10/four-seasonsfrom-route-51.html

Songs :


       Don't Sweat It Baby'                That's The Way The Ball Bounces


Love Knows No Season                       Hot Water Bottle


    Mirage                                 Nancy's Trampoline

...

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The Pearls (1) aka The Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)

Posted on May 5 2016 by dion1

The Pearls (1) aka Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)
The Pearls 1956 from left to right Rosco, Howard, Max, Derek, Baby Cortez

The Pearls (1) (Detroit)
aka The Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)

Personnel :

Howard 'Howie' Guyton (Lead)

Dave 'Baby Cortez' Clowney (Tenor/Pianno)

Derek Martin (Tenor)

George Torrence (Baritone)

Coley Washington (Bass)

Max (High Tenor)

Rosco

Discography :

The Five Pearls
1954 - Please Let Me Know / Real Humdinger (Aladdin 3265)

The Pearls (1)
1955 - Shadows Of Love / Yum Yummy (Atco 6057)
1956 - Bells Of Love / Come On Home (Atco 6066)
1956 - Let’s You And I Go Steady / Zippidy Zippidy Zoom (Onyx 503)
1956 - Tree In The Meadow / My Oh My (Onyx 506)
1957 - Your Cheatin’ Heart / I Sure Need You (Onyx 510)
1957 - Ice Cream Baby / Yuz-A-Ma-Tuz (Onyx 511)
1957 - It’s Love, Love, Love / The Wheel Of Love (Onyx 516)
1959 - Ugly Face / Band of Angels (On The Square 320)

Howie & The Sapphires (2)
1959 - More than the day before / Rockin' horse (Okeh 7112)

Biography :

A doo-wop group called the Pearls was at different times and in various line-ups also known as the Fabulous Pearls, the Five Pearls and to a degree even Howie & the Sapphires. Out of the "Motor City", Detroit, Michigan comes the Pearls. Managed at that point by Don Angelo, “Five Pearls” was discovered by Aladdin’s Leo Mesner at the Apollo Theater talent contest. The Pearls originally signed with Aladdin Records of Los Angeles in 1954 and had one release as the Five Pearls. The group picked Derek Martin up when stopping over in Detroit on their tour. Derek became one of their tenor singers, and the other members of the line-up those days included Howard Guyton (lead), David Cortez Clowney (tenor), George Wilson Torrence, Jr. – spelt also Torrance - (baritone), Coley Washington (bass and tenor!) and a high tenor called Max. Besides Howard, David, Derek and Max, in the very first line-up there was also a singer named Rosco. Similarly to Derek Martin, also David Cortez was born in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Pearls (1) aka Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)

He is Howard Guyton’s cousin, and after about two years with the Pearls, he joined first the Valentines in 1956, then the Jesters, until finally making his mark with two memorable instrumental hits, The Happy Organ on Clock in 1959 (# 1-pop) and Rinky Dink on Julia/Chess in 1962 (# 10-pop). From there in 1955 the signed with the Atlantic Records subsidiary Atco for a couple of singles. This time on the label it reads simply “the Pearls”, instead of “Five Pearls” as on their debut. Unfortunately, none of these three Pearls singles charted on a national level. The group switched labels, to Onyx Records. The next five singles by the group in 1956 and ’57 were all released on Onyx Records out of New York. Onyx was Jerry Winston’s label and during its two years plus existence it put out twenty singles by the Velours and the Miller Sisters, among others, but the Pearls was their main act. By this time David Cortez Clowney had left the group, but he came back later.

The Pearls (1) aka Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)
Derek Martin David Cortez

The arranger Sammy Lowe and his orchestra are featured on these Onyx sides, which mostly are uptempo dancers. "It’s Love, Love, Love" and "Yuz-A-Ma-Tuz" are quite poppy ones, whereas "Zippidy Zippidy Zoom" and "My oh My" worked best on stage. Also Hank Williams’ "Your Cheatin’ Heart" is turned into a swinging mid-tempo number. "The Wheel of Love" and "Tree in the Meadow" are the only ballads, and the latter one was first recorded in 1948 by Billy Reid’s Orchestra with Dorothy Squires as vocalist.

The Pearls (1) aka Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)

Even more, Howard was the lead vocalist on Howie & the Sapphires’ 1959 single, "More than the Day Before" b/w "Rockin’ Horse", on Okeh 7112. The Pearls did come back together for one more single, though. Even David Cortez Clowney joined them, in spite of his spring hit in 1959, The Happy Organ. The Pearls released on E. Duke Pilgrim’s On the Square label out of New York a Coasters type of a novelty number called "Ugly Face", backed with a big-voiced ballad titled "Band of Angels". The single flopped, and there were no more releases on the label, neither by the Pearls, nor anybody else.

Songs :

The Five Pearls


Please Let Me Know                            Real Humdinger

The Pearls (1)


Shadows Of Love                 Yum Yummy                            Bells Of Love


Come On Home            Let’s You And I Go Steady        Zippidy Zippidy Zoom


Tree In The Meadow           Your Cheatin’ Heart              I Sure Need You


Ice Cream Baby               Yuz-A-Ma-Tuz                 It’s Love, Love, Love


The Wheel Of Love                  Ugly Face                 Band of Angels

My Oh My

Howie & The Sapphires (2)

More Than The Day Before Rockin' Horse

...

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