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

The Dawn Breakers

Posted on November 8 2015 by dion1

The Dawn Breakers

Larry Potter, Buddy Baker, Jack Blanchard, and Johnny Wilson.

The Dawn Breakers (Buffalo, NY)

Personnel :

Jim Warren (Lead)

Buddy Lee Baker (Tenor)

Don Fronczak (Bass)

Jack Blanchard (Baritone)

Discography :

1956 - Boy With The Be-Bop Glasses (And The Suede Shoes) / The Things I Love (Coral 61619)

Biography :

Jack Blanchard was very talented musically, proficient on guitar, bass and piano. After graduating (he attended Bennett, Lafayette and Kenmore High Schools) he played piano in various joints around town. Don Fronczak joined the Army out of high school, which is where he began performing music – singing first in an Army chorus, then a private group. Out of the service and looking for an opportunity to sing, Don met Jack at a nightspot in Tonawanda and they decided to form a group.

The Dawn Breakers

The first Dawn Breakers Quartet. Late 1950's

At first it was the boys with two girls and the material was the Pop music of the day. As time went on the ladies were replaced with a succession of male singers, the material started including R&R, and they started working the Western New York circuit (which really means Ontario to Erie), including McVan’s and the Glen Casino. Jack continued to be the ‘musician’ of the group while Jim Warren became the lead singer.

The Dawn Breakers

Clockwise from bottom left: Buddy Baker, Jim Warren, Don Fronczak, Jack Blanchard.

This group did some recording at Howell Studio on Delaware Avenue, as many as a dozen tracks of their music plus advertising jingles and a theme for a local DJ. Probably due to the latter, they hooked up with local DJ ‘Hernando’ (Phil Todaro), as many aspiring local musicians ended up doing. Through his record business contacts Todaro was able to get them a deal with Coral Records. Jack brought out a song he’d written called Boy With The Be-Bop Glasses (And The Suede Shoes). In the interest of group ‘harmony’ he have the credit to all groups members- Blanchard, Fronczak, Warren and Buddy Lee Baker (who had replaced Harry Madrid).

The Dawn Breakers

Buddy Baker, Jim Warren, Don Fronczak and Jack Blanchard

In any case, the 1956 song was something of a local hit, though some radio stations may have opted to spin the more traditional These Are "The Things I Love" on the flip. They had trouble getting The Hound – George Lorenz – to play their record unless some considerations were thrown his way (a common practice) which they were unwilling or unable to do. And just as they were getting going there were the usual members resignations due to family and ‘other job’ demands. With new members they auditioned for the Arthur Godfrey Show and even cut an advertisement for the local Polish newspaper “Everybody’s Daily”. They may have cut one more obscure 45. But finally they just drifted apart.

https://wnyfm.wordpress.com

Songs :

The Things I Love Boy With The Be-Bop Glasses

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The Egyptian Kings

Posted on November 6 2015 by dion1

The Four Pharaohs

The Egyptian Kings : top : Morris Wade - bottom (L to R): William Suber, Leo Blakely & Paul Moore

The Egyptian Kings (Columbus, Ohio)

aka The Four Pharaohs
aka The Columbus Pharaohs
aka King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)

Personnel :

Morris Wade (Lead)

William Suber (Baritone)

Paul Moore (Bass)

Leo Blakely (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Columbus Pharaohs
1958 - Give Me Your Love / China Girl (Esta 290)

The Four Pharaohs
1958 - Give Me Your Love / China Doll (Ransom 101)
1957 - Pray For Me / The Move Around (Ransom 100)

Morris Wade & music by Manhattans bb The Four Pharaohs
1959 - Is It Too Late / It Was A Nite Like This (Ransom 102)

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)
1961 - By The Candlelite / Shimmy Sham (Federal 12413)

The Egyptian Kings
Single:
1963 - Give Me Your Love / I Need Your Love (Nanc 1120)
Unreleased :
1963 - School days (Nanc)
1963 - Summertime (Nanc)

Biography :

The Four Pharaohs were a top R&B vocal group in Columbus, lasting for more than 10 years and several name changes. The group started as the Columbus Pharaohs by four teenagers, Morris Wade (on lead), Benard Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, and Robert Taylor The Wilsons were brothers who attended Central High School. Taylor attended East High, while Wade had moved between the two schools. The group recorded a 45 for Esta records in Hamilton, singing two original songs, "Give Me Your Love" and "China Girl".

The Four Pharaohs

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (L to R) Leo Blakely, Morris Wade, Paul Moore, Ronnie Wilson & Harold Smith

On the recording session, they were backed by Tommy Wills and his band, and the recording was done at King. At the time, the band was managed by Howard Ransom in Columbus, and shortly after the Esta record was released, he released the songs on his own Ransom, changing the title from China Girl, the correct name, to China Doll. To make things even more confusing, the Esta 45 had the group name as Columbus Pharaohs. Possibly, Ransom wanted the record to come out under the group's correct name as Four Pharaohs. The record had some sales but only in the Columbus area.

The Four Pharaohs

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians with Harold Smith

After a couple years, Robert Taylor left, replaced by George Smith, and Bernard Wilson was replaced by Robert Lowery, both from Columbus. This new lineup recorded a second 45 on Ransom, the ballad "Pray For Me" and the uptempo "The Move Around". When the record was released, the label name was mispelled as Ranson. Although being on a local label, this record seems to have sold more copies than the first one as plenty of used copies turn up.

The Four Pharaohs

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians with Harold Smith The Egyptian Kings

About a half year later (mid 1959), Ransom released a third 45. The artist was credited as Morris Wade with music by the Manhattans. The Four Pharaohs sang, and the backing band was hired by Ransom. The band was a working band that had backed up Sonny Til, Ransom gave them the Manhattans name, presumably to make people think they were a sophisticated group from NYC. The songs were "Is It Too Late"(mispelled 'To' on the label) and "It Was A Nite Like This". Around the time of this release, the group's first 45"Give Me Your Love"/:China Girl" was rereleased on the Paradise label from NYC.

The Four Pharaohs

The Egyptian Kings (L to R) : Forest Porter, Leo Blakely, Paul Moore, Harold Smith & Morris Wade

During the time these records were coming out, the group spent a lot of time on the road, playing standard chitlin circuit venues in Detroit, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc. In 1961 the group was reorganized as King Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The group added a guitarist, Harold Smith, and George Smith left. Then, Robert Lowery left and was replaced by Paul Moore, who brought Leo Blakely with him. Harold Smith was "King Pharaoh". During this time, they recorded a 45 on Deluxe, using their usual style of a ballad "By the Candle Lite" and the uptempo "Shimmy Sham".

The Four Pharaohs

In 1959 or 1960, Howard Ransom had moved to California where he continued in the record business. In 1963, with Pete Oden having replaced the last original member (other than Morris Wade) Bernard Wilson, the group decided to move to Los Angeles. They reconnected with Ransom, who had a new label, Nanc. The group, now known as the Egyptian Kings - without Harold Smith - recorded a 45 on Nanc, featuring a remake of "Give Me Yout Love".

The Four Pharaohs

The Egyptian Kings - (L to R) : Paul Moore, Leo Blakely, William Suber & Morris Wade

After a couple years in LA, the group wasn't going anywhere so they returned to Columbus. William Suber replaced Pete Oden. The group tried to get something going with Way Out records in Cleveland, and performed there at clubs like the Music Box, but nothing came of that. There were no more recordings done. Finally, Morris Wade decided to relocate for good to Los Angeles, and that was the end of the Egyptian Kings (and their ancient Egypt inspired outfits!). When he was settled in LA, Morris joined a touring group that did USO shows. He joined fellow Columbus native Bobby Hendricks in a version of the Drifters in 1983. Back in 1974, he had an appearance as a hit man in the movie "Baby Needs a New Pair Of Shoes", later retitled "Jive Turkey", which was produced by Howard Ransom. Robert Taylor relocated to Vancouver, BC and became Bobby Taylor who recorded the hit "Does Your Mother Know" for Motown.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Pharaohs/4pharaohs.html
http://www.buckeyebeat.com/fourpharoahs.html

Songs :

The Columbus Pharaohs


Give Me Your Love                           China Girl

The Four Pharaohs


Give Me Your Love                Pray For Me / The Move Around

King Pharaoh & The Egyptians (1)

Shimmy Sham

Morris Wade & music by Manhattans bb The Four Pharaohs

Is It Too Late / It Was A Nite Like This

The Egyptian Kings

Give Me Your Love / I Need Your Love (Nanc 1120)

….

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The El Deons

Posted on November 2 2015 by dion1

The El Deons

From left: Randy Hardy, Kenny Head, Eddie Williams, Larry Banks and Michael Turner

The El Deons (Cleveland, Ohio)

Personnel :

Eddie Williams

Larry Banks

Randy Hardy

Kenny Head

Michael Turner

Discography :

1959 - It's Raining / Turn Me On (Parma ?)

Biography :

The El'Deon's were a Cleveland based doo-wop group that was formed at the city's East High School. The group was composed by Eddie Williams, Larry Banks, Kenny Head, Michael Turner and Randy Hardy. They made a record. They recorded at WERE Radio station, in the basement. The engineer was Arnie Rosenburg.

The El Deons From left: Larry Banks, Kenny Head, Michael Turner, Eddie Williams, Randy Hardy and a student

The 2 cuts on this were "It's Raining" and "Turn Me On". One of the group then gave this to DJ Eddie OJay and he sent it off to contacts in New York. The people in NY wanted a clearer copy but the members didn't have one and that was the end of that. Then somebody dubbed over their original recording and the resulting cut was issued on Parma Records (a subsidiary to Paramount Records) in 1959.

The El Deons with the El Deonettes

The El Deons had a sister group , the El Deonettes and both outfits were managed by Walter Randcliff. He also managed the LaSalles (the Tan Tams) who cut “Chopsticks”. He made the money, not the group members. Eddie Williams left the El Deon’s and joined the Sensations (not the Philly outfit or Way Out group) who included two ex members of the Crescents in the line-up. They were all together for about a year before He went into the army in 1961.

Songs :

?

….

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The Revelers (2)

Posted on November 1 2015 by dion1

The Revelers (2)

The Revelers (2) (New York)
(By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel:

Edward Ansara (Bass)

Laurence Bogue (Baritone)

Thomas Edwards (Tenor)

Feodore Tedick (Tenor) alternating with Robert Simpson (Tenor)

Discography:

Single:
1958 - The Ghaly Ghaly Man / Give Me A Second Chance (Masquerade 22458/59)

Albums:
n/a - Drinking Songs Around The World (Urania UR 9008)
There Is A Tavern In The Town / In Praise Of Music / A Toast To Ireland / Auprès De Ma Blonde / The Heidelberg Stein Song / Landlord, Fill The Flowing Bowl / The Whiffenpoof Song / I Belong To Glasgow / Gaudeamus Igitur / Krambambuli / The More We Got Together / In Bohemia Hall / Little Brown Jug / The Parting Glass / Vive L’Amour / Im Tiefen Keller Sitz Ich Hier / A Sup Of Good Whisky / Auld Lang Sine

The Revelers (2)

n/a - Salty Sea Chanties (Urania UR 9007 / Urania UR 9020)
The Maid Of Amsterdam / Away You Rio / The Drunken Sailor / The Pirate Song / Haul Away Joe / High Barbaree / Eddystone Light / Santy Anna / Ward The Pirate / Oh, You New York Girls / Blow The Man Down / Shenandoah / Captain Kidd / Henry Martin / Goodbye, My Lover, Goodbye

The Revelers (2)

Biography:

The Revelers was formed around 1920 and has gained its reputation for fine music making and clever arrangement of standard concert repertoire. The group has developed many top ranking musicians.

The Revelers (2)

In 1956 after an absence of several years, the new Revelers were formed by Edward Ansara , Laurence Bogue, Thomas Edwards and Feodore Tedick . The repertoire of this male vocal quartet ran the gamut from Franz Schubert to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and included their arrangements of folk and popular songs.

The Revelers (2)

They released two albums on Urania and a single on Masquerade in the 1950’s. In 1957 they were honored by an appearance at the White House, where they sang for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Songs:

The Ghaly Ghaly Man / Give Me A Second Chance

…

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The Creations (7) aka The Riffs

Posted on October 30 2015 by dion1

The Riffs aka The Creations (7) The Creations - ( L to R) : Louie Liguori, Joe LoCicero , Richie Giovelli and Carmine DeSena.

The Creations (7) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Riffs

Personnel :

Joe LoCicero (Lead singer)

Richard Giovelli (First Tenor)

Louie Liguori (Second Tenor)

Carmine DeSena (Baritone)

Vinny Tilotta (Bass)

Discography:

The Creations (7)
1961 - Wake Up In The Morning / Strolling Through The Park (PineCrest 101)
1961 - My Heart Belongs To Only You (Gem 102)

The Riffs
1964 - Little Girl / Why Are The Nights So Cold (Sunny 22)
1965 - Tell Tale Friends / Why Are The Nights So Cold (Old Town 1179)
1978 - Storm / Where There's A Will (Crystal Ball 130)

Biography :

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joe LoCicero started singing at the age of twelve in church choirs. In 1958, Joe LoCicero originated and sang lead in a group entitled "The Creations ».Original members of The Creations 1959 Joe LoCicero, Richie Giovelli, Carmine DeSena, Louie Liguori and Vinny Tilotta (not in photo). They were so young, we needed a Cabaret License, so they only did Church Dances and Confraternities .

The Riffs aka The Creations (7)

The Riffs- ( L to R) : Louie Liguori, Joe LoCicero, Joe Nisi , Richie Giovelli and Carmine DeSena.

They had three recordings at the time, which where, "Wake Up in the Morning", "Strolling Through The Park" on PineCrest and "My Heart Belongs to Only You" on the Gem Label in 1961. In 1963, The Creations changed their name to "The Riffs" under the management of writer and producer, Phil Spina, and new member Jimmy Nisi who replaced Vinny Tilotta. Their recordings included, "Little Girl", "Why Are The Nights So Cold", "Where There Is A Will There Is Away", "Storm", and "Tell Tale Friends", recorded on New York Labels, Sunny, Old Town, Crystal Ball.

The Riffs aka The Creations (7)

The Riffs (1972)

By 1966 all the members were married and planning families and the group broke up. Later on, they released an LP, "The Riffs Now & Then", which featured all original Riff recordings. Joe Locicero who sings lead on most Riffs songs, sang lead for the Chimes for a couple of years when Lenny Coco was real sick.

Songs :

The Creations (7)


Wake Up In The Morning             Strolling Through The Park

The Riffs


Little Girl        Why Are The Nights So Cold                 Tell Tale Friends


Storm                       Where There's A Will

…

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The Starlites (1)

Posted on October 28 2015 by dion1

Eddie & the Starlites (2)

The Starlites (1) 1957 (L to R) Troy Keyes, Cliff Rice, Sony Eugene, Charlie Saunders & Vic Rice

The Starlites (1) (Brooklyn, New-York)
Ref : Eddie The Starlites (2)

Personnel :

Sony Eugene (Lead)

Troy Keyes

Cliff Rice

Charlie Saunders

Vic Rice

Discography :

1957 - Missing You / Give Me A kiss (Peak 5000)
1965 - Joannie / My Greatest Thrill (Relic 1001) (Joyce unreleased 1957)

Biography :

Troy Keyes was born in Pantego, NC, on March 13, 1940. A member of his church's choir throughout childhood, from the age of ten he grew up in Brooklyn, New York, there singing in street-corner doo wop groups in addition to studying dance at the Fred Astaire Studio. In 1955 Keyes joined a vocal group dubbed the Starlites with Cliff Rice, Sony Eugene, Charlie Saunders & Vic Rice. The Starlites earned a record deal with Al Browne and his tiny Peak label as a result of winning a local talent contest. Their single "Missing You" went nowhere, and in 1958 he joined the Velours, which cut several singles for the Cub label.

Eddie & the Starlites (2)
Al Browne (Piano) with his band

Al Browne had several different groups which he called the Starlites. The story of Scepter Records starts with Florence Greenberg, who was a thirty-something housewife in the New Jersey suburbs of New York in the mid-1950s. The first single on the label (Scepter 1201) was "Why Why Why"/"Ugly Duckling" by Don Crawford & the Escorts. When Al was producing for the Scepter Label on some early releases, he took the Starlites with him. Here, They became Eddie & Starlites for their release in Late December 1958 - cut in October at a split session with the Criterions/Kents.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Missing You Give Me A kiss

My Greatest Thrill / Joannie

…

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The Valadeers

Posted on October 27 2015 by dion1

The Valadeers

The Valadeers (Miami, Florida)

Personnel :

Paul Kelly (Lead)

Jimmy Cherry (Baritone)

Biography :

Paul Kelly was born in Overtown Miami, Florida, the fourth of six siblings. Kelly was brought up by his grandmother. In about 1956, Kelly's brother Henry formed a vocal group, with Paul as lead vocalist. It only lasted a few months, before Henry left Miami to go to college. Paul then formed a group with school friends from 20th Street School — The Spades, later known as The Valadeers. Another member was Jimmy Cherry, who later sang with The Fantastics.

The Valadeers

Paul Kelly (1965)

In 1960, Kelly went left the group to go solo, recording the standard, "I'll String Along With You" for Dade Records, which was never released, following a dispute between Kelly and the label. A Miami-based singer/songwriter/producer, Clarence Reid (who would later perform as Blowfly), heard Kelly rehearse, and asked him to fill in on lead vocals with his group, The Delmiros, whose lead singer had laryngitis. Kelly recorded a single, "Down With It, Can't Quit It"/"Sooner Or Later", which was released on Selma Records in 1963, under the name Clarence Reid & The Delmiros. Kelly began performing the song live in clubs and became associated with the song. Reid asked him to join The Delmiros on a permanent basis. Paul left the group to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut solo 45, 'It's My Baby' b/w 'The Upset', for the Lloyd imprint in 1965.

…

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The Honey Bees

Posted on October 25 2015 by dion1

The Honey Bees

The Honey Bees (Detroit ???)

Personnel :

Joan Sanek

Beverly Rislow

Judy Regenold

Biography :

Vocal group composed by Joan Sanek, Beverly Rislow & Judy Regenold.

The Honey Bees

Photo from 1959 at a State Fair Parade in Detroit… The Honey Bees from Fraternity Records ? ("Teenage Heartbreak" / "Magic Words").

If anyone has any information : doowop@club-internet.fr

....

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The Capes aka The Zircons (2)

Posted on October 24 2015 by dion1

The Zircons (2) aka The Capes

The Zircons (1965)

The Capes (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
aka The Zircons (2)

Personnel :

Eugene Meadows

Emmanuel Thompson

Robert Eppinger

Wilson Meadows

Wallace Meadows

Discography :

The Capes
1960 - The Vow / Jeanie (Chat 5005

The Zircons (2)
1962 - No Twistin' On Sunday / Mama Wants To Drive (Federal 12452)
1962 - Mr. Jones (Is A Bad Man) / Get Up And Go To School (Federal 12478)
1964 - Don't Put Off For Tomorrow (What You Can Do Today) / Where There's A Will (Heigh Ho 606-607)
1965 - Sit Down Girl / I couldn't Stop Crying (Heigh Ho 608-609)
1967 - Go On And Cry, Cry / Was It Meant To Be This Way (Heigh Ho 645-646)
1969 - Finders Keepers / You Ain't Comin' Back (Capitol 2667)

Biography :

Wilson, Wallace, Eugene Meadows, Robert Eppinger and Emmanuel Thompson first started as the Capes, they recorded a ditty called "The Vow" b/w "Jeanie" for Chat in February 1960. In 1961, They signed a record deal with King Records as The Zircons. The name for the group has caused some confusion over the years as it seems that the name had been used in the late 50's early 60's on several other groups recording for Winston, Dot and a number of other small labels. But the name was soon to become firmly theirs the following year when their first release "No Twisting On Sunday" came out on the King subsidiary Federal: "No Twisting on Sunday" b/w "Mama Wants To Drive".

The Zircons (2) aka The Capes The Capes (1960) L to R : Eugene Meadows, Emmanuel Thompson, Robert Eppinger, Wilson Meadows, Wallace Meadows

Actually the Capes and the Zircons were the same group, which just changed names. After one more release for the label the group headed further north to New York. Here over the next five years they cut three singles for the Heigh-Ho label, including "Go On And Cry, Cry". In the early 70's they also cut one single with Capitol records "Finders Keepers". On Capitol (without Eppinger and Thompson) Wilson, Wallace & Eugene Meadows came with the name 'The Meadows' and soon learned there were other acts that had already chosen the name.

The Zircons (2) aka The Capes
The Meadows

Wilson Meadows continued with his brothers as the Meadows on Radio Records - an LP recorded at Muscle Shoals with the legendary studio band , and scored an R&B chart hit in 1977 with "I Can't Understand" by the Meadows Brothers on Kayvette.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Zircons (2)

Mr. Jones (Is A Bad Man)            No Twistin' On Sunday       Get Up And Go To School


Mama Wants To Drive                Don't Put Off For Tomorrow ....    Where There's A Will....


I Couldn't Stop Crying              You Ain't Coming Back        Finders Keepers

….

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The Fi Dells Quartet

Posted on October 23 2015 by dion1

The Fi Dells Quartet

The Fi Dells Quartet (Indianapolis, IN)

Personnel :

Wally Cox

Discography :

1958 - Time And Time Again / Foggy Day (India 5822/23)
1959 - Moonlight Serenade / Sooner Or Later (India 5273/74)
1961 - Hey, Senorita ! / Moonlight Becomes You (India 2663/64)

Biography :

The Original quartet was organized in 1952, however, early in 1958 a new tenor joined them. Upon graduation from Broad Ripple High School the quartet entered Butler University, at which time they changed their name from the Rocketairs to the Fi-Dells. The Quartet has a large selection of Songs including, Modern, Barbershop, religious and Popular.

The Fi Dells Quartet

They have entertained at Banquets, dances and night clubs. They have made appearances at the Indiana Roof, La Rue’s Supper Club,Variety Club and the Egyptian Room of the Murat Temple. The group recorded three singles for the India Record label.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Time And Time Again / Foggy Days Moonlight Serenade / Sooner Or Later

Hey, Senorita ! / Moonlight Becomes You

…

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