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The Silver Aces (Charlestown, Indiana)
Personnel :
Joe Lyons
Bobby Braswell
Mary Lou Lebetter
Biography :
Vocal group of Charlestown teenagers formed in 1961 who make many appearances in the area backed by instrumentalists known as the Starliters. The Starliters are Tony Kocherperger (guitar), Ed Givens (guitar) and Donnie Hostetler on Drums...
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Keith & Kay (Plainview, Texas)
Personnel :
Keith McCormack "Bryan Keith"
Juanita Jordan "Kay"
Discography :
1965 - Spring Has Sprung / Stumblin' Stone (Dot 16712)
Biography :
"Bryan Keith" was a pseudonym of Keith McCormack, the rhythm guitarist and vocalist with The String-A-Longs and later a member of The Fireballs. He also wrote quite a few songs, including "Sugar Shack" for Jimmy Gilmer. He recorded as "Mickey Boyd" for 7 Arts/Warwick
Keith McCormack had two singles on Dot: "Hound Dog"/"Cute Little Frown" in 1963 as Bryan Keith and In 1965, he released a second single for Dot as Keith & Kay. Kay have been his regular songwriting partner Juanita Jordan. A haunting and catchy ‘Spring Has Sprung’. Its flip is the fantastic beat-ballad "Stumbling Stone" .
Songs :
** Stumblin' Stone ** (One of my favorite songs) Spring Has Sprung
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The Dreamers on Flip Records.(top to right) Gloria Jones, Janell Hawkins, Annette Williams, and Fanita James.
The Dreamers (3) (Los Angeles)
aka The Blossons
aka The Rollettes
aka The Playgirls (1)
aka The Angels (4)
aka The Girlfriends (3)
aka The Coeds (2)
Ref Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans
Personnel :
Fanita Wright Barrett (First tenor)
Annette Williams (First tenor)
Nanette Williams Jackson (Second tenor)
Gloria Jones (Baritone)
Discography :
The Dreamers (3) featuring Richard Berry
1954 - Bye Bye / At Last (Flair 1052)
The Dreamers (3)
1956 - Do Not Forget / Since You've Been Gone (Flip 319)
Jenell Hawkins & The Dreamers (3)
1961 - Do Not Forget / Since You've Been Gone (Flip 354)
Richard Berry bb The Dreamers (3)
1956 - Good Love / Wait For Me (RPM 477)
Richard Berry & The Dreamers (3)
Singles :
1955 - Daddy Daddy / Baby Darling (Flair 1058)
1955 - Together / Jelly-Roll (Richard Berry with male group) (Flair 1075)
Lp :
1963 - Richard Berry & The Dreamers (3) (Crown CST 371)
Daddy, Daddy / Pretty Brown Eyes* / I Am Bewildered* / The Big Break** / Good Love / Next Time* / Wait For Me / Together / Baby Baby / Please Tell Me
*Richard Berry solo
**Richard Berry with male group
Biography :
The Dreamers were formed in 1954 in Los Angeles, California. Gloria Jones, Fanita Barrett, fraternal twin sisters Annette and Nanette Williams, Pat Howard and Jewel Cobbs all attended Fremont High School in Los Angeles. Fanita and Jewel had been in the glee club at Edison Junior High School. When the girls attended Fremont, Fanita and Jewel met the twins in the chorus. Pat and Gloria soon joined the group. This sextet was originally named The Dreamers. his sextet was originally named The Dreamers. The girls palled around with fellow student Dexter Tisby, himself a member of the locally popular group, The Penguins, who had a hit with the memorable, “Earth Angel”.
Richard Berry
Richard Berry was having emergent success as a songwriter and as a jazz and R&B soloist. The capable singer took to the sextet of young girls. Barely out of high school himself, Richard was quickly developing a reputation as a smooth baritone crooner. The Dreamers complemented him perfectly. He began using them as backing vocalists on his recordings for Flair and RPM Records.
With Johnny Otis in 1954. Left to right: Annette Williams, Nanette Williams, Fanita Barrett, Gloria Jones, Pat Howard and Jewel Cobbs. Cobbs and Howard sang only on the "Bye Bye" and "Daddy Daddy" sessions.
Johnny Otis, the famed disc jockey and orchestra leader, spotted the girls at a high school talent show. One of their first appearances was for his radio show on KFOX IN 1955. Not long after this appearance, Pat and Jewel turned their attentions to other activities in their lives. The group quickly became an efficient quartet. The Dreamers developed an harmonic tone that was crystal clear and mesmerizing in its clarity. Every note was sung in perfectly aimed “oohs”, and when their words were sung, it was like a recitation. Everything they sang was done in three or four-part harmonies with either Fanita or Nanette taking the occasional lead. The Dreamers weren't interested in making a name for themselves as a primary group. Happy being backing vocalists, they played both an integral and primary part of Richard Berry's recordings.
The Rollettes.
Beginning with a version of Harry Warren and Mack Gordon's standard gem “At Last”, The Dreamers backed Richard Berry on three singles for Flair, one single for RPM and one single for Flip. Also, The Dreamers lent their signature sound to other solo artists like Eloise Brooks and Etta James. Perhaps the most memorable recording by the group under their original moniker was the enchanting “Do Not Forget” and its compatible flip, , “Since You've Been Gone”, both penned by Richard Berry. In a true California style, the girls blow their way through each phrase, putting their unique intonations on every chord. Nanette could not sing lead on this session, so Jennell Hawkins took her place. Jennell is an accomplished organist as well as an engaging singer and had recorded duets with Richard Berry on RPM before rising to fame with her 1962 hit , “Moments”. The Dreamers' ability to sing in any configuration allowed them to garner work singing for different labels under assumed names. Gloria occasionally sang as a member of Richard Berry's Pharaohs.
The Blossoms during their Capitol period. Clockwise from lower left: Nanette, Fanita, Gloria and Annette.
Gloria, Annette and Fanita recorded two singles for Class Records under the pseudonym The Rollettes. “Sad Fool” and “More Than You Realize/Kiss Me Benny” were two efforts that, unfortunately, went by unnoticed, but the efforts of the singing group did not. Recording under assumed names was to become the group's way of life. The Dreamers signed with Capitol Records where one of the executives, noticing their different skin tones, said they looked like a bouquet; which is how they became the Blossoms.
John Clemente (Girl Groups: Fabulous Females That Rocked the World)
Songs :

The Dreamers (3)

Do Not Forget Since You've Been Gone
The Dreamers (3) featuring Richard Berry
Bye Bye At Last

Richard Berry & The Dreamers (3)

Daddy Daddy Baby Darling Together
Good Love Wait For Me Next Time
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The Ramrods (Bristol, Pa)
Personnel :
John Romano
Fred Camillucci
Jay Rocco
Mike D'Uva
Joe Caro
Vince Laganella
Biography :
Group formed in 1959. They were seniors in high school. The picture was taken in 1960.
...
The Nightcaps (Salina, Kansas)
Personnel :
Doug Exline
John Weigand
Bob Sanders
Janet Holm
Biography :
(From The Salina Journal - January 5, 1958)
Freshmen at Kansas State College, Doug Exline, John Weigand, Bob Sanders and Janet Holm formed a group known as the Nightcaps. The foursome sings varied repertoire of popular songs arranged by Bob Sanders who also play Piano accompaniment for the group. They sang for many small parties andd informal groups at the college. Moving up a year in school, experience and popularity they have recently added to their list of successful appearances such jobs as an intermission spot at the Stan Kenton concert, The Fu Carnival, the big three college talent show and a weekly program on the student training radio station KSDB with occasional tape recordings played on Manahattan's KMAN.
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The Philadelphians (Philadelphia, Pa)
Personnel :
Big John Bowie (Lead)
Frank Gordon (Bass)
Sam (Second Tenor)
Eddie (First Tenor)
Gino (Baritone)
Discography :
The Philadelphians
1961 - The Love That I Lost / Dear (Campus 101)
1962 - Coming Home To You / Church Bells (Campus 103)
1962 - The Vow / I Missed Her (Cameo 116)
Big John & The Philadelphians
1963 - My Love, My Love / Cleo's Theme (by Vince Monata & His Orchestra) (Guyden 2093)
Biography :
The Philadelphians were a Philadelphia R&B male harmony group of the late fifties and early sixties. The Philadelphians used to rehearse at The Community Center located at 10th and Thompson Sts. of The Cambria Hgts. projects. Members of The Philadelphians were Big John as lead, Frank Gordon as bass, Sam as second tenor, Eddie as first tenor and Gino as baritone singer.
They were produced by Steve Schulman on Campus Records. They cut two singles for the label "The Love That I Lost" b/w "Dear" May 1961 (Campus 101) and "Coming Home To You" b/w "Church Bells" Feb 1962 (Campus 103). In 1962, they cut a third single for Cameo, a major American Philadelphia-based record labels: "The Vow" b/w "I Missed Her"
Their last single was recorded in 1963 for Jamie-Guyden "My Love, My Love" as Big John & The Philadelphians. The group broke up, But Big john bowie continue to perform on stage for several years with an instrumental group also called the Philadelphians. John Bowie also had releases on Merben Records in 1966 and Phil-LA of Soul Records the next year.
Songs :
The Philadelphians
Dear / The Love That I Lost Coming Home To You
Church Bells The Vow / I Missed Her
Big John & The Philadelphians
My Love, My Love
…
Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry & Laura Greenwich
The Raindrops (6) (New York)
Personnel :
Jeff Barry
Ellie Greenwich
Laura Greenwich
Discography :
Singles :
1963 - What A Guy / It's So Wonderful (Jubilee 5444)
1963 - The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget / Even Though You Can't Dance (Jubilee 5455
1963 - Hanky Panky / That Boy John (Jubilee 5466
1964 - Book Of Love / I Won't Cry (Jubilee 5469
1964 - Let's Go Together / You Got What I Like (Jubilee 5475)
1964 - One More Tear / Another Boy Like Mine (Jubilee 5487
1965 - Don't Let Go / My Mama Don't Like Him (instrumental) (Jubilee 5497)
Unreleased :
N/A - Do Wah Diddy Diddy (Jubilee)
N/A - More Than A Man (Jubilee)
N/A - Talk About Me (Jubilee)
N/A - Can't Hide The Hurtin' (Jubilee)
Lps :
1963 - The Raindrops (Jubilee 5423)
What A Guy / Hanky Panky / I Won't Cry / It's So Wonderful / Da Doo Ron Ron / When The Boy's Happy / The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget / Isn't That Love / Every Little Beat / Even Though You Can't Dance / That Boy's Messin' Up My Mind / Not Too Young To Get Married
Biography :
The Raindrops were an American pop group from New York, associated with the Brill Building style of 1960s pop. The group existed from 1963 to 1965 and consisted of Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, both of whom worked as writer/producers for numerous other acts before, during and after their tenure as The Raindrops.
Laura Greenwich, Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry
The group was formed around the nucleus of childhood friends Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Greenwich had recorded a single in 1958 ("Cha-Cha Charming", as by Ellie Gaye) while a college student, and Barry began working for a Brill Building music publisher in 1959, penning the hit "Tell Laura I Love Her" amongst others. The two met again that year and began dating; simultaneously, they began writing songs together, mainly for other artists. However, a couple of Greenwich-led discs were issued in the early 1960s under pseudonyms, one credited to Ellie Gee and The Jets, another to Kelli Douglas.
Ellie & Jeff In the 0ffice of the Brill Building
Greenwich and Barry would marry in October 1962. Greenwich also got a job in music publishing, not only writing but also singing on various demos of her publisher's songs. In early 1963, Greenwich and Barry recorded a demo of their composition "What a Guy", a tune Barry had written for The Sensations. However, the group's label, Jubilee Records, chose to release Barry and Greenwich's demo as the single under the name 'The Raindrops' (the group name was reportedly inspired by "Raindrops," a 1961 hit song by Dee Clark).
Ellie & Jeff In the Studio
The single hit #41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and the follow-up, "The Kind of Boy You Can't Forget", hit #17. The Raindrops sound was "girl-group" in style, with Greenwich singing lead vocal and double-tracked harmony parts, and Barry providing nonsense-syllable bass vocals. At this point, the group began to attract attention. Media stills of the group often depicted the group as a trio, featuring Greenwich and Barry as well as Greenwich's younger sister Laura, who did not sing on the records.
Bobby Bosco, Beverly Warren, Laura Greenwich & Ellie Greenwich
The Raindrops made occasional live appearances, but rarely with the same personnel as on record; Ellie Greenwich sometimes had Beverly Warren sing live for her, and Bobby Bosco filled in at times for Barry. To preserve the illusion that the group was a trio, Laura Greenwich also occasionally appeared in live performances with the group, singing into a dead microphone.
The Raindrops released an album on Jubilee towards the end of 1963; a third single, "That Boy John", was a minor hit but sank at radio after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. After a few further minor hits, Barry and Greenwich stopped releasing material as The Raindrops in early 1965, around the same time they became involved with Red Bird Records.
Raindrops on the road : Ellie, Bobby Bosco & Beverly Warren
Both Greenwich and Barry enjoyed successful careers as songwriters after the demise of The Raindrops, and Greenwich went on to a modest solo career as a singer as well. They divorced late in 1965, although they continued to write songs together for a time. They reunited on record for a 1967 single credited to The Meantime, which failed to chart. This was their last professional project as a duo. Both Greenwich and Barry were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991.
John Clemente (Girl Groups: Fabulous Females That Rocked the World)
http://www.billboard.com/artist/418919/raindrops/biograph
http://www.spectropop.com/gg/raindrops.html
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-raindrops-mn0000894028/biography
http://history-of-rock.com/raindrops.htm
https://rockhall.com/inductees/greenwich-and-barry/bio/
http://spectropop.com/EllieGreenwich2/index.htm
http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/ellie_greenwich.htm
http://www.spectropop.com/JeffBarry/index.htm
http://www.45cat.com/artist/the-raindrops-us


Songs :
What A Guy It's So Wonderful The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget
Even Though You Can't Dance Hanky Panky That Boy John
Book Of Love I Won't Cry Let's Go Together
You Got What I Like One More Tear Another Boy Like Mine
Da Doo Ron Ron Isn't That Love That Boy's Messin' Up My Mind
Talk About Me Don't Let Go
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The Five Thrills (2) (Port Chester, NY)
aka The Uniques (2)
Personnel :
Arthur Epps (Lead Tenor)
Curtis Smith (First Tenor)
Richard Welch (Second Tenor)
Ben Peterson (Baritone)
Benjamin Todd (Bass)
Discography :
The Uniques (2)
Single :
1958 - Tell The Angels / Hey, Little Cupid (End 1012)
The Five Thrills (2)
Unreleased:
1957 - Hey, Little Cupid (End)
1957 - Tell The Angels (End)
1957 - Love Express (End)
1957 - Pretty As A Rose (End)
Biography :
The group consisted of Arthur Epps as lead singer, Benjamin Todd as bass, Curtis Smith as first tenor, Richard Welch as second tenor and Ben Peterson sang baritone. They all lived in Port Chester, New York. They were all 18 or 19 years old and Harvey Katz was their manager.1958 was a banner year for END Records. In 1958, the Uniques, previously known as the Five Thrills, recorded "Hey,' Little Cupid" and "Tell The Angels" on the END Label (END #1012), just after the Chantels recorded "Maybe" (END # 1005).
Later that year, Little Anthony and the Imperials recorded their first record on END, “Tears on My Pillow”. "(END # l027). The Flamingos recorded “Lovers Never Say Goodbye” (END # 1035). In late 1957, while they were the "Five Thrills", the group recorded four unreleased songs, including another version of "Hey, Little Cupid" and "Tell The Angels” as well as "Love Express" and "Pretty As A Rose".
Songs:
The Uniques (2)
Tell The Angels Hey, Little Cupid
The Five Thrills (2)
Hey, Little Cupid Pretty As A Rose Tell The Angels
Love Express
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The Star-Drifts (Brooklyn, NY)
Personnel :
Teddy Grable
Joey Etle
Howie Tyll
Joe "J.B." Belucci
Tony Clausi
Discography :
Single :
1963 - She's Gone / An Eye For An Eye (Goldisc G3)
Demo :
1958 - She's Gone
1958 - All my Love
1958 - Way Over There
Biography :
The Star-Drifts started singing in a hallway on 24th street between Mermaid Ave. and Surf Ave. in December of 1958. Billy Reo, Howie Tyll and Teddy Grable started to sing and listen for the harmonies bouncing off the walls of this huge...apt.Building.
Later on They were joined by others who sang with the group. They recorded their first professional recording in June 1963 for Goldisc records, A George Goldner Production. Panama Francis was on drums that night, along with some other very Talented studio guys. 27 takes on "She's Gone" and 28 takes on "An Eye For An Eye".
David Panama Francis
In 1964 Teddy Grable join Mike Lewis when he decided to reform The Concords. The new formation recorded for Epic Records in 1964 "Should I Cry" b/w "It's Our Wedding Day". Many of these Brooklyn groups were friends and were sometimes like interchangable parts.
By Teddy Grable
Songs :
An Eye For An Eye / She's Gone
…
The Dahills (Brooklyn, New York)
(updated by Hans-Joachim)
Personnel :
Dennis Lambert (Lead)
Ed Lambert (Baritone & Arrangements)
Gordon Bayne (Second Tenor & Bass)
Joe Cenamo (First Tenor & Alternate Lead)
Discography :
The Dahills
1964 - Michelle / Why Do We Have To Say Goodnight (Musicor 1041)
1976 - Do You Want To Go Steady / Please Be My Girlfriend (Clifton 13)
1977 - She's My Angel / I Who Love You (Crystal Ball 107)
Dennis & The Dahills
1962 - Once Upon A Time / I Don't Believe In Fairy Tales (unreleased)
1963 - Arlene* / Janie, Please Believe Me (unreleased)
*Erroneously released on Crystal Ball 105 as by The Four Winds!
Biography :
The Dahills was formed in Brooklyn NY in the early 60's by a few friends who knew each other from high school (Erasmus Hall). The groups 1st tenor, Joe Cenamo was a friend they met while singing at the beach. Joe Cenamo sang with the Del Cades.
They chose the name from a street in our neighborhood, Dahill Road. This was a common way to name groups back then... Dion and The Belmonts got their name from Belmont Ave. in the Bronx.
They recorded all songs between 1962 and 1965. Most of the material was produced by The Tokens another very popular group from Brookyn in that era. Dennis Lambert went on to a very successful career as a world famous song writer and record producer. He's enjoyed great success with a career spanning over 3 decades. Gordon Bayne.
http://www.ofallthethingsmovie.com/reviews-press/
Songs :
The Dahills
She's My Angel Please Be My Girlfriend Why Do We Have To Say Goodnight / Michelle
Do You Want To Go Steady I Who Love You
Dennis & The Dahills
Once Upon A Time / I Don’t Believe In Fairy Tales Arlene / Janie, Please Believe Me
....
