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

Terry & The Tunisians

Posted on September 6 2015 by dion1

Terry & The Tunisians

Terry & The Tunisians (North Babylon, NY)
aka The Tunisions

Personnel :

Michelle ("Terry") Martin (Lead)

Clifford (Cliff) Roberts (First Tenor)

Louis (Lou) Miceli (Second Tenor)

Bruce (Brew) Mineo (Baritone)

Joe (Jo-Jo Base) Ashford (Bass)

Discography :

Terry & The Tunisians
Singles :
1963 - The Street / Tom Tom ( Seville 131)
Unreleased :
1963 - Please Stop Playing With My Heart

Terry & The Tunisions
Lps :
1963 - Lou Dean Presents Night Train Special (LD 100)
The Time / If You Should Lose A Good Thing

Terry & The Tunisians

Biography :

The group was started in 1961 and made it's public debut at Lou Dean's "Night Train Dances", weekend dances and rock-and-roll shows which were held in Bayshore NY at the roller-rink, on friday and saturday nights, where in it's first year, was attended by close to 40,000 Long Island youths. Each week, in addition to top recording stars, the night train show introduced and featured many talented local singing groups and bands from the long island area. On January 26th 1964, when the night train audience voted for the first annual "Louie" awards for outstanding performance and popularity at the night train shows, the Tunisions placed first among the four award winners.

Terry & The Tunisians
Michelle ("Terry") Martin

There were only two records recorded which were of any significance. They were " The Street" and "Tom-Tom", recorded on the Seville record label. Shortly after recording these records, the group appeared on the then wildly popular TV rock program, "The Clay Cole Show", live from Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey, to promote their record. Two other songs "The Time" and "If You Should Lose A Good Thing" appear on the album "Night Train Special" under the name of "Terry & The Tunisions".

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Terry & The Tunisians

The Street Tom Tom

Terry & The Tunisions

If You Should Lose A Good Thing The Time

Please Stop Playing With My Heart

...

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The Lonely Ones (1) aka The Markeys (1)

Posted on September 5 2015 by dion1

The Lonely Ones (1) aka The Markeys (1)
Clockwise from left : Tonny Giannatasio, Victor Eusepi, Sal DiTroia, George Morton and Marty Monaco

The Markeys (1) (Long Island, New York)
aka The Lonely Ones (1)

Personnel :

George "Shadow" Morton (Lead)

Tonny Giannatasio

Victor Eusepi

Marty Monaco

Sal DiTroia

Discography :

The Markeys (1) Featuring Georgie Morton
1958 - Hot Rod / Yakkaty Yak (RCA 47-7256)

The Markeys (1) Featuring George Morton
1958 - A Time To Love / Make a Record, Man (RCA 47-7412)

The Lonely Ones (1)
1959 - I Want My Girl / My Wish (Sir 270 / Baton 270)

Biography :

George Francis Morton was born in Richmond, Virginia on 3 September 1941 and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, where he attended St Thomas Aquinas School. As George entered his teens, where he seemed he was getting in too deep with the Bed-Stuy neighbourhood's notorious street gangs, his parents moved the family out to Long Island- a safer environment, or so they thought. In 1957 George formed a vocal group, The Markeys, with friends Marty Monaco, Tonny Giannatasio, Victor Eusepi and Sal DiTroia. Marty Monaco's mother had a basic recording studio in her basement in nearby Levittown, where the guys wrote, rehearsed and taped demos of their songs. The owner of a local record store took a liking to the young quintet and helped arrange for them to audition for RCA.

The Lonely Ones (1) aka The Markeys (1)
George "Shadow" Morton

Billed as The Markeys featurin Georgie Morton, the group made their recording debut with "Hot Rod", released on RCA in the Summer of 1958 when George was 16. Long Island teenager Ellie Greenwich, behind whom the guys harmonised at a few of local high school hop, issued her first single around the same time, also on RCA. Before the year was over, RCA had released the Markeys' second single, "A Time To Love" and two more of George's songs had been recorded by Sal Mure for United Artists. For the next Record - "I Want My Girl ", for The Sir Label in 1959, again with George on lead vocals - he and his pals changed their name to the Lonely Ones. After graduating from Bethpage High School in 1959, George drifted aimlessly through a succession of short-lived jobs- bouncer, ice cream seller, hairdresser, golf caddie.... George Francis "Shadow" Morton will become an record producer and songwriter best known for his influential work in the 1960s. In particular, he was noted for writing and producing "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", "Leader of the Pack", and other hits for girl group The Shangri-Las.
From "The Shadow Morton Story"

Songs :

The Markeys (1)

   A Time To Love                              Make a Record, Man


Hot Rod                                         Yakkaty Yak

The Lonely Ones (1)


My Wish                                        I Want My Girl

...

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Dickey Lee & The Collegiates (1)

Posted on September 3 2015 by dion1

(L to R) Dickey Lee, Allen Reynolds, Sam Cole, and David Glenn.

Dickey Lee & The Collegiates (1) (Whitehaven, Tennessee)

Personnel :

Dickey Lee (Dickie Lipscomb) (Lead Vocal / Guitar)

J.L. Jerden (Vocal / Bass)

David Glenn (Vocal)

Allen Reynolds (Tenor / Guitar)

Bill Talmadge (Vocal)

Selby Barrach (Drums)

Eddie Well (Vocal / Guitar)

Discography :

Dickey Lee & The Collegiates (1)
1957 - Stay True Baby / Dream Boy (Tampa 131)
1957 - Good Lovin' / Memories Never Grow Old (Sun 280)

Dickey Lee bb The Collegiates (1)
1958 - Fool, Fool, Fool / Dreamy Nights (Sun 297)

Biography :

Royden Dickey Lee was born on September 21, 1936, in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up on his family's farm, where their two major crops were cotton and corn. Besides playing baseball, Lee started singing, playing the guitar, and songwriting. He participated in local talent contests and even auditioned for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, to no avail. In the fall of 1957, he entered Memphis State University on a boxing scholarship.

Incidentally, he was a Golden Gloves' champion. In college, he formed the Collegiates, which included J.L. Jerden, David Glenn, Allen Reynolds, Bill Talmadge, Selby Barrach and Eddie Well . Dickey made his recording debut in 1957 with "Dream boy," a song he'd written, on the tiny Tampa label He was discovered by Memphis deejay Dewey Phillips in 1957, which led to his first record. Dewey Phillips introduced young Dickey to Sam Phillips (no relation), who signed Lee to Sun. Two singles came out in 1957-58, first "Good Lovin'"/ "Memories Never Grow Old" (Sun 280). "Good Lovin'" was a cover of the Clovers hit from 1953.

The A-side of the second Sun single, "Fool, Fool, Fool" (Sun 297), could create the impression that this was another Clovers cover, but that was not the case. Though credited to Dickey Lee only (his previous two records were credited to Dickey Lee and the Collegiates), "Fool, Fool, Fool"/ "Dreamy Nights" was very much a vocal group record, reminiscent of Dion and the Belmonts. Both Sun singles were commercial flops and his contract was not renewed. While at Sun, Lee had forged a friendship with Jack Clement. When Clement moved to Beaumont, Texas in 1960, Dickey and his friend Allen Reynolds followed him.

In Beaumont they became part of a recording studio crew set up by Clement and his partner Bill Hall. In 1962 Dickey had his first taste of real success when George Jones took his song "She Thinks I Still Care" to the top of the country charts. (When Anne Murray revived the song in 1974 as "He Thinks I Still Care", it was a # 1 all over again.) In the autumn of 1962, Lee had his own hit with "Patches" (produced by Clement and Hall), which went to # 6 on the pop charts, on the Smash label. Written by Barry Mann and Larry Kolber, it was a maudlin song about teenage suicide. The follow-up to this million seller, "I Saw Linda Yesterday" was a much better record and peaked at # 14. Clearly inspired by Dion's "Runaround Sue", it was co-penned by Dickey and Allen Reynolds.

http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/dickey_lee.htm

Songs:

Dickey Lee & The Collegiates (1)


Dreamy Nights            Fool, Fool, Fool                 Dream Boy


Memories Never Grow Old                Good Lovin'                  Stay True Baby

Dickey Lee

I Saw Linda Yesterday

….

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The Pyramids (3)

Posted on September 1 2015 by dion1

The Pyramids (3)

The Pyramids (3) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Vernon Williams (Lead)

Bobby Jones (First Tenor)

Robert Gibson (Second Tenor)

Damond Rockland (Baritone)

Norman Worthy (Bass)

Discography :

1962 - I'm The Playboy / Crying (Sonbert 82861/Cub 9112)
1962 - What Is Love / Shakin Fit (VeeJay 489)

Biography :

The Royal Holidays disbanded in the early 1960’s. But Vernon Williams (lead singer and writer of most of the Royal Holidays material) was often part of the Rayber Voices, who backed up many a solo artist for Berry Gordy's fledgling Motown operation in the late 50's and early 60's. In 1961 Vernon joined the Satintones. Vernon was on a roll, and following his tenure with the Satintones in the early 60's he went on to sing and record with yet another group, this one called the Pyramids.

The Pyramids (3)

The Pyramids recorded "Crying" and "I Am the Playboy" which was first released in 1962 on the Sonbert label, which was owned by Sonny Sanders and Robert Bateman. The label name was derived from combining parts of the first names of the two owner/producers Son-ny and Ro-bert. The song was re-issued on the more well known Cub label, also in '62. These titles were recorded in the Continental recording studios on 12th Street in Detroit. Following this release, the Pyramids found themselves recording a single for VeeJay , "Shakin' Fit" which Vernon co-wrote, backed with "What Is Love".

The Pyramids (3)
(L to R) Bobby Jones, Norm Worthy, Damon Rockland, onlooker & Vernon Williams.

This recording also came out in 1962. The Vernon Williams Pyramids group is not affiliated with any other Pyramids groups recording around this time. The Pyramids disbanded in early 1963 when Vernon was drafted into the service.
http://www.harmonytrain.com/Artists/Royal-Holidays-Pyramids.htm

Songs :

I'm The Playboy Crying What Is Love

Shakin Fit

…

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The Four Buddies (4)

Posted on August 27 2015 by dion1

The Four Buddies (2)

The Four Buddies (4) (New York)
aka The Page Boys (3) ???

Personnel :

Phil Melillo

Ralph DeCapua

Ralph Rizzolo

Discography :

The Four Buddies (4)
1960 – Hurt/ Moonglow & Theme From Picnic (Coral 62217)
1962 – The Light / Cin Cin (Che Bel) (Coral 62325)

The Page Boys (3) ???
1963 - If Tears Could Speak / Ole Buttermilk Sky (Decca 31505)

Biography :

Vocal & Instrumental group from New York, The Four Buddies played a lot of clubs around the area. Early 1960 , They have a recording contract with Coral Records, a Decca Records subsidiary. The Group cut "Hurt" b/w "Moonglow & Theme From Picnic" .

The Four Buddies (4) The Four Buddies (2)

In April 1960 with a varied repertoire and their single, They sign an engagement at the Ottawa House Hotel in Ontario, Canada. they occur for more than one year before returning to New York. In 1962, They cut a second single for Coral "The Light" b/w "Cin Cin (Che Bel)". A source certifies that the writers of "The Light" (Phil Melillo and Ralph Rizzolo) are both members of the group.

The Four Buddies (2)

aka The Page Boys ? (From : Bob Crewe ‘Seasons Connections)
Amongst the more unusual side projects that The Four Seasons members got involved with was the single by a group called ‘The Page Boys’. The Page Boys might have included member of the Four Seasons in the mix of vocals as the track ‘If Tears Could Speak’ (Decca 31505) was produced by Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli. The group probably comprise the guys who are accredited as writers, Ralph Rizzolo, Ralph DeCapua and Phil Melillo and many believe Nick Massi and Tommy Devito may be joining in on vocals.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Four Buddies (4)

‪Hurt / Moonglow And Theme From Picnic‬ The Light / Cin Cin (Che Bel)

The Page Boys (3)

If Tears Could Speak

…

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The Pearletts aka The Pearlettes

Posted on August 26 2015 by dion1

The Pearlettes (Los Angeles, California)
aka The Pearletts
(By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Sheila Galloway (Lead)

Lynda Galloway

Priscilla Kennedy

Mary Meade

Discography:

The Pearlettes
1961 - Just In Case / He’s Gone (Craig 502 / Craig 562 / Segway 1003)
1961 - Can I Get Him / Never Be Another Boy Like You (Vee Jay 422 / Go 712)
1962 - Duchess Of Earl / Everyday (Vee Jay 435)

The Pearletts
1962 - Cheated / Can This Be Love (Vault 100)

Biography :

The Pearlettes were four church girls from Los Angeles. The group formed in the the late '50s while they were still attending John Muir Junior High in Los Angeles. By 1961 the group consisted of sisters Lynda and Shelia Galloway, Mary Meade, and Priscilla Kennedy. The Pearlettes first began singing together at record hops and benefits. In 1958 as The Fantasians they backed Big Dave Taylor on "Farther Up the Road." Shortly thereafter the group was renamed the Pearlettes. They were discovered by VJ chief Randall Woods, who co-produced the record with Sonny Bono. Bono would both produce and write songs for them. In 1961 the Pearlettes released "Never Be Another Boy Like You" on Bono's Go Records.

Next they released a gospel-like song for Vault Records. Their third and final single on the Vee-Jay label, was "The Duchess of Earl" was the answer to Gene Chandler's "Duke of Earl" and was their most successful reaching #92. Sheila Galloway left the group shortly there after. Priscilla Kennedy went on to sing with The Watesians -along with Brenda and Patrice Holloway (Donna, 1962) , The Four J's - along with Brenda and Patrice Holloway (4-J, 1962), The Delicates - (Challenge and Soultown, 1964/66) and The Irresistables (Imperial, 1966). Priscilla also sang under the name of Eleanor Rigby.

Songs :


Duchess Of Earl                       He’s Gone                                 Just In Case


        Everyday                Can I Get Him      Never Be Another Boy Like You

Cheated / Can This Be Love

...

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The Splendors (2) aka The Del-Fons ref : The Motions

Posted on August 23 2015 by dion1

The Showmen (Norfolk, Virginia )

The Splendors (L to R) : Harold Marcus, Joe DiBartolo, Tommy Tucker, Georgie Moe and Bernie Drosdcz

The Motions (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : The Splendors (2) aka The Del-Fons

Personnel :

Tommy Tucker (Lead)

Larry Angeli (Baritone)

Joe Basta (First Tenor)

Richie Merrit (Second Tenor)

Discography :

The Motions
Single:
1961 - Mr. Night / Make Me A Love (Laurie 3112)
Unreleased :
1958 - Mambo City

The Del-Fons
Unreleased:
1959 - I Only Want You / This Is My Love

The Splendors (2)
Unreleased:
1963 - Lonely, Lonely Nights / Record Hop (Wilshire)
1964 - Roses Are Red / Embraceable You
1964 - Runday Runday / Mambo City
1964 - Stormy Weather / Make The Knife
1964 - Walkin' My Baby Back Home / I'm In The Mood For Love
1964 - My Vow To You / My Love For You Will Never Die

Biography :

1958, and the Place was the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. During this time, St. Michael's church used to hold dances which were attenuated by the local neighborhood teenagers. At this dances, four guys discovered they enjoyed singing together very much and decided to form a group called the Emotions. Members consisted of Tommy Tucker (Lead), Larry Angeli (Baritone), Joe Basta (First Tenor) and Richie Merrit (Second Tenor). The Group's first songs was "Mambo City" recorded on a demo. The group eventually gained a local following and began appearing at record hops, social clubs… At this time Richie had left the group and was replaced by Eddie Povenelli.

The Showmen (Norfolk, Virginia )

Tommy Tucker (Motions' Lead singer)

The group met a man named Marv Kalfin, who eventually became their manager. He introduced the group to two songs he had written…"Mr Night" and "Make A Love". While the master recordings were being cut, a female member was added to the group. Marv brought the master tape to Laurie and their reaction was quite favorable. Another group who had already gained much popularity in the area, was using the same name. At the last time before going to press, Laurie did the first thing that came to mind. The "E" was dropped and the Guys were named The Motions. The single was released in June 1961. At about the time the Motions' record was released, another Laurie single was "Breaking Big"… The Jarmels' "A lItlle bit of Soap". "Mr Night" never really had a chance, the group rapidly became disguise ted and eventually disbanded.

The Showmen (Norfolk, Virginia )

Vinny Catalano

The Story of the Motions, does not end here. Let us go back to the year 1957 and the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New york. At this time, Three teenagers in the same junior high school, Joe DiBartolo (First Tenor and Lead), Bernie Drosdcz (Baritone and Bass) and Harold Marcus (Second Tenor) and two others Johnny Jerrywicki (Baritone) and Georgie Moe (Lead) joined together to Form a Group called the Del-Fons. Although this group only sang at parties, they recorded a demo 1959 that featured the songs "I Only Want You" and "This is My Love". Soon after this same two songs, released back to back, became a two sided hit for the Passions early in 1960. During 1962, the Del-Fons changed their name to the Splendors. However, due to repeated problems involving members , the group finally broke up, this was the same time that the Motions Disbanded.

The Showmen (Norfolk, Virginia )

Tommy Tucker, Joe DiBartolo and Harold Marcus Joe DiBartolo with group's demos

Early in 1963, Joe DiBartolo met Tonny Tucker and decided to reform the Splendors, consisting of Himself, Tommy Tucker and those two original members Bernie Drosdcz and Harold Marcus. Later that year Joe's cousin, Vinny Catalano, at this time in charge of Wilshire Records, had written two songs for the Splendors, "Lonely, Lonely Nights" and "Record Hop". The group recorded both songs but the reared wasn't released. In 1964, George Moe rejoined the group. They now began appearing at various places throughout New York. The Boys would occasionally buy time at a local recording studio in order to capture some of their harmony on tape. Of course, Demo discs were made of these sessions...

By Ken Berger (Story Untold)

Songs :

The Motions

Mr. Night Make Me A Love

….

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Andy & The Marglows

Posted on August 9 2015 by dion1

Andy & The Marglows

Andy & The Marglows (Washington, D.C)

Personnel :

Andy Huff

Terry Huff

Lamont Russell

Mickey Freeman

Discography :

1963 - Symphony / Just One Look (Liberty 55570)
1963 - Superman Lover / I'll Get By (Liberty 55623)

Biography :

Terry Huff moved to Washington, D.C., in 1959, where the Huff brothers sang on street corners and porches. In 1962, they auditioned their newly formed group for Van McCoy, who rejected them. Luck struck in 1963 when a restaurant owner sponsored their trip to New York for a recording session. As Andy and the Marglows, they recorded "Just One Look" for Liberty Records, who released it two weeks before the hit version by Doris Troy. Troy's version won that battle, as the Marglows never received any exposure.

The follow-up, "I'll Get By," generated few sales despite several publicity appearances in the area. Shortly after the second flop and being dropped by Liberty, Andy and the Marglows were history. In the mid-'60s, the Huff brothers tried again to interest several producers, including Van McCoy; they were again rejected. Terry Huff finished his education and became a member of Washington, D.C.'s police force.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39327/terry-huffs-lost-soul-hes-been-a-cop-an-rampb/page1/

Songs :

Symphony ***** Just One Look

I'll Get By Superman Lover

...

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Published from Overblog

Posted on July 31 2015 by dion1

Jordan & The Fascinations (2) (Queens, New-York)
Ref : The Fascinations (1) / The Boulevards

Personnel :

Jordan Christopher (Lead)

Frankie Zazzo

Lou Adessa

Jim Alessandria

 Discography :

Jordan & The Fascinations (2)

Singles:
1961 - My Imagination / I'll Be Forever Loving You (Dapt 203)
1961 - Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild / My Baby Doesn't Smile Anymore (Dapt 207)
1961 - Give Me Your Love / Once Upon A Time (Carol 4116)
1962 - I'm Goin' Home / If You Love Me, Really Love Me (Josie 895)

Unreleased :
1962 - She's Gone
1962 - Loving Fool
1962 - Baby I Need You
1962 - One-Two-Three
1962 - Goodnight

Biography :

In the late 1950s, Jordan Zankoff and pals Gene Blackford, Phil DiMascio and Darrel McDonald formed a doo-wop group called the Fascinations. The boys performed at sock hops and appeared on WEWS-TV's One O'Clock Club. In 1960, the Fascinations cut a 45 RPM record for the Sure label in Philadelphia. The featured song was It's Midnight, a romantic serenade with soaring vocals, while the calypso-tinged Doom Bada Doom was the flip side. Although it wasn't a hit, Zankoff had found his niche. Things happened quickly after that.

Zankoff married an Akron woman, Mary, in 1961 and welcomed a daughter, Jodi, a year later, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1964. In 1961, the singer changed his name to Jordan Christopher, eliminated his mustache and moved to New York. The Boulevards were produced by Bayside, Queens, New York record entrepreneur Jerry Love. The Boulevards, were local boys from Queens, Frankie Zazzo, Lou Adessa, Jim Alessandria, Bobby Thomas and Ralph Lasher. Jerry matched up Jordan Christopher with some members of the Boulevards to form a new group - Jordan and The Fascinations. Jordan & the Fascinations recorded songs for Carol, Dapt, Crystal Ball and Josie labels.

Christopher's break came when he joined The Wild Ones, the house band at New York's Peppermint Lounge, as singer and guitarist. After a residency at the Peppermint Lounge of eight months, The Wild Ones were hired to play at "Arthur", the Manhattan discothèque operated by Sybil Williams, then recently divorced from Richard Burton. Within a month of meeting, Christopher and Williams—eleven years his senior—began dating, marrying in 1966
http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/history/fascinating-life-for-buchtel-alum-1.209349#

Songs :


My Imagination      I'll Be Forever Loving You    Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild


My Baby Doesn't Smile Anymore       Give Me Your Love            Once Upon A Time


I'm Goin' Home        If You Love Me, Really Love Me          She's Gone / Goodnight

…

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The Tonettes (1) aka The Claremonts

Posted on July 30 2015 by dion1

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

The Claremonts (Bronx, New-York)
aka The Tonettes (1)

Personnel :

Diana Sanchez

Sylvia Sanchez

Josie Allen

Discography :

The Claremonts
1957 - Why keep Me Dreaming / Angel Of Romance (Apollo 3628)

The Tonettes (1)
Singles:
1958 - Oh What A Baby / Howie (Doe 101/ABC 9905)
1958 - Uh-Oh / He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me (Doe 103)
Unreleased :
1958 - Rockabye baby (Doe)

Vince Castro bb The Tonettes (1)
1958 - Bong Bong / You're My Girl (Doe 102/Apt 25007)
1958 - Too Proud To Cry / Cause I Love You (Apt 25025)
1960 - You're My Girl / Bongo Twist (Apt 25047)

Biography :

Near the East Tremont section of the Bronx, New York, is a street named Claremont Parkway. It begins at Crotona Park and ends about seven blocks away at Claremont Park. It is a little South of Belmont Avenue (which gave us Dion & The Belmonts) and a little North of Morrisania which gave us The Mellows, Lillian Leach, Dean Barlow, and others . So - this has been fertile ground for vocal group harmony throughout the years. In 1957 on Claremont Parkway were two sisters, Diana and Sylvia Sanchez, who liked to harmonize and blend their voices on tunes of the day. Their good friend Josephine (Josie) Allen often joined them as the threesome enjoyed making music and copying sounds they heard on the radio.

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

It was a day like many others that the two sisters were hitting some notes when they were heard by a television repair man named Lou Ezzo who was somewhat impressed and told them that they should pursue their talent further. Offering his services, he soon put them in touch with those at Apollo Records, one of New York's oldest and best known independent labels that for the last few years had built up an impressive roster of R & B performers.

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

The three girls showed their stuff to Apollo and including the song writing ability of Diana Sanchez soon found themselves getting ready to experience their very first recording date. Along with top session musicians such as Sammy Lowe, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Mickey Baker, and David "Panama" Francis, the girls worked out the songs for the very first record for them. The songs were "Keep Me Dreaming" and "Angel Of Romance" on Apollo # 517, which was released in November of 1957. An interesting sidelight is the fact that songwriting credit on the songs is also given to the TV repair man !

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

The Claremonts were now managed by one Charles Merenstein who just happened to be the son in law of Bess Berman head of Apollo Records. At the beginning of 1958 he launched his own label called Doe Records and readied a new side by The Claremonts whom he now renamed The Tonettes. He reasoned that the new name had a "snappier" sound that teenagers would better relate to. That was also the reason that he recorded the group on his new label thinking that the Apollo Records label was too historically aligned with the basic sound of R & B. And so in February of 1958 came "Oh What A Baby" backed with "Howie" on Doe # 101.

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

It took off up and down the East Coast and had that certain something that made it a favorite at record hops and dances everywhere. Soon Doe Records realized the extent of the appeal of the record and leased the master to ABC-Paramount (released on # 9905) which gave the record access to nationwide distribution. "Oh What A Baby" was a good seller and a mainstay on radio playlists throughout the spring.

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

Vince Castro & The Tonettes

In the meantime there was another player in the musical history of the group. Across Claremont Parkway from the Sanchez sisters lived another young person with dreams of musical stardom. His name was Vince Castro and he sometimes shared notes with the sisters. And so he was given a shot to add his voice and style to the music of the day and Charles Merenstein set the session for May. The Tonettes backed up Castro on the song "Bong Bong (I Love You Madly)" with "You're My Girl" on Doe Records # 102. Once again the 'A' side took off in sales and airplay and Doe leased the side to another ABC-Paramount subsidiary label Apt Records on # 25007. And so in the spring and summer of 1958 the joyous sounds of the neighbors on Claremont Parkway shook the city with two great records, and they both (together and as solo acts) performed at a number of shows and radio dances in the Northeast.

The Claremonts aka The Tonettes (1)

Vince Castro followed up his solid hit with another session that produced two songs that he wrote himself - "Cause I Love You" and "Too Proud To Beg" released on Apt # 25025. This time out the record did not crack the charts. Not much more was heard from The Tonettes or Vince Castro, but in the early sixties to try and make something out of the Twist craze, Apt Records re-released # 25007 as "The Bongo Twist" and coupled with the original flip side released it on # 25047.
http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/tonettes.html

Songs :

The Claremonts


Why keep Me Dreaming                Angel Of Romance

The Tonettes (1)


Oh What A Baby                       Howie                              Uh-Oh


He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me         Rockabye baby

Vince Castro bb The Tonettes (1)


Too Proud To Cry           Cause I Love You               Bong Bong


You're My Girl                        Bongo Twist
…

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