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The Mello-Dees aka The Love-Tones

Posted on June 5 2015 by dion1

The Love-Tones aka The Melodeers
(L to R) Stan Bracely, Carl Jones, Mickey Stevenson & Joe Miles

The Mello-Dees (Detroit)
aka The Love-Tones

Personnel :

Carl Jones (Lead)

Mickey Stevenson (Tenor)

Joe Miles (Baritone)

Stan Bracely (Bass)

Discography :

Herman Griffin & The Mello-Dees
1960 - Hurry Up And Marry Me / Do You Want To See My Baby (Anna 1115/Stepp 237)

Tall Tonio (Tony Clark) & The Mello-Dee’s
1960 - Hod Rod Car / Ten Reasons (Stepp 235)

Marvin Gaye & The Love-Tones
1962 - Soldier's Plea / Taking My Time (Tamla 54063)

Gino Parks & The Love-Tones
1962 - For This I Thank You / Fire (Tamla 54066)

Henry Lumpkin & The Love-Tones
1962 - Mo Jo Hanna / Break Down And Sing (Motown 1029

 Mary Wells & The Love-Tones
1962 - The One Who Really Loves You / I'm Gonna Stay (Motown 1024)
1962 - You Beat Me To The Punch / Old Love (Let's Try It Again) (Motown 1032)
1963 - Laughing Boy / Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right (Motown 1039)

The Love-Tones aka The Mello-Dees aka The Lovetones (1)

Biography :

Just as The Andantes were Motown's female backing singers of note, so The Love-Tones were briefly their male equivalents. When the Teardrops dissolved after one single for Sampson in 1952/53, Stan Bracely & Carl Jones stayed together and with baritone Joe Miles and second tenor Mickey Stevenson, they formed the Mello-dees. Initially, they backed Herman Griffin & Tony Clarke’s first single under the name of Tall Tonio for Mickey Stevenson's Stepp Records in 1960, but when Stevenson quit singing to concentrate on producing, they changed their name to the Love Tones and became the in-house male backing group.

The Love-Tones aka The Mello-Dees aka The Lovetones (1)

Tony Clark (Tall Tonio)

Although their contributions were usually credited, they were seldom if ever allowed to release anything under their own name, with the result their contribution to Motown would be easy to overlook. However, Carl Jones, Mickey Stevenson, Joe Miles and Stan Bracely had recorded under their own name.

The Love-Tones aka The Mello-Dees aka The Lovetones (1)

Mary Wells Gino Parks Marvin Gaye

Whilst at Motown they appeared on recordings by Marvin Gaye (Soldier Boy), Henry Lumpkin (Mo Jo Hanna), Gino Parks (For This I Thank You), Mary Wells on her big 1962 hits, “The One Who Really Loves You” and “You Beat Me To The Punch” and many other singers, sometimes credited. They exited Motown in 1962 and seemingly broke up thereafter, although they reformed for a series of recordings for Ian Levine's Motorcity label in the 1990s.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Herman Griffin & The Mello-Dees

Hurry Up And Marry Me / Do You Want To See My Baby

Marvin Gaye & The Love-Tones


Soldier's Plea                      Taking My Time

Gino Parks & The Love-Tones


For This I Thank You                                 Fire

Henry Lumpkin & The Love-Tones


Mo Jo Hanna                     Break Down And Sing

 Mary Wells & The Love-Tones


The One Who Really Loves You           I'm Gonna Stay      You Beat Me To The Punch


Old Love (Let's Try It Again)         Laughing Boy      Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right

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The Capri Sisters

Posted on June 2 2015 by dion1

Annette, Terry & Phyllis

The Capri Sisters (Yonkers, NY)

Personnel :

Phyllis DeCaprio

Annette DeCaprio

Terry DeCaprio

Discography :

Singles :
1956 - After School Rock / The Occarina Rock (Jubilee 5244)
1957 - Call Me Mutton Chops / Tippy-Toe (Cadence 1314)
1958 - Hawaiian Sway - Introducing Honolulu / Run-A-Round (Dot 15851)
1959 - In Between / It's All Over (Hanover 4531)
1960 - I'm Gonna Wish For You / There, But For Her, Go I (ABC Paramount 10158)
1961 - Poco Loco / The Blues Came Tumbling Down (Warwick 673)
1962 - Fairy Tales / I Want You To Be My Boy (Newtown 5002)
1962 - Is It True? / Hush-A-Bye (Newtown 5008)

Unreleased :
1960 - It's No Sin / So Hurt (ABC Paramount)

Biography :

In 1952, three sister, Terry, Phyllis and Annette stood before a microphone on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scout Show," and sang to an approving public. They won the contest, and as was Godfrey's custom, the girls, known as the Capri Sisters guested on Godfrey's radio and his then popular night-time program. "Arthur Godfrey and his Friends."

Terry, Phyllis & Annette with Eddie Fisher

It was then that the Yonkers born and reared, DiCaprio sisters met the McGuire Sisters and they became a part of the latter team's night club act. They toured with the Mc-Guires for four years and they traveled all over the United States. The girls began their careers when Terry was 8, and Phyllis and Annette, who are twins, were 5. They were on Ted Mack , and then the Godfrey show, the Lind Hayes show and other top notch TV programs

The Girls have performed with the Dorseys, Jackie Gleason and Louis Prima and are three time winners on Ted Mack’s show. The Girls cut many singles for a large number of label; Jubilee, Cadence, Dot, Hanove, ABC Paramount, Warwick and Newtown. The first being " After School Rock" b/w "The Occarina Roll" on Jubilee.

In 1962, Richard Barrett apparently produced a session for Harold B. Robinson with the Capri Sisters [Newtown 5002]. Sides included “Fairy Tales” which Richard Barrett had used earlier for other artists and would use again, and “I Want You To Be My Boy,” a cover of the Teenagers’ record. Frankie Lymon's "I Want You To Be My Girl" - changed the title for obvious reasons - and fashioned it for the new "Twist" craze.

1970 - Terry, Phyllis & Annette

The great rock arranger Sammy Lowe provided the girls with a Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" type of moving accompaniment. In 1964, The Exciters ("Tell Him") covered the Capris' with their own version of "I Want You To Be My Boy".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

There But For Her Go I            Fairy Tales I Want You To Be My Boy


After School Rock 'N Roll      I'm Gonna Wish For You             The Occarina Rock

It's All Over / In Between    Hawaiian Sway - Introducing Honolulu / Run-A-Round

Is It True? / Hush-A-Bye

...

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The Teardrops (1)

Posted on June 1 2015 by dion1

The Teardrops (1)
(L-R) Sam Scott, Alfonso Wallace, Stan Bracely and Carl Jones.

The Teardrops (1) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Carl Jones (Lead)

Alfonso Wallace (Tenor)

Sam Scott (Baritone)

Stan Bracely (Bass)

Discography :

1953 - Come Back To Me / Sweet Lovin' Daddy-O (Sampson 634)

Biography :

This group was formed by teenage friends from the "Black Bottom" section of Detroit in the early 1950s. Bracely was visiting his parents and met Maurice Martin, who was living in the same apartment house. When Bracely told Martin of the Teardrops, Bracely, a pianist, took an interest and began showing up at their rehearsal sessions. They would sing and practice wherever they could find an echo: bathrooms, hallways, and so on. hey began performing at amateur shows and church functions.

The Teardrops (1)
The Love-Tones (L-R) Stan Bracely, Carl Jones, Mickey Stevenson and Joe Miles

They came in second in a 1953 amateur show across the river from Detroit in Windsor, Ontario. The winner was "Little" Willie John. The group was soon contacted by promoter Homer Jones, who asked them to get in touch with Sampson Records (whom he had spoken to) regarding the Teardrops. They recorded for a studio that was located in the rear of Sam's Record Shop. They heard their tune on Detroit radio for several weeks, but then it disappeared. As is usually the case, group members never received a cent, nor did they ever hear from Sampson Records again. Stan Bracely & Carl Jones would later evolve into Motown's Love-Tones. Carl Jones was killed in a barroom fight in the early 1960s.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Teardrops/teardrops.html
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/4ROWNEW/ComeBackToMe.htm

Songs :

Come Back To Me Sweet Lovin' Daddy-O

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The Hollywood Playboys

Posted on May 29 2015 by dion1

The Hollywood Playboys

The Hollywood Playboys (Newark, NJ)
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Hugh Garrity (Piano, Vocals)

Nick Massi (Guitar, Vocals)

Louie Leona (Saxophone)

Joe D'Amore (Drums)

Discography :

The Hollywood Playboys
1959 - You Can't Fool Me Baby / I'm Lonely (Rita 118)
1960 - Talk To Audrey / Ding Dong School Is Out (Sure 105)

Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys
1963 - Too Pooped To Popeye / Bye Bye Travlin' Man (Duel 522)

Biography :

Nick Massi was an original member of the Four Seasons (performing on some of the band's biggest hits, such as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," and "Rag Doll"), supplying the bass vocal parts and helping arrange the band's trademark vocal arrangements. Born Nicholas Macioci in Newark, NJ, on September 19, 1935, Massi honed his singing skills with several bands during his teenage years, before hooking up with the great Frankie Valli in a local band called the Hollywood Playboys .

The Hollywood Playboys

The Hollywood Playboys were mostly a club group in and around Newark and the Jersey Shore fronted by an Irish kid named Hugh Garrity. Tom DeCillis was introduced to the Hollywood Playboys appearing at a lounge in Newark, NJ. He arranged to record them and released a record on the Rita label "You Can't Fool My Baby" b/w "I'm Lonely ».

The Hollywood Playboys

Another local group, the Four lovers with Frankie Valli had cut many singles , and by 1958 their lineup had changed with Nickie DeVito and Hank Majewski leaving to be replaced by Nick Massi and Hugh Garrity, both of whom drifted in and out of the group. In late 1959, the Four Lovers added Bob Gaudio. Hugh Garrity returned with the Hollywood Playboys who cut "Talk To Audrey" b/w "Ding Dong School Is Out" for Sure Records in 1960.

The Hollywood Playboys

1963 - Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys

In 1963, Hughie Garrity, Joey D'amora, Louie Leona and Johnny Meikel have a last single on Duel Records as Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys.

Songs:

The Hollywood Playboys

Ding Dong School Is Out Talk To Audrey You Can't Fool My Baby

I'm Lonely

Hughie Garrity & The Hollywood Playboys

Bye Bye Travlin' Man

….

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The Singing Belles

Posted on May 27 2015 by dion1

The Singing Belles (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Anne Berry

Angela Berry

Discography :

1960 - The Empty Mailbox / Someone Loves You, Joe (Madison 126)
1960 - High Noon / Oh Happy Day (Madison 132)

Biography :

When Anne And Angela Perry were attending latin classes of Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, they used to entertain fellow pupils by singing at proms and record hops. But it wasn’t until they had graduated that the idea came to them of making it a career. So the world lost a couple of potentially great stenographers and Tin Pan Alley came up with two of its most promising new talents.

The Singing Belles

The Pretty team, (Angela a brunette and Anne a blonde) brought the disk to a record company. The girls signing a recording contract with Larry Uttal owner of Madison Records, and recorded "The Empty Mailbox" b/w "Someone Loves You, Joe". Of course it would be nice to report that it was an immediate hit. It wasn’t. But since then the girls have matured, their singing has developed a unique style and many appearances at club dates, record hops and theaters have polished their delivery.

The Singing Belles

"Someone Loves You, Joe" Charted at #91 on Billboard Hot 100 in April 1960. This was the only Hot 100 entry for the girls. Debuted on the CHUM (Canada) chart in May 1960, peaked at #33 & charted for 5 weeks, Debuted on the Music Vendor pop chart on Apr 4, 1960, peaked at #76 & charted for 7 weeks... On April 16th, 1960, the girls began a road trip with Alan Freed's final mid-west tour. The other acts on the tour were: Teddy Randazzo, Freddy Cannon, Bobby Freeman, The Fireflies, The Mystics, Sonny Til and the Oriols and Eddy Quinteros. The tour only lasted a couple of weeks and went bust.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Oh Happy Day                 Someone Loves You, Joe

High Noon The Empty Mailbox

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The Tu-Tones (2) aka The Tutones

Posted on May 26 2015 by dion1

The Tu-Tones (2) aka The Tutones

The Tu-Tones (2) (Clifton, New Jersey)
aka The Tutones

Personnel :

Cecile Mastroeni

Vivian Mastroeni

Discography :

The Tu-Tones (2)
1962 - Ring Of Virgin Gold / Green Is The Color (Stagedor 1001)

The Tutones
1963 - Ring Around the Christmas Tree / Santa Danced with Our Teacher (Airco 1115)

Biography :

The Tu-Tones were Cecile and Vivian Mastroeni of Clifton, New Jersey. "Ring of Virgin Gold" and flip side "Green is the Color" was recorded in 1962 the sisters. They performed with DJ Cousin Bruce Morrow at the Bergen Mall and Palisades Park. The record never got played on the radio due to the word "virgin" at that time. Bruce Morrow suggested that they re-cut the record substituting a different word but the song writers refused to do that. the girls also cut a Christmas 45 "Ring Around the Christmas Tree" and flip side "Santa Danced with Our Teacher". The two songs were recorded on a different independent label "Airco Records" and the name on the label is the Tutones.

Songs :

The Tu-Tones (2)

Ring of Virgin Gold` Green Is The Color

...

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The Hi Tones (3)

Posted on May 21 2015 by dion1

The Hi Tones (3)

The Hi Tones (3) (New Orleans, LA)

Personnel :

"Smooth" Curtis

Reginald Bassett

Ronald Bassett

Paul Williams

Discography :

1961 – What Was The Cause Of It All / Don’t Leave Me No Choice (Eon 101)

Biography :

The Hi-tones recorded "What Was The Cause Of It All” (Writer & Composer, Paul Williams) in 1961 at Cosimo Studio in New Orleans. Members of the group included "Smooth" Curtis, Reginald Bassett, Ronald Bassett and Paul Williams. Curtis was originally from Tennessee and sang background vocals for Carla Thomas ("Gee Whiz").

The Bassett twins grew up in Jamaica, NY, and were greatly influenced vocally by their older brother, Clarence Bassett, who was an original member of the group, Shep and the Limelites. Clarence also sang with The Videos,

The Five Sharps, The Flamingos and Creative Funk. After Shep died in 1970, Ronald Bassett joined the Limelites, and sang a number of years with his older brother before Clarence passed away in 2005. Ronald continued to sing with The Limelites until his death on 4/3/13.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

What Was The Cause Of It All Don’t Leave Me No Choice

…

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The Five Reasons

Posted on May 20 2015 by dion1

The Five Reasons (Manhattan, New York)

Personnel :

Fred Finati

Chuck Foote

Bobby Castro

Jerry Gold

Stan Hosner

Discography :

1958 - Three o'Clock Rock / Go To School (Cub 9006)

Biography :

Vocal group from the Lower East Side in Manattan, The group did a show with the Crests (16 candles) and the Elegants (Little Star) before there smash hits came out.

The Five Reasons Don Kishner

Sylvester Bradford (writer of "Tears On My Pillow") introduced the young group to Don Kishner of Aldon Music. In 1958, They recorded "Three o'Clock Rock" b/w "Go To School", the two song were released on Cub records. In 1960, Chuck Foote sang in 1958 with the Johnny Maestro's Crests.

Songs :

Three o'Clock Rock Go To School

...

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The Veneers aka The Cashmeres (4) aka The Relatives (3)

Posted on May 17 2015 by dion1

The Veneers Aka The Chantels (Clockwise from Top) : Annette Swinson Smith, Valerie Swinson, Barbara Joyner & Lorraine Joyner

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4) (Bronx, New York)

aka The Veneers
aka The Relatives (3)

Ref: The Chantels
Ref: The Swensons

Personnel :

Annette Swinson Smith

Valerie Swinson

Barbara Joyner

Lorraine Joyner

Discography :

The Swensons
1956 - Remember Me To My Darling / Golly Boo (X-Tra 100 )

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)
1959 - Daddy Can I Go To The Hop (Red Lightnin' 0059)

The Veneers
1960 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (Princeton 102)
1963 - With All My Love / Recipe Of Love (Treyco 402)

The Chantels
1961 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (End 1103)

The Relatives (3)
Singles :
1963 - (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zagga Zoom / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 303)
1964 - Never Will I Love You Again / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 306)
1965 - Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally (Musicor 1063)
Unreleased :
1965 - A Change Of Heart (Musicor)

Biography :

The Veneers came from Manhattan and from Brooklyn, in New York City. Sisters, Lorraine and Barbara Joyner joined their cousins, Valerie and Annette Swinson, to sing in the park, for fun, and at family functions. The young teens did began getting the attention of the local songwriters who were looking for artists to record their material. As The Swensons (sic), Annette and her mother recorded one single for X-Tra Records in 1956, entitled, “Remember Me To My Darling”. In 1959, the quartet, now known as The Cashmeres, went into the studio with Eddie Jones ( former lead singer of The Demens & the Emersons) to record a novelty tune called, “Daddy Can I Go To The Hop”. Herb Abramson, founder of Jubilee and Atlantic Records, produced the single. Unfortunately, the single was not released.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels

Richard Barrett

In 1960, The Cashmeres had signed on to be produced and managed by Richard Barrett. He had written two songs for the group, “Believe Me (My Angel)” and “I”. At this time, the young ladies decided to change their name because they found that too many groups had already recorded under the name “Cashmeres”. They Choose the name "Veneers". Two songs were recorded and released on Barrett's short-lived Princeton Records. The record achieved a level of success in New York, but failed to chart nationally. Their release went unnoticed but it helped Barrett solve his Chantels problem by matching Veneers lead singer Annette Swinson with the three remaining Chantels, Sonia, Jackie, and Rene. In April 1960, still trying to capitalize on the group’s name, End released “Whoever You Are,” formerly the B side of “Every Night”; it had all the original Chantels magic but still lacked the driving commitment of the label.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels
The Chantels on Carlton with Annette Swinson Smith

Although The Veneers were not entirely happy about this change of plans, they knew that they could not stop Annette, who needed to be out on the stage. In 1961, she officially joined The Chantels. End 1103* was a reissue of a 1959 recording by The Veneers, with Annette Smith on lead, on Princeton 102. The Veneers, without Annette, recorded as The Relatives for the Canadian- American related Almont Records, with Lorraine taking the lead for “(My Heart Goes) Ziga Ziga Zoom” in 1963 and “Never Will I Love You Again”, released in 1964. In 1965 Barbara, Lorraine and Valerie recorded three songs for the Musicor label before they went their separate ways.

Songs :

The Swensons

Remember Me To My Darling Golly Boo

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)

Daddy Can I Go To The Hop

The Veneers

Believe Me (My angel) I Recipe Of Love

The Relatives (3)

Never Will I Love You Again (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zigga Zoom I'm Just Looking For Love


Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally          A Change Of Heart

….

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The Chorals

Posted on May 15 2015 by dion1

The Chorals (New York)
ref The Charmers

Personnel:

Irwin “Teddy” Williams (Lead)

Alfred Toddman (First Tenor)

Robert Cassidy

Eugene "Sonny" Cooke (Tenor)

George "Danny" Daniels

Discography :

1956 - In My Dream / Rock And Roll Baby (Decca 29914)

Biography :

The vocal group The Charmers was formed in late 1953 and its members were Vikki Burgess, George Daniels, Alfred Toddman, James and Sonny Cooke . After two singles for Central, Vikki Burgess joins with Myrna Hamilton and Renee Stewart and form a group called The Solirettes. Later Burgess forms another group with Margaret Moore and Estelle Harper and call themselves The Joytones.

Alfred Toddman , Robert Cassidy, Irwin “Teddy” Williams, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke and George "Danny" Daniels.

In 1954 the Checkers disbanded, Second Tenor Irwin "Teddy" Williams hooked up with the Charmers as their manager for two new singles on . In 1956, Irwin "Teddy" Williams replaced James Cooke and with the three other Charmers Alfred Toddman, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke, George "Danny" Daniels and with the addition of Robert Cassidy, they changed their name to the Chorals. They made their name performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on November 1956. The Chorals cut one single for Decca before disbanded.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Checkers/checkers.html

Songs :

In My Dream Rock And Roll Baby

...

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