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The Wagnon Sisters

Posted on April 12 2015 by dion1

The Wagnon Sisters (Tuscumbia, Alabama)

Personnel :

Becky Wagnon

Anne Wagnon

Discography :

1959 - My Desire / Baby Wait For Me (RCA Victor 47-7527 )

Biography :

In the late '50s and early '60s, Becky and Anne Wagnon, were a female vocal duo who were compared to the McGuire Sisters or a female version of the Everly Brothers. After winning a contest at the North Alabama State Fair, the duo competed against more than 1,000 other young people at the Mid-South Talent Show at the Mid-South State Fair in Memphis. They won that contest as well, which included a cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to New York City to appear on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. They appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in March 10, 1959.

Ed Sullivan & The Wagnon Sisters

The Wagnon Sisters accepted A RCA contract over offerings by Warner Brothers and Columbia while they auditioned for Cbs Television. They Will work with Hugo & Luigi who left Mercury and Roulette recording companies to become affiliated with RCA. The Tuscumbia girls have written eight original songs to record for RCA. Unfortunately, Only "My Desire" b/w "Baby Wait For Me" was released by RCA They got a six-year contract with CBS, made recordings and were celebrities for about two years, Anne married her first love and moved to Texas.

Songs :

My Desire Baby Wait For Me

….

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Published from Overblog

Posted on April 11 2015 by dion1

The Superiors (1)

The Superiors (1) (Philadelphia, PA)

Personnel :

Eddie Custis (Lead)

Thomas Luff

George Ellis

Barbara Custis

James Bradis (Bass)

Discography :

The Superiors (1)
1958 - Lost Love / Don't Say Goodbye (Atco 6106/Main Line 104)

Eddie Custis
1961 - Let It Live / How Long Will It Last (Parkway 825)

Biography :

Vocal quintet from Elmwood, Philadelphia . They all went to Bartram high school and consisted by Eddie Custis, his sister Barbara, Thomas Luff, George Ellis and James Bradis. The Quintet signing a recording contract with Atco records. Atco Records was founded in August 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who had returned to the company from military service. The Atco name is simply an abbreviation of ATlantic COrporation. The Superiors cut only one single for Atco also released on Main Line, before disbanded. in 1959, Eddie Custis join the Hearts when Lee Andrews quit the group for a solo career and Ted Weems left for the service. They recorded as The Five Hearts and as the Heats. Lee Andrews was married to Eddie Custis's sister Barbara. In 1961 Eddie Custis cut one single for Parkway and was in the Chairmen of the Board, the 1960s soul group famous for "Give Me Just A Little More Time".

Songs :

The Superiors (1)

Lost Love Don't Say Goodbye

Eddie Custis

How Long Will It Last Let It Live

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The Sandmen

Posted on April 10 2015 by dion1

clockwise from left : Furman Haynes, Walter Springer , Benjamin Peay and Adriel McDonald

The Sandmen (New-York)

Personnel :

Benjamin Peay "Brook Benton" (Lead)

Walter Springer (Second Tenor)

Furman Haynes (Baritone)

Adriel McDonald (Bass)

Discography :

The Sandmen
Singles:
1955 - When I Grow Too Old To Dream / Somebody To Love (OKeh 7052)
Unreleased :
1954 - I Could Have Told You (OKeh)
1955 - I Was Fool Enough To Love You (OKeh)
1955 - Bring Me Love (OKeh)

Brook Benton & The Sandmen
1955 - Ooh / The Kentuckian Song (Brook Benton) (OKeh 7058)

Chuck Willis bb The Sandmen
1955 - I Can Tell / One More Break (no group) (OKeh 7055)

Lincoln Chase bb The Sandmen
Singles:
1955 - That's All I Need / The Message (Columbia 40475)
Unreleased :
1955 - I'm Sure (Columbia)
1955 - Things Money Can't Buy (Columbia)

Biography :

When Brook Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music, wrote songs, and sang in a Methodist church choir in nearby Camden, where his father, Willie Peay, was choir master. So in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career. He went in and out of gospel groups such as The Langfordaires, The Jerusalem Stars, and The Golden Gate Quartet. It wasn't until 1954, however, that the dedicated young singer's efforts began to pay off with record industry recognition. It was during that year that Peay, still in New York, was recruited by former Ink Spots bass singer Adriel McDonald for a new vocal group called The Sandmen. Since McDonald had worked with the Moe Gale agency during his tenure with the Ink Spots, this was the firm he engaged to manage the Sandmen. Disc jockey Bill Cook, who had been impressed with Peay's voice several years earlier when he first heard him singing gospel, was working for Gale at the time representing popular vocalist Roy Hamilton, one of Peay's heroes.

Brook Benton

It was Cook who brought the Sandmen to Epic Records, the Columbia subsidiary that was marketing Hamilton. With Benny Peay as lead singer, the Sandmen recorded their first Epic session on December 14, 1954. The resulting single, issued on Columbia's Okeh rhythm-and-blues label rather than Epic, paired Cook's "Somebody To Love" with the old standard "When I Grow Too Old To Dream". It was released the following February and got good reviews in the trade papers, but nothing came of it. Following their release as the Sandmen, they did some backup work for Chuck Willis and Lincoln Chase.

Chuck Willis

It was the Sandmen's next session, held on May 26, 1955, that allowed Benny Peay to take his next decisive step down the long road to stardom. The single that resulted from the session placed him at center stage in a hard-swinging, enthusiastically sung, and flawlessly harmonized arrangement of a rather forgettable song called "Ooh". The flip side, recorded a week later, featured him in a totally new setting with a solo performance of the theme from Burt Lancaster's latest movie, "The Kentuckian". The arrangement, orchestrated with full string section by 22-year-old Quincy Jones, displayed Peay in all-out pop crooner mode, but his confident, sensitive delivery also demonstrated the distinctively soulful phrasing that would, in four more years, finally gain him the recognition he deserved.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/ROWNEW2/TheMessage.htm
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Sandmen/sandmen.html

Songs:
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Sandmen


Somebody To Love   When I Grow Too Old To Dream

Brook Benton & The Sandmen

Ooh

Chuck Willis bb The Sandmen

I Can Tell

Lincoln Chase bb The Sandmen


That's All I Need The Message

…

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The Fascinations (3)

Posted on April 3 2015 by dion1

The Fascinations (3) (Los Angeles, Ca.)

Personnel :

Ken Mowery

Dave Walker

Tom Holder

Dave Bilgen

Chuck Stansfield

Discography :

Singles:
1961 - If I Had Your Love / Why (Paxley 750 / Dore 593)

Unreleased:
1961 - Roseanne (Paxley)
1961 - I’m alone (Paxley)

Biography :

Vocal group from Los Angeles composed by Ken Mowery, Dave Walker, Tom Holder, Dave Bilgen and Chuck Stansfield first called themselves The Belvederes. This five member group composed of one Poly High School student and four Graduates sang locally at School, private party, and record Hop. In 1961, they draws attention to singer Gary Paxton.

The Belvederes

Best known for directing the novelty smashes Alley-Oop and Monster Mash, Paxton was already a veteran of the charts as half of the duo Skip & Flip. Gary Paxton, besides a talented singer, arranger of groups, and writer, also produced and had this short lived label called Paxley. Besides his group the Hollywood Argyles, you could also find The Belvederes under their new name, The Fascinations.

The Fascinations signing a recording contract & recorded "If I Had Your Love" arranged by Paxton. Because they needed a song for the flip side, they wrote "Why" in about 20 minutes. It sold a few copies, but didn't make the charts. The song was distributed nationally by another Hollywood label : Dore, formed by Herb Newman and Lou Bedell as a companion to their Era label.

The Fascinations recorded 2 other songs, "Roseanne" and "I'm alone" but They were not released. The Fascinations broke up the following year. They later reformed, as DejaVu, with all the original members except Tom Holder and added Joe Dahlin for a while and then Diane (Walker) Stansfield from 1988 till 1994.

Songs :

If I Had Your Love Why

If I Had Your Love (unrel. diff. vers.)

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Dino & The Diplomats (2)

Posted on April 1 2015 by dion1

Dino & The Diplomats (2)

Dino & The Diplomats (2) (Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Rafael Cedano (Lead Tenor)

Richard Morgan (Tenor)

Jackie Jones (Second Tenor)

Woody Carter (Baritone)

Charles Humber (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1961 - My Dream / I Can't Believe (Laurie 3103)
1961 - Hush-A-Bye My Love / Homework (Vida 0100/0101)
1961 - Soft Wind / Such A fool For You (Vida 0102/0103)

Unreleased :
1961 - Hushabye My Love (Laurie)

Biography :

Vocal group from Harlem composed by Rafael Cedano (lead), Richard Morgan (1st tenor), Jackie Jones (2d tenor), Charles Humber (Bass) and Woody Carter (Baritone). This five man group whose members went to school with Frankie Lymon first called themselves the Lionels and then the Universals in 1957-58. finally they changed for Dino & The Diplomats when they signed with Laurie Records. Laurie Records was a record label started in 1958 by brothers Robert and Gene Schwartz, and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records (named after his elder daughter), had been unsuccessful.

Dino & The Diplomats recorded three songs for Laurie Records: "My Dream", "I Can't Believe" and the unreleased "Hushabye My Love ". Their song "I Can’t Believe" was part written by Ricardo Weeks who with Melvin Anderson penned "I Wonder Why" for Dion & The Belmonts. The Singers would become a four man group in the following year after the departure of Woody Carter and re-record a different version of "Hush-A-Bye My Love" for Vida records were they cut two singles before separating.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

I Can't Believe                    My Dream                 Hush-A-Bye My Love (Laurie)


Hush-A-Bye My Love (Vida)          Homework         Soft Wind / Such A fool For You

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The Fiestas

Posted on March 29 2015 by dion1

The Fiestas (Newark, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Tommy Bullock (Lead)

Eddie Morris (First Tenor)

Sam Ingalls (Baritone)

Preston Lane (Bass)

Discography :

The Fiestas

Singles :
1958 - So Fine / Last Night I Dreamed (Old Town 1062)
1959 - Our Anniversary / I'm Your Slave (Old Town 1069) 
1959 - Good News / That Was Me (Old Town 1074)
1960 - Dollar Bill / It Don't Make Sense (Old Town 1080)
1960 - You Could Be My Girl Friend / So Nice (Old Town 1090) 
1961 - Come On Everybody / Julie (Strand 25046)
1961 - Look At That Girl / Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon (Old Town 1104)
1961 - She's Mine / The Hobo's Prayer (Old Town 1111) 
1962 - The Railroad Song / Broken Heart (Old Town 1122) 
1962 - I Feel Good All Over / Look At That Girl (Old Town 1127)
1963 - The Gypsy Said / Mama Put The Law Down (Old Town 1134)
1963 - The Party's Over / Try It One More Time (Old Town 1140)
1963 - Foolish Dreamer / Rock - A - Bye Baby (Old Town 1148) 
1964 - All That's Good / Rock - A - Bye Baby (Old Town 1166) 
1965 - Think Smart / Anna (Old Town 1178)
1965 - Love Is Strange / Love Is Good To Me (Old Town 1187) 
1965 - I Gotta Have Your Lovin' / Ain't She Sweet (Old Town 1189)

Unreleased:
1959 - Come On And Love Me (Old Town)
1959 - Things We Can't Forget (Old Town)
N/A - The Lawman

Tommy Andre (Tommy Bullock)
1962 - I Wonder Why / I'm Wondering (Old Town 1116)

Biography :

The Fiestas came from Newark, New Jersey all from the same neighborhood, and consisted of members Tom Bullock, Eddie Morris, Preston Lane, and Sam Ingalls. Early on, the group practiced their songs and hoped to convince a record label that they had the stuff to produce a hit record. They recorded a demo side for Jim Gribble (who became their manager) who took the recording to various labels in New York. After a time of trial and error, they were heard by Hy Weiss the owner of Old Town Records one of the top performing New York City independent labels. He liked what he heard obviously, and soon had the group in the recording studio.

They recorded a song written by Jesse Belvin years before called "So Fine" and also backed it with a ballad called "Last Night I Dreamed (Of You)" and Old Town released it on # 1062. The ballad originally was targeted as the 'A' side but soon radio airplay in the New York area flipped to the medium tempo rocker "So Fine" . Listeners were intrigued by the four part harmony throughoput the song rather than the standard lead and backup format that was the norm for the vocal group style. By February the group had a solid hit that was breaking out nationally. The four part lead throughout the song was certainly catching the ear of radio listeners and the group was now in demand as new hit makers always are.

By March the record was doing big business in the Midwest especially in Detroit and Chicago, and was breaking big on the pop music charts. In April The Fiestas began to make personal appearances throughout the Northeast. In April Bill "Hoss" Allen on WLAC in Nashville picks the record as the top pick of the week. In May Johnny Otis and his representatives filed a lawsuit over the record claiming that he was the true composer of the tune. Named in the suit were Old Town Records, Jim Gribble, and The Fiestas themselves. In June Eldorado Music wins the lawsuit for the interests of Johnny Otis and the matter is settled with Old Town paying a designated sum of money and legal costs.

In July The Fiestas get around to recording a followup record for Old Town. After a fabulous run of "So Fine", the group has "Our Anniversary" and "I'm Your Slave" on # 1069. In October Henry Glover after a time at King Records in Cincinnati moves to Old Town and produces a new side by The Fiestas called "That Was Me" and "Good News" on Old Town # 1074. In late October the group heads South for a series of one nighters. In late November The Fiestas play the Regal Theater in Chicago for an all star R & B show headlining Ray Charles, Nappy Brown and the Sarah McLawler-Richard Otto Combo.

Bobby Moore

Between 1960 and 1962 there were several changes in the group's line up with Bobby Moore from the "Four Most" (1960), Randall Stewart (1961), some of the recruited members of the group. Now as the new decade was beginning the group moved to a more modernistic style combining elements of the blues and soul. They continued to turn out records for another five years for Old Town before calling it quits as an act. They got in at the tail end of the vocal group era and had one memorable hit record that has endured through all the passing years. The Fiestas had made their mark on the history of the music.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Fiestas

So Fine                             Last Night I Dreamed               Our Anniversary


I'm Your Slave                    Good News                         Dollar Bill


So Nice                                 Look At That Girl                Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon


Julie / Come On Everybody         The Railroad Song / Broken Heart

She's Mine                         I Feel Good All Over                The Gypsy Said


The Party's Over                 Try It One More Time                Foolish Dreamer


Rock - A - Bye Baby                Think Smart                      Anna


Love Is Strange                  I Gotta Have Your Lovin'               That Was Me

The Hobo's Prayer               Things We Can't Forget           It Don't Make Sense


You Could Be My Girl Friend          All That's Good               Love Is Good To Me


Come On And Love Me                    The Lawman                   Ain't She Sweet

Mama Put The Law Down

Tommy Andre (Tommy Bullock)

I'm Wondering

Cds :

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

….

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The Ponsonby Sisters Aka The Ponsi Sisters

Posted on March 28 2015 by dion1

The Ponsonby Sisters (Azalea, Oregon)
Aka The Ponsi Sisters

Personnel:

Shella Ponsonby

Sharon Ponsonby

Patty Ponsonby

Donna Ponsonby

Maureen Ponsonby

Discography :

The Ponsi Sisters
1959 - School Bells, Wedding Bells / Chihuahua Cha Cha (Bingo 104)

Leon Smith & The Ponsonby Sisters
1959 - Once I Had A Heart / Little Forty Ford (Leon Smith) (Willamette 101)

Biography :

This group of five sisters from Azalea, started singing since 1955. The Sisters are Shella 8, Sharon 20, Patty 16, Donna 17 and Maureen 18. They have appeared at various county celebrations and win some Talent Contest. Other successes included winning third place on a pacific states talent show held in Portland's Paramount theatre in which 60 musical groups vied for the opportunity to appear on the Patty Page Show in New York City.

Shella in front and from left to right : Sharon , Patty , Donna and Maureen

The group has received some national recognition because of their appearance in March 1959 on The Lawrence Welk television program. They were special guest stars "The Ponsonby Sisters" of Azalea, Oregon. They did two numbers, "Mommy" and "No Other Arms". Thus far, the group has cut one record, "School Bells, Wedding Bells" and "Chihuahua Cha Cha" on the Bingo Label as the Ponsi Sisters.

Bingo Records was owned by Los Angeles DJ and TV personality Jim Specs Hawthorne. During 1959 and 1960 it produced at least seven 45rpm records featuring acts like Bing Crosby soundalike Troy Cori or the Ponsi sisters.

Leon Smith

In 1959, The Ponsonby Sisters backed Leon Smith on "Once I Had A Heart" for Willamette Records Owned by Leon Smith' Father. In 1960, they have signed a contract to record for Capitol, Unfortunately, nothing will be released and the success fades gradually.

Songs :

Leon Smith & The Ponsonby Sisters

Once I Had a Heart

...

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Bobby Roy & The Chord-A-Roys

Posted on March 27 2015 by dion1

Bobby Roy & The Chord-A-Roys (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Mike Regal (Lead)

Robert Walden

Shelly Weiss (First Tenor)

John Christiano (Bass)

Discography :

1959 - Little Girl Lost / Girls Were Made For Boys (JDS 5001)

Biography :

The Chord-A-Roys are a vocal group from Brooklyn fronted by Mike Regal with Robert Walden, Shelly Weiss and John Christiano. The group signed with JDS Records, a label run by veteran songwriter Joe Sherman, who arranged and produced "Little Girl Lost" and "Girls Were Made For Boys" at Bell Sound Studios. The group also backed Barry Mann on various demos that reportedly included "Who Put the Bomp" (In the Bomp Bomp Bomp).

The group broke up soon after and Shelly Weiss joined Mike Lasman, Allan Senzan and Ian Kaye & formed the Dreamers who cut a single for Carlton Records subsidiary’s label Guaranteed before changed their name to the Accents. Robert Walden will become an American television and motion picture actor.

Songs:

Girls Were Made For Boys Little Girl Lost

…

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Joe Boot & The Fabulous Winds

Posted on March 26 2015 by dion1

Joe Boot & The Fabulous Winds (Seattle, Washington)

Personnel :

Joe Boot (Lead)

Robert Ayers

Rogers Wright

Discography :

1958 - Rock And Roll Radio / That's Tough (Celestial 111)

Biography :

Originally formed in the early 1950s as the Southwinds, this 5-man vocal group began by performing strictly gospel-oriented music. Strictly, that is, until they crossed paths with a red-hot fireball of a rockin’ rhythm and blues singer named Joe Boot. From that point on, group members would ever be torn between spirituals and R&B. A compromise was struck and they added Boot, renamed themselves the Fabulous Winds, and proceeded to work up a mixed repertoire of tunes. While retaining some of their devout members, the Winds worked out vocal arrangements for pop standards and eventually some of Boot’s originals.

By 1957 the Winds found themselves at one of Seattle’s pioneering recording studios, Dimensional Sound. Numerous sessions were held there with instrumental backing by the Floyd Standifer Orchestra. Boot seemed to know all of the top African-American stars who passed through town and on one occasion in the fall of ’57 none other than Little Richard Penniman stopped by a session at Dimensional and announced that he had just given up rock ‘n’ roll and returned to religion. Furthermore, having just abandoned his international rock tour, Penniman said that he as going to appear down the street at the Moore Theater to spread the Good Word at a revival show.

Floyd Standifer Orchestra

After a quick prayer with Penniman, the Winds agreed to appear at that show. But, unlike his sold-out dates in previous visits to Seattle – including a blistering matinee show at the Eagles Auditorium that very summer – Penniman’s Moore show was, reportedly, very poorly attended. Joe Boot and the Fabulous Winds, however, went on to cut what was most probably the very first rock ‘n’ roll record ever produced in the Pacific Northwest. Issued by Dimensional’s in-house label, Celestial Records, “Rock and Roll Radio” b/w “That’s Tough,” remains an ultra-rare, but remains an ultra-rare, but essential, regional classic.

Songs :

Rock And Roll Radio That's Tough

…

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The Four Uniques

Posted on March 24 2015 by dion1

The "4" Uniques (Chicago)

Personnel :

Ken Riccardo

Drew Rezula

Lonnie Wiel

Mike Brando

Discography :

The "4" Uniques
1961 - Looking For A Love / Too Young (Adam 9002)
1961 - She's The Only Girl for Me / Twistin Around (Adam 9004)
1961 - Good Luck Charm / Island Of Love (Deer 3002)
1964 - Endlessly / Maybe The Next Summer (USA753)

Jerry Vinar & The "4" Uniques
1961 - Your Love Is Just for Me / Please Tell (Variety 1028)

Biography :

Vocal quartet from the Northwest side of Chicago composed by Ken Riccardo, Lonnie Wiel, Drew Rezula and Mike Brando. the band signed a record contract with Adam in Chicago and recorded four pieces. Two singles will be published, " Looking For A Love " b/w " Too Young " and " She's The Only Girl for Me " b/w " Twistin Around " with the local well-known instrumental group The Mus-twangs. The Mus-twangs were Jerry Urban, growlin' sax, Paul Cotton, lead guitar and later, member of POCO, Buddy Riley, rhythm guitar, Guy (Frenchy) Germany, drums, and Keith Anderson, Bass. The Mus-twangs appeared at Poppel's Under 21 Club, Riverdale, Ill and at numerous Jim Lounsbury Record Hops throughout the Chicago, Ill area 1961-1964. The " 4 " Uniques did many gigs and played at various festivals in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.

The Mus-twangs

In November 1961, before more than 2,000 spectators, they served as the opening act for well-know singer Bobby Rydell’ in Madison (Wisconsin). In April, 61 Jack Barthel, personal promo man, heads a newly formed record company Deer Records, and in July, inked the Four Uniques to a recording contract. The group released " Good Luck Charm " b/w " Island Of Love " the same month… Finally in 1963, USA Records released " Endlessly " b/w " Maybe The Next Summer ". USA Records was a Chicago based record label founded in 1960 by record distributor Jim Golden. The label's office was located across from Chess Records and Golden's Allstate Distributors was Chess' regional distributor.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Looking For A Love                  Twistin Around               Good Luck Charm


Island Of Love                          Endlessly               She's The Only Girl for Me


Too Young                          Maybe Next Summer

…

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