The Prells on Skymac were an African American singing group from Newark NJ with Gerald Harris (Lead singer), Ronald Darby (First tenor), Robert Mosley (2nd tenor), Nelson Rodgers(alto) and Pete ??? (Bass). In 1963, they recorded "It's A Wig" b/w "Peter Gunn" released by Skymac, That was there only record. A few months later, another group called The Prells was going to form a few kilometers from Newark, on Asbury Park, precisely. This new Prells were composed of Pat Siciliano, John Petillo, Frank Campanile and Antony Orifici. These Prells will also record two songs, unfortunately they will never be released.
The Paramours circa 1960 (from left) Mike Reiter, Sal Fasulo, Bill Medley, Don Fiduccia
The Paramours (1) (Santa Ana, California)
Personnel :
Mike Reiter
Sal Fasulo
Bill Medley
Don Fiduccia
Discography :
The Paramours (1) Singles : 1961 - That's The Way We Love / Prison Break (Smash 1701) 1961 - Miss Social Climber / Cutie Cutie (Smash 1718) 1962 - There She Goes / That's All I Want Tonight (Moonglow 214) Unreleased : 1961 - Long Tall Sally (Smash)
Penny Richard & The Paramours (1) 1961 - I’ll Be Yours / The Only Way (Moonglow 201)
Biography :
In the early sixties, Bill Medley hooked up with his guitar-playing friend, Don Fiduccia, forming a vocal group called the Romancers. They each wrote a song and made a demo. Sometime later, they formed a quartet named the Paramours by adding Mike Reiter and Roger Scott. Roger married, left the group, and Sal Fasulo replaced him as tenor. The Paramours signed a contract with Mercury Records on their subsidiary label— Smash Records . They recorded a Medley original « That’s The Way We Love » .
The Romancers : Bill Medley & Don Fiduccia
The tune didn’t hit the charts, but they did have some guest TV appearances and cut another single on the Smash label. Sal Fasulo left the group and Bobby Hatfield, who was member of another group called The Variations took his place. The following year, Medley and keyboard player Johnny Wimber of the Paramours got together with Hatfield and the reconfigured group had a single on Moonglow Records, "There She Goes (She's Walking Away)," written by Medley.
The Paramours at Jon's Black Derby, Santa Ana, CA—circa 1960 from left Bobby Hatfield, Don Fiduccia, John Wimber, Angelo Biondo, Bill Medley
None of these three Paramours releases had much impact beyond the immediate families of the group members. They continued working clubs as the Paramours. They continued working clubs as the Paramours. While with Moonglow, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley reacted to a shout from the audience during a performance, “That was righteous, brother.”
The Righteous Brothers
The rest, as they say, is history. The Paramours changed their name. Even as the Righteous Brothers, the duo had only marginal success with Moonglow. It was their move to Philles and Phil Spector's “wall of sound” where magic began to happen.
Top : Ed Anderson, Wallace Rose & Bob White - Bottom :John Davis, Larry Hinkson & Teddy Santos
The Love Notes (2) (Roxbury, Boston, Ma.) aka Jan Strickland & The Shadows (2)
Personnel :
Bob White (Tenor Lead)
Teddy Santos (Tenor)
John Davis (Second Tenor/Bass)
Ed Anderson (Bass)
Wallace Rose (Baritone)
Larry Hinkson (Piano)
Discography :
The Love Notes (2)
Eps : 1953 - Crawlin / You're Mine (Family Library 1040/ Tivoli 1040) 4 Other songs by Ronald Gill, Nats Walker Ork. & Margie Anderson 1953 - Let Me Go Home Whiskey / I Cross My Heart (Wallace Rose)/ My Kind Of Woman (Clarence Johnson & Ed Anderson) (Tivoli 1041) 3 Other songs by Naomi Lewis & Paul Robinson
Singles : 1953 - Surrender Your Heart / Get On My Train (Imperial 5254) 1954 - Sweet Lulu / I'm Sorry (Riviera 970/Rainbow 266) 1954 - Since I Fell For You / Don't Be No Fool (Riviera 975)
Unreleased : 1954 - Star Of Love 1954 - It's So Good 
 1954 - Baby Stop Your Crying 1954 - The Nearness Of You 1954 - Ting-A-Ling
Jan Strickland & The Shadows (2) 1955 - When Peter Walked On Water / Love Me Baby (Hub 556)
Biography :
This Love Notes are not the same group as the Love Notes who charted the doo wop classic "United" in 1957. Originating from Roxbury, MA, The Love Notes comprising Bob White (tenor lead), Walter Taylor (tenor), John Davis (second tenor and bass), Buddy Holt (baritone and second lead), and Wallace Rose (baritone). Late in 1952, Buddy Holt was replaced by bass Ed Anderson, and Walter Taylor was replaced by tenor Teddy Santos.
The Love Notes in Studio (1953/54)
The Love Notes began as cover artists who remade popular songs for budget labels such as Tivoli and Family Library of Recorded Music. These budget LPs and EPs, most famously (and prodigiously) produced by the Tops label, are a largely unappreciated repository of interesting music. The Love Notes cut some covers of such songs as the Clovers' "Ting a Ling" and Amos Milburn's "Let Me Go Home Whiskey ».
Pianist Larry Hinkson The Love Notes' closest brush with success came when the Imperial label leased two songs, "Surrender Your Heart" (a slow piano ballad) and "Get Off My Train," for a single that reportedly was a good regional seller, but nonetheless failed to secure a contract with Imperial. In 1954, they cut two records on Rainbow's Riviera subsidiary owned by Eddie Heller who did well locally. Finally, the group backed bass singer Jan Strickland on on "Love Me Baby" and "Peter"as the Shadows. The Love Notes were smoother than many of the vocal groups that attained greater heights. http://www.uncamarvy.com/LoveNotes/lovenotes.html
Chang Lee & The Zani-Acts (Newark, New Jersey) ref The Du Barrys
Personnel :
Domenick Roberto (Chang Lee)
Joseph Donnamaria (First Tenor)
Hank Majewski (Bass)
Joe Pesci (First Tenor)
Tony Napolitano (Drums)
Discography :
Chang Lee & The Du Barrys 1959 - I Must've Been Crazy / Tell Me (Jamison 864)
The Du Barrys 1959 - (Let's Exchange) Graduation Rings / Movin' Around (Topic 9120)
Biography :
Domenick "Chang Lee" Roberto had been an entertainer since the 1940s, working non-stop in night clubs and banquet halls. He served in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War, attaining the rank of corporal. During his military service, he entertained many of his fellow servicemen.
After the war, he returned home and created Chang Lee's and the Zani-Acts featuring the Yum-Yum Girls. In 1959 Hank Majewski, one of the original 'Four Lovers" (Four Seasons) left the group to became one of the group with first tenor actor/comedian Joe Pesci, Joseph Donnamaria & Tony Napolitano. The group will be many different staff over the years. In the same period, Chang Lee recorded two rare records with the Du Barrys who are probably the same singers than the Zani-Acts.
Chang Lee packed many venues, including The Savoy Plaza, The Rustic Cabin, Don's 21, The Flamingo, The Meadowbrook, The Cottage Inn, and The Silhouette, all in the greater Newark area, with Joe Pesce, Frankie Valli, Jerry Vale, Louis Prima, Lou Monte, Jimmy Roselli, Georgia Gibbs, Joey Dee, Tommy DeVito, Phil Brito, and many, many more. A talented songwriter, he recorded with Georgia Gibbs, Perry Como and Jerry Vale.
Richard Lanham & The Tempo-Tones 1957 - On Your Radio / Dance Of Love (Acme 712)
The Tempo-Tones 1957 - Find Yourself Another Fool / Ride And Off (Acme 702) 1957 - Get Yourself Another Fool / Ride Along (Acme 713) 1957 - In My Dreams / My Boy Sleepy Pete (Acme 715) 1957 - Come Into My Heart / Somewhere There is Someone (Acme 718) 1958 - Wishing All The Time / The Day I Met You (Acme 722)
Nancy Lee bb The Tempo-Tones 1957 - So They Say / Meet Me At The Crossroads (Acme 711) 1957 - Daddy-O Mommy-O / You Asked Me Do I Love You (Acme 716)
Biography :
In 1957, 12 year old Richard Lanham cut his first single backed by The Tempo-Tones, consisting of his brothers Albert, Danny and Wallace and their friends Steve Stewart and Birdie Brewster. The Tempo-tones met up with William Henry Miller, a&r man for Hull Records and father of the Miller Sisters. William Henry Miller wanted a young singer for one of the songs, and Richard was recommended. The sides were released, in October 1957, on the small Acme label (located at 419 West 44th Street), another outfit that used Miller as an a&r man.
When "On Your Radio" was first released the label had misspelled Radio as Raido making the first pressing a very rare sought after item in todays collector market. "On Your Radio" and "Get Yourself Another Fool" that started Richard and the Tempo Tones on their tours across the USA. This is when they made their appearances on the American Band Stand and the Allan Freed Show in addition to their performances at the Apollo Theatre. A neighbor of Richard's Nacy Lee, also recorded for the label with the aid of the Tempo-Tones.
Left to Right : Albert Lanham, Birdie Brewster,Danny Lanham, Steve Stewart and Wallace Lanham
After that period, Richard Lanham worked as a background singer in the New York area, at 16 sang at weekends while accompanied by the Miles Davis rhythm section of the time (pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb), and became a member of the Inkspots.
Songs :
Richard Lanham & The Tempo-Tones
On Your Radio Dance Of Love
The Tempo-Tones
Get Yourself Another Fool Ride Along In My Dreams
My Boy Sleepy Pete Come Into My Heart Somewhere There is Someone
Wishing All The Time The Day I Met You
Nancy Lee & The Tempo-Tones
So They Say / Meet Me At The Crossroads You Asked Me Do I Love You / Daddy-O Mommy-O
The Delmonicos (1) 1963 - There They Go / You Can Call (Aku 6318) 1964 - Until You / World's Biggest Fool (Musictone 6122)
Denise Germaine & The Delmonicos (1) 1963 - Teenage Idol / I'm Fed Up (Aku 6139)
Biography :
In the late fifties, five youngster from the East Harlem section Of New York, 116 th street, got together and harmonized like hundred of other music lovers from that era. this five young men were John Martin, Gary Knight, Nick DiBona, Victor Rodriguez and Joe Cariati. In the year 1959 John Martin came up with the name, The Delmonicos. The Fellas sang at local clubs and dances and waited patiently for that big break. Well, that break finally came in 1963 when the group recorded « There They Go » b/w « You Can Call » for the small Aku Label.
The Delmonicos with TJ
« You Can Call » was given excellent marks by Billboard magazine and Teen Life Magazine. It got quite a bit of airplay around New York - New Jersey - Connecticut areas, but no huge sales or money came from this. The Same Year, they backed and recorded on Aku Records with the lounge singer Denise Germaine on « Teenage idol » and « I'm Fed Up ». Denise Germaine also performed on the New York lounge circuit and recorded only a few others on the United Artists and ABC/Paramount labels.
The Guys switched labels for their next record wich was called « Until You » backed with « World's Biggest Fool » on Musictone. A super record but the same results - No Big Hit!. During this time, the Delmonicos were busy playing places like the Copacabana, the Peppermint Lounge, and the Camelot among others. They also worked with Cousin Brucie (New York DJ) at Palisade Park in New Jersey. They Opened for people like Johnny Mathis, The Four seasons, The Duprees and many other artists. Then in 1964 with the British invasion, the Delmonicos retired.
(L to R) : Manny Giz, Nick DiBona, Gary Knight, Joe Cariati. Bobby Castalano (Center)
But In 1966, Joe Cariati, Victor Rodriguez and new group members were ready to try again! They had recorded a song called « We Can Find Love » on Johnny Nash’s new Joda Label. Then Fate raised it’s awesome hand and the record label went bankrupt! So the group went into retirement again. A reformed Delmonicos group got back together in 1989 and cut one single and an Album. Members include Gary Knight , Nick DiBona, Joe Cariati , Bobby Castalano and Manny Giz.
Songs :
The Delmonicos (1)
There They Go / You Can Call Until You / World's Biggest Fool
The Robbins (3) (Cleveland, OH.) aka The Two-Notes (1) aka The Classics (7) aka The Robins (2)
Personnel :
Redda Robbins "Shubert"
Jeanette Robbins "Harris"
Discography :
The Robbins (3) 1959 - And Everytime / Tweedy-Dee (Redda Robbins) (Redhead 100) 1959 - I Want To Sing Again / Standing At The Bandstand (Cashmere 1000)
The Two-Notes (1) 1959 - Sandy, Sandy / My Secret Lover (Coral 62153)
The Classics (7) 1960 - You're Everything / Burning Love (Top Rank 2061)
The Robins (2) 1961 - Baby Love / We Loved (Gone 5101)
Biography :
In February 1959, Redda and Jeanette Robbins South Euclid’s young singing composers, have etched two of their songs for Cashmere Records Studio, which they own. "I Want to Sing Again" "and "Standing At The Bandstand" are their lilting tunes for which they recruited Dick Lurie's all-Cleveland orchestra. Billed as The Robbins, the sister team makes its home at 3852 Grosvenor Road. A few months later The Robbins released a new single on the Redhead label with the B-side by Redda Robbins.
1964 - Redda Robbins 1968 - Redda Robbins
In November 1959, as the Two-Notes They write and recorded "Sandy, Sandy" and "My Secret Lover" for Coral. They recorded in 1960 as by The Classics on Top Rank the following year with "You're Everything" and "Burning Love" and in 1961 "Baby Love" "We Loved" as The Robins. (Redda Robbins also used the name Redda Shubert and Jeanette Robbins the Name of Jeanette Harris). in 1963, Redda Robbins heard the Secrets at one of the gigs, and offered to take the girls under her wing. In 1964, Redda Robbins started and owned the Redda label and she was the manager of the Motions, The Bobbi Pins, the Parakeets, the Wispers, Barry Lee, Terry Hall and of course Bocky and the Visions.
1958 - Long Legged Linda / I'm So Lonely (Hanover 4500)
Biography:
Sanger's Kids From Texas stuck their thumb in the musical pudding and pulled out their first record release, now being pushed by disc jockeys in the region. The record's release date was delayed several weeks by the recording company, and more basic tapes have been submitted by the group for future release.
Finally, the Kids from Texas signed with the New York city label Hanover Records owened by Len Levy and Bob Thiele who released the nice doo wop "I'm So Lonely" which was composed by a member of the group, Gerald Ramsey and the rock "Long Legged Linda ".
The Kids From Texas are left to right, Johnny Charles Odom, Monroe Joiner, Alfred Pennington, Frankie Cole, John Hugh Scherfz, Gerald Ramsey and Loy Odom. (The Denton Record - Chronicle - May 5, 1958)
1961 - Billy The Kidder / Boys Who Don't Understand (Richie 4300)
Biography :
Vince Rago owned and managed the Wilmington, DE Delaware based Richie Records from 1961-1968. His label featured Soul, Doo-wop, Pop, Rock and Psychedelic artists from the Delaware Valley. As talent scout for the area, he nurtured the musical careers of dozens of area singer-songwriters and fueled the dreams of thousands.
Ventie Jean Williams Shirley Lewis Valerie Robinson
After three singles by Teddy & the Continentals who had a national hit –– on the Bubbling Under chart –– with “Ev’rybody Pony,” which hit #101 in September 1961. Vince Rago recorded The Continettes for their first and only single : "Billy The Kidder" b/w "Boys Who Don't Understand".
The group were composed by Valerie Robinson, Shirley Lewis, Ventie Jean Williams, Linda Powell and Jackie Emory. http://hangnailphillips.com/?p=483
Sabby Lewis & The Vibra-Tones (1) (Boston, Massachusetts) aka The Hi-Notes (1)
Personnel :
Tommy Frederick (Lead)
Discography :
Sabby Lewis & The Vibra-Tones (1) 1956 - Forgive Me My Love / Regretting (ABC 9687)
Tommy Frederick & The Hi-Notes (1) 1958 - The Prince Of Players / I'm Not Pretending (Carlton 450/London 8555)
Tommy Frederick & Group 1960 - Sundown / ‘Where’d Ja Go (Coral 62170)
Biography :
Sabby Lewis started taking piano lessons when he was 5, and organized his first band in Boston in 1936. He later performed on Broadway and in ballrooms and clubs in Manhattan. He performed with Dinah Washington and Billy Eckstine. During World War II, Lewis' orchestra included long-time Ellington tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, and drummer Alan Dawson spent much of the 1950s in the band. In 1956, he performed in the Boston Area, and recorded with a local vocal group, the Vibra-tones, « Forgive Me My Love » b/w « Regretting » for ABC.
Sabby Lewis
Two years later, The Vibra-Tones changed their name to the Hi-Tones. The Carlton Record Corporation began in October, 1957, in New York, when the late Joe Carlton, a former A&R chief at RCA, set up offices at 157 W. 57th Street. The label started with a single by Tommy Fredericks & His Hi-Notes, "The Prince of Players"/"I'm Not Pretending" [Carlton 450].
In 1961, a different Vibra-Tones’ vocal group recorded for ABC as backup singers For Evelyn Dell . This white Group from Brooklyn & Queens is composed by John Sescila, Sandy Anzalone, John Anzalone and Vinny Lombardy.
Who are they ???
(Sonny, Darryl, Charlie Weils...) According to notes from "Rare 1950's Boston Doo Wop" this unknown group backed Tommy Fredericks on his Coral single in 1960 on "Sundown" and ‘Where’d Ja Go"
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