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

The Incredible Upsetters

Posted on January 26 2024 by dion1

The Incredible Upsetters (Sandusky, Ohio)

Personnel :

John Lawrence Dickerson

(Brother) Dickerson

Gene T. Armstrong

Waudell Hinton

Rex Robertson

Disography :

1960 - Only A Dream / Baby I'm Your Man / Oo-Wah-Cha-Wah / My Life, My Loved One (Audio Lab 2)

Biography :

John Dickerson, a graduate of the 1948 class of Sandusky High School, formed the Incredible Upsetters with his brother and a few high school friends, Gene Armstrong, Waudell Hinton and Rex Robertson. The Incredible Upsetters were soon performing all over Ohio with Dickerson as the front man. The Incredible Upsetters hired a drummer who could also assist with vocals, a musician just starting out by the name of Marvin Gaye. In 1959, The Incredible Upsetters Recorded four excellent songs (Released in 1960) for Audio Lab. Audio Lab was formed as a budget label subsidiary to Cincinnati, Ohio based King Records. Dickerson's father acted as manager, chauffeur and took the group to Detroit to meet Barry Gordy with Motown Records. At Hitsville, U.S.A., John met the 'Motown Family' including The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and the Vanguards to name a few. Dickerson later sang bass at live shows for The Temptations, The Del Vikings, The Clovers and The Coasters. Later, he played and sang with jazz greats Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Wes Montgomery and Stanley Turrentine. From 1968 through 1970 he toured with R&B singers Jerry Butler and Bettye Swann

Songs :


Only A Dream                                 Oo-Wah-Cha-Wah


My Life, My Loved One                           Baby I'm Your Man

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Horace Little aka Ben Higgins (bb The Five Satins)

Posted on January 19 2024 by dion1

Horace Little (bb The Five Satins) (New haven, CT.)
Aka Ben Higgins

Personnel :

Horace Little (Ben Higgins) (Lead)

The Five Satins

Fred Parris (Lead)

Wes Forbes (Tenor!

Richie Freeman (Second Tenor)

Lou Peebles (Baritone)

Sylvester Hopkins (Bass)

Discography :

Horace Little (bb The Five Satins)
1962 - 500 Years / Texas Stomp (Ascot 2102)

Ben Higgins (bb The Five Satins)
1962 - A Whole Lot O'Lovin' / Really Paradise (Jamie 1217)

Biography :

In 1960, after three years with Ember Record, The Five Satins were signed by Cub, a pop subsidiary of the mighty M-G-M label which was enjoying a hot spell on the charts. Though expectations were high, M-G-M were unable to break the Group, and when the Five Satins heard they were to be dropped by the label. It was at this moment that Fred Parris teamed up with Sam Goldman. they wrote songs for the group released as The New Yorkers on Wall records and the Wildwoods on Caprice Records before reverting to their original name on some later records.

The Five Satins

In 1962, Fred Parris and Sam Goldman wrote four (Excellent) songs for Horace Little, a young man from New Haven, Connecticut. The first two "500 Years" and "Texas Stomp" backed by The Five Satins will be released in March 1962 on Ascot, a United Artists subsidiary as Horace Little. Shortly afterward he also made the two other sides "A Whole Lot O'Lovin'" and "Really Paradise" for Jamie Records. He couldn’t record for two companies under the same name, So, Ben Higgins was picked for the second company.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Horace Little (bb The Five Satins)

500 Years                              Texas Stomp

Ben Higgins (bb The Five Satins)


A Whole Lot O'Lovin'                                Really Paradise

....

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Mike Barnett & The Coquettes (3)

Posted on January 19 2024 by dion1

Mike Barnett & The Coquettes (3)

Mike Barnett & The Coquettes (3) (Hollywood, CA.)

Personnel :

Mike Barnett

Discography :

1959 - Ricky / Parkin' Meter (Imperial 5610)

Biography :

Mike Barnett began singing and dancing in Las Vegas shortly after World War II. He was cast in the chorus as well as specialty spots in many shows in hotel casinos. His wife Elaine came up with the name The Lettermen for a vocal trio in 1957; the group worked for 13 weeks in comedy writer Sid Kuller’s Jewish spoof of the Broadway smash hit “My Fair Lady” and called it “My Fairfax Lady” at Billy Gray’s Bandbox. By August of 1957, after the last revue closed, Barnett set out to re-establish his group so he called upon two solo singers in Hollywood: an Oakland High School friend Dick Stewart and Tony Butala. The Lettermen opened in 1958 at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. A few months later, Barnett left the group and in 1959, with two girls named the Coquettes he recorded "Ricky" b/w "Parkin' Meter" released by Imperiel. Mike Barnett become a lighting director for movies and television, earning an Emmy award for best lighting in 1979, for a TV production of Kaufman & Hart’s “You Can’t Take it With You,” starring Art Carney and Jean Stapleton.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Ricky / Parkin' Meter
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The Impressions (3)

Posted on January 14 2024 by dion1

Twins Vic (Left) and Val Crowston stand behind Rick Turnley

The Impressions (3) (Federal Way, Washington)

Personnel :

Val Crowston

Vic Crowston

Rick Turnley

Discography :

1959 - Meanwhile, Back In My Heart / All Through The Night (20th Fox 45-172)

Biography :

In 1960, Three young men of Federal Way who are known in the entertainment field as The Impressions have recorded for 20th Fox. The group were composed by twins Vic, Val Crowston and Rick Turnley. The Impressions covers both sides of the disc with two songs by Art and Toni Mineo, Tacoma musicians and composers. The titles are “All Through the Night” and “Meanwhile, Back in My Heart." All three of the vocalists, 21 year old, were graduated from Federal Way High School .Following their graduation from High School in 1956 the twins joined by Rick Turnley formed the Impressions. From 1957, they have played the “amateur circuit” - Lodges, Clus, Benefits, Hospitals, Talent shows .

Songs ;
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Meanwhile, Back In My Heart All Through The Night

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Nickie & The Nite Lites

Posted on January 14 2024 by dion1

The Nite Lites Nick Massi

Nickie & The Nite Lites (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Nicholas E. Macioci "Nick Massi" (Lead)

Bobby Swain (Accordion)

Pete Perry (Sax)

Pat Marra (Guitar)

Discography :

1959 - Tell Me You Care / I’m Lonely (Brunswick 55155)

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.

Nickie & The Nite Lites

Born Nicholas Macioci in Newark, NJ, on September 19, 1927, 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. In 1959, Nick Massi had been lead singer of a vocal & instrumental group named Nickie & The Nite Lites. The group recorded "Tell Me You Care" and "I’m Lonely" released on Brunswick.

Songs :

Tell Me You Care / I’m Lonely

…

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The Shamans

Posted on January 14 2024 by dion1

The Shamans
Cal Waymon and Carl Gilbert

The Shamans (Los Angeles, Ca)

Personnel :

Cal Waymon "Waymon Cal" (Baritone, Lead)

Carl Gilbert (Tenor)

Daniel Deroin (Tenor)

Jesse Godfred James (Bass)

Cornelius Rose (Tenor)

Discography :

1959 - Valley Of Tears / Shubby Dubby Doo (Kayham KM 1/2)
1960 - Southern California / I'll Wait Forever (Kayham KM 3/4)

Biography :

The Incredibles were a Los Angeles based quartet (two guys, two girls) who were comprised of Cal Waymon, Denise Erwin, Carl Gilbert, and Jean Smith. The group was a highly regarded club act who also served as an opening act for the Four Tops on frequent live appearances. "I'll Make It Easy" was written by Cal Waymon and released on the Audio Arts label, entering the Billboard chart in October of 1966 and peaking at #39.

The Incredibles with Cal Waymon and Carl Gilbert

Before this small success under the name of the Incredibles, Cal Waymon and Carl Gilbert have formed a vocal group called the "Shamans" in 1959. This five man singing group from Los Angeles were composed by Cal Waymon "Waymon Cal" (Baritone, Lead), Carl Gilbert (Tenor), Daniel Deroin (Tenor), Jesse Godfred James (Bass) and Cornelius Rose (Tenor). The Shamans have two records in 1959 and 1960 on the Kayham label owned by Harry A. Mitchell and Kenneth Yeager.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Valley Of Tears / Shubby Dubby Doo I'll Wait Forever

Southern California

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The Bell-Tones aka Belltones (2)

Posted on January 9 2024 by dion1

The Bell-Tones aka Belltones (2)
(L to R) Alvin H. Brandon, Billy Lee, Joseph Raguso, Richie Pettagano and Paul Fernandez

The Bell-Tones (Yonkers, New York)
aka Belltones (2)

Personnel :

Alvin H. Brandon (lead)

Paul Fernandez

Billy Lee

Richie Pettagano

Joseph Raguso

Discography :

The Bell-Tones
1958 - The Merrengue / I Love You (Scatt 1609/1610)

The Belltones (2)
1958 - The Merrengue / I Love You (J&S 1609/1610)

Biography :

Zelma "Zell" Sanders is a Bronx-based songwriter and producer who owned and operated J&S, Dice, Scatt, Zell's and other record labels. A powerful matriarch, she controlled her recording artists, sometimes firing them on the spot if they broke her rules. Before entering the record business she was employed as a security guard, while writing songs on the side. She was working for the Police Athletic League in Harlem's 23rd Precinct. She saw the talent; it was there on the street. They all got to know Zell as the lady who went around grabbing groups. "Do you sing?", she'd ask them. "Come on up to my house." Zelma Sanders also had a particular fondness for female singers.

The Bell-Tones aka Belltones (2)
Zelma "Zell" Sanders

In 1958, Zelma Sanders managed The Bell-Tones and wrote two songs for them, "The Merrengue" and "I Love You". The vocal group from Yonkers High School consists of Alvin H. Brandon, Paul Fernandez, Billy Lee, Richie Pettagano and Joseph Raguso. Before the release of their record, The boys have appeared at local dance spots, on television in Washington. D.C. and have made an Army show at Fort Belvoir, Va. Zell Sanders’ Scatt label released the single in April 1958, before one of her other labels, J&S, did the same shortly after, but under the name Belltones.

Songs :

I Love You The Merrengue

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The Three Kings

Posted on January 4 2024 by dion1

The Three Kings

The Three Kings (McKeesport, Pa)

Personnel :

Larry Coccia

Bernie Baczowski

Tony Baczowski

Discography :

1958 - Sweet Baby / Summer Rain (Willett 305)

Biography :

Vocal and instrumental group, the Three Kings from McKeesport are Larry Coccia, 20; Bernie Baczowski,19; and Bernie's. brother, Tony, 17. Tony is a trumpeter with the McKeesport High School orchestra. Larry plays a mean guitar and Bernie the accordion. In 1958, Elmer Willett, who operates the Vogue Terrace night-club in East McKeesport with Tom McCune, is so sold on the Three Kings that he arranged for their platter debut.

The Three Kings

When it's released, The disc was so successful that the local dee-jays have been hopping on to the record. One side is “Summer Rain,” which was composed by Jay Michael, the WCAE deejay, Lennie Martin and Walter Myer. The flip side features “Sweet Baby” by Pat Ballard. Their first platter was such a success local that Willett plans to wax another two sides in the next month. Unfortunately, the plan for a new single will never see the light of day.

Songs :

Sweet Baby

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The Cobras (1)

Posted on December 30 2023 by dion1

The Cobras (1)

The Cobras (1) (Pasadena, CA)

Personnel :

Otis Lee (lead Tenor)

Nate Lee (bass)

Jimmy Randell (Tenor/Baritone)

Discography :

1955 - Cindy / I Will Return (Modern 964)

Biography :

The Cobras had formed around 1952 as group of neighborhood friends. Otis Lee was the tenor lead, joined by his brother Nate (bass) and Jimmy Randell (tenor/baritone). There was a fourth slot in the group, but it changed so often, that they doesn't remember the name of a single guy who filled it. They sang together for a couple of years

The Cobras (1)

The Group were a fine vocal group who had just one release - "Sindy" aka "Cindy’ / "I Wil lReturn" on Modern 964 in August 1955. Their cover of the West Coast favourite "Sindy" followed the original, written and recorded by Squires (Mambo 105), and another version by the Tenderfoots (Federal 12228). In spite of being released (and advertised) with two different spellings, the Cobras' rendering didn't significantly rival the airplay and sales of the Squires.
https://www.uncamarvy.com/Dukes/dukes.html

Songs :

Cindy I Will Return

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The Exotics (1)

Posted on December 26 2023 by dion1

The Exotics (1)
????? Photo received by email entitled "1963-The Exotics" - no certainty that they are the same group

The Exotics (1) (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)

Personnel :

Morrison Oskry

Robert Smith

Ray Louis

James Minkins

Daniel Boone

Discography :

1961 - Darling, I Want To Get Married / That's My Desire (Coral 62268)
1961 - The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart" / Hotcha Mighty Knows (Coral 62289)
1962 - Manpower / Fortune Hunter (Coral 62310)
1962 - My Life's Desire - Part I / My Life's Desire - Part II (Coral 62343)
1964 - Sad Sad Song / Let's Get Together (Coral 62399)
1964 - Like You Hurt Me / Big Time Charlie (Coral 62439)

Biography :

The Exotics were a singing quintet met in the Air Force, they are from Pease Ai Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The group will quickly be noticed by their performances and will sign a contract with the Coral label. Between 1961 and 1964, Coral released six singles by the group. During these three years the group will change personnel as arrivals and departures take place.

The Exotics (1)

According to a Newspaper from may 1962, the group consists of The talented young servicemen, Morrison Oskry, Robert Smith, Ray Louis, James Minkins and Daniel Boone. The Exotics have appeared in Portland, Biddeford, Wells, Boston, New York City and Providence.

Songs :


Darling, I Want To Get Married                     That's My Desire

The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart" / Hotcha Mighty Knows


Manpower                                          Fortune Hunter


My Life's Desire - Part I                       My Life's Desire - Part II


Sad Sad Song                        Let's Get Together


Like You Hurt Me                       Big Time Charlie

...

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