Dave Strause, (center) (from left) John Smiles, Phil Capp, Joe Vegas, Frauklin Dee and Bob Capp.
The Sho Stoppers (Levittown, Pa) aka The Show Stoppers (1) ????
Personnel :
Dave Strause (Robby Stark)
John Smiles
Phil Capp
Joe Vegas
Frauklin Dee
Bob Capp
Discography :
The Sho Stoppers 1962 - Little Angel / ??? (???) 1963 - The Day That Roc'k ‘n’ Roll Dies / ??? (KP ?)
(Maybe)The Show Stoppers (1) 1963 - Hee Haw / Doctor oF Love (Amber 212) 1963 - But Who Will Pay / Cynthia (Amber ?)
Biography :
From a newspaper article about The Sho Stoppers : This vocal & instrumental group from Levittown has cut some records : “The Day That Roc'k ‘n’ Roll Dies” on KP records. The record The record was successful in Trenton. Previously, the group’s most successful record was called “Little Angel.” The combo has many talents that are displayed in comedy, vocal, instrumental and dancing mutines. The musicians play several instruments interchangeably that include the drums, bass, trombone, trumpet, sax. clarinet and guitar.
The Sho-Stoppers have appeared all over the country in such famous clubs as the Fremont Hotel and the Riviera louunge in Las Vegas. The « Golden Nugget” in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The “Rocking MB” and Dream Lounge in the Jennia Hotel in Miami Beach. They have also appeared on the Dick Clark TV’ Show and in a marathon for cancer in Baltimore with Patti Page and Sammy Davis Jr. The group has appeared locally at the Erie Social in Northeast Philadelphia, the Carlo Circle Bar also in the Northeast and at Al-jo’s in Jersey. Dave Strause, has worked with Bobby Darin, Steve Gibson and the Red Caps and the Flamingoes.
Ronnie Howard, Tommy Burton, Ron Buonaro and Sammy Basile
The Parlaments (Chicago) aka The Deltones (1) aka The Del Tones (3)
Personnel :
Sammy Basile (Lead)
Ron Buonaro (First Tenor)
Ronnie Howard (Baritone)
Tommy Burton (Bass)
Discography :
The Deltones (1)
Singles : 1958 - Jerry / Rockin' Cha Cha (with Debbie Stevens) (Roulette 4081) 1958 - Early Morning Rock / I'm 'Coming Home (Vee Jay 288) 1959 - A Lover's Prayer / First Man To The Moon (Vee Jay 303) Unreleased : 1958 - Baby I Need You (Vee Jay) 1960 - Good Luck Charms (USA Records)
The Del Tones (3) Singles : 1960 - And The Angels Sang / Please Talk to Me (USA Records 711) Unreleased : 1960 - Good Luck Charms (USA Records)
The Parlaments 1961 - My Only Love / To Be Alone (USA Records 719)
Biography :
At 12, Sammy Basile and his close friend Tommy Burton would harmonize to the sounds and vocals of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and other groups whose records were on the candy store juke box. They grew up on the west of Chicago, now called K-Town, since all the streets in their neighborhood start with a "K," i.e. Kilborne, Karlov, Keeler, etc. They attended Marshall high school, located on the corners of 5th Ave, and Adams & Kedzie streets.
Debbie Stevens
During their freshmen year (1956) they met Ronnie Howard. Early in 1958, and Ronnie introduced the group to a Ron Buonaro, and the Deltones was formed. Like all other vocal groups, they used to practice harmonizing in the school halls and bathrooms. On Roulette, they backing Debbie Stevens (Debbie Dean) on their own composition : " Jerry" b/w "Rockin' Cha Cha". They recorded "Early Morning Rock" at the Chess Studios on south Michigan Ave. The flip side was a slow song that the unforgettable voice of Ronnie Howard sang, titled "I'm Coming Home,".
Ronnie Howard, Sammy Basile, Tommy Burton and Ron Buonaro
Jim Lounsberry took the songs to Ewart Abner and Calvin Carter. They liked the songs and signed the group to Vee-Jay Records.Within a few weeks the song had seen some success. Their next recording with VeeJay was in early 1959, "A Lover's Prayer" The session was at Universal Recording Studio in Chicago. Ron Bounoro sang the lead on this one. The flip-side, "First Man to the Moon" was selected by Calvin Carter. In 1960 They moved to USA Records. Recordings there included: Please Talk To Me, Good Luck Charms, and remakes of The Angels Sang and under the name of The Parlaments " My Only Love" b/w "To Be Alone" .
Little Anthony & The Imperials (3) (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Chesters The Early Years (End Records)
Personnel :
Anthony Gourdine (Lead)
Tracy Lord (Tenor)
Ernest Wright, Jr. (Second Tenor)
Clarence Collins (Baritone)
Glouster Rogers (Bass) 

Discography :
Singles :
The Chesters 1957 - Lift Up Your Head / The Fires Burn No More (Apollo 521)
The Imperials (3) 1958 - Tears On My Pillow / Two People In The World (End 1027)
Little Anthony & The Imperials (3) 1958 - Tears On My Pillow / Two People In The World(End 1027) 1958 - So Much / Oh Yeah (End 1036)
 1959 - The Diary / Cha Cha Henry (End 1038)
 1959 - Wishful Thinking / When You Wish Upon A Star (End 1039)
 1959 - A Prayer And A Juke Box / River Path (End 1047)
 1959 - So Near And Yet So Far / I'm Alright (End 1053)
 1959 - Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop / I'm Still In Love With You (End 1060)
 1960 - My Empty Room / Bayou, Bayou, Baby (End 1067)
 1960 - I'm Taking A Vacation From Love / Only Sympathy (End 1074)
 1960 - Limbo (Part 1) / Limbo (Part 2) (End 1080)
 1960 - Formula Of Love / Dream (End 1083) 1961 - Please Say You Want Me / So Near Yet So Far (End 1086)
 1961 - Traveling Stranger / Say Yeah (End 1091)
 1961 - A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening / Dream (End 1104)
Eps :
1958 - Little Anthony and the Imperials (End EP-203) The Diary / Tears on My Pillow / Traveling Stranger / So Much
1959 - We Are The Imperials (End EP-204) When You Wish Upon A Star / Over The Rainbow / Love Is A Many Splendid Thing / What Did I Do
End EP-203 End EP-204
Lps :
1959 - We Are The Imperials (End LP-303) Tears On My Pillow / Over The Rainbow / Cha Cha Henry / The Diary / Oh Yeah / Two People In The World / When You Wish Upon A Star / Wishful Thinking / So Much / Traveling Stranger / What Did I Do / Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
1960 - Shades Of The Forties (End LP-311) This Love Of Mine / Don't Get Around Much Anymore / They Say It's Wonderful / If You Are But A Dream / Undecided / All Or Nothing At All / /I'll Never Smile Again / Dream / A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening / I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night / Oooh! Look-a There, Ain't She Pretty / I've Got A Crush On You
End LP-303 End LP-303
Unreleased :
1958 - I Cover The Waterfront (End) 1958 - Little Girl (End) 1959 - Dry Your Eyes (End)
Biography :
Little Anthony & the Imperials enjoyed one of the longest career runs of any doo wop group, adapting their honey-smooth style to fit the sweet uptown soul sound of the mid-'60s. Right from the beginning, Little Anthony's aching way with a ballad was the group's calling card, but their repertoire was balanced by more R&B-inflected dance tunes. Little Anthony was born Jerome Anthony Gourdine in 1940, and grew up in Brooklyn's Fort Greene projects. While in high school, he sang in a doo wop group called The Duponts, who recorded a single called "Prove It Now" in 1957. They disbanded after graduation.
In the meantime, Anthony Gourdine still had hopes to make it big in music. He persevered and soon formed a new vocal group consisting of neighborhood guys - Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nat Rogers, and Ernest Wright, and they called themselves The Chesters. They hoped to record for George Goldner at Gone / End Records, but he was not impressed with the presentation or style of the group. Meeting with a successful group from the neighborhood, The Cellos, Gourdine seemed to think that the group had a better shot with Apollo Records, a longtime R & B independent that had been at the forefront in New York for many years.
A recording session was set up at soon "Lift Up Your Head" and "The Fires Burn No More", two originals written by Gourdine were recorded by Apollo and released on # 521 in early 1958. It began selling moderately in New York and was featured by disc jockey Bill Powell at WEEP in Pittsburgh. "Fires" was a great vocal group performance by the Chesters, featuring call and response patterns on the bridge, and Anthony lapsing up into falsetto as he transitions into the last chorus. He really hits the high note on the last wortd for a dramatic ending.
It had all the makings of a substantial hit but as the record suddenly tailed off, the Chesters felt that Apollo had dropped the ball and did not do enough to promote the record. In their minds, this inaction caused it to become lost in the shuffle of so many new records released every week. They began to look elsewhere for a new label and perhaps a better shot at success. The group had been working on an Ernest Wright written song called "Two People In The World". They gave George Goldner and Gone / End another chance this time championed by Richard Barrett, formerly of The Valentines, and now a record producer and talent scout.
They were given a second song called "Tears On My Pillow" and after a few takes, Goldner changed the arrangement around a bit and had Gourdine alter his delivery using a clipped shortened style rather than the elongated crooning effect used by most lead vocalists. When everyone was satisfied with the proper "take" of both songs, the record was set for release on End # 1027. Almost immediately, those at End decided they didn't like the name Chesters, and settled on Imperials for the group. Most of the sides naming The Chesters were recalled, and the group finally had hit their stride.
On the second pressing of the record, the group had another name change, this time as Little Anthony & The Imperials. Where the "Little Anthony" came from is not clear. Some say it was the idea of Richard Barrett, others claim that George Goldner gave the group that name hoping to create another "Frankie Lymon type group", and still others say that it was the idea of Alan Freed. Whatever the truth, the group would become world famous with that name in the years ahead.
The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. When their success dwindled in 1961, Gourdine left to attempt a solo career. Original Imperials member Nate Rogers was drafted into the service and Tracey Lord, another original member, left to get married. and the line-up then became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain,(a childhood friend who had grown up together with the Imperials in Brooklyn), and George Kerr. Kerr was replaced by Kenny Seymour after a short time. This line-up had little success. Gourdine returned in 1963, replacing Seymour for another Story...
Videos :
Tears On My Pillow
Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop
Songs :
Tears On My Pillow Two People In The World So Much
Oh Yeah The Diary Cha Cha Henry
Wishful Thinking When You Wish Upon A Star A Prayer And A Juke Box
River Path So Near And Yet So Far I'm Alright
Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop I'm Still In Love With You My Empty Room
Bayou, Bayou, Baby I'm Taking A Vacation From Love Only Sympathy
Formula Of Love Dream Please Say You Want Me
So Near Yet So Far Traveling Stranger A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
What Did I Do This Love Of Mine Don't Get Around Much Anymore
They Say It's Wonderful If You Are But A Dream Undecided
All Or Nothing At All I'll Never Smile Again I've Got A Crush On You
Discography : Unreleased : 1962 - Rene (Ember) 1962 - I Only Want You (Ember)
Biography :
The Fabulons were started in 1960 by Mike Sferrazza and Louie Tutone in Flushing NY . Lou and Mike sang together for a couple of months. They both could carry a tune well but neither of them had great lead vocals. Then a fellow in their crowd of friends started to sing along with them and had a great lead voice. His name is Joe DeGregoria. So began the Fabulons. About a year later they picked up a fourth member names Bob Faccio. they were all 14-15 yrs of age. They played at shows and dances in their neighborhood and in 1962 they got a manager named Lenny Rudnick. Along came a writer named Henry Senatore and he wrote the song "Rene".
( to R) : Louie Tutone, Mike Sferrazza, Bob Faccio and Joe DeGregoria
The Fabulons recorded the single in 1962 on an Ember Record Label with the flip side song of "I Only Want You" by the Passions. The record never got released but They kept singing DooWop for about 7 more years. The Fabulons also got together with two other guys named John and Vic Faster. They were twin brothers with terrific voices. John and Vic have since passed away and Bob Faccio died in the Vietnam War in 1968. Lou and Mike continued to sing with the Faster Brothers for a couple of years later. By Mike Sferrazza.
Tippie & The Clovermen (Washington, D.C) aka The Clovers (2) aka The Wisemen
Personnel :
Harold Lucas
Robert Russell
Roosevelt "Tippie" Hubbard
James "Toy" Walton
Discography :
Tippie & The Clovermen 1962 - Please Mr. Sun / Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (Stenton 7001)
Tippie & The Clovers (2) 1962 - Bossa Nova, Baby / The Bossa Nova (My Heart Said) (Tiger 201)
Tippie & The Wisemen Unreleased : 1965 - Wait Till I Get There (Shrine) 1965 - Let Me Walk Away (Shrine) 1965 - I Wouldn't Mind Crying (Shrine) 1965 - Bye, Bye (Shrine)
Biography :
The Clovers, who hailed from the Washington area, had been recording since 1950; by 1961 the group had split and reformed as two separate Clovers, one led by Harold Lucas the other by John Bailey. The line-up of the Lucas group was Robert Russel, James “Toy” Walton and Eddie “Tippie” Hubbard. The Lucas group recorded and released records as "Tippie and the Clovermen" and "Tippie and the Clovers" for Tiger Records, a subsidiary of Rust Records.
Harold Lucas
In December 1962 "Bossa Nova Baby" (written by Leiber and Stoller) / "The Bossa Nova" was released, credited to Tippie and the Clovers. Also released in 1962 on Stenton Records was "Please Mr Sun" / "Gimme Gimme Gimme", credited to Tippie and the Clovermen. In 1965, Harold Lucas, Robert Russell, Tippie Hubbard and Toy Walton added a fifth member, Al Fox. The group recorded four tracks (all unreleased) as "Tippie and The Wisemen" for Shrine Records. That same year Tippie and The Wisemen changed their name to The Clovers.
The Cardigans were three young women from Worcester, Massachusetts . Marie Belanger was bass alto, Jeannine Doiron was high alto, and Terry Belanger was soprano. The Cardigans also had Diane LeDoux who occasionally joined to do soprano as well.
At White City in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts -left to right: Terry, Jeannine, Dave, Diane and Marie
In 1962, After numerous appearances around Worcester area, The Cardigans have the opportunity to record a Single. "My Falling Star" b/w "Cha Cha Baby" were cut on Bay Records with a singer by the name of Dave Witt from Massachusetts as well.
Left to right: Diane, Marie, Jeannine & Terry at the Worcester Auditorium
The Single was recorded with music from Tony Agbay and the continentals. Thanks to Marie Belanger
1956 - Ding Dong / Dream Of Love (Pla-Bac 105/Paradise 105) 1956 - Ladise / My Doctor Of Love (Pla-Bac 106)
Biography :
Best remembered by doo wop aficionados for their cult classic "Ding Dong," New York City vocal quintet the Packards formed in late 1955. According to writer Marv Goldberg's profile on his R&B Notebooks website, second tenor Milton Turner and bass/pianist Ray Hayes met while attending Manhattan's Benjamin Franklin High School, while baritones Bill Fredericks and Bill Atkins studied at a nearby vocational school. In time first tenor Clive Williams completed the lineup, which borrowed its name from the luxury automobile and took its cues from acts like the Flamingos and the Clovers. In the spring of 1956, manager Joel Weeks landed the Packards a record deal with Bronx-based label Pla-Bac. Turner assumed lead duties on "Ding Dong" and its flip side, "Dream of Love," both originals composed by Hayes.
Although Pla-Bac quickly released a second single, the disappointing "My Doctor of Love," "Ding Dong" slowly but surely turned into a local hit, catching the attention of Old Town label chief Hy Weiss. Old Town licensed the single for re-release in late summer but spent next to nothing on promoting the record, and it tanked. Williams exited the Packards in the spring of 1957, with Hayes' wife, Barbara, signing on for the remainder of the group's existence. Both Ray and Barbara later reunited with Turner in the Visions, with Turner also serving as a member of Bobby Lester's Moonglows. Fredericks, meanwhile, resurfaced in the Drifters in 1966, remaining with the venerable R&B group for close to a decade. He also cut a handful of little-noticed solo singles.
Johnny Ballad & The Zodiacs (2) (New Braunfels, Texas)
Personnel:
Rudolph Valentino Cisneros "Johnny Ballad"
Rennie Guenther
Eddie
Richard
Raul
Discography :
1959 - Another Day / My Song (Wildcat 0016) 1959 - Search For Love / I'll Gamble (Wildcat 0017)
Biography :
In 1958, Rudolph Valentino Cisneros, while working as a bus driver in San Antonio, he discovered his voice was better than ever. There was no danger of it ever "breaking" again. He found that he had firm control through an almost limitless range. Sometimes he tested his voice by singing to the passengers on the buses he,drove. They were delighted and astonished with his vocal tricks and urged him to go into show business. Rudolph Valentino borrowed his sister Doris guitar and taught himself to play it. One warm evening in San Antonio he sat out on a terrace at his apartment house, practicing. On a patio down below, some other tenants were having ,a party. Impressed by his vocal gifts, they invited him to come down and join the fun. Rudolph Valentino Cisneros entertained them for a couple of hours.
When "the party broke up, some of the guests insisted that be go night-clubbing with them and take along his guitar. They wound up at the King of Clubs. Noticing Rudolph's guitar, the club's comic invited him up to the stage to do a number. Rudolph's vocal tricks and song stylings were such a sensation that the club owner offered him a job. He was paid 75$ a week for singing about 15 minutes nightly during the band's intermissions. After that he obtained work in other clubs, becoming so popular that he attracted the attention of a new San Antonio recording company.
The outfit, Wildcat Records, signed him to a contract and changed his name to Johnny Ballad. Its owners discovered that Johnny is a composer and lyricist as well as a performer. He writes fast and has composed about 160 tunes. The company recorded four of his compositions "I'll Gamble," "Search for Love," "My Son and "Another Day." Wildcat use The Zodiacs, a vocal group from high school in New Braunfels Texas composed by Eddie, Richard, Raul, and Rennie to back up Johnny Ballad. Unfortunately Wildcat Records made a technical mistake. Its discs were a hair too thick and wouldn't play properly on jukeboxes. The company quickly went broke and Johnny's tunes were never distributed.
The Dreams (1) (Philadelphia) aka Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3)
Personnel :
George Tindley (Lead Tenor)
Bernard Harris (First Tenor / Falsetto)
John Wesley "Wes" Hayes (Second Tenor / Guitar)
Robert "Flyright" Henderson (Baritone)
Stephen "Press" Presbery (Bass)
Discography :
The Dreams (1) 1954 - Darlene / A Letter To My Girl (Savoy 1130) 
 1954 - Under The Willow / I'm Losing My Mind (Savoy 1140) 
 1955 - I'll Be Faithful / My Little Honeybun (Savoy 1157)
Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3) 1956 - They Call Me A Dreamer / Pretty Brown Eyes (Ember 1011) 1957 - Tears Are Just For Fools / Boom Chica Boom (Ember 1021)
Biography :
The Dreams began in 1953 in Philadelphia as the Royal Flames. This name was soon changed to the dreams. Lead George Tindley got the group their appearance at the apollo's amateur night and they took second place. Soon after the Apollo appearance, they were contacted by someone from the Newark-based Savoy Records who apparently was in the audience at the Apollo.
They went to Savoy and had their first session in April 1954, during which they recorded "Darlene" "A Letter To My Girl". The record did well locally. The Dreams' next session took place in October 1954, when they recorded "Under The Willow" "I'm Losing My Mind". Their last session with savoy was in March 1955. In this session they recorded "I'll Be Faithful" "My Little Honeybun". Nothing ever happened with their discs, but they made many live appearances and tours on the East Coast. Since Harris was still in school, their touring was limited.
In Junes 1956, Herald Records announced that they had signed the Dreams. Henderson could not be found for the first session with Herald, and billy taylor of the Castelles filled in. Before this disc was released, Tindley felt that he wanted his name on the disc. Herald agreed, but Tindley chose Kenny Esquire and changed the group's name to the Starlites.
The Record was "They Call me a Dreamer". George Tindley eventually joined Steve Gibson and the Red Caps, with whom he recorded a number of well-remembered doowop 45s in 1959 and 1960, before Tindley took over leadership duties (changing the group name to the Modern Red Caps), continuing on into 1966. http://www.uncamarvy.com/Dreams/dreams.html http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/3ROWNEW/ImLosing.htm
Songs :
The Dreams (1)
Under The Willow I'll Be Faithful Darlene
I'm Losing My Mind A Letter To My Girl My Little Honeybun
Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3)
They Call Me A Dreamer Tears Are Just For Fools/ Boom Chica Boom Pretty Brown Eyes
The Majestics (4) Single : 1958 - From Out Of This World / You Didn't Learn That In School (Bandera 2502) Unreleased : 1958 - Run Daddy Run
Kirk Taylor & The Majestics (4) 1958 - From Out Of This World / You Didn't Learn That In School (Bandera 2507)
Biography :
Bandera was a small Chicago label launched by Vi Muszynski, and her son Bernie Harville, with money Muszynski made off one of her biggest discoveries, the Impressions. The label released a variety of music in the late '50s and early '60s, from hillbilly and rock, to blues and gospel. The Majestics are a mystery group and leave behind them one fine doo wop disc fronted by Kirk Taylor, who may or may not have been a member. "From Out Of This World" b/w "You Didn't Learn That In School" was first issued as the Majestics on Bandera 2502 and as Kirk Taylor & The Majestics on Bandera 2507.
The Majestic's photo have seen to indicate that he was not part of their line-up, but the issued track were both written by C.J. Levy & C. Taylor, are these both members of the group?? Are C. Taylor and Kirk Taylor one and the same, or could he be a relative...
Songs :
From Out Of This World You Didn't Learn That In School
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