The Spirals Unreleased : 1957 - I've Got The World On A String
Tony & The Holidays (4) Singles : 1962 - There Goes My Heart Again / My Love Is Real (ABC 10295) Unreleased : 1959 - Your Way 1959 - The Glory of Love 1959 - I Was Such A Fool 1962 - I'm Confessin' 1959 - Come Go With Me 1959 - Each Step I take 1960 - Tick Tock 1961 - Melissa 1962 - Apple Blossom Time
Buddy Sheppard & The Holidays (4) 1963 - Time To Dream (Brahms Lullaby) / My Love Is Real (Sabina 506) 1963 - That Background Sound / Now It's All Over (Sabina 510)
Biography :
In the late '50's a group from Manhattan know as the Spirals got their chance to record. The Financial backers were there to choose one of the two groups sharing studio time. The Second Group, Little Anthony's group won and the rest is history.
The Spirals The Vibratones
Larry Loeb (First Tenor) and Larry Rizzo (Baritone) would now join Harry Jay who was just released from the Army. Harry have been singing with the Vibratones. Harry discovered lead singer Tony Castro and along with bass Fred "Duke" Hodgkinson (formally of the Versatiles), Tony & The Holidays were born.
The Holidays
After much practice the group recorded their first demo "Melissa" and "Tick Tock". This soon led to a release on ABC Records, "There Goes My Heart Again" b/w "My Love Is Real".
The Holidays
By the end of 1962 the group moved to Sabina Records and recorded several sides for the Belmonts and Jerry Granaham, under the new name Buddy Sheppard & The Holidays, "Time To Dream", "My Love Is Real", "Now It's All Over" and "That Background Sound" to mention a few. The latter also had Freddie & Angelo of the Belmonts in the Background.
The Holidays
Tony Castro would soon leave the group being replaced by lead singer Richie Tsonos. Along with new lead singer came a group name change. Now the Standards would have two releases on the Magna Label with two sides being picked up and nationally distributed by Chess records.
The Holidays
Throughout their recording years the group or group members lent their talents on the Backgrounds of many '45's, the most important being Larry & The Legends on Atlantic Records backing Larry Santos.
Songs :
Tony & The Holidays (4)
My Love Is Real There Goes My Heart Again Apple Blossom Time
The Glory of Love
Buddy Sheppard & The Holidays (4)
Time To Dream (Brahms Lullaby) My Love Is Real That Background Sound
The Four Fellows (3) (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Companions (2)
Personnel:
Milton Bennett (Lead)
Albert Williams Jr (Bass)
Pringle Sims (Tenor)
Larry Banks (Baritone)
Discography :
The Companions (2) 1959 - Why, Oh Why Baby / I Didn't Know (Brook's 100/Federal 12397) 1959 - Falling / Oh What A Feeling! (Dove 240)
The Four Fellows (3) 1962 - That's Why I Pray / The City (Pop-Line 0208)
Biography :
Bessie White (Banks) sung with a quartet called Three Guys and a Doll, who subsequently became the Four Fellows without her; while a member of the group, she met bass/baritone singer Larry Banks, who was the de facto leader of the group, and married him on stage at the Royal Theatre in Baltimore. Larry Banks was a New York-born baritone/bass singer (and songwriter) who helped organize and lead the quartet. They survived well enough, even making some television appearances, and scored a hit with "Soldier Boy".
Albert Williams, Milton Bennet, Pringle Sims & Larry Banks
Larry and most of the original members had left and Larry & Bessie next turned up on the Brooks label in 1959, singing as the Companions. Larry's sister Harriette joined the couple in the group and close friend and soon to be writing partner Milton Bennett, his cousin Al Williams and Pringle Sims who has just left The Strangers. Larry wrote both sides of the single 'Why Oh Why Baby' / 'I Didn't Know (You Got Married)'. It was then picked up by Federal for national release in 1960.
Bessie Banks The group have another record on the Dove Label. In 1960, Milton Bennett, Albert Williams Jr, Pringle Sims and Larry Banks perform on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour as the Companions. In 1962, the same four guys cut "That's Why I Pray" b/w "The City" on the Pop-Line Label under their new name or old name : The Four Fellows… Thanks to Marv Goldberg
Videos :
The Companions - Albert Williams, Milton Bennet, Pringle Sims & Larry Banks on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour
Singles : 1963 - I Remember / Oh Nancy (The Ambassadors) (Bay 210) 1963 - Come Along / Just One Of Those Things (Tyrone & The Newports) (Wax Trax 501)
Unreleased : 1963 - In The Still Of The Night 1964 - Dear Lady Twist 1964 - Can't Tell Her 1964 - Everytime 1964 - Why Must You Treat A Girl So Bad 1964 - Just A Little Girl
Biography :
Gerry & The Gems (Steve Feldman aka Gerry Stevens, Phil Aron, Barry Fettner & Steve Dworkin) were from Little Neck, New York, which is northeastern Queens. They all lived within a few blocks of each other & were in the same grade in school. Steve Feldman had been playing piano & writing songs since he was in grade school. Although the group sang the standard doo wop songs, They also did original material that Steve wrote.In 1963, They went into a studio in Brooklyn, NY & recorded 3 tunes, 2 originals written by Steve, "I Remember" & "Come Along", and an uptempo version of "In The Still Of The Night".
1964 - Steve Dworkin, Phil Aron, Steve Feldman, Betsy Flehner
The group was supposed to record for M-G-M, with Teacho Wiltshire producing & arranging, but that didn't happen. Barry eventually left the group and Betsy Flehner, also from the neighborhood, joined. Having a female gave the group a different sound. they did shows with Betsy, but never recorded with her. Steve, Phil & Steve went on as a trio & recorded 2 songs at Belltone Studios in NY, "Can't Tell Her" & "Everytime", both written by Steve F. All the top studio musicians played on the record but it was never released. The group recorded lots of demos and did some singing with Joey Levine (of Ohio Express fame), who Steve sometimes wrote with & a teenage Bernadette Peters. The group eventually went their separate ways, but remain friends to this day. Thanks to Steve Feldman
Songs :
I Remember Can't Tell Her Why Must You Treat A Girl So Bad
In The Still Of The Night Just A Little Girl Dear Lady Twist
Come Along
Complement :
In 1970, Steve Dworkin was producing and had to put a group together for a recording of Da Doo Ron Ron, so he called in Phil & Steve Feldman. He called the group Quicksand & it was released on Mercury Records (it is on Youtube). Phil Aron left music and opened his own business. He now lives in upstate New York. Barry Fettner, who also left singing, passed away a few years ago.
1963 - 2007 : Steve Dworkin, Steve Feldman, Phil Aron, Barry Fettner on bottom.
Steve Dworkin formed a writing/producing partnership with Gary Willet of The Ovations and was a staff writer/producer for Super K Productions. He produced albums for The Queens Nectarine Machine & The Boarding House on ABC, & singles for The Charles E. Funk Rebellion on White Whale, The Flying Giraffe on Bell, Quicksand on Mercury and later on Her produced the High School Reunion album for The Ovations on Crystal Ball Records & The Emotions on Crystal Ball.
1964 - 2007 : Steve Dworkin, Phil Aron, Steve Feldman, Betsy Flehner
He is a recording engineer in mid-town Manhattan & still lives in New York. Steve Feldman continued writing and had some success with "We're Acting Like Lovers" by The Spellbinders on Columbia, Don't You Ever Give Up On Me by Dee Dee Warwick, Determination by Dean Parish, Sweeter Than Suger & Mercy by The Ohio Express, Porcupine by Nature Zone, he co-produced the "Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung" album by Ellie Greenwich & had a solo album on Evolution Records. A single from it "Let Me Be Forever" went top 5 in South America. He also worked as a studio musician and a jingle singer. As a favor to Steve Dworkin, he put his lead vocal on "Lovin' Cup'" & "Candy Cane", by The Charles E Funk Rebellion. Steve lives in New Jersey. Thanks to Steve Feldman
1964 - Never Gonna Cry / A Crush On You (Dave 911)
Biography :
Vocal group from Baltimore, The Cineemas were Sandra Chambers (lead), Carol Speight (second Lead) , Jackie and Estelle doing background vocal. “The Cineemas” cut a 45 record called, “Never Gonna Cry” b/w "A Crush On You". It was a very rare track on a seldom seen record label, Dave Glascoe.
Billy Abbott & The Jewels (4) (Philadelphia , PA) akaThe Tymes
Personnel :
Billy Vaughn aka Billy Abbott (Lead)
George Williams, Jr (Tenor)
George Hilliard (Second Tenor)
Albert Berry (First Tenor)
Norman Burnett (Baritone)
Donald Banks (Bass)
Discography :
1963 - Groovy Baby / Come On And Dance With Me (Parkway 871) 1964 - It Isn't Fair / Hey Good Lookin' (Parkway 905)
Biography :
Billy Abbott was actually named Billy Vaughn, but changed it so as not to be confused with the orchestra leader of that name. He previously recorded with The Corvells who released the Billy Jackson songs 'Daisy'/ 'Take My Love' on ABC-Paramount in 1962 (a group of that name also recorded on Lido, Tip Top and Blast).
Prior to their short tenure as The Jewels, Billy's backing band had been The Latineers and later had a string of hits as The Tymes. The vocal group also later backed acts liked Chubby Checker and Johnny Maestro and can be heard on Len Barry's best known number, '1-2-3'. Billy and the group's follow up (and his last Parkway single), which featured noteworthy revivals of two 1950s favourites, Don Cornell's 'It Isn't Fair' and Hank Williams' 'Hey Good Lookin'', failed to chart.
Eddy Morris & The Tempests (2) 1963 - Someone Like You / Going My Way (Lesley 1928)
Eddie Morris bb The Tempests (2) 1964 - The Chimes Of My Heart / I Do For You (Disc Master 2101)
Biography :
Eddy Morris started singing while still attending Waggoner High School. His professional career began with the Sultans in 1959. Eddy left to pursue a solo career prior to the Sultan’s recordings. In 1963 Eddy and his group, the Tempests, recorded Louisvillian Charles Woodring’s song “Someone Like You” on the Lesley label. This single hit number 2 on WKLO’s charts.
Eddie Morris Allen Purdy Eddie Wardle Stan Tucker
Both sides of Eddy’s second record, “The Chimes Of My Heart/I Do For You”, were written by his lead guitar player, Jerry Woods. The Single was released by Disc Masters in September 1964 only credited to Eddie Morris.
Eddie Morris, Allen Purdy, Eddie Wardle and Stan Tucker
In 1967, Eddy recorded and reeased “Come-On” on the Look label, a Subsidiary of Starday Records. This single achieved regional success throughout the South East. Eddy has appeared with national entertainers including the Drifters, Peter and Gordon, Mel Carter and Jackie DeShannon.
The Fabulous Four (1) Singles : 1960 - Mister Twist / In The Chapel In The Moonlight (Chancellor 1062) 1961 - Let's Try Again / Precious Moments (Chancellor 1068) 1961 - Sounds Of Summer / Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Chancellor 1078) 1961 - Betty Ann / Prisoner Of Love (Chancellor 1085) 1961 - Everybody Knows / I'm Coming Home (Chancellor 1090) 1961 - Everybody Knows / Mister Twist (Chancellor 1098) 1962 - Forever / It's No Sin (Chancellor 1102) Unreleased : N/A - Special Girl (Featuring Mike Dupree) N/A - Silhouettes N/A - Story Untold N/A - (Reach Out for The) Hand of Love N/A - Talk to Me N/A - Blame Your Friend N/A - Little Girl N/A - Moonlight Shadows N/A - A Million Years N/A - Fools Destiny N/A - Soldier Boy's Comin' Home
Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1) 1959 - Tiger (Not Them) / Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart) (Chancellor 1037) 1961 - Long Before / Kissin' And Twistin'(Not Them)(Chancellor 1061) 1961 - You Know You Belong to Someone Else / Hold On (No Group) (Chancellor 1067) 1961 - The Love That I'm Giving to You / You're Only Young Once (Not Them) (Chancellor 1079) 1961 - A Girl Like You / Dream Factory (Not Them) (Chancellor 1084) 1961 - Tongue-Tied (Not Them) / Kansas City (Chancellor 1086) 1961 - Wild Party / Made You (Chancellor 1092)
Fabian bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited) 1959 - I'm A Man / Hypnotized (Chancellor 1029) 1959 - Got The Feeling / Come and Get Me (Chancellor 1041) 1959 - This Friendly World / Hound Dog Man (Chancellor 1044)
Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited) 1962 - Put' Em Down Joe / I Remember The Night (Chancellor 1122)
Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited) 1961 - I'm so Young / There Is A Boy (Chancellor 1100)
...
The Four J's (1) 1958 - Rock and Roll Age / Be Nice, Don't Fight (United Artists 125) 1958 - Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen (Herald 528) 1964 - Here I Am Broken Hearted / She Said That She Loved Me (Jamie 1267) 1964 - By Love Possessed / My Love My Love (Jamie 1274)
The Four J's (1) (featuring Junior Pope) 1969 - Dreamin' / Love My Love (Congress 6003)
John Capri bb The Four J's (Uncredited) 1959 - When I'm Lonely / Look For Me (BoMarc 306)
Johnny Angel bb The Four J's (Uncredited) 1966 - This Is The Night For Love / You've Been Wrong (Swan 4263) ...
The Naturals (5) 1959 - Blue Moon / How Strange (Red Top 113/Hunt 325)
The Four Naturals 1960 - When I'm In Your Arms / I Hear A Rhapsody (Red Top 119) 1960 - The Thought Of You Darling / Long Long Ago (Red Top 125)
Biography :
In 1957 four fellows from the South Philadelphia area formed a singing group they named The Four J's they took their name based on the fact that each member's first name began with the letter J. they were Jr. Pirollo, Jimmy Testa, Joe "Judge" Milaro and Joe Paparella. Joe Paparella didn't remain with the group long enough to record and left to personal reasons, being replaced by Jr's. brother-in-law Bob Finizio.
After winning a local talent contest they were approached by Buddy Greco, who later became their manager. Greco got the group thier first recording contract with United Artist Records in 1958. After several releases, Jr. and Bob became part of the Four Naturals.
The group was a studio group and after recording "How Strange", under the name of the Naturals, they didn't want to tour or perform live. Jr. and Bob replaced the two members who were unhappy and were on all the following releases including their hit "The Thought Of You Darling."
In 1960 Bob Marcucci of Chancellor Records approached Jr and asked if his group would be willing to vocally back up Fabian on both recordings and Tours. He also promised them several recordings on their own, a promise he kept proving to be one of the few honorable giants in the fields.
Fabian , his mother and the Fabulous FourFabian
Jr.& Bob once again teamed up with Jimmy Testa and added Ernie Spano to the group (replacing Joe Milano). Ernie was an original member of "the Four Dates", another Chancellor recording act. The group was now backing the famous billed Fabulous Fabian, so Naturally Bob Marcucci came up with the Group's new name "The Fabulous Four"
For the next 3-4 years the group recorded with and without Fabian and toured the entire United States (except Alaska) and most of the world. The group has had numerous appearances on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand".
Fabian and the Fabulous Four
The Group backed another artists like Sonny Vito, Maureen Gray as the Fabulous Four, John Capri and Johnny Angel as The Four J's. In late 1964-65 the group changed their name back to "The Four J's" and achieved their biggest success recording for Jamie Records "My Love Possessed" and "Here I Am Broken Hearted".
Johnny October was now a member of the group, Johnny was the original lead singer of the Four Dates.
Songs :
The Fabulous Four (1)
Mister Twist In The Chapel In The Moonlight Let's Try Again
Precious Moments Sounds Of Summer Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Betty Ann Prisoner Of Love Everybody Knows
I'm Coming Home Forever It's No Sin
Special Girl Silhouettes Story Untold
Blame Your Friend Little Girl Moonlight Shadows
Fools Destiny Soldier Boy's Comin' Home A Million Years
(Reach Out For The) Hand Of Love Talk To Me
Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1)
You Know You Belong to Someone Else A Girl Like You Wild Party
The Love That I'm Giving to You Made You Kansas City
I'm A Man Hypnotized Long Before
Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart) Got The Feeling Come and Get Me
This Friendly World Hound Dog Man
Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
I'm so Young There Is A Boy
Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
Put' Em Down Joe I Remember The Night
The Four J's (1)
Rock and Roll Age Be Nice, Don't Fight Here I Am Broken Hearted
Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen By Love Possessed
1957 - left to right : Donald Dixon, Joe Lamando, Jimmy and Bobby Bunch (brothers), Dave Bensky.
The Five Gents (1) (Montrose, NY)
Personnel :
Joseph Lomando
Jimmy Bunch
Robert Bunch
Donald Dixon
David Bensky (Contra Bass)
Discography :
1958 - Rock With Me Marie / I Never Told You (Crest 516)
Biography :
The Five Gents group on the Crest Label all attended Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, New York which is about forty miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. The members of the group were Joseph Lomando, J. Bunch, Robert Bunch, Donald Dixon, and David Bensky. The group were a mixed group 3 black and 2 white. Lamando and Bensky were white.
They all grew up and lived in the surrounding area and knew each other from school. They appeared up and down the Hudson Valley area, a West Point Graduation, won first place in a talent contest and recorded one single (both sides) at a studio in Long Island. The song "Rock With Me Marie" was written by Joe Lamando. He had a crush (liked) on a girl named Mary.
"Rock With Me Marie" b/w "I Never Told You" is the only record that they made. It was sold in the school and at record shops in the neighboring towns, but was never widely distributed. If you have a copy it is one of about 2000. The group all graduated from high school between 1957 and 1959 and went their separate ways.
Tom Caterino, Larry Roberts, Freddy Lacasse and Ronald Dudley
Larry & The Standards (1) (South Bronx, New York) Ref: The Starfires (3)
Personnel :
Larry Roberts (Lead)
Lou Pesce replaced by Neftali Lamort (First Tenor)
Tom Caterino replaced by Charlie Maglio (Second Tenor)
Ronald Dudley (Bass)
Freddy Lacasse (Baritone)
Discography :
1962 - Where Is She / My Lucky Night (Laurie 3119)
Biography :
The group met by chance in a bowling alley one Saturday evening in 1960. Tom Caterino was with another group and they stopped to harmonize in the doorway, and 2 guys entered and stopped to listen, they struck up a conversation and so began a new group. This was in late 1960 in the South Bronx on Westchester Ave near Whitlock Ave. Lou Pesce, the 'original' first tenor when the group formed in 1960 was later replaced by Neftali Lamort on "Where is She" in 1961.
Tom Caterino & Lou Pesce Freddy Lacasse
Larry & The Standards were a mixed racial group with Larry Roberts , as lead singer and bass Ronald Dudley both being African-American, while background vocals were Tom Caterino as 2nd tenor (Italian/Irish), and Freddy Lacasse , baritone along with Neftali Lamort, 1st tenor...both were of Puero Rican/French heritage.They recorded 'Where is She" on 8/1 1961 at Mirasound studios in Manhattan, New York City." My Lucky Night" was re-recordered in 1962 with Charlie Maglio replaced Tom Caterino on 2nd tenor. It was released in March 1962 on Laurie records. The group eventually broke up in 1963 as Larry wanted to go solo. Their manager was Sampson Horton. Tom Caterino and Lou Pesce later sang with The Starfires with Tommy Bogdany and Joe Formato. Thank to Tom Caterino
1962 - Return To Me / That's The Way (Invicta 1002) 1965 - Return To Me / That's The Way (Ember 211)
Biography :
The Blue Jays' first single "Lovers Island," seemed almost like a throwback to an earlier time in vocal group music.It charted in the pop Top 40 at number 31 and performed well on the local L.A. R&B charts — it served as a beautiful swan song for the doo wop era. The group followed their hit with singles like "Tears Are Falling" (1961) and "The Right to Love" (1962), but nothing came of them and the group change their name to 'the Values' and recorded "Return To Me" b/w "That's The Way" on the Invicta label. The group broke up in early 1962. Leon Peels later recorded a number of singles — including "On a Magic Island" — for Whirlybird Records, backed by the Hi-Tensions.
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The Holidays (4) (Manhattan, New York)
