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

The Dellwoods aka The Dynamics (8) aka The Sweet Sick Teens

Posted on January 27 2014 by dion1

The Dynamics (8) (New York)
aka The Sweet Sick Teens aka The Dellwoods

Personnel :

Victor Buccellato (Lead)

Mike Ellis (First Tenor)

Andy Ventura (Second Tenor)

Amadeo Tese (Baritone)

Saul Zeskand (Bass)

Discography :

The Sweet Sick Teens
1961 - The Pretzel (Lead Mike Russo) / Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy (RCA 7940)

The Dynamics (8)
1963 - Chapel On A Hill / Conquistador (Liberty 55628)

The Dellwoods
1963 - Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / Her Moustache (Big Top 3137)

Lps:

1962 - Mad "Twist" Rock'n Roll (Big Top LP 1305)
(She Got A) Nose Job / Please Betty Jane (Shave Your Legs) / Agnes (The Teenage Russian Spy) / Let's Do The Pretzel (And End Up Like One) / (Even If I Live To Be 22) I'll Always Remember Being You

1963 - Fink Along With Mad (Big Top LP 1306)
I'll Never Make Fun Of Her Moustache Again / Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock / The Neighborhood Draft Board

Biography :

Mad, the American humour magazine, was founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Widely imitated and hugely influential, although a lot of the 'humour' is probably lost on us Brits, it has satirised all aspects of life, from pop culture and politics to entertainment and public figures

Saul Zeskand, Mike Ellis, Andy Ventura, Victor Buccellato & Amadeo Tese

The 1962 album MAD Twists Rock 'n Roll, a 12 track lampoon of then-current rock and roll styles and stars. The material on the album was written and produced independently of MAD, as a parody album, by Norm Blagman and Sam Bobrick, two men who had already scored a couple of hits between them with Elvis Presley's The Girl of My Best Friend and Ral Donner's top 10 US hit To Love Someone. Failing to attract much interest in their rock and roll parody it wasn't until MAD became involved that the duo get managed to this released - on Big Top records in 1962. Sure they were on to a winning formula, they followed this up with the similar Fink Along With MAD a year later.

Mike Russo

Incidentally, the Dellwoods - who recorded the majority of the tracks on both albums both under their original name and as the Sweet Sick Teens - were a real group, consisting of Saul Zeskand, Mike Ellis, Andy Ventura, Victor Buccellato and Amadeo Tese. Unfortunately, before the release of Fink Along... group member Mike Ellis overdosed on drugs. The group went on to change their name to The Dynamics, releasing the 45 Chapel On A Hill/Conquistador for Liberty Records.

http://worldsworstrecords.blogspot.fr/2010/02/its-mad-mad-world.html

Songs :

The Sweet Sick Teens

Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy         The Pretzel (Mike Russo)

The Dellwoods

Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger       Please Betty Jane (Shave Your Legs)       (She Got A) Nose Job

I'll Always Remember Being You     I'll Never Make Fun Of ...      When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock

The Neighborhood Draft Board

The Dynamics (8)

Chapel On A Hill / Conquistador

....

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The Holidays (8)

Posted on January 26 2014 by dion1

The Holidays (8)

The Holidays (8) (Washington, D.C.)

Personnel :

Charles Mac Bogdonoff (Lead)

Discography :

1962 - Big Brown Eyes / Cold Shoulder (Colt 45 - 106)

Biography :

Charles Mac Bogdonoff was born and lived most of his life in the Washington, D.C. area. At 21, he was the lead singer for The Holidays. The Holidays cut one single for a A small Washington based label owned by Ted & Jim Pedas.

Their recording company, Colt 45 Records, that launched the musical career of Don Covay (who wrote "Chain of Fools" and "Mercy Mercy" among others).   The Holidays had a #8 hit with Charles' composition "Big Brown Eyes."
Charles Mac Bogdonoff

Songs :


Big Brown Eyes                                     Cold Shoulder

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The Sheiks (1)

Posted on January 23 2014 by dion1

The Sheiks (1)

The Sheiks in 1961

The Sheiks (1) (Norfolk, Virginie)

Personnel :

Kenneth Kimball (Lead)

Johnny Wilson

Horace Jenkins (Second Tenor)

William Collins

Alton Parker

Discography :

1954 - Give Me Another Chance / Baby Don't You Cry (EF-N-DE 1000)
1954 - Walk That Walk / The Kissing Song (Cat 116)
1960 - Come On Back / Please Don't Take Away The Girl I Love (Amy 807)
1961 - What I'd Do For Your Love / Why Should I Dance (Legrand 1013)
1962 - Cocoanut Woman / Twist That Twist (Legrand 1016)

Biography :

The Sheiks (aka the Five Sheiks) of Norfolk, VA were an R&B harmony vocal group, originally called the Five Pearls. In 1954, the quintet -- consisting at that time of Kenneth Kimball, Johnny Wilson, Horace Jenkins, William Collins, and Alton Parker -- crossed paths with aspiring producer Frank Guida, who had lately relocated to Norfolk from New York City. He liked their sound enough to set up a recording session at a local radio station, which yielded a pair of songs, "Give Me Another Chance" and "Baby Don't You Cry," released as the Five Sheiks but label pics say Sheiks only. As it turned out there was already a group using the Five Pearls name.

Producer Frank Guida Gary U.S. Bond

Guida released it on his own, newly founded Ef-En-De label, and it did well enough that Atlantic Records ended up releasing the group's second single, "Walk That Walk" b/w "The Kissing Song," in December of 1954. The group went on to enjoy a solid recording career in association with Guida. A couple of members became part of The Sheiks group who had a couple of singles on Legrand records in 1961-62. The Sheiks were the vocal backing group on many of Gary US Bonds' early Legrand Records

Songs :


Give Me Another Chance          Baby Don't You Cry           Walk That Walk


The Kissing Song            Why Should I Dance Twist That Twist

Cocoanut Woman

Videos :

Quarter to Three - Gary US Bonds bb The Sheiks ?

...

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The Gales (1) aka The Question Marks (1) aka The Violinaires

Posted on January 21 2014 by dion1

The Gales (1) (Detroit)
aka The Question Marks (1) aka The Violinaires

Personnel :

Isaiah Jones (Lead)

Calvin Fair (Lead)

Bob Gandy

Wilson DeShields (Baritone)

Leo Coney

Discography :

The Violinaires
1954 - Another Soldier Gone / Joy In The Beulah Land (Drummond 4000)

The Gales (1)
1955 - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying / My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble (J.V.B 34)
1955 - Darling Patricia / All Is Well, All Is Well (J.V.B 35/J.O.B. 3001)

The Question Marks (1)
1954 - Another Soldier Gone / Get Some More (Hollywood Flames) (Swing Time 346)

Biography :

Calvin Fair, along with Isaiah Jones, Wilson DeShields, Leo Coney, and Dempsey were the Violinaires singing "Another Soldier Gone." The Pressing plant personnel at Drummond misspelled the Group's name on the label as Voilinaires. The same group of people recorded the four (4) songs attributed to the Gales. Los Angeles label Swing Time issued 'Another Soldier Gone' with the credited artists as The ? Marks. In fact "Another Soldier Gone" seems to be an alternate take by the Violinaires. The group who sing on the flip of the record featured here is in fact The Hollywood Flames.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/another.htm

Songs :

The Violinaires


Another Soldier Gone        Joy In The Beulah Land

The Gales (1)


My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble     Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying      Darling Patricia

All Is Well, All Is Well

The Question Marks (1)

Another Soldier Gone

...

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The Parakeets (1)

Posted on January 16 2014 by dion1

The Parakeets (1) (Washington DC.)

Personnel :

Homer Saunders (Lead)

John Burt (First Tenor)

Charles Hockaday (Second Tenor)

Leroy Wright (Baritone)

Leo Griffin (Guitar)

Harold Brodgins (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1954 - Give Me Time / I'm Losing My Mind (Gem 218)
1973 - Give Me Time / Candy Bar Boogie (Roadhouse 1005)

Unreleased :
1954 - Don't Leave My Broken Heart
1954 - Looking For You
1954 - My Love Is True

Biography :

After school ended at 3 p.m, everyone headed for the corner of Georgia Avenue and Lamont Street in Northwest Washington, where many groups could be found harmonizing together to the latest tunes of the day. One such group to come out of this area was the Parakeets. Originally formed in 1952 at Banneker Junior High, the group consisted of the late Homer Saunders, John Burt, Charles Hockaday, Leroy Wright, Leo Griffin and the late Harold Brodgins.

The Parakeets performed at may shows around town and traveled to New York for an audition with Atlantic Records. While there, they made an amateur appearance at the famed Apollo Theater. Returning To Washington, the group took top billing on Frank Motley and his Crew's Big Revue of 1954. The Group cut one single for the Gem label. Their songs was recorded on March 3, 1954 (for Lillian Clairborne of DC Records). The master was obtained by Les Moss, who released it in 1973 on ROADHOUSE 1005.

Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim)

Looking For You                      Candy Bar Boogie                 My Love Is True


Give Me Time        Don't Leave My Broken Heart      Candy Bar Boogie (alternate take)

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Ritchie & The Runarounds (3) aka The Tammys

Posted on January 14 2014 by dion1

Ritchie & The Runarounds (3) (Franklyn, Pittsburgh)

aka The Tammy

Personnel :

Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson (Lead)

Lou Christie

Gretchen Owens

Cathy Owens

Linda Jones

Discography :

1963 - Lost In The Crowd / Don'tcha Backtrack (Ascot 2136)

Biography :

Ritchie & The Runarounds consisted of Kripp Johnson, Lou Christie, and the girl group the Tammys, and put out one single for Ascot in 1963, "Don'tcha Backtrack"/"Lost in the Crowd." Johnson, formerly in the Del Vikings, takes the lead on both sides, which were written by Christie and Christie's songwriting partner Twyla Herbert.

Kripp Johnson The Tammys

The flipside is a typical, and typically dreary, early-'60s bridge between doo wop and teen idoldom, while the more frantic A-side is an up-tempo pop/rocker without much of a melody or idiosyncratic drive to make it stand out from so many other releases of the time. Richie Unterberger, Rovi
http://egyptianshumba.com/

Songs :

Don'tcha Backtrack Lost In The Crowd

...

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Hannibal & The Angels (4) aka The Blossons aka The Dreamers (3) aka The Playgirls (1) aka The Rollettes aka The Girlfriends (3) aka The Coeds (2)

Posted on January 11 2014 by dion1

Paste-up photo : Top : Darlene Wright (Love) Bottom Gloria Jones and Fanita James

Hannibal & The Angels (4) (Los Angeles)

aka The Blossons
aka The Dreamers (3)
aka The Playgirls (1)
aka The Coeds (2)
aka The Rollettes
aka The Girlfriends (3)
Ref Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans

Personnel:

James T. Shaw (Lead)

Darlene Wright "Love" (Tenor)

Gloria Jones (Tenor)

Fanita James (Baritone)

Discography :

1960 - Love Is Funny / Please Take A Chance On Me (Pan World 517)

Biography :

"Hannibal", "The Mighty Hannibal" and "King Hannibal" are all pseudonyms for James T. (Jimmy) Shaw. Born James Shaw he started singing doo wop as an Atlanta teenager, and eventually released a string of moderately successful (and generally highly praised) singles for a variety of independent labels.

James T. (Jimmy) Shaw

Shaw's first group, the Overalls in 1954, included future Pips Edward Patten and Merald Knight. His first notable single as a solo performer (1958's "Big Chief Hug-Um an' Kiss-Um") was released under the name Jimmy Shaw on Concept. Other early singles of note include "Love Is Funny" and "Please Take A Chance On Me" for Pan World . The backing group was The Angels, not the same ones that gained fame years later, but Fanita James, Gloria Jones and Darlene Wright from the Blossoms.
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/mhannibal.htm

Songs :

Love Is Funny Please Take A Chance On Me

….

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The El Torros (1)

Posted on January 10 2014 by dion1

Top : Hearon, Van Braken, Hearon. Bottomn : Lockett, Green, Davis

The El Torros (1) (Saint-Louis, Missouri)

Personnel :

Lloyd Lockett (Lead)

George Davis (First Tenor)

Fred Green (Second Tenor)

Johnny Stimage (Baritone)

Odis Hearon (Bass)

Van Bracken (Pianist/Arranger)

Discography :

The El Torros (1)
Singles:
1957 - Dance With Me / Yellow Hand (Duke 175)
1958 - Barbara Jean / You Look Good To Me (Duke 194)
1960 - Dance With Me / What's The Matter (Duke 321)
1961 - Two Lips / You May Say Yes (Duke 333)
1962 - Doop Doop A Walla Walla / Mama's Cookin' (Duke 353)
Unreleased:
1957 - While Driving (Duke)
1958 - The Man Is Boss (Duke)
1962 - Tear Drops (Duke)

The Mustangs (1)
1964 - First Love / A Change (Sure Shot 5004)
1965 - Outside-Inside / Believe I Do** (Sure Shot 5010)
** 5010 released as by the "Mighty Mustangs"

Biography :

The El Torros originally began in 1951, using several different names and appearing at local clubs and events. After much practice, they continued the local appearances. They next added tenor Fred Green, who had previously been with the Mellards, another St. Louis group that had recorded for Ballad. They soon auditioned for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. Interestingly, although they never appeared on the show, during the audition, Mack accidentall introduced them as the El Torros. They liked the name and kept it.

Duke Peacock Founder Don Robey on far left and Southwest Concerts Owner Art Squires on far right

They continued to do live performances and in 1957 were spotted by Bobby Bland and Junior Parker. Bland and Parker were impressed enough to recommend them to Don Robey, owner of the label both were with at the time — Duke/Peacock. A session was scheduled for them in Chicago on April 1957. Don Robey attended and Yellow Hand/Dance with Me were recorded, along with two other tunes. The former two tunes were released on Duke in June 1957 and met with little success. A second session took place in St. Louis in April 1958. Duke 194 was released in June and did not fare well.

Because of its poor sales, it ultimately became the harder disc for collectors to find when the collecting hobby began. In 1959, Fred Green departed. He was replaced by Billy Davis, who later recorded with the Fifth Dimension. They recorded their final Duke release (353) in 1962 . Because of no sales of this last Duke recording, Davis left soon, followed by Lockett. As a result of the poor sales, in 1964 they changed their name to the Mustangs .At this point, they were: Odis Hearon, Johnny Stimage, Rhonda Washington, Billy Harper and Charles Calvin. They made two other recording for Robey, who released it on one of his other labels — Sure- Shot.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/ElTorros/eltorros.html

Songs :

The El Torros (1)

Dance With Me Yellow Hand What's The Matter

You May Say Yes Barbara Jean Two Lips

Doop Doop A Walla Walla / Mama's Cookin You Look Good To Me

The Mustangs (1)

First Love / A Change

...

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The Castawaws (2) aka The Iridescents (1)

Posted on January 7 2014 by dion1

The Castawaws (2) (Queens, New York)
aka The Iridescents (1)

Personnel :

Frankie Sisco (Lead)

Vinnie Pizzo (First Tenor)

Bobby Sanders (Second Tenor)

Johnny Obidienzo (Baritone)

Kathy Ferrara

Discography :

The Castaways (2)
1962 - Hey There / I Found You (Assault 1869/70/Astra 1002)

The Iridescents (1)
Singles :
1963 - Three Coins In The Fountain / Strong Love (Hudson 8102)
1964 - Hey There / I Found You (Hudson 8107)
Unreleased :
1963 - In The Still Of The Night (demo)
1963 - Warm (acapella)

Biography :

It Started around 1962 in Corona, Queens New York. These fellas would sing for hours at their hangout, a place called Spaghetti Park. Because they sang in the park, they decided to call themselves the Parkays. The youngsters would sing on Weekends at a place called Club 21 in Corona. They were approached by Joe Partenza. Joe & his friend, Al Cattabiani, put up the money for their first record. By this time the group took on a new member, Kathy Ferrara. "Hey There" and "I Found You" was released in late 1962 under the name of the Castaways and sold fairly well.

They had to change the name because another group was already using that name. A few month later,they used the Iridescents when they recorded the classic "Three Coins In The Fountain" b/w "Strong Love". The Iridescents worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, they performed with Dion & the Belmonts, the Del satins… 1964 came in and so did the Bristish Invasion. two other sides were recorded but are unreleased : "Dreamland" and "Now Is The Hour". "Hey There" and "I Found You " was released with two "R's" and a different record number.

Songs :

The Castaways (2)


I Found You                                     Hey There

The Iridescents (1)


Three Coins In The Fountain / Strong Love        Warm (acapella)

In The Still Of The Night

...

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The Five Superiors

Posted on January 6 2014 by dion1

L-R: Ralph Hollis, Charles Perry, Cornelius Weekly, Robert Lee Herring

The Five Superiors (Hollywood, Ca.)
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Charles Perry (Lead and 1st Tenor)

Cornelius Weekly (2nd Tenor)

Robert Lee Herring (Soprano)

Ralph Hollis (Bass)

A.C. Herring (Soprano) (replaced by Dickie Wanzo)

Discography :

1962 - Big Shot / There's A Fool Born Every Day (Garpax 44170)
1962 - Geneva Twist / [Astronauts - Blue Mood (instrumental)] (Jan Ell 459)

Biography :

“We were from Oakland Ca. There was Ralph Hollis, now deceased, Cornelius Weekly, Robert Lee Herring, AC Herring, later replaced by Dickie Wanzo as AC Herring went the navy, and myself, Charles Perry. There was a time that we were just the four of us as we did not have a replacement for AC Herring. When we made the recordings we had Dickie Wanzo replace AC Herring. We started singing on the street corner in the neighborhood we lived in. We started performing at local dances and parties at UC Berkeley. A friend of mine, Ken Worley had a brother Mickie Worley who knew Lee who had a recording studio in Santa Clara, Ca. and he (Lee) was looking for a group to make albums to sell in Woolworth stores and these recordings were of other group's songs, they sold for 99 Cents each.

L-R: Ralph Hollis, (Jim Satcher), Charles Perry, Cornelius Weekly, Robert Lee Herring, (Ken Parker)

In return Lee got us a recording deal with Gary Paxton in Hollywood Ca. We recorded three songs that weekend, Geneva Twist, There's a Fool Born Everyday, and Big Shot. Robert Lee Herring sang There's a Fool Born Everyday, and I sang the other two songs, Big Shot and Geneva Twist. As for just four of us in the pictures, this was right after we made the songs and Dickie Wanzo was not with group. I was the youngest in the group, I was 16 years old at the time. The other members were 17 and 18 years old at the time. After doing some local TV appearances some of the group members got married and we accomplished what we set out to do, record a record, we went on with our lives.”

Songs :

There's A Fool Born Every Day Big Shot Geneva Twist

...

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