The Romeos (1) (Winston-Salem, NC) aka The Jumping Jacks (1)
Personnel:
Eli Spillman (Tenor)
James Little (Baritone)
Frank Wilson (Baritone)
Daniel McGill (Bass)
Discography :
The Jumping Jacks (1) Single : 1953 - Do Let That Dream Come True / Why Oh Why (Lloyds 101) Unreleased : 1953 - Julocka-Jolly (Lloyds) 1953 - Long-Haired Raggedy Rascal (Lloyds)
The Romeos (1) Single : 1954 - I Beg You Please / Love Me (Apollo 461) Unreleased : 1954 - Somebody's Been Plowing My Mule (Apollo) 1954 - Oh Baby Oh (Apollo)
Biography :
This Jumping Jacks group formed in North Carolina in 1942. They practiced for quite some time before making local appearances. More than ten years passed before they made a recording for the Apollo subsidiary label, Lloyds. It should also be noted that they were from the same neighborhood as the Five Royales. This group called themselves the Jumping Jacks because of their exuberance on stage. This was a very demonstrative and dramatic quartet.
They recorded four songs in April 1953 but only two sides were released.Unfortunately, neither of the two released songs did well and the group obviously felt that changing their name to the Romeos might change their luck. Mitch Rosalsky http://www.uncamarvy.com/JumpingJacks/jumpingjacks.html
Singles: 1963 - Birthday Party / Our Love (Mercury 72130) 1963 - 442 Glenwood Ave. / Cold, Cold Winter (Mercury 72208) 1964 - Gee / After The Party (Mercury 72231) 1964 - It’s Summertime USA / The Hootch (Mercury 72250) 1964 - Orphan Boy / Love Walked In (Mercury 72288) 1964 - Your Way / Love Me, Love Me (Mercury 72357)
Unreleased: 1961 - Sincerely / Graduation Time (Reco-Art Sound acetate) 1961 - I Don't Care / Tell Me (Reco-Art Sound acetate) 1961 - Our Love (demo) 1962 - I’m Torn (demo) 1965 - Make Me Your Baby / Something Beautiful (Cameo / Parkway) n/a - I Don’t Know Why
Album: 1964 - Welcome To The Party / 442 Glenwood Avenue / 16 Candles / That's Why I Love My Guy / Party, Party, Party / Party Lights / Gee / Birthday Party / Happy Happy Birthday Baby / Brand New Boy / House Party / After The Party (Mercury LP MG 20912 / SR 60912)
Debra Swisher 1965 - You’re So Good To Me / Thank You And Goodnight (Boom 60,001)
Biography:
Girl group the Pixies Three were formed in Hanover, PA in 1957 by schoolmates Debbie Swisher and Kaye McCool; after a few months of singing as a duo, they recruited third vocalist Midge Bollinger and began developing the lovely three-part harmonies that distinguished their subsequent hits.
After years of performing at local parties and social gatherings, in 1962 the Pixies Three signed to Mercury, and under producers John Madara and David White scored their first hit with “Birthday Party,” which reached the Billboard Top 40 in the summer of 1963. In the wake of the follow-up, the double-sided “442 Glenwood Avenue” / “Cold Cold Winter,” Bollinger left the trio, and was replaced by Bonnie Long for 1964’s minor hit “Gee.”
“It's Summertime U.S.A.” was the Pixies Three's last hit, and the group disbanded in 1965; after issuing a solo single, the Boom label release “You're So Good to Me,” Swisher replaced Peggy Santiglia as the lead vocalist of the Angels, cutting four singles for RCA before again going solo in 1968.
The Echoes (4) 1958 - Scratch My Back / The Little Green Man (Swan 4013)
The Unique Echos 1962 - Italian Twist / Zoom (Southern Sound 108)
Jimmy McQuade & The Unique Echos 1967 - Booga Ka Do / Bongo Talk (Swan 4274)
The Frankie Grier Quartet bb The Echoes (4) 1958 - Oh Gloria / Lonesome For You (Swan 4019)
Biography :
After graduating from high school, Bobby Palese and Joe Giglio enlisted the talents of two other boys, Dominick "Chubby" Salvatore and Fiore "Cookie Dell" Delbuono, who were equally disdainful of the ordinary working world. They started to play and sing for garden parties, birthdays, weddings, bar mitzvahs and the like. The name they performed under at that time was Cookie and His Swing Kings.
The Echoes (4) : Chuby, Joe Giglio, Dick Clark, Cookie & Bob Palese
But when Swan Records took an interest in them, they changed the name to the Echoes. Their first pick to click was a demented novelty ditty, 'The Little Green Man,' in which they not only sang but provided all the instrumental background as well, a rarity in that time when persnickety label owners usually demanded professional sidemen for recording sessions.
The Echoes/Unique Echos: (Top Right) Mc Quade, Bob Palese, Dino Borgi (Front) Joe Giglio and Campisi
Little Green Man" was designed to take advantage of the ubiquitous UFO sightings, which were so common in the late 1950s. But unexpectedly, Bosco wrote, "it was the flip side, 'Scratch My Back,' which was garnering airplay, especially from local supergiant WIBG.
Joe Giglio, Dino Borgi, Bob Palese and Jimmy Mc Quade
It reached #2 in Scranton and #86 nationally."A few day after their mission for Swan, they were marshaled back into Reco-Arts to support Frankie Grier, A later Day Angel (Grand Records) and his homeboys on their stellar two sider, " Oh Gloria" and "Lonesome For You ". They Provided all the instrumentation.
The Unique Echos: (Top) Jimmy Mc Quade & Joe Raodano. (Bottom) Ed Vickery & Joe Giglio
But the boys suffered a blow when the payola scandal erupted in 1959-60, ensnaring among others "American Bandstand's" Dick Clark, who was a silent partner in Swan. He had to divest himself of many of his holdings in the music industry, including Swan. Without Clark, the company foundered. Calamitously, Bobby Palese, out of nowhere, got drafted, to be replaced by Nicky 'Rags' Guaglione.
The Echoes (4) : Chuby, Joe Giglio, Dick Clark, Cookie & Bob Palese
The Quartet evolved into a Quintet with George Campisi. Eventually, Bob, the Drummer, bassman and first tenor rejoined the group . They were indeed an unknown number of 'Echoes' configurations… with Jimmy McQuade, Dino Borgi, Joe Raodono, Ed Vickery and George Campisi… The group kept busy, performing as far away as New York and Canada and at many now-forgotten clubs around Philadelphia and in South Jersey.
The Echoes were later redubbed the "Unique Echos". After a hitch in the Army, Bobby and his friends released a single called "Zoom" with singer-songwriters Frank Slay and Bob Crewe, the brains behind the Four Seasons a few years down the road. Once again, it was the flip side, "The Italian Twist," that got the attention. After the group faded, Bobby kept playing two or three nights a week on keyboard, drums and bass, and singing.
José Williams, Stokes Anderson, Gordon Hunt, Roy Johnson and Harry Wilbert (Piano)
Jose & The Aztecs (1) (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Personnel :
José Williams (Lead)
Roy Johnson ( First Tenor)
Gordon Hunt (Baritone)
Stokes Anderson (Bass)
Harry Wilbert (Piano)
Discography :
Singles: 1956 - Tonight / Rose (Echo)
Unreleased : 1955 - Baby Baby (Roadhouse LP 5001) 1955 - Does She Know (Roadhouse LP 5001) 1955 - My Aching Heart (Roadhouse LP 5001) 1955 - Wait A Minute Baby (Roadhouse LP 5001) 1955 - Why Did You Leave Me (Roadhouse LP 5001)
Biography :
Organised in Cincinnati in 1955, The Aztecs were led by José Williams of Washington D.C, Roy Johnson sang First Tenor, Gordon Hunt sang Baritone, Stokes Anderson was the Bass, and Harry Wilbert played Piano.The Group was greatly influenced by the Diablos, and had one release in 1956, "Tonight" b/w "Rose" on the now defunct Echo label out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Thanks to Marv
Discography : Singles : 1955 - You / Must Be Falling In Love (Winley 212/Savoy 1552) 1957 - Prove It Tonight / Somebody (Royal Roost 627) 1958 - Screamin' Ball (At Dracula Hall) / Half Past (Roulette 4060) Unreleased: 1957 - Count The Hours (Royal Roost) 1957 - Please Make Her Mine (Royal Roost)
Biography :
Anthony Gourdine started out singing legit pop songs on the "Startime Studio Shows" but by his mid-teens wanted to be doing what other teens in Boys High School were doing: singing with a group. Anthony put together a quartet with William (Doc) Dockerty (tenor), William Delk ( baritone), and William Bracy in 1954.
Anthony's group performed at local shows that offered $5 prizes to the winners and on one such show ran up against a young Harlem group named Frankie Lymon & the Tennagers. At that point Anthony's quartet was called the DuPonts, having seen a sign for DuPont textiles. Doc Dockerty's dad knew a writer/producer named Paul Winley (who had written for The Clovers and Joe Turner and was the brother of the Clovers' Hal Winley).
Alan Freed Show at the New York Paramount with the the Duponts, February 1957.
After hearing the DuPonts he committed to record them for his own Winley label — which didn't even exist until after he recorded the group. He put out their first single "You" in August 1955 . Promotion by the fledgling label was insufficient and the DuPonts' first single never got a shot. Once again Doc's dad took things in hand and introduced the boys to songwriter Otis Blackwell, who brought them to Alan Freed's manager Jack Hook.
Jack signed them to Royal Roost Records in February 1957 and by March "Prove It Tonight," a pop/R&B rocker, hit the streets and stayed there. Hook then arranged for the DuPonts to do Alan Freed's Easter Show at the New York Paramount, and the group became the opening act for The Cleftones, Ruth Brown, The Platters... Three days into the show Anthony came down with laryngitis, so the group covered his parts. When the Paramount shows ended so did the DuPonts. They did re-form in 1958 without Anthony for one single on Roulette called "Screamin' Ball at Dracula Hall". During 1957 Anthony connected with a neighborhood foursome looking for a lead singer. The new quintet became the Chesters. Jay Warner (American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today) http://www.uncamarvy.com/Duponts/duponts.html
Songs :
Must Be Falling In Love / You Prove It Tonight / Somebody
The Inspirations (1) (Pittsburg, Ca.) aka The Marcels (1)
Personnel :
Carleton Brown (Lead)
Cedric Wilson (Baritone)
Jerry Jackson
Don Stevens
Discography :
The Marcels (1)
Singles : 1958 - Betty Lou / Take Me Back (Bob Jeffries bb the Marcels) (Jody 123) 195? - So Hard To Please / You'll Never Know (The Mondellos) (Rhythm 118)
Unreleased : 1956 - Wait For Me (Acapella) (Music City) 1956 - Indian Jane (Acapella) (Music City) 1956 - So Hard To Please (Acapella) (Music City)
The Inspirations (1) 1958 - Don't Cry / Indian Jane (Lamp 2019)
Biography :
This was not the "Blue Moon" Marcels, but a local Pittsburg group from California . This vocal group from the West Coast, recorded in the Bay Area by record man Ray Dobard, who spun the label off from his record store. One of his specialties was doo wop and he recorded way more than he released. The Marcels featured lead singer Carleton Brown, backed by Cedric Wilson, Floyd White and Georges White recorded several tracks in 1956 for Ray Dobard'Music City owner : "So Hard To Please", "Wait For Me" and "Indian Jane".
Don Barksdale Bob Jeffries
In 1958, They cut " Betty Lou" and they're behind Bob Jeffries on "Take Me Back" on Rhythm's Jody Records subsidiary (an Oakland label owned by college basketball hall of famer and legendary KDIA-AM Don Barksdale.) Bob Jeffries was also the lead singer of the Sharptones who recorded on the post label and he had the distinction of being backed bay The Marcels and The Mondellos on two separate recording sessions.
L to R, Cedric Wilson, Don Stevens, Jerry Jackson & Carleton Brown
The group's lineup has changed frequently, the Group-Singer-Songwriter Carleton Brown, Cedric Wilson later joined up with Jerry Jackson and Don Stevens (Aka Rick Stevens), they went nowhere as the Marcels but later re-recorded "Indian Jane" for Lamp records as the Inspirations. In the early 1960's Rick Stevens performed in nightclubs around Reno, where he was known as "Mr. Twister". Rick joined the group Tower of Power in 1969.
1955 - Chop Chop Boom / My Autumn Love (States 147) 1955 - Shu-Wop* / My Loving Partner (States 150 1955 - May God Be With You / Little Man (States 152) 1956 - My Love / She's Mine (States 160) 1967 - All The Way / Walk On With Your Nose Up (Midas 9004) *Song was meant to be titled “New Way” but title had to be changed for censorship reasons.
Biography:
The Danderliers called themselves by this made-up name, supposedly an offshoot of the dandelion flower, hoping to differentiate themselves from all the car and bird-named groups on the doo wop scene at the time. The original members came together in early 1955, near Cottage Grove between 60th and 68th Streets on Chicago's South Side. They had all attended classes at either the Chicago Vocational High or Englewood High School, and upon graduating, began to practice in nearby Washington Park. During these early days in the group's history, they trudged over to nearby United Records to audition on frequent occasions, and each time they were turned away. One day, the group were still feeling the sting of rejection after one such audition failed to nab them a recording contract, and had gathered together in the park to work on a song that would develop into “Chop Chop Boom.”
At that very moment Sam Smith of United Records, drove by, heard the group, and hauled them into his brother Al Smith’s basement rehearsal hall. Together they worked on polishing “Chop,” and a beautiful ballad, “My Autumn Love,” both written by Dallas Taylor. These two songs were the first Danderliers single released on United's States label. By the first week of April 1955, “My Autumn Love” was hitting the Chicago airwaves, and many disc jockeys flipped over the flip side, “Chop Chop Boom,” too. Later, both songs hit the Billboard R&B charts and shot to number ten on the Disc Jockey lists and number 14 on the Best Seller scorecard, respectively.
The Dandeliers performed their minor hit before crowds in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, and Ohio, and built up a solid repertoire of cover songs to perform, like “Glory of Love” (the 5 Keys), “Jump Children” (the Flamingos), and “Pardon My Tears” by former schoolmates and current labelmates the Moroccos. The group’s second single, “New Way,” was released in the third week of July. The cha-cha rocker featured Taylor and the group repeating the refrain “Dally's got a new way.” (Dally was a nickname of Dallas Taylor). It's been said that when someone in the record company asked, “Dally's got a new way to what?,” the answer from the lead singer caused a bit of controversy.
States Records decided that they'd better come up with an answer of their own, in case anyone asked, and re-titled it “Shu-Wop.” Regardless of what it was called, the single received a lot of airplay in Chicago, but nothing much beyond the regional area. A third single, the gospel doo wop ballad “May God Be With You,” and The Danderliers’ final single, another fine ballad titled “My Love,” caused nary a ripple beyond the local area as well, and with no management direction the group soon disbanded. A few unreleased demos were done for Mercury later, and Dallas Taylor recorded one record in 1961 as a member of a revised Dells (“Swingin’ Teens” for the Vee-Jay label), but not much was heard from them again until they reunited for “All the Way” (Midas Records) in 1967. Dallas Taylor passed away on November 14, 1986. At his funeral, the former members of the Danderliers sang “May God Be With You.” Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide
The Arrows (Los Angeles) aka The Convincers aka The Appeggios
Personnel :
Leroy Bishop (Lead)
Mel Alexander (Second Tenor)
Frank Alexander (Bass)
Frank Dixon (High Tenor)
Malvin Perkins (Baritone)
Discography :
The Arrows Singles : 1958 - Indian Bop Hop / Annie Mae (Flash 132)
The Convincers Singles : 1962 - Rejected Love / Go BacK Baby (Movin' 100) Demos : 1959 - Betty 1959 - Sufferin With The Blues 1959 - My Baby Don't Love Me 1959 - What Did I do
The Appeggios Singles : 1963 - Mary / I'll Be Singing (Aries 01) Demos : 1956 - Rejected Love 1956 - We Belong Together 1956 - She's Not Bad 1956 - Lonely 1956 - Baby Let Me Come To Your House Tonight
Biography :
The group begin as the Arpeggios in New Orleans and sang strictly gospel, switching to the Arrows to sang R&B. The Original members are Mel Alexander (Second Tenor), Frank Alexander (Bass), Leroy Bishop (Lead), Frank Dixon (High Tenor) & Sidney Jones (Baritone).
Mel Alexander
One by one the Arpeggios came out to California. The Arrows composed of Mel Alexander, Frank Alexander, Leroy Bishop, Frank Dixon & Malvin Perkins signed a contract with Charlie 'Flash' Reynolds of Flash record on 29th July,1958. Two months later "Indian Bop Hop" backed with "Annie Mae" hit the Streets.
The Appeggios with Mel Alexander on lead (Los Angeles, 1957)
They Changed their name from the Arrows to the Convincers. The Convincers were made up of Mel, his brother, Jones, Dixon and Willie Gibson on lead. The Group recorded the Beautifull "Rejected Love" spliced with "Go BacK Baby" for Movin' Records. In 1963, Mel & his quarter Friends, now renamed the Arpeggios (Misspelled Appeggios) with the Convincers' Line-up recorded "Mary" backed with "I'll Be Singing" for the Tiny Los Angeles based Aries label.
The Teenos (Memphis, Tenn.) aka The Five Tinosaka The Esquires (3)
Personnel :
Luchrie Jordan
Haywood Hebron
Marvin Walker
Melvin Walker
Melvin Jones
Discography :
The Five Tinos Single: 1955 - Don't Do That / Sitting By The Window (Sun 222) Unreleased: 1955 - Gonna Have Let You Be 1955 - Mambo Baby 1955 - Memories 1955 - My Only Angel 1955 - Go Ahead 1955 - Rockin' Chair
The Teenos 1958 - Love Only One / Alrightee (Dub 2839)
The Esquires (3) 1956 - Only The Angels Know / One Word For This (Hi-Po 1003)
Biography :
A Memphis group, the Five Tinos comprised local college students. There were Luchrie Jordan, Haywood Hebron, Marvin Walker, Melvin Walker, and Melvin Jones. They probably went to Booker T. Washington High School in south Memphis. The Five Tinos have a session at Sun Studio 706 Union Ave Memphis Tennessee the May 26, 1955. The Tinos recorded a total of eight tracks . "Don't Do That" and "Sitting By My Window" which are coupled for release as Sun 222 released June 21. The two Walker brothers had a younger brother, William, who later joined another Memphis group, The Four kings aka the Four canes . Some reckon that they're the same group as The Teenos & The Esquires on Hi-Po. The composers credit on the Teenos single "Love Only One" is Tinos for like "Sitting By The Window" & "Don't Do That" of the Five Tinos. The Other song is credited to M.Walker (Melvin or Marvin Walker?)… Ok For the Teenos?
Songs :
The Five Tinos
Don't Do That / Sitting By The Window Gonna Have Let You Be
Left to Right : Roland Hodge, Frankie Rich, Jimmy Tickle and Chick Fogleman
The Darvis (Burlington, North Carolina)
Personnel:
Roland Hodge
Frankie Rich
Jimmy Tickle
Chick Fogleman
Discography :
1958 - Love Me Too / The Day I Met You (Renown) (Unreleased?)
Biography :
Local singing group from Burlington, the Darvis include Roland Hodge, Frankie Rich, Jimmy Tickle and Chick Fogleman. The youths signed their contract with Renown Recording and Publication Company of Durham.
The Contract, a two-tear agreement, will be initiated with the recording of two Songs, "Love Me Too," written by Hodge, and "The Day I Met You" authored by Rich. they will be eligible to move on to a larger company and the first release is to be auditioned by a Major company
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