The Crystal Tones Singles : 1959 - A Girl I Love / Debra-Lee (M.Z. 007/8) 1989 - The Beating Of My Heart / I Apologize (M.Z. 174) Unreleased : 1959 - At My Front Door (M.Z.) 1959 - Gloria (M.Z.)
Billy James & The Crystal Tones 1960 - Meant For Me / It's The Twist (M.Z. 111)
Biography :
The Crystal Tones originally started in the 50's in New Britain, CT.. They played small venues and high schools . The lead singer, Chris Crisotello, was only 16 at the time, Joe Difusco was the baritone, Billy LeBarre (cousin's Joe) was the tenor and Frank Morgan the Bass.
In 1959, the group cut one single "A Girl I Love" and "Debra-Lee" for MZ record & backed Billy james on "Meant For Me" and "It's The Twist". Billy James whose real name is Billy Nosal. He hails from Glastonbury, Ct. and cut one single for MZ with another group, The Stenotones (The Stenotones were actually secretaries who worked in the Laurie Records office).
In 1960, The Crystal Tones were asked to be on the Ed Sullivan Show. Some members of the group didn't want to because they weren't going to get paid. Gene Pitney was a very good friend of theirs and would carry their jackets for them when they played out. He got signed eventually.
The Stagehands (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Squires (8) aka The Empires (4)
Personnel :
Richie Kaufman
Eddie Robbins
Gary Kessler
Phil Horowitz
Discography :
The Two Chaps 1960 - Forgive Me / No More (Atlantic 1195)
The Empires (4) 1962 - Time And A Place / Punch Your Nose (Epic 9527)
Linda Lawrence bb The Empires (4) 1963 - At This Stage Of The Game / A Tear For Tommy (Epic 9607)
The StageHands 1964 - Hello Dolly / You Started It (T.A. 101)
The Squires (8) 1964 - Joyce / Can't Believe That You've Grown Up (Congress 223)
Biography :
David (Jay) Black and Marty Sanders were next door neighbors who started to sing together in High School. A friend of theirs took them to Nat Garrick who decided to manage them and took them to Ivy Records as The Two Chaps. Atlantic Records heard the master of "Forgive Me" on Ivy and purchased it. The record didn't do much and that was the brief career of The Two Chaps. Subsequently, Marty formed another group called The Interludes who later changed their name to The Empires when they started recording for Epic.
The Two Chaps David Black & Marty Sanders The Empires
The group consisted of Marty, Eddie Robbins, Leo Rose (lead) , Phil Horowitz and Gary Kessler. Right after their demo session, Leo dropped out of the group and Marty called in Jay Black. The Empires cut one record entitled "Time And A Place" b/w "Punch Your Nose". Jay and Marty wrote "Time And A Place" and Jay sang lead. "Punch Your Nose" was written by Marty and he sang lead. This too, was a short lived group.
Jay & The Americans
After this release, Jay and Marty left to join the already successful Jay & The Americans. The Other Members with Richie Kaufman continued as the Stagehands for T.A. and as the Squires for Congress Records.
The Four Fellows (1) (Brooklyn, New York) Ref. Four Toppers (2) (By Hans-Joachim)
Personnel :
Jim McGowan (Lead)
Teddy Williams (Baritone)
Larry Banks (Bass)
David Jones (Tenor)
Discography:
The Four Fellows (1) 1954 - I Tried / Bend Of The River (Derby 862) 1955 - I Wish I Didn't Love You So / I Know Love (Glory 231) 1955 - Soldier Boy / Take Me Back, Baby (Glory 234) 1955 - Angels Say / In The Rain (Glory 236) 1956 - Hold ‘Em, Joe / Fallen Angel (Glory 238) 1956 - Darling You / Please Don't Deprive Me Of Love (Glory 242) 1956 - Please Play My Song / I Sit In My Window (Glory 244) 1956 - You Don't Know Me / You Sweet Girl (Glory 248) 1957 - Loving You Darling / Give Me Back My Broken Heart (Glory 250)
Bette McLaurin & The Four Fellows (1) 1955 - So Will I / Grow Old Along With Me (Glory 233) 1956 - Petticoat Baby / I’m Past Sixteen (Glory 241)
Cathy Ryan (bb The Four Fellows (1))* 1955 - 24 Hours A Day (365 A Year) / [With You - Kathy Ryan solo] (King 1495) *credited as The Admirals
Miss Toni Banks & The Four Fellows (1) 1957 - Johnny The Dreamer / You’re Still In My Heart (Glory 263)
Biography:
The Four Fellows will always be remembered for “Soldier Boy,” a definitive mid-‘50s hit. Jim McGowan (lead), Dave Jones (tenor), Teddy Williams (baritone), and Larry Banks (bass) originally formed in Brooklyn, NY, calling themselves the Schemers, which they changed to the Four Fellows after landing an early TV appearance.
In 1954, they recorded one single for Derby Records, but it failed to gain an audience. They soon signed with Phil Rose’s newly formed Glory Records and recorded a handful of singles, including “Grow Along With Me,” which featured a lead vocal by Betty McLaurin.
(L-R) Teddy Williams, Jimmy McGowan (lead-standing), Larry Banks and David Jones
In the late spring of 1955, the Four Fellows recorded “Soldier Boy,” which earned them a spot on the bill of Tommy Smalls’ Dr. Jive’s R&B Revue at the Apollo Theater in June of that year, performing alongside Harvey Fuqua’s Moonglows, Gene & Eunice, the Nutmegs, Bo Diddley, and Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra with Ella Johnson and Nolan Lewis.
Meanwhile, “Soldier Boy” was covered by many popular artists, including Sunny Gale and Edyie Gorme. The group successfully toured the South and Midwest and ended the year by performing at the big Christmas Revue at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater.
Bessie Banks aka Miss Toni Banks Bette McLaurin They were less successful with their releases, however, and didn’t hit again (after several attempts) until August of 1956, when up-tempo “I Sit in My Window” was released. Additional singles faltered .
In 1957, the Four Fellows added Toni Banks (formerly of Three Guys and a Doll) as a lead vocalist and recorded a final single for Glory, but it failed to generate enough sales or airplay to merit keeping the band on their roster and except for the occasional backup singing job - including working with folk-blues artist Josh White - the Four Fellows career came to an end before the dawn of the ‘60s. Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide
1959 - Shoma Dom Dom / Whispering Winds (End 1050)
Biography:
In mid-1959, Keyes and Gordon teamed to record a single for the End label as the Shell Brothers. The sides, "Shooma Domm Dom" and "Whispering Winds," were released that June. http://www.uncamarvy.com/Magnificents/magnificents.html
One-time upholsterer Venton "Buddy" Caldwell started his own V-Tone label in 1958 in Philadelphia. The same year, he started Len Records as a subsidiary. V-Tone lasted until 1962 and Len until 1960. The company was located at 2034 Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia. When he discontinued V-Tone in late 1962, Caldwell then started the Palm label, and began with the exact same single. Herb Johnson was the most notable single artist who sang for Len/V-Tone/Palm. Herb recorded 'You Belong to Me,' also recorded by the Orioles. In 1953, he joined the Air Force and sang with a group called the Lyrics and also sang with the group the Ambassadors.
Herb's first single for Len was "Guilty" "Have You Heard" released in the spring of 1960, According to Johnson, he was backed by The Cruisers from Washington, D.C. who handled vocal harmonies. "Help" was recorded and released in 1963 on Caldwell's Palm label, the successor to Len & V-Tones. The String-filled instrumental backing is a concession to the changing early sixties market, but the strong r&b group backing "Help" and "Crying Blues", the flip side, is strictly fifties. Herb was backed up by an accomplished group from Baltimore featuring Louis Jackson called the Premiers.
Dickey Doo & The Don’ts 1957 - Click-Clack / Did You Cry (Swan 4001)
Dicky Doo & The Don’ts 1958 - Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu / Flip Top Box (Swan 4006) 1958 - Leave Me Alone (Let Me Cry) / Wild Party (Swan 4014) 1959 - Teardrops Will Fall / Come With Us (Swan 4025) 1959 - Ballad Of A Train / Dear Heart, Don't Cry (Swan 4033) 1960 - Wabash Cannonball / The Drums Of Richard A. Doo (Swan 4046) 1960 - Teen Scene / Pity, Pity (UA 238) 1961 - The Judge / A Little Dog Cried (UA 362) 1961 - The Judge / Doo Plus Two (Danna 1001) 1965 - Click Clack '65 / Don't Count Me Out (Ascot 2178)
Lps : 1960 - Madison And Other Dances (UAL-3094 / UAS-6094) The Big M, Part I (Madison) / What In The World's Comes Over You / Cha Cha Rooney / Ballin' The Jack / Do The Slop / Mashed Potatoes / The Big M, Part II (Madison) / Rock And Roll Waltz / Charleston / The Big Hurt / The Stroll / The Bop
1960 - Teen Scene (UAL-3097 / UAS-6097) Footsteps / I Love The Way You Love / He'll Have To Go / Lady Luck / Vive L'amour / Midnight Special / Teen Scene / Wake Up Little Susie / Mr. Blue / Pity, Pity / Pretty Blue Eyes /Wild One
1961 - Live at Eagle Rock Ski and Golf Club in Hazleton PA (Danna D1566) Shake Rattle And Roll / Ain't That A Shame / Jenny Jenny / Kansa City / What I'd Say / Lucille / Allright OK You Win / Hully Gully / Saints Go Marching In / Nee Nee Na Na Nu Nu / Can't Sit Down
Biography :
Dickey Doo & the Dont's started out as a joke with a purpose. Gerry Granahan, a producer, songwriter, and performer needed an alias under which he could release his newest record without getting into legal trouble with another record label to which he was already under contract and the alias turned into a successful recording act.
Granahan, born in Pittston, PA, was a musician and singer who'd handled demos for Hill & Range aimed at Elvis Presley. Signed to Sunbeam Records in 1957, he had a hit in mid-1958 with "No Chemise Please," a novelty song that got to number 23 on the Billboard chart.
His next four singles stiffed, but then he found himself with a song that seemed like a certain hit, "Click Clack," and a label -- Swan Records of Philadelphia -- that wanted to release it; moreover, with Swan behind it, the label's silent partner, Dick Clark, would give it a boost on the local version of his daily music showcase, American Bandstand, thus ensuring it had every chance to become a hit.
Granahan's different contractual relationships, with Sunbeam and an earlier contract with Atlantic, however, made it risky for him to release anything with Swan, at least under his own name. Thus were born Dickey Doo & the Dont's, a mythical act whose name would be attached to the song "Click Clack." Swan partner Tony Mammarella suggested the name Dickey Doo & the Dont's as an "in" joke that obliquely referred to Clark's secret involvement with Swan.
The song broke out gradually and rose to number 28 during a three-and-a-half-month run. With a hit behind him, Granahan now faced another problem: coming up with a group to appear as Dickey Doo & the Dont's. He recruited a quartet -- Harvey Davis (bass), Al Ways (sax), Ray Gangi (guitar), and Dave Alldred (drums) -- to back him as Dickey Doo & the Dont's; Granahan was referred to on their recordings as Richard A. Doo.
The quintet proved extremely popular in concert and charted more singles, including "Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu," "Leave Me Alone," and "Teardrops Will Fall," over the next year and a half. By the 1960s, the group had left Swan and moved to the United Artists label, where they cut two albums and remained under contract until 1965.
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.
Singles : 1955 - Suddenly / Zenda (Apollo 478)
 1955 - I Don't Know / A Star (Apollo 484)
 1956 - Really Wish You Were Here / Bye Bye Baby (Apollo 493) 1956 - Now I Know / Zup Zup (Apollo 498) 1956 - In The Evening / O Yeah Hm-m-m (Apollo 503) 1957 - One Little Kiss / Now I Know (Apollo 513)
Unreleased: N/A - Early one morning (Relic LP 5080)
 N/A - Chapel bells are ringing (Relic LP 5080)
 N/A - Tell me you love me (Relic LP 5080)
 N/A - Surely (Apollo LP 1000/Relic LP 5072)
 N/A - Zoop zoop (darling i love you) (Apollo LP 1000/Relic LP 5072)
 N/A - Girl in the chapel (Apollo LP 1000/Relic LP 5072)
Biography :
The Keynotes, emerged from ll5th Street in l954. Although it is rumored that they were singing the street song "Lily Maebelle", their first record for Apollo was "Zenda"/ "Suddenly". Later in 1955, they had a local New York rocker, "I Don't Know," that hit on the R&B stations. It featured Sam "The Man" Taylor on tenor horn and Mickey "Guitar" Baker.
The first two records were led by Floyd Adams, who was rumored to be the lead of another Apollo group, The Inspirations ("Raindrops"/ "Maggie"). Adams stayed on to do two more groovie rockers, "Bye Bye Baby" and "Really Wish You Were " until he was replaced by the more dynamic tenor, Sam Kearney, who led "In The Evening" and two different versions of the calypso-blues-rock "Now I Know".
Floyd Adams (Lead): (l-r) :Howard Anderson, Roger Lee , Larry "Spanky" Carter, Tucker Class
The Keynotes were the prototype New York Street group. They may have had as many as ten members who recorded for the fun of it, singing well but never making it big. They were subjected to the same tragic results, limited success and nonrecognition, as their uptown brothers, The Vocaltones. http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/4ROWNEW/IDontKnow.htm
Lenny Davis & The Megatones 1962 - The Beginning And Not The End / My Only Girl (One Night) (Prism 1003/4)
Lenny Davis 1961 - Satan's Got You (By The Hand) / Sing, Little Bluebird (Do-Ra-Me 1413)
Biography :
Singer, Lenny Davis Cut one single with two nice doo wop in 1962 for Prism Records. The single was recorded in Nashville at the Murry Nash Studio with Nashville studio musicians who performed with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and many others..
Some of the musicians on the two sessions were Hank Garland, Grady Martin, Pete Drake , Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano and a blind vocalist named Mary.
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