1962 - While Walkin' / Lost My Job (M.B.S 01) 1964 - I took A Long Time / Ma Ma Marie (Delsey 302)
Biography :
John Bersami, Gus Mellace, Ronny Pro and Ron Santora were practicing and were always looking for a lead. They met Jack Lodato at the Corner of Porter and Hutchinson Street. Jack Lodato made his bones chirping with the Velchords which consisted of Himself, The Bruni Twins (Future Records), John DePalma (Later in The Prmiers on Mink), Junior Gigliotti and Bobby Cramatola (Later in the Fantasys).
Bersani, Lodato (Top), Santora, Mellace (Bottom)
With Jack Lodato, The Del-Airs returned to rehearsal, learning such ditties as "Two people in the World", "Tears On My Pillow", "Teardrops", Long lonely night". They became so accomplished, Bruce Reed, their Manager, landed them all types of guestings even though they had no recordings. Joe Rocco (Mellace), Gus's older brother, a music veteran from the Day Brothers, arranged a get-together with Morris Ballen, Owner-operator of M.B.S record at Broad & Walmut in center city. They Cut "While Walkin'" and "Lost My Job" on M.B.S 01.
They appears on television and radio and in 1964, they signed a contract recording with Delsey Records and cut "I took A Long Time" and "Ma Ma Marie".
1960 - You're Too Young / Forbidden Love (Jordan 117)
Biography :
The Sinceres was a mixture of Allentown boys and some boys from Bethlehem Fronted by bass singer Jay Proctor. A boy named Billy Floyd wrote a song called 'You're Too Young". There was a guy who owned a paint company, and he decided he would like to see what he could do with the group. He took The Group underfoot for a little bit, and he paid for having a record recorded and stuff. Backed with "Forbidden Love" it was issued on the Jordan logo in 1960. It sold about 100 copies. That was the name of the paint company, Jordan Paint. Except for some local play, the record was ignored, sold poorly.
Jay & the Techniques
George "Lucky" Lloyd arrived in Allentown from Jacksonville, Fl., at the age of 19 to live with his grandfather. Lloyd was an aspiring singer who made his first recording in 1959 with a group called the Joylarks and a second single with the same Group as the Floridians. In Allentown, he met young Jay Proctor and started a new group, Jay & the Techniques.
Fifteen year old Steve Currie formed the Del-Tones with three other Brewer, Maine high schoolers in the fall of 1956. They Choose the name the Del-Tones out of admiration for the Del-Vikings whose tunes they often performed. Jim Winters, star of WABI radio and his own area record hops, helped launch their career by booking the group all over eastern and northern Maine.
Hallet, King, Currie, Richardson
They did TV with Curly O'Brian and Dick Curless and in 1957 played to a capacity crowd at the Brewer Auditorium opening for Curless, who had just won Top honors on the Arthur Godfrey Talent show. Jimmy Hayden would sub for the sometimes absent Hallet and Robinson worked occasionally with the Statics, but for the most patron of the Del-Tones maintained a steady lineup. In 1959, the guys auditioned for Event Records who offered to cut a record if the boys coughed up half the cost. They Didn't and Event didn't.
1948 - Pesheya’ Kwezo Ntaba / Bodo Lom Sobo (Gallotone GE.973) 1950 - Abazali Bam (When The Saints Go Marchin' In) / Sana Lwam (Swanee River) (Gallotone GE. 957) 1950 - Skokiaan / Karekwangu (Gallotone GB.1152) 1951 - Amazw'amndi (Honey Be My Honey Bee) / Wami-Wami (Satchelmouth Baby) (Gallotone 1277) 1951 - Ndimi Lo (Rag Mop) / Makanise (Gallotone GB.1279) 1953 - Marie / Umtwana Wezizwe (Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar) (Gallotone GB.1855) 1953 - Ulitemba Letu / Ndizimisele Ukutandaza (Gallotone GB.1856) 1954 - Baby Ntsoare* / Laku Tshoni ‘Ilanga*(Gallotone GB.2007) 1956 - Lovely Lies*/ Kilimanjaro (London 1610)
*with Miriam Makeba
Biography:
The Manhattan Brothers was one of the most influential vocal groups in the history of South Africa's music. During the late '40s and '50s, the group appeared regularly on South African television and radio and influenced succeeding generations with their style of dress, speech, attitude, and lifestyle.
The first South African group to have a record in the Top 100 chart compiled by Billboard - "Lovely Lies," which reached number 45 in March 1956 - The Manhattan Brothers have continued to influence the music of South Africa. A celebration of their first CD, The Best of The Manhattan Brothers, at the Blues Room in Sandton in October 1999, featured a performance by a group calling themselves, the Junior Manhattan Brothers.
The origin of the Manhattan Brothers goes back to the early '30s when four vocalists - Joe Mogotsi, Rufus Khoza, Ronnie Majola Sehume, and group leader, Nathan "Dambuzza" Mdledle - were attending the Pimville Government School. Recording their first singles in 1948, the group quickly became superstars in their homeland.
Despite their fame, however, the four singers struggled under apartheid. Although they attempted on several occasions to perform outside South Africa, the state government denied them permission to leave. In a 1999 interview, Mogotsi recalled, "We were victimized because we refused to perform in the Van Riebeeck Festival in Cape Town."
The Manhattan Brothers were accompanied by the finest musicians in South Africa. Their band, which was led by composer and saxophonist Mackay Davashe, featured saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi, drummer General Duze, and pianist Sol Klaaste. The band later added Hugh Masakela and Jonas Gwangwa and was renamed the Jazz Dazzlers.
In the early '50s, The Manhattan Brothers expanded with the addition of female vocalist Miriam Makeba. Their first recording with Makeba, "Lakutshona Ilanga," was released in 1953.
Miriam Makeba
Five years later, the group appeared in a musical, King Kong, with Mdledle in the role of black African boxer Ezekiel "King Kong" Dlemani, Mogotsi as a gangster, Khoza and Sehume as gang members, and Makeba as the female lead. The musical was extremely successful and the troupe travelled to England for performances in 1961.
A change in the South African government while The Manhattan Brothers were in England, however, prevented them from returning and they remained in England. While they initially continued performing, Sehume left the group within a few months and was replaced by Walter Loate.
By the 1990s, the Manhattan Brothers had faded into the past. Although Mogotsi remained active as the leader of a London-based band, Joe Mogotsi and the Manhattans, Khoza and Sehume had retired from music and Mdledle had died.
Interest in the Manhattan Brothers was revived when they were the subject of a documentary video, Songs From the Golden City. A 20-tune album, The Best of the Manhattan Brothers, which included two previously unreleased songs ("Hlompa" and "Be My Guest"), followed in 1999. Shortly before the album's release, Mogotsi and Khoza returned to South Africa. Craig Harris, All Music Guide http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/Umajuba.htm http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=7845
The Debonairs (1) (Long Beach, CA) aka The Debonaires (2) aka The Jades (4)
Personnel :
Arthur Holly (Lead)
David Kelly
Joe Sprewell (Tenor , Piano)
Willie "Hootie" Melvin
Bobby Miles (Bass)
Discography :
The Debonairs (1) Singles : 1957 - Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are / The Bill Collector (Combo 129) 1957 - Cause Of A Bad Romance / For The Woman I Love (Combo 149) Unreleased : 1957 - In My Memories (Combo) 1957 - Christmas Time (Combo) 1957 - Crazy Santa Claus (Combo) 1957 - Nita (Combo)
The Debonaires (2) Singles : 1959 - Every Once In A While / Mama Don't Care (Dore 526) 1961 - Every Once In A While / Gert's Skirt (Dore 592/702/795) 1962 - Hold Back The Dawn / Mama Don't Care (Dore 654) 1964 - Everybody's Movin' / Mama Don't Care (Dore 712) Unreleased : 1959 - Dorothy (Dowley) 1959 - Laura (Dowley) 1959 - Fare Thee Well (Dowley)
The Jades (4) 1963 - Hold Back The Dawn / Mama Don't Care (Dore 687)
Biography :
The Debonairs from Long Beach, California, evolved through numerous line-up changes into an accomplished amateur vocal group in the early 50s. They recorded some material for Johnny Otis' Dig label in 1956 and for Dootsie Williams in 1957 but this was shelved.
Jake Porter
Jake Porter was one of the select group of independent record company owners who gave us the best of West Coast R&B and doo-wop music. Starting in the early 50s and persevering until the early 70s, Jake recorded numerous groups, duos and R&B outfits for his Los Angeles-based Combo label. Jake Porter recorded the Debonairs and released "Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are" b/w "The Bill Collector" and "Cause Of A Bad Romance" b/w "For The Woman I Love". When these failed to sell, they split up.
Reforming in 1959 with different personnel, the Debonaires laid down some tunes for the Downey label, run from a record store in the LA suburb of that name but, yet none of this was issued. Their next stop, a session for Dore on 17 June 1959, 'Every In A While', an outstanding ballad featuring Joe Sprewell on lead. It became such a favourite of Bedell's that he issued it four times between 1959 and 1967. In an attempt to update the arrangement, some extraneous overdubs including strings were added to the 1967 pressing .
Songs :
The Debonairs (1)
Cause Of A Bad Romance The Bill Collector
Why Can't We Be As Other Lovers Are For The Woman I Love
Singles : 1954 - Native Girl / It Won't Take Long (Modern 939)
 1955 - Strange Love / Cherrlyn (Combo 113) 1956 - Tears / When I Met You (Combo 115)
 1956 - Laughing Love / Valley Of Lovers (Combo 119) 
 1956 - Oh Let Me Dream / I've Got A Feeling (Combo 120)
Unreleased : 1956 - Devil Kissed An Angel (Combo) 1956 - My Darling (Combo)
Biography :
This Watts group began as The Mellotears, but when they made their first single for Modern Records, owner Jules Bihari changed their name to The Native Boys. Freddie Romain and Vince Weaver were the primariy leads, backed up by George Le Brune, bass singer Edward "Sack" Saunders and Charles Mathis. Harry Rosemond was a member on the Modern sides, but he left before they signed with Jake Porter's Combo label.
Edward "Sack" Saunders Vince Weaver
Danny Kristian (real name Arthur Murray) may have been with the group at the very end of their Combo period. Kristian and Romain went to Lee Rupe's Ebb Records in early 1957 with new, much older background singers and recorded that label's first single as The Ebbtones, a name that did not exist outside the record.
Freddie Romain
Vince and Freddie later joined the Flares and sang on the group's 1961 Felsted hit, "Foot Stomping-Part 1." In 1963 guitarist Buddy Harper and disk jockey Chuck Mann recorded Freddie Romain for their tiny Spindletop label.The Native Boys' "Strange Love" was a minor hit around the country after getting heavy airplay from Alan Freed on WINS in New York in the early winter of 1956, and among doo-wop fans and collectors it remains the song they're known for. But The Native Boys were a relatively polished group that made several great recordings.
Cornell Gunter & The Ermines (Los Angeles) aka The Flairs (1)
Personnel :
Cornell Gunter（Lead）
Kenneth Byley (First Tenor)
Thomas Miller (Baritone)
George Hollis（Bass）
Discography :
Singles : 1955 - True Love / Peek, Peek-A-Boo (Loma 701) 1956 - You Broke My Heart / I'm So Used To You Now (Loma 703) 1956 - Keep Me Alive / Muchacha, Muchacha (Loma 704) 1956 - I'm Sad / One Thing For Me (Loma 705)
Unreleased : 1958 - He Judges (Ebb) unreleased 1958 - I'll Make A Bet (Ebb) (unreleased)
Biography :
The Flairs were an American doo-wop group based in Los Angeles. They went through several lineup changes during their existence. Their notable members included Richard Berry (writer of 'Louie Louie') and Cornell Gunter, who would go on to being a member of The Coasters.
In 1955, some members left the flairs, Pete Fox joining the Cadets and Obediah Jessie recording solo (as Young Jessie). Cornell Gunter formed a new group, The Ermines, with new members George Hollis, Thomas Miller, and his cousin, Kenneth Byley. After a brief stint with Loma Records , they signed up with manager Buck Ram, and moved to ABC-Paramount Records, taking the name The Flairs.
The Joytones (New York) aka The Hi-Lites (10) aka The Joy-Tones
Personnel :
Lucille "Vicki" Burgess (Lead)
Estelle Harper
Margaret Moore
Discography :
The Joytones 1956 - You Just Won't Treat Me Right / All My Love Belongs To You (Rama 191)
 1956 - Gee What A Boy / Is This Really The End (Rama 202) 
 1956 - My Foolish Heart / Jimbo Jango (Rama 215)
The Joy-Tones 1965 - This Love (That I'm Giving You) / I Wanna Party Some More (Coed 600)
The Hi-Lites (10) 1958 - Please Believe I Love You / Sweet And Lovely (Reno 1030)
Biography :
In 1955, after some singles with the Charmers, Vikki Burgess joins with Myrna Hamilton and Renee Stewart and form a group called The Solirettes and are signed to top New York independent label Old Town Records. All of the efforts by the group remain unreleased and The Solirettes become a dim memory of the time. Burgess now forms another group with Margaret Moore and Estelle Harper and call themselves The Joytones. They are soon signed to record for George Goldner's Rama Records, and in March of 1956 "All My Love Belongs To You" (originally by The Hearts on Baton) and "You Just Won't Treat Me Right" on Rama #191 is released.
During that summer Barbara Brown replaces Estelle Harper, and The Joytones second record for Rama is released. The songs "Gee What A Boy" and "Is This Really The End?" are released on Rama#202. The record is pushed nationally by Rama hoping for "Boy" to click with the teenage listening public, but that does not happen. There is another personnel change within the group when Lynn Middleton replaces Barbara Brown before the group's third release for Rama.
In spring of 1957 Rama #215 features "My Foolish Heart" and "Jimbo Jango" which turns out to be the last record by The Joytones. Like the others it does not garner great airplay or sales.By 1958 Vikki Burgess, Lynn Middleton, and Margaret Moore determine that maybe a name change is in order and so The Joytones now become The Hi-Lites and have one record release for the small indie label Reno Records in 1958.
The songs are "Sweet And Lovely" and "Please Believe I Love You" on #1030. In short order The Hi-Lites were also part of the great memory bank of the 1950s.The Joytones would reappear on record in 1965 in the middle of Motown and the British Invasion with "This Love" and "I Wanna Party Some More" recorded for Coed Records and released on #600.
A few years later a group called Love Potion comprised of (surprise !) Vikki Burgess, Margaret Moore, and Lynn Middleton, release "This Love", the same take as by The Joytones in 1965. The song is released on TCB #1601 in 1968. One year later the same song is released as by Love Potion on Kapp #979.
Songs :
The Joytones
You Just Won't Treat Me Right All My Love Belongs To You Gee What A Boy
Is This Really The End My Foolish Heart Jimbo Jango
The Joy-Tones
I Wanna Party Some More This Love (That I'm Giving You)
(L to R) Clarence Thomas, Drew "Skippy" Thompson, Shelton Laster, George Val Poitier and Major Branch
The Dreamtones (1) (Springfield, Massachusetts) aka The Centuries (2) ref The Mint Juleps
Personnel :
Major Branch (Lead)
George Val Poitier (Bass)
Shelton Laster (Baritone)
Clarence Thomas (Second Tenor)
Drew "Skippy" Thompson (First Tenor)
Milton White (Piano)
Discography :
The Dreamtones (1) 1958 - Stand Behind Me / Love In The Afternoon (Klik 8505) 1959 - Praying For A Miracle / Jelly Bean (Express 501) 1959 - A Lover's Answer / Mean Man (Astra 551)
The Mitlo Sisters bb The Dreamtones (1) 1958 - Lonely Sea / Let Me Tell You (Klik 8405)
The Centuries (2) 1963 - Crying For You / Oh Darling (The Jaytones) (Times Square 5) 1963 - Betty / Ride Away (The Revlons) (Times Square 15)
-----------------------------
The Mint Juleps Singles : 1956 - Bells Of Love / Vip-A-Dip (Herald 481) Unreleased : 1956 - Ginny Doll 1959 - Queen Of Love
Biography :
The Dreamtones Hailed from Springfield, Massachusetts culling members from the Mint Juleps as well as several Gospel Groups . They Featured the Lead of Major Branch with George Val Poitier (Actor Sidney's cousin), Shelton Laster, Clarence Thomas, Skippy Thompson and Milton White on Piano. Before joining the Dreamtones, George Val Poitier & Clarence Thomas had been with The Mint Juleps on Herald. The other members were Alvin Clark on lead, William Terrell and Emra Clemmons . The mint Juleps recorded "Bells Of Love" and "Vip-A-Dip" released on Herald 481 and did two unreleased songs "Ginny Doll" and "Queen Of Love". There were so many different groups vying for airplay in 1956, and if your first single didn’t sell, your other tunes may well be scrapped.
The individual members of the Dreamtones met at a local club and began to harmonize. Milton's mother had a rooming house where many of the touring R&B groups of the day would stay while passing through Springfield. In 1957, the group went to New Haven and signed and recorded with Marty Kugell's Klik label. The Dreamtones backed up the Mitlo Sisters on their Klik recording of "Oh Lonely Sea" before Klik released their first single with "Stand Behind Me" and "Love In The Afternoon".
The group also had releases on Express in 1959: "Praying For A Miracle" b/w "Jelly Bean". NY's Express label, which was a sister label of Fargo Records. The Final Dreamtones release was "A Lover's Answer" b/w "Mean Man" for Astra in 1959 though they can also be heard providing jungle hoots behind Joe Therrien on his very rare Sentinel release, "Siam". In the early 1960s, previously unreleased Klik master were sold to Slim Rose; Slim released them on his Times Square label and renamed the group the Centuries.
Songs
The Dreamtones (1)
Stand Behind Me Love In The Afternoon Praying For A Miracle
Discography : Singles : 1963 - Please Don't Kiss Me Again / What Is A Tear (Kapp 547) 1963 - Oozi-Oozi-Ooh / He's A Wise Guy (Kapp 570) 1965 - (Preacher Man) Stop The Wedding / Sugar Boy (World Artists 1053) Unreleased : 1963 - That Boy Is My Boy (Kapp)
Biography :
The Charmettes, Brooklyn act, consisted of Clara Byrd, Mittie Ponder, and Betty Simmons were handled by writer/producer Kenny Young. In 1963 they recorded "Please Don't Kiss Me Again" For Kapp Records.
"Please Don't Kiss Me Again" reached #100 for a week in late 1963, but none of their follow-up records for Kapp and United Artists charted. This was the first hit song for Kenny Young, who also managed the band for a while. Kenny is best known for writing the songs "Under The Boardwalk", "Come Back & Shake Me", "Don't Go Into The Rain"...
Songs :
Please Don't Kiss Me Again What Is A Tear He's A Wise Guy
Oozi-Oozi-Ooh (Preacher Man) Stop The Wedding Sugar Boy
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