1954 - Two Loves Have I / Bring My Baby Back (Gee 12)
Biography :
Bill "Bass" Gordon and His Colonials "Two Loves Have I" Served as one of the very first singles to be issued on George Goldner’s Gee Label in October 1954, and saw the label with a very uncommon yellow and green color format.
Bill Gordon, is the owner of Teenage Records. He recorded The isley Brothers and issued their first single, the doo wop, tenor-led ballad “The Angels Cried.”
The picture left to right: Junior, Marty, Greg Shannon, Willie, Greg Patterson, Gerry(in back), and Bob.
The Pharaohs (5) (Pittsburgh) Aka The Pharoh's
Personnel :
Dave Detillo
Ron "Junior" Leone
Bob Burnett
Willie McGee
Discography :
1961 - Betty / (no flip side) (Unreleased) 1961 - Come to Me / If I Had the Power (Pharaohs)
Biography :
The Pharaohs were originated in mid-October, 1961, by Bob Burnett and Dave Detillo, Juniors at Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh. They wanted to create a mixed race singing group that would shake up the industry. The other members are Jr. Leone, and Willie McGee. Their first record was "Oh Betty", which received numerous plays on Pittsburgh radio stations. This song was the pick of the week on WZUM and also took off on WAMO. They toured with the legendary Porky Chedwick for a couple of weeks performing our hit song. Later the Pharaohs recorded If I Had The Power with the group name being spelled Pharohs and some members changing. Later members were Stanford Whiting (who joined right after they recorded "Oh Betty), and Greg Patterson (who wrote "If I Had The Power").
Porky Chedwick
Their managers were James Harvey, Joe Talarico, and Bob Mack a huge Pittsburgh promoter. They recorded a major album that was to be released, but Mack's other group, Tommy James and the Shondel's had their single released first. The group disbanded without the album (which was really good) never being released after Mack spent a lot of money on it. Ron "Junior" Leone went on to "tommy james and the shondells""The only group in Pittsburgh that was known better than us was the guys who did "Blue Moon". I truely felt that if our record would have been released 1st, we would have taken off. We were the mixed group with the white lead singer, who sounded like a black guy and made girls of all races scream. " Bob Burnett
1959 - Let's Be Sweethearts Again / You And Your Fellow (Fernwood 129) 1959 - Crying Over You / Down In The Alley (Mid South 1500) 1963 - Darlin / How A Woman Does Her Man (Goldwax 101/910) 1963 - The Side Wind / So Hard To Get Along(Goldwax 105/ABC 10560)
Biography :
The Lyrics were all buddies from the Orange Mound neighborrhood : La vern Edwards, Fonnie Harley, William Glenn, Cornethers "Kirk" Kirkwood and Percy Millen. Kirkwood organized, Managed and wrote much of the Lyrics' material. The Lyrics won first prize in a local talent contest.
Early Fernwood Studio
When the group discovered they had something going for them they found a manager, WLOK Jock Rubin Washington. Kirkwood Brought the Lyrics to the attention of Stax Records. The Group attented at least one taping session at Stax, they recorded a lot of songs, but ever came out.
Kirkwood, Glenn, Edwards, Harley Percy Millen
Kirkwood took the Tape straight to Ronald 'Slim' Wallace at Fernwood records. Fernwood chose to issue two songs from the Stax Tape. Stax choose to create the Mid South subsidiary and put out the Lyrics stunning "Crying over you"/"Down in the Alley". Quinton Claunch formed with Rudolph V. "Doc" Russell on August 11, 1964 Goldwax Records. In 1963, the group had the first ever R&B release by Claunch and Russell, Darlin (Goldwax 101). Their second single for the label was picked up by ABC, but didn't do much. At that point, Quinton Claunch and Doc Russell decided to cut Percy as a solo artist.
(Top) Reggie Smith, (Middle) Harold Jones, Johnny Jones, Howard Pitman, (Bottom) Kenneth Childers
The Maples (Chicago)
Personnel :
Kenneth Childers (Lead)
Johnny Jones
Albert Hunter
Andrew Smith
Discography :
1955 - I Must Forget You / 99 Guys (Inst.) (Blue Lake 111)
Biography :
On the Al Benson's Blue Lake label, a subsidiary of Parrot Records, The Maples were a one-time ad hoc gathering of vocal group singers who came together in November 1954. The Five Chances started working with singer Kenneth Childers, who was paying for his own sessions to get on record. Reggie Smith and Howard Pitman recalled the Five Chances (using the name Maples) making a recording with Childers. But it never got that far according to Johnny "Chubby" Jones (who was the lead singer for the Five Chances at the time).
The Five Chances Al Benson
Rather, Jones arranged to back Childers at the recording session with an ad hoc group consisting of himself, Albert Hunter (from the Clouds), and Andrew Smith (from the Fasinoles). The record was "I Must Forget You" b/w "99 Guys" and the group was dubbed the Maples. Like many Benson-produced jump sides, "99 Guys" gets a superb instrumental break courtesy of Von Freeman on one of the tenor saxophonist's first recordings. http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/mustforg.htm
The Fantastics (1) Singles : 1959 - There goes my love / Millionaire Hobo（RCA 7572） 1959 - I got a zero / This is my wedding day（RCA 7664） 1961 - Dancing doll / I told you once（UA 309） Unreleased : 1959 - Believe in me (RCA) 1959 - My girl (RCA) 1959 - Angie Lee (RCA) 1959 - Drum Beat (RCA) 1960 - My Buddy's girl (Princeton)
The Keynoters (2) 1962 - Come Back Home / I Wanna Know Who (Keynote 504)
Biography :
The Pharoes consisted of William “Sonny” Forrest (lead), Bill Medley (first tenor), someone remembered only as JW (second tenor), Fred Warner (baritone) and Wilbert “Larry” Lawrence, Jr. (bass). The Pharoes recorded “Rocket 88” and “Bye Bye Baby” for Melba Records on September 7, 1956 but it was not released. The Pharaohs underwent some personnel changes. JW left the group and was replaced by James “Billy” Sutton & Billy Medley started missing rehearsals so Sammy Strain took Billy’s place. In addition to personnel changes, the group toyed with different names. They were the Holidays for a short time and then became the Passions. The Passions auditioned for a number of record companies.Auditioning for RCA-Victor producer Charlie Grean, the Passions eventually signed with RCA- Victor Records around May, 1959.
The Passions / Fantastics
The group went into the studio and recorded four songs on May 21, 1959: “Drum Beat”, “There Goes My Love”,“This Is My Wedding Day” and “Millionaire Hobo” . Just prior to the release of “There Goes My Love,” RCA-Victor got wind of another group called the Passions, and forced their group to find a new name, the Fantastics. The Fantastics were called back into the RCA studios on October 20, 1959 for a second recording session. They recorded “I Got A Zero,” “Angie Lee,” “My Girls,” and “Believe In Me”. In late 1960, Sammy Strain left the Fantastics to hang out with Richard Barrett and sing with the Impacts.
Sonny Forrest, Larry Lawrence, Fred Warner, Sammy Strain, James Sutton
The Fantastics continued singing after Sammy Strain left the group. They acquired a new first tenor named Nick Nicholson. They continued singing as the Fantastics for the next couple years. Eric Bernay the owner of A-1 Records decided to rename the group the Keynoters and record them on his Keynote label. Keynote had been an important indie label for jazz folk and Gospel music in the 1940’s The Keynoters recorded “I Wanna Know Who” backed with “Come Back Home” for Keynote Records. “I Wanna Know Who” . The group soon went back to being the Fantastics.
The Fantastics The V.I.P.S
Billy Sutton left the group and was replaced for a short time by Danny Hicks of the Continentals. In 1964, Larry Lawrence, Fred Warner and Nick Nicholson formed the V.I.P.’s, along with Horace Brooks from the Impacts and Blue Chips and a female singer, Jackie Carter. They used to rehearse at the Brill Building on Broadway and the producer’s name was Bill Giant who lived in Matawan, New Jersey. The V.I.P.’s recorded three records for Bigtop Records. http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/
The Sunbeams (2) (Tacoma, Washington) The Sawyer Sisters aka The Soo Sisters
Personnel :
Katie Sauer
Susie Sauer
Joanie Sauer
Discography :
The Sunbeams (2) 1955 - I'm Gonna Go Home To Mama / Blue Mountain Waltz (Dot 1271) 1956 - Wrap It Up And Save It / How About It (Dot 1280)
The Soo Sisters 1956 - Three Hearts Later / My World (chic 1005)
The Sawyer Sisters 1959 - Here I Am / Rock-a Boogie Babies (Dynasty 621)
Biography :
This vocal trio is composed by three sisters from Tacoma, Katie, Susie and Joanie Sauer. It is under the name of the Sauer Sisters that they perform locally and begin to attract crowds. In mid-1955, the girls signed a recording contract with Dot Records. Two singles will be released by the Label in October 1955 and in Mars 1956 under the name of the Sunbeams. in December 1956, a new single released By Chic Records from Georgia. They still see their artist name change : The Soo Sisters
In June 1959 Dynasty Records, the new label headed by Lee Palmer released the last single of the trio under The Sawyer Sisters with "Here I Am" and "Rock A Boogie Babies". Between 1961 and 1963, the Sawyer Sisters appeared at Showboat, New Frontier, Flamingo and Riviera Hotels...
1962 - If I Should Lose You / Where There’s a Will (Buccaneer 502)
Biography :
The Caprees were Maurice Tony Gray, Willie “Butch” Johnson, Robert “Earl” Johnson and Charles “Chuck” Guy. Jobie linked them with Bob McRee, owner of the same studio that hosted The Vels’ session. McRee called in Tim Whitsett to provide the backing band for “If I Should Lose You” and “Where There’s a Will”. Released on McRee’s Buccaneer label, the disc had regional success. Later, in 1966, the group traveled to Detroit and was signed to Golden World by producer Don Davis. Changing their name to The Holidays, their debut single (“I’ll Love You Forever”) was a hit. Coincidentally, Don later joined Stax Records in Memphis, and hired Tim Whitsett to run the music publishing division East/Memphis Music, proving that it is indeed a small world.
Three belles of Bell Buckle known as the Tri-Tones. made some mighty fine music for several years. Individually they are Sandra Cathey, Emily Gilmore, and Marcia Manley. All claim the romantic age of 18 In 1959. They were invited to New York to sing on one of the Sunday Nite variety/talent shows. Besides friendship and money, music has brought the Tri-Tones national fame.
Their biggest achievement was the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout Show. They were declared the winners and appeared on Arthur Godfrey's daytime show for a week. In 1959, Emily Gilmore join Delores Dinning, Darrell McCall and Hurshel Wigintin to form The Little Dippers.
The Palisades (4) (Brooklyn, New-York) aka The Cookies aka The Stepping Stones aka The Cinderellas (3) aka The Honey Bees (2)
Personnel :
Dorothy Jones (Lead Soprano)
Earl Jean McCrae (Lead Alto)
Margaret Ross (Lead Soprano)
Discography :
1963 - Make The Night A Little Longer / Heaven Is Being With You (Chairman 4401)
Biography :
When Darlene and Margie left the Cookies to join Ray Charles' backing group the Raelettes in 1958, Darlene's younger sister Earl-Jean joined along with Margaret Ross. It was this trio with Dorothy Jones that found itself in New York working for Dimension Records during the early 1960s.
Don Kirshner was involved in Dimension Records and he had other record labels. The first was Chairman Records, a subsidiary of London Records. The Cookies released a single on this Label under the name of The Palisades.
The trio also released several recordings under pseudonyms, mostly with Margaret Ross on lead. Their alter egos on recordings were with The Palisades : The Stepping Stones, The Cinderellas and The Honey Bees.
Songs :
Make The Night A Little Longer Heaven Is Being With You
Singles : 1959 - Do you want my love / Celebrity Party (Skyline 501) 1959 - Part Of You / Kingdom Of Love (Skyline 502) 1960 - Stolen Angel / Keep Laughin' (Ribbon 6905/6910) 1960 - Lost love / Only Then (Ribbon 6911) 1961 - Cindy Oh Cindy / Mama's little Baby (FTP 409) 1961 - Lonely Bluebird / Kingdom of love (FTP 415) 1961 - On Again Off Again Love / Sometimes I Wonder (FTP 418) 1962 - Memories / Beggin' For Your Love (Parkway 841) 1963 - Letter From My Baby / Welcome Me (Comet 2153) 1963 - Love And Tenderly / It's Gonna Happen Soon (Comet 2161)
Unreleased : 1959 - Teenage Love (Skyline) 195x - Life
Biography :
The Scott Brothers sometimes Scott Bros. that recorded on Skyline, Comet, FTP, Parkway and Ribbon records are in no way related to the Chicago Scott Bros. who recorded for USA, Smash, Zachron, and Toddlin' Town records in the late '60s.
The Scott Brothers was a "family affair," consisting of Three Brothers, Horace, Warren and Amos Scott with their uncle Adolphus Scott. They recorded mainly for Jerry Field's labels in New York But they were originally from The D.C. Area.
Horace and Warren were the main songwriters, and wrote a few songs for other artists. The Scott Bros. had a handful of singles in the early 1960s/late 1950s, but only "Stolen Angel" managed to register on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . The 1963 singles were on Comet, a short-lived label distributed by Ember and produced by Jerry Field....
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