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

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1) aka The Cyclones (1) aka The Pharaos

Posted on June 12 2012 by dion1

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1) (Los Angeles)
aka The Cyclones (1) aka The Pharaos

Personnel :

Richard Berry (Lead)

Godoy Colbert (First Tenor)

Robert Harris (Second Tenor)

Noel Collins (Baritone)

Discography :

Ricky & The Pharaohs (1)
1956 - Teenager's Love Song / Watusi (Class 202)

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1)
1956 - Louie Louie / You Are My Sunshine (Flip 321)
1956 - Take the Key/ No Kissin' and A-Huggin' (Flip 318)
1957 - Louie Louie / Rock Rock Rock (Flip 321)
1957 - You're the Girl / You Look So Good (Flip 331)
1958 - Besame Mucho / Do I, Do I (Flip 339)
1959 - Have Love- Will Travel / No Room (Flip 349)
1960 - I'll Never Ever Love Again / Somewhere There's A Rainbow (Flip 352)
1961 - You Look So Good / You Are My Sunshine (Flip 360)

Trudy Williams bb The Pharaohs (1)
1958 - You’re My Boyfriend / A Foolish Little Girl (Flip 340)

The Cyclones (1)
1957 - My Dear / Do You Love Me (Flip 324)

The Pharaos
1960 - Heads Up, High Hopes Over You / The Tender Touch (Donna 1327)

Biography :

The Pharaohs were formed out of the Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, in 1954 by Godoy Colbert and two friends, Robert Harris, and Noel Collins. Richard Berry parted ways with Modern Records after frustations over songwriter royalties. Waiting for his Modern contract to expire, he signed with Max Feirtag's fledgling Flip label, but still seemed hesitant about a solo career. He used the Pharaohs for his new recordings on Flip, trying out a new, Latin influenced sound. Stacked away on the flip of the first Flip single by Richard Berry and the Pharaohs ("You Are My Sunshine", Flip 321) was a little ditty called "Louie Louie", a calypso-styled song that Berry had based on "El Loca Cha Cha" by Rene Touzet.

Richard Berry

It would be an exaggeration to say that "Louie Louie" went unnoticed at the time of its release in March 1957. It sold well enough to be reissued as the A-side, with "Rock Rock Rock" on the reverse, later in 1957. But his future wife Dorothy wanted an expensive wedding ring and Berry decided to sell the rights to "Louie Louie" and three other songs to Max Feirtag for $ 750. In 1958 Trudy Williams (of The Six Teens) recorded “A Foolish Little Girl” and “You're My Boyfriend”, backed The Pharaohs.

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1) aka The Cyclones (1) aka The Pharaos

Berry's recording career petered out in the late '50s, though he remained an active performer. In the early '60s, several Northwest bands seized upon "Louie Louie" as cover material, scoring sizable regional hits. But as was quite common at the time, they also assumed another name for a record on the same label. They chose the name the Cyclones for this release and the true identity of the group is one of the reasons why their coupling of My Dear / Do You Love Me is highly sought after.

Richard Berry

Finally, in 1963 the Kingsmen broke the song nationally, reaching # 2. In the decades since then, "Louie Louie" became one of the most oft-covered rock standards of all time; there probably exist well over 1,000 versions. After the departure of Berry from the group, Colbert and the Pharaohs cut one singles for the Donna (DelFi Subsidiary) Record Label under the name of The Pharaos (h?) , and more performing. It was soon after this that Colbert and the Pharaohs themselves decided to call it quits and disband.

Songs :
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

Ricky & The Pharaohs (1)


Teenager's Love Song                          Watusi

Richard Berry & The Pharaohs (1)


Louie Louie                 Have Love Will Travel               You Look So Good


Take the Key                   Rock Rock Rock        Somewhere There's A Rainbow


You Are My Sunshine               You're the Girl       No Kissin’ And A Huggin’


I’ll Never Ever Love Again         Besame Mucho              Do I, Do I, Do I


No Room                     I'll Never Ever Love Again

Trudy Williams bb The Pharaohs (1)

A Foolish Little Girl You’re My Boyfriend

The Cyclones (1)

My Dear Do You Love Me

The Pharaos

The Tender Touch Heads Up, High Hopes Over You

....

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The Beavers

Posted on June 10 2012 by dion1

The Beavers (Hollywood, Fl)

Personnel :

Warner Alfred Weidler

Walter Wolfgang Weidler

William George Weidler

Discography :

1958 - Sack Dress / Rocking At The Drive-in (Capitol 3956)
1958 - Low As I Can Be / Road to Happiness (Capitol 4015)

Biography :

Warner Weidler was one of the three Weidler Brothers who recorded as the Wilder Brothers and owned Odin Music (ASCAP). All three were ASCAP registered and wrote under their birth names, altho, confusingly, various record labels list them (the composers) as "Wilder". They have two release in 1958 on Capitol Records.

The Beavers

The Beavers with Phil Mac Lean on his KYW Bandstand TV Show & Rubbi Buckley

Songs :


Sack Dress                                    Rocking At The Drive-in


Low As I Can Be                              Road to Happiness

...

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The Titans aka The Vitamins

Posted on June 6 2012 by dion1

The Titans (Los Angeles)
aka The Vitamins

Personnel :

Charles Wright (First Tenor, Second Tenor & Baritone)

Sam Barnett (First Tenor, Second Tenor & Baritone)

Curtis McNair (Second Tenor & Baritone)

Alvin Branom (Tenor & Baritone)

Larry Greene (Baritone & Bass)

Discography :

The Titans
Singles :
1957 - So Hard To Laugh, So Easy To Cry / Rhythm And Blues (Vita 148)
1957 - G'win Home Calypso / Look What You're Doing Baby (Vita 158)
1957 - Sweet Peach / Free And Easy (Speciality 614)
1957 - Just A Little Lovin' / When The Sun Has Begun To Shine (Speciality 617)
1957 - Don't You Just Know It / Can It Be (Speciality 625)
1958 - Arlene / Love Is A Wonderful Thing (Speciality 632)
1959 - No Time / The Tootin' Tutor (Class 244)
1960 - Everybody Happy / What Have I Done ( Fidelity 3016)

Unreleased :
N/A - Deep Down (Speciality)
N/A - April In Paris (Speciality)
N/A - I Swear By All The Stars (Speciality)

The Vitamins
1972 - It's So Hard To Laugh, So Easy To Cry / Rhythm N' Blues (Vita 101/148)

Biography :

Los Angeles R&B group the Titans were formed in 1956 by bass Larry Green, an alumnus of East Coast acts including the Four Dots and the Heartbreakers -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile in the June 1977 issue of Yesterday's Memories -- Green relocated to Southern California in hopes of mounting a solo career, even contributing to a handful of Walt Disney soundtracks, but was so impressed by the caliber of talent working the club circuit that he opted to form a new combo instead.

First Tenor Charles Wright, Second Tenor Sam Barnett,Tenor / baritone Alvin Branom, and baritone Curtis McNair completed the lineup, who originally called themselves the Egyptians before adopting the Titans in honor of the U.S. Air Force's new Titan missile.After signing to the Vita label, the group issued its debut single "So Hard to Laugh, So Easy to Cry" in early 1957. The record went nowhere, and "G'wan Home Calypso" followed in the spring, earning the Titans a spot in the rock & roll B-movie Bop Girl Goes Calypso.

Upon moving to the Specialty label, the group resurfaced in the fall of 1957 with "Sweet Peach." They also backed Don & Dewey on the duo's "Just a Little Lovin'," but despite this additional exposure the Titans failed to break into the consumer consciousness, and after releasing a cover of Huey Smith & the Clowns' "Don't You Just Know It" to shrugs, Branom announced his resignation in early 1958.

The remaining Titans forged on as a quartet for their final Specialty session, "Arlene," and soon after their new manager Bob Gordon packaged the group together with fellow clients the Nighthawks, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Mikki Lynn to create The Harlem Nocturne Revue, a variety showcase that ran for two years at Lakewood, CA's Squire's Inn.

In January 1959 the Titans also issued a one-off single on the Class label titled "No Time." The Fidelity release "Everybody Happy" followed a little more than a year later. In the middle of 1960, McNair exited the lineup to care for his ailing father, and after a brief stint as a trio, the Titans split. Green later returned to the Squire's Inn as the "Singing Chef," cooking in a tuxedo and apron while singing to the restaurant's patrons. McNair later changed his name to Curtis Knight and assembled a backing band he dubbed the Squires.

In October 1965, he hired a dazzling young guitarist named Jimmy James, who cut several records with the group before mounting a solo career under his given name of Jimi Hendrix.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Titans/titans.html

Videos :

So Hard To Laugh So Easy To Cry

Songs :


Arlene                                       Free And Easy


So Hard To Laugh So Easy To Cry                  No Time


Sweet Peach                              What Have I Done

Love Is A Wonderful Thing

...

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The Four Joes

Posted on June 5 2012 by dion1

The Four Joes (Pontiac, MI)

Personnel :

Louis Tulianello

Kenny Davis

Peter Antos (Tenor)

Steve Antos (Baritone)

Discography :

1954 - In Your Loving Care / Hajji Baba (MGM 11857)
1954 - Oh, How i miss You Tonight / Slow down Baby (MGM 11911)
1955 - While You're Away / Impossible (Cha Cha) (MGM 12053)
1955 - Honey, My Little Honey / Annelise (Anna Lisa) (MGM 12147)
1956 - Sometimes / These Are The Things (I Remember) (MGM 12259)
1956 - My Heart Says "Thanks" To You (Trois Fois Merci) / Blues In The Night (MGM 12316)
1956 - Lifetime Of Happiness / Uh-Huh (Darl 1005 )
1956 - Please forget about me / It's me,It's me,It's me,My Love (Darl 1009)

Biography :

During his school years Kenny Davis met Pete and Steve Antos who were also vocally talented. They formed a group called Two Sharps and a Natural. They refined their craft and through their high school years they performed the music of the times in many local venues.

Their style was soft and smooth harmony and brought them much success as showmen. Upon graduating from Pontiac High School, Hollywood beckoned. Time there was well spent as they met celebrities and stars including Bing Crosby and enjoyed life-changing experiences.

Peter Antos

As the Korean War began, they enlisted. Aside from performing their military duties of which Kenny was the platoon leader, they were called upon to entertain troops while stationed in Korea and Japan. The name of the group changed to the Four Joes [GI Joes] as the group expanded to include accordionist, Lou Tulianello. The highlight of their tour of duty was performing with Eddie Fisher who was a huge star at the time and even became honorary president of the Four Joes fan club. The act was a combination of comedy and show material.

After three years of enlistment was over, the popularity of the Four Joes soared as the biggest nightclubs and music halls opened their doors to them in New York, Las Vegas .Coca Cola Hour show on television gave them even more celebrity. status. They cut over a dozen records and also appeared with Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Red Buttons, Milton Berle, Arthur Godfrey and Pearl Bailey.

Songs :

Sometimes Uh-Huh

My Heart Says "Thanks" To You (Trois Fois Merci) / Blues In The Night

These Are The Things I Remember Lifetime Of Happiness

...

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The Rovers aka The Five Rovers

Posted on June 3 2012 by dion1

The Rovers aka The Five Rovers

The Rovers (Sacramento, Calif.)
aka The Five Rovers

Personnel :

Oliver "Sunny" Stevenson (Lead)

Jay Payton (Tenor)

Hank Swarn (Baritone)

Billy Ray Williams (Bass)

Ralph Helms (High Tenor)

Discography :

The Rovers
1954 - Ichi-Bon Tami Dachi / Why-Ohh (Music City 750/Capitol 3078)  
1955 - Salute To Johnny Ace /Jadda (Music City All Stars) (Music City 780)  
1955 - Whole Lot Of Love / Tell Me Darling (The Gaylarks) (Music City 792)

The Five Rovers
1956 - Down To The Sea / Change Your Mind (Music City 798)

Biography :

The Rovers formed in 1954, and They recorded for Music City as both the rovers and The Five Rovers. Payton was about ten years older than the others.

By the middle of 1954, they'd added high tenor Ralph Helms to the group. Another student at Grant Union, he was one of those guys who just hung around until one day you noticed he was part of the group. Most of the songs that the Rovers practiced were either by the Clovers or tunes that they'd written themselves. All the tunes that they ended up recording were original songs.

"Ichi-Bon Tami Dachi" means number one girlfriends. Payton wrote the song based on his time in the service in Japan. Just after recording their one disc as the Rovers for Music city, it was leased out to Capitol records for greater distribution as sales began to increase.

When their last disc for Music city was released, they were on their way to Breaking up.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Rovers/rovers.html

Songs :

The Rovers

Ichi-Bon Tami Dachi                          Salute To Johnny Ace


Whole Lot Of Love                            Why-Ohh

The Five Rovers

Change Your Mind Down To The Sea

...

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The Cheers

Posted on June 1 2012 by dion1

The Cheers (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Bert Convy

Gil Garfield

Sue Allen

Discography :

The Cheers
1954 - Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin') / Arivederci (Capitol 14189)
1955 - Bernie's Tune / Whadaya Want? (Capitol 14248)
1955 - Blueberries / Can't We Be More Than Friends (Capitol 14280)
1955 - I Must Be Dreaming / Fancy Meeting You Here (Capitol 14337)
1955 - Black Denim Trousers And .../ Some Night In Alaska (Capitol 14377)
1956 - Chicken / Don't Do Anything (Capitol 14561)
1956 - Que Pasa Muchacha / Heaven On Earth (Bert Convy) (Capitol 14601)
1957 - Chug Chug Toot Toot / Big Feet (Mercury 71083)

Bert Convy & The Cheers
1957 - Two Hearts / You never have time (Mercury 71100)

Biography :

The Cheers were a rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the mid 1950s starting with "(Bazoom') I Need Your Lovin'", which hit number fifteen on the U.S. charts in 1954. This was one of the first hits written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller to chart on the Pop charts in the United States, and was one of the first rock and roll hits by a white group (after The Crew Cuts and Bill Haley and the Comets).

With Buddy Bregman (musical arranger, record producer and composer)

The following year, they followed it up with "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots", a song about a wild-living leather-jacketed motorcyclist, which went to number six on the charts. "Black Denim Trousers" was covered for the French market by none other than Edith Piaf, as "L'Homme A La Moto".

With Buddy Bregman

Bert Convy,Born Bernard Whalen Convy, was the lead singers of the Cheers. The Cheers featured Bert Convy, Gil Garfield and Sue Allen. The songwriting Team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller used the group to sing demo records that Jerry and Mike had written. All five A-sides of their Capitol singles are Leiber-Stoller compositions and some of the B-sides too.

After recording two more singles in 1957 for Mercury, the Cheers broke up towards the end of that year. Convy decided to become an actor and later became a very popular television personality, playing in countless TV shows and hosting his own long-running show "Tattletales".

Bert, Sue and Buddy listening to the comments of Lee Gillette (engineer at Capitol Recording Studios)

He kept making occasional solo records, like the monster novelties "The Monster's Hop"/"The Gorilla" on Contender Records. At the end of "The Gorilla", the Purple People Eater ends up being eaten by a gorilla. The late 70s and early 80s brought continued success to Mr. Convy, including a nomination for an Emmy Award. In 1990, Bert became ill with a brain tumor and passed away on July 15, 1991, aged 57.
http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/bert_convy.htm
http://www.buddybregman.com/photos1.html

Songs :


Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin')     Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots


Chicken                                       Whadaya Want?


Chug Chug Toot Toot                           Some Night In Alaska

Big Feet

...

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The Diadems aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

Posted on May 31 2012 by dion1

The Diadems aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

The Diadems (Pittsburgh, Pa)
aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

Personnel :

Cleveland "Butch" Martin (Lead)

Earl Thompson (First Tenor)

Robert Thompson (Second Tenor)

Jerry Hill (Baritone)

Jimmy Mitchell (Bass)

Discography :

The Diadems
1961 - What More Is There To Say / Ala Vevo (LaVere 187)
1963 - Why Don't You Believe Me? / Yes I Love You Baby (Star 514)
1964 - I'll Do Anything / Goodnight Irene (Goldie 715)

Jerry Hilton & The Diadems
1964 - Dancing On Moonbeams / My Little Darling (Goodie 207)

The Torches
1965 - Darn Your Love / No I Won't (Ring-O 302)

The Rhythm Rascals
1965 - Why Do You Have To Go / Girl By My Side (Sonic 117)

Biography :

The Diadems got together as a gang of ten Homewood pre-teens in 1953, organized by Cleveland "Butch" Martin (who was blind, though it never hindered his ability to sing or write a song) and Earl Thompson. They called themselves the E l Moroccos.In 1956, the core of the act formed up. Martin was the lead, and was backed by Earl Thompson (first tenor), Jerry Hill (baritone), Alvin Allsberry, Gerald Johnson and Arlene Gore. Allsberry and Johnson left in 1958, and Gore in 1959. They were replaced in the lineup by bass Jimmy Mitchell and Earl's brother Robert, a second tenor that was singing with the LaRells. The revamped group renamed themselves the Countdowns.

They didn't find any angel to back them in Pittsburgh as far as a recording deal went, so they motored to the Big Apple in 1960 and met up with Teacho Wiltshire, of the Tin Pan Alley label. They did a demo of a Top Notes song called "Shake It Up Baby," and Wiltshire wanted them to stay in NYC to record it. But the boys were grown up now, and headed back to Pittsburgh, where their girls were.

Can't beat that home cookin'! They became the Diadems, and recorded "What More Is There To Say" b/w "Ala Vevo" in 1961 on LaVerve #187. Wiltshire didn't forget about them. He called and asked them to come back to New York to cover "Shake It Up Baby," but they were under contract to LaVerve and passed. The Isley Brothers didn't; they recorded the tune as "Twist And Shout." They were that close.

The Diadems aka The Torches aka The Rhythm Rascals

The following year, they signed on with Joe Averbach's Fee Bee label, and released some wax for his affiliates. "Why Don't You Believe Me?" b/w "Yes I Love You Baby," (Star #514), written by the group, was released in 1963, and "Dancing On Moonbeams" b/w "My Little Darling," was issued on Goodie #207 in 1964, with Jerry Hilton on lead.The Diadems quickly followed with the doo-wop Martin-Thompson song "I'll Do Anything" b/w "Goodnight Irene" (Goldie #715) the same year. Buddy Sharpe and the Shakers, local rockabilly legends, provided the musical track behind them. That was the last hurrah for the Diadems. Jimmy Mitchell took ill, and the group disbanded for a bit. They came back as the Torches in 1965, and became the Rhythm Rascals in 1966,
http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.fr/search/label/diadems

Songs :

The Diadems

What More Is There To Say               Why Don't You Believe Me


I'll Do Anything                      Yes I Love You Baby

Goodnight Irene Ala Vevo

Jerry Hilton & The Diadems

My Little Darling Dancing On Moonbeams

The Torches

Darn Your Love No I Won't

The Rhythm Rascals

Why Do You Have To GoGirl By My Side

...

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The Starfires (1)

Posted on May 27 2012 by dion1

The Starfires (1) (Washington, D.C.)

Personnel :

James Leon Diggs

Richard Dunbar

Discography :

1958 - I Have Someone / Three Roses (Decca 30730) 
1959 - Tomorrow / Love Is Here To Stay (Decca 30916)

Biography :

The Starfires formed while in high school in Washington, D.C., but didn't record until after graduation. James Leon Diggs, Richard Dunbar, and unknown members caught a break, or so they thought, when they landed a contract with Decca Records.

Lauded around the District area, now they could add recording artists to their resume. "I Have Someone" b/w "Three Roses" in 1958 caught some hometown love, but it was nothing special and hardly improved the quality of gigs they were doing. Decca stuck with them for one more release, but "Love Is Here to Stay" b/w "Tomorrow," didn't fly either, and the group slowly disbanded to pursue other avenues.

the Knight Brothers

Diggs joined the Carltons for a few releases on Argo Records, a subsidiary of Chess; while still with the Carltons, he later reunited with Dunbar to form the Knight Brothers for a series of singles on Checker and Mercury records that resulted in one lone but glorious hit, "Temptation Bout to Get Me," in 1965.
Andrew Hamilton, Rovi

Songs :

I Have Someone Love Is Here To Stay

Tomorrow Three Roses

...

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The Catalinas (1) aka The Buddies (6)

Posted on May 26 2012 by dion1

The Catalinas (1) (New Haven, CT.)
aka The Buddies (6)

Personnel :

Johnny Luth

Jimmy Colwell

Artie DeNicholas

Johnny Kunz

Tommy Juliana

Discography :

The Catalinas (1)

Singles :
1958 - Castle Of Love / Give Me Your Love (Little 811/812 / Jayne 502)
1973 - Why do fools fall in love / I'm so tired (Jayne 500)
1973 - Castle of love / The Stars tonight (Jayne 501)
1973 - I love you / Give me your love (Jayne 502)
1973 - Until next year / Litterbubug (Jayne 503)
1973 - Back in my arms / Blue Velvet (Jayne 504)

Unreleased :
Little Star - I Wonder Why - Sometimes - Whispering Bells - In the Still of the Night - Story Untold - Come Go With Me - Tiny Clouds - Tell me Why - Moon out Tonight - One Summer Night - Hushabye - Remember Then - Glory Of Love - Little Girl of mine - Remember When - Tonight I Fell in Love - Wonderfull Girl

The Buddies (6)
1959 - Castle Of Love / Give Me Your Love (Okey 7123)

Biography :

This group was started by the two people who started the Van Dykes from New Haven, Ct. The Catalinas were started in 1957, by Art Denicholas and Tommy Juliana, were school chums at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven.

Their first record was on Little Records in NYC.... " Give Me Your Love" backed with "Castle of Love", both written by Art and Tommy. Later re-released as by The Buddies on Okeh Records. They did many live shows and tours, til art had to go into the Army in 1961, where he entertained with the USO in Germany for two years. When his tour of duty was over, he arrived home to New Haven, to find that his parent's house was decorated with a big sign, made by his old friend Tommy, who let Art know.....we gotta start up a new group , thus the Van Dykes were born in 1963.. The Van Dykes were the only band in New Haven to have three #1 singles in a row. WAVZ 1300am and WNHC 1340am , both am stationsand the general public loved the Van Dykes! ....yes New Haven was home to the Five Satins, but they only had one #1....plus a string of singles, but no other number ones.
Bobby Roche

Songs :


Castle Of Love                                 Give Me Your Love


I'm so tired          Little Star / Tiny Clouds      I Wonder Why / Story Untold


Sometimes / Come Go With Me    Whispering Bells / In the Still of the Night     Tell me Why / Moon out Tonight


One Summer Night / Hushabye      Remember Then / Glory Of Love


Little Girl of mine / Remember When Tonight I Fell in Love / Wonderfull Girl

...

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The Corvettes (4) aka The Ivy Tones aka The Corvets (2)

Posted on May 25 2012 by dion1

The Ivy Tones : Terry, Robert "Bird" Parks, Lenny brook,James "Pee Wee" Thomas & John Ivey

The Ivy Tones (Philadelphia, PA)
aka The Corvets (2) aka The Corvettes (4)

Personnel :

John Ivey (Lead)

James Green (Tenor & Second Lead)

James "Pee Wee" Thomas (Tenor)

Joseph Moody (Bass)

Discography :

The Ivy Tones
Singles :
1958 - Oo-Wee Baby / Each Time (Red Top 105)
Unreleased :
1958 - My Confession (Red Top)
1958 - Rock & Roll Daddy (Red Top)

The Corvets (2)
Singles :
1959 - I'm pleading / Let's Do The Pony (Sure 1003)
1959 - Voodoo Baby / I Want To Know Why (Tone Craft 1009)
Unreleased :
1959 - I'll Get You Yet (Sure )

The Corvettes (4)
1960 - When You're In Love / Pointed Toe Shoes (Val-Ue 212)

Biography :

John Ivey & James "Pee Wee" Thomas lived in the same neighborhood, 15th & Jefferson Streets, in North Phillly. The Ivy Tones consisted of James "Pee Wee" Thomas, John Ivey, James Green, William Brown & Robert "Bird" Parks (recruited by early member Lenny Brock). Thomas, Ivey & Green started out as a gospel group know as the Joylands with two other guys : Howard Tate & Willima Bright. The Ivy Tones traipsed to the Reco-Art Studio on 12th Street in Center City Waxing "Oo-Wee Baby", "Rock & Roll Daddy", "Each Time" and "My Confession". Founded in 1957, Red Top and its related labels gave Philadelphia another outlet for RnB and Vocal Group recordings.

The Ivy Tones : John Ivey, Terry, Robert "Bird" Parks, Lenny brook & James "Pee Wee" Thomas

Philadelphia in 1957 was the hotbed city for music. With recordings on Red Top, Hunt and later Jalynne and other labels for National and local releases, Red Top became a haven for local talent to cut wax and seek the National Hit. In 1958, "Each Time" b/w Oo-Wee Baby was released on Red Top 105. The record, the group's only release, picked up some play in Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and garnered a distribution deal for Red Top with Liberty. With William Brown & Robert "Bird" Parks departed, and with new member, The Ivy Tones Changed their name to the Corvets and released "I'm pleading" b/w "Let's Do The Pony" for a new company, Sure Records owned by Len Rosen.

The Corvettes (4) : Joe Moody, Robert "Bird" Parks, James "Pee Wee" Thomas & John Ivey

Their Next Waxing "Voodoo Baby" and "I Want To Know Why " was released on Tone-Craft Records. "Voodoo Baby" was a splendid Rockballad penned by James Green. The Corvets crooned "Voodoo Baby" At the Cotton Club opening for the DreamLovers. In 1960, a last singles was released for Val-Ue Records under the name of the Corvettes.

Songs :

The Ivy Tones

Oo-Wee Baby Each Time

The Corvettes (4)

When You're In Love

The Corvets (2)

I Want To Know Why Let's Do The Pony 

…. 

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