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

The Utopians (2)

Posted on August 4 2023 by dion1

Wallace & Walter Scott

The Utopians (2) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Jesse Godfred James (Lead)

Carl Gilbert (Tenor)

Wallace Scott

Walter Scott

Discography :

1962 - Dutch Treat / Ain't No Such Thing (Imperial 5861)
1962 - Along My Lonely Way / Hurry To Your Date (Imperial 5876)
1963 - Let Love Come Later / Opera Vs. The Blues (Imperial 5921

Biography :

This Los Angeles group contained two future members of The Whispers, the Scott brothers, identical twins Wallace (a/k/a "Scotty") and Walter, both from Compton, CA. The other two members were Jesse Godfred James and Carl Gilbert. James was the leader, was responsible for the group's name and got them connected to Kent Harris, an L.A. area singer ("Boogaloo" on Crest), who connected them to producer Eddy Ray of Imperial. The group had three releases. All were on Imperial: two in 1962 & one in 1963. They broke up in 1963, the Scott brothers went on to form the Whispers. At about the same time, Jesse Godfred James and Carl Gilbert formed the Incredibles, together with Waymon Cal, Jean Smith and Alda Edward. James dropped out of that group and began to work with Brenda Holloway.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Dutch Treat                                  Ain't No Such Thing


Along My Lonely Way                   Hurry To Your Date


Let Love Come Later                            Opera Vs. The Blues

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Gary Haines & The Five Sequins

Posted on July 31 2023 by dion1

Gary Haines & The Five Sequins

Gary Haines & The Five Sequins (Marine City, Michigan)

Personnel : 

Gary Haines (Lead)

Al Quatrine

Albert Alagna

 Discography :

1961 - Tse Tse Fly / Another Girl Like You (Kapp 383) 

  Biography :

Gary Haines had been singing before audiences since he was 3 years old with his Mom Edith as his first accompanist. As a child, he sang in churches and camp meetings all over the state of Michigan. He had grown up in the Detroit Bethel Church of the Nazarene, living with his mother and brother in the home of his grandparents. His interest and development with music continued as he honed his skill as a young musician. Early on, he became enamored with the swing music of the day and began experimenting with its rhythms and sounds. As a result, he organized his own group called "Gary Haines and The Sequins," a five-member band of singers and musicians that soon started to get radio play along with the demand to perform in high school dances and eventually clubs.

Gary Haines & The Five Sequins
Gary Haines

In 1961, they recorded "Tse Tse Fly" b/w "Another Girl Like You" released by Kapp Records. After the Sequins disbanded, Gary continued to sing solo in some of the best nightclubs in Detroit, and from all appearances, was embarking on a promising career. For the next 11 years, he enjoyed increasing fame and the so-called "good" life in a city that demanded the best by way of talent.

Songs :

Tse Tse Fly Another Girl Like You

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The Preludes

Posted on July 28 2023 by dion1

The Preludes
clockwise from top left: Gene Antonio, Tony Freda, Ralph Conti, Emanuele Alfano & Charles Sousa.

The Preludes (Newark, NJ)

Personnel :

Emanuele Alfano

Gene Antonio

Tony Freda

Ralph Conti

Charles Sousa

Biography :

Emanuele Alfano beginning with the Italian American Feast Bands while still in high school in Jersey City. He was the lead singer in a variety of musical groups, including The Preludes from West Side High School. The Preludes were composed by Gene Antonio , Tony Freda , Ralph Conti , Emanuele Alfano & Charles Sousa. They perform locally but will never have the opportunity to record their music.

...

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The Sierras (3)

Posted on July 20 2023 by dion1

The Sierras (3)

The Sierras (3) (Brooklyn, NY)

Personnel :

Cassandra Dunlop (Lead)

Larry Marshall

Algie Hough

William Barber (Bass)

Lawrence Traynor

Discography :

1963 - I'll Believe It When I See It / I Should Have Loved You (Goldisc G4)

Discography :

Respected actor and singer Larry Marshall and his friend Algie Hough from Brooklyn sang very briefly with the The DellChords who backed David Campanella. They were 15 years old. For several years David Campanella was in trouble with the law. He was a member of the street gang the Chaplains, and he was convicted for disorderly conduct and burglary. In 1960, Larry & Algie formed another group called The Sierras with two other members from the neighborhood, a female vocalist, Cassandra Dunlop, Preston Green singing baritone and Bass Melvin Wady,. After a few low grade gigs, they finally landed a manager, Joe D’Angelo! So, over the course of three years they did twenty three auditions. After so many years of trying the group decided to part ways with each other, but about a year later Joe called Algie, and said he’d gotten them a record deal, a record deal with George Goldner, the man who recorded, Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. So, Larry and Algie start calling on a few folks they know. A bass, William Barber, Lawrence Traynor, a white guy, and Cassandra Dunlop. They go downtown to 1650 B’way to rehearsal, and find out that they not going to record the material that they been doing, but two songs written by songwriter, Joe Simmons, and by their manager. They recorded "I'll Believe It When I See It" b/w "I Should Have Loved You" released by Goldisc owned by George Goldner. "I'll Believe It When I See It" made #22 in Cleveland and #23 in Chicago but didn't chart in New York.

Songs :

I'll Believe It When I See It I Should Have Loved You

...

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The Agendas

Posted on July 16 2023 by dion1

The Agendas
Shellie Resnick, Ronnie Davis, Burt DuBois and Joe Garcia

The Agendas (Miami, Florida)

Personnel:

Ronnie Davis (Lead Vocal)

Burt DuBois (Vocal/Guitar)

Joe Garci (Bass/Vocal)

Shellie Resnick (Drums)

Discography :

Unreleased :
1964 - You Can Fall in Love
1964 - Pennies From Heaven
1964 - Whispering Bells
1964 - Don't Blame Me

Biography :

The Agendas were a popular vocal and instrumental group in Miami in the 1960's composed by Ronnie Davis (Lead Vocal), Burt DuBois (Vocal/Guitar), Joe Garci(Bass/Vocal) and Shellie Resnick (Drums). For several years, they played everywhere in South Florida and they recorded four songs at Criteria Studios, North Miami 12/17/64.

Songs :


You Can Fall in Love                     Pennies From Heaven


Whispering Bells                       Don't Blame Me

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The Four Coachmen (2)

Posted on July 8 2023 by dion1

The Four Coachmen (2)

The Four Coachmen (2) (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Ed Brennan

Paul Messier

Dick Jorgenson

Dave Delaney

Discography :

1959 - Nothing But Love, Love, Love / If You Believe (Castle 507)
1959 - That Thing Called A Girl / Wintertime (Adonis 102)
1960 - Shalom / Swamp Legend (Adonis 106/ Stellar 712 / Dot 16297)

Biography :

Vocal group from New Jersey composed by Ed Brennan, Paul Messier, Dick Jorgenson and Dave Delaney. Their first record was released by Castle Records in Boonton, New Jersey. The same year, Joe Gottfried, formerly general manager of Castle Records, has formed Adonis Records, together with Ivan Ellis and Sylvan Epstien, two business execs. The new company — headquartering at 200 W. 57 St., has signed the Four Coachmen for their next release.

The Four Coachmen (2)

When their second record was released in 1959, "Wintertime" got a fair amount of local play in the New York/New Jersey radio market that winter. In 1960 {April 11th} the Four Coachmen performed "Swamp Legend" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV weekday afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'... The month before in March of 1960 Adonis Records released their "Shalom", b/w "Swamp Legend", neither side made Billboard's Top 100 chart...

The Four Coachmen (2)

The following year in early 1961 Stellar Records re-released the record, this time with "Swamp Legend" as the A-side and "Shamon" as the B-side, still no Top 100 entry. Then in November of 1961 Dot Records gave it a try and released the record, but still no success on the charts... This Four Coachmen are not related with the four Coachmen aka The Banners on MGM.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Nothing But Love, Love, Love                    If You Believe


That Thing Called A Girl                                Wintertime


Swamp Legend                                          Shalom

...

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The Themes (1)

Posted on July 4 2023 by dion1

The Themes (1)

The Themes (1) (Nashville, TN)

Personnel :

Alvin Gaines (Lead)

Jack Snow (Lead)

Thomas Reynolds (Lead)

Discography :

The Themes (1) (With Jack Snow/ With Thomas Reynolds)
1959 - The Magic Of You / Yes! That's Love (Excello 2152)

Alvin Gaines & The Themes (1)
1959 - Let's Jump The Broomstick / Cross My Heart (Fidelity 420592)

Biography :

"Let's Jump the Broomstick" is a song written by Charles Robins and performed first by a black group, Alvin Gaines & The Themes, in 1959, then covered that year by Brenda Lee. Her version reached No.12 in the United Kingdom in 1961. The song was featured on her 1960 album, Brenda Lee. The song is based on the popular custom and phrase jumping the broom.

The Themes (1)

Alvin Gaines & The Themes were group was from Nashville, Tennessee. They cut a single on Fidelity Records with the tracks "Let’s Jump The Broomstick" and "Cross My Heart" on the B side. This same group recorded a few months before "The Magic Of You" and "Yes! That's Love" released by Excello in February 1959. They are two different lead singers featured Jack Snow on "The Magic Of You " and Thomas Reynolds on "Yes! That's Love" .

Songs :

The Themes (1)


The Magic Of You (Jack Snow)        Yes! That's Love (Thomas Reynolds)

Alvin Gaines & The Themes (1)


       Cross My Heart                         Let's Jump The Broomstick

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The Gypsies (2)

Posted on June 30 2023 by dion1

The Gypsies (2) (Baltimore, Md)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1957 - Why / Young Girl To Calypso (Atlas/Angeltone 1073)

Biography :

The Gypsies' "Why"/"Young Girl to Calypso" is another rather appealing Atlas pairing which receiveed airplay only in their native Baltimore. Atlas, one of the myriad small independent labels in New York, was owned by Tommy Robinson. Originally from Detroit, Robinson was one of the few blacks in New York at that time who owned a record company (Lexy "Flap" Hanford and Bobby Robinson - no relation - were others). Atlas had been in business since 1951, but had only recently started recording vocal groups.

Songs :
(By Hans-Joachim)

Why Young Girl To Calypso

...

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The Archers

Posted on June 28 2023 by dion1

The Archers

Gerald Nelson.

The Archers (Paducah, Kentucky)

Personnel :

Gerald Nelson

Bill Parker

Carl Earten

Jim Roberts

Discography :

1959 - Motorcycle Michael / Golden Girl (Summer 502)

Biography :

In 1959, Two Paducahan songwriters, Gerald Nelson, 23, and Fred Burch, 28, were honored at a “Gold Record” party night in Memphis, where they make their home, for writing the song “Tragedy,” whose recording by Thomas Wayne hit the million mark. The Paducahans have formed their own music publishing company, "Nugget Inc" and their own recording firm, "Klondike Inc." in 1956 Gerald Nelson had his first experience in music being part of the vocal group "The Escorts" "which later changed their name to "The Country Gentlemen".

The Archers
Gerald Nelson and Fred Burch Gerald Nelson.

In 1959, Three recordings of Burch-Nelson songs hit the Top 100 in the national poll. Besides the Wayne recording of “Eternally,” they are “I'll Be All Right,” recorded by Jay B. Loyd on the ‘Hi label, and “Motorcycle Michael,” sung by the Archers, a vocal quartet, on Summer Label. The Archers are consisted of Gerald Nelson himself, Bill Parker, Carl Earten and Jim Roberts, all from this area. The flip side of “Motorcycle Michael” a clever novelty song is "Golden Girl" another Burch-Nelson effort.

Songs :

Motorcycle Michael

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The Dolphins (6)

Posted on June 28 2023 by dion1

The Dolphins (6) (Cincinnati, OH)

Personnel :

Carl Edmondson

Paul Singleton

Marv Lockard

Discography :

1964 - Hey Da Da Dow / I Don't Want To Go On Without You (Fraternity 937)
1965 - Beautiful Woman / Little Donna (Fraternity 940)

Biography :

The Dolphins ‚ Carl Edmondson (bottom), Paul Singleton (middle), and Marv Lockard (top) ‚ That year, Edmondson, who was by then a successful record producer, booked time at the King Records studio and recorded his original song "Hey-Da-Da-Dow"with engineer Dave Harrison. He recruited Singleton and Lockard from the Seniors.

The Dolphins (6)

The song's pleasing melody and moderate tempo caught the ear of Harry Carlson, founder of fraternity Records. He released the record, and it received strong airplay across the tristate area. The record peaked on the Billboard pop chart at No. 69 on December 19, 1964, at a time when the British Invasion was in full swing. "Unfortunately, 'Hey-Da-Da-Dow' was a turntable hit," Edmondson said. "that is it received airplay but not large sales. But the song has been remade by other artists over the years".
(Carl Edmondson)

Songs :

Hey Da Da Dow / I Don't Want To Go On Without You

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