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

The Empires (1) aka The Whirlers aka The Prestos

Posted on May 20 2011 by dion1

The Whirlers aka The Empires (1) aka The Prestos
Johnny Barnes, Bobby Dunn, William Goodman & Les Cooper

The Empires (1) (Harlem, New-York)
aka The Prestos aka The Whirlers

Personnel :

Johnny "Buddy" Barnes (Lead)

Les Cooper (Tenor)

William Goodman (Bass)

Bobby Dunn (Baritone)

Discography :

 The Empires (1)

Singles :
1954 - My Baby, My Baby / Corn Whiskey (Harlem 2325)
1955 - Magic Mirror / Make Me Or Break Me (Harlem 2333)
1955 - I Want To Know / Shirley (Wing 90023)
1955 - Tell Me Pretty Baby / By The Riverside (Wing 90050)
1956 - My First Discovery / Don't Touch My Gal (Wing 90080)
1956 - Whispering Heart / Linda (Whirlin' Disc 104)

Unreleased :
1955 - Happy Am I (Wing)
1955 - Your Christmas And Mine (/Wing)
1955 - You Are My Baby (Wing)
1955 - The Clock (Wing)

 Lightnin' Junior & The Empires (1)
1955 - Somebody Changed The Lock / Ragged And Hungry (Harlem 2334)

 The Prestos
1955 - Looking For Love /' Til We Meet Again (Mercury 70747)

The Whirlers
1957 - Magic Mirror / Tonight And Forever (Whirlin' Disc 108/Port 108)

Biography :

The Empires hailed from Harlem, so it's only right that they began their recording career on the Harlem Records label. Consisting of Buddy Barnes, William Goodman, Bobby Dunn, and Les Cooper, the group came together in earnest in 1953, practicing R&B, pop, and gospel tunes, and occasionally performing in the area at small venues. After a long search for a label to record them, they happened upon Morty Shad's Harlem label and released “Corn Whiskey” backed with “My Baby My Baby” ( Harlem #2325).

The Whirlers aka The Empires (1) aka The Prestos

Because they were from the Empire State, they first used the name the Empires. That single was a bust, but they got more chances at Harlem Records and in 1955 released the first version of one of their most beloved ballads, “Magic Mirror ,” backed with “Make Me or Break Me” (Harlem #2333). They were then relegated to providing background vocals for an artist listed as Lightning Junior on Harlem (#2334). Lightning Junior was an alias for blues artist Champion Jack Dupree, but when nothing happened with this single, the Empires were released from Harlem Records. From there, the group landed at Mercury Records and recorded for both Mercury and their Wing imprint label under different names.

The Whirlers aka The Empires (1) aka The Prestos
Clockwise from top left : James Pender, William Goodman, Bobby Dunn, Johnny Barnes & Les Cooper

On Mercury, they were the Prestos for one great release titled “Till We Meet Again ” backed with “Looking for Love” (Mercury #70747), and on the Wing wing, they kept their Empires name and released three singles, with “By the Riverside” being the most successful of the three (Wing #90050) in 1956. Mercury was really pushing and promoting their Wing subsidiary very heavily in all major markets of the country. Sadly, the records received much more trade promotion than actual airplay, and Wing eventually folded (not for a lack of trying) . Like their label mates the Platters and the Penguins, the Empires/Prestos were also managed by Buck Ram, but they did not attain the same level of success.

The Whirlers aka The Empires (1) aka The Prestos

Citing the success of the Channels on the Whirlin' Disc label, the group pitched a recording contract with the company and got it. The result was two singles for the label—the first was a two-sided ballad release, “Linda” backed with “Whispering Heart” as by the Empires (Whirlin' Disc #104) in 1956, followed by a remake of “Magic Mirror” backed with a great up-tempo number called “Tonight and Forever". the latter as by the Whirlers (Whirlin' Disc #108) in 1957, a name inspired by the name of their label. This was one of the last releases for Whirlin' Disc, and it never got the push it deserved and flopped. At this point, the Empires/Prestos/Whirlers broke up, but there is a happy ending. Lead singer Les Cooper had a big instrumental hit in 1962 for the Everlast Records label (#5019) called “Wiggle Wobble.” It peaked at number 12 on the R&B charts and number 22 Pop. Despite many follow-ups for a myriad of record labels, Cooper was never able to cash in again.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Empires/empires.html

Songs :

The Empires (1)


       Corn Whiskey                    Magic Mirror                      Make Me Or Break Me


I Want To Know                          Shirley                                Tell Me Pretty Baby


By The Riverside               My First Discovery                      Don't Touch My Gal


Whispering Heart                             Linda

 Lightnin' Junior & The Empires (1)

Somebody Changed The Lock Ragged And Hungry

 The Prestos

Til We Meet Again / Looking For Love

The Whirlers

Magic Mirror Tonight And Forever

…

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The Vel-Quin Singers aka The Velquins

Posted on May 19 2011 by dion1

The Vel-Quin Singers (St. Paul, Minn.)
aka The Velquins

Personnel :

John Stafford (Lead)

Eddie Ballard (Tenor)

Sylvester "Peachy" Eaves (Baritone)

Clarence "Huffy" Wright (Bass)

Discography :

The Velquins (Valquins)
1959 - My Dear / Falling Star (Gaity 161/162)

Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men with The Vel-Quin Singers
1962 - I'll Cry / You Don't Believe Me (no group) (Golden Wing 3284)

George Davo bb the Velquins (Uncredited)
1958 - All Through With You / Candy Man (no group) (North Star-2073)

Biography :

The Same St. Paul, Minnesota scene that brought us the Wisdoms also gave us Gaity labelmates the Velquins, who had started out in 1956 as the Cranes, then the Jades, and ultimately settling on the Velquins as their group name. The Velquins used local rockers the Teen Kings as their backing band.

The Twin cities had fierce territorial rivalries amongst vocal groups but the Velquins were always welcome behind enemy lines. A University of Minnesota frat once asked them to sing a boiling pot at a jungle theme party! The Velquins unsuccessfully auditioned for both Chess and Vee-Jay in Chicago.

They did back George davo on his single "All through with you" on North Star, and recorded their own lone Gaity release "My Dear" / "Falling Star", bringing in Henry Jones of the Five Blind Boys to beef up their sound. All copies misspelled the group name as the Valquins. The Group sang also on "I'll Cry" by Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men under the name of The Vel-Quin Singers.

Songs :

The Velquins

Falling Star My Dear

Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men with The Vel-Quin Singers

I'll Cry

George Davo bb the Velquins (Uncredited)

All Through With You

Cds :

...

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The Fabulaires (1)

Posted on May 18 2011 by dion1

The Fabulaires (1)

The Fabulaires (1) (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Paul Green (Lead)

William J. Lewis

Vernon Ear Monroe

Billy Watson

Charles David Young (Bass)

Discography :

1957 - While Walking / No No (East West 103/main Line 103)

Biography :

From West Philly, Butch Curry (from Lee Andrews & the Hearts) lived across the street from group member Paul Green, and helped them get a record on the Main Line label. The Fabulaires started in 1957. They entered a local singing contest and won first place. The group lasted about 6 months, did 2-3 shows, and consisted of Paul Green (lead vocals), David Young (bass, later with Broadway Express), Billy Watson (early road manager of Intruders), Vernon Ear Monroe, William J. Lewisand unknown sixth members.

Songs :

No No While Walking

...

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Gabriel & The Angels (6)

Posted on May 16 2011 by dion1

Gabriel & The Angels (6) (Camden, New Jersey)

 Personnel :

Richard Smith Kellis "Gabriel" (Sax/Lead Vocals) 

 George Jones (Guitar)  

Pete Colangelo (Trumpet, Vocals)  

Richie Bruno (Bass)  

Al Hobbs (Drums)

 Discography :

1959 - That's Life (That's Tough) / Don't Wanna Twist No-More (Casino 107/Swan 4118 '62')
1960 - Hey! / Chumba (Amy 802)
1961 - Zing Went The String Of My Heart / The Rooster (Amy 823)
1961 - I'm Gabriel / Ginza (Norman 506)
1963 - The Peanut Butter Song / All Work - No Play (Swan 4133)

Biography : 

Gabriel And the Angels was the remnants of the Five Sharps. A very Popular Combo well known around N.J, PA, DE and N.Y. Especially the Shore Points and Universities. Gabriel And The Angels only had one minor hit, Thats Life (Thats Tough) (Swan, #51, 1962) but it is one of the most underrated and overlooked, mot to mention unsung, records in rock and roll history.

Gabriel & The Angels (6)

The song features Gabriel talking about life gone wrong, while the Angels lament Thats Life. The refrain used the call and response pattern typically found in early rhythm and blues: Gabriel asks, Whats life? (The Angels respond, A magazine.) Whats it cost? (20 cents.) But I only got a nickel.

Gabriel & The Angels (6)

(Thats tough.) The song is interesting because it bridges 1950s rock and roll and mid-1960s rock. Its primitive sound and style were a throwback to 1950s R & B rock, while its lyrics contained social commentary, foreshadowing the coming of 1960s folk rock. Backing vocals by a black female trio named The Swans on their first single. In the years the group have many personal changes   

 Songs :  

Zing Went The String Of My Heart         Don't Wanna Twist No-More


That's Life (That's Tough)                     All Work, No Play


    The Rooster                                       Hey !


            Chumba                       The Peanut Butter Song

...

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The Five Emeralds

Posted on May 14 2011 by dion1

The Five Emeralds (Detroit)
(By Chris)

Personnel :

Norman McLean (Lead Tenor)

Curtis Browder (First Tenor)

Johnny Dawson (Second Tenor)

Duke Miller (Baritone)

George Claybrooks (Bass)

Discography:

1954 - I'll Beg / Let Me Take You Out Tonight (SRC 106)
1955 - Darling / Pleasure Me (SRC 107)

Biography :

They sang at Club Sensation, the 20 Grand club and the Hippodrome in Detroit between 1954 and 1956, maybe longer.

They also did shows in the south especially in Kentucky where some members were from originally. SRC (Sensation Records Company) was connected to Club Sensation where the group sang regularly.

The were referred to as THE EMERALDS in some billings. Their records are labeled The Five Emeralds.

Songs :


I'll Beg                   Let Me Take You Out Tonight


Darling                                   Pleasure Me

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The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

Posted on May 12 2011 by dion1

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

The Dolphins (3) Port Chester, New York)
aka The Dual Tones

Personnel :

James Cascio

Anthony Fotia

Discography :

The Dual Tones
1959 - Bubble-Gum Bop! / I'll Belong To You (Sabre 203)

The Dolphins (3)
1961 - Rainbow's End / One More For The Road (Empress 102)

Biography :

The Dolphins were were James Cascio and Anthony Fotia. They were from Port Chester, New York. In 1959, James and Anthony recorded two songs : "Bubble-Gum Bop!" b/w "I'll Belong To You". The single was released on the tiny Sabre records in New York. they were billed as the Dual Tones. They had the pleasure of appearing on the stage of an Allan Freed show in the Catskills back in 1959 were and they backed up Johnny Maestro on "16 Candles".

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

At the end of the year 1960, James Cascio and Anthony Fotia sign a recording contract with Empress and change their name to the Dolphins . Empress was a subsidiary of Valmor Records. The Valmor Company was started in the fall of 1960 in New York city. It was a division of Countess, international, and owned and run by Gene and Jody Malis (Jody often used her maiden name, Cameron).

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

In 1961, Valmor opened the subsidiary label, Empress. The Empress label lasted about a year and only released 8 singles. The new renamed Dolphins recorded two ballads : "Rainbow's End" and "One More For The Road" released on Empress 102. After the empress release, Anthony Fotia moved to the Bronx.

Songs :

The Dolphins (3)


One More For The Road                   Rainbow's End

The Dual Tones


I'll Belong To You                            Bubble-Gum Bop!

...

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The Ramblers (2) aka The Fabulous Playboys aka the Falcons (5)

Posted on May 10 2011 by dion1

The Ramblers (2) (Detroit)
aka The Fabulous Playboys aka The Falcons (5)

Personnel :

Carlis "Sonny" Monroe (Lead)

James "Ooh Wee" Gibson (First Tenor)

Johnny Alvin (Second Tenor/ Baritone)

Frank Holt (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1956 - The Heaven And Earth / Don't You Know (Federal 12286)

Unreleased :
N/A - Shame On Me (Federal)
N/A - Days A Week (Federal)

Biography :

Since there were other Playboys groups at the time (one on Rainbow and another on Tetra), Federal asked them to use a different name and James Gibson suggested the "Ramblers" (after the car). "The Heaven And Earth"/"Don't You Know" were released in December 1956.

The Falcons (5)/Fabulous Playboys with Hollowell

Probably during the summer of 1957, Frank Holt was replaced by second tenor/baritone Alton "Bart" Hollowell, who had been in the Enchanters on Coral. They later became The Falcons (5). The group, fronted by Carl 'Sonny' Monroe would later become The Fabulous Playboys and from there evolve into The Falcons after the original group of the same name had disbanded.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Falcons/falcons.html

Songs :

The Heaven And Earth Don't You Know

Shame On Me

...

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The Carmelettes aka The Kittens (2)

Posted on May 6 2011 by dion1

The Carmelettes (Jersey City, NJ)
aka The Kittens (2)

Personnel :

Angela LaPrete "Angela Murphy"

Vickie Cevetello

Virginia Verga

Discography :

The Carmelettes
1959 - My Foolish Heart / Promise Me A Rose (Alpine 53)
1960 - Aching For You / Something Tells Me I'm In Love (Alpine 61)

Neil Sedaka (bb The Carmelettes)
1959 - Oh! Carol / One Way Ticket (RCA 47-7595)

Carole King (bb The Carmelettes)
1960 - Oh, Neil / A Very Special Boy (Alpine 57)

The Kittens
1960 - Dark, Dark Sunglasses /Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini (Alpine 64)
1960 - A Letter On His Sweater / Broken Dreams (Alpine 67)

Biography :

Trio named after Our Lady of St. Carmel Church composed by Angela LaPrete (Angela Murphy), Vickie Cevetello and Virginia Verga. The Carmelettes were a group of Italian-American teenage girls from Jersey City, NJ -- a working class city just across the Hudson River from Manhattan -- in the late 50's.

Beatrice Verdi was their songwriter, arranger, and mentor, and she is the songwriter credited on Aching for You and Ding Dong. The group was signed to Alpine, a subsidiary of Epic Records, in about 1958 and recorded their own songs as well as background vocals for Neil Sedaka's Oh Carol.

When Carole King, for whom the song was written, recorded the answer song, Oh Neil, the girls were hired again to recreate the sound of the original song. This began a long collaboration with Carole King, although the girls were no longer called the Carmelettes.

The Kittens

Virginia Verga left the group, and Angela and Vickie became the Kittens. They continued to record with Carole and for Alpine until they fazed themselves out of the business at age 18.

Songs :

The Carmelettes

Aching For You                                 My Foolish Heart


Something Tells Me I'm In Love              Promise Me A Rose

Neil Sedaka Carole King

Oh! Carol Oh, Neil

....

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The Four Kings (3) aka The Canes

Posted on May 4 2011 by dion1

The Four Kings (3) (Menphis, Tenesee)
aka The Canes

Personnel :

Don Bryant (Lead)

James "Jamie" Bryant (Tenor)

Elvin Lee Jones (Second Tenor)

Lionel Byrd (Baritone)

Discography :

Willie Mitchell & The Four Kings (3)
1958 - Tell It To Me Baby / Walking At Your Will (Stomper Time 1160)
1958 - Walkin' Alone / Rag Mop (Stomper Time 1163)

The Four Kings (3)
1963 - Farmer John / Round And Round (Moc 651)
1963 - Early In The Morning / I Want To Be There (Moc 655)

The Canes
1962 - Why Should I Suffer With The Blues / I'll Never Give Her Up (My Friend) (Stax 123)

Biography :

1942, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. A significant songwriter for Joe Cuoghi"s (and then Willie Mitchell"s) Hi Records, especially for (and sometimes with) his wife, Ann Peebles, Bryant was also a superb soul stylist, although most of his own recordings for Hi were cut long before Al Green, in particular, gave the label the commercial soul base it needed for continued survival. One of 10 children, Bryant"s father (Donald Snr.) featured in the gospel quartet the Four Stars Of Harmony, and in 1955, Don Jnr. and four of his brothers formed their own gospel group, the Five Bryant Brothers, which soon became "secularized" as the doo-wopping Quails.

Four Stars Of Harmony

At Booker T. Washington High School, Bryant joined a group variously called the Canes and the Four Canes, named after their "manager", local Radio WLOK DJ, D. Cane Cole. or their live gigs the Canes dressed in striped jackets and straw hats and carried walking canes. Don"s brother James was also in the group, along with Lee Jones and William Walker, reputed to be the later Goldwax, Checker and Pawn soulman, (Wee) Willie Walker. A group called the Canes were taken to Stax Records by D. Cane Cole in early 1962 where they cut "Why Should I Suffer With The Blues", but they have since been identified as probably being the Largoes, led by Lorece Thompson.

Willie Mitchell

FEventually, Bryant split from Cole and changed the group"s name to the Four Kings. The new quartet became Willie Mitchell"s singing group at the band leader"s live gigs at Memphis clubs. Bryant himself was still underage, and, to enable him to work, Mitchell became his legal guardian. Mitchell was also producer for the Home of The Blues label, whose featured artists included the ex-King group the Five Royales. They recorded Bryant"s first commercial composition, "Is There Someone Else On Your Mind". Meanwhile, the Four Kings cut "Crawl Parts 1 & 2" with the Willie Mitchell Band for Hi, before the group dissolved. Bryant went solo in 1964, making his debut with a storming version of Chris Kenner"s "I Like It Like That".

http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Kings/4kings.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/don-bryant-1
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/dbryant.htm
http://redkelly.blogspot.com/2007/09/don-bryant-ill-do-rest-hi-2104.html

Songs :

Walking At Your Will Walkin' Alone Rag Mop

...

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The Four Tops (1) aka The Four Aims

Posted on April 28 2011 by dion1

The Four Tops (1) (Detroit)
aka The Four Aims

(The Doo wop years)

Personnel :

Levi Stubbs

Abdul "Duke" Fakir

Renaldo "Obie" Benson

Lawrence Peyton

Discography :

The Four Aims
1956 - If Only I Had Known / She Gave Me Love (Grady 012)

The Four Tops (1)
1956 - Could it be you / Kiss me baby (Chess 1623)
1956 - Woke Up This Morning (Chess) (Unreleased)
1956 - All my life (Chess) (Unreleased)
1956 - I'm My Baby's Sitter (Chess) (Unreleased)
1960 - Ain't That love / Lonely Summer (Columbia 41755)
1962 - Pennies from heaven / Where you are (Riverside 4534)

Biography :

The Four Tops began life in 1953 (some accounts say 1954), when all of the members were attending Detroit-area high schools. Levi Stubbs and Abdul "Duke" Fakir went to Pershing, and met Northern students Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton at a friend's birthday party, where the quartet members first sang together.

The Four Tops (1) aka The Four Aims

Sensing an immediate chemistry, they began rehearsing together and dubbed themselves the Four Aims. Payton's cousin Roquel Davis, a budding songwriter who sometimes sang with the group during its early days, helped them get an audition with Chess Records in 1956. Although Chess was more interested in Davis, who went on to become Berry Gordy's songwriting partner, they also signed the Four Aims, who became the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers.

The Four Tops' lone Chess single, "Kiss Me Baby," was an unequivocal flop, and the group moved on to similarly brief stints at Red Top and Riverside. They signed with Columbia in 1960 and were steered in a more upscale supper-club direction, singing jazz and pop standards. This too failed to break them, although they did tour with Billy Eckstine during this period.

http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Four_Tops,_The/Biography/
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/fourtops.htm
http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/the_four_tops.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/four_tops.htm
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/four%20tops.html
http://www.thefourtopsoriginal.com

Songs :


Kiss me baby                          I'm My Baby's Sitter


All my life                               Could it be you                    Woke Up This Morning

...

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