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The Dixie Belles aka The Tonnettes (2)

Posted on by dion1


The Dixie Belles  (Memphis, Tennessee)
aka The Tonnettes (2)

 

 

Personnel :

Mary Hunt

Mildred Pratcher

Shirley Thomas



Discography :

Singles :
1963 - Down At Papa Joe's / Rock, Rock, Rock (Sound Stage 7  2507)
1963 - Southtown U. S. A. / Why Don't You Set Me Free (Sound Stage 7  2517)
1964 - New York Town / The Beat Street Dog (Sound Stage 7  2521)
 

LP :
1963 - Down at Papa Joe's (Sound Stage 7 SSS-15000)
(Down At) Papa Joe's  / Bo Weevil / Telling Lies / Why Don't You Set Me Free / Good Night Irene / Way Down Yonder In New Orleans / Bourbon Street Parade / Forever Forever / Swanee River (Where They Rock All Night) / Rock Rock Rock / I Told You So  /Southtown U.S.A.

 

 


Biography :

The Dixie Belles were an American girl group briefly popular in the early 1960s. The Dixie Belles are The Tonettes who recorded two singles for the Stax Records subsidiary Volt in 1962. Their best-known single, "(Down At) Papa Joe's", hit #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 late in 1963, and the follow-up, "Southtown U.S.A.", hit #15 early in 1964. Both these songs were produced by Bill Justis, and released on Sound Stage 7 Records, a division of Monument Records.

On record (at least for their first single, "(Down At) Papa Joe's"), The Dixie Belles were in fact all members of the all-white Anita Kerr Singers. An all-black touring group was assembled for publicity, promotion and live dates; this touring group may also have sung on some of the later recordings credited to the Dixie Belles.

  


Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the Dixie Belles touring group had all previously sung backup in various capacities.  A full-length Dixie Belles album was released, but a third single ("New York Town") failed to hit the Hot 100, peaking at just #119 on Billboard's "Bubbling Under" chart.

Shortly thereafter, their contract with Sound Stage 7 ended and they never released another single. Several members of the touring group later turned up in The Charmels, a group that recorded four non-hit singles for Stax between 1966 and 1968.


 


Songs :

     
Southtown, U.S.A.                   (Down At) Papa Joe's          Rock, Rock, Rock


   
Why Don't You Set Me Free           New York Town  

 

 


 

Cd :

 

 

 

 

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The Acorns aka Vinny Catalano aka The Pyramids (5) aka The Original Pyramids

Posted on by dion1

 

The Acorns (Bronx, New York)
aka Vinny Catalano aka The Pyramids (5) aka The Original Pyramids

 

Personnel :

Vinny Catalano (Solo)


Discography :

The Pyramids (5)
1958 - Ankle Bracelet / Hot Dog Dooly Wah (Shell 711)

The Original Pyramids
1961 - Ankle Bracelet / Hot Dog Dooly Wah (Shell 304 / Shell 100)

The Acorns
1958 - Angel / I'm Gonna Stick To You (Unart 2006)
1959 - Please Come Back / Your Name And Mine  (Unart 2015)

Vinny Catalano
1963 - Please Mr Juke Box Man / Rags To Riches (Hammer 6312)

 

Biography :

In November of 1958, The Pyramids recorded "Ankle Bracelet" and "Hot Dog Dooly Wah" .It has quite a pedigree, what with Billy Mure arranging and conducting, on a song co-written by Vincent (Vinny) Catalano. It is very unusual that we can't find any information on This group. Quite who these Pyramids were remains a mystery, but there's every chance that 'they' were really just co-writer Vince Catalano. Around the same time he also disguised himself as The Acorns on singles released on the Spring and Unart label, under which moniker he had two number one songs in Hawaii (on the Unart label): "Angel" and "Your Name And Mine," in 1958 and 1959 respectively. He recorded under many other aliases and group names.

  
Vince Catalano                                                                                                Donnie & the Dreamers

 

Vince Catalano was born on a farm in New London, Connecticut. He has spent over 45 years in the music business. As a recording artist he waxed his first 45 on Gee Label in 1956, "Ding Dong" by The Echoes.  He went on to have several other releases under many different names - Vinny Downes, Tom Swift under the name The Lonely Boys, Vinny & Sue, Vinny & Kenny, Bea & Dea & the Buttons. His greatest success came under the name The Acorns where he had two number one songs in Hawaii .

  The Acorns aka Vinny Catalano
The Excellents                                                         

 As a songwriter Vinny has penned over 300 tunes. Eventually he would star his own short lived label C&A before becoming partners in Blast Records a subsidiary of Sinclair Records owned by the late Don Ames. Also under the Sinclair Banner, Vinny worked with groups on Mermaid and Whale. It was here Vinny penned one of his best tunes "Conney Island Baby" by the Excellents. Vinny worked with his kid brother's group, Donnie & the Dreamers, recording over 10 excellent sides, most lost and unreleased.  When Vinny left Blast he started his own label again, Wilshire, and released several great sides by the Dubs and Love Notes.  He Release a great album, The Dubs meet the Shells, rerecording both groups with the end result sounding just like the earlier original recording.



Songs :

The Pyramids (5)

  
Ankle Bracelet                                 Hot Dog Dooly Wah

The Acorns

    
               Angel                                     Please Come Back


      
Your Name And Mine                    I'm Gonna Stick To You

Vinny Catalano

      
Please Mr Jukebox Man                         Rags to riches         
 

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The Palisades (3) aka The Magics aka The Precisions (3)

Posted on by dion1


Donny Manzo, Teddy Santos, Mike Lanzo and Kenny Marsh

The Precisions (3) (Scranton, Pa)
aka The Magics (2) aka The Palisades (3)

 

Personnel :

Mike Lanzo (Lead & Bass)

Donny Manzo (Tenor)

Ken Marsh (Baritone)

Teddy Santos  (Second Tenor)

 

Discography:

The Precisions (3)
1960 - Dream On / You Can't Play Games (Strand 25038)
1963 - Sweet Dreams / Stop Leading Me On (Debra 1001)

Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3)
1962 - The Lover / What Has Happened (Bella 606)

1962 - The Whole World In My Arms / Mama Done (Debra 1007)

Jo Jo Vitale  bb The Precisions (3)    
1962 - My Little Cinderella (May 127)

The Magics (2)
1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

The Palisades (3)
1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts
1964 - At The Fair / Ghost Town (Debra 2006)

 

Biography :

"The Magics" are best known for their hit recording "Chapel Bells", which reached number three on the local charts in the Northeast part of the country. The song was written by " The Monotones" who had the smash hit " Book of Love". 100 Records pressed under the name of the Palisades, name was changed to the Magics because Palisades was taken.

 
Dick and the Halo's - Ted Santos, Ken Marsh, Dick Plotkin and Dom Manzo

The group was formed in the late 1950's with the original members being, Don Manzo (the founder), Mike Lanzo and Ken Marsh, at that time the group was known briefly as the " Supremes". Ted Santos was the next member to join the group and they then formed an alliance with Dick Plotkin who's group had recently broke up, and the name of the group was changed to Dick and the Halo's.


Dick & The Halo's  - Ken Marsh, Ted Santos, Dom Manzo and Dick Plotkin

The group split up once again and the original 4, Don Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Ken Marsh and Ted Santos moved to Tin Pan Alley in New York to search for a professional management. Nick Quesado Enterprises, the firm that managed the nationally known "Teenagers" of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" fame and "Randy & the Rainbows" of  "Denise" fame, took on the task and the group's name was changed to " The Precision's" then to "The Magics". 


The Magics : Donny Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Kenny Marsh, Teddy Santos

While in New York they recorded for  various New York labels and performed studio background for various artist such as Jo Jo Vitali who had the hit "My Little Cinderella", Jack Bailey from Canada who had hits such as "Tiger Lil" and "Your Magic Touch" all were hits in Canada. 

The Precisions (3) aka The Magics aka The Palisades (3)

The group also did background for local artist  "Tommy Genova" who had a local hit "They Call Me the Lover". The group disbanded soon afterward and went on their own individual ways.


 

Songs :

The Magics (2)

  
            Chapel Bells                        She Can't Stop Dancing   

 

The Precisions (3)

       
You Can't Play Games             Sweet Dreams                 Stop Leading Me On 



Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3)

      
The Lover                    What Has Happened                        Mama Done

Jo Jo Vitale  bb The Precisions (3)  

 
My Little Cinderella

 

The Palisades (3)

  
Chapel Bells                         She Can't Stop Dancing

 

Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts

  
At The Fair                            Ghost Town

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The Federals aka The Wheels (1)

Posted on by dion1

The Federals (Brooklyn, New-York)
 aka The Wheels (1)




Personnel :

Rudy Anderson (Lead)

Reggie Barnes (Tenor)

James Pender (Tenor)

Kenneth Fox (Baritone)

Lorenzo Cook (Bass)



Discography :

The Federals
singles :
1957 - While Our Hearts Are Young / You're The One I Love (Fury 1005)
1957 - Dear Lorraine / She's My Girl (Fury 1009)
1957 - Come Go With Me / Cold Cash (Deluxe 6112)
Unreleased:
1957 - Good Wishes To You (Fury)
1957 - You Gotta Love Me Baby (Fury)

 

The Wheels (1)
singles :
 1956 - My Heart's Desire / Let's Have A Ball (Premium 405)
1956 - Teasin' Heart / Loco (Premium 408)
1957 - I Can't Forget / How Could I Ever Leave You? (Premium 410)
1958 - So Young And So In Love / Where Were You (Time 1003/Early bird 006)
1959 - Clap Your Hands, pt.1 / Clap Your Hands, pt.2 (Folly 800)
1960 - No One But You / I've Waited For A LIfetime (Roulette 4271)
Unreleased:
1956 - I can't go on without you (Premium)

Bubber Johnson (bb The Wheels (1))
1955 – Drop Me A Line / Ding Dang Doo (King 4793)

Vikki Nelson (bb The Wheels (1))
1956 - By My Side / Bright And Early (Premium 402)

Arthur Lake (bb The Wheels (1))
1956 - The Good Earth / May I Count On You (Premium 406)

Gloria Lynn (bb The Wheels (1))
1957 – I Can’t Waste My Tears / Run For Your Love(Premium 412)

Rudy & the Wheels (1)
1959 - Copy cat / It's not for me (Curtis 751)

 

 

 

 

Biography :

"While Our Hearts Are Young" is a very pretty ballad by The Federals on Bobby Robinson's Fury label from 1957. The Federals aka The Wheels were fronted by Rudy Anderson. This group was managed by Allen Bunn, Former member of the Larks on Apollo. Bunn would sometimes record with the Wheels.


The Wheels

It was Bunn who brought the group to Joe Liebowitz, Owner of Premium, in 1955. In addition to their recordings for Premium, They Also became the Studio Group for the New Jersey-Based Label. They Backed up Vicki Carr, Gloria Lynne and Arthur Lake at Premium.

 

As the group began making a name for themselves, Liebowitz passed away and Premium's operations folded.

After Premium, the group became The Federals and recorded for Fury and DeLuxe. Then they went back to the Wheels and recorded for George Goldner's Curtis Label. Next they moved to Time Records, Then to Morris Levy's Label, and Finally to Folly.
Mitch Rosalsky (Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups)

 


Songs :

   
Your The One I Love                   Dear Lorraine

    
Come go with me                         Cold Cash

   
While Our Hearts Are Young             You Gotta Love Me Baby

   
Good Wishes To You                            She's My Girl

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

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The Delacardos

Posted on by dion1



The Delacardos (Charlotte, NC)


Personnel :

Harold Ford

Vernon Hill

Robert Gates

Chris Harris



Discography :

1959 - Letter to a Schoolgirl / I'll Never Let You Down (Elgey 1001)
1961 - I Got It / Thing-A-Ma-Jig  (UA 276)
1961 - Mr Dillon / Hold Back The Tears (UA 330)
1961 - Dream Girl / I Just Want To Know (Shell 308)
1962 - Girl-Girl / Love Is The Greatest Thing (Shell 311)
1963 - On The Beach / Everybody's Rocking (Imperial 5992)
1966 - She's the One I Love / Got No One (Atlantic 2368)
1966 - I Know I'm Not Much / You Don't Have To See Me (Atlantic 2389)
1967 - They Put A Spell On You / A Fool For You (Atlantic 2419)

 
Biography :

This United Artist recording group originated about three years ago in Charlotte, NC The group consists of nine men — four singers and five musicians. The vocalists are: Harold Ford, Vernon Hill, Robert Gates and Christoper Harris. The musicians are: Jeremiah Shepherd, Luther Maxwell,allas Steele, Timothy Donald and James Knight.

The group was formed in their early years of high school. They were given the name "The Delacardos" by a Spanish teacher and the literal translation means "light of heart."The boys became a popular attraction at private parties and high school functions.  This led to a tour of the college circuit and various rock and roil shows.

   
The Delacardos' hit disk on UA, "Hold Back the Tears," is currently making a steady climb on the Hot 100.
(Billboard - 10 juil. 1961)

 


Songs :


     
Letter To A School Girl          I'll Never Let You Down         Hold Back The Tears

     
 I Just Want To Know           She's the One I Love                  Got No One

     
I Know I'm Not Much       They Put A Spell On You             A Fool For You

 

 

 

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The Fabulous Fabuliers

Posted on by dion1

The Fabulous Fabuliers
Left to right: Lorenzo Thomas, Leon Smith, Willie Wilson, Richard Givens & Charlie Watkins


The Fabulous Fabuliers (Jacksonville, Fl.)
Thanks to Juan  (informations)
 



Personnel :

Lorenzo Thomas (Lead)

Richard Givens (First Tenor)

Willie Wilson (Second Tenor)

Leon Smith (Baritone)

Charles Watkins (Bass)


 


Discography :

1959 - She's The Girl For Me / I Found My Baby    (Angle tone 539)

 

 

Biography :

Group From Jacksonville, Florida first know as The Petunians and consisted of Lorenzo Thomas-lead, Richard Givens.1st tenor,Willie Wilson 2nd tenor,Leon Smith-Baritone and Charles Watkins-Bass. In later years members of this group were the soul brothers on wanda records.

 

 

Songs :

   
I Found My Baby                  She's The Girl For Me

 

 

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The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings aka The Delights (1)

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The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings

The Delrays (Reading, Pa)
aka The Delights (1)   aka The  Teen-Kings 

 

Personnel :

Walter "Buster" Lockman (Lead)

James Keith (Tenor)

Norman Keith (Tenor)

Jimmy Tindall (Baritone)

Bernie Washington (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Teen-Kings
1958 - That's A Teenage Love / Tell Me I You Know (Bee 1115)

The Delrays
1958 - Our Love is True / One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream (Cord 1101)

The Delights (1)
1961 - My one Desire /   Please Take My Love  (Nite 201 / Nite 1034)

 

Biography :

James and Norman Keith were performers from their pre-school day when they would entertain they neighbors with their singing and Ukulele playing . By the time they were attending Fitzsimmons Junior High School, they had a quintet assembled consisting of LaVester Littles, Ron Brown, Walter "Buster" Lockman, and themselves. They were called the Victors, and played opening night at the Blue Horizon Club on North broad Street in 1956. For The next two years they played regularly at other clubs, benefits, and neighborhood gatherings, mostly in North Philly. In 1958, Bernie Washington took over the Bass singer, and Jimmy Tindall replaced Littles as Baritone. With "Buster" Lockman on Falsetto lead, they quickly learned that they could get their biggest crowd reaction bodying Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers covers.

The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings    The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings

The Name change to Teen Kings, reflected their desire to develop their sound close to Lymon's group. Their shows also got the attention of Ben Johnson Jr (who had managed the Re-Vels since 1954), who signed them to a management contract, and a recording session at Virtue Studios, in the 1600 block of North Broad Street. They recorded four songs at Virtue, likely completed at a single session. In addition to "That a Teenage Love" and "Tell Me If You Know", Johnson released another single on his Cord label, credited to the Delrays. "Our Love Is True" (Wich is virtually the same melody as "That's A Teenage Love") and  "One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream", both list Johnson as the writer.

The Delights (1) aka The Delrays aka The Teen-Kings
The Teen Kings, the Keith Brothers (Facing each other) and Buster Lockman (at the microphone)

All four sides suffered from a very muddily sound with the lead buried in a poorly placed sigle mike. Lockman was only 13 years old when he made this recordings. The same Lineup made one more records as the Delights ("My one Desire" / "Please Take My Love"), released in 1961. Around the same time, the group auditioned for Richard Barrett in New York but the deal did not materialize. Lockman continued his career as a solo artist through the sixties, releasing one record on the Wand Label in 1967 as Walter Wilson. Norman keith also continued in the music business as a side man, touring with Martha & The Vandellas.

 




Songs :

The DelRays

   
One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream                  Our Love is True

 

The Teen-Kings   

   
That's A Teenage Love                          Tell Me If You Know


The Delights (1)

   
My One Desire                             Please Take My Love



 

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Jimmy J & The J's

Posted on by dion1

 

Jimmy J & The J's (Philadelphia)

 

Personnel :

Vito Jacono (Vocals/Guitar)

Jim Jacono (Vocals)

Sylvanius "Slip" Franklin (Piano/Vocals)

Elwood "Bunky" Robinson

Herb Campbell (Vocals)

Frank Jacono (Drums)


Discography :

Jim Jacono & The J's
1958 - Take My Money / Jay Walkin (Kay-Y 66783)

Jimmy J & The J's
1961 - Please be My Girlfriend / I've Lost (Salco 647)

 


Biography :

The J's began as "Jimmy and the J's" in 1958. The original  band included Vito Jacono (vocals and guitar), Jim Jacono (vocals), Sylvanus (Slip) Franklin (piano and vocals), Herb Campbell (vocals), and Frank Jacono (drums). Lou Razzae later joined the band playing sax.  In 1959, the J's made their first recording––an instrumental called, "Jay Walkin'" which became the J's theme song. The flip side was, "Take My Money." Herb Campbell and Lou Razzae left the band in 1960 and were replaced by Bunky Robinson on vocals and Lou DiMattio playing sax and other reed instrument.

  

The next six years were a time of great growth for the J's. The band went on the road, touring up and down the East Coast of the United States and sharing the stage with such famous musicians as Dave Brubeck, the big band of Les and Larry Elgart, Wilson Pickett, Louis Armstrong, the Dukes of Dixeland, and many others!  It is interesting to note that the J's were always an integrated band! When the band formed in 1958––during the height of the Civil Rights conflicts in the US––  Slip Franklin was its first African-American member. Soon thereafter, Bunky Robinson joined the J's. Slip and Bunky knew Vito Jacono of the J's, because Vito often subbed with the Five Lords––the all black band Slip and Bunky worked with.
http://www.phillyrandb.com/5.html



Songs :

Jimmy J & The J's

   
Please be My Girlfriend                         I've Lost

 

Jim Jacono & The J's


Take My Money

 

 

 

 

...

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The Uniques (1)

Posted on by dion1

The Uniques (1)

The Uniques (1) (Milwaukee, Wisc.)

 


Personnel :

Earl king (Lead)

Johnny Taylor (Lead)

Charles Jordan (Second Tenor)

Leonard Garr (Baritone)

Bob Morland (Bass)



Discography :

1957 - Right Now / Somewhere (Peacock 1677)
1960 - Mysterious / Picture Of My Baby  (Peacock 1695)



Biography :

This group came together in 1956 as Earl King and the Kingsmen. In 1957 they signed with the Peacock label.  Peacock Records was an American record label, started in 1949 by Don Robey in Houston, Texas, United States. "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton was a hit for Peacock in 1953.

Other significant rhythm and blues artists on Peacock were Marie Adams, James Booker, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Little Richard, Memphis Slim, and former gospel singer Jackie Verdell. The label also dabbled with jazz, releasing albums by vocalist Betty Carter and saxophonist Sonny Criss. In 1952, Robey gained control of the Duke Records label of Memphis, Tennessee. Duke/Peacock Records was formed. 

   

A Month after signing, The Kingsmen Went to Chicago to record. Robey was there and decided to rename the group the Uniques! Following their second recording for Peacock in 1960, with no hits to their credit, the group split up. In 1963, Taylor joined one of the Ink Spots groups and stayed with them for the next twenty-five Years.
Mitch Rosalsky (Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups)

 

 

Songs :

   
Mysterious                           Picture Of My Baby


   
Somewhere                          Right Now

 

 

 

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The Utations

Posted on by dion1

The Utations (Trumbull, Connecticut)

 

Personnel :

Carl Demore (First Tenor)

Jim Petrino (Second Tenor / Lead)

Roland Bousquet (Second Tenor / Lead)

Paul Timpanelli (Bass)

George Kovachi (Baritone)

 

Discography :

No Recording

 

Biography :

In early 1960, two teenagers began harmonizing to the tunes of the Everly Brothers, Don & Juan and Robert & Johnny singing mostly for their own enjoyment in the Trumbull High School bathrooms and hallways. They were George Kovachi and Wesley Twelves, two teens who met in their first year of high school. Chris Costeines also occasionally joined in. Soon after, Paul Timpanelli joined the group as baritone and later Stanley Goldman as 2nd tenor and sometimes lead.


Later in 1960 we chose a name for the group and officially became "The Sophisticats" performing locally at record hops, dances and more bathrooms. For a short while, The Sophisticats worked with guitarist Fred Stern and a drummer whose name can no longer be remembered. We practiced and performed through much of 1960 with the same members. Late in 1961, Wes's girlfriend, Shirley Clark, decided that Wes should spend less time rehearsing and more time with her. Roland Bousquet, a Bridgeport native stepped up to replace Wes and Jim Petrino also from Bridgeport joined to replace Stan. Carl Demore also joined to handle the 1st tenor duties ... suddenly we had a whole new sound!

In early 1962 we renamed the group "The Salutations." This lasted a few months until Vito and the Salutations released their hit "Unchained Melody." We then decided to just shorten the name to "The Utations." No need to go into the iterations of the name "Utations" our peers managed to come up with and call us! The next changes came late in 1962 as Carl graduated and went to college and Roland moved to Maine. In 1963, we recruited Tony Sciarappa who had recently moved from our Bridgeport, CT Parrott Avenue neighborhood to Trumbull. Jerry Bourdeau from Trumbull also joined in 1963. This allowed "the Utations" to continue to rehearse and play out occasionally for the next year or two. Meanwhile, Jim Petrino married Shirley Clark and began raising a family. By the end of 1964, George Kovachi had joined the Marine Corps, Tony enlisted in the Air Force, Carl was still at UCONN, Paul was off to college and Jerry enlisted in the Army.

 ....

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