1957 - Little Darlin' / Sheetheart Please Don't Go (Excello 2101) 1957 - Run Run Little Joe / Comin' Home To You (Excello 2110) 1957 - Hey Little Girl / I WantA Know (Excello 2120) 1958 - Say You' ll Be Mine / Shoop Shoop (Excello 2136)
Biography :
Maurice Williams (born 26 April 1938, Lancaster, South Carolina) had his first experience with music in the church, where his mother and sister both performed. By the time he was six, Williams was performing regularly there. With his childhood friend Earl Gainey, Williams formed the gospel group 'The Junior Harmonizers', but as rock and roll and doo-wop became their primary interest, the Junior Harmonizers changed their name to 'The Royal Charms'.
In addition to Williams and Gainey, The Royal Charms were made up of Willie Jones (baritone), William Massey (tenor, baritone, trumpet), and Norman Wade (bass). In the winter of 1956, while still in high school, Williams and his band traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to record for the Excello record label. At the time they were going by the name 'The Royal Charms,' but the founder of Excello Records, Ernie Young, convinced them to change their name to 'The Gladiolas.' At the time, there were at least two other bands using the same name.
The song "Little Darlin'" was a #11 hit on the R&B chart in 1957, but did not break the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40. However, when the song was covered by the Canadian group The Diamonds, it moved up to #2.
Williams finished high school and while on the road with the band (after their station wagon broke down in Bluefield, West Virginia), the band came across a small car known as "The Zodiac" and the band changed their name. Shortly thereafter, Henry Gatson replaced Earl Gainey.
http://www.mauricewilliams-stay.com/littledarlin.htm http://www.mauricewilliams.com/indexNEW.cfm http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/maurice_williams_zodiacs. html http://www.tsimon.com/zodiac.htm
The Chymes (Brooklyn, NY) aka Four Chymes aka The Three Chimes
Personnel :
Gil Pabon (Lead)
Larry Gerona (First Tenor)
Ray Diaz (Second Tenor)
Carmine Scibelli (Baritone)
Discography :
The Chymes 1964 - If I Give My Heart To You / On The Street Where You Live (Musictone 6125)
Four Chymes 1964 - The Gypsy / Now Look At Who's Crying (Musicnote 121)
The Three Chimes 1964 - Tears And Pain / Show Me The Way (Crossway 444)
Biography :
In 1961, Lenny coco & The Chimes entered a local studio to cut a demo in 1960; a recording engineer called Andy Leonetti, who hustled down and signed the newcomers to his fledgling Tag label. Leonetti pressed up the ballad under the slightly off-kilter title of "Once In Awhile" that autumn. The Chimes' debut single soared to #11 pop in early '61. The group would not find success with their following albums, and split up in the middle of the decade. Andy Leonetti did not give up and in 1964 signed another Brooklyn group on his Musicnote label. He calls them The Chimes with a different spelling, The Chymes. Composed by Gil Pabon, Larry Gerona, Ray Diaz and Carmine Scibelli , the group recorded "If I Give My Heart To You" b/w "On The Street Where You Live" followed by "The Gypsy" and "Now Look At Who's Crying" some time later as the Four Chymes. After one member left, Andy Leonetti released on his Crossway label "Tears And Pain" and "Show Me The Way" as the Three Chimes.
Songs :
The Chymes
If I Give My Heart To You On the Street Where You Live
Quintones (1956) Leon McClain, Pauline, Gerald Johnson, Johnny Maye & Donald Lawrence
The Quinns (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Quintones (2)




Personnel :


Freddie Brown (Lead)

Gerald Johnson (Baritone)

Leon McClain (Bass)

Donald Lawrence (Tenor)

Richie Brown (Second Tenor)


 
Discography :
Jimmy Witherspoon & The Quintones (2) Single : 1956 - Still In Love / My Girl Ivy (Atco 6084) Unreleased : 1956 - Congratulations Baby (Atco)

The Quinns 1957 - Oh Starlight / Hong Kong (Cyclone 111) 1965 - Unfaithful /Who Stole The Cookies (Relic 1012)
Biography :
Brooklyn-based R&B group the Quinns formed on the grounds of the Brownsville Community Center in 1954 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile in the February 1998 issue of Discoveries, co-founders Johnny "Dusty" Moye (second tenor), Gerald Johnson (baritone), and Leon McClain (bass) rotated through a series of leads before finally settling on tenors Donald Lawrence and Freddy Brown in mid-1956. Originally dubbed the Quintones, the group cut its teeth at local talent showcases prior to auditioning for Atco Records head Herb Abramson, who extended a contract offer on the spot.
Jimmy Witherspoon
Abramson first assigned them to serve backing duties on blues legend Jimmy Witherspoon's "Still My Love," but in the weeks following the session it seemed the Quintones slipped through the cracks, and with no other recording opportunities on the horizon, they wriggled out of their Atco deal in the spring of 1957. Moye left the lineup soon after, and after adding Brown's brother Richie as second tenor, the group renamed itself the Quinns to avoid conflict with a pair of rival acts recording under the Quintones banner. 
On the advice of fellow Brooklyn act the Paragons, the Quinns approached Winley Records owner Paul Winley, and in the summer of 1957 cut their official debut release, "Oh Starlight" -- the record barely registered at radio or retail, although the quintet played supper clubs across New York City in support. When Lawrence found himself in hot water with the law in 1958, the remaining Quinns hired lead Francis "Frenchie" Concepcion as his replacement.
Francis "Frenchie" Concepcion

Frustrated with their lack of success, McClain exited two years later to take a job as a postal carrier, and with new bass Henry Thomas, the group cut its final studio session in late 1960. Two songs from the date, "Unfaithful" and "Who Stole the Cookies?," finally appeared on vinyl in 1965 via the Relic label -- by that time the Quinns were no more, although in 1974 Freddy and Richie Brown resurfaced as members of Final Touch, which issued the single "It's Spinning Love" on the Blue Thumb label. 
Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide


The Ribbons (Los Angeles) aka The Sequins (6) aka The Sandpapers
Personnel :
Evelyn Doty
Arthetta Gibson
Lovie Kinchion
Vessie Simmons
Discography :
The Ribbons 1962 - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya / My Baby Said (Marsh 202) 1963 - After Last Night / This Is Our (Marsh 203) 1964 - They Played A Sad Song / Melodie D'amour (Parkway 912)
Evelyn Doty & The Ribbons 1964 - Teach Me How To / Dance I'd Like To Be (Gramo 107)
The Sequins (6) 1965 - I'll Be Satisfied / Who Says You Can't Jerk (A & M 761)
The Sandpapers 1965 - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya" / My Baby Said (Charger 114)
Biography :
"Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya", a #81 hit on Billboard in early 1963 but a much bigger hit in the Los Angeles area, was composed by James Marcus Smith, aka P.J. Proby. The record was the object of a very hasty, and rather fine, West Coast cover version by Suzie Clark on the Rendezvous label. The song was also rendered for the UK market by Simone Jackson (Piccadilly), Jean Martin (Decca) and, most famously, the Searchers (Pye). "After Last Night", another Proby song, was first cut by the Chiffons onReprise (not the "He's So Fine" gals, the Los Angeles lot).
Jackie DeShannon did a good version too (Liberty), as did the Rev-Lons (also Reprise). Both of the Ribbons' Marsh 45s were produced by former Teddy Bear, and old Phil Spector chum, Marshall Leib. The Ribbons probably recorded under further pseudonyms, such as Ribbons, Sequins, Buttons, Bows (sic).
Singles: 1962 - Boy Trouble / Give Me One More Chance (Garpax 44168) 1963 - Love Can't Be A One Way Deal / I Can't Forget About You (Reprise 2020/Starbust 123) 1964 - It's Gonna Happen Some Day / After Last Night (Reprise 0251)
Unreleased: N/A - Whirlind (Garpax) N/A - How Can You Keep From Loving A Boy Like That (Garpax) N/A - Shoes And Rice And Paradise (demo) (Garpax)
Biography :
The Rev-lons were formed by Rachel Hernandez in high school with four of her school friends in her sophomore year at Garces High School in 1958. When that group ended , She then introduced her younger sister Lupe, she was the soprano back ground singer. At the beginning Lupe and Rachel sang duets, later Rachel Introduced her other younger sister Dolores, she was in the group for about a year.
With Bobby Rydell and Dick & Dee Dee
They were then known in Bakersfield as "the "Teens" and finally she brought in her even younger sister Fran, she was 12 years old and became the Alto for the Teens background singers. She had a great Alto voice. Dolores got married , she was actually older than Lupe and left the Teens.
They got discovered by Loyd Johnson who later became Their manager and the girls became "The Rev-Lons" under Warner Bros and Reprise label. They were also under Garpax (Gary Paxton’s Label) .
Raquel, Johnny M (writer of Boy Trouble), Lupe, Fran, and Gary Paxton
Garpax Records was an American record label established by Gary S. Paxton which first issued the song "Monster Mash" by Bobby Boris Pickett in 1962. It was distributed by London Records. The label lasted from 1962 to 1965.
1960 - Ooh! Pretty Girl / Beautiful Doll (Sensational 100) 1960 - Shimmy And Twist / [Roy Wilburn Cole - Come And Hold My Hand] (Duke Reid’s) 1960 - Tu-Woo-Up-Tu-Woo / Lover’s Line (Starlite 028) 1961 - [Skalites - Lee Oswald] / By My Side (Coxsone) 1961 - Moonlight Lover / Sweet As An Angel (Asnes 103) 1961 - Dearest Darling / Lollipop Girl (Blue Beat 004) 1961 - I Love You / My Heart's Desire (Blue Beat 005) 1961 - [Duke Reid & His Group - Duke’s Cookies] / I Wanna Love (Blue Beat 024) 1961 - Over The River (aka I’ll Be Here When He Come) / Hip Rub (Blue Beat 36) 1961 - Slop ’N’ Mash / My Sweet Angel (Starlite 049) 1961 - Don’t Treat Me Bad (unknown) 1962 - Valerie / Sugar Dandy (Island 003) 1962 - Sugar Dandy / Come On Honey (Crystal A-1003/B-1004) 1962 - Andrea / Don't Leave Me (Island 027)
Biography:
The aptly named Jiving Juniors were one of the most popular vocal ensembles of the Jamaican R&B period, with some historians ranking them as one of the top three artists of the "pioneer years." More romantic than the driving boogie of Laurel Aitken or Derrick Morgan, the Jiving Juniors withered teenagers' hearts with ballads and Wop love songs on such chartbusters as "Lollipop Girl," "Over the River," and "Sugar Dandy."
However, their split at the dawn of ska and their absence from this crucial period sealed their fate as a musical footnote and they are remembered today as little more than the vehicle for lead singer Derrick Harriott's early success. Formed in 1958 by students at Excelsior and Kingston Colleges, the teenaged members included Eugene Dwyer, Herman Sang, Maurice Winter, and, of course, Derrick Harriott (born 1942). In the late '50s, the group recorded for many of the period's major producers, including Edward Seaga, Duke Reid, and Clement "Coxsone" Dodd. In 1960, Reid released "Lollipop Girl" and the quartet rocketed to the top of the newly established Jamaican pop charts.
Derrick Harriott
The R&B ballad characterizes the romantic tone of many of their tunes and that same year, "My Heart's Desire" also hit big. The spiritual Wop "Over the River" was their next major success. An important route marker on the road of Jamaican music, the song is a laid-back boogie with a guitar offbeat so heavily accented it sounds nearly indistinguishable from ska. Although Dodd didn't release the record until 1961, it was possibly recorded much earlier -- perhaps as early as 1959 -- and features trombonist Rico Rodriguez's first solo. Their last major hit came with the 1962 release "Sugar Dandy."
While hugely popular, the track proved the swan song for the group's Wop style, saccharine lyrics, and Harriott's sometimes shrill falsetto.Later that year, as Jamaica won its independence and ska began to dominate the music scene, the Jiving Juniors split up without scoring a major hit in the new genre. Harriott departed to form his Crystal label and the rest of the group left Jamaica a few years later for destinations north.
While still in Jamaica, Eugene Dwyer tried to start two groups, one called Zodiac and another called the Pacesetters, but neither had much success and he, too, left Jamaica in 1980. Harriott was clearly the most successful talent to emerge from the group, both as a solo singer on "Solomon" and "Loser" and as a producer, recording dozens of artists up through the 1990s.
The Halos (1) 1961 - Nag / Copy cat (7 arts 709) 1961 - Come on / What d i say (7 arts 720) 1962 - Village of love / Mean old world (Trans atlas 690)
Cammy Carol & The Halos (1) 1961 - Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind / Until The Day I Die (Elmor 302)
The Craftys 1961 - L-O-V-E / Heartbreaking World (7 Arts 5708) 1961 - L-O-V-E / [The Candysticks - You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby] (Lois 5000) 1962 - Zoom Zoom Zoom / I Went To A Party (Elmor 310)
LPs :
1961 - The Halos (Warwick lp 2046) Nag / Your Precious Love / Bird Dog / I Went To A Party / Copy Cat / If I Had Known / What'd I Say / Mean Old World / Down The Road / Crazy Bells / Oh What A Night / Come On
Biography :
After The mellows broke up Arthur Crier started The Halos The original group consisted of JR Bailey (first tenor), Harold Johnson (second tenor), Al Cleveland (baritone) and Arthur Crier (bass), Al Cleveland was from Pittsburgh and was in New York trying to make it as singers fate would have it he had had any luck and was on Broadway waiting to catch a bus to go home, Arthur and Charles Spencer had to do some demo work and needed a third voice when they left the Brill Building they saw Cleveland and asked if he could sing.
The Halos group recorded "Nag" (# 25 Billboard Hot 100 in 1961) (with JR Bailey makes 'nagging sounds ") The flip (b-side to" Nag ")' Copy CatR21, was actually one a previouslye recorded duet between Arthur and Carl had been done for Morty Craft
JR Bailey decided that he did not want to travel and was replaced by Phil Johnson, formerly led by Duval on Kelit and Club (Bailey later joined The Cadillacs)Although the Halos went on lists of "Nag" Morty Craft decided to drop two pages that the group had cut in the same session, LOVE and heartbreaking World But since the group already had a record going for them Craft has decided to call them Craftys. The Halos in addition to making his own material was a very productive back-up group of exchange members from session to session.
Gene Pitney Curtis Lee Barry Mann
The group included frequently Carl Spencer, Bobby Spencer, JR Bailey and Gary Morrison Some of their background work included Curtis Lee (Pretty Little Angel Eyes), Barry Mann (who put Bomp) Ben E King (Do not Play That Song) Connie Francis Tommy Hunt Bobby Vinton The Coasters Brian Hyland Johnny Nash Dion Little Eva Gene Pitney (Every Breath I take) ShirLey Lee & Johnny Mathis and many others too numerous to mention http://www.uncamarvy.com/ArthurCrier/arthurcrier.html http://artistwiki.com/the-halos/biography
1959 - Don't Say He's Gone / I'll Hide My Love (Carlton 513)
Biography :
Two sisters from Cleveland Heights were the darlings of the local pop circuit in 1959. Mary Ellen and Margy (often spelled Margie) Keegan were students at the Ursuline Academy of the Sacred Heart High School when they began their musical journey. I had started a pantomime group with some friends," Mary Ellen Fath explains. " There were five of us then and we all had short hair, so I thought up the name Short Cuts, taking the idea from the Crew Cuts. We did songs like 'Little Darlin" by the Diamonds, "Come go with me" by the Del Vikings, and Elvis's "Teddy Bear". From a family of five girls and one boy, Mary Ellen and Margy, closest in age at fifteen months apart, began singing together at home. Both recall that music was a big part of their growing-up years.Mom had a beautiful voice and would sing with her cousin at all the family gatherings," recalls Margy Lamb. "And her brother was a recognized opera singer in Cleveland, though he died at an early age. Our father's brother was in theater and radio in Chicago. So we have show business in our blood!" When the pantomime group disbanded, the sisters kept the name Short Cuts and began writing their own songs.
We loved that three-part harmony of the McGuire sisters," Mary Ellen recalls. " We were also influenced by the Lennon sisters and Andrea Carroll who we'd see on the 'Gene Carroll Show.' The Short Cuts began singing their original songs and the pop tunes of the day at record hops, county fairs, and local TV and radio shows, including Bill Randle's radio show on WERE. Soon they were shopping for a record deal. By this time they had graduated high school and had decided to take a shot at stardom. We started making some demo records on our own," Margy says. "We rented the studio time ourselves [at Audio Recording] and we used our own musicians. Our friend Jo [Josephine] Ditchman played piano, and our cousin Tim McHenry played drums. Mary Ellen played the ukelele. Bill Randle liked our music, so we got him to pitch it for us, and he was instrumental in selling the master to Carlton Records."
The single, "I'll Hide My Love," with b-side "Don't Say He's Gone," ultimately sold 30000 copies and made it on the regional charts. The duo then went on an eastern seaboard tour that included an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand on May 18, 1959. We were doing six appearances a day on that two-week tour," Mary Ellen recalls. "It was fun, but hectic. And of course, we didn't have any money. So our cousins, aunts, and uncles all pulled together and helped us financially to buy the proper clothes and things we needed. The Short Cuts became merely a memory soon after Mary Ellen married in 1963, with Margy marrying soon after. Both women spent the next few decades raising their Families.
1950 - Longing / I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell (MGM 10764) 1951 - The Room I'm Sleeping In / Music By The Angels, Lyrics By The Lord (MGM 10857) 1951 - I Won't Cry Anymore/ Gaucho Serenade (MGM 10928) 1951 - You Made Me Love You / Pretty Eyed Baby (MGM 10967) 1951 - (Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To) Shanghai / The Wondrous Word (Of The Lord) (MGM 10998) 1951 - (It's No) Sin / It's Over (MGM 11066) 1951 - I'll Never Fail You / Busy Line (MGM 11117) 1952 - No Other Love / Callaway Went Thataway (MGM 11145) 1952 - Wheel Of Fortune / What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry? (MGM 11172)
1952 - Confetti / Don't Grieve, Don't Sorrow, Don't Cry (MGM 11184) 1952 - What You Don't Know Of Love / Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea (MGM 11249) 1952 - Gaucho Serenade / (Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To) Shanghai (MGM 11537) 1952 - Stay / Azure-Te (Paris Blues) (Mercury 5866) 1952 - It's Best We Say Goodbye / Who Knows (Mercury 5884)
1952 - That's What I'm Here For / Some Folks Do, Some Folks Don't (Mercury 5902) 1952 - Mad About 'Cha / I Don't Know Why (I Love You Like I Do) (Mercury 70012) 1953 - Pour Me A Glass Of Teardrops / It's A Miracle (Mercury 70094) 1953 - This Side Of Heaven / You're The One For Me (Mercury 70180) 1953 - Cattle Call / A Smile For Suzette (Mercury 70210) 1953 - If I Never Get To Heaven / Ask Me No Questions (Mercury 70271) 1954 - I'll Close My Eyes / I've Got An Invitation To Dance (Mercury 70324) 1954 - You're The Only One I Adore Go Home Joe (Mercury 70376)
1957 - Ask Me No Questions / I've Got An Invitation To Dance (Mercury 71187) 1954 - Sh-Boom / When Ever, Where Ever (Coral 61212)
1954 - The Honeydripper / Love Me (Coral 61264) 1955 - I Wanna Hug You, Kiss You, Squeeze You / Smoke from Your Cigarette (Coral 61363) 1955 - Fools Rush In / He Follows She (Coral 61346) 1955 - Wonderful, Wonderful One Glory Of Love (Coral 61462) 1955 - Learning to Love / Just A Little Bit More (Coral 61498) 1956 - Cry Baby / A Crazy Little Palace (Coral 61576)
1956 - Pray / You'll Reach Your Star (Coral 61639) 1956 - I Guess I'll Be On My Way / This Planet Earth (Coral 61684) 1956 - Don't Cry on My Shoulder / Shame, Shame, Shame (Coral 61730) 1956 - Stormy / Follow Me (Coral 61751)
1957 - The Pied Piper / Butterfly (Coral 61795) 1957 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter / Date With The Blues (Coral 61830) 1957 - Got A Date With An Angel / The Lord Will Understand (Coral 61886) 1957 - Baby, Baby / Don't Let Go (Coral 61932) 1958 - Steppin' Out Tonight / There I've Said it Again (Coral 61961) 1958 - I'll Get By / It's Praying Time (Coral 61999) 1958 - So Long / It Hurts So Much (Coral 62029) 1958 - Nola / Tied To The Strings Of Your Heart (Coral 62069) 1959 - Red Hot Love / Goodnight Irene (Coral 62101) 1959 - Go To Sleep, Go To Sleep, Go To Sleep / Telephone Conversation (with Barbara McNair) (Coral 62131) 1959 - Smack Dab In The Middle / I Wonder (Coral 62140) 1960 - The Lover Of All Lovers / I Cried For You (Coral 62218) 1960 - Begin The Beguine / For You (Coral 62230)
LPs :
1956 - MGM E-3400: Billy Williams Sings - Billy Williams Quartet Gaucho Serenade / Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea / I Won't Cry Anymore / (Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To) Shanghai / (It's No) Sin / Pretty Eyed Baby / Wheel Of Fortune / (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry / Don't Worry 'Bout Me / You Made Me Love You / Music By The Angels / In The Cool Of The Evening
1957 - Mercury MG-20317: "Oh Yeah!" It's Billy Williams - Billy Williams Quartet An Invitation To Dance / It's Best We Say Goodbye / I'll Close My Eyes To The Rest Of The World / If I Never Get to Heaven / Ask Me No Questions / Cattle Call / A Smile For Suzette / This Side Of Heaven / Who Knows / Azure-Te / I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
1959 - Mercury/Wing MGW-12131: Vote For Billy Williams - Billy Williams I Don't Know Why / Azure-Te / Who Knows / You're The One For Me / This Side of Heaven / A Smile For Suzette / Cattle Call / You're The Only One I Adore / It's Best We Sat Goodbye / Mad About Cha / If I Never Get To Heaven / Ask Me No Questions
1957 - Coral 57184 : Billy Williams I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter / Butterfly / Follow Me / The Honeydripper / Glory Of Love / Cry Baby / A Crazy Little Palace / Fools Rush In / Love Me / Pray / When Ever, Where Ever / I Guess I'll Be On My Way.
1957 - Coral 57213 : Rock Around the Block - Alan Freed and his Rock & Roll Band featuring Buddy Holly, Billy Williams and the Modernaires Two tracks by the Billy Williams Quartet: Don't Let Go and Baby Baby.
1959 - Coral 57251 : Half Sweet, Half Beat Nola, I Wonder, Goodnight Irene, Four Or Five Times, The Little Boy, You Don't Know, A Kiss And A Rose, Smack Dab In The Middle, Dream Of You, Red Hot Love, Pour Me A Glass Of Teardrops, Walkin' By The River.
1960 - Coral 57343 : The Billy Williams Revue - featuring Billy Williams He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Billy Williams & Fats Hudson / I Cried For You - Billy Williams / Mack The Knife - Fats Hudson / Angel Eyes - Clora Bryant / South Of The Border - Don Nero / Over The Rainbow - Four Dukes / Begin The Beguine - Billy Williams / Blueberry Hill - Clora Bryant / Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home - Tommy Butler & Don Nero / Blues For The Q - Bob Bryant / I Was Telling Her About You - Skip Cunningham / Alright, Okay, You Win - Billy Williams
EPs :
1956 - Gaucho Serenade / Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea / I Won't Cry Anymore / (Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To) Shanghai (MGM X1305) 1956 - (It's No) Sin / Pretty Eyed Baby / Wheel Of Fortune / (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry (MGM X1306) 1956 - Don't Worry 'Bout Me / You Made Me Love You / Music By The Angels / In The Cool Of The Evening (MGM X1307) 1955 - This Side Of Heaven / You're The One For Me / Cattle Call / A Smile For Suzette (Mercury EP-1-3086) 1956 - I've Got An Invitation To A Dance / I'll Close My Eyes / If I Never Get To Heaven / Ask Me No Questions (Mercury EP 1-3219) 1957 - I'll Close My Eyes To The Rest Of The World / You're The One For Me / This Side of Heaven / I Don't Know Why (Mercury EP 1-3360) 1957 - I've Got An Invitation To Dance / It's Best We Say Goodbye / Ask Me No More Questions / Who Knows (Mercury EP 1-3364) 1957 - If I Never Get To Heaven / A Smile For Suzette / Cattle Call / Azure-Te (Mercury EP 1-3365) 1957 - Got A Date With An Angel / I Surrender, Dear / I'm Confessin' / So Long (Coral EP 81163)
Biography :
By late 1949 after close to two decades as the front man for the group Billy Williams decided to call it quits with The Charioteers and form a new vocal quartet and give himself more of a say in matters musical and financial. The Charioteers lost their leader and also the long association with Columbia and were seldom heard from again.
The Charioteers
The new foursome was the self named Billy Williams Quartet and with Billy were Eugene Dixon, Claude Riddick, and John Bell. They landed a guest spot on the television weekly called "The Admiral Saturday Night Revue" for the NBC television network. In May of 1950 MGM Records signs the group to its label and soon has appearances at New York's Roxy Theater and Blue Angel nightclub and they land a spot on the Henry Morgan radio show. In September the quartet is signed on as a regular feature of a revamped Saturday Night Revue show called "Your Show Of Shows" to star Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca for NBC.
They become one of the first Black performers to have a regular spot on a network variety show, and used a memorable opening with a dramatic lineup by the group as they led into their songs. Their television exposure helps the group as they spend the summer of 1951 doing an extended and well received stay in Los Angeles at the Tiffany Club. The quartet also has their first charted record during the summer with "Shanghai" on MGM #10998 that is a top twenty seller. As they begin their second year on the NBC tv show, their cover of the Four Aces "Sin" (MGM #11066) hits the pop charts.
In early 1952 the group ends their connection with MGM Records and moves over to Mercury. In the fall of the year Mercury #70012 is released. It does not make the pop charts but it is an influential record especially on the East coast. "Mad About 'Cha" is a hypnotic churning uptempo rocker that becomes almost manic in its climax, and the flip "I Don't Know Why" contains lovely harmonies quite reminiscent of Billy's days with The Charioteers. As they continue their TV run during 1953 for NBC, The Billy Williams Quartet makes the pop charts briefly with "Pour Me A Glass Of Teardrops" on Mercury #70094.
Billy Williams
In person appearances at theaters and nightclubs continue for the group for much of the year. In June 1954 the group changes labels again, as they leave Mercury and sign on with Decca's subsidiary label Coral. The television run ends as "Your Show Of Shows" calls it quits after five years as a staple of Saturday night entertainment. The rock 'n roll age is almost upon America and the quartet recognizes this fact with a summer cover of The Chords "Sh-Boom" on Coral #61212.
Surprisingly it makes the top twenty best sellers list in August. In October the group goes to the R & B well with "The Honeydripper" on Coral #61264. The flip side is "Love Me", but nothing much happens with the record. In February of 1955 The Billy Williams Quartet is involved in one of the most original and historic relics of the first golden age of rock 'n roll. The quartet does two covers for Coral Records (on #61363) -
The Mellows "Smoke From Your Cigarette" and Buddy and Claudia's "I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya". Now "Smoke" is just a straight forward version of the ballad by the group, but the raucous flip side of the hard edged rocker is complete with a full intro by Alan Freed, shouted comments during the blasting sax solo by Al Sears and charging guitar by Mickey Baker (to say nothing of the thumping tempo by Panama Francis) , clanging cowbell, etc.-in other words all the audio features of the original Moondog persona. It is two and a half minutes of a rock rarity in sound, and that the Billy Williams Quartet is the featured act is amazing.
A few more unsuccessful covers for Coral followed and by 1957 the quartet was no more. Billy hung on trying to make it as a solo performer without much luck until the summer of 1957. That's when Billy unearthed a tune written in 1936 called "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter", gave it a pop flavored delivery spiced with a few Timmie Rogers derived "oh yeahs", and lo and behold, a pop smash was hatched. It was incomprehensible, but there it was-a number three nationally, and close to five months on the pop charts.
(with Conchita Nikkitani)
Coral #61830 was huge, and it was at the right time for Billy to make history (and the answer to an all time trivia question) when he became the very first guest on the national telecast of American Bandstand. Summing up his life at that point, to Dick Clark's question of what was keeping him busy Williams answered slyly "oh yeah !" And so Billy Williams had done that very special characteristic of entertainers-the re-invention of oneself.
He followed up his huge and unexpected success with similar attempts - the old Hal Kemp-Skinnay Ennis tune "Got A date With An Angel" (Coral #61886) and the Vincent Lopez theme "Nola" on Coral #62069. Both charted briefly, and once again Billy Williams was adrift in the world of pop music. He kept at it even though such releases as "Good Night Irene" (#62101) and "Begin The Beguine" (# 62230) went nowhere. A duet with budding songstress Barbara McNair (#62131) also disappeared. And soon so did Billy Williams who became a fifties memory throughout the sixties.
This man whose vocal talents were featured for three decades unfortunately came to an inglorious end. In October of 1972 he passed away. He was living in a donated room in the basement of a church in Chicago, and city authorities could not find anyone to claim the body or to provide for a decent burial. He deserved better, but unfortunately his is not an isolated story (see the story of Dee Clark for example). But luckily for us, we have the music.
From the soaring tenor singing of The Charioteers, to the dramatic vocals of the Billy Williams Quartet, to the playful oldies of his solo days, Billy Williams was a true American original. Remember his music, and most of all, remember him.
1956 - Sammy Davis Jr., Little "Butchie" Saunders (9 year-old) and Elroy Peace.
Little "Butchie" Saunders & His Buddies (4) (Manhattan, New York)
Ref : Butchy Saunders & The Elchords Ref : Little Butchie & The Vells (1)
Personnel :
John L. Brown aka Butchy Saunders (Lead)
The Buddies ?
Discography :
Little "Butchie" Saunders & His Buddies (4) Singles: 1956 - Lindy Lou / Rock 'n Roll Indian Dance (Herald 485) 1956 - Great Big Heart / I Wanna Holler (Herald 481) Unreleased : 1956 - Don't Do Me Wrong (Gee)
Butchy Saunders & The Elchords 1958 - Gee I'm In Love / Peppermint Stick (Good 544/5)
Little Butchie & The Vells (1) Single : 1959 - Over The Rainbow / Sometimes Little Girl (Angle Tone 535) Unreleased : 1959 - Please Tell The Angels (Angle Tone)
Biography :
Beginning in 1956, every young singing prodigy in urban areas in the Northeast was following the lead position set by Frankie Lymon and his vocal group called The Teenagers. Because of the great success of the Lymon group, every independent record label was looking for their own "Frankie Lymon". One of the many hopefuls back in 1956 was nine year old John Brown in the city of Newark, New Jersey. When Brown felt that he was ready for professional direction and a shot at a record session, he went out and looked for contacts in the busy record industry in New York. He began using a stage name and he was known as Butchie Saunders. He eventually found his way to Herald Records in New York and soon had a vocal group surrounding him called The Buddies. He was being managed by Elroy Peace, a long time song and dance performer.
In August a jump tune called "Lindy Lou" was picked for the group and the flip side was "Rock & Roll Indian Dance" on Herald # 485. The record got good airplay and sales in the New York and Philadelphia areas. The record starts to sell in Chicago thanks to The Great Montague that city's top radio personality. In late August, Butchie and The Buddies appeared at the Apollo Theater with Doctor Jive (Tommy Smalls). In November of 1956, now billed as Little Butchie Saunders, Herald releases "Great Big Heart" and "I Wanna Holler" on # 491. This time there was no magic for Butchie, and the record did not sell much despite a concentrated effort in Washington D.C. and the Virginia Tidewater area of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Herald Records had second thoughts on continuing with the group. The label felt that the onslaught of Lymon sound-alikes was a glut on the scene. Subsequently Herald Records dropped the group from their recording roster and Butchie was out on his own again.
Little Butchie & The Vells
Butchie went back to making the rounds of the smaller New York independents looking for a break. He was eventually led to a man named Al Tate who had begun a new recording enterprise called Good Records. A vocal quartet was quickly thrown together including Ronald Talbert, David Ballot Elliot Johnson and Raphael ? (some source gives other names). They were called The Elchords and worked on two songs that were prepared for the group. The tunes were "Peppermint Stick" and "Gee I'm In Love" and were soon released on Good # 544. The record picked up radio airplay almost immediately, and was a good sized hit in the urban Northeast during the spring of 1958. Unfortunately for the group, some internal dissension coupled with problems with the record label ended the career of The Elchords after one record. Both sides were reissued a year later on the MusicTone label (# 1107). But that was not the end of the line for Butchie Saunders. After a try to hook up with George Goldner (who had Frankie Lymon and his group) came to nothing, Saunders did make a connection with AngleTone Records most known for a number of hits by The Fi-Tones. The label had a group called The Vells, and they had the idea to front the group with Butchie as the lead singer. The combined group had one release for the label "Sometimes Little Girl" and "Over The Rainbow" on AngleTone # 535 in 1959. It was not a successful record for the group and soon Butchie Saunders faded with the oncoming nineteen sixties. https://dmpsync.com/artists/3992
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