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

The Fireflies aka The Fireflys

Posted on May 12 2010 by dion1

The Fireflies (Long Island, New York)
aka The Fireflys

Personnel :

Ritchie Adams (Vocals and Guitar)

Lee Reynolds (Vocals and Bass Guitar)

John Viscelli (Sax and Vocals)

Paul Giacalone (Vocals and Drums)

Discography :

Single :

The Fireflys
1958 - The Crawl / Where The Candlelight Glows (Roulette 4098)

The Fireflies
1959 - You Were Mine / Stella's Got A Fella (Ribbon 6901)
1959 - I Can't Say Goodbye / What Did I Do Wrong (Ribbon 6904)
1960 - My Girl / Because Of My Pride (Ribbon 6906)
1960 - Give All Your Love To Me/ Marianne (Canadian American 117)
1962 - You Were Mine (For Awhile) / One O'Clock Twist (Taurus 355)
1964 - My Prayer For You / Good Friends (Taurus 366)
1966 - Runaround / Could You Mean More (Taurus 376)
1968 - Tonight / A Time For Us (Taurus 380)

Lp :

1963 - The Swingin' Fire Flies (Taurus LP 1002)
You Were Mine / Hully Gully Baby / For Sentimental Reasons / Our Day Will Come / Love Me Do / Bye Bye Love / Walk Don't Run / Moon River / Irresistible You / Twist And Shout / One O'Clock Twist / Please Please Me / Traveling Man / Good Friends

The Fireflies aka The Fireflys

Biography :

The Long Island, New York Doo-Wop quintet The Fireflies (lead Ritchie Adams, Paul Giacalone, John Viscelli, Lee Reynolds and Carl Girosli) managed to avoid becoming members of the bona-fide One Hit Wonder Club thanks to a low-ranking 1960 entry. Produced by Gerry Granahan, after their initial single failed to chart in 1958 - The Crawl b/w Where The Candlights Glow as Roulette 4098 - they joined the tiny and short-lived Ribbon Records of New York City where they scored with their first single. You Were Mine, written by Giacalone, topped out at # 21 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in Sept-Oct 1959 as Ribbon 6901 b/w Stella Got A Fella. Which, in the circumstances, was amazing when you consider the limited promotional clout of Ribbon.

In fact, Ribbon would only ever release 12 singles before folding in 1960, two of which made the national charts. And both belonged to The Fireflies. Their follow-up I Can't Say Goodbye (and also written by Giacalone), billed as The Fireflies Featuring Ritchie Adams, didn't fare even remotely as well, pulling up at # 90 in Jan-Feb 1960 as Ribbon 6904 b/w What Did I Do Wrong? And that would be it in terms of national recognition, although their music did well on a local/regional basis, including Because Of My Pride b/w My Girl as Ribbon 6906 later that spring. Adams also had two singles released in 1960 with solo billing - Lonely One b/w Tell Me Baby Did You Wait? (Ribbon 6910) and Back To School b/w Don't Go My Love, Don't Go (Ribbon 6913) but neither charted.

After four singles for Roulette & Ribbon records, the Fireflie's broke up. Lee Reynolds & Gerry Granahan recording as Lee & The Sounds. Months later, Lee form a new Fireflies group with Frank Piaza, Robert Saraniero and Richard Spero. Robert Saraniero and Richard Spero, two handsome brothers from the Bronx, had written and recorded two songs in early 1959, "Purple Pedal Pushers" and "Suzzane" which had been released by Golden Crest as Ricky and Robby. The New Fireflies recorded one single in 1960 for Canadian American Records with "Give All Your Love To Me" and the beautiful ballad "Marianne written by Robert and Richard. The group does not appear to have had any singles released in 1961, but Adams did have two solo efforts emerge at Beltone Records - No Mistaken It (I'm In Love) b/w The Right Away (Beltone 1001) and Two Initials (In A Heart) b/w What Took You So Long? (Beltone 1011), and he continued that in 1962 at Imperial Records with I Got Eyes b/w Something Inside Of Me Died (Imperial 5806) and Pakistan b/w My Prayer Of Love (Imperial 5838). None charted nationally.

It was also in 1962 that the group cut the first of four singles for Mike Serby's Brooklyn-based Taurus Records - One O'Clock Twist b/w You Were Mine (For Awhile) as Taurus 355. It would be another year before they had their second at Taurus, Good Friends b/w My Prayer For You (Taurus 366) but by 1964 the British Invasion was in full swing and room on the charts was available only to the best of the North American artists. As well, Doo-Wop was fading fast, so none among Runaround b/w Could You Mean More? (Taurus 376) and Tonight b/w A Time For Us (Taurus 380) could do anything in 1965. In 1966, Adams had his last kick at the can as a solo billing with a re-make of You Were Mine b/w Better Off without You as MGM K13629. The group dissolved in 1967.

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The Gypsies (3)

Posted on May 7 2010 by dion1

The Gypsies (3) (South Carolina)

Personnel :

Lestine Johnson

Ernestine Pearce

Shirley Pearce

Betty Pearce

Discography :

1964 - Hey There, Hey There / Blue Bird (Mr. Jay) (Old Town 1168)
1965 - Jerk It / Diamonds, Rubies, Gold And Fame (Old Town 1180)
1965 - It's A Woman's World / They're Having A Party (Old Town 1184)
1966 - Oh I Wonder Why / Diamonds, Rubies, Gold And Fame (Old Town 1193)

Biography :

In 1962 in New York, four women from South Carolina formed The Gypsies. They were Lestine Johnson and sisters Ernestine Pearce, Shirley Pearce and Betty Pearce. In 1964 they signed to Old Town Records, where they released their debut single "Hey There, Hey There". The song achieved airplay only on local radio stations, but their next single ‚the J.J. Jackson-written "Jerk It" ‚was more successful, reaching #111 (pop) and #33 (R&B) in the spring of 1965. Despite the relative success of "Jerk It", Lestine Johnson left the group, replaced by Viola Billups. The Gypsies released only two singles on Old Town Records in 1966, giving them a total of four.

That year, now on Josie Records, the four women renamed themselves The Flirtations and released the well-regarded northern soul ballad "Change My Darkness Into Light". It was ignored by DJs and sales suffered. The quartet then moved to Festival Records, where they released "Stronger Than Her Love" and "Settle Down" as a single, which failed to spark much interest.

Song :
(By Hans-Joachim)

Jerk It                Hey There, Hey There         Diamonds, Rubies, Gold And Fame


It's A Woman's World             They're Having A Party           Oh I Wonder Why

...

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The Interludes (4)

Posted on May 5 2010 by dion1

The Interludes (4) (Boston, MA)

Personnel :

Bobby Berman (Lead)

Ron Sorgman (First Tenor)

Harvey Robbins

Gil Goldman

Discography :

N/A - Duck Boy (Unreleased)
N/A - That's What You're Doing to Me (Unreleased)

Biography :

Harvey Robbins had brief stints performing with local doo-wopp groups The Zorros and The Cascades, before joining the professional trio The Interludes. During the three-and-a-half years that he was with the group, Robbins and The Interludes played the local deejay circuit in the 1950s and recorded one single, "Duck Boy"/"That's What You're Doing to Me." However, due to lack of nationwide distribution, the record never left the shelf and the group disbanded.

...

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The Distants

Posted on May 3 2010 by dion1

The Distants (Detroit, Michigan)

Personnel :

Richard "Strick" Street (Lead)

Otis Williams

Melvin Franklin

Elbridge "Al" Bryant

James Crawford

Discography :

The Distants
1960 - Come On / Always (Northern 3732 / Warwick 546)
1960 - All Right / Open Your Heart (Northern 3732/Warwick 577)

Richard Street & The Distants (GM Eddie Kendricks)
1962 - Answer Me / Save Me From This Misery (Thelma/Harmon 1002)

Biography :

The Temptations included members of two local Detroit vocal groups: from The Distants, second tenor Otis Williams, first tenor Elbridge "Al" Bryant and bass Melvin Franklin; and from The Primes, first tenor/falsetto Eddie Kendricks and second tenor/baritone Paul Williams (no relation to Otis). Four of the Distants became members of the world-renowned Temptations, the most popular male recording group ever. They began as Otis & the Siberians with a lineup of Otis Williams, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, James Crawford, Arthur Walton, and Vernard Plain. Detroit DJ Bill Williams discovered them singing at a hop and became their manager, and helped get them their first recording opportunity "Pecos Kid" b/w "All of My Life" for another DJ, Senator Bristol Bryant's label. Williams had little time and no managerial skills, and Bryant had no inclination to promote the record outside of Detroit; so they switched to Johnnie Mae Matthews' Northern Records.

The Primes

The single never took off outside the local Detroit market, and the Siberians changed their name to The El Domingoes shortly afterward. At this time, more changes took place. Montgomery, Alabama native Melvin Franklin replaced Arthur Walton as the bass singer and Franklin's cousin, Detroit-born Richard Street, replaced Vernard Plain as lead singer. The group soon signed with Northern Records, run by Johnnie Mae Matthews, who renamed the group The Distants. The Distants recorded two singles for Northern, "Come On" (1959, featuring additional background vocals by the Andantes), and "Alright" (1960).

The original early 1960s Temptations lineup. Clockwise from top right:
Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and Elbridge "Al" Bryant.

Between these two releases, Albert "Mooch" Harrell replaced Pee-Wee Crawford. "Come On" was a local hit for the Distants, and the Warwick label picked the record up for national distribution. After the release of "Alright", Matthews appointed Williams the group leader, and the group was renamed Otis Williams & the Distants. Though Otis Williams had a pleasant, but unremarkable, lead voice, he organized the group and so became the defacto leader, as he would later with the Temptations.

Songs :

The Distants

Come On Always

All Right Open Your Heart

Richard Street & The Distants

Answer Me Save Me From This Misery

...

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The Four Winds (6) aka The Teamates (3) aka The Brooks Four

Posted on May 1 2010 by dion1

The Four Winds (6) (Bound Brook, New Jersey)
aka The Brooks Four aka The Teamates (3)
(By Robert Paladino)

Personnel :

Bob Dileo (Lead & Second Tenor)

Frank Giaretta (First Tenor)

Frank Delisi (Baritone)

Bob Paladino (Lead, Bass & Baritone)

Discography :

The Brooks Four
1962 - I'm Not Good Enough For You / I'll Be Faithful (Sinclair 1007)

The Four Winds (6)
Single:
1963 - Playgirl / Jennifer (Felsted 8703 /Derby 10022)
Unreleased :
1963 - A chance To Live

The Teamates (3)
Single:
1964 - Calendar Of Love / I Say Goodbye (Lemans 006/006)
Unreleased :
1964 - Darlene (Lemans)
1964 - Sadboy (Lemans)

Biography :

The Brooks Four was formed in Bound Brook Highschool in 1960. All four members were Italian/American friends living within 6 blocks of each other, in Bound Brook, New Jersey, USA. We had 2 Franks (Frank Giaretta 1st Tenor, Frank Delisi, Baritone) and 2 Bob's (Bob Dileo, 2nd Tenor, Lead Singer, Arranger, Songwriter, myself ,Bob Paladino, Bass/Baritone, Lead Singer, Songwirter, ). Hence our name The Brooks Four! We practiced alot, realized that our voices blended well, and sang for school talent shows, private parties, etc. We were attracting adults and musicians who recognized that we could sing 4 part harmony. As teenagers we sang with big bands, (At the Rutgers University Military Ball, we performed alongside the Duke Ellington Band. We performed original songs written by local adult composers, and guest stared with my brothers band in NJ nightclubs. In 1961, we entered the battle of the groups in New York City hosted by renowned disc-jockey, "Murray The K". We placed in the top 20 finalists singing a 4 part harmony song called "It's a blue World", a vocal jazz standard, not a rock'n roll song!

The Four Winds (6) aka The Teamates (3) aka The Brooks Four

Bob DiLeo and I composed "I'll Be Faithful" in 1962 and sang it for Vinny Catalano, producer for Sinclair Records. We recorded for V. Catalano, and that same night he produced "Your my Coney Island Baby", by the Excellents. They got the hit record, and we did not. However, Bob DiLeo and I arranged "I'll be faithful" with a great falsetto and harmony introduction, that was cut from the record by V. Catalano, I felt it was a major mistake on his part. In 1963 we recorded under the name "The Four Winds" for Felsted Records, Jennifer , and Playgirl (written by Mike Paladino, my brother). Playgirl received a red bulllet sure hit potential) by Billboard Magazine in early November, in about 2 weeks Pres.

The Four Winds (6) aka The Teamates (3) aka The Brooks Four
Vinny Catalano

John F. Kennedy was assasinated, and "the music stopped", and when it resumed, our record was shelved! In 1964 we recorded for LeMans Records under the name The Teamates. We recorded "Calendar of Love" (on youtube) written by my brother Mike, and "I say Goodbye", written by me. We did the first live color TV broadcast from the NY Worlds Fair with the Shangrilas, Joe Williams, Ronnie Dove, etc. We then did The Clay Cole TV Show from NYC with Jimmy Clanton, Gary U.S. Bonds, etc. Shortly thereafter, we started to play instruments, and get bookings in seaside resorts. In 1965 we had an audition set up for the Lawrence Welk TV show, and despite this prospect, Bob Dileo decided to try and make it as a solo performer.

The Four Winds (6) aka The Teamates (3) aka The Brooks Four

He had Bob Marcucci, Frankie Avalon & Fabians manager representing him. He had many opportunities, but to this day, he still performs in local nightclubs. 1n 1968 I wrote, produced and performed on 2 Motown type songs entitled "You don't love Me"and "Where were You" (both on youtube). The Studio owners were Tony Bongiovi (Jon Bonjovi) uncle, and Tony Camillo. Tony Camillo arranged the strings/horns for both sides, took my record to Motown, as part of his portfolio of arrangements, and became a " Grammy winner arranger/conductor" for Gladys Knight. I always hoped that The Brooks Four would reunite! In 2006, Frank Giaretta passed away!

Upper left is Bob DiLeo, Upper right is Bob Paladino
lower left is Frank Giarett and lower right is Frank Delisi

Notes :

Here are a few notes about Darlene and Sadboy unreleased demos by The Teamates, in 1964. Both songs were written by Robert Paladino and vocally arrranged by Bob DiLeo of the Teamates. The demo's were recorded in the same timeline with the released record (Calendar of Love, I Say Goodbye), using the same studio (Stea Phillips, NYC), same music arranger (Charles Calello), same Engineer (Gordon Clark). It should be noted that the exact same staff and studio were utilized by Frankie Vallie/Four Seasons for most of their long list of hit records in the 1960's. Listeners may be able to hear a similarity between the style of the Seasons and that of The Teamates on these two selections. The Teamates on many occasions would perform at Record Hops, or on Television, and would sing Calendar of Love (A Side), and encore with Darlene, instead of I Say Goodbye, which was the released B side of the record. These songs are made available through an old demo that Robert Paladino kept for the last 46 years.

A Chance To Live (Unreleased)
Song written by Tom DeCillis (US Disc Jockey) called "a chance to live". We recorded this as the Four Winds in 1964 for Nick Massi and Tom DeVito of The Four Seasons. It was for the Leukemia Foundation and was never released.

Robert Paladino
The Brooks Four

Songs :

The Brooks Four

I'll Be Faithful (My favorite Doo Wop) I'm Not Good Enough For You

The Four Winds (6)

Jennifer Playgirl A Chance To Live

The Teamates (3)

Calendar Of Love I Say Goodbye

Darlene Sad Boy

...

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The Cookies aka The Palisades (4) aka The Stepping Stones aka The Cinderellas (3) aka The Honey Bees (2)

Posted on April 28 2010 by dion1

The Cookies (Brooklyn, New-York)
aka The Palisades (4)
aka The Stepping Stones
aka The Cinderellas (3)
aka The Honey Bees (2)

Personnel :

Dorothy Jones

Darlene McCrea

Beulah Robertson

Discography :

Singles :

The Cookies
1954 - Don't Let Go "Hold Me Hold Me" / All Night Mambo (Lamp 8008) 
1955 - Later Later / Precious Love ( Atlantic 1061) 
1956 - In Paradise / Precious Love (Atlantic 1084/2079) 
1956 - Down By The River / My Lover (Atlantic 1110)
1957 - King Of Hearts / Happy Dippy Daddy (Josie 882) 
1962 - Chains / Stranger In My Arms (Dimension 1002 / L.A.R 45-HLU 9634) 
1963 - Don't Say Nothin' Bad / Softly In The Night (Dimension 1008)
1963 - Will Power / I Want A Boy For My Birthday (Dimension 1012)
1963 - Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys / Only To Other People (Dimension 1020) 
1964 - I Never Dreamed / The Old Crowd (Dimension 1032) 
1967 - Wounded / All My Trials (Warner Bros 7025)
1967 - Mr. Cupid / Hang My Head And Cry (Warner Bros 7041)

Ray Charles & The Cookies
1958 - Yes Indeed / I Had A Dream (Atlantic 1180)

The Palisades (4)
1963 - Make The Night A Little Longer / Heaven Is Being With You (Chairman 4401)

The Stepping Stones
1963 - I Got My Job Through The New York Times / The Nearness Of You (Philips 40108)

The Cinderellas (3)
1964 - Please Don't Wake Me / Baby, Baby Still Love You (Dimension 1026)

The Honey Bees (2)
1964 - One Wonderful Night / She Don't Deserve You (Fontana 1939)
1965 - Some Of Your Lovin' / You Turn Me On Boy (Fontana 1505)
1965 - I'm His Girl (Fontana) (Unreleased)

Lps :
1963 - The Dimension Dolls (Dimension LP 6001)
Foolish Little Girl / On Broadway / Don't Say Nothin' Bad

Biography :

The Cookies started out as a backup vocal trio in 1954 with Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea, and Beulah Robertson.

With Jesse Stone of Atlantic Records

They Recorded for Lamp Records in 1954. Together they became the Cookies making their debut at The Apollo Theatre on Amateur Night, winning the contest. There they were spotted by an Jesse Stone of Atlantic Records, who brought them to the label for vocal sessions in 1955.

They recorded three sessions under the Cookie name and had a Top Ten R&B hit with "In Paradise" in 1956. There, they did back-ups for many singers on the Atlantic roster, including LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown and Ray Charles. They also backed Joe Turner and Chuck Willis on their hit recordings in 1956.

It was during their time at Atlantic that Neil Sedaka found them, used them on some of his early RCA hits, and later recommended them to Carole King for backup work on Tony Orlando's recordings. While working on one of Orlando's sessions, Don Kirshner heard them improvising around the piano and asked them to record for Aldon.

With Neil Sedaka

When Darlene and Margie left to join Ray Charles' backing group the Raelettes in 1958, Darlene's younger sister Earl-Jean joined along with Margaret Ross. It was this trio that found itself in New York working with Carole King during the early 1960s. The Cookies are Dorothy Jones, Margaret Ross and Earl-Jean McCrea. Almost six years later, this new trio emerged as the Cookies on Dimension.

The Raelettes

They became staples on most Aldon sponsored sessions, doing backup vocals for Neil Sedaka, little Eva, and Carol King, while having two Top Ten R&B, and one Top Twenty pop hit in 1962 ("Chains") and 1963. "Don't Say Nothing Bad (About My Baby)' was their biggest, reaching number three R&B (number seven pop) in 1963.

"Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys" was their last chart hit reaching a respectable number thirty-three in November 1963 as the British Invasion brought their success to an end. The Cookies also released several recordings under pseudonyms, mostly with Margaret Ross on lead.

Their alter egos on recordings were The Palisades (Chairman), The Stepping Stones (Philips), The Cinderellas (Dimension) and The Honey Bees (Fontana 1939 only) In late 1966 the Cookies signed with Warner Brothers. In April 1967 they released their last record. And as they say that's how the Cookies crumbled.

http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/cookies.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/cookies.htm

...

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The Desires (1)

Posted on April 25 2010 by dion1

The Desires (1) (New-York)

Personnel :

Robert "Bootsie" White (Lead)

Charles Hurston (First Tenor)

Jim Whittier (Tenor)

George "Smithy" Smith (Baritone)

Charles Powell (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1959 - Let It Please You / Hey, Lena (Hull 730)
1960 - I Wanna Rendezvous With You / Set Me Free (My Darling) (Hull 733)

Unreleased:
N/A - Me And You (Hull)
N/A - Coast Of Red (Hull)
N/A - A Talk To Mother (Hull)
N/A - I Love Paris (Hull)
N/A - Sidewalks Of New York (Hull)
N/A - So Close To An Angel (Hull)

Biography :

The Desires were a doo wop group of the late '50s who brought a high degree of vocal professionalism to the marketplace in their short career. They met at the 118th Street Youth Center in New York City and originally called themselves the Students. The membership came from three separate area high schools and consisted of Robert "Bootsie" White (lead from Cooper High School), Charles Hurston (tenor, Herrod High), George "Smithy" Smith (baritone. Herrod High), Charles Powell (bass, Franklin High), and Jim Whittier (tenor from Rochester, New York and former member of the Jivetones on Apt) They changed their name upon hearing of the other Students ("I'm So Young") and began a rigorous schedule of rehearsals to sharpen their sound.

James Dailey & the Bobettes

Unlike many street groups of New York, the Desires worked with a vocal coach, Eddie Jones, formerly of the Demens on Teenage and the Emersons on Newport. In 1959 the group attracted the attention of BOBBETTES manager James Dailey, and it was he who took the youngsters to Hull Records with several demos of songs they'd Written.Their first release was a solid New York-style ballad, "Let It Please Be You," with Bootsie singing his Frankie Lymon-like heart out. espite its weak national showing, it was a song destined to become an East Coast favorite and a part of almost every '60s doo wop group's repertoire.

(Left to right) Jim Whittier, Charles Hurston, Charles Powell, George Smith - Bottom Robert White

The uptempo B side, "Hey Lena," also showcased their strong harmonies and a sound reminiscent of the TEENAGERS. Taking advantage of regional radio reactionto "Let It Please Be You," the Desires played such swank venues as Bellevue Hospital (home of THE BONNIE Sisters) in New York and Jocko's Rollerskating Rink in New Jersey while traveling up and down the East Coast performing with The Paragon, the Jestaers, and the Kodaks, among others.

The Chiffons

The group had their very own fan club of which Patricia Bennett. Judy Craig, and Barbara Lee were active members, shouting support at every local Desires performances. Those three girls and Sylvia Peterson later went on to become THE CHIFFONS. The Desires' second 45, "Rendezvous with You," was released in 1960 and received somewhat less response than their previous effort. Still, its New York play earned them a spot on Murray the K's Brooklyn Fox show. A bad management decision kept the group from making a deal with Scepter, and when their third single went unreleased by Hull, the Desires' recording career was over.

Songs :


Hey Lena                                  I Wanna Rendezvous With You


Set Me Free                          Let It Please Be You

.....

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Vito & the Salutations

Posted on April 24 2010 by dion1

Vito & the Salutations (Brooklyn, New-York)

Personnel :

Vito Balsamo (Lead)

Randy Silverman (Lead / First Tenor)

Shelly Buchansky (First / Second Tenor)

Lenny Citrin (Baritone)

Frankie Fox (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1962 - Gloria / Let's Untwist The Twist (Rayna 5009/Red Boy 5009)
1962 - Your Way / hey, Hey baby (Kram 1202/5002)
1963 - Unchained Melody / Hey, Hey Baby (Herald 583)
1963 - Extraordinary Girl / Eenie Meenie (Herald 586)
1964 - Liverpool Bound / Can I Depend On You (Wells 1008)
1964 - Don't Count On Me / Day O (Wells 1010)
1964 - Girls I Know / Get a Job (Regina 1320)
1965 - Walkin' / High Noon (Apt 25079)
1966 - Bring Back Yesterday / I Want You To Be My Baby (Boom 60020)
1966 - So Wonderful (My Love) / I'd Best Be Going (Red boy 1001/Sandbag 103)
1966 - Can I Depend On You / Hello Dolly (Rust 5106)

Unreleased:
1961 - I Look At The Moon
1962 - Keep A Light In The Window (Rayna)
1962 - Be My Girlfriend (Kram)

Biography :

The Salutations were originally a group from the Brownsville and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn who became known for reviving standards in a most unorthodox way. Sometime in 1961, Bob De Pallo, Barry Solomon, and a long-since-forgotten third harmonizer were heard singing in a New York subway station (the Big Apple's stations are known for their natural echo-and not much else). The lady who listened was one Linda Scott, who recommended the singers to producer Dave Rick.

Dave was holding auditions in three days and invited them down, putting Bob and Barry in the position of having to quickly put together a real group. Bob's younger brother played him a demo by neighborhood 14-year-old Vito Balsamo, and De Pallo tracked the teen to P. S. 230 to offer him the lead singing spot. Vito agreed and brought along baritone Bobby Mitchell. The group rehearsed with one day left and instantly became Vito and the Salutations after the line in disc jockey "Jocko" Henderson's nightly opening patter, "Greeting and salutations, ooh-pooh-pa-doo."

On the day of the audition, they were the last of 20 acts to perform for Dave Rick, but they caught his ear with a version of THE CRESTS' "My Juanita." In December 1961 the group went into ODO Studios and recorded several songs. One of them came from a last-minute suggestion by Big Top Records exec David Mook, who heard the group warming up with the CADILLACS classic "Gloria" and recommended they cut it.

It became their first single in February 1962 and was a big New York favorite even though the Passions had cut a ballad version of it only a year before. The label issuing "Gloria," Rayna Records, had no real distribution or marketing capability beyond New York and the boys soon became disenchanted with them. Group members De Pallo, Solomon, and Mitchell departed. Vito then built a new and improved Salutations with Randy Silverman (lead and first tenor), Shelly Buchansky (first and second tenor) Lenny Citrin (baritone), and Frankie Fox (bass).

The Salutations could usually be found harmonizing in the bathroom of their school, Jefferson High. At the time they were heavily influenced by the black groups of the mid- and late '50s like The Heartbeats, the Cadillacs, The Flamingos, and The Moonglows, so it was no surprise that songs by these groups (such as "Gloria') would become a staple of their repertoire. Dave Rick took them to another tiny label, Kram, for a single on the Heartbeats gem "Your Way" became an instant collectible.

In 1963 Rick took the boys to Al Silver's Herald Records, a label with proven power among indies. The group then decided to rearrange the oldies they were doing in a more attention-getting manner. The standard "Unchained Melody" received a Salutations triple-time treatment with exaggerated bass and falsetto parts that could have been forerunners of The Four seasons' pseudonymous group the Wonder Who ("Don't Think Twice," Philips, 1965).

In the summer, "Unchained Melody" hit the airwaves and went top 10 in many cities. The rapid fire bass solo in the bridge and a modulation were just two of the record's many vocal gimmicks, and on October 26, 1963, "Unchained" charted nationally, rising to number 66.

Vito & the Salutations

A similarly styled original called "Extraordinary Girl" followed in early 1964 and airplay was instantaneous. Unfortunately, Herald was on the verge of folding and could not promote it.
The next stop was Wells Records, where the quintet tried unsuccessfully to ride along with the British invasion with "Liverpool Bound" and then followed with a wild reworking of Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat (Day-0 )," both arranged by Norm Bergen (who later arranged many of the Dawn hits).

Thanks mainly to "Unchained Melody," the group worked steadily in nightclubs and did a few Murray the K shows and Clay Cole and Dick Clark TVers. They performed with Marvin Gaye, Dionne Warwick, Jay and the Americans, The Tokens, and The Ronettes. A 1962 appearance at Harlem's Roosevelt Theatre had them backed by a young blind guitarist named Jose Feliciano.

Releases on Regina ("Get a Job," THE SILHOUETTES), Apt ("High Noon," a radical reworking of the western movie title song), and Red Boy ("So Wonderful," a blues ballad) did little and brought them up to their last single on Rust, a hilarious harmony-filled version of "Hello Dolly" that would have had Louis Armstrong gasping for breath to keep up. The group disbanded around 1965. Vito joined the Kelloggs, who sang on a morning TV show in Philadelphia and had a 1969 single on Laurie called "Snap, Crackle and Pop."
Jay Warner (American singing groups: a history from 1940s to today)
http://www.colorradio.com/Vito_And_The_Salutations.html
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/vito-the-salutations-mn0000221347
http://www.45cat.com/artist/vito-and-the-salutations

Movie :

1963 - Unchained Melody (and interview)

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Hello Dolly                            Unchained Melody                Gloria


Extraordinary Girl                  Keep A Light In The Window     Let's Untwist The Twist

Hey, Hey Baby      Eenie Meenie         Liverpool Bound

Don't Count On Me Walkin' I Want You To Be My Baby

So Wonderful I'd Best Be Going Can I Depend On You

Be My Girlfriend       I Look At The Moon            Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)


Girls I Know         Get A Job                        High Noon


Bring Back Yesterday                        Your Way

.....

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The Crystalaires

Posted on April 23 2010 by dion1

The Crystalaires (Lancaster, PA)

Personnel :

Charles Simms (Lead)

Ralph Edward Speller (Lead)

Lawrence Speller

Robert Ray

Eugene Wilson

Discography :

1959 - Nobody Nowhere / Henry Said Goodbye (Sound Souvenir 1/2)

Biography :

The Crystalaires were a group from Lancaster, PA and were the hottest act in town back in 1959. On May 25, 1959, while coming home from a gig in Reading, PA, they were involved in a serious car accident that claimed the lives of 4 members of the group. Earlier that evening they were informed by their manager that King Records, out of Cincinnati, OH, offered them a record deal and wanted them to come to Chicago to re-cut "Nobody Nowhere" for national release.

In July of 1960, Stan Selfon, of Stan's Record Bar in Lancaster, released the 2nd version of the tune (complete with bad splices in the master tape), on Sound Souvenir No.1. The photo is not the original group, but the reformed Crystalaires (after the accident). Only 2 members in this photo are the originals.  (Daddy C on Youtube)

Songs :


Nobody Nowhere                              Henry Said Goodbye