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

The Goldenrods

Posted on November 24 2008 by dion1

The Goldenrods (Gary, Indiana)

Personnel :

Crosby Harris (Tenor)

Hiawatha Burnett (Tenor)

Cleve Denham (Tenor)

Jesse Rodgers (Baritone)

Charles Colquitt (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1958 - Color Cartoons / Wish I Was Back In School (Vee Jay 307)

Unreleased :
N/A - At The Football Game (Vee Jay)
N/A - Work, You Lazy Bones, Work (Vee Jay)

Biography :

Doo wop group the Goldenrods formed in Gary, Indiana in 1955 , the lineup originally comprised tenors Crosby Harris, Hiawatha Burnett, Robert Garth and Cleve Denham, sibling baritones Sylvester and Jerome Armont, baritone Jesse Rodgers and bass Clarence McClam.

The Vee Jay's Owners : James Bracken, Ewert Abner, Vivian Carter, Calvin Carter

Inspired by local heroes the Spaniels and taking their name from a writing tablet purchased by Burnett for a school project, the Goldenrods made their public debut at their high school talent show, but their large roster proved too unwieldy for their harmonies to truly take flight, and by 1957 the lineup was whittled down to Harris, Burnett, Denham, Rodgers and new bass Charles Colquitt.

Auditions for both Vee-Jay and United ended with the Goldenrods receiving instructions to come back only when they'd written some original material, so Burnett quickly penned four songs, all of which the group recorded for Vee-Jay in late 1958 -- their debut single "Color Cartoons" appeared early the following year, but for reasons unknown the label opted against sending out review copies, essentially crippling the record's shot at airplay.

In 1959 both Harris and Rodgers got married, and their resignations spelled the Goldenrods' end -- Colquitt later toured with the Spaniels, replacing bass Gerald Gregory.

Songs :

Wish I Was Back In School At The Football Game

Color Cartoons

See comments

The Quails (2) aka The Five Quails

Posted on November 24 2008 by dion1

The Five Quails (Cleveland, OH)
aka The Quails (2)

Personnel :

Woody Woodall

Art Kirkpatrick

Billy Strawbridge

James Williams

Billy Fulgrum

Discography :

The Five Quails
1957 - Hop Scotch Rock / Jungle Baby (Mercury 71154)
1962 - Been A Long Time / Get To School On Time (Harvey 114)

The Quails (2)
1962 - My Love / Never Felt Like This Before (Harvey 116)
1962 - I Thought / Over The Hump (Harvey 120)

Biography :

The Five Quails debuted on Mercury Records in 1957 and cut three singles on Harvey Records in the early '60s. Originally, the Five Stars formed at Kennard Junior High in the mid-'50s with William Fulgham (lead), Harold Sudberry (second lead), Donald Brown, James Williams, and Clarence Williams (no relation). Like most groups, the members changed for a myriad reasons; the changes continued when they graduated to East Technical High and became the Five Quails. With a lineup of Billy Strawbridge, Billy Fulgrum, Art Kirkpatrick, Donald Brown, and James Williams, they cut "Jungle Baby" b/w "Hop Scotch Rock" on Mercury in 1957.

The Five Stars

The novelty didn't chart, but they found work backing singer Chuck Willis, touring with him briefly before he passed in April of 1958. Harvey Fuqua befriended the Quails in the basement of the Apollo Theater in New York when they were touring with Willis. Discovering they were from Cleveland (his old stomping grounds), he promised to help them one day.

Harvey Fuqua Kirkpatrick & Woodall

After the Willis experience they toured Canada for a year. In 1961, Harvey Fuqua left Chicago for Detroit and hooked up with Gwen Gordy. The two started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records and Fuqua fulfilled his promise to help the Quails. Their first song was a two-sided classic that sold regionally: "Got to Get to School on Time" and the exquisite ballad "Been Such a Long Time." Junior Walker & the All Stars backed them on the Harvey sessions. In 1962, they cut two more singles on Harvey records changing their name to the Quails.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/five-quails-mn0001282679

Songs :

The Quails (2)

Never Felt Like This Before My Love

I Thought / Over The Hump

The Five Quails

Hop Scotch Rock Jungle Baby

Been A Long Time Get To School On Time

...

See comments

The Beverly Hills Painters aka The Altones

Posted on November 23 2008 by dion1

The Beverly Hills Painters aka The Altones

Tony Mastry & Albert Mastry

The Beverly Hills Painters (Los Angeles, Ca)
aka The Altones

Personnel :

Albert Mastry (Guitar / Vocals)

Tony Mastry (Guitar /Bass / Harmonica / Vocals)

Ray Sharkey (Drums)

Jack Freeman (Keyboards)

Discography :

The Altones (1)
Singles :
1961 - Love Me, Love Me / Cileen (inst. by The Craftsman) (Gardena 121)
1961 - Love Me, Love Me / Summer Love (Archer 104)
Unreleased :
1961 - I Wonder Why / Little Girl

The Beverly Hills Painters
1961 - Model A Heap / Believe Me (Gateway 700)
1962 - Five Foot Three (Little Girl) / I Know Why (Gateway 701)

Biography :

They started as the Altones in about 1959, using the first part of their names AL and TONY-thus the Altones. Albert Mastry (1930-2002) played guitar and was heard on vocals. Tony Mastry (1920- 1997) was on guitar, bass, harmonica, and vocals. The rest of the group included Ray Sharkey on drums and Jack Freeman on keyboards. The Altones released two records. They had a release on Archer and they split billing on a sole release on Gardena. Apparently, they didn't copyright their name, and it was then taken by a black vocal group.

The Beverly Hills Painters aka The Altones

Tony Mastry was a paint foreman at the Beverly Hills Hotel from 1956 to 1963, and followed the owner, Hernando Courtwright, when Mr. Courtwright bought the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and sold the other. Albert Mastry worked with Tony at the hotel, and moved on to the Beverly Hilton around 1963. Through their common work as painters, they changed their group name from the Altones to the Beverly Hills painters. Under that name, they released two records on the Los Angeles based Gateway records. They had a short run of popularity which included opening for a young but established Aretha Franklin in 1960, and were reigning champs on a short lived "Star Search" type program hosted by used car dealer Cal Worthington around 1960/61, which was pulled off the air after just a few short months. Besides singing, they were frequent writers and arrangers.
http://www.colorradio.com/altones_beverly_hills_painters.html

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Altones (1)

Love Me, Love Me Summer Love

The Beverly Hills Painters


Believe Me                            I Know Why


Five Foot Three (Little Girl)                 Model A Heap

...

See comments

The Del Knights

Posted on November 19 2008 by dion1

The Del Knights (Philadelphia)
aka The Orientals

Personnel :

Arthur Harden (Lead)

Warren Sherrill (First Tenor)

Eddie Edgehill (Second Tenor )

Jerry Abel (Bass)

Frank Washington (Baritone)

Discography :

The Orientals

Unreleased :
1958 - Can't You Hear The Bells (Unreleased)
1958 - Lonesome (Unreleased)

The Del Knights

Singles :
1958 - Compensation / Everything (Unart 2008)
1961 - I'm Comin' Home / One Two Button My Shoe (Sheryl 339)
1961 - Wherever You Are / Wrapped Too Tight (Chancellor 1075)
1962 - Speedy Gonzales / Everybody Popeye (Bronko 502)
Unreleased :
1958 - Lonesome (Unart)
1958 - I Am To Blame (Unart)
1958 - Madly (Unart)
1958 - Don't Cry Anymore (Unart)

Biography :

Philadelphia doo wop group the Del-Knights formed in early 1958. According to Marv Goldberg's profile on his R&B Notebooks website, co-founders Eddie Edgehill (an alumnus of the Valentines, which recorded a series of singles for the Rama label) and tenor Arthur Harden were childhood friends born and raised in the South Philly area.

1959 (Unart) L to R : Jerry Abel, Frank Washington, Dexter., Warren Sherrill, Arthur Harden- Bottom :Eddie Edgehill

First tenor Warren Sherrill, baritone Frank Washington, and bass Jerry Abel completed the original lineup, dubbed the Orientals. Eventually Edgehill reached out to his former Valentines colleague Richard Barrett, now a staff producer for End Records owner George Goldner, and in mid-1958 cut an acetate for the label that Goldner opted against releasing officially.

The group nevertheless agreed with his dismissal of their name, and rechristened themselves the Del-Knights before auditioning for Casino label co-owner Barry Golder, who extended a contract offer. Their debut single, "Compensation," appeared on United Artists' Unart subsidiary in late 1958.Despite a rigorous tour schedule that took the Del-Knights into eastern Canada, the record did not sell and their career stalled.

At the Wagon Wheel, NYC L to R: Howard Churchill (guitar), Warren Sherrill, Anthony McKinley, Al ?, Eddie Edgehill

In 1960, a frustrated Harden married and moved away, prompting the addition of new first tenor Anthony McKinley. Washington and Abel soon bailed as well, at which time Edgehill revamped the Del-Knights' approach, recruiting guitarist Tommy Langley, bassist Howard Churchill, saxophonist "Sax" White, and drummer Duke Johnson.

L to R : Arthur Harden, Eddie Edgehill, Herb Benjamin, Al., Warren Sherrill

After the early 1961 release of the Sheryl label single "I'm Comin' Home," Harden returned to the lineup and McKinley exited. The one-off Chancellor effort "Wherever You Are" followed in the spring, but while their grinding tour pace continued unabated, the group simply could not score a hit. After one last stab, 1962's Bronko release "Everybody Popeye," the Del-Knights' recording career ground to a halt, although the group continued performing live until 1966, when Edgehill, Sherrill, and Abel joined Terry Johnson's latter-day Flamingos lineup.

http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/eddieedgehilltribute.htm
http://www.uncamarvy.com/DelKnights/delknights.html

Songs :


Everything         I Am To Blame / Lonesome Madly / Don't Cry Anymore


I'm Comin' Home                     Wrapped Too Tight                Speedy Gonzales

....

See comments

The Accents (3) aka The Dreamers (16)

Posted on November 19 2008 by dion1

Shelly Weiss, Al Senzon, Mike Lasman, Ian Kay

The Accents (3) (Brooklyn, New-York)  
aka The Dreamers (16)

Personnel :

Mike Lasman (Lead)

Shelly Weiss (First Tenor)

Alan Senzon (Second Tenor)

Ian Kay (Baritone)

Discography :

The Dreamers (16)
Single :
1960 - Mary Mary / Canadian Sunset (Guaranteed 219)
Unreleased :
1960- Zing (Guaranteed)

The Accents (3)
1963 - Where Can I Go / Rags To Riches (Sultan 5500)

Scott English & The Accents (3)
1963 - High On A Hill / When (By the Dedications) (Sultan 4003 / Spokane 4003)
1964 - Here Comes The Pain / All I Want Is You (Spokane 4007)

Biography :

This doo wop quartet in this segment met on the boardwalk of Brighton Beach and formed a group in 1960. They were Shelly Weiss (first tenor), Ian Kaye (baritone), Allan Senzan (second tenor), and Mike Lasman (lead). They were students at Erasmus and Lincoln high schools. Ian Kay sang with several Doo Wop groups from 1957 - 1963. His first group was the Vocal Kings from Flatbush.

The Vocal Kings

Lasman had previously recorded as lead singer of Mike and the Utopians on the Ceejay label. Weiss had recorded for JDS Records in early 1960 as a member of the Bobby Roy and the Chord-a-roys, who also backed Barry Mann on various demo records that reportedly included “Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp Bomp Bomp)” The four boardwalk vocalists originally called themselves the Dreams and practiced regularly on the corner of Church and Flatbush Avenues. They met Jerry Halperin, owner of Halperin Music on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, who liked their intricate pop harmonies and became their manager.

Henceforth the group practiced right in Halperin’s record store.
The boys’ polished pop sound soon earned them a deal with Guaranteed Records of New York, a subsidiary of Carlton Records. The first release was the old standard “Canadian Sunset,” but the bland production and lack of promotion doomed it almost from inception.

Dropped after only one release, the group changed its name to the Accents and its style to doo-wop, putting together a reworking of the old ballad “Rags to Riches.” They also began practicing an old Jewish ballad entitled “Where Can I Go,” complete with middle section sung in Hebrew, and it was this song they performed in an audition for Sultan Records. The audition was successful, and “Rags to Riches” backed with “Where Can I Go” became their first single release as the Accents. “Rags” became a Brooklyn favorite among doo-wop enthusiasts but never hit the charts. It did, however, give them enough exposure to land them a spot in an Allan Freed Show at the Ambassador Hotel in the Catskill Mountains.

The Castaways

Between the group’s local engagements Kaye and Senzan sang backup with the Del Satins on Dion’s hit “Ruby Baby” in late 1962. Weiss began singing with Jay and the Americans and became that group’s road manager for a period in 1965.The group back up to Scott English on his 1963 Spokane’s sides : "High on A Hill", "Heres Comes The Pain" and "All I Want Is You". And finally broke up. Mike Lasman then joined a short lived group called the Castaways with Bobby Kutner, Shelly Weiss and Larry Kasman, who was the lead singer of the Quotations.

Songs :

(Update By Hans-Joachim)

The Dreamers (16)

Canadian Sunset Mary Mary

The Accents (3)

Rags To Riches                       Where Can I Go

Scott English & The Accents (3)

High On A Hill Here Comes The Pain All I Want Is You

...

See comments

The Embers (6) aka The Seminoles

Posted on November 16 2008 by dion1

The Seminoles aka The Embers (6)

The Seminoles (Detroit)
aka The Embers (6)

Personnel :

Joey Finazzo (Lead)

Jesse Zenega

Andy Bonaventura

Paul Lecrecio

Discography :

The Seminoles
1961 - True Love / Open Your Eyes (Go-Gee 287)
1962 - I Can't Stand It / It Takes a Lot (Checkmate 1012 / Hi-Lite 80043)
1962 - Forever / You Can Lump It (Mid Town 101)
1963 - Trouble in Mind / Have You Got A Love (Hi-Lite 87578)

The Embers (6)
1962 - Forever / You Can Lump It (Act IV)

Biography :

Early-'50s and -'60s Detroit blue-eyed soul vocal groups usually had great first tenor leads, and the Seminoles were no exception. These smooth harmonizers, led by Joey Finazzo and consisting of members Jesse Zenega, Andy Bonaventura and Paul Lecrecio, debuted with "Open Your Eyes" b/w "True Love" in 1961 on local hopeful Go Gee Records. The record got their name known around town, and local disc jockeys gave it a few spins, but it was nothing special.

The Seminoles aka The Embers (6)

When Roquel "Billy" Davis left Anna Records to form Checkmate Records, he gave the Seminoles a shot. "It Takes a Lot," released May 1962, was starting to do something when Roquel closed Checkmate to take an A&R position with Chess Records (who distributed Anna and Checkmate), leaving the Seminoles in a lurch.Not for long, though -- Hi-Lite Records picked up the song and managed to get an area hit for their troubles. A second Hi Lite release, "Trouble in Mind" b/w "Have You Got Love," bombed. They were The embers for one release on Act IV Records, "Forever" b/w "You Can Lump It"; when Act IV failed to do anything, the Seminoles took the master to Midtown Records who re-released the sides as the Seminoles. It didn't matter, the single still failed to ignite and the Seminoles disbanded.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Open Your Eyes                   It Takes a Lot                   I Can't Stand It


Forever / You Can Lump It                  Trouble in Mind           True Love

...

See comments

The Team Mates (1) aka The Kilts (2)

Posted on November 10 2008 by dion1

The Team Mates (1) aka The Kilts (2)
(L to R) Jerry Jack Terrell , Charles Jester,and Eddy Jester

The Team Mates (1) (Fort Worth, Texas)
aka The Kilts (2)

Personnel :

Charles Jester

Eddy Jester

Jerry Jack Terrell

Discography :

The Team Mates (1)
1959 - Sooner Or Later / I Just Might (Le Cam 701)
1959 - I Just Might / If Only I Had Known (Le Cam 701)
1959 - Sooner Or Later / If Only I Had Known (Le Cam 706)
1959 - If Only I Had Known / You Must Pay (Le Cam 706/ ABC 10760 ’65’)
1960 - Come On Baby / In My Dreams (Twinkle 354)
1961 - Once There Was A Time / Never Believed In Love (Le Cam 960 / Philips 40029)
1961 - Just A Dream/ Please Believe Me (Le Cam 966)
1965 - Most Of All / Please, Please Me (Paula 220 / Soft 104)

Charlie Jester
1960 - Come On Baby / In My Dreams (Le Cam 981)
1960 - Come On Baby / Don't Let It End This Way (Le Cam 981)

Charles Jester
1960 - All For The Love Of A Girl / Once There Was A Time (Le Cam 707)

Charlie Jester & The Team Mates (1)
1962 - Sincerely Your Friend / Crazy Baby (Instr.) (Lanar 102)

Charlie Jester & The Kilts (2)
1961 - Sylvia / If Only I Had Known (Le Cam 722)

The Kilts (2)
1961 - Sylvia / If Only I Had Known (Le Cam 722)

Biography :

William Arthur “Major Bill” Smith was a Fort Worth record producer and music impresario who had several hit records in the early 1960. Smith was a relentless self-promoter who seemed disinclined to let the facts get in the way of a good story, making the accounts of his life he told to various interviewers of somewhat dubious veracity. His bombastic manner earned him a reputation as a con man and hustler, but his savvy marketing instincts also made him a notable force in the recording industry.

The Team Mates (1) aka The Kilts (2)
Sometimes four? (Cash Box)

Smith had regional hits with such local acts as the Team-Mates, Ace Dinning, and the Straightjackets, led by a youthful Delbert McClinton. He also claimed to have turned down a singer named John Deutschendorf, who later changed his name to John Denver. Smith’s first national success came in 1962, however, with “Hey! Baby” by Bruce Channel. The Team Mates are three handsome Texas football stars consisted by Charles Jester, Jerry Terrell and Eddy Jester. Between 1959 and 1961, they recorded a good number of songs. The Cam released many singles, sometimes with the same music associated with others.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Team Mates (1)


Sooner Or Later                                   I Just Might


If Only I Had Known                                You Must Pay


Come On Baby                               In My Dream


Once There Was A Time                    Never Believed In Love

Charlie Jester & The Team Mates (1)

Sincerely Your Friend

Charles Jester

All For The Love Of A Girl

Charlie Jester & The Kilts (2)

Sylvia If Only I Had Known

...

See comments

The Four Aims aka The Four Tops (1)

Posted on November 10 2008 by dion1

The Four Aims aka The Four Tops (1)

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

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 Aims aka The Four Tops (1)

The Four Tops (1)

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

Songs :


Kiss me baby                          I'm My Baby's Sitter


All my life                               Could it be you                    Woke Up This Morning

...

See comments

The Empires (1) aka The Prestos aka The Whirlers

Posted on November 9 2008 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

…

See comments

The Expressions (3) aka The Imaginations (2)

Posted on November 9 2008 by dion1

The Expressions (3) (Long Island, New York)
aka The Imaginations (2)

Personnel :

Bobby Bloom (Lead)

Philip Agtuca (Second Tenor)

John Governale (First Tenor)

Pete Lanzetta (Baritone)

Richie LeCausi (Bass)

Discography :

1963 - To Cry / On The Corner (Parkway 892)

Biography :

When Frank Mancuso (Imaginations Lead singer) joined the air forces, and Music Makers closed down, Bobby Caupin took over on lead as the Imaginations switched to a new title, the Ebonaires. A single was recorded ("Chapel Bells") but never released. Still not dispirited, Bobby Bloom took over on lead as the group then reverted to their former name (The Imaginations) for "Wait A Little Longer Son", issued on new label Ballad Records.

The Imaginations

By 1963 the group had broken up, but they re-formed when producers Pete Antell and John Linde (The Chants) took an interest in their careers. Bloom, Phil Agtuca and LeCausi were then joined by John Governale (first tenor) and Pete Lanzetta (baritone) in the Expressions.

The Four Motions : left to right Felix Barreto , Googie Page, David Barreto, sitting Phil Agtuca

As well as backing Tommy Boyce in the studio, the Expressions released a debut single in 1963, "On The Corner" - a eulogy to the origins of doo-wop on street corners. However, it flopped, and the group broke up once again. Bobby Bloom & John Governale joined by Bob Kneiper formed a new group, the TrainsIn 1964, Phil Agtuca recorded with The Four Motions, they have a demo song "My Hero".

Songs :

To Cry On The Corner

...

See comments