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

The Empires (4) aka The Stagehands aka The Squires (8)

Posted on October 29 2008 by dion1

The Empires (4) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Stagehands aka The Squires (8)Ref: The Two Chaps

Personnel :

David (Jay) Black

Marty Sanders

Eddie Robbins

Gary Kessler

Phil Horowitz

Discography :

The Two Chaps
1960 - Forgive Me / No More (Atlantic 1195)

The Empires (4)
1962 - Time And A Place / Punch Your Nose (Epic 9527)

Linda Lawrence bb The Empires (4)
1963 - At This Stage Of The Game / A Tear For Tommy (Epic 9607)

The StageHands
1964 - Hello Dolly / You Started It (T.A. 101)

The Squires (8)
1964 - Joyce / Can't Believe That You've Grown Up (Congress 223)

Biography :

David (Jay) Black and Marty Sanders were next door neighbors who started to sing together in High School. A friend of theirs took them to Nat Garrick who decided to manage them and took them to Ivy Records as The Two Chaps. Atlantic Records heard the master of "Forgive Me" on Ivy and purchased it. The record didn't do much and that was the brief career of The Two Chaps. Subsequently, Marty formed another group called The Interludes who later changed their name to The Empires when they started recording for Epic.

The Empires (4) aka The Stagehands aka The Squires (8)
The Two Chaps David Black & Marty Sanders The Empires

The group consisted of Marty, Eddie Robbins, Leo Rose (lead) , Phil Horowitz and Gary Kessler. Right after their demo session, Leo dropped out of the group and Marty called in Jay Black. The Empires cut one record entitled "Time And A Place" b/w "Punch Your Nose". Jay and Marty wrote "Time And A Place" and Jay sang lead. "Punch Your Nose" was written by Marty and he sang lead. This too, was a short lived group.

Jay & The Americans

After this release, Jay and Marty left to join the already successful Jay & The Americans. The Other Members with Richie Kaufman continued as the Stagehands for T.A. and as the Squires for Congress Records.

Songs :

The Two Chaps

Forgive Me No More

The Empires (4)

Time And A place Punch Your Nose

Linda Lawrence bb The Empires (4)

At This Stage Of The Game A Tear For Tommy

The StageHands

Hello Dolly You Started It

The Squires (8)

Joyce Can't Believe That You've Grown Up

..

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The Rainbeaus (1) aka The Four Palms

Posted on October 29 2008 by dion1

The Four Palms (Twentynine Palms, California)
aka The Rainbeaus (1)

Personnel :

Hasker Nelson (Lead)

Louis Faison (Tenor)

James Jackson (Baritone)

Nate Thomas (Bass)

Discography :

The Four Palms
1958 - Jeanie, Joanie, Shirley, Toni / Consideration (Aladdin 3411)

The Rainbeaus (1)
1959 - Maybe It's Wrong / That's All I'm Asking Of You (World Pacific 810)

Biography:

Doo wop combo the Four Palms formed on grounds of Camp Pendleton in Twentynine Palms, California in early 1957 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile on his R&B Notebooks website -- lead Hasker Nelson, tenor Louis Faison, baritone James Jackson, and bass Nate Thomas formed the group to enter a U.S. Navy talent contest, winning top honors and representing their military division at the Worldwide All-Navy Talent Contest in New York City.

James Jackson, Louis Faison, Nate Thomas and Hasker Nelson

When the Four Palms claimed victory in the international showcase, they were the first African-American act to win the event, as well as the first doo wop group; the top prize was an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and in the months to follow the quartet headlined a series of military showcases and related celebrations.

James Jackson, Louis Faison, Nate Thomas and Hasker Nelson

In March 1958 the Four Palms signed to Aladdin Records and cut their debut single "Jeanie, Joanie, Shirley, Toni," promoting its release with a return engagement on Ed Sullivan. The record fared poorly, however, and by early 1959 all four members earned their military discharge, settling into civilian life. Without the military concert circuit to sustain them, the Four Palms faltered.

"Maybe It's Wrong," a 1959 single for the World Pacific label, was credited to the Rainbeaus to avoid contractual conflicts with Aladdin, but few radio outlets or retailers knew of the switch and the disc quickly disappeared. The Four Palms split in early 1960.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Palms/4palms.html

Songs :

The Four Palms

Jeanie, Joanie, Shirley, Toni Consideration

The Rainbeaus (1)

Maybe It's Wrong That's All I'm Asking Of You

...

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Mr. Zulu & The Warriors aka The Showcases

Posted on October 28 2008 by dion1

Mr. Zulu & The Warriors aka The Showcases
With James Brown

The Showcases (Los Angeles, Ca.)
aka Mr. Zulu & The Warriors

Personnel :

James Hubbard (Lead)

Curtis Popps (Baritone)

Tommy Johnson

Ulysses Coleman

Discography :

The Showcases
1964 - This Love Was Real / Anna My Love (Galaxy 732)

Mr. Zulu & The Warriors
1965 - Come On Duckie With Me / Anna (My Love) (Score 7/11)

Biography :

While attending Lincoln, Curtis Popps, along with a few classmates and a couple other neighborhood friends from the "Ramona Gardens" and the "Estrada Courts" Housing Projects founded the now legendary Doo-Wop groups, "The Showcases" and "Cannibal and the Headhunters". They sang, rehearsed and performed together throughout East LA and upon Curtis' graduation in 1960, both groups subsequently signed major record deals; "The Showcases" (Galaxy Records) and "Cannibal and the Headhunters" (Rampart Records).

Mr. Zulu & The Warriors aka The Showcases

The Showcases were Curtis Popps, Tommy Johnson, James Hubbard, James Colford, Ulysses Coleman, Thomas Keyes and Bobby Watts (Colford, Keyes and Watts eventually leaving the group before recording). The Showcases signed with Galaxy in 1961. They recorded "This Love Was Real" and "Anna My Love" in early 1963.

Mr. Zulu & The Warriors aka The Showcases
Curtis Popp

The record was released on the Galaxy label in 1964 (Galaxy 732) but only 2 or 3 promotional copies are know to exist. The record was legally reissued on the Falco label (Falco 308) in the early 1980's. Curtis Popps was drafted to the Army in 1963 so the group disbanded and became Mr. Zulu & The Warriors & signed w/Score. They all co-wrote their 1st single "Come On Duckie With Me".

Songs :

The Showcases

This Love Was Real Anna My Love

Mr. Zulu & The Warriors

Come On Duckie With Me

…

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The Hideaways (2)

Posted on October 23 2008 by dion1

The Hideaways (2) (Toronto, canada)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1962 - Lovin' Time / You're So Hard To Say Goodnight To (Duel 521/Chateau 146).

Videos :

Jeepers creepers

Songs :

Lovin' Time You're So Hard To Say Goodnight To

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The Autumns

Posted on October 22 2008 by dion1

The Autumns (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Joel Katz (Lead)

Henry Richard "Dickie" Harmon (Tenor)

Eddie Brian (Tenor)

Jackie Davis (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1964 - Dearest Little Angel / Maureen (Clifton 34/Medieval 208)
1965 - Never / Exodus (Power 871/ Amber 856)

Lps :
1965 - The Stars Of Acapella Vol 1 (Amber LP 801)
Never / Exodus

1966 - Stars Of Acappella Vol.2 (Snowflake LP 1002)
Lorraine

1966 - Battle Of The Groups Vol.1 ( Snowflake 1004)
Over The Rainbow

Biography :

Joel Katz started out singing in high school and formed his first group, Joel and the Conchords, when he was 13 years old and a student at Saddle Brook High School in New Jersey. They made their first appearance at a student talent show in which take took first prize. They were on Jocko's Channel 13 TV program. Other groups he was a part of were the Belvederes and the Butanes while in high school. It was then, soon after, Joel was hired to join the Autumns.

The Group, composed by Joel Katz, Henry Richard "Dickie" Harmon, Jackie Davis and Eddie Brian cut "Dearest Little Angel" b/w "Maureen" on Medieval, a Relic's subsidiaries. In 1965, they cut four Acapella sides, "Never" and "Exodus" are released on Amber Record (Single & LP) and "Lorraine" and "Over The Rainbow" on two acappella LP's

Songs :


Dearest Little Angel                              Maureen


Never                              Over The Rainbow                          Lorraine

...

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The Fortune Cookies

Posted on October 21 2008 by dion1

top Joann Lau, bottom left to right Rose Lau, Sue Jean Lee, Joann Lee

The Fortune Cookies (Chinatown, New York)

Personnel :

Joann Lau

Rose Lau

Sue Jean Lee

Joann Lee

Discography :

1965 - It Should Have Been Me / A Girl In Love (Smash 1991)

Biography :

The Fortune Cookies, a girl singing group in Chinatown during the 1960s.

The Fortune Cookies

The group, which consisted of Lee and her older sister Sue Jean, and another pair of sisters, Joanne and Rose Lau, recorded a 45 rpm record and played it at parties throughout Chinatown for several years. Mrs. Sue-Jean Lee Suettinger passed away June 29, 2011 at the age of 63.

Songs :

A Girl In Love It Should Have Been Me

...

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The Secrets (1) aka the Five Secrets aka the Loungers

Posted on October 18 2008 by dion1

The Five Secrets (Staten Island, New-York)
aka The Secrets (1) aka The Loungers - ref :The Uniques (6)

Personnel :

Dave Concepcion (Lead)

Pat Russo (First Tenor)

Vinnie Santorelli (Second tenor)

Steve Murphy (Baritone)

Franck Del Cavo (Bass)

Discography :

The Five Secrets
1957 - Queen Bee / See You Next Year (Decca 30350)

The Secrets (1)
1957 - Queen Bee / See You Next Year (Decca 30350)

The Loungers
1958 - Remenber The Night / / Dizzy Spell (Herald 534)
1991 - Wedding Bells / Teenage Bells (Park Ave.5)

The Uniques (6)
1962 - Do You Remember / Come Marry Me (Flippin 202)

Biography :

The group formed on Staten Island in 1955, initially singing for fun. In 1956 they decided to get serious about their talent. They soon got themselves a manager and shortly thereafter signed with Decca. Their first release with Decca came in 1957. The recording received little promotion, but it nevertheless afforded them many appearances. Early copies show "Secrets" on the label. Several weeks following the release of this first disc, the Five Secrets signed with Herald.

As a legal precaution, they changed their name to the Loungers. Because of Herald/Ember's preoccupation with the Mellokings and The Five Satins, the Loungers received little or no attention.At Herald the material was written by the group, whereas at Decca Management gave them the material to record. This is most probably why they sounded so different on the two labels. Additionally, Decca had told the group that they wanted to sound pop. Shortly before the group broke up, Murphy Left and was replaced by Pat Russo's brother, Bernie. The group broke up at the end of 1958, and it was three years later that Vinnie Santorelli and Bernie Russo decided to form a new group "the Uniques". In 1962, the Uniques recorded "Do You Remember" b / w "Come Marry Me" released by Flippin Records.
Encyclopedia of Rhythm and Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups by Mitch Rosalsky

Songs :

The Five Secrets

See You Next Year Queen Bee

The Loungers

Teenage Bells Remenber The Night Dizzy Spell

Wedding Bells

The Uniques (6)

Do You Remember Come Marry Me

...

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The The West Siders aka The Corvairs (4)

Posted on October 18 2008 by dion1

The Corvairs (4) (Newport News, Virginia)
aka The West Siders

Personnel :

Joe Shepard (Tenor)

Nelson Shields (Second Tenor)

Prince McKnight (Tenor)

Ronald Judge (Baritone)

Billy Faison (Bass)

Discography :

The Corvairs (4)
Singles:
1962 - True True Love / Hey, Sally Mae (Comet 2145)
1963 - I Don't Wanna Be Without You Baby / Girl With The Wind In Her Hair (Leopard 5005)
1966 - Swinging Little Government / Love, Love My Friend (Columbia 43603)
1966 - Ain't No Soul (In These Old Shoes) / Get A Job (Columbia 43861)
Unreleased:
1966 - The Grass Will Sing For You (Columbia)
1963 - Because I Love You (aka Don’t You Know) (Leopard)

The West Siders
1963 - Don't You Know / No Tears Left For Crying (United Artists 600/Leopard 5004)

Biography :

When The Leaders split ,Burton, Alston, and Simpson continuing on as the Three Voices while Judge and Shields relocated to New York City, forming the Corvairs with tenors Joe Shepard and Prince McKnight along with bass Billy Faison. In 1962 the Corvairs signed to the Comet label to release their Dave "Baby" Cortez-produced debut single, "Hey, Sally Mae".

The record quickly disappeared, and a year later the group resurfaced on Leopard with "No Tears Left for Crying," mistakenly credited to the Westsiders. When the single was subsequently licensed to United Artists, the label further muddied the waters by calling the group the West Siders, and for reasons no less mysterious, their next Leopard release, "I Don't Wanna Be Without You Baby," restored the Corvairs moniker.

(The Corvairs 1961) Top : Faison, Shepard and Shields - Botom : Judge and McKnight

Faison exited the lineup in 1965, with bass Edgar Brown appearing on the Corvairs' next effort, the 1966 Columbia release "Swinging Little Government." When the follow-up, "Ain't No Soul (In These Old Shoes)," flopped, the group split.

http://www.colorradio.com/leaders.htm
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Leaders/leaders.html

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Corvairs (4)


True True Love           Hey, Sally Mae    I Don't Wanna Be Without You Baby


Girl With The Wind In Her Hair      Ain't No Soul ...                Get A Job

Because I Love You Love, Love My Friend / Swinging Little Government

The West Siders

Don't You Know / No Tears Left For Crying

...

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The Hepsters

Posted on October 17 2008 by dion1

The Hepsters (Cleveland, OH.)

Personnel :

Joe Williams (Lead)

Raymond Harvey (First Tenor)

Carl Brown (Second Tenor)

Bobby Woods (Bariton)

Paul Hayes (Bass)

Discography :

1955 - Rockin' N Rollin' With Santa Claus / I Had To Let You Go (Ronel 107)
1956 - This-A-Way / I Gotta Sing The Blues (Ronel 110)  

Biography :

The Hepsters got together in early 1954 as the Five Stars and had been formed by Joe Williams, a student at East Technical High. Other members were Art Kirkpatrick, Raymond Harvey, Carl Brown, and Woody Woodall. Like many inner-city youth, the group practiced at a settlement house, the Friendly Inn Settlement House, and paid their dues playing talent shows and teen benefit affairs.

The Five Stars

The group's break into the recording business came when they auditioned for Estrella Young, who was working for a local booking agency. Young had the group change its name to the Hepsters and worked with the singers in honing their talents for the recording studio and developing original material.

Dave Clark, through nationwide contacts he developed for years as a promotion man, found the group via Young and brought them to Chicago to record. The first release by the Hepsters was "Rock 'n' Rollin' with Santa Claus" backed with "I Had To Let You Go". The Hepsters' second release was "This-a-Way" backed with "I Gotta Sing the Blues." "This-a-Way" was written by the leader, Williams, and the flip was written by Clark.The Hepsters were a talented group but never had the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities with a top-flight hit song.
Doowop The Chicago Scene (Robert Pruter)
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Hepsters/hepsters.html

Songs :

Rockin' N Rollin' With Santa Claus I Had To Let You Go This-A-Way

I Gotta Sing The Blues

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The Colognes aka The Passions (2)

Posted on October 16 2008 by dion1

The Passions (2) (Los Angeles, California)
aka The Colognes

Personnel :

Kenny Sinclair (Lead)

Harold Garcia

Sammy Handy

Earl Sinclair

William DeVase (Bass)

Discography :

The Passions (2)
1958 - Jackie Brown / My Aching Heart (Era 1063 / Capitol F-3963)
1958 - Nervous About Sally / Tango Of Love (Dore 505)

The Colognes
1959 - A Bird And A Bee / A River Flows (Lummtone 102)

Biography :

Harold Garcia, Sammy Handy, Kenny Sinclair from the Six Teens, Earl Sinclair and William DeVase, bass were the Passions on both Era and Dore. On Era, they rendered the uptempo “Jackie Brown” b/w “My Aching Heart” (1063); reissued on Capitol (3963). After this fine two-label release stiffed, The Passions were laid off to the Era sister label of Dore, after the cousins who ran Era, broke their partnership for the less effective “Tango Of Love” b/w “Nervous About Sally” (505) in 1958.

In 1959, most likely because of a competing East Coast Passions group, which had hit big with “Just To Be With You,” they became the Colognes on Lummtone, after which Sinclair and DeVase joined the Elements/Elgins vocal group.

Songs :

The Passions (2)


Jackie Brown My Aching Heart


Nervous About Sally                        Tango Of Love

The Colognes

A River Flows

...

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