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

The Expressions (1)

Posted on October 12 2008 by dion1

The Expressions (1) (New York)

Personnel :

Robert Yula (Lead)

Mario Carparelli

Barbero

Gordon

Discography :

1959 - Now That You're Gone / Crazy (Teen 101)

Biography :

The Expressions practiced their singing in the Belmont Community Center which is on the Street that Dion & The Belmonts took their name. Mario Carparelli was a friend of Dion from the neighborhood. Dion tried to get the Expressions an audition at the new Laurie record label (Founded in 1958 by Bob Schwartz, Gene Schwartz, Eliott Greenberg and Alan L. Sussel).

Unfortunately the new small label had just signed the Mystics with the hit "Hushabye" and it could not invest any more money at the time. Due to the Payola scandal which Alan freed was behind, the Expressions records on Teen Records received no national or even New York radio play. The song make the Boston charts top ten.

Songs :

Now That You're Gone Crazy

See comments

The Sabers (1) aka The Chavelles

Posted on October 7 2008 by dion1

Brice Coefield, Sheridan "Rip" Spencer, Billy Storm

The Sabers (1) (Los Angeles)
aka The Chavelles

Personnel :

Sheridan "Rip" Spencer (Second Tenor)

Brice Coefield (Baritone)

Billy "Storm" Spicer (First Tenor/Bass)

Herbie (First Tenor)

Walter Carter (Bass)

Discography :

The Sabers (1)
1955 - Always Forever / Cool Cool Christmas (Cal-West 847)

The Chavelles
1956 - Valley Of Love / Red Tape (Vita 127)

Biography :

The labyrinthine history of Los Angeles doo wop group The Valiants dates to early 1955, when second tenor Sheridan "Rip" Spencer formed the Sabers with his cousin Brice Coefield, who assumed baritone duties. According to Marv Goldberg's profile on his R&B Notebooks website, the cousins added first tenor Billy Spicer, bass Walter Carter and a first tenor remembered only as "Herbie" prior to issuing their Cal-West label debut single, "Always, Forever," in late 1955.

Sheridan "Rip" Spencer Billy Storm

When the record flopped, the Sabers rechristened themselves the Chavelles, and with the intervention of Coefield's postman father met local jazz pianist Lloyd Glenn, who introduced the group to Specialty Records A&R chief "Bumps" Blackwell. A studio session soon followed, and after Blackwell shopped the master tape to the Pasadena-based Vita label, the first Chavelles single hit stores in the spring of 1956.

Bumps" Blackwell

Commercial success again eluded the group, and with the addition of ex-Squires guitarist Chester Pipkin, the core trio of Spencer, Coefield, and Spicer formed yet another vehicle, the Valiants, borrowing the name from the popular comic strip Prince Valiant. (This lineup's first session with Blackwell further added to the confusion when the Aladdin label mistakenly credited their 1957 debut, "Happenin' After School," to the Gents.)
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Valiants/valiants.html

Songs :

The Sabers (1)

Always Forever / Cool Cool Christmas

The Chavelles

Valley Of Love Red Tape

...

See comments

The Hamiltones aka The Stereos (4) aka The Hi-Liters (2)

Posted on October 7 2008 by dion1

The Hi-Liters

The Hi-Liters (2) (Portland, OR)
aka The Hamiltones aka The Stereos (4)

Personnel :

George Vereen (First Tenor)

Wiseman Moon (First Tenor)

Calvin Williams (Baritone)

Furman Haynes (Second Tenor)

Claude Chandler (Bass)

Discography :

The Hi-Liters (2)
Singles :
1956 - Ain't Givin' Up Nothing / Undecided Now (Celeste 3005)
1956 - Hello Dear / Bobby Sox Baby (Vee Jay 184)
1958 - Let Me Be True To You / In The Night (Hico 2432)
1958 - Over The Rainbow / Baby Please Be True (Hico 2433)
Unreleased :
1956 - Feeling Alright (Vee jay)
1956 - Duncan's Box (Vee jay)

Johnny Hamilton / Al Hickey & The Hi-Liters (2)
1958 - Sabada / Later Baby (Hico 2434)

George Vereen / Wiseman Moon & The Hamiltones (Hi-Liters)
1958 - You Are My Lovely One / Rock A Billy Hop (Hico 2435)

The Stereos (4)
Singles :
1962 - You Left Me Forsaken / My Heart (Robin Nest 101)
1962 - Don't Cry Darling / Run Sinner Run (Robin Nest 1588)

Lps :
1962 - The Stereos - Our Most Requested Songs (Robin Nest 2013)
Across The Alley From The Alamo / My Shy Violet / Cab Driver / San Antonio Rose / We Three / Dry Bones / SnapYour Fingers/ Green Green Grass Of Home / Swing Down Swing Chariot / Oh Lonesome Me / My Night To Howl / Always

Biography :

In 1948, Furman Haynes formed the Deep Tones, with George Vereen, Calvin Williams, Carroll Dean and Ivy Floyd. They sang spirituals and then added secular songs, such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Castle Rock, and The Night You Said Goodbye. Decca signed The Deep Tones to its Coral label, calling them The Four Deep Tones, even though there were five.

Deep Tones (Top row- LtoR): Calvin Williams, Carroll Dean, Furman Haynes (Bottom row- LtoR) George Vereen, Ivy Floyd

They cut four songs for Coral, and although they never had the kind of hit that would catapult them to stardom, they all built solid careers in music. In the early 1950s Haynes met Katie Williams, and when the pair married they moved to the West Coast and settled in Portland, Ore.

The Hi-Liters

The Deep Tones had changed their name to the Hi-Liters when they recorded for the Celeste label in 1956 the sides "Ain't Giving Up Nothing" / "Undecided Now". Celeste was one of the many short-lived (A little more than one year in duration) record label which specialized in R&b and headquartered in New York City during the middle fifties heyday of Rock'n Roll.

The Hi-Liters

The Hi-Liters recorded in New York City in Beltone Studios, on November 10, 1955 for Vee-Jay four sides : "Hello Dear", "Bobby Sox Baby", "Feeling Alright" and "Duncan's Box" At this time, The Hi-Liters consisted of George W. Vereen (first tenor), Wiseman Moon (first tenor), Furman Hayes (second tenor), Ivey E. Floyd (baritone), and Calvin Williams (baritone). Vereen had previously sung with the Four Knights, Moon had led the Victorians , Haynes had been with Brook Benton in the Sandmen.

The Hi-Liters

The Hi-Liters started their own record label HICO (Hi-Liters Company = HiCo) and their group now consisted of George Vereen, Wiseman Moon, Calvin Williams, Furman Haynes and Claude Chandler. Claude Chandler had been with the Cabineers. In 1958 the Hi-Liters recorded and released four singles for their HiCo label . Each side of Hico #2435 lists a Hi-Liters member and the Hamiltones. Calvin Williams confirms that the group on both sides is the Hi-Liters and not the Hamiltones. The Hamiltones must be the band.

The Stereos (L to R) : C. Williams, E. Williams, Harry Kenney, Wisemen Moon and George Vereen

In the 1960's the Hi-Liters would evolve into the Stereos (Robin Nest label) and cut two singles and one Lp : "Our Most Requested Songs" . The Stereos consisted of Hi-Liters' George W. Vereen (first tenor), Wiseman Moon (first tenor), Calvin Williams (baritone) with nem member's Eddie Williams and his big bass violin and Harry Kenney on Piano. Calvin Williams would also spend 14 years in Europe singing with the Golden Gate Quartet.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/ROWNEW/CastleRk.htm
http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/hico_label.htm

Songs :

The Hi-Liters (2)


Undecided                               Hello Dear                  Bobby Sox Baby


Let Me Be True To You           In The Night                      Over The Rainbow


Baby Please Be True                   Feeling Alright                Ain't Givin' Up Nothing

George Vereen & The Hamiltones    Wiseman Moon & The Hamiltones


You Are My Lovely One                        Rock A Billy Hop

The Stereos (4)


My Heart                           Don't Cry Darling               You Left Me Forsaken

Run Sinner Run

...

See comments

The Four Cal-Quettes aka The Four Coquettes

Posted on October 6 2008 by dion1

The Four Cal-Quettes aka The Four Coquettes

The Four Cal-Quettes (Los Angels, CA)
aka The Four Coquettes

Personnel:

Judi Hersh

Carol McConkey

Muffy Cohan

Mary Anne Lucas

Discography:

The Four Coquettes
1961 - Sparkle And Shine / In This World (Capitol 4534)

The Four Cal-Quettes
1961 - Star Bright / Billy My Billy (Capitol 4574)
1961 - I'm Gonna Love Him Anyway / Most Of All (Capitol 4657)
1962 - I'll Never Come Back / Again (Capitol 4725)
1963 - Movie Magazines / I Cried (Liberty 55549)

Biography :

The Four Coquettes formed at Los Angels, CA. Their first recordings were “Sparkle And Shine" "In This World” after they changed their name to the Four Cal-Quettes. The girls had a number of popular songs in 1961 that appeared at the top of the pop charts. They appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

"I'll Never Come Back (Silly Boy)" is the answer song to The Letterman's hit, 'Come Back Silly Girl' and it's the last of their Capitol singles and probably their best double-sider has Jimmie Haskell's larger than life string arrangement blending perfectly with the girls' beautiful harmonies. Both Jimmie Haskell and Stu Phillips could really assemble a beautiful string arrangement.

"Movie Magazines" / "I Cried" (Liberty 55549), this 1963 release is the last of the group's five singles and the only one issued on the Liberty label. Judi Hersh, Carol McConkey, Muffy Cohan, Mary Anne Lucas cut this single at Hollywood's Gold Star Studio.

With a nod toward the sound of Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans' 'Zip-A-Dee Doo Dah', the sparse but echo laden arrangement get's a wallop of sound with a drum fill at the end of each bar of music. More than likely the girls split up after this recording to go to college or get married. Unfortunately these sweet vocal harmonies spilling out of the grooves would be the group's 'swan song' to the music biz.
http://www.unihi61.com/FourCalquettes.htm

Songs :


Again                                         I Cried                                Most Of All


                Star Bright               I'll Never Come Back (Silly Boy)

...

See comments

The Orients aka The Gents (5)

Posted on October 6 2008 by dion1

The Orients aka The Gents (5)

The Orients (Queens, NY.)
aka The Gents (5)

Personnel :

Al Mickens (Tenor)

James Davis (Tenor)

Alfred Seaman (Tenor)

Ernest Seaman (Baritone)

Clayton William (Bass)

Discography :

The Orients
1964 - Shouldn't I / Queen Of The Angels (Laurie 3232)

The Gents (5)
1964 - Island of Love / Till The End Of Time (The Teen 5) (Time Square 98)
1964 - I'll Never Let You Go / Darling I Love You (The Teen 5) (Time Square 99)

Biography :

Vocal group from Queens, NY. The Orients consisted of Al Mickens (Tenor), James Davis (Tenor), Alfred Seaman (Tenor), Ernest Seaman (Baritone) and Clayton William (Bass). They recorded two songs "Shouldn't I" and "Queen Of The Angels" released by Laurie Records in 1964. The Orients are credited with writing “Shouldn't I.” The same years the group also recorded two songs acappella as The Gents for Times Square Records.

Songs :

The Orients

Shouldn't I Queen Of The Angels

The Gents (5)

I'll Never Let You Go

…

See comments

Roger & The Travelers (4)  aka The Premiers (5) aka The Frontiers (2)

Posted on October 1 2008 by dion1

Roger & the Travelers (4) Aka Premiers (5)

The Premiers (5)   (New Haven, Conn.)
 aka Roger & The Travelers (4) aka The Frontiers (2)

 Personnel :  

Roger Koob (Lead)  

Billy Koob

  Gus Delcos

Frank Polimus

 Discography :  

The Premiers (5)

Singles :
1958 - Jolene / Oh Theresa (Alert 706)
1960 - Pigtails Eyes of Blue / I Pray (Fury 1029)
1961 - Falling Star / She Gives Me Fever (Rust 5032)

Unreleased :
1958 - I'll Wait For You
1959 - In The Still Of The Night (acap)
1959 - When You Dance (acap)
1960- I Needed Love
1958 - Linda
1959 - P.S. I Love You (practice session - acap)
1959 - The Glory of Love
1960 - To Be My Love

-----------

Roger & The Travelers (4)

 Singles :
1961 - You're Daddy's Little Girl / Just Gotta Be That Way (Ember 1079)

Unreleased :
1961 - Little Boy
1961 - You Are An Angel
1961 - Smile

------------

Johnny Maestro bb Roger & The Travelers (4)

Singles :
1961 - I. O. U. / The Way You Look Tonight (Coed 557 )
1961 - Besame Baby / It Must Be Love (Coed 562 )

------------

The Frontiers (2) 

Singles :
1963 - I Only Have Eyes For You / Don't Come Cryin' (Philips 40113)
1964 - I Just Want You / I'm Still Loving You (Philips 40148)
1967 - When I See You / You (Only You) (MGM 13722)

Unreleased :
1966 - The 10 Commandments of Love
1967 - Run to Me Baby

Biography :

On November 19, 1956, from New Haven, came Lead singer Roger Koob and the Premiers. Brother Billy, Frank Polimus and Gus Delros took their name from "Premier Theater", a top T.V. Show at the time. Brothers Roger and Billy Koob students at Amity High in Woodbridge. The group performed locally and gained a loyal following. Roger was writing original songs for the group "Oh Theresa", "Linda", "I'll Wait For You". It was at the last moment before an audition with Leo Rogers that he penned the novelty tune "Jolene".

Roger & the Travelers (4) Aka Premiers (5)

(1957) - (L to R) : G. Delcos, R. Koob, F.Polimus and Billy Koob (front)

It was this tune that began the groups recording career on the Alert label, a subsidiary of ABC Records. New Haven-area radio stations played the record regularly, and "Jolene"reached the Top 10 on WAVZ's "Giant 13" survey in January 1959. This record's success led the Premiers to an Alan Freed show and an extensive tour through the East Coast, as well a "Star of 59 Show" all through Canada.

Roger & the Travelers (4) Aka Premiers (5)

Personnel and label changes followed with Joe Vence and Gordy Corvtmanche coming into the group and eventually Johnny Roddi replacing Gordy as they moved to Fury. After a mildly successful release on Fury in 1960 ("Pigtails Eyes of Blue"), The Premiers had their biggest hit and most successful year in 1961 with their recording of "She Gives Me Fever".

The Premiers (5)   aka Roger & The Travelers (4) aka The Frontiers (2)

The disc topped the charts in the East, including a stint at the number one position on the "Fabulous 40" survey of WNHC in New Haven in May, 1961. A tour with Dick Clark and an appearance on "American Bandstand" also increased their popularity. Many Commitments and engagements kept the group busy. They were now being managed by Jim Gribble who would suddenly die of a heart attack. Their next single was due to be released on the Ember label when they were informed that another group had the name the Premiers and they had to change theirs.

Roger & the Travelers (4) Aka Premiers (5)

So was born Roger & The Travellers, in 1961. Before Gribbles death he had Roger and the group contracted to sing background on four songs for Johnny Maestro who had just broke with the Crests. In 1962, Roger teamed up with Bill Baker (Who formally sang with the Five Satins and the Chestnuts) recording as the Buddies.

Roger & the Travelers (4) Aka Premiers (5)

Soon the group would find a new label as well as a new name "The Frontiers". Roger's brother, Billy had left the group to serve in the military and was replaced by Charlie of the Academics (Another local Connecticut group). Now at Philips records working with Van McCoy, Roger and grouper told to style themselves much like the popular Four Seasons of Vee Jay Records. After two releases, Philips signed the Four Seasons and the Frontiers were sent packing although they would have one last release in 1967 . At this time, with Roger Singing lead, the frontiers consisted of Jerry Warner Jr., Phil Vallie, Skip Bianco, Fred Maffeo and Andy Smith.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Premiers (5)


Jolene                        Oh Theresa                     Pigtails Eyes of Blue


I Pray                           Falling Star                  She Gives Me Fever


I'll Wait For You      The Glory Of Love / To Be My Love        Linda / I Needed Love

In The Still Of The Night / P. S. I Love You / When You Dance

Roger & The Travelers (4)
 

You're Daddy's Little Girl       Just Gotta Be That Way               Little Boy


You Are An Angel                         Smile

Johnny Maestro bb Roger & The Travelers (4)

I. O. U. The Way You Look Tonight Besame Baby

It Must Be Love

The Frontiers (2)


I'm Still Loving You        I Only Have Eyes For You            Don't Come Cryin'


I Just Want You             When I See You          The 10 Commandments of Love


Run To Me Baby                    You (Only You)

...

See comments

The El Rays aka The Dells

Posted on September 10 2008 by dion1

The El Rays (Harvey, Illinois)
aka The Dells

Personnel :

Johnny Funches (Lead Tenor)

Michael "Mickey" McGill (Second Baritone)

Verne Allison (Tenor)

Lucius McGill (Tenor)

Marvin Junior (Baritone)

Chuck Barksdale (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1954 - Darling I Know / Christine (Checker 794)

Unreleased :
1954 - Whing Ding All Night (Checker)
1954 - So Long (Checker)

Biography :

The Dells were formed in 1953 in southern suburbs of Chicago, specifically the town of Harvey, Illinois, where all the members attended high school together. The original lineup featured lead baritone Marvin Junior, lead tenor Johnny Funches, tenors Verne Allison and Lucius McGill, second baritone Mickey McGill, and bass Chuck Barksdale.

Initially called the El-Rays, the group recorded their first single, "Darling I Know," for Chess Records subsidiary Checker that year; it flopped. Lucius McGill departed not long after, and wasn't replaced, cutting the group down to a quintet.

The Dells on Vee-Jay

Newly christened The Dells, they got another shot in 1955 when they signed to Vee-Jay.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Dells/dells.html

Songs :

Darling I Know Christine

...

See comments

The Nu-Tones (1) aka The Nutones (1)

Posted on September 10 2008 by dion1

The Nu-Tones (1) aka The Nutones (1)

The Nu-Tones (1) (Los Angeles, CA)
aka The Nutones (1)

Personnel :

Don Ballard (Lead Tenor)

Joe Green (Lead vocals)

Lionel Dawson (Tenor)

George Webster McNeil (Baritone)

Ed Turner (Bass)

Discography :

The Nu-Tones (1)
1955 - Goddess of Love / Niki Niki Mambo (Cutie Girl) (Hollywood Star 797)
1955 - Annie Kicked The Bucket / Believe (Hollywood Star 798)
1955 - Believe / You’re No Barking Dog (Johnny Dragnet Hill) (Hollywood Star 798)

The Nutones (1)
1956 - At Midnite / Beans ‘N’ Greens (Combo 127)

Biography :

In 1951, Jake Vernon Haven Porter (Jake Porter), a jazz trumpeter founded the label Combo Records, which was active until 1961 and released R&B and doo wop releases in addition to some jazz. Much of the material released on the label was recorded in Porter's basement, and he did a fair bit of songwriting for the releases in addition to recording duties.

The Nu-Tones (1) aka The Nutones (1)
Jake Porter

The Nutones came from West Los Angeles and local distributor Sid Talmadge did pretty well with their only Combo platter "At Midnite" b/w "Beans ‘N’ Greens". The single sold well in the immediate Los Angeles area but was not too much to talk about elsewhere. Before their Combo recordings,the Nutones under the name of Nu-Tones also recorded for the elusive Cholly Williams, their legendary "Annie Kicked The Bucket" on Hollywood Star recently reportedly fetched the highest price ever for a rock and roll group.

Songs :

The Nu-Tones (1)

Goddess of Love / Niki Niki Mambo

Believe Annie Kicked The Bucket

The Nutones (1)

Beans 'N' Greens At Midnite

…

See comments

The Teen Queens aka The Humdingers (2)

Posted on September 3 2008 by dion1

The Teen Queens (Los Angeles, CA)
aka The Humdingers (2)

Personnel :

Betty Collins

Rosie Collins

Discography :

Singles :

The Teen Queens
1956 - Eddie My Love / Just Goofed (RPM 453 - Kent 348/359)
1956 - Baby Mine / So All Alone (RPM 460)
1956 - Billy Boy / Until The Day I Die (RPM 464)
1956 - Red Top / Love Sweet Love (RPM 470)
1956 - My First Love / ? (RPM 480)
1957 - Rock Everybody / My Heart's Desire (RPM 484)
1957 - I Miss You / Two Loves And Two Lives (RPM 500)
N/A - No Other (RPM) (Unreleased)
1958 - Dear Tommy / You Good Boy, You Get Cookie (RCA 7206)
1958 - First Crush / Movie Star (RCA 7396)
1959 - There's Nothing On Your Mind (Part 1) /""(Part 2) (Antler 4014)
1959 - I'm A Fool / Politician (Antler 4015)
1960 - Donny / Donny (Instrumental) (Antler 4016)
1960 - I Heard Violins / Magoo Can See (Antler 4017)

Betty & Rose
1962 - Doodle Doo Doo / That Twistin Feeling (Press 2805)

The Humdingers (2)
1961 - Hum Dinger / Wiggly Feeling (MJC 105)

LP :

1957 - Eddie My Love (CLP5022)
Eddie My Love / Red Top / All My Love Belongs to You / Billy Boy / Zig Zag / Until the Day I Die / Love Sweet Love / Just Goofed / Rock Everybody / Baby Mine / So All Alone / Teen Age Idol

1963 - The Teen Queens (CLP 5373)
Eddie My Love / So All Alone / Rock Everybody / Baby Mine / Let's Kiss / Billy Boy / Just Goofed / Teenage Idol / Zig Zag / Riding

Biography :

The Teen Queens were two African American sisters from Los Angeles, Betty (born 1939) and Rosie Collins (born 1941). Their brother Aaron Collins was a founding member of the Cadets / Jacks, best known for "Stranded In the Jungle" (1956). This group recorded for RPM / Modern Records and Aaron arranged for his siblings to record for the same label. He had written a song for them, "Eddie My Love", which the Teen Queens recorded in December 1955, coupled with a jumping blues tune, "Just Goofed" (RPM 453). Released in January 1956, "Eddie My Love" was an immediate seller, peaking at # 2 on Billboard's R&B charts and at # 14 on the pop charts.

Aaron Collins

Though Aaron Collins had written the song by himself, he had to share composing credits with arranger / conductor Maxwell Davis and one of the Bihari brothers (owners of the label), who was credited as "Ling". This was more or less common practice at RPM / Modern at the time. "Eddie My Love" spawned numerous cover versions, two of which also made the pop Top 20, by the Fontane Sisters on Dot (# 11) and by the Chordettes on Cadence (# 14). The song has become a classic of its genre. The follow-up was the very similar "So All Alone", which did not sell well. By this time the group was on the road to promote their hit. They toured in the "Biggest Rock 'n' Roll Show Of 1956", alongside Frankie Lymon, Bo Diddley, Big Joe Turner, Bill Haley and his Comets, the Drifters and others. In July 1956, Cash Box picked them as "Up-And-Coming Female Group" in its DJ poll. Yet, by then the hits were already over and the girls were has-beens before they were 18. Later RPM singles concentrated on uptempo numbers, which the sisters sang with clarity and gusto.

The best of these is probably "Rock Everybody" (RPM 484), a variation on "Rag Mop", released towards the end of 1956. In 1957 the Teen Queens received an offer to record for RCA Records. Unfortunately, the label tried to change their image and stripped them of their rhythm and blues style, the factor that made the Teen Queens so popular in the first place. RCA gave them songs like "You Good Boy, You Get Cookie" and "Movie Star", sung in a style so straight they could have been lifted from a Broadway soundtrack. The girls left RCA within a year. After almost two years of not recording, the Teen Queens made four sides for Antler Records, owned by Buck Ram, whose assistant Jean Bennett became their manager.

The Teen Queens 1955 ???

The first Antler single was an answer to Big Jay McNeely's hit "There Is Something On Your Mind", entitled "There Is Nothing On My Mind" (Parts 1 & 2). Each of the sisters takes her turn singing a line, interspersed with a stern spoken lecture. A far cry from the teenage innocence of "Eddie My Love" (which was reissued on Kent in 1961 and on Lana in 1964).

Buck Ram ran the Antler label only as a sideline and "There Is Nothing On My Mind" went nowhere. After one more single on Press Records in 1962, as Rosie & Betty, the Teen Queens ended their recording career. The two sisters met untimely deaths. They had started using dope while on the road in 1956 and could not kick the habit. In 1968, Rosie took an overdose of pills and alcohol, went to sleep and did not wake up. Betty passed away two or three years later. One of rock 'n' roll's tragic stories.

...

See comments

The Seminoles aka The Embers (6)

Posted on August 22 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