1959 - Too Soon / Sweet Little Thing (Called Girl) (Galliant 1003)
Biography :
From Washington, D.C., George Torrence first recorded for Aladdin Records in 1954 as lead with the local group billed The Five Pearls on Aladdin 3265. Four years later, fronting a gathering from New York City called The Caribbeans, he cut ”Too Soon” b/w ”Sweet Little Thing” in 1958 billed as “Georgie Torrance & The Caribbeans” for the tiny NYC label Galliant 1003.
By 1960, again shown as Georgie Torrance, he was fronting The Dippers on ”Go Away” b/w ”(You’ve Been) So Good To Me” as King 5376, and when they next turned up at Epic Records in 1961, the billing was George Torrence & The Dippers on ”Such A Fool Was I” b/w ”Way Over Yonder” as Epic 9453. That billing remained the same in 1965 although his approach, which up to now was more Doo-Wop, changed to Soul for Together ”At Last” b/w the very definite Latino-tinged boogaloo Fine Foxey Frame as Duo Disc 117 (a West Coast label which spelled the group’s name as “Dipper’s”).
The Manhattens 1963 - Why Should I Cry / The Feeling Is Mutual (Big Mack 3911)
The Grand Prix's 1964 - I See Her Pretty Face / You Drive Me Crazy (Big Mack 2942)
Biography :
Detroit soul label founded by Ed McCoy. , Ed McCoy started the label from an office on Livernois near Fenkell in Detroit. Later he purchased the building on Warren Ave.(between Livernois and Wyoming) it was a old movie theatre but the seats had been removed, the stage was still there and he put his 2 track recording equipment up on the stage area, he had a couple dozen of these cheap $5. plastic mikes hanging every where from the ceiling. In 1963, The Manhattens featuring brothers Donald and Larry Calloway Recorded one single for Ed McCoy: "Why Should I Cry" b/w "The Feeling Is Mutual". The group would change its name to the The Grand Prix's when New Jersey's Manhattans broke nationally and in 1964, they recorded the splendid "I See Her Pretty Face " b/w "You Drive Me Crazy" .
paste up picture, Johnny Staton, John Harris, Mitchell Alexander
The Unforgettables (3) (Los Angeles) ref : The Feathers - The Gladiators (1) - The Glens (2)
Personnel:
Johnny Staton (Lead)
Louis Staton (Tenor)
John Harris (Tenor)
Don Harris (Baritone )
Mitchell Alexander (Bass)
Discography :
June Moy (bb The Feathers) 1954 - Desert Winds / Castle Of Dreams (no group) (Show Time 1103)
Jesse Belvin (bb The Feathers) 1956 - Betty My Darling / Dear Heart (Hollywood 1056) Unreleased : 1956 - (This Is My) Love Song (Hollywood)
The Feathers 1954 - Johnny Darling / Nona (Show Time 1104) 1954 - Johnny Darling / Shake 'Em Up (Aladdin 3267) 1955 - I Need A Girl / Standing Right There (Aladdin 3277) 1955 - Why Don't You Write Me / Busy As A Bumblebee (J & L Staton) (Show Time 1105) 1955 - Why Don't You Write Me / Where Did Caledonia Go (5 Stars) (Show Time 1105) 1955 - Love Only You / Crashing The Party (Show Time 1106) 1956 - Lonesome Tonight / Dear One (Hollywood 1051) 1989 - Charlene / Irene My Darling (Classic Artists 109) 1989 - More Than Enough For Me / Happy Holiday (Jaguars) (Classic Artists 117) 1989 - At The Altar / A Girl Like You (Classic Artists 125) 1993 - Ride On Santa (Clifton 3004) (CD) Unreleased : 1956 - Golden Vow (Hollywood) 1956 - Church Steps (Hollywood) 1956 - When I Lost You (Hollywood)
The Unforgettables (3) 1961 - Daddy Must Be A Man / Oh, Wishing Well (Pamela 204)
The Gladiators (1) 1957 - Girl Of My Heart / My Baby Doll (Dig 135)
The Glens (2) 1960 - A Little Less Talk / Cherish My Love (Laitini 6666/Sudden 104)
Biography :
In 1953 , Johnny Staton was in an air force singing group that was quite successful , winning several amateur talent contests . When Staton was discharged to Los Angeles in 1954 , he continued vocal group singing with his three brothers and a sister . Having little luck , most of the siblings abandoned the group singing . Johnny and Louis Staton stayed with it .They eventually teamed up with the rest of the performers who would eventually become the Feathers. They practiced with them until they felt ready for live performances. Ultimately they ran into Johnny Otis , who advised them to look into the Showtime music organization. They followed Otis's advice and signed a contract with Showtime. They recorded “ Johnny Darling ” for Showtime. When it began to move, Otis once again intervened, telling the Feathers that Showtime was not properly supporting or promoting their record. He suggested that perhaps they should go to the other big Los Angeles R & B label : Aladdin. Again, the group followed his suggestion. In 1954, both Aladdin and Showtime claimed the Feathers. A lawsuit followed , as both had released their own version of “Johnny Darling". Eventually Showtime won the suit and the Feathers remained with them .
Karl White & Renee Beard
After the group's breakup, John Harris joined the Lamplighters; then he teamed with Carl White and the Ebbtides and with Carl Ell and his Buddies . Then the Sharps and eventually the Rivingtons . Jesse Belvin's session , which produced “Dear Heart”, “Betty My Darling“ and "(This is My) Love Song ” was backed up by Johnny, Louis, Isaiah, and James Staton. Johnny Staton told Belvin, “no money, just put our name on the label". This tune was released in the 1960s and for some unknown reason the label read “Jesse Belvin and the Five Keys." On “Crashing the Party"the group was a family affair — Johnny, Louis, James, and Isaiah Staton with Ray Anderson at bass. For their last recording on Showtime, Anderson was dropped and sister Lenora was added. In late 1955, with no success or money, the existing group broke up and Johnny Staton formed a new Feathers with Roy Allen (tenor), Renee Beard (second tenor), Carl White (baritone), and Carl's brother, Cleo at bass. With out Johnny Staton they became the Gladiators, releasing "My Baby Doll"/"Girl Of My Heart" on Johnny Otis' Dig label in March 1957 . In 1960, with second tenor Billy Mann in place of Roy Allen, they recorded as the Glens for Laitini ("Cherish My Love"/"A Little Less Talk". That record was re-released on Sudden in the following year. Without Beard, this group recorded as the Unforgettables for Pamela and their recording was done in 1957 and released in 1961. In 1959 Johnny Staton had abandoned the name " Feathers " and formed a group called the Individuals. As incredible as it may seem , they recorded for Showtime , a label with which they had previously been involved in litigation .
(L to R) Carol Stansbury, Shirley Taylor, Barbara Thompson, Thelma Stansburry, Barbara Lee.
The Tranquils (Jamaica, Queens, NY) aka The Deltairs (1)
Personnel :
Barbara Thompson (Lead)
Barbara Lee
Carol Stansbury
Thelma Stansbury
Shirley Taylor
Discography :
The Deltairs (1) 1957 - Lullaby Of The Bells / It's Only You, Dear (Ivy 101) 1958 - Standing At The Altar / I Might Like It (Ivy 105) 1958 - Who Would Have Thought It / You Won't Be Satisfied (Felsted 8525)
The Tranquils 1958 - One Billion, Seven Million, Thirty-Three / You're Such A Much (Hamilton 50005)
Biography :
The trade magazines in 1961 took notice of a growing trend to female singers, female-led male groups and female groups. The fair sex up to that point had not been getting much attention (on records, that is). That, and the revival of interest in "oldies," gave a whole new audience the chance to hear one of the best female harmony groups, the Deltairs.
Barbara Lee, Carol Stansbury, Thelma Stansbury, Shirley Taylor, and lead Barbara Thompson were discovered by bandleader Al Browne in 1955. Impressed by their harmony skills, he took them to artist managers Ed Portnoy and Stan Feldman. Portnoy and Feldman started a label to showcase the talent under their wings. They called it Ivy. (Portnoy later had the Porwin label.)"Lullaby Of The Bells," written by Carol Stansbury, got good reviews when it was first released in 1957 and sold well on the East Coast.
The girls got to do a few personal appearances, including a spot on American Bandstand. The lack of promotion from Ivy kept the record from breaking out nationwide. A few more releases, including one as the Tranquils, and the group left the business to focus on family life. A reissue of "Lullaby Of The Bells" in 1961 made the Bubbling Under charts. http://www.uncamarvy.com/Deltairs/deltairs.html
1961 - Come on Over / There's No One But You (Carlton 546)
Biography :
Eugene Williams, lead vocalist with the Cruisers, a Philadelphia group who scored a minor hit with "If I Knew" on The V-Tone la bel in 1960, broke away to form the Strollers with new personnel in 1961.
Their sole Carlton release, "Come on Over" , made a fleeting appearance on the hot 100 that April but Carlton did not issue a follow-up and the new group soon floundered . In the Mid-1960s, a chastened Williams reformed the Cruisers and recorde soul for Kenny Gamble’s Gamble label in Philadelphia.
The El Sierros (Manhattan, New York) aka The Palisades (5)
Personnel :
Barry Edelman (Lead)
Casper Sierra
Joe Philips
Phil Rudnicki
Chuck Aaronson
Discography :
The Palisades (5) 1962 - This Is The Nite / Relic Rock (Inst.) (Mediaval 205)
The El Sierros
Singles : 1963 - Daddy's Coming Home / Sunday Kind of Love (Yussels 7702) 1964 - Life Is But A Dream / Pretty Little Girl (Times Sq 101) 1964 - Picture Of Love / Sweeter Than (The Young Ones) (Times Sq 36 / Relic 527)) 1965 - Valarie / Love You So (Relic 534)
LP : 1964 - The Sound Of The City Acappella (Times SQ 201) Sometimes I Wonder / Our Love Is A Vow / Glory of Love / This Is the Nite / Over The Rainbow / Walking Along
Unreleased: 1964 - Seven Little Stars 1964 - Those Oldies That I Cry For 1964 - When I Fall In Love 1964 - Pennies from Heaven
Biography :
From the lower east side of Manhattan emerged a group called the Sierras's. They took their name from one of their members Casper Sierra. The other members were Barry Edelman (Lead), Joe Philips, Phil Rudnicki and Chuck Aaronson. They started to record for Slim's Time square label but had to change their name due to fact another Sierras group was already out there. So was born The El Sierros and the Myth the group was of Puerto Rican descent.
Phil Rudnicki
The El Sierros would be managed by Pete Shekeryk who would take them to Joe Schulman's Yussels record label out of Newark, N.J. The label didn't las long and eventually The El Sierros were approached by someone from WNJR radio to do a remake of "This is The Nite" with was released under the name The Palisades.
The Savoys (4) (San Jose, CA) aka The Savoys's aka Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3)
Personnel :
Albert Richie (lead Vocals, Piano)
Beverly Soares (Vocals, Percussion)
Chris Ray (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
Bruce Hird (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals)
Discography :
The Savoys (4) 1959 - The Mortal Monster Man / Watching The Sea (Bella 2212/13-58) 1960 - You're The Beating Of My Heart / You Heartless One (Christy 130)
The Savoy's 1959 - I Love My Baby / You And I (Bella 18)
Marguerite Trina & The Savoys (4) 1959 - The Rocking Tree / The Brat (Bella 19)
Cindy Adams & The Kingsmen (3) 1960 - You And I / Baby Pie (Shelby 1)
Pat La Rocca & The Savoys (4) 1959 - Rowena / Don't Do Me Wrong (Bella 15)
Biography :
This group hailed from San Jose, CA and played throughout the bay area during the late 50s and early 60s.. The Savoys were composed by Albert Richie (lead Vocals, Piano), Beverly Soares (Vocals, Percussion), Chris Ray (Lead Guitar, Vocals) and Bruce Hird (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals). In 1959 The Savoys signed a recording contract with Bella Records. The Bella label was created by John Pusateri out of San Jose, California. John, a native of Franklin, Louisiana, had moved to San Jose in the 1920s but kept close contact with musicians in south Louisiana. He produced and created a wealth of great music, mostly doo-wop in the 1950s. He was also a prolific writer and composer for other labels as well.
John Pusateri Pat La Rocca
The Savoys cut two singles for Bella , "The Mortal Monster Man" b/w "Watching The Sea" and "I Love My Baby" b/w "You And I" and backed Pat La Rocca and Marguerite Trina. In early 1960, They recorded "You're The Beating Of My Heart" b/w "You Heartless One" at Christy Records of Los Gatos (California). "I Love My Baby" and "You And I" on Bella Records by The Savoys were released under Cindy Adams (Beverly Soares) & The Kingsmen on Shelby Records. The Doo Wop intro to "You And I" was removed from this release and "I Love My Baby" was renamed "Baby Pie". Albert Richie married Beverly and formed a new group in the late sixties called Beverly Rich & The Poor Boys with a different lineup.
The Chips (3) 1961 - You Make Me Feel So Good / As You Can See (Satellite 105) The Astors 1963 - What can it be / Just enough to hurt me (Stax 139) 1965 - I found out / Candy (Stax 170) 1965 - In The Twilight Zone / Mystery Woman (Stax 179) 1967 - Daddy Didn't Tell Me / More Power To You (Stax 232) N/A - Candy (Live) (Stax) (Unreleased) N/A - Come Out Tonight (Stax) (Unreleased) N/A - A Woman Who Needs The Love of A Man (Stax) (Unreleased) N/A - Strut Miss Sally (Stax) (Unreleased) N/A - Uncle Willie Good Time (Stax) (Unreleased)
Biography :
The Astors, Curtis Johnson, Eliehue Stanback, Sam (Byrnes) Jones, Richard Harris, grew up in The Orange Mound community in Memphis, Tennessee, while attending Melrose High School, along with Richard Griffin, a member of the original group called The Duntinos, and Harold Johnsn, Curtis' brother who joined the group when Richard Harris left the group for a while in 1967. The group was organized in 1958 by a neighborhood pianist, Herman "Red" Arnett who held auditions for a singing group at his home in the "Mound".
"Red" brought Curtis, Eliehue, Richard, Sam, and Richard Griffin, together for months of work before calling them a "group". The group, The Duntinos, quickly made a name for themselves performing regularly at local Beale Street and area venues. "Red" taught the guys to perform, and they learned to entertain under the tutelage of Rufus "Walking The Dog" Thomas, while working the "Chittlin Circuit" with him and his band, The Bearcats.
After Curtis and Eliehue graduated, the Duntinos moved to Buffalo, New York with Curtis' ralatives, looking, for the "Bright Lights" of New York, but found that Buffalo was very cold, and a long way from "The Big Apple". After working a few jobs in Buffalo, the group return to Memphis to do some backup vocals for Carla and Rufus Thomas and other artist recording at a new studio, then called Satellite Records. In 1961 the group recorded their first release "You Make Me Feel So Good"(Curtis -lead), a song that Curtis wrote b/w "As You Can See"(Eliehue-lead), written by Eliehue Stanback.
The group's name was changed to The Chips for this release, named after producer, Chips Moman. In 1961, Curtis joined the Air Force, but continued to record when on leave from the Military. In 1963 the group's name was changed again to The Astors for the next release, written by guitarist, Larry Lee who played with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and later played with Al Green for years. That record was " What Can It Be" b/w "Just Enough To Hurt Me"(Curtis-lead). In 1965, Stax Records, formerly Satellite, released a song on the group "Candy" that was recorded while Curtis was on leave.
"Candy"(Curtis-lead), written by Booker T & MG's guitarist Steve Cropper and Isaac Hayes, was their biggest record. The song b/w "I Found Out" , written by Eliehue, climbed to #12 on the Billboard Top 100 R&B charts, and #63 on the Top 100 Pop charts. As "Candy" moved up the charts, The Astors performed on shows at the Uptown Theater in Philly, the Howard Theater in D.C., The Regal Theater in Chicago, and The Apollo Theater in New York. The other performers on these shows included The O'Jays, The Coasters, Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions, and Redd Foxx to name a few. The Astors also spent 2 1/2 months performing on tour with The James Brown Review.
The Cheerios (1) (Los Angeles) aka The Chandeliers (2) aka Linda Carr & The Impossibles (2)
Personnel :
Bobby Sanders (Lead)
Ralph Chestnut (Bass)
Clotelle King
Andrew Bayone (Cheerios & Chandeliers)
Joe Lawson (Cheerios & Chandeliers)
Discography :
Linda Carr & The Impossibles (2) 1961 - I'll Never Get Married / Happy Teenager (Skyla 1111) 1961 - (I'm In Love With) The Garbage Man / Shy One (Ray Star 779)
The Cheerios (1) 1961 - Ding Dong Honeymoon / Where Are You Tonight (Infinity 11)
The Chandeliers (2) 1962 - Give Me Your Love / She's A Heartbreaker (Sue 761)
Biography :
Linda Carr was just 14 years of age at the time of this, her debut recording. Her powerful voice belied her tender years. In '61, talent scount, recording artists producer and writer, Bobby Sanders (real name: Jerome Lenoir) brought gifted singer, Linda Carr to producer Steve Venet. Happy Teenager happily launched her long and remarkable international singing career as one of the queens of the Northern Soul musical genre. The writer, Richard George, had written many songs while at UCLA and later while working in the Hollywood film industry.
He wrote Happy Teenager as an answer song to Dion's Lonely Teenager. Steve Venet arranged to record her with Bobby Sanders, Ralph Chestnut and Clotelle King billed as the Impossibles. Steven Venet next recorded Linda's follow-up release, I'm in Love With the Garbage Man, a clever and fun record. In '64, Linda signed with Sam Cooke's Sar label with Steve Venet producing the release with Sanders and Cooke doing the backup work. Next she signed with Don Costa's DCP label and in '65 had a release that got some action. In '66, she had several releases on the Bell label and later with the Ranwood label. She had the talent but never had the song or promotion to make it big.
After their singles with Linda, the Impossibles, Bobby Sanders, Ralph Chestnut and Clotelle King recruited Andrew Bayone & Joe Lawson. The Quintet with Bobby Sanders on Lead had a release on Infinity in September 1961 billed as The Cheerios. They also recorded for Sue Record as The Chandeliers. During this period, Bobby Sanders also recorded as a single artist and with Dorsey High School friends as the Extremes.
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