The Montereys (2) (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Monorays
Personnel :
John Randazzo (Lead)
Tony Giordano (First tenor)
Billy Schalda (Second Tenor)
Rich Torelli (Baritone)
Discography :
Don Dell & The Montereys (2) 1963 - I want You, I Need You, I Love You / Make Believe Love (Roman 2963)
The Montereys (2) 1964 - Face In The Crowd / Step Right Up (Blast 219)
The Monorays 1966 - Face In The Crowd / Step Right Up (Astra 1018)
Biography :
The group was originally formed in 1960 from the New Utrech High School with Vinny Esposito, John Randazzo, Tony Giordano & Rich Torelli . Vinny Esposito left the group way before they have chance to record.
The Group backed "Don Del Sini "Don Dell", a New York High School Teacher on "Make Believe Love" and "I want You, I Need You, I Love You" on Roman records. Don Dell had previously recorded two singles with another local group, The Up Starts.
Don Del Sini The Montereys
In 1964, the Montereys (2) finally recorded their own single with "Face In The Crowd" b/w "Step Right Up" on Blast Records, a subsidiary of Sinclair Records owned by the late Don Ames. In 1966 Astra Records from Pittsburg released the same sides under the name of the Monorays. The group stayed together until 1968 when Billy Schalda, Rich Torelli and Tony Giordano formed another group called ‘Sy Rapp’.
Songs :
Don Dell & The Montereys (2)
Make Believe Love I Want You,I Need You,I Love You
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.
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
The Teen-Clefs (Bronx, New York) ref : The Avalons (3), The Clickettes (2) & Shirley & Willie
Personnel :
Shirley Bryant-Ford
Tracey Brost
Mickey
Loretta
Jamie
Discography :
The Teen-Clefs 1958 - Hiding My Tears / There Goes Sputnik (Dice 98 / 99)
The Avalons (3) 1958 - Louella / You Broke Our Hearts (Dice 90 / 91)
Shirley & Willie 1958 - Calling You (Dice)
The Clickettes (2) (The Teen-Clefs) 1960 - Tonight And Forever (Unreleased)
Biography :
The Teen-Clefs met around 1957, Tracey Brost, Mickey, Loretta, Janie and Shirley Bryant-Ford all attended the same Burger Jr. High School (PS 139 ) in the Bronx, New York. They were discovered and originally managed by Morris Bailey (former postal worker and actor), he lived in the Bronx and also managed the Fascinations. Bailey than put The Teen-Clefs in touch with Zell Sanders (J&S records) and she later took over group from Mr. Bailey.
Zell Sanders The Clickettes with Shirley Bryant-Ford
The Teen-Clefs performed at dances in Harlem, they made the song Sputnik during that time. The group wrote most of their songs. ZelL Sanders managed The Clickettes from Harlem & Shirley Bryant-Ford was an alternate for the group when an original member was not available to perform. Shirley had to fill in for the Clickettes when they performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
The Teen-Clefs (L to R) Loretta, Janie, Mickey, Shirley Ford and Tracey Brost
The Clickettes left the Dice label in 1960 but the record company continued to release singles by the Clickettes even when they were sang by other groups. ‘Tonight And Forever’ was credited to the Clickettes but it was likely sung by the Teen Clefs. The The Teen-Clefs broke up around 1960. Shirley Bryant-Ford with sisters Willie Bryant and another girl cut one single as the Avalons. The Two sisters cut another single as Shirley & Willie. Thanks to Jennifer Noble & Shirley Ford.
(Beltones/Symbols) B. Brown, R. Brown, B.Cottman, A.Pope, C.Williams
The Symbols (2) (Jamaica, Queens, New York) aka The Beltones (1) aka The Masters (4)
Personnel :
Andrew Pope (Lead)
Clayton "Dickie" Williams（First Tenor）
Buster Cottman （Baritone）
Robert Brown（Bass）
Wilbur "Buzzy" Brown (Second Tenor)
Discography :
The Beltones (1) 1957 - I Talk To My Echo / Oof Goof (Hull 721)
The Symbols (2) Unreleased: 1958 - Crying My Heart Out (Old Town) 1958 - Lover, Lover, Lover (Old Town) 1958 - Last Rose Of Summer (Old Town) 1958 - Country Boy (Old Town)
The Masters (4) 1961 - A Man Is Not Supposed To Cry / Look Out (End 1100) 1962 - Crying My Heart Out / I'm Searching（Le Sage 713/714)
Discography :
The Beltones were a product of the thriving Jamaica, Queens, doo wop community that also launched the Rivileers, the Deltairs, and the Five Sharps. According to Marv Goldberg's profile in the December 2000 issue of Discoveries, the quartet was founded in 1954 by lead Andrew Pope, first tenor Clayton "Dickie" Williams, baritone Herb Rooney, and bass Robert Brown -- the latter also moonlighted in rival vocal group the Love Larks, and when their career began taking off, Brown exited to join their ranks full-time.
The Love Larks
With new bass Alva Martin, the Beltones eventually signed to Hull Records, recording their debut single, "I Talk to My Echo," in the summer of 1956. For reasons unknown Hull did not issue the disc until the following spring, and when it predictably failed to generate much excitement, the label parted ways with the group.By that time, the Love Larks were no more, so Brown returned to the Beltones, prompting Martin's exit. Brown brought with him fellow Love Larks alum/second tenor Wilbur "Buzzy" Brown (no relation). Soon after, Rooney resigned, and with new baritone George "Buster" Cottman, the Beltones signed to the legendary Old Town label to cut a four-song session in the spring of 1958.
The Masters (4) :B.Cotteman, H.Rooney, C.Williams, D.Banks, F.Turner)
While the group mulled a name change to the Symbols, Hull got wind of the session and threatened a breach of contract suit, effectively rendering any moves moot. Old Town shelved the tapes, and although the Beltones continued touring the Queens live circuit for more than a year, in 1960 Pope was called to military duty, and "Buzzy" Brown quit soon after. The remaining trio convinced Rooney to return, adding lead David Banks and changing their name to the Masters. This lineup recorded the 1961 End Records effort "A Man Is Not Supposed to Cry," followed a year later by "Crying My Heart Out," originally written by Pope for the Old Town session. In 1962 the Masters dissolved and Rooney joined their sister group, the Masterettes, which as the Exciters later recorded the classic smash "Tell Him." http://www.uncamarvy.com/Beltones/beltones.html
The Embraceables (Mobile, Alabama) aka The Implacables
Personnel :
John Lee "Johnny" Williams
Herman Bracey
Lorenza Bracy
Discography :
The Embraceables Featuring Herman Bracey 1959 - From Someone Who Loves You / Gotta Pretty Little Baby (Sandy 1025)
The Embraceables 1962 - My Foolish Pride / Don't Call For Me (Cy 1004) 1962 - Sam (The 8th Of May) / (There's A) Wall Between Us (Dover 4100) 1962 - Destiny / Come Back (Dover 4101)
The Implacables 1962 - My Foolish Pride / Don't Call For Me (Kain 1004)
Lorenza Bracy bb The Embraceables 1961 - Miss You Gallion / These Things You Do To Me (Sandy 1038)
Biography :
After an approximate two year stint with the Drifters in 1959 & '60, John Lee "Johnny" Williams went back home to Mobile, Alabama. In 1961 he joined the Embraceables with Herman Bracey and Lorenza Bracy who have recorded in 1959 (feat. Herman Bracey) “From Someone Who Loves You” and “Gotta Pretty Little Baby“ on Sandy Records 1025. The group backed Lorenza (male) Bracy on “These Things You Do To Me” and ”Miss You Gallion”on Sandy Records 1038. With John Lee "Johnny" Williams on lead, the Embraceables, recording two sides for CY Records "My Foolish Pride" and "Don't Call For Me". Around that time, it was also issued as Kain 1004, credited to the Implacables. From 1962 on Dover Records, Johnny Williams leads the Embraceables for their two singles.
Songs :
The Embraceables Featuring Herman Bracey
From Someone Who Loves You / Gotta Pretty Little Baby
The Embraceables
Don't Call For Me / My Foolish Pride (There's A) Wall Between Us
The Lions : David Cobb, Horace "Pookie" Wooten and James Warren
The Lions (1) (Los Angeles) aka The Resonics
Personnel:
Horace "Pookie" Wooten (Second Tenor/Baritone)
Charles Jackson (Tenor)
Jerome Evans (Baritone)
James Warren (Bass)

...
Charles Everidge (Baritone)
David Cobb (Second Tenor)
Tony Allen (First Tenor)
Discography :
The Lions (1) 1960 - Two Timing Lover / The Feast Of The Beasts (Rendezvous 116) 1960 - The Yokel (He Went To Town) / Hickory Dickory (Imperial 5678) 1960 - No One / Giggles (Everest 19388/MACK IV 1/2) 1961 - Til The 13th Month / Girl Of The World (MACK IV 104)
The Resonics 1963 - Pepe La Phew / Split Personality (Unity 101) 1964 - It Won't Be Long / With Your Love To Guide Me (Lil-Larry 1005) 1964 - I'm Really In Love / Think Right (Lucky Token 108)
Biography :
James Warren was part of the Youngsters and the Shields Touring Group and promote "You Cheated" Which had become a national smash. In 1960, James Warren went on to join a group called the Lions. The original members were: Horace "Pookie" Wooten (second tenor/baritone), Charles Jackson (tenor) [both Wooten and Jackson had been in the "Zindy Lou" Chimes], baritone Jerome Evans, and bass James Warren.

The Lions (Paste up picture) : From Top James Warren, David Cobb and Horace "Pookie" Wooten

They recorded "Two Timing Lover"/"The Feast Of The Beasts" for Rendezvous and "The Yokel (He Went To Town)"/"Hickory Dickory" for Imperial. In the summer of 1960, when Charles Everidge (the Youngsters) got out of the service, he replaced Jerome Evans. For their next session they added second tenor David Cobb (another former member of the Chimes) and first tenor Tony Allen (who had recorded "Night Owl" with the Chimes behind him [as the "Champs").

Tony Allen

The Lions then recorded "No One" (led by David Cobb)/"Giggles" (fronted by Tony Allen); these were released on the Everest label in September 1960. The next month they were re-issued on James McEachin's Mack IV label. Their last record was also on Mack IV: "Til The 13th Month"/"Girl Of The World." The Lions Broke up in 1961 and re-formed in 1963, with Ray Daughtery, Charles Jackson, James Warren, and Horace Wooten. Calling themselves the Resonics, they recorded three records (one each for Unity, Lil-Larry, and Lucky Token).
 http://www.uncamarvy.com/Youngsters/youngsters.html
The Pearls 1956 from left to right Rosco, Howard, Max, Derek, Baby Cortez
The Pearls (1) (Detroit) aka The Five Pearls aka Howie & The Sapphires (2)
Personnel :
Howard 'Howie' Guyton (Lead)
Dave 'Baby Cortez' Clowney (Tenor/Pianno)
Derek Martin (Tenor)
George Torrence (Baritone)
Coley Washington (Bass)
Max (High Tenor)
Rosco
Discography :
The Five Pearls 1954 - Please Let Me Know / Real Humdinger (Aladdin 3265)
The Pearls (1) 1955 - Shadows Of Love / Yum Yummy (Atco 6057) 1956 - Bells Of Love / Come On Home (Atco 6066) 1956 - Let’s You And I Go Steady / Zippidy Zippidy Zoom (Onyx 503) 1956 - Tree In The Meadow / My Oh My (Onyx 506) 1957 - Your Cheatin’ Heart / I Sure Need You (Onyx 510) 1957 - Ice Cream Baby / Yuz-A-Ma-Tuz (Onyx 511) 1957 - It’s Love, Love, Love / The Wheel Of Love (Onyx 516) 1959 - Ugly Face / Band of Angels (On The Square 320)
Howie & The Sapphires (2) 1959 - More than the day before / Rockin' horse (Okeh 7112)
Biography :
A doo-wop group called the Pearls was at different times and in various line-ups also known as the Fabulous Pearls, the Five Pearls and to a degree even Howie & the Sapphires. Out of the "Motor City", Detroit, Michigan comes the Pearls. Managed at that point by Don Angelo, “Five Pearls” was discovered by Aladdin’s Leo Mesner at the Apollo Theater talent contest. The Pearls originally signed with Aladdin Records of Los Angeles in 1954 and had one release as the Five Pearls. The group picked Derek Martin up when stopping over in Detroit on their tour. Derek became one of their tenor singers, and the other members of the line-up those days included Howard Guyton (lead), David Cortez Clowney (tenor), George Wilson Torrence, Jr. – spelt also Torrance - (baritone), Coley Washington (bass and tenor!) and a high tenor called Max. Besides Howard, David, Derek and Max, in the very first line-up there was also a singer named Rosco. Similarly to Derek Martin, also David Cortez was born in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan.
He is Howard Guyton’s cousin, and after about two years with the Pearls, he joined first the Valentines in 1956, then the Jesters, until finally making his mark with two memorable instrumental hits, The Happy Organ on Clock in 1959 (# 1-pop) and Rinky Dink on Julia/Chess in 1962 (# 10-pop). From there in 1955 the signed with the Atlantic Records subsidiary Atco for a couple of singles. This time on the label it reads simply “the Pearls”, instead of “Five Pearls” as on their debut. Unfortunately, none of these three Pearls singles charted on a national level. The group switched labels, to Onyx Records. The next five singles by the group in 1956 and ’57 were all released on Onyx Records out of New York. Onyx was Jerry Winston’s label and during its two years plus existence it put out twenty singles by the Velours and the Miller Sisters, among others, but the Pearls was their main act. By this time David Cortez Clowney had left the group, but he came back later.
Derek Martin David Cortez
The arranger Sammy Lowe and his orchestra are featured on these Onyx sides, which mostly are uptempo dancers. "It’s Love, Love, Love" and "Yuz-A-Ma-Tuz" are quite poppy ones, whereas "Zippidy Zippidy Zoom" and "My oh My" worked best on stage. Also Hank Williams’ "Your Cheatin’ Heart" is turned into a swinging mid-tempo number. "The Wheel of Love" and "Tree in the Meadow" are the only ballads, and the latter one was first recorded in 1948 by Billy Reid’s Orchestra with Dorothy Squires as vocalist.
Even more, Howard was the lead vocalist on Howie & the Sapphires’ 1959 single, "More than the Day Before" b/w "Rockin’ Horse", on Okeh 7112. The Pearls did come back together for one more single, though. Even David Cortez Clowney joined them, in spite of his spring hit in 1959, The Happy Organ. The Pearls released on E. Duke Pilgrim’s On the Square label out of New York a Coasters type of a novelty number called "Ugly Face", backed with a big-voiced ballad titled "Band of Angels". The single flopped, and there were no more releases on the label, neither by the Pearls, nor anybody else.
Songs :
The Five Pearls
Please Let Me Know Real Humdinger
The Pearls (1)
Shadows Of Love Yum Yummy Bells Of Love
Come On Home Let’s You And I Go Steady Zippidy Zippidy Zoom
Tree In The Meadow Your Cheatin’ Heart I Sure Need You
Planets, Rockets, Rocketeers, Magic-Tones :( L to R) Billy Steward, Jimmy Brunsen, Vince House & Woody Johnson
The Planets (1)(Chicago)
akaThe Magic Notes aka The Rockets (3) aka The Rocketeers (2) aka The Rhythm Aces
Personnel :
Billy Steward (First Tenor)
Woody Johnson (Second Tenor)
Jimmy Brunsen (Tenor)
Vince House (Baritone/Bass)
Discography :
The Rhythm Aces Singles : 1954 - I Wonder Why / Get Lost (Vee Jay 124) 1955 - Whisper To Me / Olly, Olly, Atsen Free (Vee Jay 138) 1955 - That's My Sugar / Flippety Flop (Vee Jay 160) Unreleased : 1954- I Realize Now (Vee Jay)
The Rockets (3) 1956 - You Are The First One / Be Lovey Dovey (Modern 992)
Jimmy Beasley & The Rockets (3) 1957 - Johnny's House Party, Part 1 / Part 2 (Modern 1021)
The Rocketeers (2) 1956 - Talk It Over Baby / Hey Rube (Modern 999) 1958 - My Reckless Heart / They Turned The Party Out At Bessie's House (M-J-C 501)
Darla Hood & The Rocketeers (2) 1957 - No Secret Now / Jody (Encino 1007)
The Magic Notes 1957 - The Wrong Door / Never Again (Era 1035)
The Planets (1) 1957 - Stand There Mountain / Never Again (Era 1038) 1957 - Be Sure / Wild Leaves (Era 1049)
Biography :
R&B harmony group the Rhythm Aces formed in 1950 comprising first tenor Billy Steward, second tenor Chuck Rowan, baritone Clyde Rhymes, and bass Vince House; all were members of the U.S. Army's Special Services division stationed in Germany at the time of the quartet's formation, ultimately winning the "All-Army Soldier Singing Contest" and landing an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show as a result. Following their 1954 discharge, the Rhythm Aces returned to the U.S. and mounted a tour of the Midwest -- their performance at Chicago's Crown Propeller Lounge proved such a hit that the club named the group its regular headline act, firing former marquee act the Moonglows in the process.
The Rhythm Aces : Billy Steward, Chuck Rowan, Clyde Rhymes & Vince House
Vee-Jay Records exec Ewart Abner soon caught the Rhythm Aces' act and arranged an audition with label owners Vivian and Jimmy Carter, who immediately extended a contract offer. Their debut single "I Wonder Why" followed in late 1954, but the group's sharp, sophisticated harmonies made few inroads at radio or retail. Vee-Jay issued the Rhythm Aces' luminous sophomore effort "Whisper to Me" in the spring of 1955, but it too failed to attract much attention, and when a similar fate befell their third single, "That's My Sugar," the label terminated the group's contract.
After adding guitarist Sam Alexander and installing Rowan on piano, the Rhythm Aces toured Canada in late 1955, but during a break from the road Rhymes wed while Steward and Alexander spent the holidays in their native Detroit, when only Rowan and House turned up for a scheduled gig in New York City, the group dissolved. After the Vee Jay Rhythm Aces broke up late in 1955, they all returned home. It is not known when or where, but Lloyd McCraw ( Jacks/Cadets) had previously met Vince House.
Jimmy Beasley
In 1956, he communicated with House, asking him to assemble a group and come west to record for his organization. House rounded up Steward and Rowan and picked up Jimmy Brunsen, they were now "the Rockets. McCraw got them a contract and session with Modern Records . When their Modern disc failed, Rowan left for good, rejoining the service. He was replaced in the group by Brunsen's friend Woody Johnson. Modern then changed the group's name to Rocketeers late in 1956 and released a new single.
Johnny Otis Show
Nothing happened with the name change or the Modern release, and the group moved to Era, where House's name was changed to Vince Howard. The Group cut three singles, as the Planets & The Magic Tones. One disc that the Planets released on Era, "Stand There Mountain," became their biggest hit. At this point they hooked up with Johnny Otis and became part of his touring "Johnny Otis Show" (once again as the Rockets). In early 1958, they became the "Rocketeers" again, for a single recording as backup for Willie Davis. http://www.uncamarvy.com/RhythmAces/rhythmaces.html
Seated : Jerry Crutchfield . Standing : Gerald Nelson, Jan Crutchfield and Olin Bryant.
The Escorts (2) (Paducah, Kentucky) aka The Country Gentlemen (2)
Personnel :
Jerry Crutchfield (Lead)
Gerald Nelson (Tenor)
Jan Crutchfield (Baritone)
Olin Bryant (Bass)
Discography :
The Country Gentlemen (2) 1956 - A Rose And A Baby Ruth / Why Did You Go (RCA Victor 47-6673) 1956 - My Heart's Desire / Right Around The Corner (RCA Victor EP 47-6764)
George Hamilton IV & The Country Gentlemen (2) 1956 - A Rose And A Baby Ruth / If You Don't Know (George Hamilton IV) (Colonial 420)
The Escorts (2) Singles : 1957 - Arrow Two Hearts / Misty Eyes (OJ 1010) 1960 - I Will Be Home Again / Leaky Heart And His Red Go-Kart (Scarlet 4005) 1961 - Snow Dreams / Misty Eyes (De'voice 777) Unreleased : 1957 - Tragedy (OJ)
Bobby Chandler & The Escorts (2) 1958 - Winter Time / Junior Prom (OJ 1012)
Biography :
Gerald Nelson, the tenor, is a senior 8t Murray Stats College. Jerry Crutchfield , who sings the lead, is another Murray senior, Jan Crutchfield , baritone, is a senior at Tilghman High School in Paducah and Olin Bryant, is a sophomore in the University of Kentucky College of Engineering. Jerry and Jan Crutchfield are brothers. All four are natives of Paducah, hey started singing together since 1952. In those early days, they were Gospel singers, and were known at various times as the "Melody Masters" and the "Jubilaires." Gospel singing wasn't productive in the money department, but it was good experience. Later, when they left. Paducah and enrolled, at Murray, Jerry Crutchfield, Gerald Nelson and Olin Bryant branched out into popular singing, and worked with Jimmy Cooper in a quartet called the "Four Winds." They also started working parttime when Radio Station WCBL opened in Benton. On the side, however, they continued to sing with the original quartet. In 1955, the Four Winds won the annual gospel-quartet-singing competition.
1955 - The Four Winds From left, Jimmy Cooper, Jerry Crutchfield, Gerald Nelson, Olin Bryant
Jerry Crutchfield began to get in touch with recording companies about an audition. The break came in 1956, after one of his periodic visits, Jerry Crutchfield was told by a man at Victor's office in Nashville that the group should work out a distinctive style of singing. They had a style, the Victor spokesman said, but it was too similar to that of the "Four Freshmen," a current top quartet. There might be a demand for change-of-pace singing group, one with a style that sort of combines rock'n'roll with straight harmony, they were told. With that encouragement, the four altered their style once again. In August 1956, they made four test recordings for Victor; and a contract followed almost immediately. The contract calls for a minimum of four records in six months.
George Hamilton IV
The first record offered "A Rose and A Baby Ruth" on one side and "Why Did You Go?", written by Jerry Crutchfield, on the other. "A Rose and A Baby Ruth" was Issued 2 month after the first press by George Hamilton IV and The group on Colonial # 420 (pressed by RCA). The second record combines "My Heart's Desire" and "Right Around The Corner." The name Country Gentlemen almost proved a disastrous stumbling block. When their first record was released, many radio disc jockeys didn't give it a play because, judging from the name, they thought the group was a hillbilly outfit. RCA issued two singles by them before they were renamed "The Escorts" early in 1957.
1957 - The Escorts : Gerald Nelson, Jerry and Jan Crutchfield, and Olin Bryant
In 1957, The Escorts Won the Arthur Godfrey "Talent Scouts' award Monday on Channel 11 and has been appearing many week on the Godfrey show. With these appearances the group sign a recording contract with OJ records. OJ RECORDS was the manufacturing arm of Old Judge Music Publishing whose offices were locate at 1018 North Watkins Street in Memphis, Tennessee. The label seems to have begun operations sometime in 1956 or 1957 under the supervision of Bill Biggs and C. J. (Red) Matthews. The Escorts had two release on O.J., "Misty Eyes"/"Arrow Two Heart" (OJ 1010), there's also Bobby Chandler & The Escorts: "Winter Time"/"Junior Prom" (OJ 1012).
Bobby Chandler Gerald Nelson
The Escorts had records issued on Scarlett "I Will Be Home Again" b/w "Leaky Heart And His Red Go-Kart" and on the De'Voice label "Snow Dreams" b/w "Misty Eyes". Gerald Nelson had co-written the song 'Tragedy' with Fred Burch and had recorded the original version with The Escorts. Nelson brought this song to the attention of Scotty Moore who decided that it suited the vocal stylings of Thomas Wayne. With Scotty playing the guitar fills and Bill Black on bass plus vocal backing by The De-Lons , the song was recorded along with 'Saturday Date' at Hi's Royalty Studio and released on Fernwood 109 in September 1958.
At Station WCBL, in Benton, Seated is Jerry Crutchfield and standing are Gerald Nelson, Jan Crutchfield and Olin Bryant.
At first 'Saturday Date' was plugged as the main side but in the spring of 1959, a disc jockey in Kentucky played the flip 'Tragedy' and the disc took off. It eventually peaked at #5 on the national charts and sold over a million copies along the way. Gerald & Fred were songwriters and they wrote many songs for Elvis including "The Love Machine", "Great Shakin' Fever" for Dorsey Burnette, "That's All Right With Me" for Ral Donner.
The Elgins 1959 (L to R) William DeVase, Oscar McDonald, Kenny Sinclair, Darryl Lewis and Jimmy Smith.
The Elements (Southern California) aka The Daniels aka The Elgins (1) aka The Bagdads
Personnel:
Jimmy Smith (Lead)
William Devase
Darryl Lewis
Kenny Sinclair
Oscar McDonald
Discography :
The Elements 1960 - Lonely Hearts Club / Bad Man (Titan 1708) 1961 - My Illness / Extra Extra (By the Elgins) (Titan 1724)
The Elgins (1) 1961 - Uncle Sam's Man / Casey Cop (Flip 353) 1961 - Extra Extra / My Illness (By the Elements) (Titan 1724) 1961 - Extra! Extra! / Heartache, Heartbreak (Titan 1724) 1962 - A Winner Never Quits / Finally (Lummtone 109) 1962 - A Winner Never Quits / Johnny I'm Sorry (Lummtone 109) 1962 - Johnny I'm Sorry / You Got Your Magnet On Me (Lummtone 110) 1963 - Lost My Love In The Big City / Finally (Lummtone 112) 1963 - Your Lovely Ways / Finding A Sweetheart (Lummtone 113) 1965 - Street Scene / You Found Yourself Another Fool (Valiant 752)
The Daniels 1963 - Big City / Finally (Lantam 01)
The Bagdads
Singles : 1968 - Livin' In Fear / Let's Talk About the Bad Times (Double Shot 128) 1968 - Bring Back Those Doo-Wopps / Green Power 1968 (Double Shot 133) 1969 - Love Has Two Faces / Jelly (Double Shot 140) 1970 - Keep Those Mini Skirts Up / Let's Talk About the Bad Times (Double Shot 151) Unreleased: 1969 - Push Me Baby (Double Shot)
Biography :
Oscar McDonald and Jimmy Smith attended high school together in Beaumont, Texas. Jimmy, on occasion, laments the fact that he came in second place in several talent contests in Texas to Johnny Nash, of "I Can See Clearly Now" fame. Darryl Lewis, Kenny Sinclair and William Devase attended high school in southern California. Darryl and Kenny were original members of the Six Teens, of "A Casual Look" fame, along with Darryl's cousin Trudy Williams. After leaving the Six Teens, Kenny hooked up with William to sing in various groups while in high school.
The Elgins (1960)
Cappie, as Darryl is affectionately called by close friends, reunited with Kenny, his brother Carl, and William. He brought Jimmy into the group to sing lead. This quintet recorded "Lonely Hearts Club" b/w "Bad Man" for the Titan label in 1960 under the name of the Elements. They also recorded "My Illness" as the Elements for Titan, but this was to go unreleased at the time. Soon thereafter, Carl left the group to devote more time to pursuing an acting career. Jimmy brought Oscar McDonald into the group and the Elgins were born. Along with a change in personnel was a label change to Flip.
This was a return to familiar shores. Flip had been the recording home for the Six Teens. Jimmy Smith had also recorded "I Cry And Cry Every Night" b/w "Night Time" for Flip in 1959 backed by the Lockettes. The Elgins recording on Flip of "Uncle Sam’s Man" b/w "Casey Cop" was released in 1960 and established the group on the west coast. The success of "Uncle Sam’s Man" certainly caught the attention of George Brown at Titan records.
The Bagdads (1968)
Rembering that he still had an unreleased recording by the group (prior to the name change) still in the vaults, Brown decided to capitalize on their recent success and issued "My Illness" b/w "Extra Extra" in 1961 under the name Elgins rather than the Elements . 1962 saw the record reissued with the title of "My Illness" changed to "Heartaches Heartbreak", a somewhat less somber name for the tune. 1962 saw yet another label change for the group, this time to Lummie Fowler's Lummtone label. Their first release, Lummtone 109 was "Finally" b/w "A Winner Never Quits". Barbara Lewis, who had replaced Devase in the group at the time, is heard on "Finally", behind the lead of Darryl Lewis. Their next release, also in '62 was "Johnny I'm Sorry" b/w "A Winner Never Quits", and was also issued as Lummtone 109. "Johnny I'm Sorry" took on new life when it was issued again as Lummtone 110 this time b/w "You Got Your Magnet On Me Baby".
The Elgins (2003)
Devase was back in the group for their next outing on Lummtone which was "I Left My Heart In The Big City" b/w "Finally", which was resurrected from their previous release. This record was also released on the Lantam label as by the Daniels. The Elgins final recording for Lummtone in 1963 was "Your Lovely Ways" b/w "Finding A Sweetheart". In 1965, the Elgins released a more POP sounding record "Street Scene" b/w "You Found Yourself Another Fool" for the Valiant label. Sinclair, Devase and McDonald recorded again between 1968-1970 as the Bagdads, putting out four singles, most notable of which was "Bring Back Those Doo-Wops" b/w "Green Power" for the Double Shot label.
/image%2F0655033%2F20241207%2Fob_c217a1_belmonts-site-2.jpeg)
