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

The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates

Posted on January 30 2008 by dion1

The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates

The Playmates (2) (Newark, NJ.)
aka The Three Playmates

Personnel :

Gwen Brooks

Lucille Beatty

Alma Beatty

Discography :

The Playmates (2)
1957 - It Must Be Love / Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong ‎(Savoy 1523)

The Three Playmates
1957 - Sugah Wooga / Lovey Dovey Pair (Savoy 1528)
1958 - Give Your Love To Me / (Do-oo, Do-oo) I Dreamed (Savoy 1537)

Biography :

The 3 girls from Newark, New Jersey (sisters Lucille and Alma Beatty and Gwen Brooks) only ever had 3 singles released in the late 1950s for Savoy Records, a label launched in Newark in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky, and had just one of them make any of the national charts. Their first release was the summer 1957 Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong (not the same song as one released with that title in 1956 by Freddie Bell & The Bell Boys for Mercury's Wing subsidiary) b/w It Must Be Love on Savoy 1523 billed as The Playmates (Alma, Gwen, Lucille). It failed to chart, although Savoy arranger Ernie Wilkins certainly provided them with quality backing, using tenor saxophonists Jerome Richardson and George Barrow, baritone saxophonist Budd Johnson, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Sam Price, bassist Joe Benjamin and drummer Bobb Donaldson. They appeared on Savoy at the same time Roulette's guys put out their first single.

The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates

For their follow-up Sugah Wooga the label assembled tenor saxophonist Buddy Lucas, organist Bobby Banks, bassist Leonard Gaskin and an unidentified orchestra and this time, to avoid record store/juke box label confusion with the all-male quartet The Playmates, they were billed as The Three Playmates (Lucille, Alma, Gwen) and in March 1958 it peaked at # 89 Billboard Pop Top 100 on Savoy 1528 b/w Lovey Dovey Pair. For some reason, however, it made no impact whatsoever on the R&B charts despite the facts Savoy was designed mainly to appeal to that market and the arrangement was so close to that of the 1957 R&B/Pop smash Little Bitty Pretty One by Thurston Harris. Their only other single, also billed as The Three Playmates (Alma, Lucille, Gwen), was (Do-Oo, Do-Oo) I Dreamed b/w Give Your Love To Me on Savoy 1537 later in 1958 and, with the same backing musicians as their first effort (it was actually recorded in July 1957), it failed to chart.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Playmates (2)

Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong It Must Be Love

The Three Playmates


Lovey Dovey Pair                               Sugah Wooga


Give Your Love To Me                                  I Dreamed

...

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The Five Discs aka The Boyfriends (3)

Posted on January 29 2008 by dion1

Top : Andrew Jackson, Mario DeAndrade & Paul Albano. Bottom : Joe Barselona & Tony Basile

The Five Discs (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Boyfriends (3)

Personnel :

Mario DeAndrade（Lead）

Paul Albano（First Tenor）

Tony Basile（Second Tenor）

Joe Barselona（Baritone）

Andrew Jackson（Bass）  

Discography :

The Five Discs

Singles :
1958 - I Remember / The World Is A Beautifull Place（Emge 1004/Vik 0327/Rust 5027）
1959 - Roses / My Chinese Girl（Dwain 803/6072）
1961 - I Don't Know / Come On Baby（Yale-243） 
1961 - Adios / My Baby Loves Me（Calo 202） 
1962 - Never Let You Go / That Was The Time (Cheer 1000)

Unreleased :
1959 - No more fooling Around
1961 - It's Christmas Time
1961 - You Belong To Me
1962 - Unchained Melody
1963 - This Love Of Ours
1963 - To The Fair

Adrienne Allen & The Five Discs
1961 - When love Comes Knocking / Go-Go (Yale 240)

The Boyfriends (3)
1964 - Let's Fall In Love / Oh Lana (Kapp 569)

Biography :

The Five Discs were one of several doo-wop groups (Carollons, Chips, etc.) to trace their origins to the Bedford-Stuyvesant district of Brooklyn, New York, USA. They were formed in 1954 by Joe Brocco (lead), Joe Barsalona (baritone), Paul Albano (first tenor) and Tony Basile (second tenor). Composed of Italian-descended young men and originally titled the Flames, they subsequently shuffled the pack by adding black singers Mario deAndrade and Andrew Jackson from the Love Notes.

Andrew Jackson, Joe Barselona, Mario DeAndrade, Tony Basile & Paul Albano

This produced a new line-up of DeAndrade (lead), Jackson (bass), Albano (first tenor), Basile (second tenor) and Barsalona (baritone), though membership remained fluid over ensuing years. After recording demos at Bell Sound studios in New York the group started to offer these to interested parties. There were no takers until songwriter Billy Martin introduced them to the proprietors of the Emge Records label. They were still titled the Flames when they recorded deAndrade’s song ‘I Remember’, but when it was released they had chosen a new name, the Five Discs.

Andrew Jackson, Joe Barselona, Mario DeAndrade, Tony Basile & Paul Albano

Despite achieving strong popularity in the local New York and Boston markets, the group felt dissatisfied with the label’s promotion of the single, and looked elsewhere. ‘My Chinese Girl’, released on Dwain Records in 1959, failed to improve their standing. Jackson and DeAndrade then left, and were replaced by Lenny Hutter of the Chalets on lead and John Russell on bass. ‘Come On Baby’ emerged to little fanfare in 1961, and Hutter left immediately, to be replaced by John Carbone. Calo Records took over the promotion of Carbone’s debut on ‘Adios’, an old deAndrade song.

However, the band moved on again, this time to Cher Records, with Russell replaced by Charlie DiBella. ‘Never Let You Go’ was the last single to feature Carbone, as Eddie Parducci of the Delvons took his place. It was their most successful project for some time, but still failed to breach the national charts.

Russell Johnson, Paul Albano, Tony Basile, Joe Barselona & Johnny Carbone (Calo & Cheer records)

As a result the group changed tack to become the Boyfriends, releasing a solitary single on Kapp Records titled ‘Let’s Fall In Love’. Numerous line-up changes ensued before the group became Dawn in 1968 (not of ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree’ fame), their sole release under this guise being a cover version of Sam Cooke’s ‘Bring It On Home To Me’. Ironically, the last Five Discs record would see them return to the Schwarz brothers and Laurie Records for 1972’s ‘Rock & Roll Revival’, though throughout the 70s several archive singles were also released as interest in 50s doo-wop escalated. A typically ad hoc line-up reunited in 1991 for the Doo-wop Society Show.
http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/The-Five-Discs.html

The Five Discs


I Remember            The World Is A Beautifull Place                 Roses


My Chinese Girl          I Don't Know / Come On Baby                Adios

My Baby Loves Me               Never Let You Go                That Was The Time


Unchained Melody                 It's Christmas Time                You Belong To Me


This Love Of Ours               No More Fooling Around        To The Fair

Adrienne Allen & The Five Discs

When love Comes Knocking Go-Go

The Boyfriends (3)

Let's Fall In Love Oh Lana

...

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Ze Majestiks aka Ze-Majestics aka The Trends

Posted on January 29 2008 by dion1

The Spaniels
The Trends (From left to right) Eddie Dunn, Ralph O'Neil, Jerrone Johnson, Emmett Gardner

Ze Majestiks (Chicago, IL.)
aka Ze-Majestics aka The Trends

Personnel :

Eddie Dunn (Lead)

Jeronne "Jerry" Johnson

Ralph O'Neill

Emmett Garner Jr

Discography :

Ze-Majestics
1959 - Garlens Mambo / Bobbi Ann (Fox 5014)

Ze Majestiks
1962 - Sapphire (Part 1) / Sapphire (Part 2) (ABC 10318/Sign 84533)

Biography :

The Trends were one of the Chicago soul vocal groups signed to ABC-Paramount through arranger/producer Johnny Pate. Pate produced hits for the label on Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions. Hailing from the city's west side, its members were Emmett Gardner Jr., Jerome Johnson, Eddie Dunn, and Ralph O' Neal. Before recording for Smash in 1964 as the Trends, they recorded "Garlens Mambo" b/w "Bobbi Ann" for Fox Records under the name Ze-Majestics in 1959.

The Spaniels

Three years later, the Group, now renamed Ze Majestiks, recorded "Sapphire" b/w "Part 2" release on Sign prior to be picked up by ABC Paramount. After the two singles for Smash in 1964 as the Trends, a Mercury Records imprint, Pate signed the Trends and they put out seven singles including "Big Parade" b/w "Soul Clap," "Don't Drop Out of School," "Never Too Young to Cry," and "Check My Tears." They never had any nationally charting singles.

Songs :

Ze-Majestics

Bobbi Ann Garlens Mambo

Ze Majestiks

Sapphire

....

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The Champs (1) aka The Chimes (3)

Posted on January 28 2008 by dion1

The Champs (1) aka The Chimes (3)

The Chimes (3) (Los Angeles)
aka The Champs (1)
ref: The Wonders (4) aka The Wanderers (3)

Personnel :

Horace "Pookie" Wooten (Tenor)

David Cobb (Second Tenor)

Charles Jackson (Tenor)

Booker Jones (Baritone)

Talbert Walton (Bass)

Discography :

The Chimes (3)
Singles :
1955 - Zindy Lou / Tears On My Pillow (Specialty 555)
1956 - Chop Chop / Pretty Little Girl (Specialty 574)
Unreleased :
1956 - The Chimes Ring Out (Specialty)

Tony Allen & The Chimes (3)
1956 - Especially / Check Yourself, Baby (Specialty 570)

Tony Allen & The Champs (1)
1955 - Nite Owl / I (Specialty 560)

The Wonders (4)
1958 - Be My Love Be My Love / Tell Me (Forward 601)

Tony Allen & The Wonders (4)
1958 - Be My Love, Be My Love / Tell Me (Tampa 157)
1959 - Loving You / Lookin' For My Baby (Jamie 1119)

Bobby Starr (Tony Allen & The Wonders (4))
1959 - Sweet Man / Please Give Me A Chance (Radio 120)

Tony Allen & The Wanderers (3)
1961 - Everybody's Somebody's Fool / If Love Was Money (Kent 356)

Biography :

In August 1955, The Chimes from South Central, Los Angeles, under band leader Horace "Pookie" Whooten signed a contract with Specialty Records. The group consists of Horace "Pookie" Wooten (Tenor), David Cobb (Second Tenor), Charles Jackson (Tenor), Booker Jones (Baritone) and Talbert Walton (Bass) . In September, they released "Zindy Lou" and "Tears on My Pillow" their first single, the A-side with influences of African rhythm and a hypnotic singing in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, the local charts reached, but without nationwide reactions.

The Chimes (3) aka The Champs (1)
Tony Allen

Robert Alexander "Bumps" Blackwell songwriter and arranger at Specialty Records make session With Tony Allen, held at Master recorders in Hollywood on 12 August 1955 with The Chimes singing behind him even though they were billed on the Record as The Champs. The Chimes backed everybody on Specialty. They were properly named on Allen's sequel Single Especially. The back of Especially was improvised in the studio based on an idea by Charles Jackson "Check Yourself, Baby". The collaboration as a session musician with Allen was abruptly terminated by its breach with Specialty. Then the band released again in April 1956 under their own name "Pretty Little Girl" and "Chop Chop".

The Chimes (3) aka The Champs (1) The Champs (1) aka The Chimes (3)
David Cobb & Horace "Pookie" Wooten

The record career of the Chimes was already finished in 1956, but the connection to Tony Allen was maintained: So supported him Horace "Pookie" Wooten, Charles Jackson & David Cobb as "The Wonders" and "The Wanderers" repeatedly in various publications. Horace "Pookie" Wooten, Charles Jackson & David Cobb would go on to form The Lions in 1960, and later reformed as The Resonics.

Songs :

The Chimes (3)


Zindy Lou                Tears On My Pillow                        Chop Chop


Pretty Little Girl                   The Chimes Ring Out

Tony Allen & The Chimes (3)


       Especially                  Check Yourself, Baby

Tony Allen & The Champs (1)


Nite Owl                                             I

The Wonders (4)


Be My Love Be My Love                   Tell Me

Tony Allen & The Wonders (4)


       Loving You                      Lookin' For My Baby

Bobby Starr (Tony Allen & The Wonders (4))


      Sweet Man                     Please Give Me A Chance

Tony Allen & The Wanderers (3)

Everybody's Somebody's Fool / If Love Was Money

…

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The Delroys aka The Del-Roys

Posted on January 28 2008 by dion1

Reggie Walker, John Blount, Robert Coleman & Ronald Coleman

The Delroys (Queens, New-York)
aka The Del-Roys

Personnel :

Reggie Walker (Bass, Lead)

John Blount (First Tenor)

Ronald Coleman (Second Tenor)

Robert Coleman ( Baritone)

Discography :

The Delroys
Singles:
1957 - Bermuda Shorts / Time (Milton Sparks) (Apollo 514)
1959 - Wise Old Owl / Strange Land (Sparkell 102)

The Del-Roys
Singles :
1961 - Love Me Tenderly / Pleasing You (Carol 4113)
Unreleased:
1961 - Happy Life (Carol)
1961 - Mexico (Carol)

Lps :
1964 - Al Browne Presents Dyno Sounds (MOON AB 1)
Alimony

Biography :

Long Island, NY-based doo wop quartet the Delroys formed in the city's Queensbridge Projects in 1956 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile in the July 1989 issue of Record Collectors' Monthly, brothers Ronald (first tenor) and Robert Coleman (baritone) lured away bass Reggie Walker from a rival group, and with the subsequent addition of lead John Blount, the lineup was complete. Named in honor of the acrobatic troupe the Five Flying Delroys, the teens were soon introduced to manager Ernest Kelly, who in early 1957 secured a deal with Apollo Records that also included another of his clients, soloist Milton Sparks. Thus, the Delroys' debut single, "Bermuda Shorts," featured Sparks' "Time" on the flip side -- when the Walker-penned tune began earning interest at radio, Apollo vice president Charlie Merenstein partnered with stations across the U.S. to launch contests promising winners copies of the record as well as gift certificates for their own "Bermuda shorts."

The Del-Roys aka The Delroys
Reggie Walker, John Blount, Ronald Coleman & Robert Coleman

Although the Delroys scored a major hit in markets including Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York City, spotty distribution hampered the momentum of "Bermuda Shorts" and the single failed to crack the national pop charts; moreover, when Apollo withheld payment from the group, their parents balked at future recording sessions, bringing their tenure with the label to an abrupt halt. The Delroys continued touring, however, at each date performing in Bermuda shorts of their own -- a frustrated Blount resigned from duty in 1958, prompting the additions of two new members, lead Bobby Taylor and second tenor Junior Talbot. When Kelly and Sparks co-founded their own Sparkell label in 1959, the Delroys entered the studio to cut their second single, "Wise Owl" -- when it failed to generate the interest of "Bermuda Shorts," the lineup began to splinter, with several members called for military duty.

In 1961, Ronald Coleman assembled a new Delroys lineup featuring lead Ray Paine, second tenor Norman Baquie, and baritone Cliff Davis, cutting "Love Me Tenderly" for the Carol label and scoring a minor hit in the New York market. A second Carol single remained on the shelf, however, and the new group dissolved as well. However, in 1964 Coleman reunited with Reggie Walker to form yet another iteration of the Delroys, this one with second tenor Walter Pope. Their lone recording, "Alimony," appeared on the compilation LP Al Browne Presents Dyno Sounds. The Coleman brothers joined forces with Walker again in 1970, adopting the name the First Three for their lone Deep label effort, "Don't Get Caught Faking." After more than a decade of inactivity, the trio re-formed as the Delroys in 1982, becoming a staple of the oldies revue and corporate events circuits.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Delroys/delroys.html

Songs :

The Delroys

Bermuda Shorts Time

Strange Land

The Del-Roys

Love Me Tenderly Pleasing You

...

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The Four Fellows (3) aka The Companions (2)

Posted on January 22 2008 by dion1

The Four Fellows (3) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Companions (2)

Personnel:

Milton Bennett (Lead)

Albert Williams Jr (Bass)

Pringle Sims (Tenor)

Larry Banks (Baritone)

Discography :

The Companions (2)
1959 - Why, Oh Why Baby / I Didn't Know (Brook's 100/Federal 12397)
1959 - Falling / Oh What A Feeling! (Dove 240)

The Four Fellows (3)
1962 - That's Why I Pray / The City (Pop-Line 0208)

Biography :

Bessie White (Banks) sung with a quartet called Three Guys and a Doll, who subsequently became the Four Fellows without her; while a member of the group, she met bass/baritone singer Larry Banks, who was the de facto leader of the group, and married him on stage at the Royal Theatre in Baltimore. Larry Banks was a New York-born baritone/bass singer (and songwriter) who helped organize and lead the quartet. They survived well enough, even making some television appearances, and scored a hit with "Soldier Boy".

Albert Williams, Milton Bennet, Pringle Sims & Larry Banks

Larry and most of the original members had left and Larry & Bessie next turned up on the Brooks label in 1959, singing as the Companions. Larry's sister Harriette joined the couple in the group and close friend and soon to be writing partner Milton Bennett, his cousin Al Williams and Pringle Sims who has just left The Strangers. Larry wrote both sides of the single 'Why Oh Why Baby' / 'I Didn't Know (You Got Married)'. It was then picked up by Federal for national release in 1960.

Bessie Banks
The group have another record on the Dove Label. In 1960, Milton Bennett, Albert Williams Jr, Pringle Sims and Larry Banks perform on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour as the Companions. In 1962, the same four guys cut "That's Why I Pray" b/w "The City" on the Pop-Line Label under their new name or old name : The Four Fellows…
Thanks to Marv Goldberg

Videos :

The Companions - Albert Williams, Milton Bennet, Pringle Sims & Larry Banks on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Companions (2)


Why, Oh Why Baby                 I Didn't Know                    Falling

Oh What A Feeling!

The Four Fellows (3)


That's Why I Pray                         The City

...

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The Deans (2) aka The Four Playboys / Four Deans

Posted on January 20 2008 by dion1

The Deans (2) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Four Playboys / The Four Deans

 Personnel :

 Joe Macaluso (Tenor)

 Tom Cori (Baritone)

 Fred Khoury (Bass)

  Discography :  

The Deans (2)

Singles :
1960 - My Heart Is Low / I'll Love You Forever (Mohawk 114)
1960 - Humpty Dumpty / Le Chiam (Goodluck) (Mohawk 119)
1961 - It's You / I Don't Want To Wait (Just For Saturday Night) (Mohawk 126)
1961 - Little White Gardenia / I Don't Want To Wait (Just For Saturday Night) (Laurie 3114)
1963 - I'm Gonna Love You / Don't Let Her Cry Tonight (Tin Pan Alley 316)
1963 - Pretty Nola / Ricky Rocky Poo-Poo-Poo (Honeywell Jackson) (Tin Pan Alley 319)
Unreleased :
1960 - Walk With Me (Mohawk)
1960 - Carol (Mohawk)
1960 - Little Girl (Mohawk)
1960 - Come On (Mohawk)

 The Four Deans (The Four Playboys)
1992 (Recorded 58) - So Very Wrong / Mr Echo (Park Ave.7)

 Biography :

The Deans formed in 1956-1957 and went on to record for Mohawk records. Originally, calling themselves The Four Playboys : Ralph Maffei (Lead) , Tom Cori (Baritone), Fred Khoury (Bass)and Joe Macaluso (Tenor) and eventualy lead on all recordings, when Ralph Maffei left the group to get married. The 3-man group liked Dean Martin and for awhile called themselves the Dino’s, eventually settling on the Deans. They auditioned live in 1960 for Irv Spice.

The Four Playboys

Irv Spice owner of Mohawk Records, was a musician who engulfed most of his productions with strings and full orchestration. He is probably best known releasing Dion & The Belmonts and The Dimensions’ first discs, two groups who went on to national fame. Mohawk Records and it’s subsidiaries Wizz, Abel, dragon, Dee and Hawk have been involved in many recordings both released and unreleased.

The Deans

Irv Spice quickly signed them to a contract, their outstanding "Blend and Sound" made them sound like a 5-man group. The group started recording at Dick Charles Studios, and cut three singles from 1960 to 1961 before joining Laurie records for one single: "Little White Gardenia" b/w "I Don't Want To Wait (Just For Saturday Night)". Despite two other records on the Tin Pan Alley Labels in 1963, they never achieved great success.

The Four Playboys Aka The Four Deans aka The Deans (2)

In the early 1990, Park Avenue released "So Very Much" and "Mr. Echo" recorded in 1958 by the original group, the Four Playboys, with Ralph Maffei on lead. The single was released under the name of The Four Deans .

Songs :

The Deans (2)

My Heart Is Low                 I'll Love You Forever                       Humpty Dumpty


          Le Chiam             It's You                I Don't Want To Wait


Little White Gardenia              I'm Gonna Love You              Don't Let Her Cry Tonight


Pretty Nola                        Walk With Me                                     Carol


Little Girl                           Come On

 The Four Deans / The Four Playboys 

So Very Wrong Mr Echo

...

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The Chuckles (3) aka The Consorts (2) aka The Four Clefs aka The Darts

Posted on January 20 2008 by dion1

The Consorts (2) aka Chuckles (3) aka Four Clefs aka The Darts

The Chuckles (3) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Consorts (2) aka The Four Clefs aka The Darts

Personnel :

Bruce Laurent

Sal Donnarumma

Billy Abbate

Eddie Jacobucci

Discography :

The Darts
1961 - Barbara Ann (Demo)
1961 - A Fool in love (Demo)
1961 - Runaround (Demo)
1961 - A mother's Love (Demo)

The Consorts (2)
Singles :
1961 - Please be mine / Time after time (Cousins 104/ Apt 25066)
1978 - Star Above / Carrie (Crystal Ball 111)
Unreleased:
1961 - No One Knows

The Chuckles (3)
1964 - On the Street where you live / I'll Wait (West Side 1019)

The Four Clefs
1966 - Please Be Mine (acapella) / Time After Time (acapella) (B-J 1000)

Biography :

Most stories about vocal groups are usually very similar. Only names, places and how they got their lucky break change. It was no different for four guys from the Bronx - Sal Donnarumma, Billy Abbate, Eddie Jacobucci and Bruce Laurent. They were seniors at Theodore Roosevelt High School and in 1960 they formed their first group, The Majestics. They Cut two demo's at Associated Studios in Manhattan. Johnny Falbo played Guitar and over dubbed the drums. He is bet known as Dion's guitar player who traveled with him on the road and played on some Columbia recordings. The Majestics brought the songs, both covers, to Lou Chiccetti, owner of Cousins Record Shop and the now famous Cousins Record Label.

Lou Like the group but was interested in only original material. At this point which is still not very clear, two things happened. The Majestics were friends with Ernie Maresca who would give them 4 songs which they would record as the Darts. Also Eddie Jacobucci was the young brother Of Dan Jacobucci, an original member of the Regents. In 1958, The Regents recorded 3 songs at associated Studios, the last being an original they use to warm up with "Barbara Ann".

The group had broken up and eddie saw no problem in taking the song for the Majestics/Darts. This was the song Lou Chiccetti decided he would record. Only problem was the song writer, Fred Fasscett, whose brother Chuck was also an original Regent, only wanted The Regents to record it. The Regents regrouped and the rest is History. To compensate the Majestics he would change their name to the Consorts and record two originals written by group members Sal & Billy.

Just before releasing the 45 on his cousins label, Lou placed the discs with Apt Records.
Sal would eventually work for Lou at Cousins Record shop where he met many song writers and artists. He lent his vocal talent on many Eenie Maresca demo's (ex-Unbelievable) and sang on a Few Frankie Lyndon 45's before Frank became a member of the Belmonts. During this time song writer Tommy Bogdany had the group record 3 songs including the original version of "Carrie". The tunes would eventually be released in the 80s on Crystal Ball records. The Consorts had changed personnel and their new lead singer, Dennis Mesciano was the former lead singer of the Visuals.

The Consorts (2) aka Chuckles (3) aka Four Clefs aka The Darts

The Consorts had gone into the Studio and recorded a version of "On the Street Where You Live" they also did a fast version of "No one Knows" which seems to be lost and "I'll Wait" which was "Now That Summer's Thru" with different words. Once again they brought the material to Lou Chiccetti and once again he changed their name, This Time to The Chuckles and released the songs on his newly formed West Side Record Label.Sal would sell the Acappella masters to the Apt sessions and they would soon surface under the name The Four Clefs.
Ed Engel

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Consorts (2)


Please Be Mine                                 Time after time


Star Above                             Carrie


          No One Knows           Time After Time (unrel. alt. take)

The Chuckles (3)


On The Street Where You Live              I'll Wait

The Darts


Barbara Ann                        A Fool In Love

A Mother's Love Runaround

The Four Clefs

Please Be Mine (acapella) Time After Time (acapella)

...

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The Four Clefs aka The Consorts (2) aka The Chuckles (3) aka The Darts

Posted on January 20 2008 by dion1

The Consorts (2) aka Chuckles (3) aka Four Clefs aka The Darts

The Chuckles (3) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Consorts (2) aka The Four Clefs aka The Darts

Personnel :

Bruce Laurent

Sal Donnarumma

Billy Abbate

Eddie Jacobucci

Discography :

The Darts
1961 - Barbara Ann (Demo)
1961 - A Fool in love (Demo)
1961 - Runaround (Demo)
1961 - A mother's Love (Demo)

The Consorts (2)
Singles :
1961 - Please be mine / Time after time (Cousins 104/ Apt 25066)
1978 - Star Above / Carrie (Crystal Ball 111)
Unreleased:
1961 - No One Knows

The Chuckles (3)
1964 - On the Street where you live / I'll Wait (West Side 1019)

The Four Clefs
1966 - Please Be Mine (acapella) / Time After Time (acapella) (B-J 1000)

Biography :

Most stories about vocal groups are usually very similar. Only names, places and how they got their lucky break change. It was no different for four guys from the Bronx - Sal Donnarumma, Billy Abbate, Eddie Jacobucci and Bruce Laurent. They were seniors at Theodore Roosevelt High School and in 1960 they formed their first group, The Majestics. They Cut two demo's at Associated Studios in Manhattan. Johnny Falbo played Guitar and over dubbed the drums. He is bet known as Dion's guitar player who traveled with him on the road and played on some Columbia recordings. The Majestics brought the songs, both covers, to Lou Chiccetti, owner of Cousins Record Shop and the now famous Cousins Record Label.

Lou Like the group but was interested in only original material. At this point which is still not very clear, two things happened. The Majestics were friends with Ernie Maresca who would give them 4 songs which they would record as the Darts. Also Eddie Jacobucci was the young brother Of Dan Jacobucci, an original member of the Regents. In 1958, The Regents recorded 3 songs at associated Studios, the last being an original they use to warm up with "Barbara Ann".

The group had broken up and eddie saw no problem in taking the song for the Majestics/Darts. This was the song Lou Chiccetti decided he would record. Only problem was the song writer, Fred Fasscett, whose brother Chuck was also an original Regent, only wanted The Regents to record it. The Regents regrouped and the rest is History. To compensate the Majestics he would change their name to the Consorts and record two originals written by group members Sal & Billy.

Just before releasing the 45 on his cousins label, Lou placed the discs with Apt Records.
Sal would eventually work for Lou at Cousins Record shop where he met many song writers and artists. He lent his vocal talent on many Eenie Maresca demo's (ex-Unbelievable) and sang on a Few Frankie Lyndon 45's before Frank became a member of the Belmonts. During this time song writer Tommy Bogdany had the group record 3 songs including the original version of "Carrie". The tunes would eventually be released in the 80s on Crystal Ball records. The Consorts had changed personnel and their new lead singer, Dennis Mesciano was the former lead singer of the Visuals.

The Consorts (2) aka Chuckles (3) aka Four Clefs aka The Darts

The Consorts had gone into the Studio and recorded a version of "On the Street Where You Live" they also did a fast version of "No one Knows" which seems to be lost and "I'll Wait" which was "Now That Summer's Thru" with different words. Once again they brought the material to Lou Chiccetti and once again he changed their name, This Time to The Chuckles and released the songs on his newly formed West Side Record Label.Sal would sell the Acappella masters to the Apt sessions and they would soon surface under the name The Four Clefs.
Ed Engel

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Consorts (2)


Please Be Mine                                 Time after time


Star Above                             Carrie


          No One Knows           Time After Time (unrel. alt. take)

The Chuckles (3)


On The Street Where You Live              I'll Wait

The Darts


Barbara Ann                        A Fool In Love

A Mother's Love Runaround

The Four Clefs

Please Be Mine (acapella) Time After Time (acapella)

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The Flairs (2) aka The Redwoods aka The Spartans (4) aka Jeff Barry

Posted on January 20 2008 by dion1

The Redwoods (New York)
aka The Spartans (4) aka The Flairs (2) aka Jeff Barry

Personnel :

Jeff Barry

Discography :

The Redwoods
1961 - Shake Shake Sherry / The Memory Lingers On (Epic 5-9447)
1961 - Never Take It Away / Unemployment Insurance (Epic 5-9473)
1962 - Please Mr Scientist / Where You Used To Be (Epic 5-9505)

The Flairs (2)
1961 - Shake Shake Sherry / The Memory Lingers On (Epic 5-9447)

The Spartans (4)
1962 - Can You Waddle? / Can You Waddle (instumental) (Web 1)

Biography :

In 1961, Jeff Barry continues to issue recordings: A solo single on United Artists, a Jubilee release under the pseudonym Billy Mitchell, and pseudo vocal group records (he sings all voices) but were credited to the groups the Redwoods, the Spartans, and the Flairs on Epic and Web Records.

Songwriters Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman hire him to sing demos, some of which are recorded by Elvis Presley. Barry also begins to produce records.
http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/timeline/C128

Songs :

The Redwoods

Where You Used To Be                 Unemployment Insurance


The Memory Lingers On                     Never Take It Away


Please Mr Scientist                          Shake Shake Sherry

The Flairs (2)

Shake Shake Sherry The Memory Lingers On

The Spartans (4)

Can You Waddle?

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