The Dreams (1) (Philadelphia) aka Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3)
Personnel :
George Tindley (Lead Tenor)
Bernard Harris (First Tenor / Falsetto)
John Wesley "Wes" Hayes (Second Tenor / Guitar)
Robert "Flyright" Henderson (Baritone)
Stephen "Press" Presbery (Bass)
Discography :
The Dreams (1) 1954 - Darlene / A Letter To My Girl (Savoy 1130) 1954 - Under The Willow / I'm Losing My Mind (Savoy 1140) 1955 - I'll Be Faithful / My Little Honeybun (Savoy 1157)
Kenny Esquire & The Starlites (3) 1956 - They Call Me A Dreamer / Pretty Brown Eyes (Ember 1011) 1957 - Tears Are Just For Fools / Boom Chica Boom (Ember 1021)
Biography :
The Dreams began in 1953 in Philadelphia as the Royal Flames. This name was soon changed to the dreams. Lead George Tindley got the group their appearance at the apollo's amateur night and they took second place. Soon after the Apollo appearance, they were contacted by someone from the Newark-based Savoy Records who apparently was in the audience at the Apollo.
They went to Savoy and had their first session in April 1954, during which they recorded "Darlene" "A Letter To My Girl". The record did well locally. The Dreams' next session took place in October 1954, when they recorded "Under The Willow" "I'm Losing My Mind". Their last session with savoy was in March 1955. In this session they recorded "I'll Be Faithful" "My Little Honeybun". Nothing ever happened with their discs, but they made many live appearances and tours on the East Coast. Since Harris was still in school, their touring was limited.
In Junes 1956, Herald Records announced that they had signed the Dreams. Henderson could not be found for the first session with Herald, and billy taylor of the Castelles filled in. Before this disc was released, Tindley felt that he wanted his name on the disc. Herald agreed, but Tindley chose Kenny Esquire and changed the group's name to the Starlites.
The Record was "They Call me a Dreamer". George Tindley eventually joined Steve Gibson and the Red Caps, with whom he recorded a number of well-remembered doowop 45s in 1959 and 1960, before Tindley took over leadership duties (changing the group name to the Modern Red Caps), continuing on into 1966.
Eddie & The Starlites (2) (Brooklyn, New-York) aka The Whippoorwills (2) Ref : The Starlites (1)
Personnel :
Eddie Jenkins (Lead)
Robert Honey
Teddy Odes
Vel Miller
Archie Price
Discography :
Eddie & The Starlites (2)
Singles: 1959 - To Make A Long Story Short / Pretty Little Girl (Scepter 1202) 1963 - Come On Home / I Need Some Money (Aljon 1260/1261) 1972 - Three Steps To Go / Nobody But You And Me (Bim Bam Boom 102) 1973 - I Can Dream / You Told Me So (Vintage 1004)
Unreleased 1959 - I Love You (Scepter) 1960 - Come On Home (alt. version)
Lp : 1964 - Al Browne Presents Dyno Sounds (Moon AB 1) To Make A Long Story Short
The Whippoorwills (2) 1961 - Deep Within / Going To A Party (Josie 892)
Biography :
In 1955 Keyes joined a vocal group dubbed the Starlites with Cliff Rice, Sony Eugene, Charlie Saunders & Vic Rice. The Starlites earned a record deal with Al Browne and his tiny Peak label as a result of winning a local talent contest. Their single "Missing You" went nowhere, and in 1958 he joined the Velours, which cut several singles for the Cub label. Al Browne had several different groups which he called the Starlites. The story of Scepter Records starts with Florence Greenberg, who was a thirty-something housewife in the New Jersey suburbs of New York in the mid-1950s. The first single on the label (Scepter 1201) was "Why Why Why"/"Ugly Duckling" by Don Crawford & the Escorts.
Al Browne (Piano) with his band
When Al was producing for the Scepter Label on some early releases, he took the Starlites with him. Here, They became Eddie & Starlites for their release in Late December 1958 - cut in October at a split session with the Criterions/Kents. At that time the group has been much change members, completely different than the group on Peak and consists of Eddie Jenkins, Robert Honey, Teddy Odes, Vel Miller and Archie Price. Al Browne must have recorded them many times, because of the material that appeared years later on various labels. He Used "Three Steps To Heaven" on his "Dyno Sounds" Moon LP. Five years later, the group’s next record was issued on Al’s reactivated Aljon Label.
The group made appearances at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre with Murray the K, with Alan Freed at Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, the world famous Apollo theater, the Majestic Theatre in Pennsylvania, the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, and the Uptown Theatre in Pennsylvania. They have made numerous tours arounds the country. In 1961, not seeing their careers take off, lead singer, Eddie Jenkins and Robert Honey and probably the other members of the group recorded as The Whippoorwills for Josie records the titles "Deep Within" (wrote by Eddie Jenkins and Robert Honey) and "Going To A Party ".
1964 - Stormy Weather / Workin' At The Factory (Atlantic 2228)
Biography :
Jim Drucker worked as a teenager for Jolly Joyce Theatrical Booking Agency (JJA), Philadelphia and ran weekend WIBG Record Hops with Harold B. Childs, for Buzzy Curtis (Promotions) and was in high school at Philly's Edison HS with members of the Boss-Tones. In 1964 he combined Chuck Hatfield, Paul O' Lone from The Ly-Dells and Babbo and Willie Weaver from the Bosstones, and in the dark of night (at Chancellor Records Studios, 9th and Vine Streets), He produced: "Stormy Weather" b/w "Working at the Factory" . Jerry Blavat, Russ Faith (Chancellor Records) and Buzz Curtis sold the master (RCA Tape Recorder deck) tapes to Atlantic Records. The record was released in the spring of 1964, under the name of “the Four Casts” (Atlantic 2228)
Norman Fox & The Rob Roys (Bronx, New-York) aka The Tradewinds (4)
Personnel :
Norman Fox (Lead)
Bob Trotman (First Tenor)
Andre Lilly (Second Tenor)
Robert Thierer (Baritone)
Marshall "Buzzy" Helfland (Bass)
Discography :
The Rob-Roys 1957 - Tell Me Why / Audrey (Backbeat 501)
Norman Fox & The Rob-Roys 1958 - Dance Girl Dance / My Dearest One (Backbeat 508) 1959 - Dream Girl / Pizza Pie (Capitol 4128) 1988 - Lover doll / Little Star (Backbeat 499) 1988 - Rainy Day Bells / That's love (Backbeat 500) 1990 - Do Re Mi / Lover Doll (Backbeat 501)
The Tradewinds (4) Unreleased: 1962 - Aggravation (Time) 1962 - Lonely Boy (Time)
Biography :
One of the earliest interracial quintets, Norman Fox & The Rob-Roys were also one of the most underrated and overlooked groups ever to cut a 45. With his distinctive lead voice, Norman Fox (16) of the Bronx hooked up with DeWitt Clinton High School friends Robert Thierer (17, baritone), Marshall "Buzzy" Helfand (17, bass), Bob Trotman (16, first tenor) and Andre Lilly (16, second tenor) in 1956 to form a dynamic vocal mix with their Jewish/black coalition (Trotman and Lilly were originally members of the Harmonaires on Holiday.) Early in 1957 Bob Trotman met Don Carter, New York agent for the Duke/Peacock organization, at Buddy's Record Shop on 167th Street in the Bronx, and told him of their group. After a live audition in that very same record store, the Bronx boys found themselves contracted to the Texas-based record label. Originally called the Velvetones, they changed their name to the Rob-Roys (after the drink) and recorded their first single for Peacock's new Backbeat affiliate in April 1957 at Bell Sound Studios.
Tell Me Why" came out in the summer of 1957. The single was well received by East Coast radio stations (particularly in New York and Philadelphia), but it was obvious that the gospel conglomerate had no idea of how to market rock and roll. The Rob-Roys turned out to be Backbeat's first integrated group (Fox, Helfand and Thierer were white, Lilly and Trotman black), but they performed at Harlem clubs to the surprise and delight of patrons lucky enough to see them. For the most part they played New York area record hops with deejays like Jocko while waiting for their next release, the Robert Thierer-Bob Trotman dance doo wop classic, "Dance Girl Dance."
In late 1958 the group, weary of lost records, brought two Norman Fox originals to Capitol Records. They signed the group and issued "Pizza Pie" b/w "Dream Girl" in January 1959. Paul Schneller (another white Jewish bass) replaced Helfand on bass just before the Capitol sides were recorded. On January 19th, Billboard reviewed "Pizza Pie," stating "a rocker slightly dated in sound and approach, but the side is well made, the boys handle it nicely and the novelty interest is there. It ties the story of a lifetime in with a pizza pie. This could catch a spin." The minute the record came out, Don Robey of Backbeat showed up waving a still-valid contract with the Rob-Roys. Capitol chose to pull the single before it reached most radio stations. In 1962 Fox and company did two sides, Aggravation" and "Lonely Boy under the name of the Tradewinds," for Bob Shad's Time label, but they were never issued. http://robroys.homestead.com/Welcome.html
The Dialtones Single : 1960 - 'Till I Heard It From You / Johnny (Goldisc 3005/3020) Unreleased : 1960 - 24 Hours 1960 - Why Don't You Write Me 1960 - Bohemian Daddy (demo) 1960 - Johnny (demo) 1960 - 'Till I Heard It From You (demo)
Billie Daye bb The Dialtones 1961 - Twenty Four Hours / When A Girl Gives Her Heart To A Boy (Bliss 1002)
Biography :
In 1959, 12-year-olds Dominick Safuto, his brother Frank, cousin Eddie Scalla, and Rosalie Calindo on lead formed the Dialtones. They managed one obscure single, "Till I Heard It from You," for George Goldner's Goldisc label in 1960. The highlight of that session might have been the period the Dialtones spent sitting in the studio waiting room with idols Little Anthony & The Imperials awaiting their turn to record.
In 1961 Goldisc tried again, releasing the Dialtones single for another shot at the charts. It didn't work. Dom (lead) then joined up with friend Mike Zero (baritone) to form a new group with Mike's brother Sal (second tenor) and Ken Arcipowski (Bass) as The Encores. When the Grover Cleveland High School quartet decided to fill out their sound as a quintet, Dom convinced his brother and ex-Dialtone member Frank (first tenor) to join, and they renamed themselves Junior and the Counts.
The Dialtones Junior and the Counts
The Counts started playing church festivities, sweet sixteens, and the like until they came to the attention of Fran Carrarie, who became their manager and introduced them to songwriter Neil Levenson. Neil brought them to Bright Tunes Productions, which was really the creative base of singing-group-turned-producers THE TOKENS. The Tokens produced the group on two songs written by Levinson titled "Denise" and "Come Back," but before they could issue them on Rust subsidiary Laurie Records, a more commercially acceptable group name had to be chosen. The Schwartz brothers, owners of Laurie, renamed them Randy and the Rainbows. Dom became Randy and "Denise" became a monster hit. Jay Warner (American Singing Group)
Songs :
The Dialtones
'Till I Heard It From You Johnny
24 Hours Why Don't You Write Me Bohemian Daddy (demo)
The Fabulous Four (1) Singles : 1960 - Mister Twist / In The Chapel In The Moonlight (Chancellor 1062) 1961 - Let's Try Again / Precious Moments (Chancellor 1068) 1961 - Sounds Of Summer / Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Chancellor 1078) 1961 - Betty Ann / Prisoner Of Love (Chancellor 1085) 1961 - Everybody Knows / I'm Coming Home (Chancellor 1090) 1961 - Everybody Knows / Mister Twist (Chancellor 1098) 1962 - Forever / It's No Sin (Chancellor 1102) Unreleased : N/A - Special Girl (Featuring Mike Dupree) N/A - Silhouettes N/A - Story Untold N/A - (Reach Out for The) Hand of Love N/A - Talk to Me N/A - Blame Your Friend N/A - Little Girl N/A - Moonlight Shadows N/A - A Million Years N/A - Fools Destiny N/A - Soldier Boy's Comin' Home
Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1) 1959 - Tiger (Not Them) / Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart) (Chancellor 1037) 1961 - Long Before / Kissin' And Twistin'(Not Them)(Chancellor 1061) 1961 - You Know You Belong to Someone Else / Hold On (No Group) (Chancellor 1067) 1961 - The Love That I'm Giving to You / You're Only Young Once (Not Them) (Chancellor 1079) 1961 - A Girl Like You / Dream Factory (Not Them) (Chancellor 1084) 1961 - Tongue-Tied (Not Them) / Kansas City (Chancellor 1086) 1961 - Wild Party / Made You (Chancellor 1092)
Fabian bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited) 1959 - I'm A Man / Hypnotized (Chancellor 1029) 1959 - Got The Feeling / Come and Get Me (Chancellor 1041) 1959 - This Friendly World / Hound Dog Man (Chancellor 1044)
Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited) 1962 - Put' Em Down Joe / I Remember The Night (Chancellor 1122)
Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited) 1961 - I'm so Young / There Is A Boy (Chancellor 1100)
...
The Four J's (1) 1958 - Rock and Roll Age / Be Nice, Don't Fight (United Artists 125) 1958 - Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen (Herald 528) 1964 - Here I Am Broken Hearted / She Said That She Loved Me (Jamie 1267) 1964 - By Love Possessed / My Love My Love (Jamie 1274)
The Four J's (1) (featuring Junior Pope) 1969 - Dreamin' / Love My Love (Congress 6003)
John Capri bb The Four J's (Uncredited) 1959 - When I'm Lonely / Look For Me (BoMarc 306)
Johnny Angel bb The Four J's (Uncredited) 1966 - This Is The Night For Love / You've Been Wrong (Swan 4263) ...
The Naturals (5) 1959 - Blue Moon / How Strange (Red Top 113/Hunt 325)
The Four Naturals 1960 - When I'm In Your Arms / I Hear A Rhapsody (Red Top 119) 1960 - The Thought Of You Darling / Long Long Ago (Red Top 125)
Biography :
In 1957 four fellows from the South Philadelphia area formed a singing group they named The Four J's they took their name based on the fact that each member's first name began with the letter J. they were Jr. Pirollo, Jimmy Testa, Joe "Judge" Milaro and Joe Paparella. Joe Paparella didn't remain with the group long enough to record and left to personal reasons, being replaced by Jr's. brother-in-law Bob Finizio.
After winning a local talent contest they were approached by Buddy Greco, who later became their manager. Greco got the group thier first recording contract with United Artist Records in 1958. After several releases, Jr. and Bob became part of the Four Naturals.
The group was a studio group and after recording "How Strange", under the name of the Naturals, they didn't want to tour or perform live. Jr. and Bob replaced the two members who were unhappy and were on all the following releases including their hit "The Thought Of You Darling."
In 1960 Bob Marcucci of Chancellor Records approached Jr and asked if his group would be willing to vocally back up Fabian on both recordings and Tours. He also promised them several recordings on their own, a promise he kept proving to be one of the few honorable giants in the fields.
Fabian , his mother and the Fabulous FourFabian
Jr.& Bob once again teamed up with Jimmy Testa and added Ernie Spano to the group (replacing Joe Milano). Ernie was an original member of "the Four Dates", another Chancellor recording act. The group was now backing the famous billed Fabulous Fabian, so Naturally Bob Marcucci came up with the Group's new name "The Fabulous Four"
For the next 3-4 years the group recorded with and without Fabian and toured the entire United States (except Alaska) and most of the world. The group has had numerous appearances on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand".
Fabian and the Fabulous Four
The Group backed another artists like Sonny Vito, Maureen Gray as the Fabulous Four, John Capri and Johnny Angel as The Four J's. In late 1964-65 the group changed their name back to "The Four J's" and achieved their biggest success recording for Jamie Records "My Love Possessed" and "Here I Am Broken Hearted".
Johnny October was now a member of the group, Johnny was the original lead singer of the Four Dates.
Songs :
The Fabulous Four (1)
Mister Twist In The Chapel In The Moonlight Let's Try Again
Precious Moments Sounds Of Summer Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Betty Ann Prisoner Of Love Everybody Knows
I'm Coming Home Forever It's No Sin
Special Girl Silhouettes Story Untold
Blame Your Friend Little Girl Moonlight Shadows
Fools Destiny Soldier Boy's Comin' Home A Million Years
(Reach Out For The) Hand Of Love Talk To Me
Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1)
You Know You Belong to Someone Else A Girl Like You Wild Party
The Love That I'm Giving to You Made You Kansas City
I'm A Man Hypnotized Long Before
Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart) Got The Feeling Come and Get Me
This Friendly World Hound Dog Man
Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
I'm so Young There Is A Boy
Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)
Put' Em Down Joe I Remember The Night
The Four J's (1)
Rock and Roll Age Be Nice, Don't Fight Here I Am Broken Hearted
Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen By Love Possessed
1957 - Willie "Ricky" Stokes, Gene Hawkins, Bobby Jackson, Arthur "Boxy" Williams & Robert McGhee
The Magic-Tones (1) (Baltimore, D.C.)
Personnel :
Joe "Rico" Reed (Lead)
Arthur "Boxy" Williams (First Tenor)
James Williams Bbaritone)
Willie "Ricky" Stokes (Bass)
Gene Hawkins (Second Tenor/Guitar)
Discography :
1953 - When I Kneel Down To Pray / Good Googa Mooga (King 4665) 1953 - How Can You Treat Me This Way / Cool Cool Baby (King 4681) 1958 - Spanish Love Song / Tears In My Eyes (Howfum)
Biography :
The Magic-Tones were among the myriad Baltimore/D.C. doo wop outfits to emerge in the wake of local heroes and R&B icons the Orioles. According to the profile at Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks website, lead tenor Joe "Rice" Reed, first tenor Arthur "Boxy" Williams, second tenor/guitarist Gene Hawkins, and bass Willie Stokes formed the group in Baltimore in 1951. Originally dubbed the Five Kings, they briefly performed as the Dreamers before settling on the Magic-Tones.
After becoming a staple of the Baltimore club circuit, the quartet in 1952 signed a management deal with Bill Robertson and Homer Murray, fresh off their success negotiating an Atlantic Records deal for local act the Tilters -- Robertson and Murray also bequeathed the Magic-Tones a clutch of original songs, among them "When I Kneel Down to Pray," which served as the A-side of the group's 1953 King label debut. "How Can You Treat Me This Way?" followed a few months later, and when neither disc garnered much attention at radio, King halted plans for a third session.
In early 1954, Stokes was drafted into military duty, and with new bass Henry Abrams, the Magic-Tones played the famed Apollo Theater as part of a King Records showcase headlined by the Midnighters and the Checkers. A full-fledged tour was planned, but Abrams opted to return to his previous group, the Marylanders, and the Magic-Tones soon dissolved. In early 1956, Stokes returned to Baltimore following his service discharge and recruited Williams and Hawkins for a new Magic-Tones lineup that also featured lead tenor Bobby "Trey" Jackson and second tenor Robert "Shue" McGhee. Two years later, this version of the group cut "Spanish Love Song" for the tiny Howfum label before splitting. http://www.uncamarvy.com/MagicTones/magictones.html
The Shadows (3) 1958 - Under the Stars of love / Jungle Fever (Del-Fi 4109)
The Carlos Brothers 1959 - Come On Let's Dance / Tonight (Del-Fi 4112) 1959 - It's Time To Go / Little Cupid (Del-Fi 4118) 1960 - La Bamba / It's Time To Go (Del-Fi 4145) 1963 - I Realize / Meet My Town (Zen 106)
Biography :
Jimmy Carlos and Pete Antoniano were brothers who shared the same mother but had different fathers. They are credited as being the first Los Angeles-based act to bring the Mexican duet style into rhythm & blues. They grew up in the Cabrillo projects in the city of Long Beach, California. Their early influences were all-black doowop & R&B groups. Jimmy & Pete went to Banning High School in the city of Wilmington, California. There, they began performing under the name the Shadows at talents shows and shows for local car clubs.
El Monte Legion Stadium
They were asked to come and perform at El Monte Legion Stadium at a show headlined by Ritchie Valens. Ritchie was impressed by duo and told them he would talk to his manager Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records. At the time Jimmy was 17 and Pete was 15. They recorded "Under Stars Of Love" and "Jungle Fever" under the name the Shadows.
Ritchie Valens
It was released in September of 1958 but the record went nowhere possibly because using the name the Shadows, they were thought to be black. For their next single, the duo recorded "Tonight" and "Come On Let's Dance" For that session they were joined by Ritchie Valens who plays guitar on both sides. The record was released just one month after Ritchie's tragic death in February 1959. For this release & the next they used the name The Carlos Brothers.
Later in 1959, Jimmy & Pete would record "It's Time To Go" and "Little Cupid". In 1960 the brothers would record an updated version of La Bamba" and it would be released with "It's Time To Go" as the flip side. For the track " La Bamba" Ritchie's original track was used, Bob Keane added some violins and the Blossoms, a Los Angeles girl group added the backing. The Carlos Brothers would quit music for a while but returned in 1963 for producer H.B. Barnum. They cut "Meet My Town", a sort of Beach Boys-styled tribute to Los Angeles and "I Realize". These tracks were released on the Zen label. http://wwwyoufoundthateastsidesoundcom.blogspot.fr/2011/08/eastside-legends-carlos-brothers-aka.html
Donny Manzo, Teddy Santos, Mike Lanzo and Kenny Marsh
The Precisions (3) (Scranton, Pa) aka The Magics (2) aka The Palisades (3)
Personnel :
Mike Lanzo (Lead & Bass)
Donny Manzo (Tenor)
Ken Marsh (Baritone)
Teddy Santos (Second Tenor)
Discography:
The Precisions (3) 1960 - Dream On / You Can't Play Games (Strand 25038) 1963 - Sweet Dreams / Stop Leading Me On (Debra 1001)
Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3) 1962 - The Lover / What Has Happened (Bella 606) 1962 - The Whole World In My Arms / Mama Done (Debra 1007)
Jo Jo Vitale bb The Precisions (3) 1962 - My Little Cinderella (May 127)
The Magics (2) 1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)
The Palisades (3) 1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)
Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts 1964 - At The Fair / Ghost Town (Debra 2006)
Biography :
"The Magics" are best known for their hit recording "Chapel Bells", which reached number three on the local charts in the Northeast part of the country. The song was written by " The Monotones" who had the smash hit " Book of Love". 100 Records pressed under the name of the Palisades, name was changed to the Magics because Palisades was taken.
Dick and the Halo's - Ted Santos, Ken Marsh, Dick Plotkin and Dom Manzo
The group was formed in the late 1950's with the original members being, Don Manzo (the founder), Mike Lanzo and Ken Marsh, at that time the group was known briefly as the " Supremes". Ted Santos was the next member to join the group and they then formed an alliance with Dick Plotkin who's group had recently broke up, and the name of the group was changed to Dick and the Halo's.
Dick & The Halo's - Ken Marsh, Ted Santos, Dom Manzo and Dick Plotkin
The group split up once again and the original 4, Don Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Ken Marsh and Ted Santos moved to Tin Pan Alley in New York to search for a professional management. Nick Quesado Enterprises, the firm that managed the nationally known "Teenagers" of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" fame and "Randy & the Rainbows" of "Denise" fame, took on the task and the group's name was changed to " The Precision's" then to "The Magics".
The Magics : Donny Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Kenny Marsh, Teddy Santos
While in New York they recorded for various New York labels and performed studio background for various artist such as Jo Jo Vitali who had the hit "My Little Cinderella", Jack Bailey from Canada who had hits such as "Tiger Lil" and "Your Magic Touch" all were hits in Canada.
The group also did background for local artist "Tommy Genova" who had a local hit "They Call Me the Lover". The group disbanded soon afterward and went on their own individual ways.
Songs :
The Magics (2)
Chapel Bells She Can't Stop Dancing
The Precisions (3)
You Can't Play Games Sweet Dreams Stop Leading Me On
(top L to R) Frank Barrata, Bill Sangiovanni & Fred Alvarez. (bottom L to R) Al Scavuzzo, Ben Passantino & Rich Peluso
The Hi-Tones (2) (Brooklyn, N.Y.) aka The Trentons aka The Shytones aka The Shy-Tones
Personnel :
Graham Lee True (Lead)
Sal Covais (First tenor)
Albert Scavuzzo (Second tenor)
William Scarpa (Baritone)
Fred Alvarez (Bass)
Frank Barrata
Discography :
The Shytones 1957 - Annette / White Bucks (Spot 14/15) 1957 - White Bucks / Bandstand Rock (Spot 14/15) 1957 - Annette / Bandstand Rock (Spot 15)
The Shy-Tones 1958 - A Lover's Quarrel / Just For You (Goodspin 401)
The Hi-Tones (2) 1958 - A Lovers Quarrel / Just For You (Fonsca 201) 1961 - No More Pain / I Don't Know Why (Fonsco 202)
The Trentons 1959 - All Alone / Star Bright (Inst.) (Shepherd 2204)
Biography :
The Shytones were one of many groups that grew up loving vocal harmony and singing on the street corners. They had a great sound, but too short of a career. The Shytones never made it big selling records, but they were celebrities in their own neighborhood, and at the local hops and shows . They cut just a few records, but with a group name change and a few different labels with the same songs. They were given the name Shy-Tones/Shytones because their lead singer suffered from "stage fright" and had great difficulty performing in from of an audience. This lead a promoter to comment (something like) "Are you guys the Hi-Tones or the Shy-Tones?" The name stuck and the name "Hi-Tones" was not used after that.
The Shy-Tones "A Lover's Quarrel" B/w "Just For You was Reissued" as "Lovers Quarrel" in April 1961 on Fonsca (# 201) with label credit to the Hi-Tones. A slight variation of the group had a release on the Spot label as the Shytones. The group was basically a Brooklyn (NY) group, with one member from Staten Island (NY). On this recording they were: Fred Alvarez, Frank Barrata, Ben Passanante, Rich Peluso, Bill Sangiovanni, Albert Scavuzzo , & Graham Lee True .
Al Scavuzzo
The Shytones performed at many local hops and dances, and even got the chance to perform at one of Murray The K's big rock and roll show. They had some airplay on a couple of local stations, and were even a pick hit of the week on WINS. The group broke up when Al Scavuzzo tragically passed away on his 21st birthday. http://www.colorradio.com/shytones.html
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