1963 - Your Tender Lips / Praying For A Miracle (Times Sq.7)
Biography :
Vocal Group from East Haven (CT) consisted of Bonnie Metzo, Sharon O'Connell, Karen Prahovic & Judy Tucker. In June 1958, they recorded two songs for Marty Kugell’s Klik Records probably under the name of The Syncopates. Klik was a short-lived New Haven’s label that never really had much in the way of hits but nonetheless cranked out a small batch of absolutely great doo wop sides before the payola scandal of 1959 closed its doors. Kugell, like most of his contemporaries in the record business did not keep detailed files on every group he recorded in the fifties. Many are unfortunately just names on a tape or demo, never tobe fully identified. "Your Tender Lips" and "Praying For A Miracle" was a master Slim Rose purchased and released on his Times Sq.label in 1963 as The Syncapates.
Johnny Zappula, Steven Matera, Carl Buntz, Anthony Moscato & Jim Fallucca
The Expressions (4) (Staten Island, New York)
Personnel :
Carl Buntz
Steven Matera
Anthony Moscato
Jim Fallucca
Johnny Zappula
Discography :
The Expressions (4) 1961 - My Love, My Love / The Sign Of Happiness (Arliss 1012)
Vito Picone (bb The Expressions (4)) 1963 - I Like To Run / Song From Moulin Rouge (Admiral 103)
Biography :
Jim Fallucca started singing at the age of 12. His cousin, Vito Picone of the Elegants, put Staten Island on the map with the #1 song in the country "Little Star". He loved going to watch the Elegants pratice and soon started his own group with Johnny Zappula, Carl Buntz, Steven Matera and Anthony Moscato. In 1961 the Expressions recorded two songs written by Jim Fallucca "My Love, My Love" b/w "The Sign Of Happiness". The record was issued on Arliss Records owned by veteran songwriter, publisher and artists manager Robert Lissauer. The Arliss Records label didn’t have many releases, but in among those by the Expressions, the Preludes, Pancho Villa, and Karl Hammel Jr. The group disbanded after a few years.
Jim Fallucca, Johnny Zappula, Carl Buntz, Steven Matera and Anthony MoscatoVito Picone
In 1962, Laurie record company wanted Vito Picone to do something like Bobby Darin where he broke the mold and started doing songs like “Beyond the Sea” and “Mack the Knife,” so they were looking for something like that for him. They came up with “Song from Moulin Rouge” and Vito written the other side of the record “I Like to Run.” The Expressions backed Vito on the two songs released by Admiral Records, distributed by Laurie records.
1956 - I Wanna Be Seventeen All Of My Life / Till You Come Back To Me (Rainbow 355) 1959 - Baby - Baby (Whatcha Gonna Do To-Night / Ding Dong (Rock-A-Billy Weddin) (Can-Dee 92/93) 1960 - When A Boy Meets A Girl / Waiting For The Stars To Shine (Shell 718)
Biography :
Andrea and Carol Silver from South Orange, New Jersey made up for the Duo Silver Sisters. Andrea Silver sings and plays the guitar. With her sister Carol, they appearing on various TV programs in New York. The Silver Sisters had three know record releases. The first in 1956 (Andrea, 11 and Carol, 16) for Rainbow records, The Second for the Can-Dee Records an the Last for the Shell label. The Can-Dee label was based at 92 Lock Street, Newark, New Jersey and was owned by Ruths Lyons, a notable vocalist in her own right.
Their Second single "Baby" b/w "Ding Dong" in August 1959 have Billboard's comments were not very encouraging and so the girls were left looking for another record company. This proved to be Shell Records, 697 Broadway, New York City for who the duo recorded the splendid "Waiting For The Stars To Shine" b/w "When A Boy Meets A Girl". Both songs being written by Stallman and Jacobson. Billboard reported that "Waiting For The Stars To Shine" was getting action in Los Angeles in April 1960, but Seemingly Nowhere else.
1964 - Our Wonderful Love / That Girl (Mutual 509)
Biography :
The Reactions came out of Brooklyn in the early 60s. The original group was led by John Scupelliti along with Richard Scalisi (Tenor) and Richard Candido (Tenor, Arranger and Writer). They had one release, "Our Wonderful Love" b/w "That Girl" which was a regional hit for the group. It was recorded in 1962 on the Mutual label but wasn't released until 1964. John re-formed the group in 2018 and they have been very active in the NY/NJ area.
1956 - Angel Face / Kiss Me Quickly (Tetra 4444) 1957 - Road Of Romance / My Chickadee (Tetra 4449) 1960 - Golden Dreams / Angel Face (Gone 5090) 1974 - Golden Dreams / Honey Bunn (Vintage 1016)
Biography :
Doo-wop group from the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, NY, the Neons' influences included the Harptones, Cadillacs, Moonglows, Spaniels, and the Flamingos. They befriended Raoul Cita, the Harptones' musical arranger, who tightened their harmony and presentation, something he did for many other New York groups. Cita introduced them to Monty Bruce, the owner of Bruce Records and the guy who recorded the Harptones. Bruce formed a new label, Tetra Records, for the Neons' releases. Their Tetra debut dropped in the fall of 1956. "Angel Face" broke out in the New York/Philadelphia area and received some national attention. The members wrote the song and its flip "Kiss Me Quickly." When it took off, the gigs came. Many were surprised to see four white guys doo-wopping, but it worked.
Monty Bruce Raoul Cita
The original Neons group that recorded for Tetra Records in 1956 ("Angel Face") consisted of Frank Vignari - lead, Jeff Pearl - 2nd tenor, John D'Avirro - baritone and Pat Fatibene - bass. Frank Vignari overdubbed the first tenor part on the record. When the record took off, Nick Bernini joined the group as the first tenor for live performances. These five members recorded in 1957 "Road To Romance" on Tetra Records. The Neons had John D'Avirro's best friend Ed Augustyn as their guitar player. Ed was already a professional guitar player and had to be paid union scale. Ed was considered an original Neon and was the lead guitarist on "Angel Face." He dropped out, to go to college, before the Neons recorded "Road To Romance" (Ed became a scientist). The Neons considered the original group a 6 man group.
The Neons (Second Group)
In 1958, The Neons consisted of Frank Vignari, Jeff Pearl and two new members, Ron Derin and Norm Isacoff. They are the 2nd Neons group, that formed to be a Night Club act. The two new members are not on the Tetra Record releases of 1956 and 1957. They are on "Golden Dreams" on Gone Records (with the original "Angel Face" on the flip) which came out in 1960. Ron and Norm are also on "Honey Bun" b/w "Golden Dreams" (recorded for Al Browne in the early 1970s with Frank and Jeff) that came out on Vintage Records. The original Neons did record "Golden Dreams" and "Honey Bun" too, but those versions never came out. --------- By Bobby Diskin - Brooklyn, NY.
The Classmates (5) 1960 - High School / Don't Make My Cry (Marquee 101) 1960 - Until Then / Pretty Little Pet (Marquee 102)
Chester Hickman & The Classmates (5) 1961 - Don't Make Me Cry / Pretty Little Pet (Marquee 102)
Biography :
Vocal group from The San Gabriel Valley of Duarte CA. know as The Aladdins. They were an interracial group and have 16 when they formed their singing group with Darrell Smith (Tenor) & Gary Smith (Bass) who were white and Chester Hickman who was black (the usual lead singer in the group). Gary was from Monrovia High '59. Darrell and Chester were from Duarte High '61. They appeared on the Rocket To Stardom and Twilight Time TV Show.
They were signed to Marquee Records and recorded in Culver City four songs. Marquee Records put two 45s by The group under the name of the Classmates. The Classmates’ two records were “Don’t Make Me Cry” b/w “High School” (Marquee Records 101) and “Until Then” b/w “Pretty Little Pet” (Marquee Records 102). http://www.myspace.com/chesterhickman
The Monterays (1963) Vic Spina, Anthony "Jr" Vizzari, Jay Ferrara and Jimmy..?
The Monterays (1) (Bronx, New York) aka The Del Royals (3)
Personnel:
Anthony "Jr" Vizzari
Jay Ferrara (Baritone)
Anthony Biletto (Second Tenor)
Al Diaco
Ercote Gaudioso "Echo"
Discography :
The Monterays (1) aka The Del Royals (3) Unreleased : 1961 - It's Much Better 1961 - Romeo & Juliet 1961 - Playing The Game 1961 - Two Lovers 1963 - Lilly
Al Romeo (Al Diaco) 1963 - Moonlight Becomes You / Hot Fudge Sundae (Laurie 3177)
Biography :
After the Treble Chords of "Teresa" fame had finally broken up in 1961, Anthony DiBari joined Ninon & The Ebbtides, While two members remained. Another group The Monterays, had also broken up around the same time and the two remaining singers, Jay Ferrara (Baritone) and Anthony Biletto (Second Tenor), united with Al Diaco and Ercote Gaudioso "Echo" of the Treble Chords. They Added Anthony "Jr" Vizzari as their lead singer, and also temporarily Frank Raia, who quit before the group came to the attention of Lou Cicchetti. In 1961, Lou had them record four demos at Bruno-Dean Studios which consisted of four songs: "It's Much Better (To Make Her Love Me)", " Romeo & Juliet", "Playing The Game" and "Two Lovers" (One of the acetate of "It's Much Better", they were billed as the Del Royals.)
Lou Cicchetti Cousin Records
With some members changed, (Vic Spina and Jimmy..? replaced Anthony Biletto & Al Diaco) the Monterays went back into the studio one more time to record a novelty tune called "Lilly" (never released). In 1963 Vic Spina joined The Jaynells who recorded for Cameo, Diamond and Angela). Until 1964 they continued performing locally at record hops. During this period Lou Cicchetti used them on several session to back Chuck Harper and Guy Villari of the Regents plus Frank Lyndon of the Belmonts. In1963 Emil Sachs replaced Ercote Gaudioso who went into the army. Eventually the group broke up and only Al Diaco continued in the music business (As Al Romeo)
Songs :
The Monterays (1) aka The Del Royals (3)
It's Much Better (To Make Her Love Me) Romeo & Juliet
The Del Vetts 1961 - I Want A Boy For Christmas / Repeat After Me (End 1106)
The Delvets 1962 - Will You Love Me In Heaven / Repeat After Me (End 1107)
Biography :
The Del Vetts or Delvets won at the Apollo talent show in 1961 and had two singles for George Goldner's End Records. There is another group, a Garage band, with the same name that recorded in the Mid 1960s. Our group's first release was under the name The Del Vetts "I Want A Boy For Christmas" b/w "Repeat After Me" (End 1106, December 1961). In February 1962 they had "Will You Love Me In Heaven" backed with "Repeat After Me" (End 1107). The Del-Vetts were a quartet of Black Girls from Yonkers, NY.....With Jessie on lead and Florence Holland, Jackie Scott, Jeanie Johnson on background harmonies. In 1999, the fantastic doo wop "I Want A Boy For Christmas" has been featured in the Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut soundtrack .
L to R - Clara Woodard, Mary Ann Camp, Carlton Sumners, Barbara Ingram and Sandra Mingo
The Tren-Teens (Trenton, NJ) aka The Dew Drops (2)
Personnel :
Clara Woodard
Mary Ann Camp
Barbara Ingram
Sandra Mingo
Carlton Sumners
Discography :
The Tren-Teens 1962 - Your Yah-Yah Is Gone / My Baby's Gone (Carnival 501)
The Dew Drops (2) 1963 - No Other Guy / Johnny Run Run (Jeff 1963/64)
Biography :
Jazz saxophonist Joe Evans set up Carnival Records label, based in New York and then in Newark, New Jersey, in the early 1960s. Releasing a total of 63 singles and two albums, the label's main focus was rhythm and blues/soul music. The label's roster included The Manhattans, The Pretenders, Lee Williams & The Cymbals, Little Royal, The Lovettes... Carnival was launched in 1962 with their first release "My Baby's Gone" and "Your Yah-Yah Is Gone" by The Tren-Teens.
Carlton Sumners
The Tren-Teens are from Trenton, NJ and were composed by four Girls (Clara Woodard, Mary Ann Camp, Barbara Ingram and Sandra Mingoand) and one Boy (Carlton Sumners). Joe Evans co-arranged the two numbers on them. The A-side was a cute answer to Lee Dorsey's R&B success "Ya Ya", called "Your Yah-Yah Is Gone". In 1964, the group recorded "No Other Guy" b / w "Johnny Run Run". The single will be released by Jeff Records from New Jersey and the Tren-Teens will be renamed The Dew Drops. Cindy Birdsong sang with them for a time, then left to join Patti LaBelle and then onto the Supremes
1961 - I'm So Happy (Tra la la) / Little Did I Know (Goldisc 3024)
Biography :
Vocal group the Ducanes formed in New Jersey, USA. After sessions, the quintet - Louis Biscardi (lead), Eddie Brian (baritone), Jeff Breny (first tenor), Rick Scrofan (second tenor) and Dennis Buckley - began to harmonize popular doo-wop songs of the day, taking their main influence from the Flamingos.
Phil Spector began to work with the Ducanes on "Yes, I Love You". Spector signed them to a production contract, but later overheard them practising Louis Lymon And The Teenchords' "I'm So Happy".
This became their first and only single after Spector had worked his magic with it, including adding a guitar contribution from Jimi Hendrix. It reached number 109 in the Billboard charts during July 1961. Spector had different priorities by this time, and the Ducanes blew their only chance to return to the studio with him.
Given a country song, "Tennessee', to record by Liberty Records, the Ducanes responded by savagely lampooning its sentimental lyrics and adding barnyard noises. When the head of the record company learned of what they were planning, they were ejected from the studio. With Spector concentrating on launching his own label, Philles Records, the Ducanes" recording days were over. They were still just 16 years old. Only Eddie Brian recorded again, with the Connotations and Autumns in the mid-80s.
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