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

The Echoes (1) aka Vinny and Kenny aka The Lonely Boys aka Vito & Vittorio...

Posted on December 19 2021 by dion1

The Echoes (1) aka Vinny and Kenny aka The Lonely Boys aka Vito & Vittorio...
Vincent Catalano

The Echoes (1) (Bronx, New York)
aka Vinny and Kenny aka The Lonely Boys aka Vito & Vittorio aka the Trickles/The Trickels

Personnel:

Kenny Kuluga

Vincent Catalano

Discography :

The Echoes (1)
1957 - Ding Dong / My Heart Beats For You (Gee 1028)

The Lonely Boys
1959 - A Spoken Letter / My Girl (Nu-Way 55)

Vinny & Kenny
1959 - School Time / Who (Is The Girl) (Fire 1005)

Vito & Vittorio
1961 - Sleepy Eyes / Twilight (Goldisc 3022)

---------------------- ??? -----------------------

The Trickles
1958 - With Each Step "A Tear" / When I Fall In Love (Power 250)

The Trickels
1958 - With Each Step "A Tear" / Outside Chapel Door (Gone 5078)

Biography :

Vincent Catalano was born in New London, Connecticut. His first recording effort was as a member of the Echoes who did "Ding Dong" on Gee Records in 1956, a cover of the Packards' original on the Pla-Bac label. Kenny Kuluga was the lead singer of the Echoes. Having recorded for Gee, Catalano was able to develop a relationship with label owner George Goldner and subsequently placed a number of his songs with him. Vincent Catalano & Kenny Kuluga wrote many songs and recorded them under many pseudonyms like Vinny and Kenny, The Lonely Boys, Vito And Vittorio and and it would appear that Vincent and Kenny are part of The Trickles/The Trickels.

The Echoes (1) aka Vinny and Kenny aka The Lonely Boys aka Vito & Vittorio...

Catalano served as an A&R (Artist & Repertoire) director at 20th Century Fox and its Studio subsidiary where he also placed some of his acts. He co-owned C&A Records with Pete Alonzo. He was the A&R man at Cheer Records. He then started Wilshire Records. Catalano also worked with groups on the Whale and Mermaid labels. Catalano was registered with BMI and SESAC and wrote under a number of different names, including his mothers’. Despite Catalano's extensive experience writing and working with various acts he only had one song that approached being a national hit and that was "Coney Island Baby" recorded by the Excellents. It was issued in April of 1962 on Blast Records and reached No. 51 on "Billboard." The song did much better in regional markets such as New York City where it was played extensively and sold well to the point where there were several pressings issued. His last label would be Hammer Record.

Songs:

The Echoes (1)

Ding Dong My Heart Beats For You

The Lonely Boys


A Spoken Letter                                         My Girl

Vinny & Kenny

School Time Who (Is The Girl)

---------------------- ??? -----------------------

The Trickles / Trickels

With Each Step "A Tear" When I Fall In Love Outside Chapel Door

...

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The Infatuations

Posted on December 19 2021 by dion1

The Infatuations

The Infatuations

Have they recorded? If anyone know this group .... jcpiazza26@gmail.com

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The Timetones

Posted on December 19 2021 by dion1

The Timetones (New York)

Personnel :

Roger LaRue (Lead)

Glenn Williams

Claude "Sonny" Smith

Tom DeGeorge

Tom Glozek  

Discography :

1961 - (Here) In My Heart / My Love (Time Square 421/Relic 538) 
1961 - Pretty, Pretty Girl / I've Got A Feeling (Atco 6201/Relic 539)
1963 - Sunday Kind Of Love / Angel In The Sky (Time Square 26/Relic 543) 
1963 - House Where Lovers Dream / Get A Hold Of Yourself (Time Square 34/Relic 526)

Biography :

The Timetones - sometimes shown as The Time-Tones - was a racially mixed early 1960s New York City Doo-Wop quintet that, originating in Glen Cove, Long Island, consisted of lead Rodgers LaRue along with Tom Glozek, Glenn Williams, Tom DeGeorge and Claude "Sonny" Smith. Their sole national charter came in May 1961 for Times Square Records, an offshoot of the famed record store of the same name at Broadway and 42nd Street, owned by Irving "Slim" Rose, when (Here) In My Heart - which featured the same opening bars used a few months later by The Dovells for their introductory smash The Bristol Stomp for Parkway Records.

And with the limited promotional capabilities of the label (compared to the giants like Columbia, RCA, Mercury, Decca, etc.) it did pretty good, hitting # 51 Billboard Pop Hot 100 b/w My Love on Time Square 421 billed as The Time-Tones (in 1963 it would be re-issued on Relic 538, a label that launched that year devoting itself to Doo-Wop - although that term to describe the style would not emerge for another 8 or so years).

The Timetones

The (Black) Timetones when DeGeorge and Glozek   left the group.

The group's follow up release, Pretty Pretty Girl, was leased to Atlantic's Atco subsidiary and in late July it made it to # 106 Hot 100 Bubble Under on Atco 6201 b/w I've Got a Feeling billed as The Timetones (in 1963 it too was re-issued on Relic 539). Four a capella offerings, previously unreleased by Time Square - The House Where Lovers Dream b/w Get A Hold Of Yourself and A Sunday Kind Of Love b/w Angels In The Sky - also came out in 1963 on Relic 526 and Relic 543 respectively. In 1963 Tom DeGeorge and Tom Glozek   (The white members) left the group, two new members are add and the Timetones was a complety black group.

Songs :


In My Heart                             My Love                        Pretty, Pretty Girl


I've Got A Feeling                 Sunday Kind Of Love          Angels In The Sky

House Where Lovers Dream / Get A Hold Of Yourself

…

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The Original Casuals aka The Casuals (2)

Posted on December 18 2021 by dion1

The Original Casuals aka The Casuals (2)

The Original Casuals (Dallas,Texas)
aka The Casuals (2)

Personnel :

Jay Joe Adams

Gary Mears

Paul kearney

Discography :

Singles :
The Casuals (2)
1958 - So Tough / I Love My Darling (Back Beat 503)

The Original Casuals
1958 - So Tough / I Love My Darling (Back Beat 503)
1958 - Ju Judy / Don't Pass Me By (Back Beat 510)
1958 - Three Kisses Past Midnight / It's Been A Long Time Girl (Back Beat 514)

Ep :
The Original Casuals
1958 - Three Kisses Past Midnight / So Tough / I Love My Darling / Ju Judy (Back Beat EP 40)

Biography :

In August 1957, Don Robey, president of the Houston-based Duke-Peacock labels (One to the few successful Afro-American businessmen in a caucasian dominated industry), announced the formation of a new label, Back Beat, aimed at the burgeoning rock'n'roll market, Duke and Peacock being primarily gospel and R&B outlets. "The artists appearing under our new label are in most instances teenagers in actual age count or at heart". explained Robey punctiliously, "and as such, our new baby Back Beat is dedicated to the teenage market."

The Original Casuals aka The Casuals (2)

Back Beat made a strong start when "Tell Me Why" by Norm Foxx & the Rob Roys (a New York Group) became a regional hit and "So Tough" By the Casuals, a trio from Dallas reached the national top 50. Gary Mears (aka Frederick Gary Mears) formed the Casuals with Jay Joe Adams and Paul Kearney in Dallas in the Summer of 1957. Don Robey's A&R man Joe Scott (the bandleader on most of Bobby Bland's classic side on Duke) flew to Dallas to record "So Tough" / "listen My Darling" at Sellers Studio in October 1957.

The Original Casuals aka The Casuals (2)

The Song became an immediate hit in Houston and Dallas regions where Robey held sway among influential Dee jays but was slow to move elsewhere. In December, Challenge Records of Hollywood recorded a cover version with a black vocal group, the Kuf-Linx, and this too became a territorial hit, mainly o the West Coast. Robey sent the Casuals out on the road to visit disc jockeys and on 19th February 1958, the trio lip-synched "So Tough" on American Bandstand. On 24 February, the song entered the Hot 100, rising to #42. At that point another group staked a prior claim to the Casuals' name and on subsequent pressings of "So Tough" (in fact, the Majority) the trio were listed as the Original Casuals. Mears remained on the fringes of the Dallas Rock'n'roll scene and later penned "Summer's Comin" by Kirby St Romain, A Top 50 US hit in 1963.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

   So Tough                                      I Love My Darling


     Ju Judy                                    Don't Pass Me By


Three Kisses Past Midnight               It's Been A Long Time Girl

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The Sweet Teens (1) aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

Posted on December 16 2021 by dion1

The Sweet Teens (1) aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

The Sweet Teens (1) (Pomona, Los Angeles, CA)
aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

Personnel :

Elnora Hicks

Betty Hicks

Mary Thomas

Ruth Davis

Discography :

The Sweet Teens (1)
1955 - Don't Worry About A Thing / Forever More (Flip 311)

The Ru-Bee-Els
1961- I'll Try / Evil (Flip 359)

Kell Osborne & The Chicks (2)
1962 - Little Chick-A-Dee / Do You Mind (Class 302)

The Hollywood Chicks
1962 - Tossin' a Ice Cube / Hey, Little Gigolo (Class 303)

Biography :

The Sweet Teens were a female quartet from Pomona area of Los Angeles. The Members were Elnora Hicks, Betty Hicks, Mary Thomas & Ruth Davis. Although their name was similar to the Six Teens, they never enjoyed the string of recordings and popularity of their successful label mates. Their lone single, "Don't Worry About A Thing" / "Forever More" (Flip 311) went unnoticed in April 1955. The Ballad "Forever More" written by Elnora Hicks and Mary Thomas is a very close female take-off of the Los Angeles classic "The Letter" (Dootone 347) by Vernon Green & the Medallions.

The Sweet Teens (1) aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

Ruth Davis and The Hicks Sisters reappeared seven years later as a trio with one of Flip's last releases, "I'll Try" / "Evil" issued on Flip 359. The Trio comprised Ruth Davis, Elnora Hicks and Betty Hicks, and their name derived from the first two letters of each of their names. The Ru-Bee-Els also backed Kell Osborne as the Chicks and recorded "Tossin' a Ice Cube" b/w "Hey, Little Gigolo" as The Hollywood Chicks, Both singles released by Class records. Barry White once said that this record was his first professional job in the recording industry - he did the handclaps on "Tossin' A Ice Cube".

Songs:
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Sweet Teens (1)


Don't Worry About A Thing                           Forever More

The Ru-Bee-Els


I'll Try                                                  Evil

The Hollywood Chicks


Tossin' a Ice Cube                                  Hey, Little Gigolo

Kell Osborne & The Chicks (2)

Little Chick-A-Dee / Do You Mind

...

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The Sweet Teens (1) aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

Posted on December 16 2021 by dion1

The Sweet Teens (1) aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

The Sweet Teens (1) (Pomona, Los Angeles, CA)
aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

Personnel :

Elnora Hicks

Betty Hicks

Mary Thomas

Ruth Davis

Discography :

The Sweet Teens (1)
1955 - Don't Worry About A Thing / Forever More (Flip 311)

The Ru-Bee-Els
1961- I'll Try / Evil (Flip 359)

Kell Osborne & The Chicks (2)
1962 - Little Chick-A-Dee / Do You Mind (Class 302)

The Hollywood Chicks
1962 - Tossin' a Ice Cube / Hey, Little Gigolo (Class 303)

Biography :

The Sweet Teens were a female quartet from Pomona area of Los Angeles. The Members were Elnora Hicks, Betty Hicks, Mary Thomas & Ruth Davis. Although their name was similar to the Six Teens, they never enjoyed the string of recordings and popularity of their successful label mates. Their lone single, "Don't Worry About A Thing" / "Forever More" (Flip 311) went unnoticed in April 1955. The Ballad "Forever More" written by Elnora Hicks and Mary Thomas is a very close female take-off of the Los Angeles classic "The Letter" (Dootone 347) by Vernon Green & the Medallions.

The Sweet Teens (1) aka The Ru-Bee-Els aka The Hollywood Chicks aka The Chicks (2)

Ruth Davis and The Hicks Sisters reappeared seven years later as a trio with one of Flip's last releases, "I'll Try" / "Evil" issued on Flip 359. The Trio comprised Ruth Davis, Elnora Hicks and Betty Hicks, and their name derived from the first two letters of each of their names. The Ru-Bee-Els also backed Kell Osborne as the Chicks and recorded "Tossin' a Ice Cube" b/w "Hey, Little Gigolo" as The Hollywood Chicks, Both singles released by Class records. Barry White once said that this record was his first professional job in the recording industry - he did the handclaps on "Tossin' A Ice Cube".

Songs:
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Sweet Teens (1)


Don't Worry About A Thing                           Forever More

The Ru-Bee-Els


I'll Try                                                  Evil

The Hollywood Chicks


Tossin' a Ice Cube                                  Hey, Little Gigolo

Kell Osborne & The Chicks (2)

Little Chick-A-Dee / Do You Mind

...

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The Spydels (2)

Posted on December 12 2021 by dion1

L to R Charles (Turk) Turconi, Harry Hill, Frankie Hill, Gil "Rocky" Rock & Richie Alexander

The Spydels (2) (Holyoke, Massachusetts)

Personnel :

Frankie Hill (Lead)

Charles (Turk) Turconi

Harry Hill

Gil "Rocky" Rock

Richie Alexander

Discography :

The Spydels (2)
Single :
1961 - No More Teasing / Wanted Dead Or Alive (MZ B-009)
Unreleased :
1961 - Wanted For Your Love (MZ)
1961 - Unhappy Days (MZ)

Davi bb The Spydels (2)
1962 - Reason For Love / Go Charley Go (Stark 110)

Biography :

In early 1960, Frankie Hill formed a vocal in Holyoke High School with his brother Harry, Gil "Rocky" Rock, Richie Alexander and Charles (Turk) Turconi. In 1961, The Spydels recorded two song both written by Frankie and released on the M Z label (owned by Mickey Moroni & Frank A. Zenobi): "Wanted Dead Or Alive" b/w "No More Teasin'." The Spydels Backed Davi, the next year on "Reason For Love" and "Go Charley Go". Davi is Dave Svitenko, originally from West Springfield Ma. Frankie Hill co wrote "Reason For Love" with him. Frankie is the falsetto and The Spydels are the other background voices on this recording and may be the musicians also.

Songs :

The Spydels (2)

No More Teasing Wanted Dead Or Alive

Wanted For Your Love

Davi bb The Spydels (2)

Reason For Love Go Charley Go

...

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The Loreleis (2)

Posted on December 11 2021 by dion1

The Loreleis (2

The Loreleis (2) (New York)

Personnel :

Sylvia Hammond

Gloria Gilbert

Jehoshabeth (Jay) Dunston

Discography :

1964 - A Strange Way / Why Do I Put Up With You (Brunswick 55271)

Biography

From Doo Wop To Soul - Sylvia Hammond had left The Clickettes in 1961, but had a yearning to sing a couple of years later. In 1963, she contacted Johnnielouise, who put her together with Gloria Gilbert. One of Zell's artists, Ada Ray (Kelly) introduced Sylvia and Gloria to Jehoshabeth (Jay) Dunston. They formed a trio that Johnnielouise was going to manage. When Johnnielouise was slow in securing the group a deal, they struck out on their own. The group met with Samson Horton one day outside the Brill Building and decided to sign contracts with him and his songwriting partner, Bobby Adams. The duo had a company called Samada Productions. Christened The Loreleis by the production company, the trio of young ladies recorded, “Why Do I Put Up With You/Strange Way” for Brunswick Records. The group rehearsed feverishly and garnered some studio work, but never followed up their initial single. Sylvia attributes this to the saturation that many performers encountered from struggling production companies. Eventually, Jay left the group and was replaced by Dora Brooks. Shortly thereafter, The group disbanded.
John Clemente's Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked the World

Songs :

Why Do I Put Up With You A Strange Way

...

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The Mighty Jupiters

Posted on December 8 2021 by dion1

The Mighty Jupiters
The Blenders (unrecorded group)

The Mighty Jupiters (Hempstead, Long Island, NY.)
aka The Blenders

Personnel :

Dolores Butler (Lead)

Teddy Jackson (Tenor)

Lazarus Moore (Baritone)

George Taylor (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - Hy Wocky Toomba / Your Love (Warner 1020)

Biography :

The Mighty Jupiters were a Young group from Hempstead, New York (On Long Island). The Members were Dolores Butler (14) (Lead), Teddy Jackson (15) (Tenor), Lazarus Moore (16) (Baritone) and George Taylor (15) (Bass). Lazarus Moore recalls that they were singing on Hempstead corner when a car pulled up. The man inside rolled down the Window and listened for a while. He then got out and asked if they were interested in making a record. He turned out tube songwriter William Tennyson. Through him they came to record for Shad's Warner Label in mid 1958. Their session was produced by Leroy Kirkland and recorded at Bell Sound Studios, while the session musicians included King Curtis and Kenny Burrell. The Result was "Hy Wocky Toomba" / "Your Love ", released as Warner 1020.

Bobby Shad King Curtis

Each member of the group received five white label promo copies and four brown colour label 'stock' copies. "Hy Wocky Toomba" gained some attention through airplay on the "Dr Jive" radio show on WWRL in New York. Because the kids would not sign the recording contract as presented, follow-up promotion didn't take place. The Mighty Jupiters broke up shortly thereafter. Lazarus Moore and George Taylor then formed a new group which included Henry "Stoney" Jackson from the Heartbreakers on Vic plus Buck green and William Desaur. Calling themselves the Blenders, they became a popular performing group (they did not record), doing club and show venues throughout the northeast (including Atlantic City) well into the Mid 1960s. They were not connected to any group that recorded as the Blenders.

Songs :

Your Love Hy Wocky Toomba

...

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The Tokens (1)

Posted on December 5 2021 by dion1

The Tokens (1)

The Tokens (1) (Brownsville, Brooklyn)

Personnel:

John Spicer

Ray Hall

Robert Honey

Theodore Olds

William Denis

Discography :

1958 - Come Dance With Me / Doom - Lang (Gary 1006 / Musictone 1113 (1963))

Biography:

Robert Honey, William Dennis, John Spicer, Ray Hall and Theodore Olds were the members of this (black) vocal group from Brownsville in Brooklyn that formed in the mid-1950's. Not to be confused with the band of the same name that rose to fame in the early 1960's, the original Tokens were a traditional doo-wop group who performed often in a-capella style. This Tokens recorded "Come Dance With Me" & "Doom Lang", originally for Gary Records owned by Herb Weiner. Herb Wiener has formed Gary Records with Gene Novello and Eddie Rosenberg. Herb is president and Novello and Rosenberg executive directors. Gary’s initial release, “Come Dance With Me” & "Doom Lang" by The Tokens, is selling steadily through an organization of 32 distribs. The Tokens who recorded "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", The Tokens who recorded "Oh What A Night" & "Juanita" for Date Records as well as Johnny & The Tokens who released "The Taste Of A Tear" & "Never Till Now" on Warwick Records are separate groups.

Songs :

Doom - Lang Come Dance With Me

Doom - Lang (Acappella)

...

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