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

The Chelmars aka The Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels aka The Five Chanels

Posted on November 18 2021 by dion1

The Chanels aka The Five Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels

The Chelmars (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
aka The Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels aka The Five Chanels

Personnel :

Sharon Scott (Lead)

Gwynn Speller

Donza Drummond

Dolores Stringer

Virgil Hammond

Discography :

The Chanels
1958 - The Reason / Skiddily Doo (Deb 500)

The Five Chanels
Singles :
1958 - The Reason / Skiddily Doo (Deb 500)
Unreleased :
1958 - You Treat Me Mean (Deb)
1958 - Wish You Were Near (Deb)

Virgil & The Four Chanels
1959 - Waiting / Don't Keep It To Yourself (Deb 508)

The Chelmars
1962 - Jigsaw Puzzle / Confess (Select 45K-712)

Biography :

One of the few vocal group to have escaped the scrutiny of record researchers, the Five Chanels were the protégés of Julius Dixon, a veteran songwriter whose successes included (as co-writer) the Chordettes' 1958 smash 'Lollipop' and Bill Halley's 'Dim Dim the Lights'. Dixon dabbled in all aeras of the music business and in 1958, he launched the Deb Label as a vehicle for his protégé, 14 year-Old Beverly Ann Gibson who had won the amateur hour at the Apollo theatre.

The Chanels aka The Five Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels

She in turn introduced Dixon to the Chanels who hailed from her hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The group were composed by Sharon Scott, Gwynn Speller, Donza Drummond, Dolores Stringer and Virgil Hammond.Early pressings of 'the reason' credited the Chanels but this was changed to the Five Chanels after rival record boss, Georges Goldner, complained that the name was too close to that of the Channels, a group he had recorded for his Gone Label. And not only that, but the Chanels' lead singer, Sharon Scott, sounded similar to Arlene Smith ot the Chantels, another of Goldner's groups.

The Chanels aka The Five Chanels aka Virgil & The Four Chanels aka The Chelmars

'The Reason' benefited from some immediate plugs on American Bandstand, the nation's most influential TV pop show and Dixon set up a distribution deal with ABC Paramount Records in anticipation of the hoped for hit. However, Dick Clark who hosted Bandstand, and had tried to acquire 'The Reason' for Swan Records, a Philadelphia Label with which he was associated, promptly lost interest causing 'The Reason' to stall at #98. A subsequent Release was credited to Virgil & the Four Chanels. In 1962, Julius Dixon will call the group again, without Virgil. The girls renamed "The Chelmars" recorded "Jigsaw Puzzle" b/w "Confess" released by Select Records.

Songs :

The Chanels aka The Five Chanels

The Reason Skiddily Doo

You Treat Me Mean Wish You Were Near

Virgil & The Four Chanels

Waiting Don't Keep It To Yourself

The Chelmars

Confess Jigsaw Puzzle

...

See comments

The Del-Chords (2)

Posted on November 14 2021 by dion1

The Del-Chords (2)
From the left: Jeff Ginman, Tom McRitchie, Jim Bazin and Jim Meehan.

The Del-Chords (2) (Bronxville, New York)

Personnel :

Jim Bazin (Lead)

Jim Meehan (Lead)

Jeff Ginman

Tom McRitchie

Discography :

1959 - Marsha Mellow / At The Hop (Cool DWR5816)

Biography :

Vocal group formed in 1958 at Bronxville, a village in Westchester County, New York.
The Del-Chords were in 10th grade at Bronxville High School and were composed by Jeff Ginman, Tom McRitchie, Jim Bazin and Jim Meehan. Jim Meehan wrote "Marsha Mellow" and Jim Bazin "At The Hop". The group recorded the two songs in 1958/59 released by the tiny label "Cool". "Marsha Mellow" lead vocal is by Jim Meehan and "At The Hop" is Jim Bazin. "Marsha Mellow" will have a small local success, but no promotion will allow it to fly to other horizons.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Marsha-Mellow At The Hop

...

See comments

The Four Dates

Posted on November 14 2021 by dion1

The Four Dates

The Four Dates (Philadelphia, PA)

Personnel :

Johnny October (Ottobre) (Lead)

Eddie Gentile (Tenor)

Pat Marioni (Baritone)

Ernie Spano (Bass)

Discography :

The Four Dates
1957 - I'm Happy / Eloise (Chancellor 1014)
1958 - I Say Babe / Hey, Roly Poly (Chancellor 1019)
1958 - Teenage Neighbor / Feel Good (Chancellor 1027)

Frankie Avalon (bb The Four Dates)
1958 - Gingerbread / Blue Betty (Chancellor 1021)
1958 - I'll Wait For You (Chancellor 1026)
1959 - A Boy Without A Girl (Chancellor 1036)

Fabian (bb The Four Dates)
1958 - Be My Steady Date / Lilly Lou (Chancellor 1024)
1958 - I'm A Man / (Chancellor 1029)

Biography :

The Four Dates began in high school in 1956 as the Mel-Tones, playing many local nightspots. Ironically, they did a show in nearby New Jersey during which Frankie Avalon backed them on Trumpet. Of course, the Irony was due to the fact that in a few short years, they would back Avalon as the Four Dates. It was about that time that Johnny Ottobre (October) joined, replacing one of the original members from High School. Ottobre was buddies whith the owners of the new Chancellor label in Philadelphia. One of the owners did not care for their name.

Because each member was born in June, the name Four Dates was Created and they were off to a New York studio to record "I'm happy" and "Eloise"in 1957. Without any label credit, They provided backing vocals for Frankie Avalon on his "Gingerbread". In the Meantime, their "I'm happy" was doing well, and they were asked to appear on Dick Clark's Saturday night ABC Show.Although they received no royalties for any of their three Chancellor recordings.

Johnny October

They were treated very well by label management. Wardrobes changes, good hotel accommodations, meals, gas and so on, were all provided. Their second Chancellor effort, "Hey Roly Poly" (A tune penned by Jerry Ragavoy) and "I say Babe", was released in 1958. It was also at this time that they started backing both Avalon and Fabian at live Appearances. The Third Chancellor disc of the Four Dates was Teenage Neighbor / I Feel Good, also released in 1958.

Frankie Avalon Fabian

But Chancellor management was heavily concentrating on Frankie Avalon & Fabian, and thus no promotion dollars were allocated to any Four Dates discs. Following the third release, Ottobre disappeared. He and Spano would later join the Four J's in the early 1960s, who by then were know as the Fabulous Four. Following the group's breakup, the remaining members backed up Avalon in 1958 and 1959.

Songs :

The Four Dates


I'm Happy                              I Say Babe                         Teenage Neighbor


Eloise                                    Feel Good                           Hey, Roly Poly

Fabian (bb The Four Dates)

Be My Steady Date Lilly Lou I'm A Man

Frankie Avalon (bb The Four Dates)

I'll Wait For You A Boy Without A Girl

...

See comments

The Clips

Posted on November 13 2021 by dion1

The Clips (

The Clips (Nashville, TN.)

Personnel :

Bill Hall (Lead)

Byron Smith

Curtis Smith

Denver Larkin

Discography :

1954 - Your Lovin' Moves Me / Wish I Didn't Love You So (Republic 7102)
1956 - Let Me Get Close To You Baby / Kiss Away (Calvert 105)

Biography :

Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Jarrett Jr. was an American singer-songwriter and producer of country, gospel, and soul music. Jarrett ran a succession of record labels: Calvert, Champion, Cherokee Records, Poncello, Ref-O-Ree, Spar Records, T-Jaye Records, Valdot. Ted Jarrett brought R&B to Nashville, TN. The Clips had organised around lead singer Bill Hall, an admirer of the Five Royales whose brother, Ed Hall, was a Deejay at Nashville's pioneering black radio station WVOL (previously WSOK). Besides Bill Hall (who would later record for Chess as a member of the Sonics), the Clips consisted of Brothers Byron and Curtis Smith, and Denver Larkin. The Clips have a first record in 1954 on The Republic Label.They worked the clubs in town and Hall eventually befriended Jarrett. The Clips recorded "Let Me Get Close To You Baby" b/w "Kiss Away" for Jarrett in 1956.

Songs :


         Kiss Away                             Wish I Didn't Love You So


     Your Lovin' Moves Me                  Let Me Get Close To You Baby

....

See comments

The Statues

Posted on November 13 2021 by dion1

The Statues (Nashville, T.N.)
(Update By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

James "Buzz" Cason (Garry Miles) (Lead)

Hugh Jarrett

Richard Williams

Discography :

The Statues
1960 - Blue Velvet / Keep The Hall Light Burning (Liberty 55245) 
1960 - White Christmas / Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair (Liberty 55292) 
1960 - Love At First Sight / The Ten Commandments Of Love (Liberty 55363)

Garry Miles & The Statues
Singles :
1960 - Wishing well / Dream girl (Liberty 55279)
Eps :
1960 - "Look For A Star" (Liberty EP LSX 1005)
Look For A Star / Wishing Well / I Miss You So / Afraid Of Love

Garry Miles (bb The Statues)
1960 - Look For A Star / Afraid Of Love (Liberty 55261)

Biography :

James "Buzz" Cason and Richard Williams first joined forces in 1955 as lead vocalist and keyboard player; respectively of the six-man Casuals, Nashville High School students all. The Band was soon one of the hottest acts of the fraternity scene and by 1957 was recording for Dot records.

Buzz, Marijohn Wilkin, Snuff Garrett, Richard Williams and Hugh Jarrett

By that year's close the Casuals had signed on as regular back-up for Brenda Lee as the Casualteens, then 12 years old. In 1960 Cason cut a version of the hotly contested british song "Look for a Star", issued by Liberty as Garry Miles.

Buzz, Hugh Jarrett, Dee Don and Richard Williams

While that deck still rode the charts, Liberty released an update of Tony Bennett's 1951 hit "Blue Velvet" By the Statues, which reached #84 on the Hot 100 that August. The Group comprised Buzz Cason and Richard Williams from the Casuals & Casualteens plus Hugh Jarrett of the Jordanaires. This flurry of chart activity coincided with Brenda Lee's self-contained show hitting the road. Little Miss Dynamite could scarcely believe her luck; she had kicked off her tour with one support act - now she had three.

Audiences across the Statues were treated to nightly performances by the Statues, the Casuals and Garry Miles as Cason ran himself ragged changing jackets and glasses and mussing his hair in order to appear in each of his personas. The Statues snuck out a brace of follow-ups for Liberty before calling it .
http://www.buzzcason.com

Songs :

The Statues


         Blue Velvet             White Christmas                  Love At First Sight


The Ten Commandments...      Keep The Hall Light Burning       Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair

Garry Miles & The Statues


Dream girl                              Look For A Star                    Afraid Of Love


Wishing Well                            I Miss You So

.....

See comments

The DeVille Sisters

Posted on November 11 2021 by dion1

The DeVille Sisters
Lorry, Jeannie and Pattie

The DeVille Sisters (Long Beach, Ca.)

Personnel :

Lorraine "Lorry" DeVille

Alice Jean "Jeannie" DeVille

Pattie Slovic

Discograohy :

The DeVille Sisters
1957 - My Love Oh Oh / (Alone) Why Must I Be Alone (Spry 109)
1957 - Love And Desire / Sleep Baby Sleep (Spry 111)
1958 - Hula Hoop / Deep In Love (Imperial 5539)

Rueben Grundy & The DeVille Sisters
1957 - Every Word / Sail Away (Spry 110)

Biography :

The "Deville Sisters” were three former Bakersfield girls and were composed by Lorraine (Lorry}, Alice Jean (Jeannie) and Pattie Slovick. Their singing career began in 1948 shortly after the sisters participated in a talent contest sponsored bv the Disabled Veterans in the Washington Junior High School Auditorium. The girls entertained before many audiences in Bakersfield before moving to Long Beach in 1956. The Girls have appeared in many programs in the southland including the Lawrence Welk's Show.

The DeVille Sisters

By November 1957, the girls had a single release on Mike Gradney's new Spry label: "My Love Oh Oh" b/w "(Alone) Why Must I Be Alone". During the same recording session, they backed Rueben Grady, lead singer of The original Colts on Vita Records on "Every Word" b/w "Sail Away". At the same time, Spry released another single, possibly from the same session, with "Love And Desire" b/w "Sleep Baby Sleep". the Deville Sisters will have a final single in mid-1958 released on Imperial with "Hula Hoop" b/w "Deep In Love ".

Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim)

The DeVille Sisters

Love And Desire / Sleep Baby Sleep My Love Oh Oh

Rueben Grundy & The DeVille Sisters

Every Word / Sail - Away

...

See comments

The Towncryers

Posted on November 7 2021 by dion1

Anastasia (aka Dean Parrish)

The Towncryers (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

R. Emmett

Ron Eppy

Jackie Sparacino

... Epstein

Discography :

Anastasia bb The Towncryers
1962 - Seven Days A Week / Nothing Beats My Girl (I Walk Along) (Stasi 1001)
1962 - Bicycle Hop / Every Road (I Walk Along) (Stasi 1002)

The Towncryers
1963 - Ho Hum / This Road (Progression 1001)

Biography :

In 1963, some guys from the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn which is right to the west of Bensonhurst called "The Towncryers" recorded "Ho Hum" b/w "This Road" released on Progression Records #1001. It blends Doowop, Folk, Rock. The Towncryers were Composed by R. Emmett, Ron Eppy, Jackie Sparacino & .. Epstein, This vocal group had started their career one year rather by being the backing group for Anastasia (aka Dean Parrish) on his two singles on Stasi records.

The Towncryers

Previously, in August 1960, Anastasia had recorded a single for Laurie records "Time Bomb" b/w "That's My Kind Of Love" backed by The Harbor Lights . After the Laurie record that he did not like, his father started their record company Stasi records. The Towncryers backing up Anastasia on "Seven Days A Week" b/w" Nothing Beats My Girl " and on the follow-up release "Every Road" b/w "Bicycle Hop". Tony Armato the leader, first tenor and founding member of the Passions, brought Anastasia up to Jim Gribble's office (Talent Agent) and Phil Anastasia got a contract. As Dean Parrish, Anastasia is a star on the Northern Soul circuit.
Thanks to all the informations provided by Bobby Diskin.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Anastasia & The Towncryers


Seven Days A Week                             Every Road


Nothing Beats My Girl                                 Bicycle Hop

...

See comments

The Decoys (2)

Posted on November 6 2021 by dion1

The Decoys (2)

The Decoys (2) (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Connie Strachan "Questell" (lead)

Herbert Joseph (First Tenor)

Isaac Gordon (Second Tenor)

Malcolm Quick (Baritone)

Marian Green (Bass)

Discography :

1963 - It's Gonna Be Alright / Oh Baby (The Bel-Airs) (Time Square 8)
1963 - For You / I Want Only You (Aanko 1005)
1964 - Tomorrow / I Want Only You (Time Square 9)

Biography :

One of the strongest singles on Slim's (Irv Rose)Time Square Label was released in May, 1963; The Decoys "It Gonna Be Alright", produced specifically tor Times by Al Browne and Slim. The Decoys story is typical of many groups of that period; they met vet arranger and producer (Crests on Joyce) Al Browne by responding to an ad in the paper. Hailing from the Melrose section of the Bronx in New York Connie Strachan "Questell" (lead), Herbert Joseph (1st Tenor), Isaac Gordon (2nd Tenor), Malcolm Quick (Baritone) and Marian Green (Bass) were kids with a dream. They grew up listening to the Harptones, Cadillacs, and Valentines and knew it was still possible in 1963 to go places with the group sound.

The Decoys (2)

"It Gonna Be Alright" was one of the most popular Times Square 45's; it was known beyond its disappointing sales the first time around. The Decoys followed with "Tomorrow" and "I Want Only You", recorded for Aanko in 1964 and subsequently sold to Time Square. The group appeared in oldies shows at the Village Gate, Brooklyn Baby Grand, Carlton Terrace, and, of course, Palisades Park where Connie was so nervous she couldn't remember her musical key.

Songs :


It's Gonna Be Alright                                 For You


I Want Only You                               Tomorrow

...

See comments

The Emeralds (2)

Posted on November 6 2021 by dion1

The Emeralds (2)
(l to r)Tom Royal, James Fagan, James Royal, Greg Tierney

The Emeralds (2) (Syracuse, New York)

Personnel :

Greg Tearney

James Royal

Tom Royal

James Fagan

Discography :
Unreleased:
1957 - Up On the Mountain
1957 - School Boys Love
1957 - Red Top

Biography :

This highly regarded Syracuse 1955-58 Syracuse vocal group consisted of Syracuse natives Greg Tearney (age 16 who attended Nottingham High School), James Royal (age 18) his brother Tom Royal (age 22) and James Fagan (age 18). The group never released any songs professionally but did record a 4-song demo at Syracuse's Dufford Studio . The Emeralds followed their recording od "School Boys Love" with a concert at Lincoln Auditorium with the great Louis Armstong in 1957. September 16, 1957 was the date of another giant rock n' roll package rolling into the War Memorial.

The Emeralds (2)

Promoter Irving Feld billed it a the "Biggest Show of 1957" as he gathered the foremost stars in popular music and rhythm & blues for one massive show. Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Paul Anka, The Drifters, Everly Brothers, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Jimmy Bowen, Clyde McPhatter, Buddy Knox, LaVern Baker and The Crickets with Buddy Holly.
http://ronwray.blogspot.fr/2013_11_01_archive.html

Songs :
updated by Hans-Joachim)

School Boys Love / Red Top / Up On The Mountain

..

See comments

The Five G's

Posted on November 1 2021 by dion1

The Five G's

The Five G's (Boston)

Personnel :

Eddie Gates (Lead)

Alan Gates

Ron Gates

Angelo Vecchi (Second Tenor)

Jim Roberson (Bass)

Discography :

1964 - Forget Her / I Think I Know (Washingtonian 200 043)

Biography :

This Boston Based vocal group got their start in the early sixties, singing and harmonising "a cappella" style to many of the current hits, as well as to songs of years gone by. The group, then called "The Three G's" consisted of three Gates brothers, Alan, Eddie and Ron. After a short time, Jim Roberson became the 4Th G as the Group Bass singer. Ron Gates, the originator and leader of the group insisted that practice came first, night after night, ahead of most everything... including girlfriends. Soon a 5th G was added in the form of 2n tenor Angelo Vecchi. Thus "The Five G's" were born... more practice and hours of writing original music by Ron. That's when the song "I Think I Know" and many others were written and composed.

The Five G's began to look for places to showcase their talents... They found tremendously receptive audiences at local Friday Night dances both large and small, and at local Church or Charity functions. In short time, they were a very busy, and very popular group... just singing and enjoying the "Doo Wop" songs ... cappella style. As time went by, the group decided they needed to consider adding music. A few of the guys experimented with playing the Guitar, drums and sax, but it wasn't to long before they decided to stick with what they knew best...vocals. So the search and audition for instrumentalists began. Before long they found some great additions to the group, adding McKinnon on bass guitar, Don Saulnier on lead and rhythm guitar and Mike Davis on drums. The club gigs started rolling in and soon after, their first original "I Think I Know" was recorded at Ace Recording Studios, in Boston. It was released under the Washingtonian Records label and although it never went big nationally, it was tremendous hit locally.

Songs :

I Think I Know Forget Her

...

See comments