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

The Four Graduates (1)

Posted on February 11 2021 by dion1

The Four Graduates (1)
The Four Graduates (1966)

The Four Graduates (1) (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Personnel :

Tony "Junior" Talotti (Lead)

Al Capuano (Second Tenor)

Joe Mehl (Baritone)

Bobby Loscano (Bass)

Discography :
Singles :
1962 - Lisa / Something In The Air (Benn-X 51)
1963 - Miracles / She Loves Me For My Self (Champ 3469)
Unreleased :
1962 - Happy Tears (Benn-X)

Biography :

The Four Graduates formed in South Philadelphia in 1959. The members are First Tenor/Lead: Tony "Junior" Talotti, Second Tenor: Al Capuano, Baritone: Joe Mehl, and Bass: Bobby Loscano. They were produced for almost their entire career by Leroy Lovett. In the 1960s, musician-producer-songwriters Frank Bendinelli and Leroy Lovett formed a production company, Ben-Lee Music, that generated tracks that were leased to other labels, as well as sides that were put out on their own small Philadelphia labels, like Benn-X and Sonata. The Four Graduates recorded a handful of things ; "Lisa" b/w "Something In The Air " for Benn-X, however, except for this and one release on Champ in 1963 ("Miracles" b/w "She Loves Me For Myself"), none were released. The group was specialising in concert and Night Club entertainment and disbanded at the end of 60s following the untimely death of their lead singer.

Songs :

Something In The Air Lisa

She Loves Me For My Self

...

See comments

Geno & The Encores (2)

Posted on February 8 2021 by dion1

Joseph Sovathy, Julie Matthews, William Matthews, Robert Park and Geno

Geno & The Encores (2) (Finderne, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Eugene "Geno" Viscione (Lead)

William Matthews (Guitarist)

Julie Matthews (Bass)

Joseph Sovathy (Pianist)

Robert Park (Drummer)

Anthony Polnasek (Rhythm Guitarist)

John Rossi (Saxophonist)

Frank Fontinell (Saxophonist)

Disography :

Geno & The Encores (2)
1962 - Loves Encore / Fading Winds (The Encores) (WGW 3001)
1962 - Love Hidden Island / Gerry Gerry (Delree & The Encores) (WGW 3002)
1962 - Rita My Teenage Bride / Midnite Walk (The Encores)(Inst.)(WGW 3003)

Emil Spak & The Encores (2) (Vocal Background, The Plazas)
1962 - Stuck-Up / Hold-Up (Inst.) (WGW 3004)

Biography :

Eugene Geno Viscione got his first job in a barber shop in Somerville at 13, working there after school. He later worked full-time as a barber in Somerville and Manville, and in 1958 opened Geno's Barber Shop on Main street, Finderne. In Bound Brook, where he was born, he began singing when in the 6th grade at Lamont School. He made his debut as a singer on the stage of Somerville High School two years later.

Geno & The Encores (2)
Geno Geno

In 1959, Geno began assembling his recording band, most of the members also are parttime musicians who still earn their livings at other jobs. Lead Guitarist of the Encores is William Matthews, Mrs Julie Matthews, who with her husband teaches at East Brunswick Music Center, also belongs to the band and play Bass. The other member of the band are Joseph Sovathy, Pianist, who works at sears Roebuck, Newark, Robert Park , Drummer, an office worker in Newark, Anthony Polnasek, rhythm guitarist, John Rossi , Saxophonist, a school teacher in Somerset Conty and Frank Fontinell, also a saxophone player and a school teacher.

Geno & The Encores (2)
Frank Fontinell, Anthony Polnasek, William Matthews, Robert Park, Julie Matthews, Joseph Sovathy, John Rossi & Geno

The Encores, who practice in Keyport two nights each week, have concentrated on rehearsing and recording during their first year. Their four single will be released by the WGW label, owned and produced by Geno. Geno has written both songs on the Encores' first record : "Loves Encore" and "Fading Winds" and also is composer of "Love Hidden Island" on their second backed by "Gerry Gerry" composed by Anthony Polnasek. On their third records Geno has written "Rita My Teenage Bride" and William Matthews "Midnite Walk". In a more rock & roll style "Stuck-Up" and "Hold-Up" an instrumental will be released under the name Emil Spak & The Encores.

Songs :

Geno & The Encores

Rita My Teenage Bride Loves Encore

Emil Spak & The Encores

Stuck-Up Hold-Up (Inst.)

...

See comments

The Perennials

Posted on February 4 2021 by dion1

The Perennials
Norman (Otis) Richmond

The Perennials (Los Angeles, CA.)

Personnel :

James "Pee Wee" Faulkner (Lead)

Norman (Otis) Richmond (First Tenor)

Charles Brinkley (Second Tenor)

Frank Harrison (Baritone)

Keenen Selico (Bass)

Discography :

1963 - I'm Yours Until The End / My Big Mistake (Ball 1016)

Biography :

Vocal Group of Teenagers from Los Angeles called the Perennials. The group consisted of Norman (Otis) Richmond (first tenor), Charles Brinkley (second tenor), Frank Harrison (baritone), Kenon Selico (bass) and William "Pee Wee" Flaunker (lead vocals). Three of the group were from Fremont High School and two were from Centennial High School. The Perennials use to sing songs on the corner in Los Angeles on the corners of Manchester and Avalon.

John & Ruth Dolphin The M-M’s & The Peanuts : Willie Donell, Pat White, Norman Richmond

In 1963, the Perennials recorded "I'm Yours Until The End" b/w "My Big Mistake" for Ruth Dolphin's Ball record label. The Perennials broke up before the end of 1963. Norman Richmond joined Pat White and Willie Donell. The trio formed The M-M’s & The Peanuts and recorded three singles for Money Records.

Songs :

My Big Mistake I'm Yours Until The End

...

See comments

The Buttons (2)

Posted on February 4 2021 by dion1

The Buttons (2)
Connie Burns & Sandra Matthews

The Buttons (2) (Nashville, TN)

Personnel :

Sandra Lucille Matthews

Connie Burns

Discography :

1962 - Shimmy Shimmy Watusi / Pretty Li'l Lovelights (Columbia 42618)
1963 - Popeye Does The Mashed Potatoes / My Photograph Book (Columbia 42700)
1963 - Foot Stompin' U.S.A./ Walk Away Girl (Columbia 42834)

The Buttons (2)

Biography :

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee in 1949, Sandra Matthews started her singing career in 1962, at the tender age of 12, with an R&B group called The Buttons, which further consisted of Connie Burns. Purportedly named by Jimi Hendrix, who nicknamed a young Sandra “Button” during he and Billy Cox’s stay in Nashville in 1962. Together the Buttons recorded a few songs for the Columbia label, including ‘Shimmy Shimmy Watusi’, ‘Pretty li’l lovelights’ . Although still very young, Sandra Matthews was close to making a big break, since all recordings were produced by legend to be Carl Davis, who was just starting out at the time but would hit it big with acts like Major Lance, Jackie Wilson, The Chi-Lites and Young Holt Unlimited not long after.

The Buttons (2)
Paul & Paula (left) with Connie Burns & Sandra Matthews (The Buttons) and Hugh Jarrett (The Jordanaires).

Connie and Sandra were obviously talented. Both get writing credits on the first two songs, while Ronnie Wilkins is credited on the last. Again a sign of the Buttons’ proximity to stardom, because it was Wilkins who wrote chartbusters such as ‘Son of a preacherman‘ and ‘Love of the common people.’ The latter was sung by a great many artists, with various results, but seriously dominated the European charts in a reggae version: the one Joe Gibbs recorded with Nicky Thomas in 1970. Sandra Matthews later changed her stage name to Reggae singer Dhaima.

Songs :


   Pretty Li'l Lovelights                      Shimmy Shimmy Watusi


Popeye Does The Mashed Potatoes               My Photograph Book


     Walk Away Girl                          Foot Stompin' U.S.A.

...

See comments

Rudy & The Tradewinds (2) aka Jimmy & The Slanders

Posted on February 3 2021 by dion1

Rudy & The Tradewinds (2) aka Jimmy & The Slanders
L/R: Tommy Pellechia, Adolfo Altreche, Sammy Marotta, Richie Soriano, and Rudy Jackson kneeling

Rudy & The Tradewinds (2) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka Jimmy & The Slanders

Personnel :

Rudy Jackson (Lead)

Tommy Pellechia (Baritone/Second Tenor)

Sammy Marotta (Bass/Baritone)

Richie Soriano (First & Second Tenor)

Adolfo Altreche (Bass)

Discography :

Rudy & The Tradewinds (2)
1962 - Unemployed / Careless Love (Angletone 543)

Jimmy & The Slanders
1962 - Rock'in Santa / Respectable (by The Chants) (U.W.R.4243)

Biography :

Rudy From The Tradewinds was Rudy Jackson & was Jimmy Soul's brother in law (If You Wanna Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life) and so before Jimmy went to Motown, he was a member of The group. They were called Little Sugar and the Slanders. Rudy and Jimmy lived on St John's Place, between 5th and 6th Ave, in Brooklyn. At this time the group was composed by jimmy Soul, Rudy Jackson , Tommy Pellechia, Sammy Marotta & Adolfo Altreche. Richie Soriano was not part of the group then. They did local gigs for the area's gangsters. Jimmy Soul was the main lead. After one meager paying gig, Jimmy Soul ran off with the money; the next thing they knew he was in Detroit.

Rudy & The Tradewinds (2) aka Jimmy & The Slanders
Rudy & The Tradewinds Jimmy Soul

In 1959/60, They changed their name then to Rudy and the Tradewinds, Richie Soriano joined the group, and Rudy took lead singer. The members: one black, three Italians, one Puerto Rican, in the order below. Rudy Jackson (Lead), Thomas Pellechia (Baritone/Second Tenor), Sammy Marotta (Bass/Baritone), Richie Soriano (First & Second Tenor) and Adolfo Altreche (Bass). In 1959, Sammy, Richie, Adolpho, and Tommy grew up on Sackett Street, between 4th and 5th Ave, in Brooklyn. In 1962, Sammy Marotta worked in downtown Manhattan with two guys who sang in a group called the Del Satins. From there, they were invited to audition for Jim Gribble in 1650 Broadway. He referred the group to Angeltone Records. They recorded "Careless Love" & "Unemployed". Both sides were done in one long afternoon session. They sang at the Apollo, Palisade Park with Cousin Bruce, the Savoy, and Lenox Hill.The group broke up about 1964. They weren't going anywhere. Surprisingly in 1962, U.W.R. (United Wolrd Records) in New York released "Rock'in Santa" by Jimmy & The Slanders (A Soul Production) b/w « Respectable" by The Chants. Tt's probably a recording of the Slanders before jimmy leaves it.

Songs:

Rudy & The Tradewinds (2)

Unemployed Careless Love

…

See comments

The Kavetts aka The Kavettes

Posted on February 1 2021 by dion1

The Kavetts aka The Kavettes

The Kavetts (Chicago, IL,)
aka The Kavettes

Personnel :

Jessie Birden (lead vocals)

Discography :

The Kavetts
1963 - I've Got A Story To Tell You / Stay With Me (Len Dre 101)

The Kavettes
1964 - I'm Not Sorry For You / You Broke Your Promise (Okeh 7194)

Biography :

For every glittering success story on the Windy City soul scene, countless artists came and went without much of anvone noticing. Such was the case with the Kavetts, a female quartet that had a 1963 release on the microscopie Len-Dre label, pairing the wonderfully raucous "l’ve Got À Story To Tell You" and "Stay With Me". It seems to have been the logo’s inaugural release, and maybe its only one. They turned up the next year on OKeh as the Kavettes, with another one-off coupling of "You Broke Your Promise" and "I'm Not Sorry For You". Among the good things the group had going for them were songwriters Karl Tarleton and Andre Williams, who provided much of their material. Tarleton would quickly establish himself as a Windy City soul scribe, penning Joyce Kennedy's "65 Blue Rock outing "l’m A Good Girl" with Andre Williams and two 1967 hits: Gene Chandler’s "To Be A Lover" for Checker and Jackie Wilson's Brunswick outing "I Don't Want To Lose You". No such luck for thKavetts, despite their roof-raising lead singer.

Songs :

The Kavettes

I'm Not Sorry For You You Broke Your Promise

The Kavetts

Stay With Me I've Got A Story To Tell You

...

See comments

The Re'Vells

Posted on January 29 2021 by dion1

The Re'Vells
Frank Sicoli, Benny Troy and Tommy Orsini

The Re'Vells (Elizabeth, NJ)

Personnel :

Benny Troy (Lead)

Frank Sicoli

Tommy Orsini

Discography :

1963 - Let It Please Be You / Love Walked In (Roman Press 201)

Biography :

New Jersey seasoned vocalist Benny Troy is a familiar figure on the UK Northern Soul scene thanks to his 1975 disco-tinged dance floor classic "I Wanna Give You Tomorrow". From an early age Troy fell in love with R&B music and at 18 he joined a reformed Joey Dee & The Starlighters following in the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix. By the mid-seventies Troy had teamed up with singer/songwriter/producer Billy Terrell who recorded him on his own composition "I've Always Had You" for De-Lite Records, a superb slice of proto-disco and modern soul. The song was a hit for De-Lite and heralded the now legendary album "Tearin' Me To Pieces".

The Re'Vells
Benny Troy (1975)

However, what is not told in his biography is that two years before joining Joey Dee & The Starlighters, at the age of fifteen, he set up his own vocal group with Frank Sicoli and Tommy Orsini two friends of Fay Ave in Elizabeth neighborhood. They are called "The Re'Vells" and record two doo wop in 1963, "Let It Please Be You" b/w "Love Walked In" released by Roman Press the same year.

Songs :

Let It Please Be You Love Walked In

...

See comments

The Jo-Vals (1)

Posted on January 27 2021 by dion1

The Jo-Vals (1)
(L to R) Joe Mancuso, Phil Avella, Ron Dabruzzo and John Ferraro

The Jo-Vals (1) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

John Ferraro (Falsetto / Lead)

Joe Mancuso (Baritone)

Ron DaBruzzo (Tenor)

Phil Avella (Tenor)

Discography :

1964 - You, You My Love / Sometimes I'm Happy (Laurie 3229)
1964 - Ballerina / I Want You (To Be My Girl) (Alwil 101/102)

Biography :

Back in the heyday of Doo-Wop, young kids all over the country dreamed of scoring a hit record and finding their path to fame, riches and glory. But all of the doo-wop groups were soon overtaken by the arrival of the Beatles and the British muscial invasion that would come within the year 1963. The group came from the Brooklyn and were composed by John Ferraro (the group's "Falsetto" lead), Joe Mancuso (the baritone) and tenor voices of Phil Avella and his cousin, Ron DaBruzzo. Phil Avella and Ron DaBruzzo. The group was managed by a New York City Police Officer named Al Diaco. Even though they arrived late, The Jo-Vals recorded two great quality singles.

In Fall 1963, They recorded the excellent "You, You My Love" composed and arranged by Al Diaco (b/w "Sometimes I'm Happy"). The single will not be released until February 1964 by Laurie Records. In the Summer 1964, Al Diaco produce and arranged a second single, "Ballerina" b/w "I Want You (To Be My Girl)" released on the tiny label Alwil. That same year, a third single from the Jo-Vals was released under the Grove label, but it is not from the same group. It seems that the singer is Artie Loria from the Bronx who did many sessions with The Demilles, The Camerons, the Tremonts, etc.

Songs :


    You, You My Love                        Sometimes I'm Happy


         Ballerina                                 I Want You (To Be My Girl)

...

See comments

The Chants (2) aka The Gallahads (3) ref The Gallahads (2)

Posted on January 25 2021 by dion1

The Chants (2) (San Pedro, California)
aka The Gallahads (3)
ref The Gallahads (2)

Personnel :

Arthur Lee Sprewell (Lead)

Elliott Sprewell

Tyrone Sprewell

Lewis Booker

Eugene Booker

Mack Givens

Discography :

The Chants (2)
1959 - The Graveyard Hop / A Thousand Miles In My Path (Big Moment 101/102) ???
1960 - Heaven And Paradise / When I'm With You (Night Owl 40)

Jimmy Pipkin & The Gallahads (3)
1962 - This Letter To You / The Answer To Love (Donna 1361)

The Gallahads (3)
1964 - Keeper Of Dreams / Sad Girl (Beechwood 3000)

Biography :

The Gallahads -- led by Jimmy Pipkin -- are best remembered for "Lonely Guy," an enormous smash hit in 1960. Lead vocalist Pipkin, Bobby Dixon (first tenor and lead), "Tiny" Tony Smith (second tenor), and bass man Ernie Rouse formed this vocal group in Seattle, WA, in 1952, while they were still in junior high. Ten years later, The Famous Gallahads from Seattle Broke up, Jimmy Pipkin then based in California picked up a vocal group called The Chants. This group hailed from San Pedro, California. Members included Arthur Lee Sprewell,Elliott Sprewell, Tyrone Sprewell, Lewis Booker, Eugene Booker, and Mack Givens. The Chants had already recorded "Heaven And Paradise" b/w "When I'm With You" release en 1960 by Night Owl Records and probably in 1959, "The Graveyard Hop" b/w "A Thousand Miles In My Path" on the Big Moment Label.. Label copied as Jimmy Pipkin & The Gallahads. The Chants recorded "This Letter To You" and "The Answer To Love" on Donna Records. The "Answer To Love" is a typical Pipkin ballad and sticks to The Gallahads' trademark sound. In fact, The Chants could almost be taken as a Gallahads clone. In 1964, Chuck Markulis, who owned the rights to the Gallahads name, produced two Gallahads sides for the Beechwood label, "Keeper Of Dreams" backed with "Sad Girl" But it's still the Chants recorded the Songs.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Chants (2)

A Thousand Miles In My Path Heaven And Paradise

When I'm With You The Graveyard Hop

Jimmy Pipkin & The Gallahads (3)

This Letter To You The Answer To Love

The Gallahads (3)

Keeper Of Dreams Sad Girl

...

See comments

The Whippoorwills (2) aka Eddie & The Starlites (2)

Posted on January 22 2021 by dion1

The Whippoorwills (2) (Brooklyn, New-York)
aka Eddie & The Starlites (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

Eddie & the Starlites (2)

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.

Eddie & the Starlites (2)
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.

Eddie & The Starlites (2)

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 ".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Eddie & The Starlites (2)


To Make A Long Story Short      Pretty Little Girl              Come On Home


I Can Dream                      I Love You                 Come On Home (alt. version)

I Need Some Money Nobody But You And Me / Three Steps To Go You Told Me So

The Whippoorwills (2)

Deep Within Going To A Party

...

See comments