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

The Centuries (1)

Posted on January 20 2021 by dion1

The Centuries (1)
Top : Tony Harris - Bottom : Jimmy Ellis & Billy Marshall

The Centuries (1) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Billy Marshall (Lead)

Tony Harris (Tenor)

Jimmy Ellis (Baritone)

Discography :

1962 - I Won't Stop Lovin' You / Geraldine (Dootone 469)

Biography :

Jimmy Preacher Ellis was born in 1935, in the rural farming community of Foreman, Arkansas. Like most youths, his first singing experience came in church, where he and his brother both sang. By 1950 Ellis had moved to Seattle, Washington where he began singing in the choir at the nearby Mount Baker Baptist Church. Eventually his vocal talents came to the attention of the Reverend F.F. Billups who asked Jimmy to join The Traveling Four, since their baritone singer had just quit. By 1955 The Traveling Four split up, and Ellis, now 20 years old, entered the military service. By the late 1950s, he was back in Seattle and began to seriously pursue his interest in playing the guitar. In spite of his developing instrumental skills, Ellis wasn't quite ready for a solo career.

The Centuries (1)
Tony Harris

Instead, Although living in Seattle, Ellis made excursions to Los Angeles during the early sixties to record for the Romack Label. Ellis had made a deal with Dootsie Williams at Dootone Records on West First Street. He recruited former ex-Traveling Four members, Tony Harris and Billy Marshall, to form a doo-wop group called The Centuries. Tony Harris had already embarked on a solo career with several records in 1957 and 1958 on the Ebb label. In early spring 1962 the trio entered the Dootone studios and recorded " Geraldine" backed with "I Won't Stop Lovin' You". The single id not fare very well. Consequently, the three Centuries split up and returned to their respective families. In 1964 and now a solo artist,Jimmy Ellis headed to Los Angeles, hoping to record and later that year his first record single was released. Later in 1964, he met R&B songwriter 'Fats' Washington. Ellis recorded a couple of singles that were released on Washington's Movin' label. Later he had a couple more singles released this time on the Ride label which was another one of Washington's.

Songs :

Geraldine I Won't Stop Lovin' You

...

See comments

The Ivoleers aka The Ivories (2)

Posted on January 16 2021 by dion1

The Ivories (2) aka The Ivoleers
Ella Lee Lewis Jr.

The Ivoleers ((Manhattan, New York)
aka The Ivories (2)

Personnel :

Ella Lee Lewis Jr. (Lead)

Johnny Earl Jackson (Baritone/Bass)

Richard Lewis (First Tenor)

Moses Brown (Baritone)

"Blinky" (SecondTenor)

Discography :

The Ivories (2)
1957 - Me And You / I'm In Love (Mercury 71239)

The Ivoleers
1959 - Lovers' Quarrel / Come With Me (Buzz 101)

Biography :

When the Ivories / Love Notes disbanded in the Summer of 1957, Johnny Earl Jackson, who was part of the original Ivories who recorded on Jaguar Records "Alone" and "Baby Send A Letter", formed a new group. Since the Ivories were no longer in existence (having become the Love Notes), he recycled the name. The New Ivories group consisted of his girlfriend, Ella Lee Lewis Jr. (lead), her brother, Richard Lewis (first tenor), Moses Brown (baritone), a second tenor named "Blinky" and Johnny Earl Jackson (baritone/bass).

The Ivories (2) aka The Ivoleers

They recorded "Me And You" and "I'm In Love" released by Mercury Recordsin November 1957. Moses Brown left the Ivories and was replaced by a baritone named "Chink." , They changed their name by to the Ivoleers and recorded "Lovers' Quarrel" and "Come With Me" for Bobby Smith's Buzz label in early 1959. http://www.uncamarvy.com/Ivories/ivories.html

Songs :

The Ivories (2)

Me And You I'm In Love

The Ivoleers

Come With Me Lovers' Quarrel

...

See comments

Freddie & Lou

Posted on January 12 2021 by dion1

Freddie & Lou
Fred Parris & Lewis "Lou" Peeples

Freddie & Lou (New Haven, Connecticut)
ref The Five Satins

Personnel :

Fred Parris

Lewis "Lou" Peeples

Discography :

1961 - You'll Be Mine Tonight / Rosalie (Thunder 2150 / Astra 1003)

Biography :

Fred Parris & Lewis Peeple were part of The Five Satins, best known for their 1956 million-selling song, "In the Still of the Night." After a few singles as the Scarlets, the New Haven quintet know as the Scarlets was called by Uncle Sam. Fred Paris was then stationed in Philadelphia and was able to return to New Haven for weekends. He formed a new group that included Lou Peebles (tenor), Ed Martin (baritone), Stanley Dortch (tenor), and Jim Freeman (bass). Fred wanted a new name since none of these new members had been in the Scarlets. He liked the idea of something soft and red like the Velvets and the Scarlets. The result: the Five Satins.

Freddie & Lou
Lewis "Lou" Peeples

In 1961, after several years punctuated by a few hits, Fred and company decided to keep making name changes until something stuck, so they became the Wildwoods (“When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano,” Caprice) and the New Yorkers, whose “Miss Fine” (Wall) reached number 69 Pop and This is also where Fred Parris & Lewis Peeple recorded "You'll Be Mine Tonight" b/w "Rosalie" as Freddie & Lou. not much recognition there for an act that’s spent five years under another name, so they went back to the Five Satins for one side on United Artists .

Songs :

Rosalie You'll Be Mine Tonight

...

See comments

Bob & Jerry aka Ezra & The Ivies (2) aka The Kittens (1) aka Bobbi & The Beaus (2)

Posted on January 9 2021 by dion1

Bob Feldman, Barry Mann & Jerry Goldstein

Bob & Jerry & Their Friends (Brooklyn, New York)
aka Ezra & The Ivies (2)
aka The Kittens (1)
aka Bobbi & The Beaus (2)

Personnel :

Jerry Goldstein

Bob Feldman

Discography :

Ezra & The Ivies (2)
1959 - Comick Book Crazy / Rockin Shoes (Baca Laca Ling Dong) (UA 165)

The Kittens (1)
1959 - A Letter To Donna / It's All Over Now (Unart 2010)

Bobbi & The Beaus (2)
1959 - Melvin / Losing Game (Unart 2009)

Bob & Jerry
1961 - Dreamy Eyes / We're The Guys (Who Drive Your Baby Wild) (Bob & Jerry & Their Friends) (Columbia 42162)
1962 - Chubby Isn't Chubby Anymore / Nursery Rhyme Folk (Musicor 1018)

Biography :

Born in Brooklyn in 1940, Feldman grew up in an orthodox Jewish home and originally studied to be a cantor. The Feldmans lived across the street from Neil Diamond’s folks, just around the corner from the Sedakas, whose son, Neil, was a promising classical pianist, and a couple of blocks away from members of the Tokens, all Lincoln High School graduates and friends. By the mid-50s, doo wop was all the rage and Feldman soon fell in with various groups practising harmonies on the Brooklyn backstreets. He teamed up with his neighbourhood buddy, Jerry Goldstein, and wrote some songs that brought the pair to the attention of Jack Lewis, an A&R man at United Artists Records. Lewis allowed the enthusiastic 18 year-old to sit in on sessions at weekends and mentored him on various aspects of the music business.

Bob & Jerry aka Ezra & The Ivies (2) aka The Kittens (1) aka Bobbi & The Beaus (2)

Back then, the quickest route to a potential hit was a novelty recording and Feldman and Goldstein chose this path as the most likely way of securing airplay in a crowded market. Thus "Comic Book Crazy" by Ezra & the Ivies, "Melvin" by Bobbi & The Beaus with singer Barbara Robert and "‘A Tribute To Donna" by the Kittens - both probably recorded at the same session under Lewis’ supervision, appeared in March 1959, the latter being a tribute to Ritchie Valens, issued within weeks of his death in the plane accident that also claimed Buddy Holly’s life. None of these early efforts were particularly distinguished or hitworthy, but they enabled Feldman and Goldstein to establish a toehold in the business as part-timers.

Bob & Jerry aka Ezra & The Ivies (2) aka The Kittens (1) aka Bobbi & The Beaus (2)

The two pals would grab a sandwich andhustle music publishers in their lunch breaks. Young, enthusiastic and markedly persuasive, they began to get some bites, mainly as a novelty turn, twice riding on the coat-tails of existing hits with ‘We’re The Guys’ (an answer record to Barry Mann’s ‘Who Put The Bomp’) as Bob & Jerry on Columbia Records and ‘Chubby Isn’t Chubby Anymore’ (a daft nod to the King of The Twist) on the Musicor label. Another of their songs, ‘Charm Bracelet’, was recorded by teenage pop vocalist Bernadette Peters. Though they were making inroads, it wasn’t until Feldman and Goldstein met Richard Gottehrer in a music publisher’s waiting room in the spring of 1962, that they tasted their first chart success.They formed the Strangeloves consisted of Bob, Jerry and Richard Gottehrer. Although they left their mark under the name Strangeloves with only four singles and one album, their fascinating story extends both before and beyond the group’s brief tenure.

Songs:

Ezra & The Ivies (2)

Rockin Shoes (Baca Laca Ling Dong) Comick Book Crazy

The Kittens (1)

A Letter To Donna It's All Over Now

Bobbi & The Beaus (2)

Losing Game Melvin

Bob & Jerry & Their Friends

We're The Guys (Who Drive Your Baby Wild)

Bob & Jerry

Dreamy Eyes Nursery Rhyme Folk

...

See comments

The Vels (1)

Posted on January 7 2021 by dion1

The Vels (1)

The Vels (1) (Vicksburh, MS.)

Personnel :

Sidney Caldwell

Terry Lee Evans

Charles Marion "Sug" Knight Sr.

Alvin Sanders

Discography :

1961 - Please Be Mine / Mysterious Teenage (Trebco 702)

Biography :

They were originally "The 5 Knights" from Vicksburg, Mississippi and If Sidney Caldwell, Terry Lee Evans, Marion Knight, and Al Sanders lived in New York or Philly in 1961, they would undoubtedly have hit the big time as one of the best doo-wop groups ever. Instead, there were few recording opportunities for The Vels in Jackson, Mississippi. Their sole record came about when 17- year-old Tim Whitsett convinced a local jeweler / label owner to let him take The Vels into the studio. Backed by Whitsett’s band, The Vels cut two originals for Trebco Records, “Mysterious Teenage” and “Please Be Mine”. Recorded in a single-car garage with a single track tape recorder, the record has become a doo-wop favorite over the past 50 years.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Please Be Mine Mysterious Teenage

...

See comments

The Salems

Posted on January 5 2021 by dion1

The Salems

The Salems (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Jimmy Vinson (Lead)

Billy Vinson

John G.

Discography :

Singles :
1961 - My Precious Love / I'll Still Go On Loving You (Mercury 71754)
1961 - Maria / O'l Man River (Epic 9480)
Unreleased:
1961 - Dream Alone (Mercury)

Biography :

Vocal group from Brooklyn composed by Jimmy Vinson, Billy Vinson and friend John G.... Jimmy Vinson and Billy Vinson wrote "My Precious Love" and Jimmy wrote "I'll Still Go On Loving You". The group known as the Salems recorded the two songs backed by two girls - Brenda Smith & Betty Jean Smith. The single released in January 1961 by Mercury Records will have a small success locally. This recognition will allow them to release a new single on Epic by taking up "Maria", one of the West Side Story's best songs.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

      My Precious Love                   I'll Still Go On Loving You


Maria / Ol' Man River                          Dream Alone
...

See comments

The Valadiers

Posted on January 4 2021 by dion1

The Valadiers

The Valadiers (Detroit)

Personnel :

Stuart Avig (Lead)

Martin Coleman (Lead, Bass, Baritone)

Art Glasser (Second Tenor)

Jerry Light (Bass, Baritone)

Discography :

Singles:
1961 - Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) / Take A Chance (Miracle 6)
1962 - While I'm Away / Because I Love Her (Gordy 7003)
1963 - I Found A Girl / You'll Be Sorry Someday (Gordy 7013)

Unreleased:
1961 - Nothing Is Going to Change It (Miracle)
1961 - Somebody Help Me Find My Baby (Miracle)

Biography :

The Valadiers became Motown's first white group in a company that was known for featuring black artists. Members of the group were Stuart Avig, Art Glasser, Gary Frenkel, Jerry Light and Marty Coleman. Light, Glasser and Coleman met at a party in 1957 and liked the way they could harmonize while singing along with a record. They had fun with their impromptu group and started meeting together to try their voices with other songs. As they performed together, with other singers joining and leaving, they became more serious about their sound and dreamed about bigger opportunities. They called themselves the Valadiers (brave soldiers or strong men), a word Glasser liked from his Latin class.

Clockwise from top left, Gary Frenkel, Marty Coleman, Art Glasser, Stuart Avig and Jerry Light.

At one point, Light and Coleman connected with two black singers, and the four auditioned before Motown legend Berry Gordy Jr., who told them that mixed groups don't become popular. The next audition featured the group that would make the recording of "Greetings": Light and Frenkel from Mumford High School, and Avig, Coleman and Glasser from Oak Park High School. Although group members were white and Jewish, their sound was black, and they became pioneers of blue-eyed soul. The Valadiers experienced an unexpected turn as they were about to sign their contract.

The Valadiers
Berry Gordy

Because they were only teenagers, they had to get parent approval and were shocked that Frenkel was pulled out of the group by his father, who wanted his son to devote his attention to school. "Greetings," which reached 61 on the national recording charts and sold close to 300,000 copies, topped the charts in Baltimore, Cleveland and Washington, D.C..The group wrote the song based on a headline about President Kennedy drafting large numbers of young men.

The Valadiers

Besides singing a cappella at small parties, the Valadiers went on to perform on a small tour circuit. They played the Jewish resorts in South Haven for room and board. The early Valadiers did a lot of personal promoting to get their recordings played on radio stations. Without the follow-up success they

Songs :

Take A Chance Greetings (This is Uncle Sam)

You'll Be Sorry Someday                            While I'm Away


You'll Be Sorry Someday                           I Found A Girl

....

See comments

The Preludes Five aka The Preludes (4) aka The Chessman aka The Chessmen (1)

Posted on January 3 2021 by dion1

The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

The Preludes Five (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Preludes (4)
aka The Chessman
aka The Chessmen (1)

Personnel :

Floyd Lark (lead)

Discography :

The Chessman (ft Bobby)
1958 – The Keeper Of My Love / Why (Safari 1011)

The Chessmen (1)
1958 - Du-Whop / I Live For You (MiraSonic 1002 & MiraSonic 1868)

The Preludes (4)
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

The Preludes Five
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

Biography :

Whoever Leroy R. Bates was he was on a roll in 1961, for not only was he writer of the Preludes Five's hit "Starlight", he was also the writer of the Crystals "There's No Other (like My Baby)" with hit the charts soon after. In those days the only people making money were the writers and publishers : those who 'merely' recorded their work rarely, if ever, saw anything from a record's sale.The Preludes Fives, if they were still together, would ge nothing which is probably what they got in 1961. Surprisingly for a hit record, both the group and their record label are clouded in obscurity.

The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

Pik Records may have been based on the east coast, an assumption based on the record (Pik 230 "Don’t You Know Love" was the flip) breaking out in New York area June 1961. August 20 it had entered the Billboard hot 100 at 96, subsequently rising to 89 and 86. September 10th and 17th it was No80 and then it disappeared. The first pressing of the record was billed as by the Preludes, subsequent pressings adding the Five, presumably out of the group's concern that at least one other group with the same name could steal their bookings.Remarkably there was no follow-up and it seems the group immediatly disbanded. The quintet were lead by Floyd Lark and were the same group as the Chessman who recorded for Safari in 1958 and the Chessmen on Mirasonic the same year.

Songs :

The Chessman

Why The Keeper Of My Love

The Chessmen (1)

Du-Whop I Live For You

The Preludes (4) / The Preludes Five

Don’t You Know Love Starlight

...

See comments

The Five Chords (1)

Posted on January 3 2021 by dion1

The Five Chords

The Five Chords (1) Featuring Johnny Jones (Newark, NJ)

Personnel :

Johnnie Jones (Lead)

Ruby Martin

Keine Angabe

Barbara R. Martin-Clark

Evans Clark (Bass)

Discography

Singles :
1958 - Love Is Like Music / Don't Just Stand There (Jamie 1110)

Unreleased:
1958 - Crazy Rock (Jamie)
1958 - I'd Do Anything For You (Jamie)

Biography :

Vocal group formed in 1957 at Sherman Ave in Newark, NJ. where they were raised. Rudy Martin with his friend John Jones (Linda Jones of Hypnotized fame’s brother) started a group and incorporated his cousin, Keine Angabe, who was nicknamed Crip, his baby sister Barbara R. Martin-Clark, affectionately called Bockey and they were told of a bass singer from Elizabeth named Evans Clark.

The Five Chords The Five Chords (1)

Rudy Martin was very motivated to form a vocal group because his brother, James Pete Martin, had his own group and had already released several singles with the Parakeets for Atlas/Angletone Records. They collectively became The Five Chords and they practiced at Miller St school on Sherman Ave. The group landed a contract with Jamie records, and recorded four size for the label. Only "Love Is Like Music" and "Don't Just Stand There" were released in October 1958. Later, Johnnie Jones, the lead singer got into some trouble and no one else wanted to lead the group so they disbursed.

Songs :

Love Is Like Music Don't Just Stand There

Crazy Rock I'd Do Anything For You

....

See comments

Terry & The Crowns (4)

Posted on December 24 2020 by dion1

Terry & The Crowns (4)

Terry & The Crowns (4) (New Jersey)

Personnel :

Terry Haber (Lead)

John Wojcik

Discography :

1977 (1961) - Shelly My Love / Teenage Romance (Harvey 103)

Biography :

Vocal group from New Jersey fronted by Terry Haber. The Quintet recorded two songs in 1961 written by Terry; "Shelly My Love" and "Teenage Romance". The two songs were never released until 1977 on the Harvey Label.

Songs :

Teenage Romance Shelly My Love

...

See comments