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

The Sports

Posted on February 5 2020 by dion1

Bobby Collins, Robert Whitehead (Rear), Lloyd Jones (Front) and Will T. Vance

The Sports (Nashville, TN.)

Personnel :

Lloyd Jones (Lead)

Will T. Vance (Tenor)

Robert Whitehead (Baritone)

Bobby Collins (Bass)

Discography :

Nick Dean & The Sports
1956 - High School Baby / When You Lose Your True Love (Deb 1001)

The Sports Featuring Lloyd Jones
1956 - True Love Come Back To Me / Hot Lips And Pretty Brown Hair (Deb 1002)

Biography :

The Sports were a group of young high school and College lads composed by Bobby Collins, Robert Whitehead, Lloyd Jones and Will T. Vance . The Sports have garnered a reputation for harmony in local and middle Tennessee bookings. They also have furnished the background vocalising for records, especially two sides cut by Nick Dean for the Deb Label. Nick Dean (Nee Nicholas "Nick" Boone) Younger brother of Pat Boone was born 1 June 1935, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Todd's brief career from 1957-60 was built during the era when record companies were flooding the market with teen idol types who could sing a poppish unthreatening style of rock 'n' roll. As the younger brother of the king of poppish rock 'n' roll, Pat Boone, Todd was quickly snapped up.

The Sports
Nick Boone (Nick Dean)

After his first release on Deb, Nick Boone was signed to Dot Records (which gave the singer his name by reversing the company's name). Todd's "Plaything", which entered the US Top 50 in 1957, brought the singer to the public's attention, and, that same year, a cover of Danny And The Juniors' "At The Hop" (number 21) cemented a relationship with his teenage fans. There then followed a spate of television appearances and fan magazine profiles, but it did not last and Todd left the music business to pursue a career in social work. The Sports recorded a second single for Deb records with "True Love Come Back To Me" and "Hot Lips And Pretty Brown Hair."

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Nick Dean & The Sports

High School Baby / When You Lose Your True Love

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The Neons (2)

Posted on February 1 2020 by dion1

Ricardo Rasheem King

The Neons (2) (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Ricardo King (Lead)

Craig Simmons (Tenor)

Robert Gordon (Bass)

Demelvin Woodfox (Baritone)

Discography :

The Neons (2)
1961 - Tuscon / My Lover (Waldon 1001)
1962 - Magic Moment / Fat Girls (Challenge 9147)

Ricardo King
1964 - At The Harlem Center / This Is The Moment (Joker 711)
1965 - Won't You Come On Home / On A Hot Summer Day In The Big City (Joker 712)

Biography :

Ricardo Rasheem King based in Santa Monica, singer, songwriter, performer and actor under the name of Ricardo J. King. Ricardo King began in music industry the early 1960 with the Neons (Los Angeles) group on Waldon et Challenge Records. In 1961, a group of four black guys from Los Angeles were signed on Waldon Records and they recorded “Tucson” and “My Lover” with Ricardo King as lead singer. The other members of the group was Craig Simmons (Tenor),Robert Gordon (Bass) & Demelvin Woodfox (Baritone). Both songs were written by Demelvin Woodfox and Ricardo King. In 1962, the Neons signed for Challenge Records. Dave Burgess wrote "Fat Girls" for the Neons and was the Executive Producer for the Group. Studio producer World Famous Glen Campbell and on Guitar Backup group The Champs.

The Neons (2)
Glen Campbell

The songs were recorded in Hollywood at Sunset Highland at Challenge Studios on by Gene Autry the movie star and Singing cowboy. Manager and mentor fir Ricardo King was Johnny Woodson at great man and later was a music teacher at Carver Jr. High in Los Angeles California. he also taught Ricardo how to read music and took him to BMI in Beverly Hills and got him signed as a Song Writer for Ricardo's first solo writing if Ricardo's first song "Magic Moment" which was Recorded by The group.Ricardo Rasheem King later began a solo career for Joker Records produced by Hal Davis of Motown Records. When Motown moved to Hollywood, Ricardo recorded "At Harlem Center" b/w "This Is The Moment" and "Won't You Come On Home" b/w "On A Hot Summer Day In The Big City" on Joker Records/Jobete Publishing and Jancris/Vault. Ricardo Rasheem King also sings for the public in the streets of Santa Monica.

Songs :

The Neons (2)


Tuscon                                             My Lover


Magic Moment                                       Fat Girls

Ricardo King

At The Harlem Center                       This Is The Moment


       Won't You Come On Home      On A Hot Summer Day In The Big City

...

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The El Torros (2)

Posted on January 26 2020 by dion1

The El Torros (2)

The El Torros (2) (Alliance, Ohio)

Personnel :

Chester Daniel "Danny" Boone

Richard Franklin

Lonnie McLeod

Fred Terrell

Virgil Banks

Discography :

1958 - Love Is Love / All The Tears Is Gone (Fraternity 811)

Biography :

A notable St. Louis vocal group, the doo-wop oriented El Torros was Formed by singer Lloyd Lockett in 1951, the group signed to a record contract with Duke/Peacock Records company in 1956. El Torros made several discs but had no hits and went through many changes. At the same time, there was another El Torros group, that had a single record on the Fraternity label, out of Cincinnati, Ohio. The quintet from Alliance, Ohio, Akron-Canton area, consisted of Chester D. Boone, Lonnie McLeod writer of "Love Is Love ", Richard Franklin, Virgil Banks and Fred Terrell, writer of "All The Tears Is Gone".

The El Torros (2)

The El Torros signed a recording contract with Fraternity Records. Fraternity Records was a small record label based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was started by Harry Carlson and silent partner Dr. Ashton Welsh in 1954. Fraternity's biggest-selling hit was Lonnie Mack's 1963 guitar instrumental, "Memphis", which rose to #5 on Billboard′s Pop chart and #4 on Billboard′s R&B chart. The El Torros recorded at Fraternity Records a Syd Nathan King Records division. Mr. Johnny Otis had worked with them while producing for Mr. Nathan they'd hit harder.

Songs :

Love Is Love All The Tears Is Gone

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The Nobletones

Posted on January 26 2020 by dion1

The Nobletones (Elizabeth, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Ellis Dowles

Darnell Lamb

Howard "Punky" McDonald

Jerry Timmons

Spencer "Boop" Timmons

Discography :

Singles:
1958 - I Love You / I'm Really Too Young (C&M 182)
1958 - I'm Crying / Mambo Boogie (C&M 438/439)
1958 - Who Cares About Love / Cha-Lyp-So-Baby (C&M 182)

Unreleased:
1958 - Dream Girl (C&M)
1958 - Why Did You Go (C&M)

Biography :

C&M Records from Elizabeth,N.J. were a label owned by Castino Queen and Mary Linkowitch (also owners of Wanger Records). The C&M label was just beginning but was about to sign a young black group from Elizabeth called the Nobletones . C&M Records was a small outfit so they worked out of a storefront and these kids [the Nobletones] happened to be from the neighbourhood and they went in and he recorded them first. The Nobletones had fantastic harmony and they wrote every song they recorded. They were from Elizabeth and composed by Ellis Dowles, Darnell Lamb, Howard "Punky" McDonald, Jerry Timmons, and Spencer "Boop" Timmons. The group recorded three singles for the label. C&M also had other artists like John Lester who had some R&B chart action with “Getting Nearer". Wanger/C&M existed 1958 & 1959. However, within those two years many fine Vocal Group recordings was to enter the lives of the Tri-State teens (New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania), and some even to go national.

Songs :


      I Love You                                 I'm Really Too Young


I'm Crying                                    Mambo Boogie


Cha-Lyp-So-Baby                      Who Cares About Love

Dream Girl

...

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The Gales (2)

Posted on January 25 2020 by dion1

The Gales (2)

The Gales (2) (Washington, DC)

Personnel :

Edward Smith

James Goldring

Edward Goldring

Aaron Grier

Discography :

1958 - Guiding Angel / Baby Come Home (Mel-O 111)
1958 - If I Could Forget / Josephine (Mel-O 113/114)
1960 - Squeeze Me / I Love You (Winn 916)

Biography :

Vocal group from Washington, DC. composed by Edward Smith, James Goldring, Edward Goldring & Aaron Grier. The Gales signed a recording contract with Mel-O records, 1674 Broadway, New York City. There was an awful lot of labels and publishers at 1674 Broadway in the 1950s. All four songs by The Gales were written by the four members of the group. Mel-O Released the two singles the same year (1958) but the success was not there. in August 1960, they released a third record, this time on John Dickerson's Winn label (of Washington, D.C.). Winn who will release the following year the Senators and the Marvells (Same Group) . James Isom who have been part of this two group joined the Gales for about a month before joining the Satisfactions.

Songs :


Guiding Angel                                   Baby Come Home

If I Could Forget / Josephine


Squeeze Me                                        I Love You

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The Eastmen aka The East-Men

Posted on January 22 2020 by dion1

Clarence E. Quick

The Eastmen (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
aka The East-Men

Personnel :

Clarence E. Quick (Bass)

Watsie Lumbard (First Tenor)

Jethro Worthy (Second Tenor / Baritone)

Russell Worthy (Second Tenor / Baritone)

Harold Allen (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Eastmen
1959 - Lover Come Home / Bye Bye My Baby (Mercury 71434)

Watsie Lumbard & The East-Men (Featuring Hal Jaxon)
1960 - Passion/ Hum-Dibby-Do-Wah (Glow 100)

Biography :

In late 1958, Del Vikings founder, bass singer, and principal songwriter Clarence E. Quick having received his discharge from the United States Air Force, left the Del Vikings to join the Eastmen, another act that was signed to Mercury Records. Consisting of Watsie Lumbard, brothers Jethro and Russell Worthy, Harold Allen, and Quick, the Eastmen recorded one single for the label before Jethro left the group in the spring of 1959. Seeking a replacement, Quick brought in Ayers, who was capable of singing lead , first tenor, and second tenor.

The Eastmen aka The East-Men

This lineup of the Eastmen remained intact for over a year, until Quick and Russell Worthy left. Ayers, Lumbard, Allen, and new members LaVangelis Hicks and Ivan “Lincoln Fig” Figueroa, of Lincoln Fig and the Dates, recorded “Passion” and “Hum-Dibby-Do-Wah" For Glow Records in Late 1960. After “Come Go With Me” lead singer Norman Wright was discharged from the service in January of 1960, he and Quick formed a new Del Vikings unit with Ayers and Clarence's cousin, William Blakely, who had initially joined the Mercury lineup in 1957.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Eastmen

Lover Come Home / Bye Bye My Baby

Watsie Lumbard & The East-Men (Featuring Hal Jaxon)


       Passion                              Hum-Dibby-Do-Wah


...

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The Griffins (1) aka The Warblers

Posted on January 21 2020 by dion1

The Griffins (1) (Washington, D.C)
aka The Warblers
(By Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

William Ross (Lead)

Bill Alford (First Tenor)

Lewis "Flip" Thompson (Second Tenor)

Lawrence Tate (Bariton)

Joshua Bright (Bass)

Discography :

The Griffins (1)
1955 - Sing To Me / I Swear By All The Stars Above (Mercury 70558)
1955 - Bad Little Girl / Scheming (Mercury 70650)
1956 - Forever More / Leave It To Me (Wing 90067)
1956 - Why Must You Go / My Baby's Gone (Mercury 70913)

The Warblers
1973 - Is This The Real Thing / It’s Wrong (The Ontarios) (Baron 101)
1973 - Love Me Baby (The Ontarios) / Scheming (Baron 106)
1974 - She's Too Tall For Love / Lonesome Again (The Serenaders) (Outhouse 102)

Marie Knight (bb The Griffins (1)) (not credited)
1956 - As Long As I Love / Tell Me Why (Wing 90069)

Biography :

Lawrence Tate and William Ross joined the Griffins in 1953 from the RCA Heartbreakers, who had disbanded in 1953.The Griffins were previously known as the Warblers. The tunes shown below as by the Griffins on Mercury, Entitled "Scheming", was earlier cut by the Warblers.In February of 1955 Mercury Records signs The Griffins to their label.

The Griffins (1) aka The Warblers
Marie Knight The Griffins (1)

In less than a month Mercury # 70558 is released featuring the group's versions of the songs "I Swear By All The Stars Above" and "Swing To Me".In July "Bad Little Girl" and "Scheming" on # 70650. In March of 1956 The Griffins are moved to the Wing label from Mercury . In April "Forevermore" and "Leave It To Me" are released on Wing # 90067. In August The Griffins are back on Mercury with "Why Must You Go" and "My baby's Gone" on # 70913.

Songs :

The Griffins


              Sing To Me                      I Swear By All The Stars Above


Bad Little Girl                                          Scheming


Forever More                                     Leave It To Me

Why Must You Go / My baby’s Gone

Marie Knight (bb The Griffins (1))

As Long As I Love / Tell Me Why

The Warblers


Is This The Real Thing                             Scheming

...

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Jimmy Mack & The Watts

Posted on January 19 2020 by dion1

Jimmy Mack & The Watts

Jimmy Mack & The Watts (Hamden, Connecticut)

Personnel :

Jimmy Mack

Betty Watts

Ann Watts

Discography :

Jimmy Mack & The Watts
1959 - I Believe I Love You / True Lover Girl (Elgin 1028/1029 / Gee 1056)

Betty Watts & The Watts / Annie Watts & The Watts
1959 - Do Me A Favor / Let It Be (Elgin 1030/1031)

Bette Watts
1960 - Do Me A Favor / Let It Be (Wand 104)

Biography :

Jimmy Mack & The Watts were a trio from Hamden, Connecticut whose "I Believe I Love You" / "True Lover" (Gee 1956) from 1960 was originally issued on Elgin 1028 in 1959. (There is no connection between this Jimmy Mack and the Detroit or Chicago based singer of the same name who recorded for labels Palmer, Hamster and other in the ‘60s and ‘70s), The Watts were the Watts sisters (Betty and Ann) who had their own record "Let It Be" / "Do Me A Favor" on Elgin 1030 (Reissued on Wand 104)

Songs :

Jimmy Mack & The Watts

I Believe I Love You True Lover Girl

Betty Watts The Watts

Do Me A Favor

Annie Watts & The Watts

Let It Be

…

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Gino & The Barons (5)

Posted on January 19 2020 by dion1

Seated : Gino Custode , Richard Larson (Manager) - Standing : George Cranden. Kenneth Parsons & Lee Parker

Gino & The Barons (5) (Woodbridge, N.J.)

Personnel :

Gino Custode (Lead)

Kenneth Parsons

Lee Parker

George Cranden

Discogrphy:

1959 - Peggy / Pretty Lu (Larsen 100)

Biography :

Gino Custode Is the group’s organiser and the lead singer. Kenneth Parsons, Lee Parker and George Cranden are the other members of The Barons and Richard Larson of Bergenfield Is the boy’s manager. The boys, all of whom are 16 years of age, have only been practising together four months. They have sung at several Friday hight teen dances In the Township, and are slated to appear at School 19, Menlo Park Terrace, and have already sung at the School dances In Colonia. In Early December 1959, The Four teenagers recorded two songs In Newark. The next week they picked up the 1000 copies of the disc which they must plug and sell them selves. Gino Custode composed “Peggy,” a cha-cha with he composed himself. On the reverse side is “Pretty Lou,” a jitter-bug number by professionals, Irv Decker and Luclle Hobbs.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Peggy Pretty Lu

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