The Derbys were Gary Hedrick, Ronald Eldridge, Norman Garner, James Watkins and Benny Martin. service men from the nearby naval base in Alameda. The group had more than a passing fondness for the Drifters, particularly the then-current aggregation that featured Rudy Lewis with the added strings "Lonely One" from 1962 sounds like a Drifters records. The group also contributed an a cappella version of the Tune Weavers' hit, "Happy Birthday Baby". The songs were recorded at Music City Recording Studios owned by Ray Dobard, owner, producer and songwriter. He founded the Berkeley, Califrornia label Music City as well as Music City Recording Studios. Dobard also owned a chain of Music City Record Shops in the San Francisco Bay Area. Unfortunately and despite the formidable "Lonely One" Music City will not release the single.
The Four Haven Knights 1957 - In My Lonely Room / I'm Just A Dreamer (Atlas 1066 / Josie 824)
The Haven Knights 1958 - Why Go On Pretending / Just To Be In Love (Atlas 1092)
Biography :
Hailing from New Haven, CT, the original Nutmegs -- lead Leroy Griffin, Sonny Griffin Dieder Cobb, and a second Leroy Griffin (yes, there were two men with the same exact name) who later became Leroy Gomez , all sang together with other members: Walter Singleterry, Bill Emery, and Gomez's brother Thomas Griffin -- moving in and out of the lineup. The group performed on the street corners of New Haven, especially Webster and Dixon Streets, where Jimmy "Co Co" Tyson was asked to join the key lineup and soon they were a quintet.. The Nutmegs fragmented again and some of the members left to form a group of their own, the Lyres. The Gomez brothers formed the Four Haven Knights.
The group consisted of Leroy Gomez, Robert Johnson, Thomas Griffin, Everett Johnson and Carl Haley . In 1956, The Four Haven Knights signing a recording contract with Tommy Robinson's Atlas Records. The manaager Atlas Files show Robinson leased two missing Haven Knights's Sides to Buchanan and Goldman's Eldorado label in the fall of '56; unfortunately, no discs or tapes have ever surfaced. First single was a "In My Lonely Room" b/w "I'm Just A Dreamer" in July, 1957 (Later leased to Josie Records), followed by the poignant "Just To Be In Love" b/w "Why Go On Pretending?" in August 1958.
Tommy Robinson's Harlem-based Atlas Records didn't produce many national hits during its seven-year run in the '50s, but as an independent black-owned label that functioned as an integral part of the local community, it provided a model for later black-owned labels like Detroit's Motown Records. Robinson started Atlas in 1951 and initially recorded a series of saxophone-dominated R&B sides, but increasingly began featuring vocal groups, often with solid regional success. By the mid-'50s, Robinson focused more on his Angle Tone Records imprint, and Atlas was no longer an active label by 1958.
The Uniques : Rachel Longoria, Oralia Delgado, Dolores Delgado and Linda Rose Farias
The Uniques (5) (San Antonio,Texas)
Personnel :
Rachel Longoria
Oralia Delgado
Dolores Delgado
Linda Rose Farias
Discography :
1960 - Cradle Rock / Hey, Senorita (DBC 1233)
Biography :
Rachel Longoria is a rare female voice in San Antonio's early pop history. The Burbank High School choir singer made her mark with a Vocal group in 1957 named the Roulettes. The group consisted of Rachel Longoria, Rosemary Rodriguez, Margaret Klein, Sally Reyes and Yolanda Garibay. The Roulettes claim to be the first Latin American girl singing group in San Antonio. The girl have made appearances at the Harlandale Lions Club, At Tennage Party and at the Palm Heights Recreation Center.
The Roulettes : Rachel Longoria, Rosemary Rodriguez, Margaret Klein, Sally Reyes (Yolanda Garibay not on the picture)
They Appeard at The Arneson River Theatre talent Show and also auditioned for Scratch "Philips" Rock and Roll Show. Unfortunately, the group will not record and will split up. Rachel Longoria decides to form another group : the Uniques, a Shirelles-style girl group, in the late 1950s. The group consisted of Rachel , Oralia Delgado, Dolores Delgado and Linda Rose Farias.
Dolores Delgado, Rachel Longoria and Oralia Delgado
The Uniques recorded only one 45 — “Cradle Rock” and “Hey Señorita” — in Houston, the single will be released by the small label DBC in Shelbyville and San Antonio. The teenage act was one of the few Hispanic groups (With the Roulettes) that appeared on Albert “Scratch” Phillips' local TV and radio shows.
Singles : 1965 - On The Other Side Of The World / I Just Want To Know (Clarity 106) 1966 - Gone Away / Louie Louie (Clarity 108)
Unreleased: 1966 - Lucky Old Sun (demo) 1966 - You Make Me Feel So Good
Biography :
The Notations were a vocal group out of Bayonne, N.J. composed by Joseph Riccio (Lead), Tommy Zenda (Second Tenor), George "Tiny" Slivocka, and Raiph "Butch" Feuker (First Tenor). The Group performs locally and opened for groups like The Drifters and Duprees. In 1964, they recorded some demos in N.Y.C. 45s pressed on 78 vinyl..
Front Row : Tom Zenda, Raiph Feuker, George Slivocka and Joe Riccio.
Finally, in 1965 in the midst of the Vietnam War, The Notations recorded "On The Other Side Of The World" b/w "I Just Want To Know" released by the Clarity Records label out of Union City, New Jersey. In 1966 Clarity released their latest single with "Gone Away" and "Louie Louie"
Songs :
On The Other Side Of The World I Just Want To Know
1955 - San Antonio, Texas - A young teenage Darlene Love (top right) in a school group during the mid-1950's. At the time, Darlene was singing in her father's church. She also started joining glee clubs at school - Wheatley Junior High in San Antonio - and this group, "The Wailers," which sang at school assemblies.
Top : Buddy Scott, Ike HickMan and Howard (Seaphus) Scott Botom :Tommy Scott, Walter Scott & Charles Scott
The Masquerades (Chicago) aka The Masquarades aka The Five Masqueraders
Personnel :
Howard (Seaphus) Scott
Charles Scott
Tommy Scott
Ike HickMan
Jimmy Thompson
Discography :
Seaphus Scott & The Five Masqueraders 1958 - Summer Sunrise / Nature's Beauty (Joyce 303)
The Masquarades 1960 - The Whip / Fanessa (Boyd 1027)
The Masquerades 1960 - These Red Roses / Mister Man The Guitar Man (Formal 1012)
Unreleased :
N/A - Portia N/A - These Foolish Things N/A - Good Golly Miss Molly N/A - That's When Your Heartaches Begin
Biography :
The Masquerades were formed in 1957 as the Elpeccios and originally consisted of Howard, Charles, and Robert Scott, and cousin Jesse "Chico"Golden. Golden and Robert Scott soon dropped out, and in early 1958 the group reorganized as the Masquerades, consisting of Howard, Charles, and Tommie Scott, Jimmy Thompson, and Ike Hickman. Robert Scott entered the professional boxing ranks as a welterweight, fighting in the same stable as world junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins. The group went down to St. Louis to record two sides for Ike Turner on the Joyce label, "Summer Sunrise" backed with "Nature's Beauty." But nothing happened for the group.
The Masquerades were discovered by Entrepreneur Don Talty in 1958 singing in a North Side nightclub. At the time, the group consisted of Howard, Walter, Charles, and Tommie Scott, plus Ike Hickman and guitarist Howard Taylor. Jimmy Thompson had left the group to take up guitar, and years later would emerge as a well-respected Chicago blues performer Jimmy Johnson. Thompson changed his name to "Johnson" after his brother Syl had achieved fame as a soul singer under the name "Syl Johnson." The following year Buddy Scott replaced Taylor on guitar and the group came out with "The Whip" backed with "Fanessa" on the Boyd label. "The Whip" was intended to promote a dance and was considered the A side. Talty even had artwork done to show the dance steps, but nothing came of the record.
Howard (Seaphus) Scott
The Masquerades released "Mister Man" backed with "These Red Roses" in 1960 on the Formal label. No more records by the Masquerades were released for Talty. They continued on, and guitarists who worked for them in the following years included their old vocal mate, Jimmy Johnson, and his brother, Syl Johnson. Around 1963-64, the Masquerades called it quits as a vocal group, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes re-emerged as the Scott Brothers Band. Seaphus Howard Scott started a label called Al-Tog in Chicago working with several artists in the 1960s publishing several songs through his music publishing company (Scot-Tees Publishing Co.) and releasing them with record labels such as Numero One and Okeh!.
(l-r) Rod McBrien, Bob Musac, John Giametta and Benny Palmeri (bottom)
The Valrays (Long Island, N.Y.)



Personnel :

Rod McBrien
Benny Palmeri
Bob Musac
John Giametta
Discography:
1963 - Get Aboard / Pee Wee (Parkway 880) 1964 - Yo Me Pregunto / Tonky (Parkway 904) 1967 - I'm Walkin' Proud / It Hurts, Doesn't it Girl (United Artists 50145)
Biography :
John Giametta and Rod McBrien have been the best of friends for about many years, they were so close back in the early years of The Valrays, they joined the U. S. Coast Guard Reserves together under the "buddy plan." Some buddy plan! Rod went to boot camp two months before John did. But they did finish their tour of duty together because they were both in the Coast Guard Band.
Rod McBrien (top), John Giametta and Bob Musac
The Valrays released two singles for Parkway, the Beach Boys-flavored "Get A Board" and "Yo Me Pregunto (I Ask Myself)". "Yo Me Pregunto" made significant inroads into the charts. John Giametta had been influenced by Spanish music while playing at The Copa. The decision for Spanish lyrics was a result of that influence and Pete's dissatisfaction with the sound of the English words. Their first two singles as The Valrays on Cameo Parkway were written and produced by John Linde and Pete Antell.
1967 - Rod Mcbrien, Phil Tano, Johnny Giametta, and Meco Menardo
Phil Giarratano (Lead singer of the Escorts on Taurus) and Meco Menardo joined the group in 1967 after Palmeri and Music left the group. For their next release on United Artists Records, Rod McBrien and Johnny Giametta wrote "I'm Walkin' Proud" and "It Hurts, Doesn't it Girl" and Produced it. After this, they formed Salt Water Taffy. John and Rod also produced all releases by The Casualeers and Salt Water Taffy together, as well as writing almost all of the songs recorded.
The Velvets (3) 1959 - Everybody Knows / Hand Jivin' Baby (Plaid 101)
Jerry Sharell 1960 - Everybody Knows / That's My Business (Alanna 560)
Biography :
Jerry Stiftinger , sophomore radio-speech major from Farrell, Pa., is a member of the Velvets. He sings lead on "Everybody Knows", a ballad written by Ed Daniel, former “Velvet” who had to leave for the army. The flip side, “Hand Jivin’ Baby” is a rock ’n roll number written by Jim Repas, also a “Velvet” and a sophomore at Indiana State Teachers college. Besides being a member of the » “Velvets,” the 19-year-old baritone, whose stage name is Jerry Sharell, also works as a single. He sings on week-ends at the Pines nightclub in Youngstown with Lenny Esposito’s band. Jerry has won several variety shows, among them the Gene Carroll TV show in Cleveland. He has also made appearances in numerous other variety shows and has done radio and TV work in Cleveland, Youngstown, Farrell, and auditioned for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts in 1958. On the KSU campus, Jerry appeared as an in-between act at Pork Barrel and is on the WKSU-FM staff.
The Velvets were composed of five boys, all from Farrell, which organized five years ago, other members of are Bruce Williams, Lawrence Thomas, apd Steve Novosel, Youngstown university freshman. Cut early in January 1959, the record was released in February on the Plaid label. It has made the top 40 in Cleveland, according to KYW disc jockey, Wes Hopkins. It received a “B” rating in Cashbox magazine. It has also been the WAKR “Pick of the Week” hit. The record has been distributed in New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and later be distributed to DJ’s in other states. The following year Jerry Sharell re-recorded "Everybody Knows" b/w "That's My Business", released by Alanna Records.
The Techniques (Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA)
Personnel :
Buddy Harold (Lead)
Jim Tinney (First Tenor)
Jim Moore (Bass)
Jin Falin (Baritone)
Discography :
1957 - Hey! Little Girl / In A Round About Way (Stars 551 / Roulette 4030) 1958 - (Why Did I Ever) Let Her Go / Marindy (Roulette 4048) 1958 - Moon Tan / The Wisest Man in Town (Roulette 4097)
Biography :
Four Phil Sigma Kappa Fraternity brothers with time on their hands started singing "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing", slightly off keys and just for fun. Students passing by stopped to listen, and the Techniques had their first audition. A listener suggested the boys - Jim Moore, 22, Knoxville; Jim Falin, 21, Corcoran, Calif; Jim Tinney, 22, Greenville, SC., and Buddy Harold, 21, Louisville, Ky. - sing at rush parties. The boys agreed it would be a lark. Sosing they did.
That was in fall of ’55. a few weeks later the boys tagged themselves The Techniques, and sang their lucky song, "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing »,to win local talent contests. They appeared on local TV and Radio shows, including several telethons for charity. They got star billing on a tV afternoon show for three months.In July 1957, The Techniques decided to give up their singing and concentrate on their studies. Not that their grades were suffering noticeably, but, after all, they were singing just for fun. At his home in Knoxville, Buddy took "about three minutes" our to write down a song "just to see how it would sound."
When he returned to College, a classmate asked the Techniques to sing at a party. The Boys gathered in the library to rehearse, and sang Buddy’s song. They taped the tune "Just for the heck of it." Buddy thought a record of the song would make a nice keepsake, so he took it to a local recording studio. The manager, after listening to the tune, "doctored it a bit," with echoes and sound effects. Lowery produced a session with the techniques, with back up musicians Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, Joe South and Chet Atkins…. "He only charged what it cost to make the records," Buddy recalled, "but it took my last ten dollars to pay for it." That investment has paid off handsomely.
The songs Buddy wrote and the record his last ten dollars bought was "Hey Little Girl," one of the nation’s top hit in November 1957. Although they "thought it sounded pretty good," The Techniques didn’t fully appreciate the potential selling power of the record until their friend Jerry Vandeventer of WSB heard the song, played it over the air. A local music publisher went into action, released the record nationally on Roulette. Overnight, in New York, "Hey Little Girl" jumped "from nothing" to a listing among the top 20 tunes. On the heels of their triumph on American Bandstand, The Techniques opened at the Paramount theater in New York for a week’s engagement over the thanksgiving holidays. Roulette released two others singles in 1958, but "Hey Little Girl" is the only Billboard chart entry for the group.
The Del Royals (2) 1960 - Who Will Be The One / She's Gone (Minit 610) 1961 - Close To You / Got You On My Mind (Minit 620) 1961 - Always Naggin' / I Fell In Love With You (Minit 637)
Calvin Lee 1962 - Valley Of Tears / I'll Be Home (Wait And See) (Minit 655) 1963 - You / Daddy's Going Home (Minit 663)
Biography :
The Del Royals were not a working unit but merely an in-studio combination of Calvin Lee and Willie Harper. Their line-up featured Willie Harper, who became a virtual fixure on Minit's recording sessions, providing backing vocals to innumerable acts, as well as recording several singles on his own. Their sound was jaunty and filled with robust humor--"Always Naggin'" was a good representative track.
Benny Spellman Irma Thomas Both Calvin Lee and Willie Harper sang on the "Mother-in-Law" session along with bass singer Benny Spellman and Irma Thomas provided background vocal on a number of the Minit recordings. In fact the artists formed a miniature repertory group, singing on each other’s sessions and grouping around Toussaints’s piano in his parent’s house. Calvin LeBlanc cut a couple of solo 45s for the same company as Calvin Lee, including a jaunty version of Fats Domino's big hit “Valley Of Tears”.
Allen Toussaint
Minit Records was an American independent record label, originally based in New Orleans and founded by Joe Banashak in 1959. Ernie K. Doe, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, and Benny Spellman were early artists on the label. Later artist included Bobby Womack and Ike & Tina Turner. Allen Toussaint was responsible for much of the label's early success, he wrote, produced, arranged and played piano on a number of tracks.
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