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The Fairlanes (3) aka Cleo & Ramona King

Posted on December 14 2019 by dion1

Ramona King

The Fairlanes (3) (San Francisco, CA.)
aka Cleo & Ramona King

Personnel :

Ramona King

Cleo King

Lawrence Thibeaux

Elzie Walker

Discography :

The Fairlanes (3)
1961 - Playboy / Writing This Letter (Continental 26)

Cleo & Ramona King
1961 - Dream On / Soulmate (Arvee 5041)

Biography :

Although she recorded for several other outlets, San Francisco-based Ramona King is best known for the singles she released on Lee Hazlewood's Eden label in 1962-63 and on Warner Bros in 1964-65. "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" , the first of her four Warners 45s, had all the makings of a hit record, but unfortunately went on sale the same month as the version by the better known Betty Everett, which made the Top 10. Before leaving for a solo career in 1962, Ramona King was a member of The Fairlanes of San Francisco, Ca. They recorded the Hit song "Writing This Letter" b/w "Playboy" both written by Ramona. The group consisted of, Ramona King, brother's Cleo King, Lawrence Thibeaux and Elzie Walker. Ramona & Cleo recorded "Dream On" b/w "Soulmate" released by Arvee Records.

Songs :

The Fairlanes (3)

Playboy Writing This Letter

Cleo & Ramona King

Dream On Soulmate

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The Boyd Twins

Posted on December 13 2019 by dion1

The Boyd Twins

The Boyd Twins (Hammond, Indiana)

Personnel :

Jane knoerzer

Joan knoerzer

Discography :

1960 - You're Shedding Crocodile Tears / Without You, Baby (Lark 500)

Biography :

The Boyd Twins were Jayne and Joan knoerzer from Hammond, Indiana. They started singing and dancing lessons at the age of three and were charter members of Gamma Phi Beta's chapter at Indiana University in 1957. Their singing career started back in high school in Hammond, Indiana, where they won several amateur singing contests, were guests on WLS radio, and made a recording at the age of 17. Modeling was a sideline with the twins. At Indiana University, they majored in Music and Drama and were members of the Belles of Indiana, a singing group of 60 girls. Following a USO tour to the Caribbean with the Belles, Jayne and Joan spent the summer of 1957 as the Toni Twins.

The Boyd Twins

The following summer they played in an Indianapolis summer theatre, and the fall found them in Chicago seeking a career in the entertainment field. Their first professional radio program was in January 1959 on "The Music Wagon," a CBS presentation. Auditioning later for the Wrigley company advertisers ,they were selected as the Doublemint Twins to do all radio and TV commercials for Doublemint gum. They also do a network radio show six times a week called, "Double Your Pleasure." In 1960, The girls with Remo Biondi, who made the rhythm acc. cut "You're Shedding Crocodile Tears" b/w "Without You, Baby" released on the tiny label Lark.

Songs :

?

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The Lavenders (2)

Posted on December 13 2019 by dion1

The Lavenders (2)

The Lavenders (2) (Camden, PA.)

Personnel :

Cal Tilley (Lead)

Brent Edwards

Leon Huff

Kelvin Nesmith

Buster Williams (Bass)

Discography :

The Lavenders (2)
1961 - Slide / Angel (CR 1003)
1961 - That Lucky Old Sun / Cool It Down (CR 1005)

Brent Edwards
1962 - Time After Time / Satin Doll (Karen 57)
1963 - Pride / Over The Weekend (Karen 60)

Biography :

After one single with his Overbrook High School group, Dale & The Cashmeres on the tiny label Matt Records, Lead singer Brent Edwards joined another group fronted by future legendary Leon Huff. Leon Huff, born April 8, 1942 and raised here on Ferry Avenue, was exposed to music through his mother, who played piano and organ in Camden for the 19th Street Baptist Church choir. Huff participated in several Camden "doo-wop" groups, including the Dynaflows, which auditioned for Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour. Leon Huff was the piano player.

The Lavenders (2)
The Dynaflows with Leon Huff (piano)

With some personnel changes the group evolved into The Lavenders. In 1962 songwriter/record producer John Madara visited a club in West Philadelphia. There was the Lavenders and the piano player was Leon Huff. ohn Madara was so impressed with Leon that he invited him to play on some of his and partner, Dave White's, productions. John and Dave's offices were in the Shubert Building in Philadelphia. The Shubert building, like the Brill Building in New York, housed some of the most successful songwriters and artists in the business -- Linda Creed, Thom Bell and an unknown at the time by the name of Kenny Gamble, who worked with record producer Jerry Ross.

The Lavenders (2)
Leon Huff Brent Edwards

JHuff’s Earliest recordings happened with the Lavenders. The group recorded "Slide" b/w "Angel" (CR 1003) and was an early Jerry Ross production of a song written by his partner Murray Wetch. “The Slide,” which was typical of the dance fad genre so popular during that era, was a commercial failure, but it is a fine anticipatory example of Huff’s rollicking, staccato-like boogie-woogie piano groove. Huff teamed with Kenny Gamble to become one of the most prolific songwriting teams in Rock ‘n’ Roll history.

The Lavenders (2)
Gamble and Huff

Huff traveled regularly to between Philadelphia and New York City, becoming a well-known figure on the recording studio scene in Manhattan, and becoming acquainted with a host of major league songwriter/producers, such as Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and Phil Spector. After leaving the Lavenders in 1962, Brent Edwards recorded "Time After Time" b/w "Satin Doll" for Karen Records, a label formed in Philadelphia in April 1962 by Ed Barsky who ran a local distribution firm. In 1963, he is still with Madara & White for his second single on the label with "Pride" b/w "Over The Weekend".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Lavenders (2)

Angel                                                  Slide


That Lucky Old Sun                               Cool It Down

Brent Edwards

Pride Over The Weekend

…

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Tony & The Daydreams

Posted on December 8 2019 by dion1

Tony & The Daydreams (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Anthony "Tony" Polemeni (Lead)

Richard Walters

Paulie (Piano)

Donny (Sax)

Nicky (Guitar)

Frankie (Drums)

Discography :

Tony & The Daydreams
1959 - Why Don't You Be Nice / I’ll Never Tell (Planet 1009)
1959 - Christmas Lullaby / Hand In Hand (Planet 1054)
1961 - Hand In Hand / I’ll Never Tell (Planet 1055)

Tony & The Day Dreams
1958 - Back In School (Demo)
1958 - Judy (Demo)

The Day Dreamers
1958 - I’ll Never Tell (Demo)
1958 - West Bound Train (Demo)

Ceasar & Anthony "Tony"
1958 - You Know I Love You (Demo)
1958 - Dip Dip (Demo)

Biography :

Vocal & Instrumental group from Brooklyn consisted of Anthony "Tony" Polemeni, Richard Walters, Paulie, Donny, Nicky and Frankie. Anthony Polemeni was part of Ideals, a local instrumental group. Tony & The Daydreams had been gaining experience performing at local venues.

Tony & The Daydreams

Tony & The Daydreams recorded many demos before they can pretend to record a single. "Why Don't You Be Nice" and "I’ll Never Tell " were finally recorded and the sides were quickly picked up for release by Planet, a small New York City label.

Early Daydreams : Frankie, Paulie, Donny and Tony Tony & The Daydreams

This small label was the first to release the first two titles of a new Queens band whose name their name was taken from the Lincoln Capri : The Capris. The songs were "There's a Moon out Tonight" and Indian Girl". Unfortunatly for Planet, it was not able to effectively promote the record and it became an almost instant obscurity. Planet The label will bet on Tony & The Daydreams and release several singles that unfortunately will not break the New York market.

Songs :

Tony & The Daydreams

Christmas Lullaby                               Hand In Hand


   I’ll Never Tell                               Why Don't You Be Nice

Back In School

Ceasar & Anthony "Tony"

You Know I Love You

...

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The Five Shillings

Posted on December 8 2019 by dion1

The Five Shillings

The Five Shillings (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

 Personnel :

John Tierney (Tenor)

Jimmy Clancy (High Lyric Tenor)

Teddy Whitley (High Lyric Tenor)

Dennis Walton (Baritone & Bass)

Melvin Walton (Baritone & Bass)

Discography :

Single :
1958 - Letter To An Angel / The Snake (Decca 30722)
Unreleased :
1958 - Well, Come On, Baby (Decca) 

Biography :

 The 4 Velvetones were from Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1957, they were composed by John Tierney (tenor), Jimmy Clancy (high lyric tenor), Teddy Whitley (high lyric tenor), and Dennis Walton (baritone and bass). An integrated group, John and Jimmy were Irish; Teddy and Dennis were black. Another was Dennis' brother, Melvin. He could also sing baritone and bass, but was usually content to write songs for them and try his hand at managing the group. In January 1958, they drove down to New York City and started hanging out on Broadway. Bill Ross who heard them , introduced them to Kay Toomey, who became their manager. She, in turn, took them to Marty Wilson at Decca Records. They auditioned with "Two Hearts In Love" (which Melvin had written and which they expected big things from); he didn't like it at all. But that didn't stop Mel; he whipped up "Letter To An Angel" and that was more like it. In March 31, 1958. The 4 Velvetones went to the Decca studios to record at least three songs: "Letter To An Angel," "The Snake," and "Well, Come On, Baby" . Teddy Whitley was supposed to lead "Letter To An Angel," but he couldn't get the part just right. So at the last minute, Mel Walton became part of the group and led his own composition. Since there were now five, Decca decided to rename them, choosing the "5 Shillings." The guys weren't particularly enthused with the name, but went along with it. The 5 Shillings appeared on Dave Maynard's TV show on WBZ-TV, on Bob Clayton's "Boston Ballroom" over WHDH-TV, and Bob Still's show in New York.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/5Shillings/5shillings.html

Songs :

Letter To An Angel The Snake

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The Corvells (2) aka The Fortunes (4)

Posted on December 7 2019 by dion1

The Corvells (2) aka The Fortunes (4)
Top : Charlie Angelo & Terry Jordan - Bottom : Patsy Cummings & Clyde Lewis

The Corvells (2) (Queens, New York)
aka The Fortunes (4)

Personnel :

Patsy Cummings (Lead)

Terry Jordan

Charlie Angelo

Clyde Lewis

Discography :

The Corvells (2)
1963 - The Jokes On Me / One (Is Such A Lonely Number) (Cub 9122)

The Fortunes (4)
1963 - The Ghoul In School / You Don't Know (What I've Been Through) (Cub 9123)

Biography :

Mixed Vocal group from Richmond Hill High School in the Queens, composed by Patsy Cumming, Terry Jordan, Charlie Angelo and Clyde Lewis. The group have sung in many School dance in New York before being noticed and participating in Tv performance in Baltimore & Washington DC.

The Corvells (2) aka The Fortunes (4)

March 8, 1963, the Corvells recorded four songs in the MGM Studios, "The Jokes On Me", "One (Is Such A Lonely Number)", "The Ghoul In School" and "You Don't Know". A month later, Cub Records, an MGM Subsidiary released the four tracks on two singles, The first as the Corvells, and for not releasing two disks of the same group at the same time, the second will be under the name of the Fortunes.

Songs :

The Corvells (2)

The Jokes On Me / One (Is Such A Lonely Number)

The Fortunes (4)

You Don't Know The Ghoul In School

...

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The Sonars

Posted on December 6 2019 by dion1

The Sonars (Cocoa, Fl.)

Personnel :

Tom Morley (Lead))

Ken Holmes (Guitarist)

Iris Morley

Caren McPherson

Discography :

1961 - Who's That Knocking / Ramblin' Man (instr.) (Vulco 2)

The Sonars (

Biography :

The Sonars : Ken Holmes, Tom and Iris Morley are graduates of Michigan State university. Ken Holmes is the group Guitarist. Tom Morley is also a deejay at WKKO. With Caren McPherson, a graduate of Florida State, The Group have recorded "Who's That Knocking" " and "Ramblin' Man" released by Vulco Records owned by Irv Vulgamore in Fort Pierce, FL.

Songs :

Ramblin' Man (instrumental)

...

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Del & The Escorts (3)

Posted on December 3 2019 by dion1

Del & The Escorts (3) (New York)

Personnel :

Harriet Della Casa (Lead)

Ken Kerwin

A. Calandrillo

Discography :

Single :
1961 - Someone To Watch Over Me / Baby Doll (Rome 103)
Unreleased :
1961 - Thief Of Love (Rome)
1961 - Something (Rome)

Biography :

Trade Martin worked with Johnny Power in the late 1950s, recording as Johnny & the Jokers and together launching the label Rome Records, active from 1960 to 1962. The label signed the groups The Earls, The Glens and Del & the Escorts . On many of these recordings, Martin played all of the backing instruments, overdubbing them track by track. Del & the Escorts was composed by Harriet Della Casa "Del", Ken Kerwin and A. Calandrillo. The group will record several pieces and finally "Someone To Watch Over Me" b/w "Baby Doll" will be released by Rome in september 1961.

Songs :

Someone To Watch Over Me Baby Doll

Thief Of Love / Something

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The Reminiscents (2)

Posted on November 30 2019 by dion1

The Reminiscents on Marcel

The Reminiscents (2) (Lyndhurst, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Angelo Naviello (Lead)

Judy Steinhart (First Tenor)

Walter Kritsky (Second Tenor)

Bob Sibilio (Baritone)

John Costa (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1964 - Oh Let Me Dream / Zoom Zoom Zoom (Day 1000)
1966 - Cards Of Love / Flames (Marcel 1000)
Acappella :
1966 - Oh Let Me Dream (Marcel)
1966 - Hey You (Marcel)

Biography :

Danny Marcella and Jim Day (Producer off the Reminiscents' Marcel and Day labels) with Bill Maddocks and George Hamburger from Lyndhurst were some of the original members of The Reminiscents and probably the members who recorded the first single in 1963 - "Oh Let Me Dream" b/w "Zoom Zoom Zoom". In 1964/65 Danny Marcella discovered a group singing on their school steps. The group have sung in many School dance in their Area before signing a recording contract with Danny. They are from Lyndhurst and consisted of Angelo Naviello (Lead), John Costa (Bass), Judy Steinhart (1st Tenor), Walter Kritsky (2nd Tenor) and Bob Sibilio (Baritone). The Group recorded "Cards Of Love" b/w "Flames" .Danny Marcella and Jim Day released the single on their Marcel label under the name of The Reminiscents.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Cards Of Love                                         Flames


Oh Let Me Dream                         Zoom Zoom Zoom


               Hey You                     Oh Let Me Dream (acapella)

...

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The Reminiscents (1)

Posted on November 30 2019 by dion1

The Reminiscents (1)

The Reminiscents (1) (Newark, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Paul Whistler (Lead)

Edward “Jukebox” Pasterczyk

Rocco Galante

Danny Buckley

Discography :

1964 - For Your Love / Please Lie To Me (Cleopatra 104)

Biography :

In 1961, a Newark’s semi-delinquent gang of eighteen year olds singing to impress the girls who clustered there: Edward “Jukebox” Pasterczyk, Rocco Galante, Danny Buckley, and later Paul Whistler. Rocco Galante was part of the Pageants who recorded in 1961 "Saturday Romance" b/w "Make You My Queen" on the Du-Well label. “Jukebox” started the whole thing, Everybody always called him Jukebox, never called him Eddie.” Pasterczyk had earned this nickname in a very literal way—by harmonizing with the jukeboxes at the car hop before the group formed.

The Reminiscents (1)
Tommy Falcone      Rocco Galante with the Pageants (Center)

Caught in a fateful traffic jam, a frustrated Tommy Falcone (owner of Cleopatra Records) rolled down his window only hear "Jukebox" harmonizing with friends on a Newark street corner. He was so impressed with the doo-wopping sound that he signed "Jukebox" on the spot— and the Reminiscents became the very first single released on Cleopatra Records. With the business established, Falcone took the Reminiscents into the studio in 1963 to cut the exuberantly bouncing “For Your Love” with Paul Whistler on lead b/w “Please Lie to Me.” It charted locally, bringing the group no small amount of Jersey fame and sent them out on the road.

Songs :


For Your Love                                   Please Lie To Me

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