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

Andre Williams & His New Group (2)

Posted on October 6 2019 by dion1

(L to R) : Steve Gaston, Bobby Calhoun, Andre Williams, "One" Riff McGriff (Guitar), Jay Johnson & Geno Parks

Andre Williams & His New Group (2) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Andre Williams (Lead)

Gino Purifoy "Geno Parks"(Tenor)

Steve Gaston (Second Tenor)

Bobby Calhoun (Baritone)

Jay Johnson (Bass)

Discography :

Andre Williams & His New Group (2)
1956 - Bacon Fat /Just Because Of A Kiss (Fortune 831/ Epic 9196)

Andre Williams bb His New Group (2)
1957 - You Are My Sunshine / Mean Jean (Fortune 834)

Biography :

Prior to "Village of Love," Fortune's biggest-selling record was likely "Bacon Fat" (Fortune 831 and Epic 9196, late 1956) by Andre Williams and His New Group, which featured Williams' proto-rap over a sleazy, bluesy arrangement. "Bacon Fat" (the name of the song refers to a dance) reached No. 9 R&B on the Billboard chart in early 1957 after it was leased to Columbia's Epic subsidiary for national distribution. According to the research of Marv Goldberg, who has interviewed many of the people involved, Bacon Fat did not lead to fame and fortune for all of its participants. For the singing group The 5 Dollars, for whom Andre was supposedly a nominal fifth member, and who had written the tune and sung the backing vocals, it threw fat on the fire in their relationship with Fortune.

Andre Williams & His New Group (2)

When the record actually was released, it was no longer Andre Williams and The Five Dollars (or even 'The Don Juans', the pseudonym Andre had encouraged them to adopt for some of their recordings and shows - wearing handkerchief masks) but Andre Williams & His New Group - and the backing voices were somebody else. They belonged to another Detroit group, The Dexatones with Steve Gaston (second tenor), Bobby Calhoun (baritone), and Jay Johnson (bass). The other member of the "New Group" was Andre's friend, Gino Purifoy "Geno Parks". The New Group made several appearances with Andre, including the Flamingo Club in Memphis, and some gigs in Cleveland.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/5Dollars/5dollars.html

Songs :


Just Because Of A Kiss                               Bacon Fat


You Are My Sunshine                              Mean Jean

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The Pages

Posted on October 5 2019 by dion1

L to R : Charles McLeod, Phil Smith, David Pullias, Hal McGlothlin, Jerry Haynes, Reford Schmitton & Billy Lyon

The Pages (Abilene, TX)

Personnel :

Hal McGlothlin (Vocal)

David Pullias (Vocal)

Phil Smith (Vocal)

Billy Lyon (Vocal)

Charles McLeod (Guitar)

Reford Schmitton (Guitar)

Edwin George (Sax Bass)

Discography :

The Pages
1958 - Donna Marie / Wind (Eagle 1005 / Don Tan 001)

Gene Morris & The Pages
1957 - Lovin Honey / I've Got A Love (Edmoral 1012/Vik 287)

Biography :

The Pages came together in the fall of 1956 and were different than most other ACC groups as they also included instrumentation. Group members included vocalists Hal McGlothlin, David Pullias, Phil Smith, and Billy Lyon, guitarists Charles McLeod and Reford Schmitton, and Edwin George on sax and "bass fiddle".

The Pages
L to R : Reford Schmitton, Ed George, Billy Lyon, Phil Smith, Hal McGlothlin and David Pullias

By early 1957 the group had managed enough local clout to be called on to back local rockabilly Gene Morris on his first trip in to a studio. In April of of 1957 Edmoral 1012 by Gene Morris with the Pages featuring "I've Got a Love" and "Lovin' Honey" was released.

In early 1958 the Pages were invited to Dallas for a recording session with Chuck Edwards of Eagle Records. The masters were quickly shipped to Monarch in LA. Released in the Spring of 1958, Eagle 1005 featured two compositions from Pages guitarist Charles McLeod "Donna Marie" b/w "Wind".

http://lonestarstomp.blogspot.com.es/2010/11/wild-rock-n-rollers-from-abilene.html

Songs :

The Pages


Donna Marie                                                Wind

Gene Morris & The Pages


I've Got A Love                                 Lovin Honey

….

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The El-Lanos

Posted on October 5 2019 by dion1

The El-Lanos (New Haven, Conn.)
aka The Five Chestnuts
aka The Chestnuts (2)

Personnel :

Ruby Whittaker (Lead)

Lyman Hopkins (First tenor)

Frank Hopkins (Second Tenor)

Jimmy Curtis (Baritone)

Reuben White (Bass)

Discography :

1989 - I Wonder Why / In Mexico (Crescent 200)

Biography :

"I Wonder Why" b/w " In Mexico" was an unreleased acetate who Stevie Dunham purchased in New Haven, CT, in 1988. Probably recorded in 1956-57. It is speculated this group was the Five Chestnuts (Chestnuts) from New Haven, CT. Stevie Dunham's partners at the time did not want to use the Five Chestnuts on the issue of this 45 and left it up to steve to put a name to an acetate that only listed song titles but no group name. So he christened it The El-Lanos. The record was released on Crescent, in July of 1989.

Songs:
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

I Wonder Why / In Mexico

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The Hamptones

Posted on October 5 2019 by dion1

The Hamptones : Gonzales Garner, Stanley Mitchell, Joe Mars & Frank Holt

The Hamptones

Personnel :

Stanley Mitchell

Gonzales Garner

Joe Mars

Frank Holt

Biography :

Stanley Mitchell was born February 10th 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Upon graduation from Highland Park High School in 1955, Stanley joined his first group the Cherokons. Through regular performances at local talent shows Of which they won their fair share the group was eventually brought to the attention of Lionel Hampton. Under the auspices of Hampton the group changed their name to the Hamptones. The other group members were Frank Holt, Joe Mars and Gonzales Gardner. In 1957 Stanley left the Hamptones to form his own group, Stanley Mitchell & the Tornados.

...

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The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates

Posted on October 4 2019 by dion1

The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates

The Playmates (2) (Newark, NJ.)
aka The Three Playmates

Personnel :

Gwen Brooks

Lucille Beatty

Alma Beatty

Discography :

The Playmates (2)
1957 - It Must Be Love / Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong ‎(Savoy 1523)

The Three Playmates
1957 - Sugah Wooga / Lovey Dovey Pair (Savoy 1528)
1958 - Give Your Love To Me / (Do-oo, Do-oo) I Dreamed (Savoy 1537)

Biography :

The 3 girls from Newark, New Jersey (sisters Lucille and Alma Beatty and Gwen Brooks) only ever had 3 singles released in the late 1950s for Savoy Records, a label launched in Newark in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky, and had just one of them make any of the national charts. Their first release was the summer 1957 Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong (not the same song as one released with that title in 1956 by Freddie Bell & The Bell Boys for Mercury's Wing subsidiary) b/w It Must Be Love on Savoy 1523 billed as The Playmates (Alma, Gwen, Lucille). It failed to chart, although Savoy arranger Ernie Wilkins certainly provided them with quality backing, using tenor saxophonists Jerome Richardson and George Barrow, baritone saxophonist Budd Johnson, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Sam Price, bassist Joe Benjamin and drummer Bobb Donaldson. They appeared on Savoy at the same time Roulette's guys put out their first single.

The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates

For their follow-up Sugah Wooga the label assembled tenor saxophonist Buddy Lucas, organist Bobby Banks, bassist Leonard Gaskin and an unidentified orchestra and this time, to avoid record store/juke box label confusion with the all-male quartet The Playmates, they were billed as The Three Playmates (Lucille, Alma, Gwen) and in March 1958 it peaked at # 89 Billboard Pop Top 100 on Savoy 1528 b/w Lovey Dovey Pair. For some reason, however, it made no impact whatsoever on the R&B charts despite the facts Savoy was designed mainly to appeal to that market and the arrangement was so close to that of the 1957 R&B/Pop smash Little Bitty Pretty One by Thurston Harris. Their only other single, also billed as The Three Playmates (Alma, Lucille, Gwen), was (Do-Oo, Do-Oo) I Dreamed b/w Give Your Love To Me on Savoy 1537 later in 1958 and, with the same backing musicians as their first effort (it was actually recorded in July 1957), it failed to chart.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Playmates (2)


Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong               It Must Be Love

The Three Playmates


Lovey Dovey Pair                               Sugah Wooga


Give Your Love To Me                                  I Dreamed

...

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The Spectors Three

Posted on October 1 2019 by dion1

Phil Spector, Rickie Page & Russ Titelman

The Spectors Three (Los Angeles, CA)

Personnel :

Phil Spector (guitar, vocals)

Rickie Page (vocals)

Russ Titelman (guitar)

Discography :

1959 - I Really Do / I Know Why (Trey 3001)
1960 - Mr. Robin / My Heart Stood Still (Trey 3005)

Biography :

After the split of the Teddy Bears in 1959, Spector's career quickly moved from performing and songwriting to production. While recording the Teddy Bears's album, he had met Lester Sill, a former promotion man who was a mentor to Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. His next project, the Spectors Three, was undertaken under the aegis of Sill and his partner, Lee Hazlewood. The singers were a young musician friend called Russ Titelman, a female session singer named Ricky Page, and Spector himself; the backing track was minimal. Unable to use the Teddy Bears’name, he put out under the name of the Spectors Three.

The Spectors Three

When they lip-synched on a Los Angeles television show, there was no sign of Spector: Titelman was joined by his girlfriend, Annette Merar, and another friend, Warren Entner. The public, however, failed to be impressed, and it made no impression. The B- side, 'I Know Why', featured Phil's double-tracked vocal set against Page's ' heavenly' soprano wail. The record was released on Trey, a Hazlewood-Sill label distributed by Atlantic. The Spectors Three subsequently cut one more record, 'My Heart Stood Still', but that was a flop, too. It marked the end of Spector's career as a singer, although in 1959 he cut a pleasant instrumental called 'Bumbershoot', playing guitar with LA sessionmen, including an unimpressed Howard Roberts, for Imperial, under the name Phil Harvey.

Songs :


I Really Do                                     I Know Why


Mr. Robin                                       My Heart Stood Still

...

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The Faces

Posted on September 29 2019 by dion1

The Faces

The Faces (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Philip Vitale

Johnny Vitale

Nicky Vitale

Joseph R. De Biaso (aka Joe Edan)

Discography :

1963 - Christmas / New Year's Resolution (Iguana 601)
1965 - Skier Jones / What Is This Dream (I Have) (Regina 1326)
1965 - I'll Walk Alone / I Didn't Want Her (Regina 1328)

Biography :

Vocal group from Downtown Brooklyn with Philip, Johnny and Nicky Vitale along with their cousin Joseph R. De Biaso (aka Joe Edan). They all live in the Gowanus Projects at 175 Hoyt St.. They were a talented Italian American vocal group group. Carol Blades who sang with the Harptones lived in same building and practiced harmony with them. Their Iguana Record "Christmas" b/w "New Year's Resolution" is little known for their two great sides. They recorded two other singles for Regina Records.

Songs :


   I'll Walk Alone                               New Year's Resolution


   Christmas                                       I Didn't Want Her

What Is This Dream I Have

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The Co-Hearts

Posted on September 29 2019 by dion1

The Co-Hearts (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Doris Williamson

Dorothy Williamson

Earl Forman

Jerry ?

Discography :

1958 - My Love / Cry Baby (Vee Jay 289)

Biography :

Vocal group from north Philadelphia. "My love" b/w "Cry Baby" is the only 45 this group made. The singers were twin sisters Doris and Dorothy Williamson, also Earl Forman, and Jerry last name unknown. They all are from north Philadelphia. The song was released in 1958.

The Co-Hearts
Doris Williamson

The Co-hearts were produced by Harold Nussbaum (also known as Hal Norton) and William Goldstein (owners of Norgolde Records in Philly) , the same two gents who produced the Buccaneers on Southern and the Re-Vels on Chess. The Co-hearts appeared many times in the late 50's on the same card as the Guytones.

Songs :

My Love Cry Baby

...

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The Vilons

Posted on September 29 2019 by dion1

The Vilons

The Vilons (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Bobby Alvarez (lead)

John Pagar (Tenor)

Santos Torres (Second Tenor)

Louis Torres (Baritone)

Cesare Pagan (Bass)

Discography :

First Group
1962 - What Kind Of Fool Am I? / Let Me In Your Life (Lake 713)
1963 - Mother Nature / Lone Stranger (Aljon 1259 / 1260)

Second Group
1972 - Angel Darling / Wish She Was Wine (Bim Bam Boom 104)
1973 - Tears On My Pillow / Sweetest One (Vintage 1011)

Biography :

It all started in the Farragut housing projects in Brooklyn. Five Young Men - Bobby Alvarez (lead), John Pagar (Tenor), Santos Torres (Second Tenor), Louis Torres (Baritone) and Cesare Pagan (Bass) - began to harmonize on rooftops and in hallways. Being convinced theta they were ready to go professional and record, they went looking for help. John, leader of the group, found an address of a record company on a Aljon disc and since it wasn't far away from their homes they decided to check it out. At Aljon they found Al Browne. Together with Al's Musical accompaniment they cut several sides.

The group personnel remained intact during their brief recording career accept with Carlos Infante of the Zircons filling in on bass several times. The group broke up in the mid '60s. Of this masters, two records were originally released: "What Kind Of Fool Am I ?" b/w "Let Me In Your Life" on Lake (Which Al Browne ran with Partner Ernest Kelley) in 1962 and "Mother Nature" b/w "Lone Stranger" on Aljon in 1963. The Original version of "Mother Nature", as the original of "Lone Stranger", was first recorded by the Del Counts on Al Browne's Rose label. Relic re-issued "Mother Nature" in 1964 and it remained in print for over twenty years.

Al Browne (Piano) with his band

Here's the complete story on the 2nd Vilons group (by Tony D'Ambrosio). In 1971, Al Browne reformed the Vilons; the only remaining original member was Lead Singer Bobby Alvarez. The rest of the group consisted of Donny Myles, Sonny Benton, Sal Mondrone and Luther Van Dross. Luther Van Dross was Al's nephew and younger brother of original Crests' member Patricia Van Dross. These were some of the earliest recordings that Luther Vandross appeared on. He became a "super-star" whose highly successful career endured until his death in 2005.

Donny Myles and Sonny Benton were former members of many groups including the Billy Dawn Quartet, the Heralds, and the Four Dukes. Sal Mondrone was a DJ on NYC radio stations WHBI-FM (early 1970s) and WFUV-FM (1980s). He was also the Baritone Lead Singer of the legendary Sparrows Quartette. In 1971, the reformed Vilons recorded 4 sides for Al, at C & S Studios on Linden Blvd in Brooklyn (NY). Two were sold to Bim Bam Boom (for $50) and released on that label in 1972. The other 2 were sold to Record Exchanger (for $50) and were released on their Vintage label in 1973.

Songs :

What Kind Of Fool Am I? Mother Nature Lone Stranger

Let Me In Your Life Tears On My Pillow

Angel Darling Sweetest One Wish She Was Mine

…..

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The Martels (1)

Posted on September 28 2019 by dion1

The Martels

The Martels (1) (Nashville, TN)
(Thanks to Chuck Bowersock)

Personnel :

Doug McDonald

Lucien Anderson

Luther Weathers

Bob Bowersock

Discography :

1959 - Where Did My Woman Go / Teacher Don't Keep Me In (Nasco 6026)

Biography :

The Grads were a young male quartet who were chosen in August 1958 as the "Discovery of the Years" of the Nashville Tennessean's 1958. Chosen by three expert judges in competition among 16 other top musicians and musical groups, The Grads will be the feature of the final concert of the season.

The Martels
1958 - The Grads (Front ) Bob Bowersock, and Bruce Carillon (accompanist) (Rear) Luther Weathers, Lucien Anderson and Doug McDonald

The Grads smothered their opposition under an avalanche of musical notes with their performance of "Silhouettes" in the initial audition and in the finals, "Teacher, Don't" composed by one of their own number, Lucien Anderson. The group is made up of Lucien Anderson, 21, of Hendersonville; Luther Weathers, 25, of 311 Thuss ave.in Nashville; Bob Bowersock, 22 of 1111 Grandview ave.in Nashville; and Doug McDonald, 26, of 519 Southgate ave. in Nashville.

Bob Bowersock, Lucien Anderson, Luther Weathers, Doug McDonald

The Boys met while still in school. Weathers, Bowersock and Anderson attended David Lipscomb college and McDonald was at middle Tennessee State College and Vanderbilt University. They sang with different groups while in school. They went to New York to appears on the "Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour" November 2,1958. The quartet sang "Old Man River" and have changed their name to the Martels. Doug Taylor replaced Bob Bowersock who returned to Atlanta.

The Martels : Lucien Anderson, Doug Taylor, Bruce Carillon (accompanist) Luther Weathers and Doug McDonald.

The Martels cut their first single with "Where Did My Woman Go" and "Teacher Don't Keep Me In" released by Nasco in April 1959. The Nasco label was formed in 1957, a subsidiary of Nashboro Records founded in 1951 by Nashville-based record store owner Ernie Young as an outlet for rhythm and blues and rock and roll.

The Martels

Videos :

Old Man River (Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour)

Songs :

Teacher Don't Keep Me In Where Did My Woman Go

...

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