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

"J" & the Sabers (2) aka The Classmen (2)

Posted on September 25 2019 by dion1

Recording Session with Allen, Goode & Zaphirio

"J" & the Sabers (2) (Chicago, Il.)
aka The Classmen (2)

Personnel :

Harry "Jay" Allen (Lead)

Bob Goode

Pete Zaphirio

Discography :

"J" & the Sabers (2)
Single:
1962 - Little One / Twist Mary Sue (VavRay 1003)
Unreleased:
1962 - Take Me Back (Vavray)
1962 - Everything (Vavray)

The Classmen (2)
1963 - Love Is Gone / My Special Angel (Limelight 3012)
1964 - All Time Fool / Do You Wanna Dance (Limelight 3016)

Biography :

"J" & the Sabers were a vocal trio from Chicago consisted of Harry "Jay" Allen, Bob Goode, Pete Zaphirio. In 1962, the group did four tunes during Record session at CBS studios: "Little One", "Twist Mary Sue", "Take Me Back" and "Everything".

(L to R) Bob Goode, Harry "Jay" Allen and Pete Zaphirio with Vavray promotion manager Bob O'Halloran

The Songs "Little One" / "Twist Mary Sue" are released for VavRay in Chicago. "J" & the Sabers made many appearances at the local area clubs .

"J" & the Sabers (2) aka The Classmen (2)
The Classmen

In 1963, The group added Ray Karnatz and recorded two singles for Limelight records. "Love Is Gone" b/w "My Special Angel and "All Time Fool" b/w "Do You Wanna Dance" the next year

Songs :

"J" & the Sabers (2)


Little One                                      Twist Mary Sue

The Classmen (2)


Love Is Gone                                 My Special Angel

….

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The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Firesiders aka The Impacts (3)

Posted on September 20 2019 by dion1

The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

The Firesiders (Niagara Falls, NY)
aka The Vel-Tones (2)
aka The Impacts (3)

Personnel :

Calvin 'Cal' Briggs

Neal Davis

Ernie Vendetti

Emilio Giondomenico

Discography :

The Vel-Tones (2)
1958 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (Coy 101)
1959 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (different take) (Kapp 268)

The Firesiders
1961 - (I'll Remember) One And All / No Ones Cares For Me (Swan 4074)

The Impacts (3)
1964 - Take My Love / Where Are You Going (PEH 7345/7346)

Biography :

In 1958, the thought that there could one day be a "Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame" couldn't be anything but a teenage joke. Except for Elvis Presley and a handful of others, R&R was played by kids, for kids, and no one expected it to be more than that. Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry were great but existed in another world - on the radio or TV. The way youngsters experienced R&R was through the local teen combo. Every town or high school or parish had its band. Some were better than others, some could be local stars for awhile after they'd performed at a dance or hop - but for the most part they were just kids from the neighborhood, whose celebrity quickly faded.

If you lived in Niagara Falls in the late 1950s the Vel-Tones were that group. Though their story is a little different. They may not be well-remembered now but they were able to have records released on two national labels and have a career that carried them through the glory days of R&R. Another thing that was unusual was their interracial makeup which is reflected in their eclectic mix of R&R, R&B, DooWop and Rockabilly sounds. Calvin 'Cal' Briggs, Ernie Vendetti, Neal Davis and Emilio Giondomenico recorded two sides in 1958 that were released on the Coy label. Coy was a label in name only - actually put out by Fine Records of Rochester, a legendary name itself to many collectors. Playboy is a greasy teen ballad that is exactly the type of lowrider doowop that Frank Zappa loved to parody, while Cal's Tune is a rocker.

(L to R) Emilio Giondomenico, Ernie Vendetti, Calvin Briggs & Neal Davis

In 1959 these were leased to Kapp Records but the versions released by Kapp are completely different - Cal's Tune had its guitar and piano solos replaced with an sax solo, and both are more tame. The original version of Cal's Tune is highly-regarded by Rockabilly fanatics, to the point that it's recently been reproduced on vinyl. Following this they returned in 1961 as The Firesiders on Swan Records with two genre-bending sides that widen their palette to include influences of country pop and even pre-soul! The rest of their story is mostly unknown, except that they managed to change styles again and issue one more record. Under another name, of course. As The Impacts (on PEH Records) they achieve a typical mid-Sixties garage sound. They will never be in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame but if you were there a the right time in the right place, they may have been your Rock 'N' Roll.
https://www.facebook.com/wnyfm

Songs :

The Vel-Tones (2)

Playboy Playboy (Kapp) Cal's Tunes

The Firesiders

(I'll Remember) One And All No Ones Cares For Me

The Impacts (3)

Where Are You Going

...

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The Legends (1) Ref : The Kartunes

Posted on September 7 2019 by dion1

The Legends (1) Ref : The Kartunes

The Legends (1) (Manhattan, New York)
Ref : The Kartunes

Personnel :

Marshall Samples (Tenor vocals)

Ron Warwell (Baritone vocals)

Bobby Weinstein (Tenor vocals)

Dominick Fleres (Piano)

Richard "Chico" Brunson (Tenor)

Sampson Reese (Bass)

Discography :

The Legends (1)
1956 - The Eyes Of An Angel / I'll Never Fall In Love Again (Melba 109)
1957 - The Legend Of Love / Now I'm Telling You (Hull 727)

The Kartunes
Singles :
1957 - Raindrops / Will You Marry Me? (When We Graduate) (M-G-M 12598)
1958 - Willie The Weeper / Dedicated To Love (M-G-M 12680)
Unreleased :
1958 - Ringalivo (M-G-M)
1958 - Victim (M-G-M)

Biography :

Bobby Weinstein grew up in New York City, and attended the School of Industrial Art in Manhattan. While there, he formed a vocal group, The Legends, with fellow students Marshall Samples, Ron Warwell, Richard "Chico" Brunson, Sampson Reese and Dominick Fleres. The group won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater in 1955.

The Legends (1) Ref : The Kartunes
Morty Craft

Around June of 1956, the guys decided the time was right for getting the Legends sound down on wax, They just walked in to Morty Craft's Melba label (at 1674 Broadway) and auditioned for him, Craft was impressed and set up a session. Melba released "The Eyes Of An Angel" b/w "I'll Never Fall In Love" around September 1956.

The Legends (1) Ref : The Kartunes
Bobby Weinstein Dominick Fleres Ron Warwell Richard "Chico" Brunson

In late 1957, they had another go at recording. This time, they went down the block from Melba, to Hull Records, at 1595 Broadway. Again they walked in cold, and auditioned for Bea Caslon (owner of Hull, along with Billy Dawn Smith and William Henry Miller). Bea signed them on the spot. At Hull, the Legends recorded two songs: "The Legend Of Love" and "Now I'm Telling You" . The record sold moderately well but some internal problems triggered the separation of the group. Bobby Weinstein and Dominick Fleres joined the Kartunes with Vincent Cassaro , Paul Rubenstein and Bill Barbaris. The Kartunes recorded two singles released by MGM.

The Legends (1) Ref : The Kartunes
Bill Barbaris (The Kartunes), Don Costa & Bob Weinstein (The Legends & The Kartunes)

In 1957, Bobby Weinstein began writing songs with Teddy Randazzo, who had sung in another vocal group, The Three Chuckles. Their first major hit as co-writers was "Pretty Blue Eyes," recorded by Steve Lawrence and produced by Don Costa, which reached no. 9 on the pop charts at the start of 1960.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Legends/legends.html

Songs :

The Legends (1)


The Eyes Of An Angel                     I'll Never Fall In Love Again


The Legend Of Love                       Now I'm Telling You

The Kartunes


   Raindrops                                      Will You Marry Me?


Dedicated To Love                       Willie The Weeper

...

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The Monarchs (2)

Posted on September 7 2019 by dion1

The Monarchs (2) (Manhattan, New York)

Personnel :

Arthur Allen

Arthur Kemp

Fred Wells

Robert Galloway

Robert White

Discography :

1956 - Pretty Little Girl / In My Younger Days (Melba 101/Neil 101)
1956 - Always Be Faithful / How Are You (Neil 103)

Biography :

The Monarchs, from Manhattan, made their debut (with "Pretty Little Girl") on Neil Records, owned by Morty Craft and Jack Angel (who also owned Melba Records).

The Monarchs (2)

The Monarchs had a regional with "Pretty Little Girl." It had exceptional play in the Boston area, and was a great uptempo recording. The group consisted of Arthur Allen, Arthur Kemp, Fred Wells, Robert Galloway and Robert White.

The Monarchs (2)

They pour their hearts out on the flip side "In My Younger Days ". The group recorded that same year "Always Be Faithful " and "How Are You? ".

Songs :


Pretty Little Girl                            In My Younger Days


Always Be Faithful                                   How Are You

...

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The Martiniques aka The Martineques

Posted on September 5 2019 by dion1

The Martiniques

The Martiniques (Detroit)
aka The Martineques

Personnel :

Bobby Martin

Hershel Hunter

Andy Alonzo

Robert Walker

Buford (Fab) Glanton

Discography :

The Martiniques
1962 - Tonight Is Just Another Night / Unknown Love (Danceland 777 / Roulette 4423)
1962 - Broken Hearted Me / Evertything Will Be Allright (Danceland 779)

The Martineques
1965 - If You Want To Call Me / My Baby She Can't Dance (Me-O 1002)

Biography :

The Martiniques were Bobby Martin, Hershel Hunter, Robert Walker and Buford (Fab) Glanton. Andy Alonzo joined the group in 1960 when Bobby got into a bad auto accident and couldn't perform and the record was about to be released so Andy Alonzo replaced him.

The Martiniques aka The Martineques

For their first single, Danceland recordings were made at United Sound and The Martiniques have a hit record on the charts with "Tonight Is Just Another Night". Danceland was a long-time Detroit label, starting with 78s in 1949.

Thurman Hollis was The Martiniques' manager. Robert Walker also left the group and was replaced by Flecher Sawyer. When Bobby got better he got back in and Buford left so The Martiniques became a trio. "Broken hearted me" b/w "Evertything Will Be Alright" and "If You Want To Call Me" b/w "My Baby She Can't Dance" on Me-o were recorded at Specialty studio in Detroit . Me-O was located in Toledo, Ohio.

Songs :
(Thanks to Hans-Joachim)

Tonight Is Just Another Night Unknown Love

Broken Hearted Me If You Want To Call Me

Everything Will Be Allright My Baby She Can't Dance

...

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Little Jan & The Radiants (2) aka The Teen-Tones (1)

Posted on August 3 2019 by dion1

Top :Tommy Nelli, Billy Shelly & Dominick Scretti - Bottom : Jan Perolla

Little Jan & The Radiants (2) (Syracuse, NY)
aka The Teen-Tones (1)

Personnel :

Jan Perolla (Lead)

Billy Shelly (First Tenor)

Dominick Scretti (Baritone)

Tommy Nelli (Bass)

Discography :

The Teen-Tones (1)
1958 - Miss Sweet / Darling I Love You (Dandy Dan 2)

Little Jan & The Radiants (2)
1960 - If You Love Me / Heart And Soul (VIM 507)

Jan & The Radiants (2)
1960 - Is It True (I Still Believe In You) / Now Is The Hour (Clock 1028)
1961 - If You Love Me / Is It True (I Still Believe In You) (Queen 247)

Biography :

Syracuse vocal group Little Jan and the Radiants were formed in 1958, when three male members of the Teen-Tones : Billy Shelly (1st tenor), Dominick Scretti (baritone) and Tommy Nelli (bass) replaced Billy Sanders, who went into the service, with Carl Irvine (2nd tenor), and added none other than the departed Billy’s girlfriend, 17 year old Jan Perolla. Originally christened Little Jan & the Orients, their infectious sound crossed cultural lines and the group quickly became a local favorite. Sports-o-ramas, sock-hops, house parties and high school dances gave way to the big time.

Little Jan & The Radiants (2) aka The Teen-Tones (1)
The Teen-Tones (Sam Furco, Tommy Nelli, Billy Sanders, Billy Shelly and Dominick Scretti)

When a producer representing Syracuse University graduate and SAMMYS Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dick Clark came to Syracuse to audition Jeff & the Notes, their friends Little Jan and the Radiants were also there and invited to “sing a few bars of Earth Angel”. Shortly thereafter, the group got a call from the producer, met at The Orange at Syracuse University, signed a contract with CLOCK Records, and the renamed Little Jan and the Radiants were on their way.

Little Jan & The Radiants (2) aka The Teen-Tones (1)
Jan Perolla

“Heart And Soul” b/w “If You Love Me” was recorded in Buffalo NY in 1959, and “Is It True” b/w “Now Is The Hour”, recorded in Rochester, was released the following year, both garnering significant radio airplay across the United States, rumored to have hit the top 10 in some major markets. The discs were so popular that they were later re-released nationally on Queen Records in 1961. In their heyday, the group shared stages with such notables as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Gene Pitney and an early lineup of the not yet famous Four Seasons.

Songs :

The Teen-Tones (1)


Darling I Love You                                   Miss Sweet

Little Jan & The Radiants (2)


If You Love Me                                  Heart And Soul

Jan & The Radiants (2)


Is It True (I Still Believe In You)                      Now Is The Hour

...

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The Du-Ettes (1)

Posted on July 24 2019 by dion1

The Du-Ettes & The Vanguards

The Du-Ettes (1) (Seattle, Washington)

Personnel :

Bonnie Dee Sloan

Annie Laurie Sloan

Discography :

The Du-Ettes (1)
1960 - Neither You Nor I / Blue Point Drive (Jimmy Phelps) (Mecca 5-6)

The Du-Ettes (1) With The Vanguards
1960 - Donny / Wild (The Vanguards) (Mecca LB 2422/23)

Biography :

The Du-ettes, Bonnie and Annnie Sloan, teenage daughters of longtime Seattle songsmith, Sterling "Bud" Sloan, owner of Mecca Records (920 3rd Avenue Seattle, Washington). In February 1960, they recorded "Neither You Nor I" backed with "Blue Point Drive" by Jimmy Phelps . For their second single, the Du-ettes added the Vanguards, an instrumental group they performed at teen dances with and recorded “Donny”. The flip, “Wild” is an instrumental by the Vanguards.

http://oldwax.blogspot.com/

The Du-Ettes (1) (

Songs :

Donny

…

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The Jarmels

Posted on July 23 2019 by dion1

The Jarmels (Richmond, Virginia)

Personnel :

Paul Burnett (Lead)

Nathaniel Ruff (Tenor)

Earl Christian (Tenor)

Ray Smith (Baritone)

Tommy Eldridge (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1961 - Little Lonely One / She Loves To Dance (Laurie 3085)
1961 - A Little Bit Of Soap / The Way You Look Tonight (Laurie 3098)
1961 - I'll Follow You / Gee Oh Gosh (Laurie 3116)
1962 - Red Sails In The Sunset / Loneliness (Laurie 3124)
1962 - One By One / Little Bug (Laurie 3141)
1963 - Come On Girl / Keep Your Mind On Me (Laurie 3174)
Unreleased:
1962 - Why Am I A Fool For You (Laurie)
1962 - You Don't Believe A Word I Say (Laurie)

Discography :

The Jarmels were one of those one-hit wonder groups, responsible for a number 12 single in 1961 entitled "A Little Bit of Soap." If none of their other five singles did remotely as well, that song has lingered in the public consciousness, partly with help from periodic new hit versions by the Exciters in the mid-1960s and Showaddywaddy in England during the 1980s.

The Jarmels came from Richmond, Virginia, where the five members had all begun singing together in church and school. Nathaniel Ruff (b. 1939), Ray Smith (b. 1941), Paul Burnett (b. 1942), Earl Christian (b. 1940), and Tom Eldridge (b. 1941) may have come from Virginia, but the name of the group they formed in the late 1950s came from a street in Harlem. Their manager was Jim Gribble, who also managed the Mystics and the Passions, and brought the Jarmels to Laurie Records in New York in 1961. They were a rather unusual addition to the Laurie roster, for most of the company's artists were white, and sounded more pop than R&B-influenced. The Jarmels combined pop and R&B influences, most notably the sound of the post-1958 Drifters.

The Jarmels

Their first single, "Little Lonely One," was a hit in New York but never charted nationally. Their second record, "A Little Bit of Soap," written by future Neil Diamond/Van Morrison manager Bert Berns, (who also produced the Drifters), got to number 12 in America in the summer of 1961 during a six-week run on the charts. This was the Jarmels' first and last chart success, none of their four subsequent singles charting at all. They recorded their last single, "Come on Girl," in 1963, and the group soldiered on for a while into the mid-1960s with numerous personnel changes -- their later membership included Major Harris, who subsequently became part of the Delfonics.
Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Songs :

Little Lonely One                   She Loves To Dance               A Little Bit Of Soap


The Way You Look Tonight             I'll Follow You                        Gee Oh Gosh


Red Sails In The Sunset                    Loneliness                        One By One


            Little Bug      Come On Girl                  Keep Your Mind On Me


    Why Am I A Fool For You      You Don't Believe A Word I Say

…

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The Emanons (1) ref : The Sequins (1)

Posted on July 18 2019 by dion1

The Hornets (1) aka Cleveland Quartet

The Emanons (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : The Sequins (1)

Personnel :

Ronald Coleman (Lead)

Carl White (First Tenor)

Ralph Steely (Second Tenor)

James Dukes (Baritone)

James Hill (Bass)

Discography :

The Emanons (1)
Singles :
1956 - Change of Time / Hindu Baby (Gee 1005)
1956 - Blue Moon / Wish I Had My Baby (Josie 801)
Unreleased :
1956 - Itty Bitty Mama (JOZ/Josie 801)

The Sequins (1)
1956 - Don't Fall In Love / Why Can't You Treat Me Right (Red Robin 140)

Biography :

The Emanons hailed from New York. The group members were Ronald Coleman (Lead), Carl White (First Tenor), Ralph Steely (Second Tenor), James Dukes (Baritone) and James Hill (Bass). Coleman also was the lead voice for the Sequins with Carl White when they recorded "Don't Fall In Love" and "Why Can't You Treat Me Right" who was the last record on the Red Robin label. The Emanons (the No Names spelled backward) recorded "Change of Time" / "Hindu Baby" for Gee Records, a New York-based American record label formed as a subsidiary to George Goldner's Tico Records and Rama Records labels. The same year, they recorded "Blue Moon" and it’s the first time it was performed in an up-tempo fashion, five years before Pittsburgh’s Marcels had a #1 hit with it. The Marcels’ version on Colpix #186 charted nationally on Billboard in April 1961 for 14 weeks reaching #1. It stayed #1 for 3 weeks. "Blue Moon" is one of the classic popular standard songs written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. Through its different lyric changes by Hart, it has been featured in many movies through the years and recorded by many artists. Some artists were: Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin, Herb Lance & The Classics, Sam Cooke, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Bobby Vinton, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford - with too many more to list.

Songs :

The Emanons (1)


     Blue Moon                                     Wish I Had My Baby


Change of Time                                  Hindu Baby

Itty Bitty Mama

The Sequins (1)


      Don't Fall In Love                          Why Can't You Treat Me Right

…

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The Classmates (4)

Posted on July 13 2019 by dion1

with CKLW disk Jockey Eddie Chase (L to R) Kris Dorjath. Jack Costello, Jim Beasley and Dick Allman.

The Classmates (4) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Kris Dorjath

Jack Costello

Jim Beasley

Dick Allman

Discography :

The Classmates (4)
1955 - Gotta Go And See My Baby / Washed My Heart Of Love (Silhouette 509/510)
1955 - Little Red Berries / One For The Money (Silhouette 511/512)
1955 - Break Down And Love Me / Two Straws In The Wind (Silhouette 513/514)
1956 - Whose Gonna Take You To The Prom / Return My Heart (Dot 15460)
1956 - Break Down And Love Me / Two Straws In The Wind (Dot 15464)
1956 - Friends / I Want My Love Close By (Dot 15504)
1957 - You Do Something To Me / You Aren't The Only One (Dot 15589)

Jim Beasly & The Charmers
1959 - Caught Roped And Tied / Sweetheart Of Alpha Phi Alpha (Silhouette 519/520)

Jack Costello
1959 - Gotta Go And See My Baby / For Sale One Broken Heart (Silhouette 525/526)
1959 - I'm A Maker Of Dreams / Time Tellin' Mosheen (Silhouette 527/528)

Biography :

The Classmates are Kris Dorjath. Jack Costello, Jim Beasley and Dick Allman. All except Kris were classmates at Bass Tech. Jim is a graduate and attends Wayne University. Kris goes to South Lake High School St. Clair Shores. All four of them sing in the Don Large "Make Way for Youth" Chorus. The Three Detroit boys started singing together privately... were very satisfied with the result... but thought a first tenor was just the note they needed. So Kris became a classmates by adoption.

The Classmates (4)

In Mars 1955, The Classmates cut their first record, "Gotta Go And See My Baby" b/w "Washed My Heart Of Love" on the Silhouette label owned by Robert West. Detroit soul pioneer Robert West was born March 1, 1912, in Montgomery, AL, relocating to the Motor City in 1935. In 1955 he formed Silhouette Records, doubling as manager for the Falcons, a local doo wop group featuring future solo stars Eddie Floyd (West's nephew) and Mack Rice.

The Classmates (4)

Their first record is doing some business in scattered places besides Detroit, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and a place in California. Two more singles will be released by Silhouette Records : "Little Red Berries" b/w "One For The Money" and "Whose Gonna Take You To The Prom" b/w "Return My Heart". In May 1956, with "Break Down And Love Me", The Classmates are No. 7 in Houston on KXYZ, first released on Silhouette then picked up by Dot Record. Dot Records will sign the band and release three more singles. In 1959, Jack Costello and Jim Beasley return to silhouette records for a new attempt but without success

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Classmates (4)

Gotta Go And See My Baby             Washed My Heart Of Love


Break Down And Love Me          Whose Gonna Take You To The Prom


     Return My Heart           You Do Something To Me / You Aren't The Only One


Friends / I Want My Love Close By           Two Straws In The Wind

...

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