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The Gazelles

Posted on April 15 2019 by dion1

The Gazelles

The Gazelles (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Vernon Fusell (Lead)

Charles Jones

Donald Langston

Donald Lee

Carlton Prater

Discography :

Single:
1956 - Honest / Pretty Baby, Baby (Gotham 315)
Unreleased :
1956 - Ride, Donald, Ride (Pretty Baby, Baby) (Gotham)

Biography :

Vocal group from Philadelphia composed by Vernon Fusell (Lead), Charles Jones, Donald Langston, Donald Lee and Carlton Prater. In 1956, Alethia Prater of Philadelphia, Carlton Prater's mother, undersigned the group's Gotham contract on August 15, 1955, leading us to surmise that the group members were young. During the Gotham session, Gazelles recorded two songs composed by Donald Langston and Carlton Prater ; "Honest" and "Pretty Baby, Baby" released on Gotham #315. A Previously Unreleased Take of "Pretty Baby, Baby" can be found under the name of "Ride, Donald, Ride". Gotham Records was an American record label formed by Sam Goode (Goody) and Ivin Ballen in New York City in 1946. In January 1948 Ballen acquired the interest of Goode and became the sole owner. He then moved the company to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where the label was based for the rest of its existence until 1956. The label specialized in rhythm and blues.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Pretty Baby, Baby Honest

Ride, Donald, Ride

...

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The Four B's

Posted on April 9 2019 by dion1

The Four B's
Ben Bob Brad & Buddy

The Four B's (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Personnel :

Buddy Sepaugh

Brad Ingles

Ben Nordine

Bob McGee

Discography:

The Four B's
1958 - Love Eternal / I Played The Fool (D 1013)

The Sherwoods (2)
1962 - Recipe For Going Steady / Little Heart Take Care (Mercury 72042)

Live Performances
The Four B's
1957 - That'll Be The Day
1958 - Nine Pound Hammer
1958 - Once More

Biography :

The Four B's were a vocal group who worked on the Louisiana Hayride for four years from 1955. Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American country and western music. Elvis Presley performed on the radio version of the program in 1954 and made his first television appearance on the television version of Louisiana Hayride on March 3, 1955. On The Louisiana Hayride, the Four B's backed Jack Ford, Carl Belew, Margie Singleton, Faron Young and many others.

Four B's with Jimmie Davis, Webb Pierce & Faron Young.

The four B’s were Buddy Sepaugh, Brad Ingles, Ben Nordine, and Bob McGee. All their first names began with B. Brad Ingles was originally from Ohio but had been stationed in Louisiana. Buddy Sepaugh was from Shreveport, Bob Mc Gee was from Longview, Texas and Ben Nordine was from Shreveport. They had worked with Johnny Horton on his SESAC Repertory album and sang back-up on several Ram singles. On the Louisiana Hayride The Four B's play a part in mellowing some of the country sounds in the later part of the '50s after they saw how the Jordanaires' sound could add to the depth of the increasing number of pop-rock songs on the show.

The Four B's
Ben Brad Bob & Buddy

Their main affiliation was with Johnny Horton but they recorded with Merle Kilgore on IMPERIAL in 1958. They saw one single in their own right, "Love Eternal" b/w "I Played The Fool" on D RECORDS and they later recorded for Mercury as the Sherwoods. Buddy Sepaugh made solo discs as Buddy Paul and other aliases and Brad Ingles and his family gospel group performed for some years on a reborn Hayride run by David Kent in Benton, Louisiana well after the original show had ended.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Four B's

I Played The Fool Love Eternal

The Sherwoods (2)

Recipe For Going Steady / Little Heart Take Care

...

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The Jades (2)

Posted on April 9 2019 by dion1

The Jades (2)

The Jades (2) (Charleston, West Virginia)

Personnel :

Ron Brooks (Lead)

Dave Ellison

Gene Moffatt

Denzil Shamblin

Discography :

1959 - Walking All Alone / Hey, Little Girl (Nau-Voo 807)

Biography :

The original edition of The Jades was a white, R&B group, formed in 1957, from Charleston, West Virginia. Along with their band ,the Bluetone Orchestra , their recordings of "Hey, Little Girl" and "Walking All Alone", written by lead singer Ron Brooks, were produced by Nau-Voo Records in Portsmouth, Ohio in 1959. "Hey, Little Girl" was given a very good rating by Billboard Magazine and was briefly successful in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Shortly thereafter, Dee Clark came out on Vee-Jay Records with a different "Hey, Little Girl" which became very popular at that time. Since Vee-Jay Records had a much larger company and distribution network, Nau-Voo Records could not compete and ceased to distribute The Jades "Hey, Little Girl". The singing group then disbanded. Other members of the group were Dave Ellison, Gene Moffatt, and Denzil Shamblin. their version of "Hey, Little Girl" has become a very rare, white doo-wop record.

Songs :


Walking All Alone                             Hey, Little Girl

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The Paramonts (2)

Posted on April 7 2019 by dion1

The Paramonts (2)

The Paramonts (2) (Washington D.C.)

Personnel :

Richard Fountain (Lead)

William Jones Jr (Lead)

Jimmy Drake

Horace Logan

Benjamin Ed Thomas

Discography :

Single :
1963 - In A Dream / Shedding Teardrops (Ember 1099)

Unreleased :
1963 - There's A Light (Ember)
1963 - Barbara Is Coming For Her Lover (Ember)

Biography :

Black vocal group from Washington D.C consisted of Richard Fountain, William Jones Jr, Jimmy Drake, Horace Logan & Benjamin Thomas. In 1962, Benjamin Thomas & Richard Fountain write the fantastic "Shedding Teardrops" and C. Otis, Brook Benton and Cirino Colacrai (The Bowties) wrote the beautiful "In A Dream". Ember released the two songs "In A Dream" b/w "Shedding Teardrops" on Ember # 1099 (Ember is an ABC Paramount subsidiary). The group's Ember release unfortunately occurred in 1963, when the Ember label was not going well. Unfortunately, Consequently, neither the group nor the release received any promotional support or attention. Yet both pieces are fantastic (in my opinion) . Two other songs were recorded by the Paramonts, probably at the same session, but "There's A Light" and "Barbara Is Coming For Her Lover" will be unpublished by the label ...

Songs :

Shedding Teardrops In A Dream

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The Velvatones (3)

Posted on April 6 2019 by dion1

The Velvatones (3)
Alice Fly (Left), Kay Ross (Right), Peggy Laster (Front Center) & Julia Graves.

The Velvatones (3) (Jackson, Tennessee)

Personnel :

Julia Graves

Peggy Laster

Kay Ross

Alice Fly

Discography :

1957 - Feeling Kinda Lonely / Real Gone Baby (Meteor 5042)

Biography:

Originally the group was called the Medinettes, all four gals being students at Medina High School just North of Jackson (Tennessee). In 1956, they went to Trenton, Tennessee, and won the first prize of $ 40 at the Gibson County Talent Show. Trenton was the home town of Bobby Lollar and Pete Beavers. Then they won the Mid-South Fair un Memphis with $ 140 and it led them to a recording contract, a radio spot in Milan and a TV show on WDXI in Jackson.

The Velvatones repertoire ranged from pop to current hits like "Seventeen" or "Be Bop a Lula" worked in a style close to the Chordettes or the Fontane Sisters. On them both sides cut in 1957, "Feeling Kinda Lonely / Real Gone Baby" (Meteor 5042). A session set for June 1957 was cancelled and Julia Graves and Kay Ross got married. A new singer Marcia Watt was bring in and the band took the name of The Charmettes. By the summer of 1959, all five gals were married and their career together was over.
http://rockandrollrevue.fr/news/archives/
http://www.rockandrollrevue.fr/articles/the_velvatones/

Songs :

Real Gone Baby Feeling Kinda Lonely

...

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The Emanons (3)

Posted on April 4 2019 by dion1

Mike Buono

The Emanons (3) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Jim Danella (Lead)

Joe Buono (Tenor)

Phil DeVito (Baritone)

Mike Buono (Bass)

Discography :

Single:
1958 - We Teenagers (Know What We Want) / Dear One (Winley 226 / ABC 9913)
Unreleased:
1958 - Connie (Connie)
1958 - Buzz Buzz (Connie)

Biography :

In the Alexander Hamilton high school in the Bensonhurst, Mike Buono and Jim Danella formed a vocal group named The Alphabetones. The group stays together only a few months and Mike & Jim formed a new group named The Emanons with Mike’s brother, and Phil De Vito. The group then consists of Jim Danella (Lead), Joe Buono (Tenor), Phil DeVito (Baritone) and Mike Buono (Bass). The Emanons make appearances locally. Mike Buono write "Dear One" and The Emanons auditioned for Paul Winley of Winley Records. In 1958, Winley Records released "Dear One" b/w "We Teenagers". After of the recording session Phil De Vito left and was replaced by Tom Sfraga.

The Emanons (3)

The recording have a big local acceptation and the ABC label from New York City buy the master for the national distribution. After the disappearance of their first recording the group signed with Connie Records where they recorded "Connie" b/w "Buzz Buzz". But the label never released these sides. In 1960 changed their name to The Splendors and recorded some demos with Sgt. Barry Sadler (RCA Records) and finally in the mid 60’s singing as The Lynbrooks.

Songs :

Dear One / We Teenagers (Know What We Want)

…

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The Carousels (5)

Posted on April 3 2019 by dion1

The Carousels (5)

The Carousels (5) (Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Betty Jackson (Lead)

Robert Mitchell

Curtis Swindell

Mario Krauser

Discography :

1962 - Because I / Pretty Little Thing (Gone 5118)
1962 - You Can Come / Pretty Little Thing (Gone 5118)
1962 - If You Want To / Pretty Little Thing (Gone 5118)
1962 - You Can Come If You Want To / Pretty Little Thing (Gone 5118)
1962 - Dirty Trick / Never Let Him Go (Gone 5131)

Biography :

The Carousels; Betty Jackson, Robert Mitchell, Curtis Swindell & Mario Krauser came from out of Harlem St. Nick Projects. They singing at local proms, dances, school contests. In 1961, Mickey Francis, formerly with Richard Barett’s Valentines discovered Betty Jackson & The Carousels. Mickey Francis took them to George Goldner at Rama, Gone & End Records. George Goldner liked them and wanted to call them the Serenators. Mickey said no and called them the Carousels. Betty Jackson & The Carousels recorded Because I and "Pretty Little Thing" released on Gone # 5118.

The Carousels (5)

George Goldner did not like "Because I" and changed it to "You Can Come". That was declared a bit risqué so a month later they called it "If You Want To". A month after that is finally settled down as "You Can Come If You Want To". Same song, same master with four different titles . This shuffling around didn’t help the promotion of the record and it quickly disappeared. After one more release for George Goldner’s Gone label, the group was gone.

Songs :


If You Want To                                Pretty Little Thing


      Dirty Trick                                 Never Let Him Go

…

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Connie & The Cones

Posted on April 1 2019 by dion1

Connie & The Cones

Connie & The Cones (Nashville, Tennessee)

Personnel :

Connie Sue Landers (Lead)

Don Whitley

Bob McClain

Discography :

Singles:
1959 - Let Us Pretend / I See The Image Of You (NRC 5006)
1960 - Lonely Girl's Prayer / I Love My Teddy Bear (Roulette 4223)
1960 - Take All The Kisses / No Time For Tears (Roulette 4313)

Unreleased:
1960 - Young In Your Teens (Roulette)

Biography :

Connie was actually born Connie Sue Landers on April 19, 1944 in Austin, Texas. While she was classmates at Hillsboro High in Nashville, Connie formed the Teen-Notes with Don Whitley and Bob McClain. They were chosen as one of the "Discoveries of the Week" at the summer park concerts in 1958.

Connie & The Cones
Connie Sue Landers

At this time, they attract the attention of a producer who has them sign on NRC (National Recording Corp) NRC Records was started in Atlanta Georgia in the late 50's and had a large output of records until the late 60's. The Group cut "Let Us Pretend" b/w "I See The Image Of You" which will be released in 1959 as Connie & The Cones.

Connie & The Cones

With this single, the group performed in the area and its surroundings and quickly became popular. Connie & the Cones sign a recording contract with Roulette Records wher they cut two singles in 1960, "Lonely Girl's Prayer" b/w "I Love My Teddy Bear" and "Take All The Kisses" b/w "No Time For Tears".

Connie & The Cones
The Auctionettes Leroy Van Dyke & The Auctionettes

After the group’s break-up, Connie recorded a variety of sound-alikes and original compositions for about 4 years for the Hit Records label of Nashville as Connie Landers, Connie Dee or Connie . When she was fresh out of High School, Connie was asked to audition for Leroy Van Dyke when she was around 20 or 21. It was for the Auctionettes, a trio of girls who traveled to performances with Leroy. They were Connie Sue Landers, Barbara Voorhies, Sally Harrison .

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Let Us Pretend                             I See The Image Of You


Lonely Girl's Prayer                            I Love My Teddy Bear


Take All The Kisses                       No Time For Tears


Young In Your Teens

…

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The Flints

Posted on March 30 2019 by dion1

Left to right: James Benett, Len Garret, Harold Montgomery, S.L. McMullen, Dave Burns.

The Flints (Flint, Michigan)

Personnel :

Dave Burns

Len Garrett

Jimmy Jackson

S.L. McMullen

Harold Montgomery

Discography :

The Flints
1959 - Over The Ocean / Chickie Chop Chop (Petite 101) (Fev 59)
1959 - Skippin' And A-Jumpin' / People Say (OKeh 7126) (Nov 59)

The Flint's
1961 - Why Did You Go / When Summer Gets Back (Heart 100)

Biography :

Very fine vocal group from Flint, Michigan composed by James Benett, Len Garret, Harold Montgomery, S.L. McMullen and Dave Burns. The group is managed by Herb Barnes and occurs locally in Michigan area. In 1958, The Flints performed at the Apollo Theater amateur contest in Harlem. The Flints make an enormous impression, as much by their accuracy as by their professionalism.

The Flints
1958 - Apollo Theater (L to R) Harold Montgomery, Dave Burns, S.L. McMullen, Jimmy Jackson, Len Garrett, Herb Barnes (manager).

Following this performance, The group went on to record under the Petite records label in New York. Two songs were recorded : "Over The Ocean" b/w "Chickie Chop Chop". The single was released in Fev 59. The group gained success with their single and in Nov 59, the group signed a recording contract for the New York R&B label Okeh .

The Flints

Okey released their second single : "Skippin' And A-Jumpin'" b/w "People Say". in 1962, their last single "Why Did You Go" b/w "When Summer Gets Back" was released on Heart Records, a Detroit label.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Over The Ocean                                Why Did You Go


     People Say                                Skippin' And A-Jumpin'


       Why Did You Go                        When Summer Gets Back

...

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The Coeds (4)

Posted on March 30 2019 by dion1

The Coeds (4) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Joyce Mioni

Pat D'Auria

Sandy Fischer

Jerry Pellegrino

Discography :

1964 - You’re My First Love / Mark My Words (Swing 101)

Biography :

The Coeds were Joyce Mioni, Pat D'Auria, Sandy Fischer and Jerry Pellegrino. They attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York. In 1964, the Coeds recorded “You're My First Love“ b/w "Mark My Words". Mark My Words was written by the Tokens (Lion Sleeps Tonight) and Swing Records was a subsidiary of the Tokens’ BT Puppy label. The "A" side was called “You're My First Love“ was written by Toni Wine and Artie Kornfeld. They were two of the 60s most distinguished songwriters. Toni co-wrote the Mindbenders’ hit, “Groovy Kind Of Love” and Artie “The Rain The Park And Other Things” for the Cowsills. Together they also wrote “Tonight You’re Gonna Fall In Love With Me” for the Shirelles and “Now That You’re My Baby” (with Gerry Goffin) for Dusty Springfield.

Songs :

Mark My Words You’re My First Love

…

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