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The I.V. Leaguers

Posted on October 27 2018 by dion1

The I.V. Leaguers

The I.V. Leaguers (Portsmouth, Ohio)

Personnel :

Bud Stockman (Lead)

Mike Cranston

Tom Phillips

Don Stamper

Jim Middlecamp

Bob Destocki

Charles Bartlett

Discography :

1957 - The Story / Ring Chimes (Porter 1003/1004 / Dot 15677)
1959 - Told By The Stars / Jim Jam (Inst.) (Nau-Voo 803)

Biography :

The I V Leaguers were the founding rock-n-roll band from Portsmouth, consisting of students (and graduates) from Portsmouth High School. They were a self contained band that had the band lineup with the ability to sing group harmony vocals.

The I.V. Leaguers

The I V Leaguers were Tom "Flip" Phillips on drums (class of 1956), Charles "Chub" Bartlett and Bob Destocki on vocals (class of 1957), Harry "Mike" Cranston on bass guitar, Don "Dumbo" Stamper on vocals, and Jim "Monk" Middlecamp on lead guitar (Class of 1958), and lead singer Howard "Bud" Stockham on lead vocals. The group played every possible venue and show in the area during their time together, and are still well remembered in the area.

The I.V. Leaguers

The group recorded two 45s, one for the local Nau-Voo label and one for Porter (rereleased on Dot) records. The Porter/Dot 45 features two doowop songs with Bud Stockham on lead. The uptempo "Ring Chimes" was the A side and got some airplay and sales. The Nau-Voo 45 has the doowop ballad "Told By The Stars" and the guitar instrumental "Jim-Jamin'" which from the title was a feature number for Jim Middlecamp. The Nau-Voo 45 has two pressings, the first one having the title as "Jim-Jam" and the writer credit mispelled as "Mim" for Jim.

Songs :

The Story Told By The Stars Ring Chimes

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The Orients aka The Gents (5)

Posted on October 27 2018 by dion1

The Orients aka The Gents (5)

The Orients (Queens, NY.)
aka The Gents (5)

Personnel :

Al Mickens (Tenor)

James Davis (Tenor)

Alfred Seaman (Tenor)

Ernest Seaman (Baritone)

Clayton William (Bass)

Discography :

The Orients
1964 - Shouldn't I / Queen Of The Angels (Laurie 3232)

The Gents (5)
1964 - Island of Love / Till The End Of Time (The Teen 5) (Time Square 98)
1964 - I'll Never Let You Go / Darling I Love You (The Teen 5) (Time Square 99)

Biography :

Vocal group from Queens, NY. The Orients consisted of Al Mickens (Tenor), James Davis (Tenor), Alfred Seaman (Tenor), Ernest Seaman (Baritone) and Clayton William (Bass). They recorded two songs "Shouldn't I" and "Queen Of The Angels" released by Laurie Records in 1964. The Orients are credited with writing “Shouldn't I.” The same years the group also recorded two songs acappella as The Gents for Times Square Records.

Songs :

The Orients

Shouldn't I Queen Of The Angels

The Gents (5)

I'll Never Let You Go

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The Rondells

Posted on October 26 2018 by dion1

1958, The Rondells at the Apollo Theater

The Rondells (Bronx, New York)

Personnel :

Chuck Negron (Lead)

Phil Namanworth (Second Tenor)

Songs :

The Rondells
1958 - Bells Of My Heart (Unreleased)

Chuck Rondell & The Sorensen Brothers
1962 - I Dream Of An Angel / Sharon Lee (Hart-Van 122/3)

Chuck Rondell
1964 - Speak For Yourself / All's Fair In Love And War (Columbia 43187)

Biography :

At age 16, Chuck Negron sang lead in a vocal group The Rondells and they performed at the world famous Apollo Theater because their managers were black. A stone cold dead silence ensued as the curtain rose on The Rondells. They were not just the only white group on the bill, they were the only white people in the building. But by their second verse something magical happened. Soon after his Apollo triumph the teenage Chuck Negron and the Rondells began haunting Manhattan's famous Brill Building. The same names came up over and over again. Leiber and Stoller, Goffan and King, Mann and Weil, Bacharach and David among others.

The Rondells
Chuck "Negron" Rondell

They would go from office to office in hopes of meeting some of these great writers to sing for them. They performed 10 to 20 times a day for publishers as well as record companies. So they ended up recorded some songs. unfortunately they will never be released. After playing basketball for Santa Maria, CA's Hancock College and California State University in Los Angeles, Negron was ready to pursue his musical career. After two singles as Chuck Rondell, he remained in Los Angeles, eventually connecting with fellow singers Cory Wells and Danny Hutton and forming Three Dog Night in 1968.

Songs :

Chuck Rondell & The Sorensen Brothers

I Dream Of An Angel

Chuck Rondell

All's Fair In Love And War Speak For Yourself

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The Citations

Posted on October 22 2018 by dion1

The Citations
(L to R) Antonio Rosas, Adrian Del Valle, Valentine Del Valle, Arthur Cintron and Michael Cintron

The Citations (Brooklyn, NY)

Personnel :

Antonio Rosas

Adrian Del Valle

Valentine Del Valle

Arthur Cintron

Michael Cintron

Discography :

?

Biography :

In 1959, a group of 15 and 16 year olds who grew up in the Boerum Hill area of Brooklyn, NY who loved to harmonize and sing doo-wop songs. After a couple of years practicing vocals in subway stations and street corners, a member of the nationally known group The Mystics heard the group singing in the lobby of an apartment building and liked their vocals.

The Citations
(L to R) Adrian Del Valle, Valentine Del Valle, Arthur Cintron, Michael Cintron and Antonio Rosas (seated)

He arranged a meeting and audition with the music and talent agent Jim Gribble who managed The Mystics and The Passions. For a short while, they were under contract with Jim Gribble. Although they never rose to fame the group disbanded in 1962.

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The High Seas

Posted on October 20 2018 by dion1

The High Seas (Denver,Colorado)

Personnel :

Chuck Price (Lead)

Jerome Drewett (Tenor/Falsetto)

Henry Gallego (Baritone/Tenor)

Adrian Torres (Bass)

Jack Davis (Piano)

Discography :

The High Seas
1960 - We Go Together / Sunday Kind Of Love (DMG 4000)

The Satellites feat. Sam Severin bb The High Seas
1960 - Each Night / Dark Town Strutter's Ball (Not them) (DMG 4001)

Biography :

The High Seas were an interracial vocal group formed as Little Al and the Uniques in Denver, Colorado with Jerome Drewett, Al Perkins, Anthony Lopez, Adrian Torres and Billy Torres (2 blacks and 3 Hispanics). Finally after multiple changes and a new name, the were the High Seas with Chuck Price (Lead), Jerome Drewett (Tenor/Falsetto), Henry Gallego (Baritone/Tenor), Adrian Torres (Bass) and Jack Davis (Piano), (3 blacks and 2 Hispanics; Chuck, Jerome and Jack were black, and Adrian and Henry were Hispanic))

The High Seas
Al & The Uniques

They moved to Hollywood, California and in April 1960 at Radio Recorders on Santa Monica recorded 4 songs : We Go Together (a cover of the Moonglows tune), Sunday Kind of Love (cover of the Harptones), The Angels Sang (an old “popish sounding” song), and an acetate of another song. They recorded with Sam Severin and the Satellites, a rockabilly group as instrumental band. and Jimmy Bowen (a big name in music at the time) was the A&R man for the whole session.

The High Seas

Al & The Uniques : Jerome Drewett, Anthony Lopez, Adrian Torres, Billy Torres and bottom Al Perkins

They also backed up Sam Severin & The Satellites, on their song Each Night. for D-M-G Records in 1960. The High Seas recording have a locally big acceptacion and play in the radio circuit, the group singing in El Monte Legion Stadium and They did perform on TV, Dance Party and opened for Jan and Dean. When the record dead they back to Denver and soon disbanded.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The High Seas

We Go Together Sunday Kind Of Love

The Satellites feat Sam Severin

Each Night

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The Apollo Brothers

Posted on October 20 2018 by dion1

Ruben Guevara

The Apollo Brothers (Hollywood, CA.)

Personnel :

Ruben Guevara

Paul Amarillas

Discography :

1960 - My Beloved One / Riot (Cleveland 108)

Biography :

Ruben Guevara reached his teens just as rock & roll and R&B were sweeping the nation, and in high school he began singing R&B harmony vocal ( music, in the mold of the Penguins, the Flamingos, et al. With two friends including Pablo Amarillas, they began as a three-vocal group called the Vanteens but soon became a duo. Ruben & Paul formed the Apollo Brothers (named after their car club, The Apollos). His early influences included Don & Dewey, the Carlos Brothers, and, a little later, Ritchie Valens. The Apollo Brothers recorded My Beloved One/Riot for Cleveland Records in 1961 and performed at various local venues: The El Monte American Legion Stadium (Richard Berry, The Olympics), The Long Beach Municipal Auditorium (Paul Anka), Pandora’s Box (The O’Jays, Dobie Gray), and were good enough to make it onto local television (Wink Martindale Live at POP w/ Don & Juan). In the 70’s Guevara singing as Lead on the Zappa’s group, Ruben & the Jets.

Songs :

My Beloved One Riot

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The Vines (2)

Posted on October 20 2018 by dion1

The Vines (2) (Trenton, NJ)

Personnel :

Major McBride (lead)

Carl Bronner (First Tenor)

James Winder (Second Tenor)

Dave Mudd (Baritone)

Moses Key (Bass)

Discography :

1961 - I Must See You Again / Love So Sweet (Cee-Jay 582)

Biography :

Vocal group from Trenton, NJ. The Vines consisted of Major McBride (lead), Carl Bronner (First Tenor), James Winder (Second Tenor), Dave Mudd (Baritone) and Moses Key (Bass). In 1961, The Vines recorded two songs "I Must See You Again" and "Love So Sweet" released by Cee-Jay Records, a label owned by a Clarence Johnson, Affiliated with Danny Robinson's Everlast. "I Must See You Again" was originally done by The Rivals and written by Alfred Gaitwood .

Songs :

I Must See You Again Love So Sweet

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The El Capris

Posted on October 18 2018 by dion1

The El Capris (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Personnel :

Eddie Jackson (Tenor)

James Scott (First Tenor)

Theodore McCrary (Second Tenor)

Leon Gray (Baritone)

Larry Hill (Bass)

William Germany (Baritone/Conga Drums)

James Ward (Bass / Bongos)

Discography :

1956 - (Shimmy Shimmy) Ko Ko Wop / Oh But She Did (Bullseye 102)
1957 - Your Star / Dance All Night (Fee Bee 216)
1958 - Ivy League Clean / They're Always Laughin' At Me (Paris 525)
1965 - Safari (Part 2) / Quit Pulling My Woman (Ring-O 308)
1972 - Your Star / To Live Again (Fee Bee 216)

Biography :

Pittsburgh R&B septet the El Capris formed in the city's Hill District in 1954 -- according to Marv Goldberg's profile on his website, founders Eddie Jackson (lead tenor), James Scott (first tenor), Theodore McCrary (second tenor), Leon Gray (baritone), William Germany (baritone and conga drums), Larry Hill (bass), and James Ward (bass and bongos) were all between the ages of 13 and 14 years old at the time of the group's creation.

The El Capris

Top : Theodore McCrary, Leon Gray, Eddie Jackson, Larry Hill & James Scott
Bottom : William Germany & James Ward

Dubbing themselves the El Capris -- reportedly a badly misguided attempt to add Spanish flair to their original choice, the Bluebirds -- the group won a local talent contest on Independence Day 1955, earning an audition with Bullseye Records owner Woody Henderling. Sufficiently impressed to offer the El Capris a contract on the spot, Henderling returned to Pittsburgh at year's end to cut their debut single, "(Shimmy Shimmy) Ko Ko Wop." Issued in the spring of 1956, the record quickly went nowhere, and the group signed to the local Fee Bee imprint to cut the follow-up, 1957's "Your Star."

The El Capris

Though promoted via live appearances at venues including Harlem's landmark Apollo Theatre, the record met the same fate as its predecessor and after a third single, "Safari" (issued on Fee Bee's sister label Ring-O), the El Capris began to splinter. By 1958 only McCrary, Gray, and Germany remained from the original lineup, but they forged on, recruiting first tenor Percy Wharton and bass Sam Askue to cut "Ivy League Clean" for the Paris label. Although the El Capris did not reenter the studio, the group continued touring the East Coast nightclub circuit until 1970 -- a quarter century later, co-founders Germany and Jackson played a series of revival showcases in a reconstituted lineup featuring second tenor Shane Plummer and bass Doc Battle.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/ElCapris/elcapris.html

Songs :


(Shimmy Shimmy) Ko Ko Wop           Oh But She Did          Your Star / Dance All Night


Ivy League Clean / They're Always Laughin' At Me


To Live Again            Quit Pulling My Woman           Safari (Part 2)

Videos :

(1994) Oh But She Did

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The Supremes (1)

Posted on October 17 2018 by dion1

The Supremes (1)

The Supremes (1) (Columbus, Ohio)

Personnel :

Jay Robinson (Second Tenor, Bass & Lead)

Bobby Isbell (Second Tenor)

James Johnson (Baritone & Second Tenor)

Eddie Dumas (Baritone)

Benny Collier (Bass)

Discography :

Singles :
1957 - Just For You And I / Don't Leave Me Here To Cry (Ace 534)
1977 - Glow / You And Me (Grog SH 500)

Unreleased :
1957 - Honey Honey (Ace)

Biography :

The original Supremes, who are often referred to for convenience's sake as the Columbus Supremes to distinguish them from the much better-known Motown girl trio, are remembered only by serious R&B scholars and doo wop enthusiasts. In 1954, Bobby Isbell (bass) and Eddie Dumas (second tenor) joined with Forest Porter (lead), Jay Robinson (baritone), and Eddie Jackson (first tenor), all students at Columbus, OH's East High School, and formed a quintet that took the name of the Supremes .

The choice, so Isbell explained, came from a bottle of Bourbon Supreme that provided some escape from the cold one bitter night in the winter of 1954. They kept very busy singing in Ohio across more than three years, through 1957, and were one of the most highly regarded R&B vocal ensembles in the region.

They broke out that year with an engagement in Florida, their first chance to perform outside of the upper Midwest, and recorded for Ace Records in the spring of 1957. What was to be their big breakthrough proved a non-event, as the single "Just for You and I" failed to sell. The group was gone by 1959, and the name was still available for the picking when the Motown-based Primettes, as they were known, were searching for a new name. The original group has been mostly forgotten since, although they did reunite and perform on occasion into the 1970s.
Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ev1tiger/origsupremes.html
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Supremes/supremes.html

Songs :

Just For You And I                      Don't Leave Me Here To Cry


Honey Honey                                               Glow

You And Me

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The Debonairs (2)

Posted on October 14 2018 by dion1

The Debonairs (2) (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Bill Clancy

Eddie D'Angelius

Joe Angelucci

Danny Dilonzo

Discography :

1960 - To Be Without You / Crazy Kind Of Love (Winter 502)

Biography :

This Debonairs were from Philadelphia composed by Bill Clancy, Eddie D'Angelius, Joe Angelucci and Danny Dilonzo. This group recorded two songs "To Be Without You" and "Crazy Kind Of Love" released by Winter records in 1960.

Songs :

Crazy Kind Of Love To Be Without You
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