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

The Majestics (6)

Posted on July 20 2018 by dion1

The Majestics (6)
L to R : Jimmy Bacon, Dick Beach, Paul Guinzel, Mickey Forney, Joe Ashford

The Majestics (6) (Spring,TX.)

Personnel :

Joe Ashford (Lead)

Jimmy Bacon

Paul Guenzel

Dickie Beach

Joe Lincoln

Discography :

1958 - Boom Da Da / Pennies For A Beggar (Knight 105)

Biography :

Vocal group from Spring, TX. composed by Joe Ashford, Joe Lincoln, Jimmy Bacon, Paul Guenzel & Dickie Beach. The instrumental group that accompanied them was composed by Al Rogers (guitar), Michael Forney (piano), John Selvig (bass), John King (sax) & Phil Brickley (drums).

The Majestics (6)
L to R : Joe Lincoln,Joe Ashford,Jimmy Bacon,Paul Guenzel & Dickie Beach

The Majestics recorded in 1958 "Boom Da Da" and "Pennies For A Beggar" with Al Rogers and His Combo, San Antonio legend Danny Ezba was in the Al Rogers combo and is on the record. The record was recorded and pressed on San Antonio's TNT music. The Single was released by Knight records in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Majestics (6)

"Pennies For A Beggar" was number one on KANN radio station's "People's Choice" Hit Parade for September 6, 1958 . This group only released this 45-RPM record but they played hundreds of stage gigs throughout Texas in the late fifties.

Songs :

Boom Da Da Pennies For A Beggar

…

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The Jades (3)

Posted on July 4 2018 by dion1

The Jades (3) [Toronto, Canada]

Personnel :

Joseph Henry (Lead)

Paul Gendron

Less Chomolock

Danny Kussel

Discography :

1958 - Beverly / I’m Pretending (Reo 8254/Dot 15822)
1958 – I Sit Alone / I Wonder (Reo 8314)

Biography :

Vocal group formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1958 and composed by Joseph Henry (Lead), Paul Gendron, Less Chomolock and Danny Kussel. In early 1958, The Jades recorded "Beverly" b/w "I’m Pretending" released by Reo records and later by Dot in America. "Beverly" Reached # 1 on Toronto radio station CHUM during the summer of 1958.

The Jades (3)

Joseph Henry stepped down as lead singer after Beverly was released and his brother Frank Henry sang lead on their second and last release also from 1958 titled "I Sit Alone" b/w "I Wonder" on Reo 8314, there was no American release of the single.

Songs :


    Beverly                                        I’m Pretending


I Sit Alone                                           I Wonder

…

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The Reveres

Posted on June 22 2018 by dion1

The Reveres

The Reveres (Jersey City, N.J.)

Personnel :

Paul Horowitz

Jimmy Spinelli

Jerry Wlzack

Steve Engelson

Joe Equino

Discography :

1963 - Beyond The Sea / The Show Must Go On (Jubilee 5463)

Biography :

Vocal group from Jersey City composed by Jimmy Spinelli, Jerry Wlzack, Paul Horowitz, Steve Engelson and Joe Equino. In 1963, The Reveres recorded a version of "Beyond The Sea" b/w "The Show Must Go On" on Jubilee Records.

The Reveres

Jimmy Spinelli also sang with the group's The Impala's 1972 to 1975, Vito and The Salutations.1975 to 1989 and he joined the Duprees in 1989.

Songs :

Beyond The Sea / The Show Must Go On

…

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The Strangers (2)

Posted on June 7 2018 by dion1

The Strangers (2)

The Strangers (2) (San Francisco, Calif.)

Personnel :

Richard Cabrera

Discography :

1959 - We’re In Love, We’re In Love… / Crab Louie (Christy 107)
1959 - A Song About J-U-D-Y / The Lord Will Always Love You (Christy 108)

The Strangers (2)
French Ep's

Biography :

Vocal group from SF Bay Area group that had 2 45s out on the Christy label. Christy was owned by by band leader Joe Jaros & Peter Uharriet at 15520 El Gato Lane, Los Gatos.

The Strangers (2)

The Strangers recorded cut "We’re In Love, We’re In Love…" b/w "Crab Louie" and "A Song About J-U-D-Y" b/w "The Lord Will Always Love You". "Crab Louie" was a regional hit. The two 45 was reissued in France as a part of a 4-song 7″ record on the America Records label.

The Strangers (2)

Songs :


       A Song About J-U-D-Y We’re In Love, We’re In Love


         Crab Louie                                   Crab Louie (Take 5)


Crab Louie (False start alternate take)        We’re In Love (master tapes)

...

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The Gothics (1) aka The Gothic’s

Posted on June 2 2018 by dion1

The Gothics (1) aka The Gothic’s
Stephanie & The Gothic’s

The Gothics (1) (Queens, N.Y.)
aka The Gothic’s

Personnel :

Mike Franco (Lead)

Stephanie Adessa (Lead)

Nicholas Santelli (Bass)

Discography :

The Gothics (1)
1959 - Marilyn / Sunday Kind Of Love (Dynamic 101)

The Gothic’s
1961 - My Dream / Love You Too Much (Carol 4115)

Unreleased :
1960 - Poor Billy
1960 - Lucky Old Sun
1961 - Valley Of Tears (Carol)
1961 - Raid Sails In The Sunset (Carol)
1961 - The ABC’s Of Love

Stephanie & The Gothic’s
1961 - Oh Happy Day / I’ll String Along With You (No group) (Shelley 126)

Mike Franco
1962 - Humma-Humma-Hummin' Bird / Leave My Past Behind (Duel 519)

Biography :

The Gothics (with or without the apostrophe) led by Mike Franco were a white group produced by Bayside, Queens, New York record entrepreneur Jerry Love. Jerry owned a record store in Bayside, and Produced/managed a number of vocal groups. His first group were the Boulevards, local boys with Frankie Zazzo, Lou Adessa, Jim Alessandria, Bobby Thomas and Ralph Lasher. Remaining in chronological sequence, Jerry's next group was the Gothics who hailed from the Whitestone section of Queens. The Gothics had two releases, ”Marilyn” b/w ”Sunday Kind of Love” on Dynamic and ”Love You Too Much” b/w ”My Dream” On Carol.

The Gothics (1) aka The Gothic’s

In 1961, On Shelley Records, Jerry Love produced, “Oh Happy Day” by Stephanie and the Gothics , it was a new version of the left-field Don Howard hit from 1952. The Gothic's was led by Stephanie Adessa, from Bayside, Queens. Their plaintive style at the turn of 1961 was reminiscent of fellow Long Islanders the Aquatones and also the then-hit sound of Kathy Young and the Innocents, and Rosie and the Originals.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Gothics (1)


          Marilyn                                    Sunday Kind Of Love

The Gothic’s


      My Dream                            Love You Too Much


     Valley Of Tears                            Raid Sails In The Sunset


ABC's Of Love                                Lucky Old Sun

Stephanie & The Gothic’s


            Oh Happy Day I’ll String Along With You (No group)

Mike Franco


     Leave My Past Behind                   Humma-Humma-Hummin' Bird

...

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The Resolutions

Posted on June 1 2018 by dion1

Billy Vera

The Resolutions (Wetchester, New York)

Personnel :

Billy Vera (Lead)

Emil Fornatora

Richard De Vito

Ken Fontain

Discography :

1962 - January First 1962 / The Traveling Salesman (Valentine 1000)

Biography :

Billy Vera (born William Patrick McCord;[1] May 28, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author and music historian. He has been a singer and songwriter since the 1960s, his most successful record being "At This Moment", a US number 1 hit in 1987. Vera was born in Riverside, California, and is the son of the radio and television announcer Bill McCord. His mother, singer Ann Ryan, was a member of the Ray Charles Singers backing Perry Como on his TV show and his hit records. His first recording was “January 1st, 1962” which came out on Billy Mure’s Valentine label. Under the direction of Jim Gribble associate, Stan Vincent, Billy sang lead, backed by Emil Fornatora, Richard De Vito and Ken Fontain. Billy also overdubbed the bass and falsetto parts. The group was dubbed the Resolutions, but of course, there never was an actual “Resolutions” group.

The Resolutions
Stan Vincent

Billy’s second record was “My Heart Cries,” an interpretation of the Etta & Harvey record backed with “All My Love,” a Billy Vera composition. The record came out on the Rust label in 1962 as by Billy Vera and the Contrasts. The Contrasts were actually Billy’s band, the Knight-Riders who were under contract to another label at the time.

Songs :

January First 1962 The Traveling Salesman

...

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The Blenders (4)

Posted on May 30 2018 by dion1

Curtis Walden, Ronald David Smalls & Kenneth Edward Greene

The Blenders (4) (Orange, New Jersey)

Personnel :

Curtis Walden Jr.

Ronald David Smalls

Kenneth Edward Greene

Farrar

Peters Jr.

Discography :

1959 - Angel / Old Mac Donald (Wanger 189)

Biography :

Ronald David Smalls was born on September 27, 1942 in Orange, New Jersey. What a gift he was to be born on his father’s birthday. Ronald attended the public schools of East Orange, graduating from East Orange High School in 1961. He was actively involved in sports and music. Ronald played three instruments in the band. He played on the East Orange All-State Champion Football Team and he was a champion Javelin Thrower. In 1958, with High School friends, Curtis Walden Jr., Kenneth Edward Greene, — Farrar and — Peters Jr. they form a vocal group called The Blenders.

The Blenders (4)
Curtis Walden Ronald David Smalls Kenneth Edward Greene

The five boys compose two songs “I Fell In Love With An Angel” and ”Old Mac Donald”. The Blenders pass an audition with Castino Queen of C&M Records. C&M Records was a small recording company operating out of a storefront at 439 Pennington Street in nearby Elizabeth, NJ..The owners of C&M were Castino Queen and Mary Linkowich, hence the “C” & ”M”. Castino Queen liked the two songs and recorded them in New York. “Angel” and ”Old Mac Donald” came out on the Wanger Label, a C&M subsidiary in Avril 1959. The C&M/Wanger label ran into financial diffiulties and finally closed its doors in the early 1960’s.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Angel Old Mac Donald

…

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The Dynamics (5) aka Anthony & The Sophomores (2)

Posted on May 26 2018 by dion1

The Dynamics (5) Featuring Tony Maresco aka Anthony & The Sophomores (2)

The Dynamics (5) Featuring Tony Maresco (Philadelphia)
aka Anthony & The Sophomores (2)
ref Tony & The Twiliters (4)

Personnel :

Anthony "Tony" Maresco (Lead)

Ernest Funaro Jr. (First tenor)

John Donato (Second tenor)

Anthony Perri (Baritone)

Discography :

Single:
1962 - Betty My Own / Forever Love (Herald 569)

Unreleased :
1958 - And When I'm Near You (Reco-Art)
1958 - In The Still Of The Night (Reco-Art)
1959 - I Promise To Remember (Sound Plus)
1959 - Gee But I'd Give The World (Sound Plus)

Biography :

The street corner music in South Philly in early 1957 was very simple, almost every corner had 4-6 guys harmonizing. On the corner of 20th and Moore, Ernie Funaro, Anthony Perri and John Donato, were no different than the rest. They were raw and had little, if any experience. Anthony Perri - "Perri" to his friends, decided the group needed his 13-year-old cousin Anthony Maresco. Even at this tender age, Tony was a gifted talented singer with a beautiful voice. So was born "Tony & The Teens".

The Dynamics (5) Featuring Tony Maresco aka Anthony & The Sophomores (2)

The Dynamics

It was now 1958 and the group's sound was born. They were curious see how they would sound professionally, so they went into a local studio and recorded two sides; "Zoom" and "In The Still Of The Night". By this time the group took the name Tony & The Dynamics. Soon the group would enter the studio. This time a more professional demo was cut using a full band for back up. "I promise to Remember" and "Gee, But I'd Give the World" was the result.

Anthony & The Sophomores

It was at this session that they came to the attention of a songwriter who had written some tunes and his artist backed out of the session. With the tracks already down, the group went to his house to learn the songs. The end result being placed with Herald records in 1959 "Betty My Own" B/W "Forever Love" became the first professional release by the group released under the name Dynamics featuring Tony Maresco. Some internal problems caused Tony Maresco to leave the group. He now formed the Twiliters, and in 1961, Tony & The Twiliters had two releases on Red Top and its subsidiary Jalynne. Tony and the Dynamics also disbands because John had left the group to meet his military responsibilities. John had now come back from the military and Tony put the original Dynamics group back together and became later Anthony & the Sophomores.

Songs :

Betty My Own                         Forever Love                 And When I'm Near You


I Promise To Remember        Gee But I'd Give The World

...

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The Extensions

Posted on May 24 2018 by dion1

The Extensions

The Extensions (Des Moines, Iowa)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

Singles:
1963 - I Want To Know / My Need (Success 109)

Lps :
1963 - Only For Teenagers And Swinging Adults (Success LP 1011MX)
I Want To Know / My Need

The Extensions

Biography :

The Extensions are two sisters and a brother with another boy.The Extensions were signed with a newly founded record company Success Records. Success Records was formed by Victor Laslow and their office was on 6th ave., in Des Moines, Iowa. In the summer of '63, the Blendtones, The Martinels, The Extensions went on a very successful tour on the West Coast.

The Extensions

Upon completion of the tour, it was suggested that an album be produced featuring all of the artists that were currently signed with the company. Hence, the album Only For Teenagers And Swinging Adults was born.

Songs :

I Want To Know My Need

...

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The Two Sweethearts aka Dottie And Millie

Posted on May 22 2018 by dion1

The Two Sweethearts aka Dottie And Millie

The Two Sweethearts (Cleveland, Ohio)
aka Dottie And Millie

Personnel :

Dottie Haynes

Millie Weaver

Discography :

The Two Sweethearts
1955 - True Love Is Missing / If You Asked Me (Groove 0122)

Dottie And Millie
1966 - Talkin' About My Baby / Nothing In This World (Topper 1014)

Biography :

The gals are Dottie Hayes and Millie Weaver and they've been singing together from 1953, making their name a household word among theatre-goers around the nation. The act really got started when Dottie's father. The well known Cleveland producer Billie Hitt, overheard the girls harmonizing together in their dressing along with swing artist Bea Booze and Ruth Brown. Billie pricked his ears sensed that they really had something there, and organized them into a quartet known as the Coppertones.

The Two Sweethearts aka Dottie And Millie
The Two Sweetheart Dottie And Millie

The group only worked together a short while when miss Booze returned to Night-Clubs and theater dates as a single as the See See Rider Girl and Ruth went to New York to appear at a Greenwich Village club. Dottie And Millie stuck together and changed their name to the Copperettes which they have now incorporated as a business partnership. After many appearances the girls recorded "True Love Is Missing" and "If You Asked Me" on the Groove label, the single was released as The Two Sweethearts . 11 years later, the girls recorded again, they were known as Dottie & Millie on Topper.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Two Sweethearts

True Love Is Missing / If You Asked M

Dottie And Millie

Talkin' About My Baby Nothing In This World

...

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