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The Mello-Tones (1) aka the Jets (3)  

Posted on April 25 2018 by dion1

The Mello-Tones (1) aka the Jets (3)

The Mello-Tones (1) (New York)
aka the Jets (3)  

 Personnel :

Ray Hulbert (Lead Tenor)

Joe Lipscomb (Second Tenor)

Oliver James (Baritone)

Louis O'Neil (Bass)

Discography :

Singles : 
Marga Benitez & The Mello-Tones (1)
1954 - Man Loves Woman / Winos On Parade (Decca 48318)

The Mello-Tones (1)
1954 - I'm Just Another One In Love With You / I'm Gonna Get (What I Came...) (Decca 48319)

The Jets (3)
1956 - Heaven Above Me / Millie Brown (Gee 1020)

Ep :

Rhythm and Blues Bit (Decca ED-2399)
1956 - I'm Just Another One In Love With You / I'm Gonna Get (What I Came For Last Night)

The Mello-Tones (1) aka the Jets (3)

LP :

He Digs Rock'n Roll (Decca DL 8315)
1956 - I'm Just Another One In Love With You / I'm Gonna Get (What I Came For Last Night)

The Mello-Tones (1) aka the Jets (3)

Biography :

These were neighborhood friends who grew up on 132d Street in New York's Harlem. In 1953, responding to the R&B vocal group phenomenon taking place, they got themselves together and decided to form a vocal group. The members were between fifteen and eighteen years old at their start. They retained the services of manager Cliff Martinez but got their contract as a result of Hulbert's persistence with Decca management. On April 6, 1954, they had their first session, they recorded "Man Loves Woman" and "Wino's On Parade" behind Marga Benitez and, under their own name, "I'm Just Another One In Love With You" and "I'm Gonna Get (What I Came For Last Night)."

The Mello-Tones (1) aka the Jets (3)

The record didn't sell particularly well, but the group toured the East Coast on the strength of it. Lack of success caused O'Neil to leave, and he was replaced by Charlie Ca rrington. Next, they went to audition for George Goldner at Gee records. He agreed to record them, but insisted that they change their name to a more contemporary-sounding one: the "Jets." The group didn't like this, but they went along. Their only Jets record - "Heaven Above Me"/"Millie Brown" - recorded in April of 1956 and released in July, also failed to make any waves. Once again, the disc wasn't sent out for review.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/MelloTones/mellotones.html

Songs :

Marga Benitez & The Mello-Tones (1)


Man Loves Woman    Winos On Parade

The Mello-Tones (1)

I'm Just Another One In Love With You / I'm Gonna Get (What I Came For Last Night)

The Jets (3)


Heaven Above Me                               Millie Brown

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The Velveteens (1)

Posted on April 23 2018 by dion1

The Velveteens (1)
The Velveteens

The Velveteens (1) (Agawam, Massachusetts)

Personnel :

Maureen Grady (Lead)

Nancy Roy

Judy Roy replaced by Sandy Vigneault

Discography :

1960 - Please Holy Father Pt.1 / Please Holy Father Pt.2. (Stark 12591)
1961 - Teen Prayers / Baby-Baby (Stark 101/102)
1961 - I Thank You / Meant To Be (Stark 105/Laurie 3126)

Biography :

Vocal group from Agawam, Massachusetts, The Teensters (Judy Schinelli, Maureen Grady, Nancy Roy and Judy Roy) sang in their Junior High school choir. After Judy Schinelli left the group, the name was changed to "The Velveteens". The Velveteens' first recording was called "Please Holy Father" on Chuck Lidell's label Stark Records. Backing the girls was a local group called Monty & the Specialties. After the first recording, Judy Roy left the group and was replaced by Sandy Vigneault of West Springfield.

The Velveteens The Teensters

Chuck Liddell changed the song a little and the girls went back to New York to record "Teen Prayer", the new title. Maureen Grady was the lead singer and the song reached number one in this area in May of 1961. The same year, the Girls cut "I Thank You" b/w "Meant To Be" on Stark 105 and re-released the next year on Laurie Records. The Velveteens can be heard as stated above SHOUTING behind The Davi recordings on Stark#110 "Go Charley" .

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Please Holy Father                   Teen Prayers                 Meant To Be


Baby-Baby                   I Thank You

...

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Alfred & Joe

Posted on April 22 2018 by dion1

Alfred & Joe (Los Angeles, CA.)

Personnel :

Alfred Garcia

Joe Silva

Discography :

1964 - Darling Dear / Soul Shuffle (The Noblemen) (Kay Gee 101)

Biography :

Alfredo Garcia was born in Mexico in 1945. In 1955 his family moved to Los Angeles. He came from a musical background influence by his grandfather & father and later the Los Angeles music scene. He attended Catherdral High School and then went on to East Los Angeles College. His singing partner, Joe Silva was from Lincoln Heights, California. Alfred & Joe formed a band, The Noblemen whose members were from Cathedral and Belmont High Schools.

Alfred & Joe

The band included Richard Duran on lead guitar and drummer Alfred Rubalcava. The band performed locally at weddings and quinceaneras. Alfred & Joe used to buy records at the Flash Record Store where they met Rudy Benavides, an employee. Rudy attended a couple of Alfred & Joe's gigs and after liking what he heard sent them to Godfrey Kerr who owned the Kay-Gee record label.

Alfred & Joe

Godfrey picked a song, "Darling Dear" which was a 1953 classic recording by The Counts for them to record. In 1964, Alfred & Joe & The Noblemen recorded "Darling Dear" released on the Kay-Gee label (Kay-Gee 101). The B-side of the record, "Soul Shuffle" an instrumental with a surf flavor recorded by The Noblemen.
http://wwwyoufoundthateastsidesoundcom.blogspot.fr/2012/05/eastside-legends-alfred-joe.html

Song :

Darling Dear

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The Sabians

Posted on April 21 2018 by dion1

The Sabians

The Sabians (Newark, N.J.)

Personnel :

B.Burns

D.Silsbee

V.Brigida

John Matts

Discography :

1960 - Blue Summer Wind / Living Flame (Yale 212)
1960 - Your Cheating Heart / Crazy Dream (Yale 240/241)

The Sabians

Biography :

Vocal group from Newark, N.J. composed by V.Brigida, John Matts, B.Burns and D.Silsbee. In Mars 1960, the group recorded "Blue Summer Wind" and "Living Flame" released by Yale records in Elizabeth N.J..

The Sabians

In September 1960, J.Madaio had replaced B.Burns and John Matts leaves the group. As a trio, the Sabians recorded two more tunes, "Your Cheating Heart" and "Crazy Dream" released again by Yale.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Your Cheating Heart / Crazy Dream

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The Blends (1) aka The Fabulous Blends

Posted on April 7 2018 by dion1

The Blends (1) aka The Fabulous Blends

The Blends (1) (Brockton, Massachusetts)
aka The Fabulous Blends

Personnel :

Big John Croft (Lead)

Richie Harris

Charlie Garner

Richie Solomon

Discography:

The Blends (1)
1960 - Someone To Care / Now It's Your Turn (Casa Grande 3037)
1960 - A Thousand Miles Away / Music, Maestro, Please (Casa Grande 5000

Big John & The Fabulous Blends
1960 - Hey! Little Fool / Baby You're Wrong (Casa Grande 5001)

The Fabulous Blends
1989 - Graduation Time / Starlight, Starbright (Casa Grande 3039)

Unreleased :
1960 - Everybody's Got A Home (But Me) (Casa Grande)

Biography :

This fine group was from the Brockton/New Bedford area and landed a contract with Casa Grande after winning a WBZ radio contest held at Fort Devens. The group was led by Big John Croft, who sang lead and played guitar. He was backed by three singers, a drummer and electric bass.

They were famous for their tight harmony and exciting stage routines, including exceptional choreography. Billboard picked them as an outstanding up-and-coming group in 1960, but after touring the East Coast and Europe, the group split up and disappeared. The group was also known as the Fabulous Blends. They cut nine sides for Casa Grande in 1960 and 1961.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Someone To Care             Now It's Your Turn             A Thousand Miles Away

Music, Maestro, Please           Hey! Little Fool            Baby You're Wrong

Starlight, Starbright Graduation Time Everybody's Got A Home (But Me)

...

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Darnell & The Dreams (8)

Posted on April 5 2018 by dion1

The Essentials 1962 (Alvin Brandon Jr., James Roberts, Levi Robert and Daniel Hurt)

Darnell & The Dreams (8) (Westchester, NY)

Personnel :

Darnell Jessamay (Lead)

Alvin Brandon Jr.

James Roberts

Robert DeBerry

Garfield Dorsey

Discography :

Single :
1964 - The Day Before Yesterday / I Had A Love (West Side 1020)

Unreleased :
1964 - New Love (West Side)

Biography :

The group was originally called The Essentials and consisted of Alvin Brandon Jr., James Roberts, Levi Robert and Daniel Hurt. The Essentials perform at various talent show from 1962. In early 1963, Levi Robert and Daniel Hurt leave the group, that replaces them with Robert DeBerry and Garfield Dorsey. With two new members, the Essentials change their name to The Dreams and added lead singer Darnell Jessamay. Jessamay became famous as a result of her affiliation with the Vestelles, who recorded for Decca.

Lou Cicchetti

Lou Cicchetti was the owner of the “Cousins Music Shop” in Fordham Road (The Bronx) and proprietor of the “Cousins” record label. Lou Cicchetti’s label became very important in the rock and roll music business. his record shop in Fordham Road was an important meeting point for all Italian American doo-wop bands (Dion & the Belmonts, Earls, Consorts) and fans alike.

The Dreams were referred to Lou and approached him with 2 original songs: “The Day Before Yesterday“, written by group member Robert DeBerry and the flipside “I Had A Love“, written by Darnell Jessamay. In 1964 he recorded them as Darnell & The Dreams on his West Side label.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Day Before Yesterday I Had A Love

New Love

...
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The Horizons (2)

Posted on March 31 2018 by dion1

The Horizons (2)
(L to R) : Vinny, Pepe,John Williams, Denny and Kevin Driscoll

The Horizons (2) (New York)

Personnel :

Vinny

Denny

Pepe

Kevin Driscoll (Lead)

John Williams (Tenor)

Discography :

1964 - Hey Now Baby / Strange Oh Strange (Regina 1321)

Biography :

Inspired by neighborhood acapella groups in the early 1960’s, Kevin Driscoll and John Williams started singing with The Congenials in 1961, which became The Premiers and then The Horizons in 1962 to 1965 where they recorded "Hey now Baby" and "Strange Oh Strange" on the Regina Label

The Horizons (2)

Their local hit "Hey now Baby", won 3rd place against the Beatles in Murray the K's Record review board contest. Johnny Williams was also a lead singer and has been singing with The Devotions (Rip Van Winkle) for the last 17 years. Kevin Driscoll is currently singing with The Tercels and can also be seen often on Long Island NY with The NY Exceptions.

Songs :

Strange Oh Strange Hey Now Baby

…

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The Sparks (8)

Posted on March 27 2018 by dion1

The Sparks (8)

The Sparks (8) (Delaware, Ohio)

Personnel :

Lee Raymond (Lead vocal/Trumpet/Trombone)

Bill Comstock (Vocal/Guitarist)

Bob Jackson (Vocal/Drums)

Bud Warner (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - Robin Red Breast / Something Happened (Arwin 114)

Biography :

The Four Sparks got together as a quartet three months before the recording where they are known locally under the name of the Peps Boys, before choosing the name of the Four Sparks. The group are making quite a reputation for themselves in the music world with their recordings on the Arwin Label, features two original songs by Bill Comstock, leader of the quartet, "Robin Red Breast" and "Something Happened." The single was released as the Sparks. Bob Jackson, drummer, who is also featured on vocals, started his musical career in 1957. Lead singer is Lee Raymond who also gets in some hot licks on the trumpet and is a talented man with a trombone. Bud Warner is the bass-man.

The Sparks (8)
                                                                                                                                      Bill Comstock

In 1959, the group was reformatted into a group called The Standouts until Bill Comstock joined The Four Freshmen to replace one of them and and Jack Tafoya joined. This is completely different material from what The Four Sparks performed, the Standouts had great jazz arrangements of The Great American Songbook and other musical treasures.

Songs :


Something Happened                                  Robin Red Breast

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The Twisters (4) aka The Counts (3)

Posted on March 24 2018 by dion1

The Counts (3) aka The Twisters (4)

The Twisters (4) (Athens, Ga)
aka The Counts (3)

Personnel :

Harry White (Waller)

Earl Graves

Joseph L Haynesworth Jr.

Glouze ?

Discography :

The Twisters (4)
1961 - Please Come Back / This Is The End (Sun-Set 501)

The Counts( 3)
1961 - Twist'N All Night / Touch-Me (Sun-Set 502)

Biography :

Sun-Set was a tiny label that only issued two singles. Two singles by the same group, but under two different names, The Counts & The Twisters…

The Counts (3) aka The Twisters (4)

Songs :

The Twisters (4)

Please Come Back This Is The End

The Counts (3)

Touch-Me Twist'N All Night

...

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The Capitols (3)

Posted on March 21 2018 by dion1

Kurtis Scott "Kurt Harris"

The Capitols (3) (Brooklyn NY)

Personnel :

Nathaniel "Butch" Epps (Lead)

Billy Hall (First Tenor)

Eddie Jacobs (Second Tenor)

Clarence Collins (Baritone) replaced By Bruce…

Kurtis Scott "Kurt Harris" (Bass)

Discography :

The Capitols (3)
1958 - Angel Of Love / Cause I Love You (Pet 807)

The Charmers (with Nathaniel "Butch" Epps & Kurtis Scott)
Unreleased :
1956 - Letter Of Love
1956 - Did You Receive The Letter

Biography :

Curtis Futch Jr. was born in Elonia, Georgia. And he was raised in Briswick, GA. At an early age he landed in Brooklyn NY. He began singing as a young kid. Kurtis first sang with a group called the Charmers in 1955, at the tender age of 13. One of those aggregations that started in schools, the members were: Kurtis Harris (bass), Nathaniel "Butch" Epps (lead; also known as "Little John"),Jose Harris (first tenor), and Kenny Harris (baritone; Kurtis' brother). The Charmers played local dances and also recorded a couple of songs at Brooklyn's Polk Studios, but "Letter Of Love" and "Did You Receive The Letter" were never issued. The aggregation didn't last long, however, since Butch Epps (also 13) was sent to a correctional facility in Goshen, New York. When Epps was released, he became a member of the Chips (of "Rubber Biscuit" fame), along with Kinrod Johnson, whom he'd met at the Goshen facility. Kurtis occasionally appeared with them as a fill-in member.

The Capitols (3)
The Chips : Nathaniel "Butch" Epps (top Left)

After the Chips had broken up, Kurtis and Butch took to hanging around 1697 Broadway (the CBS Building),where they were able to encounter other singers looking for that big break. Soon, first tenor Billy Hall, second tenor Eddie Jacobs, and baritone Clarence Collins joined with Kurtis and Butch to form the Capitols. Their first manager was Richard Barrett, (former lead of the Valentines) before switched managers to Marvin Herman. The Capitols sang songs by the Dells, the Penguins, the Velours, and the 5 Keys. However, most of their material was self-penned. They played a lot of dances. They did a show at the Apollo with Dr. Jive. before Clarence Collins left the Capitols to join the Chesters. His place in the Capitols was taken by someone named Bruce. Kurtis met Don Carter (owner of Pet Records) in Goody's Record Shop. Kurtis had known Carter from his time in the Chips and they soon agreed that the Capitols would record for Pet. Sometime in October or November 1958, the Capitols recorded a couple of songs at the Walter Scott Studios in the CBS Building, both led by Nathaniel "Butch" Epps: "Angel Of Love" (with Kurtis' stuttering bass) and "Cause I Love You." Kurtis then turned to solo work, having releases on Josie and Diamond (as "Kurt Harris").
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Capitols/capitols.html

Songs : 

Angel Of Love Cause I Love You   

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