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

The Keystoners

Posted on December 2 2017 by dion1

The Keystoners

The Keystoners (Philadelphia, PA)

Personnel :

Norman Smith (Lead)

Nathaniel "Mitch" Jackson (First Tenor)

Al Singleton (Baritone)

Goliath James (Bass)

Discography :

1956 – The Magic Kiss / After I Propose (Epic 9187/ Okeh 7210)
1956 – Magic kiss / I’d Write About The Blues (G&M 102)
1961 – Sleep & Dream / T.V. Girl (Riff 202)
1984 – I’ll Allways Remenber / I Don’t Know Why (Starbound 501)
1984 – That’s Why I Dream / Say Always (Starbound 502)
1988 – It’s Too Soon To Know / Hey Girl (I'm Really Over You) (Starbound 509)
1991 – It’s Never Too Soon / Little Darlin’ (Starbound 512)
1991 – My Heart Beats Again / You’re All I Want For Christmas (Starbound 514)
1992 – Therm There Eyes / Sweet Was The Wine (Starbound 516)
1992 – Gossip / Call My name (Starbound 515)

Biography :

The Keystoners’ Norman Smith and Mitch Jackson were singing on Philadelphia street corners before doo-wop began. Smith and Jackson were teenagers singing spirituals and silky pop songs from the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots. Then they heard Sonny Til and the Orioles, the Baltimore group that started the vocal-harmony craze with a 1948 song, “Too Soon to Know.” Til had taken the traditional four-part gospel harmony and added a lead tenor and a bluesy feel.

The Keystoners

Smith, Jackson and three other guys copied the Orioles’ R&B style in a group they called the Ford Brothers, after two of their members. The Ford Brothers appeared each Sunday night on The Parisian Taylor Kiddie Hour radio show, broadcast live from the old Royal Theater at 16th and South Streets. Their biggest moment was playing Harlem’s Apollo Theater one amateur night. The Korean War broke up the group. After the war, the group got Alfred Singleton, dropped other guys, and became the Paragons. Around 1955, in honor of their native state, they took the name the Keystoners.

The Keystoners

They made “The Magic Kiss” for a local record producer, Herman Gillespie. Epic Records bought the rights for national distribution, and the quartet – Smith, Jackson, Singleton and a bass singer named Goliath James – went to New York to rerecord the song. Their voices were stronger then: Jackson, the high tenor, had to stand in another room while singing because he was too piercing for the studio microphone. By 1958, they decided to quit music. For reasons they never understood, their record suddenly quit getting airplay. Their follow-up record, “After I Propose,” never got started. For 25 years, the Keystoners turned their attention to families and jobs. Smith was a meat inspector with the Department of Agriculture. Jackson was a machinist. Singleton is a former postal worker. Then they all met and started playing as a tribute to the golden days.

Songs :


The Magic Kiss                       After I Propose


I’d Write About The Blues                      Sleep & Dream


I’ll Allways Remenber                          Gossip

Videos :

Therm There Eyes

…

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Ginger & The Chiffons (3)

Posted on November 28 2017 by dion1

Ginger & The Chiffons (3) (New York)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

Single :
1962 - She / Where Were You Last Night? (Groove 58 003)

Unreleased :
1962 - Happy Blue (Groove)
1962 - Run (Run Away From Him)(Groove)

Biography :

This group from New York had no connection to the later girl group, also called The Chiffons, who became famous in the mid-1960s with the huge hit songs "One Fine Day", Big Talkin' Guy" and "He's So Fine". In 1962, Groove Records released "She" b/w "Where Were You Last Night?" both written by Blagman & Bobrick. Norman Blagman & Sam Bobrick seem to be remembered for their Mad Magazine connection but they were also writers and producers for various pop and soul artists in New York.

Ginger & The Chiffons (3)

Groove Records was a subsidiary of RCA Victor records, founded by Billboard reporter Bob Rolontz in 1953 as an R&B label. The label had excellent session musicians, so a record on this label usually has good musicianship, even when the artist is an unknown. Piano Red scored the first minor hit for Groove, but Mickey & Sylvia were its only highly successful artist. The label also recorded King Curtis, Arthur Crudup, Brook Benton and little George Benson. One strong and very under-rated artist on the label is Varetta Dillard, an impressive R&B vocalist.

Songs :

She Where Were You Last Night?

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The Concords (2) aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)

Posted on November 26 2017 by dion1

The Concords (2) aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)

The Concords (2) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)

Personnel :

Dickie Goldman (Lead)

Mike Lewis (First tenor)

Murray Moshe (Second Tenor)

Charles Presti (Baritone)

Steve Seider (Bass)

Discography :

The Concords (2)
Singles :
1961 - The Boy Most Likely / Again (RCA 47-7911)
1961 - Cross My Heart / Our Last Goodbye (Gramercy 304)
1962 - My Dreams / Scarlet Ribbons (Gramercy 305)
1962 - Away / One Step From Heaven (Rust 5048)
1962 - Marlene / Our Love Wasn't Meant To Be (Herald 576)
1962 - Cold And Frosty Morning / Don't Go Now (Herald 578)
1964 - It's Our Wedding Day / Should I Cry (Epic 9697)
1970 - I Feel A Love Comin' On / Down The Aisle Of Love (Polydor 14036/Boom 60021)
1970 - I Feel A Love Comin' On / Down The Aisle Of Love* (Polydor PD2-14036) *alt. vers.
Unreleased :
1964 - Tonight (Epic)

Wallie Hawkins bb The Concords (2)
1960 - First Date / Hog Tied (Joy 248)

Ginny Michels bb The Concords (2)
1962 - True Confession / Ev'ryone Was There But You (Mala 446)

Neal Scott bb The Concords (2)
1962 - Run To Me / Tomboy (Comet 2151)
1963 - One Piece Bathing Suit / Little Girl (Herald 581)

Sue Kenny bb The Concords (2)
1963 - Look / A Fool In Love (Tribute 118)

Joel Grayson bb The Concords (2)
1963 - No More / My True Story    (Riverside 4557)

Ricky Lisi bb The Concords (2)
1963 - The River / Don't Go Now (Roulette 4511)

The Sherwoods (3)
1963 - Cold And Frosty Morning / True Love Was Born (With Our Last Goodbye) (Dot 16540)

The Snowmen
1964 - Cold & Frosty Morning / You Started It (Herald 597)

Lisa & The Lullabies bb The Concords (2) (uncredited)
1964 - He's So Good / Why Do I Cry (Coed 589)

Biography :

Formed in 1959 in the Brighton Beach enclave of Brooklyn, New York, USA. They named their group the “Concords” a Spanish word for “with cords.” The group started as the Con-Chords but later they became the “Concords” because their original label (RCA) spelled it that way and they stuck with it.The Concords' membership originally teamed Mike Lewis (lead and tenor), Dickie Goldman (lead and tenor), Murray Moshe (baritone), Charles "Chippy" Presti (second tenor) and Steve Seider (bass). Signed by RCA Records, the Concords made their debut with a vocal group standard, "Again".

The Concords (2) aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)

The group did an uptempo version with Mike Lewis on lead. The record was arranged by the legendary Teacho Wiltshire who produced a number of great records for RCA. The record was not well-produced technically with too little bass and too much treble. The record was a “pick hit” of disc jockey Murray. This resulted in some publicity for the group and they later did some shows for Murray. The group also performed a memorable show at Stern’s Department store in Manhattan along with Santo and Johnny. Songwriter Stu Wiener then took them to his father's Gramercy Records label, where they released two singles, "Cross My Heart" and "My Dreams".

The Concords (2) aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)
Neal Scott Tne Concords

After losing Goldman and deciding to continue as a quartet, they recorded “Away“ b/w “One Step From Heaven“ on Rust Records in 1962, before finding a more permanent home at Herald Records. Their most successful single, "Marlene", followed, which became a major regional hit in the north-west, and led to them performing in Detroit with the Supremes. Their second single on Herald “Cold And Frosty Morning“ was also released as The Snowmen and was sold to Dot who released it under the name of the Sherwoods. The group did a lot of backup work wile under the management of Stu Weiner for artists such as Sue Kenny, Joel Grayson, Ginny Michels, Wally Hawkins, Ricky Lisi and Neil Scott. However, it was not enough to dampen disquiet in the ranks and the Concords broke up in 1963.

The Concords (2) aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)

Lewis briefly formed the Planets but returned to a reshuffled Concords in 1964, wherein he and Seider were joined by Teddy Graybill (ex-Stardrifts), Sal Tepedino (ex-Travelers) and Bobby Ganz. A new contract with Epic Records led to the release of "Should I Cry", although Lewis and Wiener enjoyed more success with their production of Roddie Joy's "Come Back Baby". A remake of the Quintones' "Down The Aisle Of Love" was the final Concords single in 1966, with only Lewis remaining in the music industry thereafter .

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Concords (2)


The Boy Most Likely                   Again                                 Cross My Heart


Our Last Goodbye                    My Dreams                          Scarlet Ribbons


Away                     One Step From Heaven                    Marlene


Our Love Wasn't Meant To Be    Cold And Frosty Morning             Don't Go Now


It's Our Wedding Day                  Should I Cry                    I Feel A Love Comin' On


Down The Aisle Of Love                Tonight (unrel.)                         Away (alt.)

Down The Aisle Of Love (Polydor alt. vers.)

Wallie Hawkins bb The Concords (2)


First Date                               Hog Tied

Ginny Michels bb The Concords (2)


True Confession            Ev'ryone Was There But You

Neal Scott bb The Concords (2)


Run To Me                      Tomboy


One Piece Bathing Suit                  Little Girl

Sue Kenny bb The Concords (2)


Look                          A Fool In Love

Ricky Lisi bb The Concords (2)


Don't Go Now                                         The River

Joel Grayson bb The Concords (2)


My True Story                         No More

Lisa & The Lullabies bb The Concords (2)

He's So Good Why Do I Cry

…

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The Calendars (2)

Posted on November 25 2017 by dion1

The Calendars (2)
Leonard Puzey & Ollie Jones

The Calendars (2) (Brooklyn, New York)

Personnel :

Cecil Davis (Lead)

Leonard Puzey (Second Tenor)

Ollie Jones (Second Tenor)

R.Hawes (Bass)

Discography :

1961 - I'm Gonna Laugh At You / You're Too Fast (Coed 564)

Biography :

The Calendars were a doo wop group formed in Canarsie Brooklyn. Members were Cecil Davis, Leonard Puzey, Ollie Jones and C Hawes (Ollie Jones & Leonard Puzey were formerly in the Ravens). "I'm Gonna Laugh At You" was mastered in December of 1961 and released on January 1962. Unfortunately this great tune was not promoted the proper way.

The Calendars (2)

Ollie Jones & Leonard Puzey

Coed records was busy promoting other artists such. Adam Wade, The Duprees, The Crests, The Riveras etc. and basically by the early 1962 this song was ignored. It is a shame that it didn't received the proper air play that it deserved. Some people think that George Paxton owner of Coed records had little bit of money at that time to promote this record.

Songs :

I'm Gonna Laugh At You You're Too Fast

…

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The Gardenias (1)

Posted on November 24 2017 by dion1

Luther Ingram

The Gardenias (1) (Alton, IL.)   

Personnel :

Luther Thomas Ingram (Lead)

Archie Ingram

Richard Ingram

Connie Perry

Lawrence Witherspoon

Discography :

Single:
1956 - My Baby's Tops / Flaming Love (Federal 12284)

Unreleased :
1956 - (All Alone And) Miserable (Federal)
1956 - You Found The Time (Federal)

Biography :

Born in Jackson, Tennessee on November 30, 1937 and raised in the southern Illinois town of Alton from age 10, Luther Ingram started out singing gospel in The Midwest Crusaders before veering into doo-wop with The Gardenias, which included his brothers Archie and Richard, Connie Perry and Lawrence Witherspoon. On September 13, 1956, the Gardenias went to the Federal Studios in Cincinnati to record four songs: "My Baby's Tops", "Flaming Love", "(All Alone And) Miserable", and "You Found The Time". All leads were handled by Luther and they were backed by Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm. Federal released only “My Baby’s Tops” b/w “ Flaming Love”.

The Gardenias (1)

There was nothing much happening with the Gardenias in 1957, They still occasionally appeared with Ike Turner, and even though they were still singing gospel as the Midwest Crusaders. Soon, the group simply fell apart. Luther moved to New York and became a songwriter working with producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. His first solo recording came on Decca records in 1965, “You Never Miss Your Water” b/w “Ain’t That Nice”. After a few more unsuccessful recordings, he moved on to the Koko label, an obscure subsidiary of Stax records, and re-launched his solo career.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Gardenias/gardenias.html

Songs :


   My Baby's Tops                                 Flaming Love


You Found The Time                     (All Alone And) Miserable

…

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The Wonders (5)

Posted on November 24 2017 by dion1

The Wonders (5) (Akron,OH.)

Personnel :

Fred Kalail (Lead)

Wade Haddad (Tenor)

Ron Kalail (Baritone)

Harvey Russell (Bass)

Discography :

The Wonders (5)
1957 - Well Now / Cuttin' Out (Reserve 122)
1959 - I'll Write A Book / Hey Senorita (Ember 1051)

Harvey Russell
1963 - Out of My Teens / Cuttin' Out (Vicki 638)

The Wonders (5)

Biography :

Harvey Russell began writing songs upon returning to Akron in 1955 after serving in the Air Force. With Fred Kalail (Lead), Wade Haddad (Tenor) and Ron Kalail (Baritone), they formed a group called the Wonders. They wrote a song called Cuttin' Out and they took it to a radio station and they wanted to play it. In 1957, "Well Now" b/w "Cuttin' Out" was released on Reserve Records. The Wonders were more of a pop group in the style of the Four Lads or Crew Cuts. Yet they knew what was selling, so they waxed "I'll Write A Book" with a nice version of the penguins' classic "Hey Senorita" in the winter of 1959.

The Wonders (5)

The Wonders toured throughout the south and east for four years, but, according to Wade Haddad, never totally adapted to Rock and roll. Several members evolved into another band, playing Arabic music for Akron's large Middle-eastern constituency. In the early 60s Harvey Russell continued to sing 'solo'. He had a local hit with "Out of My Teens" on the Vicki label. In 1964 Harvey Russell started his own record label, Janie, named for his wife. He recorded a record of his own, but also released records by the Decades and Pacers. By 1965 he had decided to start singing for the teenage set, so he partnered with the Rogues, an Akron band who were pretty popular in the teen clubs.

Songs :

The Wonders (5)


Well Now                                             Cuttin' Out


I'll Write A Book                              Hey Senorita

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The Villette Sisters

Posted on November 18 2017 by dion1

The Villette Sisters
Elaine, Regina & MGM recording director Ray Ellis

The Villette Sisters (New York)

Personnel :

Elaine Villette

Regina Villette

Discography :

1960 - I Gave Him Back His Ring / The Rainbow (MGM 12928)

Biography :

Following success with the great French Star, Maurice Chevalier, Arnold Maxin (MGM president) has now packed a stunning pair of Parisian Teen-agers known as Les Soeurs Villette, Elaine and Regina. Aged 17 and 15, the sisters were discovered backstage at a Paris night Club by publisher and artist manager George Weiner. Weiner found the pair accomplished as Spanish guitarists, jugglers, dancers and singer. The Villette Sisters make appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show in the spring of 1960.

The Villette Sisters with MGM recording director Ray Ellis (left) and manager George Weiner.

George Weiner who manages them, brought the girls to the attention of Arnold Maxin who signed them to an MGM contract. The girls recorded pop songs “The Rainbow” and “I Gave Him Back His Ring.” The record was released in August 1960. It will be the only girls' single.

Songs :

The Rainbow

….

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The Barries

Posted on November 15 2017 by dion1

The Barries

The Barries (New Haven, Connecticut) 

 Personnel :

Jimmy O'connor (Lead)

Guy Villano (Tenor)

Al "Brush" Battista (Baritone)

Nickie Delano

Joe Marturiello "Big Joe" (Bass)

Discography :

1963 - Why Don't You Write Me / Mary Ann (Vernon 102)
1964 - Tonight, Tonight / Mary Ann (Ember 1101)
1965 - When You're Out Of School / The Loneliest Man In Town (Di-Nan 101)

Biography :

The Original Barries featured Guy Villano, Al "Brush" Battista, Nickie Delano (formally of Nickie and the Nobles), Joe Marturiello and Jimmy O'connor . "Tonight, Tonight" Remake of a song that had originally charted at #77 for the Mello-Kings in 1957 (as "Tonite, Tonite") were recorded in New York with just three members of the group : Jimmy O'connor on lead Guy Villano, tenor & Al Battista baritone doing base runs. They over dubed the background using Jimmy for the extra voice. At the same session they did 'Mary Ann" and "Why Don't You Write Me". New Haven’s sixteen year-old Richard Carpenter (Of the Carpenter) made his recording debut when he joined the Barries for their songs "Mary Ann" and "Why Don't You Write Me". Richard played piano on these recordings. "Mary Ann" and "Why Don't You Write Me" will be released by Vernon Records, a label from Connecticut.

Richard Carpenter

Al Silver owner of Ember Records got reports of some action and bought the master and released "Tonight, Tonight" b/w "Mary Ann". "Tonight, Tonight" Did not chart nationally in Billboard, but charted locally in the Top 20 in New Haven, Connecticut in March 1964. One of the more enduring and popular white doo-wops, the Barries version of "Tonight, Tonight" shows the Mello-Kings vastly overrated song for what it truly is. In 1964, Nickie Delano and Joe Marturiello left the group and Andy Smith joined the Barries.

Andy Smith, Guy Villano, Jimmmy O'Connor & Al Battista

The last release of the Barries will be released in 1965 with "When You're Out Of School" b/w "The Loneliest Man In Town", both tunes written by their new member Andy Smith. Andy Later recorded with the Frontiers (guitarist on their MGM label 45, "You" in '67) and then helped form another group called Beau Phenom, That group issued one single on the Co-Op label in 1969, "Call Off Life". Lead singer Jimmy O'Connor, would join up with teenagers who formed a group with members who resided in surrounding areas of New Haven, They called their group the Chosen Few. As if that were original! They also recorded for the Co-Op label, which was based out of Merle's Record Rack, a prolific and popular record shop formerly located on Chapel Street in downtown New Haven. 

Songs :


Why Don't You Write Me                           Mary Ann


    Tonight, Tonight                         The Loneliest Man In Town

When You're Out Of School

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The Storytellers (2) aka The Story Tellers (2)

Posted on November 12 2017 by dion1

Steve Barri & Carol Connors

The Storytellers (2) (Los Angeles)
aka The Story Tellers (2)
ref The Nortones

Personnel :

Steve Barri (Steven Barry Lipkin)

Carol Connors (Annette Kleinbard)

Cheryl Connors (Cheryl Kleinbard)

Discography :

The Story Tellers (2)
1962 - When Two People (Are In Love) / Time Will Tell (Dimension 1014)

The Storytellers (2)
1962 - When Two People (Are In Love) / Time Will Tell (Ramarca 501)
1961 - I Don't Want An Angel / Down In The Valley (Capitol 5042)

Biography :

Steve Barri was born Steven Barry Lipkin in Brooklyn, New York, on February 23, 1942. His family moved to California when he was just a child. He began his career as a songwriter. He submitted his songs to Screen Gems Music which was run by Lou Adler. Adler liked Barri's songs, and helped him get his first recording of a Barri original. Steve Barri teamed with Bernie Reed. Warner wrote "The Nortones, Bernie Reed and Steve Barry, The two 18-years-olds who comprise the group, play their own guitar accompaniment as well as write their own material". In May Their manager, Norty Beckman sends them to the studio were they record four songs. The same month, Warner released "Suzie Jones" / "That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles" as the Nortones.

Carol Connors Steve Barri

The single wasn't a hit but it was a way into the business for the newly minted music professional, and over the next few years Barri tried several other avenues of expression, including cutting a few records as a singer, all to no avail. In the early '60s he teamed up with Carol Connors. Carol Connors born Annette Kleinbard, 13 November 1940, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Based in Los Angeles, California, USA, Connors began her singing career under her birth name as a member of the Teddy Bears, a late 50s vocal group that also featured Phil Spector in its line-up. She then recorded singles for Imperial Records and Dunes Records as Annette Bard and Carol Collins respectively. Her first single under her own name, released in 1961, coupled ‘You Are My Answer’ with ‘My Diary’.

Carol Connors

Steve Barri and Carol Connors formed a trio, the Storytellers, with Connors' sister Cheryl, and their debut single on Dimension, "When Two People (Are in Love)," brought Barri back into the orbit of Lou Adler, who produced the record. This successful entrepreneur then paired Barri with protege (Phil) P.F. Sloan and together the new team began creating material for many of Adler's acts. Jan And Dean, Johnny Rivers and Terry Black were among those benefiting from Sloan/Barri songs, while the duo also recorded in their own right under various pseudonyms, notably the surfing act the Fantastic Baggys.

Discography :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)


When Two People (Are In Love)                       Time Will Tell


I Don't Want An Angel                                I Want Your Love


The Story Of The Ring

…

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Milton Thomas & The Escorts (4)

Posted on November 10 2017 by dion1

Milton Thomas & The Escorts (4)
The Escorts - from left : Milton Thomas, Jim Clark, Dennis Allen & Dick Lee

Milton Thomas & The Escorts (4) (Santa Monica, Ca.)
aka Dave Pesserallo & The 4 Escorts (1)

Personnel :

Milton Thomas (Lead)

Dennis Allen

Jim Clark

Dick Lee

Discography :

Milton Thomas & The Escorts (4)
1961 - Angel Of My Dream / Geri (Bi-Mi 101)

Dave Passerallo & The 4 Escorts (1)
1961 - Baby, Where Are You / By The Fire (Bi-Mi 102)

Biography :

The Escorts formed as a vocal group harmony group in 1960 while attending Santa Monica City College (Santa Monica, Ca.). The group consisted of Milton Thomas, Dennis Allen, Jim Clark and Dick Lee. They performed at school functions and other benefits until they felt ready to seek out a recording deal.

Milton Thomas & The Escorts (4)

With Milton Thomas as Lead, The group recorded "Angel Of My Dream" b/w "Geri". The single will be released on the tiny label Bi-Mi. The next single released by the label will be Dave Passerallo backed by the group renamed The 4 Escorts..

Songs :

Milton Thomas & The Escorts (4)

Angel Of My Dream

Dave Passerallo & The 4 Escorts (1)

Baby, Where Are You By The Fire

…

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