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

The Swans (2)

Posted on October 22 2017 by dion1

The Swans (2) (St Louis, Mo.)
aka The Swans Quartet

Personnel :

Leroy Boyer（Tenor）

Ernest Washington（Baritone）

Walter Harper (Falstto)

?

Discography :

The Faith Douglas Trio bb The Swans Quartet
1953 - For Dreams To Come True / Happy (Ballad 1000-1001)

The Swans (2)
1954 - You May Forgive Yourself / It's A Must (Ballad 1002/1003)
1955 - How Sentimental Can I Be / I’m Dressed Up To Cry (Ballad 1004/1005)
1954 – Night Train / It’s A Must (Ballad 1006)
1955 – Happy / Santa Claus Boogie Song (Ballad 1007)

Biography :

By the early 1950's Oscar Douglas Washington was working in St. Louis, Missouri, as a school teacher, guitar player and poet. He collaborated with saxophonist Jimmy Forrest and the composition "Night Train" become a number 1 R&B hit in 1952. Washington wrote many other songs and recorded under the name Faith Douglas. In 1953 he started the small independent Ballad record label. The label released a series of doo-wop singles, which had some regional success.

The Swans (2)

The first release in mid 1953 was Ballad #1000/1 by The Faith Douglas Trio bb The Swans Quartet "For Dreams Come True". This was followed by "You May Forgive Yourself" b/w "It's A Must " by The Swans on #1002/3. The Swans then recorded "How Sentimental Can I Be " and "I’m Dressed Up To Cry " for #1004/5, "It's A Must" with "Night Train" for #1006 and the seasonal "Santa Claus Boogie" b/w "Happy" was released as Ballad #1007. When the group Broke up, Leroy Boyer, Walter Harper, and Ernest Washington join the "Rex Middleton's Hi-Fi's."

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

It’s A Must / Night Train                  For Dreams To Come True / Happy


     It's A Must                              How Sentimental Can I Be


Santa Claus Boogie Song                   I'm Dressed Up To Cry

…

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The Gainors

Posted on October 19 2017 by dion1

The Gainors
Garnet Mimms

The Gainors (Philadelphia, PA)

Personnel :

Garnet Mimms (Lead)

Howard Tate

Sam Bell

Willie Combo

John Jefferson

Discography :

The Gainors
Singles :
1958 - The Secret / Gonna Rock Tonite (Cameo Parkway 151)
1958 - You Must Be An Angel / Follow Me (Cameo Parkway 156 / Red Top 110)
1959 - She's My Lollipop / A Message With Flowers (Mercury 71466)
1960 - She's Gone / Please Consider (Mercury 71569)
1960 - Nothing Means More To Me / I'm In Love With You ((Mercury 71630/71632)
1961 - This Is Perfect Moment / Where I Want To Be (Talley-Ho 102)
1961 - Tell Him / Darlin’ (Talley-Ho 105)

Garnet Mimms (bb The Gainors) (uncredited)
Unreleased :
N/A - I Love You*
N/A - Sapphire*
N/A - Too Marvelous To Be True*
N/A - You Don't Send Me Anymore*
N/A - How Long Will It Last**
N/A - Let It Live**
N/A - My Heart Cries For You**
N/A - Shrimp Boats**
*released on the Guest Star LP G-1907 / GS-1907 in 1961
**released on the Grand Prix LP K-424 / KS-424 in 1963

Biography :

The Gainors (formerly the Bel-Aires) who scored regionally their first time out-the-box in 1958 on Red Top Records with "The Secret," were Garnett Mimms, Howard Tate, Sam Bell, Willie Combo, and John Jefferson. Mimms formed the group in Philadelphia (where he was raised) after a stint in the Air Force; born Garrett Mimms in Ashland, WV, his family relocated to Philly where he got his start singing gospel with the Evening Stars, the Harmonizing Four, and the Norfolk Four who he cut his first record with in 1953.

Howard Tate

Howard Tate, the group's other illustrious member, was born in Macon, GA, and previously sang with the Bill Doggett Band. Sam Bell, became a songwriter of some note, writing for the late Lorraine Ellison, Tate (as a solo act), Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters, and others. "The Secret" was their most successful record, but a cover by Gordon McCrae sold even better, making the lower echelons of the charts while the Gainors' rendition failed to register nationally. Red Top followed it with a sweet ballad "You Must Be an Angel," a lesser local/regional hit but a hot item if you can find the original Red Top 45, going for around 500 smackers. Cameo Records picked up both Red Top singles in an attempt to bust 'em nationally.

Garnett Mimms

The quintet signed with Mercury Records from 1959-1960 and added three more singles, albeit unsuccessful, to their discography: "She's My Lollipop," "Please Consider," and "I'm in Love With You" b/w "Nothing Means More to Me." Two more droppings on Tally-Ho Records in 1961 -- "This Is the Perfect Moment" b/w "Where I Want to Be" and "Tell Him" b/w "Darlin" -- completed the Gainors brief history. They never had a national hit or even one that got as far as the Midwest despite the singing ability of Mimms and Tate. In 1963, Mimms formed Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters with Sam Bell, Charles Boyer, and Zola Pearnell.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

       The Secret                      Gonna Rock Tonite                 You Must Be An Angel


Follow Me                     She's My Lollipop                          She's Gone


Nothing Means More To Me        I'm In Love With You          This Is Perfect Moment


    Where I Want To Be                   Tell Him                     A Message With Flowers


Please Consider                       Darlin’                                   I Love You


         Sapphire                  Too Marvelous To Be True         You Don’t Send Me Anymore


How Long Will It Last                        Let It Live                 My Heart Cries For You

Shrimp Boats

…

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The Rubies (1)

Posted on October 18 2017 by dion1

The Rubies (1)

The Rubies (1) (New York)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1961 - He Was An Angel / He's Mine (Empress 103)

Biography :

The Valmor Record Company was started in the fall of 1960 in New York City. It was a division of Countess, International, and owned and run by Gene and Jody Malis . Gene, a businessman, and the musically oriented Jody had started the Finesse label in New York in 1959. The Finesse label folded the same year it began.

The Rubies (1)

In 1961, Valmor opened a subsidiary label, Empress. A group called the Rubies signed with them. The Rubies recorded "He Was An Angel" b/w "He's Mine" released in September 1961. The Empress label lasted for eight singles or so, and did not put out any albums.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

He Was An Angel He's Mine

…

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The Velvetones (3)

Posted on October 10 2017 by dion1

Walter Jackson

The Velvetones (3) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Walter Jackson (lead)

Ronald Head

Neil Magby

Bobby Jones

Mary Nicholson

 Discography :

 1959 - Who Took My Girl / Stars Of Wonder (Deb 1008)

Biography :

Walter Jackson began singing in local groups whilst attending High School when His family relocated to Michigan. Walter had been crippled by polio as a child, and spent much of his life on crutches, although he never saw himself as a disabled person, however, his disability did contribute to a very personal and distinctive Soulful delivery. By 1959, Walter had become a member of the vocal group the Velvetones with Ronald Head, Neil Magby, Bobby Jones and Mary Nicholson , who recorded the song 'Who Took My Girl' b/w 'Stars Of Wonder' for the Deb Records imprint.

Walter Jackson

Walter returned to solo recording following the demise of the group, and, at the age of 24, he was persuaded by Carl Davis to leave Detroit and head for Chicago, following Carl attending a show at Detroit's 20 Grand Club and seeing Walter perform there. Carl was the head of A & R for Columbia's subsidiary, the OKeh label. Walter signed with OKeh in 1962, where he stayed for six years.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Stars Of Wonder Who Took My Girl

…

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The Scuzzies

Posted on October 9 2017 by dion1

The Scuzzies (Click on Photo)

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The Co-Eds (1)

Posted on October 5 2017 by dion1

The Co-Eds (1)

The Co-Eds (1) (New York)

Personnel :

Gwen Edwards (Lead)

Discography :

1956 – Love You Baby All The Time / I Beg Your Forgiveness (Old Town 1027)
1957 – I Love An Angel / I’m In Love (Old Town 1033)

Biography :

New York vocal group consisting of two women and three men. They signed a recording contract with Old Town Records owned by Hyman Y. "Hy" Weiss. The Co-eds recorded two singles for Old Town Records. Old Town Records, was established in August 1953 and was active until 1966. The company took its name, and its early stationery, from that of a wholesale paper business based in the same building. Weiss took sole control of the label in 1956.

The Co-Eds (1)

He was primarily a producer of doo wop groups, as well as blues music. Old Town had its first hit with the 1958 single "We Belong Together" by Robert & Johnny, and had further hits by Billy Bland, the Solitaires, the Capris, the Earls, and others. Arthur Prysock was the label's primary album artist. The Old Town catalog was sold by Weiss to Atlantic Records in 1970.

Songs :


Love You Baby All The Time                     I Beg Your Forgiveness


I’m In Love                                       I Love An Angel

…

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The Gee Sisters

Posted on September 29 2017 by dion1

The Gee Sisters

The Gee Sisters (Forest Hills, NY)

Personnel :

Barbara Gross

Annette Gross

Discography :

1962 - (Help Me) Telstar / Andy (Palette 5101)

Biography :

The Gee sisters were Barbara (13) and Annette (17) Gross . The girls were from Forest Hills, NY.. In 1962, they recorded "(Help Me) Telstar" and "Andy".

The Gee Sisters

The record was first issued on Palette around August of 1962, then a record deal was struck with Hickory a couple months later. Notice the title has changed a little from Palette to Hickory. "Telstar (Help Me)" to "(Help Me) Telstar." This disc was also released in Australia on their Festival label.

Songs :

Andy (Help Me) Telstar

…

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The Treytones aka The Trey Tones

Posted on September 27 2017 by dion1

The Treytones (Wooster, OH)
aka The Trey Tones

Personnel :

Bob Musselman

John Buss

Sylvester "Vester" Copley

Discography :

The Treytones
1960 - Blind Date / Cool Beat (B-W 603/604)

The Trey Tones
1964 - Nonymous / Dream Lover (Sunliner 101)

Biography :

The Trey Tones (also spelled Treytones) started as a 3 member vocal group. The group members were Bob Musselman, John Buss, and Sylvester "Vester" Copley. The group performed locally backed by fellow Woosterites the Collegians. In 1960 the group recorded their 1st 45 for the B-W label. The record was recorded at Hilltop studios, with the Collegians backing. Actually, BW Records was two labels. Quentin Welty, a long time producer, promoter, manager and agent for rock, gospel & country bands, was also a long time advertising salesman for WWST radio in Wooster.

Welty started BW Records in 1961. The named comes from the combination of Welty and (Dana) Burns, who was a former partner of Welty’s but had no financial interest in the label. The subsidiary label connected to BW Records and owned by Welty was the Wel Burn label that primarily produced country music but the output was minimal. "Blind Date" b/w "Cool Beat" was the second 45 on B-W. The songs were pretty typical teen vocal group songs, the slower ballad "Blind Date" written by Musselman, and the more uptempo "Cool Beat" written by Copley. The group continued to perform, eventually merging with a band to form a self contained Trey Tones.

The Treytones aka The Trey Tones

In early 1964 the group unleased one of the craziest early rockers from the area, the now infamous "Nonymous". With a Bo Diddley like beat, the song included lyrics like "look like she's lost a hatchet fight"! The flip side was their version of the Bobby Darin classic "Dream Lover". The group disbanded around 1965. Bob Musselman continued to be a part of the Apperson/Welty orbit, with songwriting and production credits on some mid 1960s 45s. He is deceased. The other members whereabouts are not known.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Blind Date Cool Beat

Dream Lover / Nonymus

...

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The Starlighters (2)

Posted on September 25 2017 by dion1

The Starlighters (2) (Washington, D.C.)
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Van McCoy

Freddy Smith

Paul (Buddy) Comedy

Norman McCoy Jr

Discography :
Singles:
1958 - It's Twelve O'Clock / The Birdland (End 1031)
1959 - I Cried / You're The One To Blame (End 1049)
1960 - A Story Of Love / Let's Take A Stroll (End 1072)
Unreleased :
N/A - ICome Back To Me*
N/A - So True*
*released in 1979 on the VAM LP 4079

Biography :

Van McCoy was born as Van Allen Clinton McCoy in Washington D.C. on January 1940, by his mid teens he formed a vocal group with his brother Norman McCoy, Fred Smith, Paul Comedy & Bernard Wisenant called the Starlighters. Van became the lead singer, writer, and music director for the group. In 1958, The Starlighter cut their first single with both sides written by Van for New York's George Goldner End Records "The Birdland" the B side was "It's Twelve O'Clock".

The Starlighters (2)
Van McCoy

The group appeared on stage in Washington, D.C. (Howard Theater), Philadelphia (Royal) and New York (Apollo). Vi Burnsides, a musician from the famous Sweethearts of Rhythm all female band, took the Starlighters with her to enhance her performance tours on the east coast corridor. This gave them their first exposure to audiences in theaters and stages in major cities away from home. George Goldner must have really liked the group cause their second single "You're The One To Blame" backed by "I Cried" was released in 1959.

The Starlighters (2)

The single was reviewed on June 20, 1959 receiving Excellent 4 stars. By 1960, the final Starlighters single came out on End with "The Story of Love" and "Let's Take a Stroll". Actually Van Was a student at Howard University for a couple of years but in 1961 he decided to start a record label based out originally Philadelphia called Rock'N.

Songs :


The Birdland                It's Twelve O'Clock                        I Cried


You're The One To Blame               A Story Of Love                        Let's Take A Stroll

Come Back To Me / So True

…

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The El Domingos (1)

Posted on September 20 2017 by dion1

The El Domingos

The El Domingos (1) (Elmont N.Y.)

Personnel :

Ernie Edgerson (Lead & First Tenor)

Roland Pickney (Lead & First Tenor)

Ted Dralus (Lead & Second Tenor)

Don Bencivegna (Baritone)

Sherman Walker (Bass)

Discography:

1962 - Lucky Me, I'm In Love / Made In Heaven (Chelsea 1009/Candelite 418)

Biography :

The El Domingos were from Elmont N.Y., Graduated Sewanhaka H.S. in Floral Park N.Y. on Long Island. Originally know as the Spin-Tones, The group was discovered by Bert Salmirs and Wally Zober, Producers, songwriters and owners of Chelsea Records.The group consisted of bass Sherman Walker, baritone Don Bencivegna, Lead & first tenor Ernie Edgerson, Lead & second tenor Ted Dralus and Lead & first tenor Roland Pickney.

In October 1958 the El Domingos recorded in N.Y.C. "Lucky Me, I'm In Love" and "Made In Heaven", Both written by Bert Salmirs and Wally Zober. The single was not released until 1962 on the Chelsea Label. The Single was re-issued on Candelite 418 a few years later. The Group Broke up in 1960 when Ted Dralus & Don Bencivegna enlisted in the service.

Songs :


Lucky Me, I'm In Love                      Made In Heaven

…

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