FIVE CROWNS (2) (CHUCK EDWARDS & THE)

 

The Five Crowns : Jerry Dudley, Douglas Rose, Steve Jackson, Eugene Jackson and Porky Burgess 

Chuck Edawards & The Five Crowns (2) (Canonsburg, PA)

Personnel :

Steve Jackson (Lead)

Eugene Jackson (First Tenor)

Douglas Rose (Second Tenor)

Porky Burgess (Baritone)

Jerry Dudley (Bass)

Discography :

Chuck Edwards & The Five Crowns (2)

1959 - If I Were A King / Lucy and Jimmy Got Married (Alanna 557)

Biography :

The Five Crowns were native sons of Canonsburg, PA. Formed in late 1956 the group consisted of Steve Jackson, lead, Eugene Jackson (no relation), first tenor, Douglas Rose, second tenor, Porky Burgess, baritone and Jerry Dudley, bass. Douglas Rose and Porky Burgess were members of the same church congregation as Steve? Paine Methodist, and after hearing his spiritual vocals they immediately urged him to join their group. By 1958, the Five Crowns were rehearsing polished a cappella renditions of tunes recorded by the Cadillacs, Platters and other artists. Chuck Edwards, brilliant guitarist and vocalist, resided in the same housing plan; he was awed by their a cappella presentations. He asked the Fellows if they would like to do several jobs with him and his band.

  

Chuck Edwards                                                                                               

Chuck Edwards approached the youngster with two song he had written. Since the fellows backed him up on club dates, Chuck wanted the group to arrange and do the background harmony.   About the same time, a man named Lee Barrett showed interest in them and soon became their manager. Lee and Chuck went to see Bill lawrence, operator of Alanna records. After hearing the Five Crowns, fronted by Chuck Edwards, Bill contracted them to cut two sides at Capitol records recording studio in New York. Chuck Edwards sang lead and played guitar on both tunes. "If I Were A King" b/w "Lucy and Jimmy Got Married" were issued on Alanna 557 during July of 1959. "If I Were A King" did very well in the Pittsburgh area. The prospect for any immediate success instantly disappeared and by 1961 the fellows mutually agreed to disband.

Songs :

If I Were A King / Lucy and Jimmy Got Married

FOUR BEL-AIRES (2) (LARRY LEE & THE) - FIVE BELL AIRES

 

The Five Bell Aires  (Hartford, CT.)

aka  Larry Lee & The Four Bel-aires (2)

 

Personnel :

Henry "Hawk" Hall  (Lead)

John  Hall (First Tenor)

Elijah "Prez" McKinney (Baritone)

James "Rock" Jenkins (Second Tenor)

Lewis Clayton (Bass )

 

Discography :

Larry Lee & The Four Bel-aires (2)

1959 - Can I Be In Love /  Stolen Love (M-Z 006)

Henry Hall & The Five Bell Aires

1959 - House Of Love (Unreleased)

1959 - My Friends (Unreleased)

1959 - I'm So Happy (Unreleased)

1959 - Come On to My Love House (Unreleased)

John Hall & The Five Bell Aires

1959 - Wedding Bells (Unreleased)

1959 - Come On Home (Unreleased)

 

Biography :

Henry "Hawk" Hall, usual lead singer, his cousin John (First Tenor), Elijah "Prez" McKinney (Baritone), James "Rock" Jenkins (Second Tenor), and Lewis Clayton (Bass ) called their group The Five Marvel Tones when they started  in 1954. They Changed  their name to the 5 Bell Aires (Inspired by the plethora of Car-named groups) .  They even won amateur night at the Apollo in Harlem two weeks in a row. Their loyal fans and members of other vocal groups who caught their act wondered why they didn't have a record out.

The 5 Bell Aires recorded 6 songs, they were first sung as rough demos in 1957, then recorded as finished masters probably in 1960 in Soyka's Somers, Ct studio.  Their Manager, John Rys almost consummated a deal with Hy Weiss at Old Town Records, but nothing finally happened… The Bell Aires did back Larry Lee (Larry Harper) Lead singer of The Embers,  on "Can I Be In Love"/ "Stolen Love" on the Local MZ label in the Fall of '59 (Henry Hall had been drafted, so they became the Four Bel-aires for MZ)

      

        The Embers (Larry Lee, Second from Left) 

The Bell Aire's  Elijah "Prez" McKinney with George Cruz (from the Fluorescents), Richard Reedy and Billy Surmolian Backed Larry Lee as The Serenaders, they cut demos in Hartford and in N.Y.C

 

Songs :

(Update By Hans-Joachim) 

Larry Lee & The Four Bel-aires (2)

   

Can I Be In Love                    Stolen Love

Henry Hall & The Five Bell Aires

   

             House Of Love                           My Friends                     

   

Come On to My Love House                  I'm So Happy             

John Hall & The Five Bell Aires

   

Come On Home                      Wedding Bells

FIVE DIAMONDS

The Five Diamonds (Wilmington, Delaware)

 

Personnel :

William Loper (Lead)

Leonard Griffin (1st tenor)

Coleman Griffin (2nd tenor)

Jimmy Smith (Baritone)

Chick Lloyd (Bass) 

 

Discography :

Single :

1955 - Ten Commandments Of Love / I Cried And Cried (Treat 501)

Unreleased :

1955 - The Night (Treat)

1955 - My Love (Treat)

 

Biography :

The Original group consisted of: Leonard Griffin, Jimmy Smith, William Loper, Coleman Griffin, and Chick Lloyd. They would see each other around Wilmington and quickly discovered they all shared a love for vocal group harmony. They listened to songs of other artists and would practice with the songs of The Harptones, Medallions, and  The Spaniels. They would practice in the bathroom at Howard High, where they all attended, because the ceramics and porcelain walls provided an echo chamber effect. Managed by Mitch Thomas, the Five Diamonds recorded four sides on the Treat label from New York. only “The Ten Commandment of Love,”and  “I Cried and Cried,” were released in 1955. The other two tunes, “The Night” b/w “My Love,” were not release on a Treat Records 45rpm until 1973. "Ten Commandments of Love” became an instant hit on the Treat Label out of New York City. They opened for Dee Clark, Lloyd Price, Jackie Wilson and Muddy Waters and performed at many venues. The group once performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City. The group broke up when some members entered the Military. In 1958 The group reformed with a few new members and became “The Five Gents”. They continued to perform at many different venues and were singing R & B classics from the 50s and 60.

 

Songs :

  

Ten Commandments Of Love                   I Cried And Cried          

  

The Night                                    My Love

FIVE WINGS (1) - CHECKERS (2)

 

Three of the Five Wings (L to R)  Billy Carlisle, Richard Blandon & Tomy Gratte

The Five Wings (1) (Harlem, New York)
aka The Checkers (2)

ref  The Dubs
ref  The Scale-Tones
ref  The Marvels (1)


Personnel :


Jackie Rue (Lead)

Billy Carlisle (Second Tenor)

Frank Edwards (Tenor)

Melvin Flood (Baritone)

Tommy Grate (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Five Wings (1)
Singles :
1955 - Johnny Has Gone / Johnny's Still Singing (King 4778)
1955 - Rock-A-Locka / Teardrops Are Falling (King 4781)
Unreleased :
1955 - Middle Of The Night (King)

Billy Nelson bb the Five Wings (1)
Singles :
1955 - Walk Along / Pack-Shack And Stack Your Blues Away (Savoy 1183)
Unreleased :
1955 - Angel Time (Savoy)
1955 - Hurry Up Honey (Savoy)
1955 - My Gal (Savoy)

The Checkers (2)
1959 - Rock-A-Locka / Teardrops Are Falling (King 5199)

 

Biography :

Second tenor Billy Carlisle and bass singer Tommy Grate (brother of Dovers' lead Miriam Grate) were members of a local vocal group from Harlem called the Five Wings. Along with lead singer Jackie Rue (later of Jackie and the Starlites) tenor Frank Edwards (who replaced Bobby Johnson in the Dovers in 1959), and baritone Melvin Flood, the quintet had recorded two songs on the King Records label on February 2nd 1955; "Johnny Has Gone" and "Johnny's Still Singing", both tributes to the recently deceased recording artist Johnny Ace. On the 18th, they had their second King session, at which they recorded "Teardrops Are Falling" and "Rock-A-Locka." These were released in March. The Same sides were re-released in 1959 as by the "Checkers," on King 5199.

  
   Frank Edwards                                                           Frank Edwards with The Dovers
 
But when those sides, as well as the two first  failed to attract attention, Rue, Edwards, and Flood quit the outfit and Kenny "Butch" Hamilton was recruited to replace Edwards.  Richard Blandon, a cousin of Carlisle and a lead singer who had just been discharged from the U.S. Air Force, came to visit with Carlisle and ended up fronting the Five Wings. In November 1955, Hiram Johnson got the Wings one last session, backing up blues singer Billy Nelson. Although the label credits the 5 Wings, the only voices backing up Nelson were Carlisle, Grate, and Hamilton. Billy Carlisle, Tommy Grate and Richard Blandon joined the Dubs in 1957.

 

Songs :

The Five Wings (1)

  
       Johnny Has Gone / Johnny's Still Singing                      Rock-A-Locka                     


Teardrops Are Falling


Billy Nelson bb the Five Wings

  
Walk Along / Pack-Shack And Stack Your Blues Away       Hurry Up Honey / My Gal       

UNIQUES (2) - FIVE THRILLS (2)

  

The Five Thrills (2) (Port Chester, NY)

aka The Uniques (2) 

Personnel :

Arthur Epps (Lead Tenor)

Curtis Smith (First Tenor)

Richard Welch (Second Tenor)

Ben Peterson (Baritone)

Benjamin Todd (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Uniques (2)

Single :

1958 - Tell The Angels / Hey, Little Cupid (End 1012)

The Five Thrills (2)

Unreleased:

1957 - Hey, Little Cupid (End)

1957 - Tell The Angels (End)

1957 - Love Express (End)

1957 - Pretty As A Rose (End)

 

Biography :

The group consisted of Arthur Epps as lead singer, Benjamin Todd as bass, Curtis Smith as first tenor, Richard Welch as second tenor and Ben Peterson sang baritone. They all lived in Port Chester, New York. They were all 18 or 19 years old and Harvey Katz was their manager.1958 was a banner year for END Records. In 1958, the Uniques, previously known as the Five Thrills, recorded "Hey,' Little Cupid" and "Tell The Angels" on the END Label (END #1012), just after the Chantels recorded "Maybe" (END # 1005).

   

Later that year, Little Anthony and the Imperials recorded their first record on END, “Tears on My Pillow”. "(END # l027). The Flamingos recorded “Lovers Never Say Goodbye” (END # 1035). In late 1957, while they were the "Five Thrills", the group recorded four unreleased songs, including another version of  "Hey, Little Cupid" and "Tell The Angels” as well as "Love Express" and "Pretty As A Rose".

 

Songs:

The Uniques (2)

   

Tell The Angels / Hey, Little Cupid

The Five Thrills (2)

      

Hey, Little Cupid                 Pretty As A Rose                  Tell The Angels

Love Express