The Original Pageants with Rocco Galante on lead (center)
The Pageants (1) (Newark, New Jersey)
Personnel :
Tony "Dee" DuBella (Lead)
John Albanese
Vince Luciano
Sammy Ventola
Sibby ..?
Discography :
Tony Dee & The Pageants (1)
Single :
1961 - Saturday Romance / Make You My Queen (Du-Well 101/Arlen 731)
Unreleased:
1961 - Vickie Lee (Urania)
Paul Kirk & The Pageants (1)
1959 - Long Ago / Ready Little Steady (Urania 5006)
Biography :
Vocal group from Newark, New Jersey fronted in 1958 by Rocco Galante
with John Albanese, Vince Luciano, Sammy Ventola and Sibby... The
Pageants have been singing at school dances in the area for the past
year. Unfortunately, when they were ready to record, their lead singer,
Rocco Galante left the group. John Albanese recruited Tony DuBella to
replace it. In August 1959, Bill Nielsen, general manager of Urania
Records signed the Pageants and Paul Kirk, a young pop singer. Tony
DuBella, wrote both tunes for their first disk "Saturday Romance" and
"Vickie Lee".
The Pageants recorded the original version of "Saturday Romance" on
Urania Records in NY City with the flip side "Vickie Lee", however the
song never was released due to Urania going belly up. At the same
session The Pageants backed up Paul Kirk singing on "Long ago" and
"Ready Little Steady". Paul Kirk's record will be released the next
month while the Pageants will have to wait more than two years with
another flip side "Make You My Queen". The Single was released in
October 1961 by Du-Well Records in New York as Tony Dee & The
Pageants.
1963 - Linda Please Wait / Rainy Night (Dewey 101)
Unreleased :
1963 - Tears From An Angel (Dewey)
Biography :
As a teen, Elliot Chiprut and his neighbor, Gene (Chubby) Stabile,
had formed The Genells, and the duo wrote, produced and performed “Linda
Please Wait” and “Rainy Night.“ They have their own orchestra and
played in Night Clubs in New Jersey and New York. In 1962, The Genells
signed a production deal with The Tokens, a group made famous by “The
Lion Sleeps Tonight.“ Chiprut, who was 18 years old at the time of the
deal, said he and Stabile had to wait a year to find out The Tokens
would not be releasing “Linda Please Wait” and “Rainy Night.“ After
that letdown, Chiprut came to know nearly every inch of New York City’s
Brill Building, a historically prestigious location for those in the
music business. The Record will finally be released by Dewey Records in
1963.
While reading a music magazine one day, Chiprut spotted a picture of
childhood friend Jeffrey Katz, who was one half of Super K
Productions.“I had this little tape recorder and I played “Simon Says”
for him,” Chiprut said of a meeting with Katz. Things took off from
there, and Chiprut was hired to make music for major TV netw ork
productions including “Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter” and “The
Last Day of the War,” which aired on ABC and CBS, respectively.
A hit is a hit, however small and fleeting. Susan Leslie and her
singing friend Libby Redwine were in extremely good company when they
debuted on the final Hot 100 in 1962. Other newcomers to the list that
week included Paul & Paula, Sandy Stewart, the Rebels, Ned Miller
and the Chrystals, all of whom were destined for the top 20 and beyond.
Alas the youthful Los Angeles based duo was to stall at lowly #84
during their month on the charts with their Era records 45, "Little Tin
Soldiers". The label's 1968 reissue of The Toy Dolls' tremulous treasure
found fewer takers. Still, as someone once said, a little bit of
something beats o whole lot of nothing. Susan and Libby had made their
debut the year before on the same label with "(He Had) Pretty Eyes" b/w
"Bye, Bye, Bye " under the name of Libby & Sue.
1962 - Duke Of Earl / Kissin' In The Kitchen (Vee-Jay 416)
1962 - Walk On With The Duke / London Town (Vee-Jay 440)
1962 - Daddy's Home / The Big Lie (Vee-Jay 450)
1962 - I'll Follow You / You Left Me (Vee-Jay 455)
Biography :
Gene Chandler was born Eugene Drake Dixon in Chicago, Illinois, on
July 6, 1937. He attended Englewood High School on Chicago's south
side.[1] He began performing during the early 1950s with the band The
Gaytones. In 1957, he joined The Dukays, with James Lowe, Shirley Jones,
Earl Edwards and Ben Broyles (the unforgettable bass on "Duke of Earl) ,
soon becoming their lead singer. After his draft into the U.S. Army he
returned to Chicago in 1960 and rejoined the Dukays.
The Dukays were offered a recording contract by Nat Records and
recorded a single with producers Carl Davis and Bill "Bunky" Sheppard,
"The Girl Is a Devil" (1961). "The Girl Is a Devil," sold locally and
did a little business outside of Chicago in 1961. This was followed with
a session in August 1961 that resulted in four sides, most notably
"Nite Owl" and "Duke of Earl". Nat Records chose to release "Nite Owl"
and it became a sizeable R&B success at the end of 1961.
They were showstoppers live: everything about them was exciting,
especially Shirley Jones (Dixon's cousin), who stepped and blew notes
right along with the fellows, almost a funky edition of The Platters. In
December of 1961, Nat released their third single, "The Duke of Earl"
b/w "Kissin' in the Kitchen," and all hell broke loose. Meanwhile,
Davis and Sheppard shopped the "Duke of Earl" recording to Vee-Jay
Records company, which released it in 1962 by Dixon as a solo artist
with the name "Gene Chandler"(he adopted the surname from actor Jeff
Chandler and people always shortened his first name anyway). The Dukays
felt slighted, abused, and mistreated. Vee Jay didn't re-record the
song, but simply slapped their label on new pressings on the Nat
acetate.
1962 - Charles Davis , Earl Edwards, James Lowe & Margaret "Cookie" Stone
As
appeasement, Vee Jay signed the group to a separate deal and reissued
their second single "Nite Owl." Charles Davis (aka Nolan Chance)
replaced Chandler and Margaret "Cookie" Stone took over for Shirley
Jones, who quit. Vee Jay issued three singles by The Dukays, two in 1962
and one in 1963, but none of them clicked. They appeared uncredited on a
few of Chandler's solos, before he switched to Constellation Records,
the label that made him an R&B icon.
1964 - Claude McRae, James Lowe, Earl Edwards & Richard Dixon
Nearly
two years passed before The Dukays surfaced in November 1964 on the
Jerry-O label with "The Jerk." The new group featured Claude McRae
(lead), Richard Dixon, Earl Edwards, and James Lowe. In 1965, Jerry-O,
owned by Jerry J. Murray, issued the final Dukays single,
"Mellow-Fezneckey" b/w "Sho-Nuf M.F." (a scandalous title for the
times); neither did much business and they disbanded. Nolan Chance
recorded solo for Constellation and other labels, while Chandler carved a
stellar solo career.
The Romans, consisting of Tony Godino, Lenny Guarino and Ronnie
Serra, were a Pittsburgh-based trio that signed with Guyden Records on
July 7, 1960. They were appropriately named because they sang in both
Italian and English—in the same song. They also wrote their own songs
along with Louis Guarino, from whom Guyden bought the masters (and his
partner Charles Caputo). The group is not to be confused with the Del-Fi
group Little Caesar and the Romans, which had the hits, “Those Oldies
But Goodies (Reminds Me of You).”
Louis Guarino, songwriter and producer of the Romans’ records,
was best known as Lennie Martin’s partner in Calico Records. They put
out the Skyliners’ “Since I Don’t Have You” in 1959 and Chad &
Jeremy’s “Yesterday’s Gone” in 1964 as the first in a string of hits.
Lennie Martin died in late 1963 and Lou Guarino ran the label himself,
now called World Artist Records. The sale of the Romans’ record to
Guyden came in between these high points in the career of the Pittsburgh
music business entrepreneur and producer.
http://jamguy.com/Romans/main.php
1958 - Why Don't You Write Me / Teen Town Hop (Future 2200)
Biography :
The Philharmonics were a versatile African-American vocal quintet
from Springfield, Missouri who became successful despite origins in a
then-racially-intolerant town and era. They were at their peak in the
1950s and performed across the United States. The group could adapt to
many styles of music from gospel, rhythm and blues and pop to country
and Western. They had splendid harmony, choreography, a colorful
wardrobe and an impeccable stage presence.
The Philharmonics in the 1950s (l-r): Chick Rice, James Logan, Elbridge Moss, Homer Boyd and George Culp
The group was originally a quartet, composed of Homer "Jolly" Boyd,
George Culp (bass), Elbridge "Old Man" Moss , and Clarence "Chick" Rice
(baritone) . Joe Neal Hardin was an earlier member. The group became a
quintet with the addition of James Logan (tenor) .Their roots were in
gospel music. Moss, from Kentucky, performed with vocal groups during
his World War II service in the US Army.
Upon discharge, he visited his brother in Springfield, met and
married a local girl, and moved to the town in the mid-1940s. He met
the others in the choir at Gibson Chapel Church where they performed
with pianist Florence Sample Thompson. Boyd was 17 and in high school
when he joined. In the early 1950s, the group won twice on a talent show
on CBS-TV, The Original Youth Opportunity Program, hosted by Horace
Heidt, which showcased young performers from across the country. They
also toured with the show.
(L-R Elbridge 'Old Man' Moss, Homer 'Jolly' Boyd, George Culp, James Logan, Clarence 'Chick' Rice)
The Philharmonics, nicknamed the Phils, were regularly featured on
ABC's nationally broadcast television show, Ozark Jubilee, from 1955 to
1960 and provided background vocals for many of the country music stars
on the program. They also appeared on ABC's The Eddy Arnold Show in
1956, and briefly had their own show on Springfield's KYTV-TV. They
recorded on the Cardinal Records label.Their singles included "Teen Town
Hop" and "That's Why I'm Losing You", both written by Moss.
Clockwise from top : Arnie Immerman, Jimmy Randazzo, Robert DiPasquale & Sonny Peters
The Visions (2) (Cleveland, OH.)
Personnel :
Robert DiPasquale "Bocky Boo" (Lead)
Sonny Peters
Arnie Immerman
Jimmy Randazzo
Discography :
The Visions (2)
1961 - Marlene / Darling dear (Warwick 108)
1961 - There'll Be No Next Time / So Close (Brunswick 55206)
1962 - Tell Me You're Mine / All Through The Night (Big Top 3092 )
1962 - Swingin'Wedding / Secret World (Of Tears) (Big Top 3119)
1963 - Tommy's girl / Oh boy what a girl (Mercury 72188)
1964 - Down In My Heart / Tell Her Now (without Bocky) (Coed 588)
Bocky & The The Visions (2)
1964 - Mojo Hanna / The Spirit Of '64 (Philips 40224/Redda 1501)
1964 - I'm not worth it / I’m pickin’ petals (Philips 40242)
1965 - I Go Crazy / Good Good Lovin (Redda 1504)
1966 - The Bounce / To be loved (Redda 1505)
Bocky Dee'o
1965 - I Can't Stand It Anymore / Hang On - Girl (Redda 1504)
Biography :
Bocky and the Visions (1961-65) This early pop/rock band started out
as a four- man group with no instrumentation (think Four Seasons).
Robert DiPasquale ( a.k.a. Bocky), the undeniable leader, quickly
attracted fans with his powerful vocal style. Early members included
Sonny Peters, Arnie Immerman, and Jimmy Randazzo, and there were also
sax and horn players Mike Geraci and Vic Walkuski. In 1961 the group
recorded "All Through the Night" and "Tell Me You're Mine." Those who
remember that early rock scene, however, best recall Bocky's 1964
lineup, which included Richie Greene (a.k.a. Dick Whittington) on lead
guitar, Tony Bodanza (also known as Tony Styles) on rhythm guitar, Don
Schwartz on bass, and Buddy Maver on drums.
While playing at all the "in" clubs on both sides of Cleveland, Bocky
and the Visions cut a deal with Philips record label, making it the
first official Cleveland- area rock band to sign with a national label.
"Spirit of '64" and "I'm Not Worth It," both written by Bodanza, got
airplay on the top radio stations and became the group's biggest local
hits.
"Bocky and the Visions was the biggest [of the area groups at the
time]," recalls fan and Outsiders member Sonny Geraci. "They had songs
that hit the Top 10 in Cleveland. Kids, myself included, thought they
were a national act because we always heard them on the radio." During
its four-year reign as Cleveland's top band. During its four-year reign
as Cleveland's top band, Bocky and the Visions opened for the biggest
acts of the day at the "hottest" venues. At Public Hall they opened for
Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five, the Beach Boys,
the Four Tops and The Shangri-Las.
They also opened for the Animals at the Cleveland Arena, and for Jan
and Dean at Euclid Beach Park. They appeared on the American Bandstand-
type dance show The Big j Show {pre-Upbeat). "That whole period was a
gas," Maver says. "Opening for the Rolling Stones in 1964 was
particularly memorable. It was all so low- tech. I don't even think the
drums were miked. Charlie Watts was set up on the floor, and there was
no drum riser at all. " When Bocky and the Visions broke up in 1965 ,
members went on to other bands. Bocky wound up in Rastus, while Maver
formed Richie and the Fortunes with Richie Greene, Bodanza, Schwartz
(soon replaced by Jay Mohler), and sax player Terry MacLoud.
Songs :
The Visions (2)
Marlene / Darling Dear There'll Be No Next Time / So Close
Tell Me You're Mine All Through The Night
Secret World (Of Tears) / Swingin'Wedding Tommy's Girl / Oh Boy What A Girl
1964 - For Your Love / Please Lie To Me (Cleopatra 104)
Biography :
In 1961, a Newark’s semi-delinquent gang of eighteen year olds
singing to impress the girls who clustered there: Edward “Jukebox”
Pasterczyk, Rocco Galante, Danny Buckley, and later Paul Whistler. Rocco
Galante was part of the Pageants who recorded in 1961 "Saturday
Romance" b/w "Make You My Queen" on the Du-Well label. “Jukebox” started
the whole thing, Everybody always called him Jukebox, never called him
Eddie.” Pasterczyk had earned this nickname in a very literal way—by
harmonizing with the jukeboxes at the car hop before the group formed.
Tommy Falcone Rocco Galante with the Pageants (Center)
Caught
in a fateful traffic jam, a frustrated Tommy Falcone (owner of
Cleopatra Records) rolled down his window only hear "Jukebox"
harmonizing with friends on a Newark street corner. He was so impressed
with the doo-wopping sound that he signed "Jukebox" on the spot— and the
Reminiscents became the very first single released on Cleopatra
Records. With the business established, Falcone took the Reminiscents
into the studio in 1963 to cut the exuberantly bouncing “For Your Love”
with Paul Whistler on lead b/w “Please Lie to Me.” It charted locally,
bringing the group no small amount of Jersey fame and sent them out on
the road.
1961 - Someone To Watch Over Me / Baby Doll (Rome 103)
Unreleased :
1961 - Thief Of Love (Rome)
1961 - Something (Rome)
Biography :
Trade
Martin worked with Johnny Power in the late 1950s, recording as Johnny
& the Jokers and together launching the label Rome Records, active
from 1960 to 1962. The label signed the groups The Earls, The Glens and
Del & the Escorts . On many of these recordings, Martin played all
of the backing instruments, overdubbing them track by track. Del &
the Escorts was composed by Harriet Della Casa "Del", Ken Kerwin and A.
Calandrillo. The group will record several pieces and finally "Someone
To Watch Over Me" b/w "Baby Doll" will be released by Rome in september
1961.
1961 - Who's That Knocking / Ramblin' Man (instr.) (Vulco 2)
Biography :
The Sonars : Ken Holmes, Tom and Iris Morley are graduates of
Michigan State university. Ken Holmes is the group Guitarist. Tom Morley
is also a deejay at WKKO. With Caren McPherson, a graduate of Florida
State, The Group have recorded "Who's That Knocking" " and "Ramblin'
Man" released by Vulco Records owned by Irv Vulgamore in Fort Pierce,
FL.
Top : Charlie Angelo & Terry Jordan - Bottom : Patsy Cummings & Clyde Lewis
The Corvells (2) (Queens, New York)
aka The Fortunes (4)
Personnel :
Patsy Cummings (Lead)
Terry Jordan
Charlie Angelo
Clyde Lewis
Discography :
The Corvells (2)
1963 - The Jokes On Me / One (Is Such A Lonely Number) (Cub 9122)
The Fortunes (4)
1963 - The Ghoul In School / You Don't Know (What I've Been Through) (Cub 9123)
Biography :
Mixed Vocal group from Richmond Hill High School in the Queens,
composed by Patsy Cumming, Terry Jordan, Charlie Angelo and Clyde Lewis.
The group have sung in many School dance in New York before being
noticed and participating in Tv performance in Baltimore &
Washington DC.
March 8, 1963, the Corvells recorded four songs in the MGM Studios,
"The Jokes On Me", "One (Is Such A Lonely Number)", "The Ghoul In
School" and "You Don't Know". A month later, Cub Records, an MGM
Subsidiary released the four tracks on two singles, The first as the
Corvells, and for not releasing two disks of the same group at the same
time, the second will be under the name of the Fortunes.
1958 - Letter To An Angel / The Snake (Decca 30722)
Unreleased :
1958 - Well, Come On, Baby (Decca)
Biography :
The 4 Velvetones were from Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1957, they
were composed by John Tierney (tenor), Jimmy Clancy (high lyric tenor),
Teddy Whitley (high lyric tenor), and Dennis Walton (baritone and bass).
An integrated group, John and Jimmy were Irish; Teddy and Dennis were
black. Another was Dennis' brother, Melvin. He could also sing baritone
and bass, but was usually content to write songs for them and try his
hand at managing the group. In January 1958, they drove down to New York
City and started hanging out on Broadway. Bill Ross who heard them ,
introduced them to Kay Toomey, who became their manager. She, in turn,
took them to Marty Wilson at Decca Records. They auditioned with "Two
Hearts In Love" (which Melvin had written and which they expected big
things from); he didn't like it at all. But that didn't stop Mel; he
whipped up "Letter To An Angel" and that was more like it. In March 31,
1958. The 4 Velvetones went to the Decca studios to record at least
three songs: "Letter To An Angel," "The Snake," and "Well, Come On,
Baby" . Teddy Whitley was supposed to lead "Letter To An Angel," but he
couldn't get the part just right. So at the last minute, Mel Walton
became part of the group and led his own composition. Since there were
now five, Decca decided to rename them, choosing the "5 Shillings." The
guys weren't particularly enthused with the name, but went along with
it. The 5 Shillings appeared on Dave Maynard's TV show on WBZ-TV, on Bob
Clayton's "Boston Ballroom" over WHDH-TV, and Bob Still's show in New
York.
1959 - Why Don't You Be Nice / I’ll Never Tell (Planet 1009)
1959 - Christmas Lullaby / Hand In Hand (Planet 1054)
1961 - Hand In Hand / I’ll Never Tell (Planet 1055)
Tony & The Day Dreams
1958 - Back In School (Demo)
1958 - Judy (Demo)
The Day Dreamers
1958 - I’ll Never Tell (Demo)
1958 - West Bound Train (Demo)
Ceasar & Anthony "Tony"
1958 - You Know I Love You (Demo)
1958 - Dip Dip (Demo)
Biography :
Vocal
& Instrumental group from Brooklyn consisted of Anthony "Tony"
Polemeni, Richard Walters, Paulie, Donny, Nicky and Frankie. Anthony
Polemeni was part of Ideals, a local instrumental group. Tony & The
Daydreams had been gaining experience performing at local venues.
Tony & The Daydreams recorded many demos before they can pretend
to record a single. "Why Don't You Be Nice" and "I’ll Never Tell " were
finally recorded and the sides were quickly picked up for release by
Planet, a small New York City label.
Early Daydreams : Frankie, Paulie, Donny and Tony Tony & The Daydreams
This small label was the first to release the first two titles of a
new Queens band whose name their name was taken from the Lincoln Capri :
The Capris. The songs were "There's a Moon out Tonight" and Indian
Girl". Unfortunatly for Planet, it was not able to effectively promote
the record and it became an almost instant obscurity. Planet The label
will bet on Tony & The Daydreams and release several singles that
unfortunately will not break the New York market.
1961 - That Lucky Old Sun / Cool It Down (CR 1005)
Brent Edwards
1962 - Time After Time / Satin Doll (Karen 57)
1963 - Pride / Over The Weekend (Karen 60)
Biography :
After one single with his Overbrook High School group, Dale & The Cashmeres on
the tiny label Matt Records, Lead singer Brent Edwards joined another
group fronted by future legendary Leon Huff. Leon Huff, born April 8,
1942 and raised here on Ferry Avenue, was exposed to music through his
mother, who played piano and organ in Camden for the 19th Street Baptist
Church choir. Huff participated in several Camden "doo-wop" groups,
including the Dynaflows, which auditioned for Ted Mack's Original
Amateur Hour. Leon Huff was the piano player.
The Dynaflows with Leon Huff (piano)
With some personnel changes the group evolved into The Lavenders. In
1962 songwriter/record producer John Madara visited a club in West
Philadelphia. There was the Lavenders and the piano player was Leon
Huff. ohn Madara was so impressed with Leon that he invited him to play
on some of his and partner, Dave White's, productions. John and Dave's
offices were in the Shubert Building in Philadelphia. The Shubert
building, like the Brill Building in New York, housed some of the most
successful songwriters and artists in the business -- Linda Creed, Thom
Bell and an unknown at the time by the name of Kenny Gamble, who worked
with record producer Jerry Ross.
Leon Huff Brent Edwards
JHuff’s
Earliest recordings happened with the Lavenders. The group recorded
"Slide" b/w "Angel" (CR 1003) and was an early Jerry Ross production of a
song written by his partner Murray Wetch. “The Slide,” which was
typical of the dance fad genre so popular during that era, was a
commercial failure, but it is a fine anticipatory example of Huff’s
rollicking, staccato-like boogie-woogie piano groove. Huff teamed with
Kenny Gamble to become one of the most prolific songwriting teams in
Rock ‘n’ Roll history.
Gamble and Huff
Huff traveled regularly to between Philadelphia and New York City,
becoming a well-known figure on the recording studio scene in Manhattan,
and becoming acquainted with a host of major league
songwriter/producers, such as Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, Jerry
Leiber and Mike Stoller and Phil Spector. After leaving the Lavenders in
1962, Brent Edwards recorded "Time After Time" b/w "Satin Doll" for
Karen Records, a label formed in Philadelphia in April 1962 by Ed Barsky
who ran a local distribution firm. In 1963, he is still with Madara
& White for his second single on the label with "Pride" b/w "Over
The Weekend".
The Boyd Twins were Jayne and Joan knoerzer from Hammond, Indiana.
They started singing and dancing lessons at the age of three and were
charter members of Gamma Phi Beta's chapter at Indiana University in
1957. Their singing career started back in high school in Hammond,
Indiana, where they won several amateur singing contests, were guests on
WLS radio, and made a recording at the age of 17. Modeling was a
sideline with the twins. At Indiana University, they majored in Music
and Drama and were members of the Belles of Indiana, a singing group of
60 girls. Following a USO tour to the Caribbean with the Belles, Jayne
and Joan spent the summer of 1957 as the Toni Twins.
The following summer they played in an Indianapolis summer theatre,
and the fall found them in Chicago seeking a career in the entertainment
field. Their first professional radio program was in January 1959 on
"The Music Wagon," a CBS presentation. Auditioning later for the Wrigley
company advertisers ,they were selected as the Doublemint Twins to do
all radio and TV commercials for Doublemint gum. They also do a network
radio show six times a week called, "Double Your Pleasure." In 1960, The
girls with Remo Biondi, who made the rhythm acc. cut "You're Shedding
Crocodile Tears" b/w "Without You, Baby" released on the tiny label
Lark.
