The Marcels (1) (Pittsburg, Ca.)
aka The Inspirations (1)
Personnel :
Carleton Brown (Lead)
Cedric Wilson (Baritone)
Jerry Jackson
Don Stevens
Discography :
The Marcels (1)
Singles :
1958 - Betty Lou / Take Me Back (Bob Jeffries bb the Marcels) (Jody 123)
195? - So Hard To Please / You'll Never Know (The Mondellos) (Rhythm 118)
Unreleased :
1956 - Wait For Me (Acapella) (Music City)
1956 - Indian Jane (Acapella) (Music City)
1956 - So Hard To Please (Acapella) (Music City)
The Inspirations (1)
1958 - Don't Cry / Indian Jane (Lamp 2019)
Biography :
This was not the "Blue Moon" Marcels, but a local Pittsburg group
from California . This vocal group from the West Coast, recorded in the
Bay Area by record man Ray Dobard, who spun the label off from his
record store. One of his specialties was doo wop and he recorded way
more than he released. The Marcels featured lead singer Carleton Brown,
backed by Cedric Wilson, Floyd White and Georges White recorded several
tracks in 1956 for Ray Dobard'Music City owner : "So Hard To Please",
"Wait For Me" and "Indian Jane".
Don Barksdale
Bob Jeffries
In 1958, They cut " Betty Lou" and they're behind Bob Jeffries on
"Take Me Back" on Rhythm's Jody Records subsidiary (an Oakland label
owned by college basketball hall of famer and legendary KDIA-AM Don
Barksdale.) Bob Jeffries was also the lead singer of the Sharptones who
recorded on the post label and he had the distinction of being backed
bay The Marcels and The Mondellos on two separate recording sessions.
L to R, Cedric Wilson, Don Stevens, Jerry Jackson & Carleton Brown
The group's lineup has changed frequently, the
Group-Singer-Songwriter Carleton Brown, Cedric Wilson later joined up
with Jerry Jackson and Don Stevens (Aka Rick Stevens), they went nowhere
as the Marcels but later re-recorded "Indian Jane" for Lamp records as
the Inspirations. In the early 1960's Rick Stevens performed in
nightclubs around Reno, where he was known as "Mr. Twister". Rick joined
the group Tower of Power in 1969.
Songs :
The Marcels (1)
Betty Lou So Hard To Please Take Me Back
The Inspirations (1)
Don't Cry Indian Jane