Eulis Mason & The Martells (San Jose, California)
Personnel :
Eulis Mason (Lead)
Joseph Robinson
Andrews
Phillips
Discography :
Biography :
The Martells, sometimes spelled The Martels, were a black Bay Area vocal group built around their lead singer Eulis Mason. The other members were Joseph Robinson, plus Andrews and Phillips (their first names are unknown). These Martells not to be confused with a white Martels vocal group from Nashville on the Nasco label. Eulis and his Martells had two releases on Gradie O'Neal and John Pusateri's Cessna and Bella labels.Their first Bella single came in December 1959, and they were right on time for the Christmas season with the groovy up-tempo doo wop number Rockin’ Santa Claus, written by Mason and Robinson and accompanied by The Bella Tones Orchestra.
Their second Bella single came a year later in December of 1960. That both tracks on Bella 21 were reissued on Cessna 477 in 1961 . Eulis became the lead of Charles Moffitt’s Velours in the mid-1980’s when they became a mainstay at the United in Group Harmony shows. After Moffitt was murdered in 1986, Eulis continued to keep the Velours going, recording some magnificent songs like “C’est La Vie,” I Wish You Love,” “I Apologize” for labels like Starlight, Clifton and Classic Artists.