OCTAVES (2)

  

The Octaves (2) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Joe Arcilesi

Dick Applin

Chuck Mills

Dominic Chiaravalli

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Discography :

1958 - Mambo Carolyn / Your Too Young (Val 1001)

Biography :

Joe Arcilesi formed the group in 1954, while they were all attending Cooley High School, in Detroit. The Octaves consisted of Joe Arcilesi, Dick Applin, Chuck Mills, Dominic Chiaravalli & another guy. Most of their were involved with the vocal music classes and select groups, of the music department. They were very interested in the most if the black vocal groups that were singing the Detroit Doo-Wop, Blues and spirituals. Motown, was just starting at the time and they would not welcome a white group, singing the black sound. they were instrumential in introducing that sound as we sang the sock hop's in the Westside of the city.

They were also influenced by the close harmony sound of The Four Freshmen and they would include that close harmony, in their Doo-Wop sound "You're Too Young". In 1958 they recorded the single "Mambo Carolyn" / "Your Too Young" on Val Records. The record was written and produced by the Octaves. They also distributed it. The Octaves had six wonderful years, after they graduated high school, singing throughout the mid-west, and if they only had met the people that knew the record business, they may have gone further.

Joe Arcilesi

 

Songs :

   

Mambo Carolyn                              Your Too Young