BLEND-TONES

  

The Blend-Tones (Philadelphia, PA)

 

Personnel:

Jimmy Moore (Lead)

Bill Keith (Lead / First Tenor)

Clay Taylor (Baritone)

Jim Dickerson (Bass)

George "Sonny" Barnes (Second Tenor)

Ar Aston (First Tenor)

Discography :

Singles:

1961 - Lights Please / She's Gone (Don El 106/Chic Car 100/Imperial 5758)

Unreleased :

1961 - Since She's Been Gone (RecoArts)

1961 - Enough To Last (RecoArts)

Biography :

The Blend-Tones began with four steadfast friends, Clay Taylor, Rob Carpenter, Bill Keith and Henry Varlack, all who resided in the confines of West Philadelphia during the mid 1950's. Bill Keith need another voices to Round out their sound. Clay Taylor said he knew two cats from Lansdowne who could really sing, so he brought Sonny barnes & Jim Dickerson.  They made the rounds, Record hops, like at the Lansdowne YWCA, or at St Thomas' church, Teenage Canteens, even the senior prom for the 1958 graduating of Bartram High School. By Summer 1960, nothing was pending record-wise, so Rob Carpenter and Henry Varlack opted for college, while Bill Keith enlisted in the Air Force.

(1958) (L to R) Jim Dickerson, Clay Taylor, Henry Varlack, George "Sonny" Barnes, Bill Keith and Rob Carpenter.

The Blend-Tones was indelibly altered, They recruited Jimmy Moore and Art Aston. In 1961, The Group with the return of Bill Keith for a Few Days, have a recording Session at Recoo Art Studio in Center city. They waxed Four Songs combined with the Henry Carter Combo. The Fantastic "She's Gone"led by Bill Keith and  written by Rob Carpenter b/w "Lights Please"  Was released on Don El records in 1961 . Don El records Founded by C. Percy White [aka Don White] . Their songs went nowhere and the group disbanded in 1962.

 

Songs :

   

 She's Gone                                  Lights Please

     

Enough To Last                      Since She's Been Gone

TEEN TONES (1) - MELOAIRES

 

The Teen Tones (1) (Columbus, GA.)

aka The Meloaires

Personnel :

Gerald Powers (Lead)

Larry Kent (First Tenor)

Bob Burnett (Baritone)

Gordon Barksdale (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Teen Tones (1)

1958 - Faded Love / Gypsy Boogie (Nu-Clear 1/Wynne 107))

Bill Collins bb The Teen Tones (1)

1958 - Mercy / Turn To Your Bible (NBC-1 / NBC-2)

The Meloaires

Single:

1958 - Indebted To You / You Know Baby (Nasco 6019)

Unreleased :

1958 - I'm So Glad (Nasco/Excello)

1958 - Don't Ever Get Married (Nasco/Excello)

Biography :

Most teen-agers like rock ‘n’ roll, but four local high school boys have built musical careers on it. After a round of Columbus radio, TV and civic club appearances in June 1957, The quartet auditioned June 8 for Pops director Albert Coleman, and were notified that they were to appear on the July 28 program at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

The Original Teen Tones : Charles Brown, Larry Kent, Bob Burnett and Gerald Powers

The “Teen Tones,” all students at Baker High School, were organised six months ago by Gerald Powers, who sings the tenor lead.  The other “Teen Tones” are Larry Kent, first tenor, Robert Burnett, baritone and Gordon Barksdale, bass.Gordon, who at 15 boasts a deep bass voice, joined the quartet when the original bass,  Charles Brown, graduated and went on active duty with the Army Reserve..  The others are 16.

Gerald Powers, Gordon Barksdale, Larry Kent and Bob Burnett

The boys are all members of the Baker High Choral Club and the Concert Choir, and started singing as a quartet “just for kicks."’ Hugh Deen, Baker vocal director, has helped the Teen Tones with their selections, and accompanies them when necessary, although they usually sing without accompaniment. Gerald once studied piano, and Gordon was a member of the Baker High Band, but none of the Teen Tones read music.

  
In early 1958, The Teen Tones signing a recording contract with Sam Persons owner of Nu-Clear Records in Columbus. They cut "Faded Love" b/w "Gypsy Boogie". The Teen-Tones' record will be the first edited by the company in February 1958.  A few months later in the same year, they change their name to the Meloaires and recorded four songs for Ernie Young (founder of Nashboro, Nasco and Excello labels).

  

"Till The End Of The Dance" b/w "My Pretty Baby" appeared on Nashboro's, subsidiary label Nasco in September 1958. The Nasco label had success with the Crescendos in 1958 with a song called "Oh, Julie," which made the pop music Top 10. The company was a part of Excello rec Music who produced a great many doo wop groups of the 50's.

 

Songs :

The Teen Tones (1)

  
Faded Love                                     Gypsy Boogie


The Meloaires

   
Indebted To You                        You Know Baby

      

   I'm So Glad                                  Don't Ever Get Married 


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