1953 - Kenny McMillan, Alfred Gaitwood, Joe Martin, Enoch Hale, Walter Lowry Thanks to Liam
The Smoothtones (1) (Pittsburgh)
Personnel :
Alfred Gaitwood (Lead)
Enoch Hale (First Tenor)
Joe Martin (Second Tenor)
Walter Lowry (Baritone)
Kenny McMillan (Bass)
Discography :
1955 - Bring Back Your Love / No Doubt About It (Jem 412)
Biography :
The
Smoothtones surfaced in 1953 in Pittsburgh. The lead, Alfred Gaitwood,
was from Alabama and found himself in Pittsburgh with a U.S. Air Force
unit. Gaitwood rounded up Enoche Hale (First Tenor), Joe Martin (Second
Tenor), Walter Lowry (Baritone), and Kenny McMillian (Bass). Gaitwood
named the group the Smoothtones. Paul Ruffin was their manager.
L to R : Alfred Gaitwood, Walter Lowry, Paul Ruffin (Manager), Bill powel (DJ), Kenny McMillan, Jud Hunter & Joe Martin
Hale was drafted in 1954 and was replaced by Jud Hunter at First
Tenor. Through networking, Gaitwood met Lennie Martin, who ran the
operations at Jem Records . (Martin would later be instrumental in
forming Calico Records [Skyliners] and Robbie Records.) The Smoothtones
recorded two sides for Jem in June 1955. Interestingly, these were the
first black vocal group releases out of Pittsburgh. Early in 1956,
Gaitwood was transferred to another air force base. Jud Hunter then
brought Sylvester Brooks into the group at lead.
This altered group went back to Jem to record two more sides.
Supposedly, they recorded the Gaitwood-penned "It's Too Late Now." A
pressing of this disc has never been seen. Jud Hunter, in an interview
by Carl and Nancy Janusek, swore that this was released and that he saw
the recording on wax. (This cannot be confirmed — perhaps it was never
released.) It was later done by the Cufflinks on Dootone. Gaitwood was
with the group at that time. With Gaitwood gone, the cohesiveness that
once held the group together disappeared, and they disbanded in
September 1956.
Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men with The Vel-Quin Singers
1962 - I'll Cry / You Don't Believe Me (no group) (Golden Wing 3284)
George Davo bb the Velquins (Uncredited)
1958 - All Through With You / Candy Man (no group) (North Star-2073)
Biography :
The
Same St. Paul, Minnesota scene that brought us the Wisdoms also gave us
Gaity labelmates the Velquins, who had started out in 1956 as the
Cranes, then the Jades, and ultimately settling on the Velquins as their
group name.
(L
to R : John Stafford, Clarence "Huffy" Wright, Allan Jones, Eddie
Ballard & Sylvester "Peachy" Eaves. Kneeling: Buzz Ransom
The Velquins used local rockers the Teen Kings as their backing
band. The Twin cities had fierce territorial rivalries amongst vocal
groups but the Velquins were always welcome behind enemy lines. A
University of Minnesota frat once asked them to sing a boiling pot at a
jungle theme party! The Velquins unsuccessfully auditioned for both
Chess and Vee-Jay in Chicago.
They did back George davo on his single "All through with you" on
North Star, and recorded their own lone Gaity release "My Dear" /
"Falling Star", bringing in Henry Jones of the Five Blind Boys to beef
up their sound. All copies misspelled the group name as the Valquins.
The Group sang also on "I'll Cry" by Bobby Wharton & The Little
Green Men under the name of The Vel-Quin Singers.
Songs :
The Valquins
Falling Star My Dear
Bobby Wharton & The Little Green Men with The Vel-Quin Singers
1964 - If I Give My Heart To You / On The Street Where You Live (Musictone 6125)
Four Chymes
1964 - The Gypsy / Now Look At Who's Crying (Musicnote 121)
The Three Chimes
1964 - Tears And Pain / Show Me The Way (Crossway 444)
Biography :
In 1961, Lenny coco & The Chimes entered a local studio to cut a
demo in 1960; a recording engineer called Andy Leonetti, who hustled
down and signed the newcomers to his fledgling Tag label. Leonetti
pressed up the ballad under the slightly off-kilter title of "Once In
Awhile" that autumn. The Chimes' debut single soared to #11 pop in early
'61. The group would not find success with their following albums, and
split up in the middle of the decade. Andy Leonetti did not give up and
in 1964 signed another Brooklyn group on his Musicnote label. He calls
them The Chimes with a different spelling, The Chymes. Composed by Gil
Pabon, Larry Gerona, Ray Diaz and Carmine Scibelli , the group recorded
"If I Give My Heart To You" b/w "On The Street Where You Live" followed
by "The Gypsy" and "Now Look At Who's Crying" some time later as the
Four Chymes. After one member left, Andy Leonetti released on his
Crossway label "Tears And Pain" and "Show Me The Way" as the Three
Chimes.
Songs :
The Chymes
If I Give My Heart To You On the Street Where You Live
1958 - Please Say You'll Be True / Broken Heart (Vel 9177/9178 / Fee Bee 9177/9178)
Biography :
In 1954, Richie Blackson, Joe Freeman, Willie Glenn and Coyt Young
formed a barbershop quartet from a Choir at Aliquippa High School in
Aliquippa, Pa. In 1956, While in school Willie Glenn had been groomed to
the more conservative musical stylings. Now, he and others would be
crooners had become street corner vocalists. Not until early 1957 did a
cohesive quintet, the Vel-Tones, surface with Willie Glenn, Melvin Glenn
(Willie's brother), Len Alford, Frank Abercrombie and William
Kimbrough. Initially, the only instrumental accompaniment was provided
by Gorge Jones on piano and Organ. Although the Vel-Tones offerings
lacked originally, their superb harmony impressed former original "Come
Go With Me" Dell-Viking, Kripp Johnson. On account of contractual
obligations, Johnson was still recording for Joe Averbach's Fee Bee
Label with a new assemblage of Dell-Vikings, aka, the Versatiles.
Kripp Johnson The Dell-Vikings - Willie Glenn in the Middle
Kripp
johnson arranged an audition for the Vel-Tones at Averbach's home in
Whitehall, Pa. The group brought along a new number called "Broken
Heart" which had been written just for them In August, the group
traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for a session at the Way Out Recording
Studio. "Broken Heart" and "Please Say You'll Be True" were waxed. The
Vel-Tones shared the stage with the Five Royales at the CIO Hall in
Aliquippa. there were continuous engagements at a multitude of club in
Pensylvania. In 1959, Kripp Johnson approached Willie Glenn about
joining a new edition of the Del Vikings. Glenn agreed and With his
departure the Vel-Tones finally Disbanded.
aka The Fabulous Five Flames aka The Fabulous Five aka The Fabulous Flames (1)
Personnel :
Otis Carter
Harvey Hall
David McPhatter
Richard Fisher
Ernest Smith
Discography:
The Big Five
1958 - Wob-Ding-A-Ling / Baby, I Need You So (Junior 5000)
1960 - Blue Eyes / Stardust In Her Eyes (Shad 5019)
The Fabulous Flames (1)
1958 - Josephine / My Joan (Rex 3000)
The Fabulous Five
1960 - Janie Made A Monster / Gettin' Old (King 45-5220)
The Fabulous Five Flames
1960 - Lonely Lover / No More Tears (Time 1023)
Biography :
This Vocal group from Cleveland was known locally as The Fabulous
Flames. The group included J. C. Tatum, Otis Carter, David McFadden,
Ernest Smith, and Harvey Hall. The group started while some of the
members were students at East Technical High School. The group performed
at local clubs, and in Detroit. Their first single "Wop Ding A Ling"
(also Known as "Wab Ding A Ling") plus the flip "Baby, I Need You So"
was issued on the Shad predecessor Junior label (Junior 5000) on 29
October 1958. Bobby Shad renamed The Fabulous Flames by The Big Five.
Their second single "Josephine" b/w "My Joan " released as their
original name (The Fabulous Flames) was a local production, done for the
short lived Rex label. Bill Jacocks, a local entrepreneur, wrote the
songs and helped get the record released. Jacocks later became known as
Cleveland's first African-American TV news anchor, along with producting
some records in the mid 1970s.
Bobby
Shad
The group was known as the Fabulous Flames, but changed
for The Fabulous Five for their third record for the King label to
prevent confusion with other groups with that name. The song "Janie Made
A Monster" is a classic R&B Halloween record. Richard Fisher
replaced J. C. Tatum. Four sides were recorded at Capitol Studios in New
York on 4 December 1959, "Lonely Lover", "No More Tears", "Blue Eyes"
and "Stardust In Her Eyes". The first two will be released on the Time
(/Shad) Label on April 1960 as The Fabulous Five Flames, and the next
two were released on 10 June 1960 on Shad 5019 as The Big Five. Richard
Fisher was the brother of Jesse Fisher. He wasn't with the group for
long as he left for New York where he ended up joining the Jive Five.
Art Blakey replaced him, not long before the group disbanded. Harvey
Hall - later known as Harvey Nickerson-Hall - went on to lead Harvey and
the Phenomenals. https://www.buckeyebeat.com/
1961 - And When I'm Near You / Goody Goody (Rello 1)
1962 - Be My Girl / We're Strollin' (Rello 3/Golden Crest 573)
Unreleased :
1961 - Glad You're My Girl (Rello)
1961- Oh What a Nite (acap) (Rello)
1961 - What Chance Have I (Rello)
1961 - Glad You're My Girl (Rello)
1961- I Only Want You (acap) (Rello)
Biography :
Richie
& the Royals were from South Philly and raised on the same corner
as Anthony Maresco, 20th &Moore. Anthony was Anthony &
Sophomores, Tony & Dynamics & Twilighters. Richie Benatti adored
the older Maresco and tried to copy his style in singing.Richie
didn't have the voice that Anthony had but Richie had the better look.
The group went to South Philly High and used to sing in the halls and
bathrooms of the school, they were heard by one of their teacher's,
Steve Toderello. Steve felt they needed a manager and producer so he
signed the group and got them into a recording studio. The group's first
release was "And When I'm Near You" b/w "Goody Goody"on Steve's Rello
label. The group appeared at record hops and the girls screamed for the
five good looking guys and the record began to climb the charts in
Philly.
Richie & The Royals
The record never got national exposure because Steve's first venture
into owning a label caused him to realize he wasn't ready for the big
time yet. The next record released was this record and getting back to
my first line, it was an interesting record mainly because Anthony
Maresca recorded this song on the Jalynne label in '60 so Richie felt he
had to do thais song. Steve released it in Philly and within two weeks
struck a deal with Clark Galehouse to distribute the record nationally
on his Golden Crest label. Another interesting story is the flip side
of this record, another Philly record called "We're Strollin'" which is
the same song with a change in lyrics as the Philly's Fabulaires "While
Walking" and was also recorded by other Philly groups, The Del-Aires and
Tony & Raindrops. Al Kelly
Songs :
Be My Girl And When I'm Near You I Only Want You
Goody Goody We're Strollin' What Chance Have I
Oh What a Nite I Only Want You Glad You're My Girl
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.
Johnny Aladdin (bb unknown group) (Brooklyn, New York) aka The Pageants (3)
Personnel :
Johnny "Aladdin" Amplo
Unknown Girls Group
Discography :
Johnny Aladdin
1960 - Why Did You Go / Happy Together (Chip 1001)
The Pageants (3)
1960 - Why Did You Go / Happy Together (Goldisc 3013)
Biography :
From 1959, The Mystics and The Passions were invited to do many show .
Manager Jim Gribble would use the popularity of his two group to get
his other acts in show. Al Contrera from The Mystics had introduced
Johnny Amplo to Jim Gribble. Johnny Amplo was sixteen years old and
lived down the block from Al on 84th Street in the Bensonhurst section
of Brooklyn and although a few years younger, would hang out with the
group at Frankie and Johnny’s. One day Al suggested that he meet their
manager, Jim Gribble, and audition for a recording contract. Johnny was
extremely handsome, and he thought he was just what Jim was looking for.
Jim Gribble became his manager and arranged a recording for him in 1960
with the songs "Happy Together" and "Why Did You Go" written by Stan
Vincent and released bu Chip Records as Johnny Aladdin. Johnny in that
recording was backed by an unknown group of girls. In November 1960, the
single was re-released by Goldisc records under the name of The
Pageants. although he didn't have any major success, he was bitten by
the show business bug. Years later, Johnny Amplo changed his name to
John Roper and went on to have a successful acting career in Hollywood
with roles in several Alfred Hitchcock movies.
William Arthur “Major Bill” Smith was a Fort Worth record producer
and music impresario who had several hit records in the early 1960.
Smith was a relentless self-promoter who seemed disinclined to let the
facts get in the way of a good story, making the accounts of his life he
told to various interviewers of somewhat dubious veracity. His
bombastic manner earned him a reputation as a con man and hustler, but
his savvy marketing instincts also made him a notable force in the
recording industry.
Sometimes four? (Cash Box)
Smith had regional hits with such local acts as the Team-Mates, Ace
Dinning, and the Straightjackets, led by a youthful Delbert McClinton.
He also claimed to have turned down a singer named John Deutschendorf,
who later changed his name to John Denver. Smith’s first national
success came in 1962, however, with “Hey! Baby” by Bruce Channel. The
Team Mates are three handsome Texas football stars consisted by
Charles Jester, Jerry Terrell and Eddy Jester. Between 1959 and 1961,
they recorded a good number of songs. The Cam released many singles,
sometimes with the same music associated with others.
The Classics were a vocal group out of Watsonville, California.
Originally they called themselves The Casual IV and were Composed by
Jack Fort, Gary Marinovich, Tony Garcia and Ed Kelly, but somewhere
along the way the name was changed to The Classics and Jim Molina
replaced Ed Kelly. While still attending Watsonville High School they
met up with fellow local musician Danny Lester. Danny had a friend,
Chuck Daniels, who had written a couple of songs and urged The Classics
to record with him in the studio. The song "Glass-Pak" actually has Jim
Molina handling the lead vocal part which amounted to Jim taking on the
character of "Mo The Mouth" and talking his way through the song.
Background vocals were provided by The Classics with Chuck Daniels
helping out. The song "I'm In Love" has Chuck singing lead with The
Classics providing background vocals.
Chuck Daniels
The songs were released on Dan Guy
Records as The Classics featuring MO "The Mouth" on "Glass-Pak". The
record label even provided definitions of some of the terms used in the
lyrics of "Glass-Pak" in case the public was too square to understand.
"Glass-Pak" started to get some regional airplay and famed San Francisco
radio station KYA picked up the song. The band was thrilled to hear
their music on the radio. They would perform locally opening for well
known touring acts such as The Flamingos passing through the area. Chuck
Daniels took the songs down to L.A. to shop them and the songs were
released on the Wilco label as by Chuck Daniels and The Classics.
"Glass-Pak" again had some regional airplay but never became a hugh hit
but has since gained notoriety as a '50's "car song". After the guys
graduated High School the band split up each going there seperate ways.
Chuck Daniels released a couple more records but never achieved hugh
sucess. http://www.montereybaymusic.com/TheClassics.html
L to R : Joseph, Philip, Vincent and Nicholas - Seated : Joseph DeAngelis and William Klenosky
The Enchanters (5) (Brooklyn, New York)
Personnel :
Philip Cancillia
Joseph De Paul Santora
Vincent DeAngelis
Nicholas La Veglia
Discography :
1958 - Come On Baby, Let's Do The Stroll / Rock Around (Bald Eagle 3001)
Biography :
Vocal group from Greenpoint in New York composed by Joseph De Paul
Santora, 17, of 75 Kingsland avenue ; Philip Cancillia, 18, of 457
Graham avenue, Vincent DeAngelis, 22, of 79 Kingsland avenue, Nicholas
La Veglia, 20, of 98 Kingsland avenue. They are manager by Joseph
DeAngelis, brother of singer Vincent. In 1958, They recorded "Come On
Baby, Let's Do The Stroll" b/w "Rock Around" released by Bald Eagle
Record company owned by William Klenosky.
1957 - Crazy / I'll Never Let You Go (International 203)
Unreleased :
1957 - Gee (International)
1957 - Rhythm Train (International)
1957 - Rockin' Town (International)
1957 - Sam The Accordion Man (International)
1957 - She's My Baby (International)
1957 - That's What You're Doing To Me (International)
Tom Moffatt & The Flames (3)
1958 - Beyond The Reef / Rock Along (International 204)
Biography :
In 1957, Willie Gaines from savannah, and three mates serving on the
U.S.S Kishwaukee, a naval tanker, formed a quartet. Willie Gaines and
Pat Dilley, from Columbia high School, were serving office on the ship
and soon discovered each liked to sing. This evolved into a quartet, the
other members of which were Lou Zippin of Cincinnati and Jim Arnold of
Ohio. They sang on television and began to get invitations for various
engagements. They decided to ask the men on the ship to suggest names
for the Quartet and the name, "The Flames" was adopted.
The Flames (3)
Tom
Moffatt
Then they met one Bob Bertram a radio man who had made some records
as a pianist. He heard them and signed them a six-month recording
contract with International Records of Honolulu. Producer Bob Bertram
(of 'Susie Darlin’' by Robin Luke fame) owned several labels, including
Lariat, whose artists included Joe Maphis, Polynesian (which released
hula records aimed at the tourist trade) and Bertram International,
which recorded rock & roll. The Flames recorded "I'll Never Let You
Go" b/w "Crazy" who soon won a place among the top ten in Hawaii. In
early 1958 The Flames backed Tom Moffatt on "Beyond The Reef" and "Rock
Along."
1960 - Neither You Nor I / Blue Point Drive (Jimmy Phelps) (Mecca 5-6)
The Du-Ettes (1) With The Vanguards
1960 - Donny / Wild (The Vanguards) (Mecca LB 2422/23)
Biography :
The Du-ettes, Bonnie and Annnie Sloan, teenage daughters of longtime
Seattle songsmith, Sterling "Bud" Sloan, owner of Mecca Records (920
3rd Avenue Seattle, Washington). In February 1960, they recorded
"Neither You Nor I" backed with "Blue Point Drive" by Jimmy Phelps .
For their second single, the Du-ettes added the Vanguards, an
instrumental group they performed at teen dances with and recorded
“Donny”. The flip, “Wild” is an instrumental by the Vanguards.
1961 - My Memories Of You / Teenage Love (Whale 505)
1961 - Carole / Ruby My Love (Decca 31312)
unreleased
1961 - Heaven Only Knows (Whale)
Kenny & The Whalers (2)
1961 - Life Is But a Dream / Life Is But a Dream (Whale 504)
Biography :
Lead Singer Louis "Donnie" Burgio, Peter "Pete Alonzo" Vecchiarelli,
Andy Catalano, and Frank Furstaci came from the Bronx, that fertile
field for Street Corner doo whoppers. Donnie & The Dreamers had a
talent for adding that doo wop touch to pop standards and they proved it
in early 1961 with their hit version of the 1950 oldie "Count Every
Star".
While this was hot (it spent 10 weeks on the chart) the Whale label
followed it up by sending out deejay samples of "Life Is But A Dream",
calling the Group Kenny & The Whalers. It went nowhere. The Dreamers
then turned the Harptones' 1954 ballad favourite "My Memories Of You"
into a sparkling jump tune and scored their second national hit. Two
weeks after "Count Every Star" left the chart, "My Memories Of You" took
its Place.
Vinny Catalano
Encouraged by this, Decca leased all the
Whale tracks by the group and issued "Carole" in October,1961. No
Further hits came along and the group disappeared. Vinny Catalano worked
with his kid brother's group, recording over 10 excellent sides, most
lost and unreleased.
1962 - If I Could Tonight / A Fellow Needs A Girl (Kane 007/ Guyden 2067)
1964 - Tears / Disillusioned Love (Guyden 2116)
Unreleased :
1961 - Go To Sleep My Little Girl
1963 - Love Me With All Your Heart
1963 - Hands
1963 - Faith
1963 - I'll Never Stop Loving You
The Exzels
Single :
1962 - Canadian Sunset / Hit Talk (other group) (Cross Fire 101)
Biography :
Like
so many other groups, The Newports, from Queen New York, were fortunate
to have a few record releases. The Original group started back in
1958-59 and was know as the Essentials. From this group Ray Russel would
eventually join both Shelly Buchansky and Frankie Fox, both
Essentials/Newports for a Short While, and become members of Vito &
The Salutations after the groups release "Gloria". Jimmy Pace having the
opportunity to leave as well, chose to stay with the Newports and try
for that elusive hit record, Along with jimmy is Artie Ross, who grew up
in Manhattan.
There he sang in neighborhood with Tony Orlando's 5 Gents, Dennis
& the Explorers and Nickie North & the Citations. They added
Stan Novack Ronnie Pomerantz and Lead Dennis Grey. The Group recorded
some tunes for Dave McRae ,Kane records' owner.
"If I Could Tonight" and "A Fellow Needs A Girl" was released on Kane
007. The songs were re-released on Guyden 2067 but went nowhere. In
1962, Bobby King, a record store owner who had the Cross Fire label
release "Canadian Sunset" under the name of The Exzels.
In 1962, there were some more personnel changes with Joe Reinlieb on
Lead and Mike Perricone. The Newports and his new singers were brought
into the studio to do some recording. "Tears" & "Disillusioned" Love
were released in 1964 on Guyden 2116.
Songs :
The Essentials (2)
Teenage Sweetheart
The Newports (3)
If I Could Tonight A Fellow Needs A Girl Disillusioned Love
Tears Love Me With All Your Heart Faith
Hands I'll Never Stop Loving You Go To Sleep My Little Girl
