Domenick "Chang Lee" Roberto had been an
entertainer since the 1940s, working non-stop in night clubs and banquet
halls. He served in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division
during the Korean War, attaining the rank of corporal. During his
military service, he entertained many of his fellow servicemen.
After the war, he returned home and created Chang Lee's and the
Zani-Acts featuring the Yum-Yum Girls. In 1959 Hank Majewski, one of the
original 'Four Lovers" (Four Seasons) left the group to became one of
the group with first tenor actor/comedian Joe Pesci, Joseph Donnamaria
& Tony Napolitano. The group will be many different staff over the
years. In the same period, Chang Lee recorded two rare records with the
Du Barrys who are probably the same singers than the Zani-Acts.
Chang
Lee packed many venues, including The Savoy Plaza, The Rustic Cabin,
Don's 21, The Flamingo, The Meadowbrook, The Cottage Inn, and The
Silhouette, all in the greater Newark area, with Joe Pesce, Frankie
Valli, Jerry Vale, Louis Prima, Lou Monte, Jimmy Roselli, Georgia Gibbs,
Joey Dee, Tommy DeVito, Phil Brito, and many, many more. A talented
songwriter, he recorded with Georgia Gibbs, Perry Como and Jerry Vale.
top : Johnny Hopson & Earl Wade Bottom - Bottom : Teddy Williams & Marty Brown
The Opals (1) (Harlem, New-York)
aka The Crystals (1)
Personnel :
Earl Wade (Lead)
Marty Brown (Tenor)
Johnny Hopson (Tenor)
Teddy Williams (Bass)
Discography :
The Crystals (1)
1954 - Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby (Luna 100/ 101/5001)
The Opals (1)
1954 - Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby (Luna 100/ 101/5001)
1954 - My Heart's Desire / Oh But She Did (Apollo 462)
Biography :
In June of 1954 Luna Records issues #10-101, its very first recording
by a group called The Crystals. The songs are "Come To Me Darling" and
"Squeeze Me Baby". Soon after its release they find another group called
The Crystals exists and they record for the DeLuxe label.
Six weeks after its initial release the record is re-issued as Luna
5001 by The Opals and the label is now identified as a subsidiary of
Apollo Records. In October of that year The Opals record again, this
time for the parent label Apollo and #462 is released - "Ooh But She
Did" and "My Hearts Desire". That seems to be the entire history of The
Opals on record. Later, Wade joined The Cadillacs. Earlier, Williams had
been with The Vocaleers.
Songs :
Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby My Heart's Desire / Oh But She Did
1958 - Down The Aisle Of Love / Please Dear (Hunt 321/Red Top 108/Sparton 637)
1958 - What Am I To Do / There'll Be No Sorrow (Hunt 322)
1958 - Oh heavenly Father / I Watch The Stars (Red Top 116)
Unreleased :
1958 - Oh My Love (Featuring Kenny)
1958 - My Heart Has Told Me (Featuring Roberta)
1961 - All of My Life(Featuring Roberta)
1958 - Stars (First Version) (Featuring Roberta & Jean)
Biography :
The
Quin-Tones name will be forever etched in doo wop Heaven because of
"Down the Aisle of Love," released in June 1958. Its "Here Come the
Bride" opening caught the public's ear. It became a hot seller, and a
popular wedding song, reaching number 18 on Billboard, September 15,
1958, selling more than 800,000 copies. Roberta Haymon (lead), Carolyn
"Sissie" Holmes, Jeannie Crist, Phyllis Carr, and Kenny Sexton attended
William Penn Sr. High in York, PA.
Originally, called the Quinteros, they performed at local dances. At
one function they impressed and befriended Paul Landersman, a disc
jockey at WHGB in Harrisburg, who offered a management deal. Promising
an appearance on American Bandstand within a year, the starry-eyed teens
signed and cut four tunes. "Ding Dong" appeared on Chess Records in
February 1958. It failed to chart, but generated enough interest to get
some bookings for the newly named Quin-Tones.
The next session produced "Down the Aisle," a song they had been
performing and sharpening on the road. Doc Bagby's Red Top label release
it, but the demand got so heavy that Hunt Records took over to fill the
orders. Subsequent 45s had the Hunt Record logo printed on them.
"Please Dear," the flipside, featured Sissie Holmes on lead.Having a hit
increased their gigging, and they even appeared on American Bandstand,
as Landersman promised.
Their most memorable gig took place August 28, 1958 at the Apollo
theater with the Coasters, the Olympics, the Spaniels, and the Chantels,
where they received a standing ovation. Radar wouldn't have helped
"There Be No Sorrow" find the charts, however, and a remake of Edna
McGriff's "Heavenly Father" went unnoticed. The infinitesimal sales
caused Landersman and Bagby to lose interest. Despite the big hit, they
didn't schedule any more Quin-Tones' sessions. Disappointed, the members
became disenchanted, and after five singles, never recorded again. All
moved on, and started working regular jobs. The Quin-Tones never
received a cent for "Down the Aisle." Reportedly, Dick Clark bought
their contract. All they know is that it sold close to a million copies,
but they never received an accounting.
In 1960, they officially disbanded when Roberta Haymon married. Kenny
Sexton, the lone male, joined the service prior to moving to San Diego,
CA. In 1986, the Quin-Tones reunited, sparked by a DJ from Grand
Rapids, MI who had been looking for them for 25 years, not knowing they
had been in York all the time. Jeannie Crist sings in her church's
choir, and Ronnie Scott (keyboard player) hasn't been heard from yet.
On a sad note, Roberta Haymond-Johnson died in 1996, and Sissie
Holmes died in 1995, but the New Quin-Tones continue. Vince Carr
(Phyllis Carr's brother) is the primary lead, while Ceaser Westbrook and
Buck Generetta primarily sing backup. Phyllis Carr manages the group,
but no longer performs. The New Quin-Tones cut a demo of Con Funk Shun's
"Straight from the Heart," and are seeking a record deal. Currently,
they perform at private affairs and local clubs. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All
Music Guide
1964 - Lucky Boy / I Don't Cry Over Girls (Louis 6805)
1965 - Happy Teenager / Come A Little Bit Closer (Old Timer 612)
Unreleased:
1965 - Bad Girl (Old Timer)
1965 - Dance With Me (Old Timer)
1965 - She cried (Old Timer)
1965 - Cara Mia (Old Timer)
Biography :
Group from Tremont Avenue in the Bronx,NY. consisted of Jimmy Appollo
(Lead), Joe "Peppi" Contaldi (Baritone), Jerry McGregor (First Tenor)
and Frankie Bujosa (second Tenor). Joe Foti did at some point replace
both Frank and Jerry at various times. The group recorded in 1964 two
songs for Louis Records, a subsidary of Fernwood Records, Memphis,
Tennessee Operated by Bill Black. "Lucky Boy" b/w "I Don't Cry Over
Girls" was released in 1964.
The Rue-Teens at Palisades Park 1965 (Pepe, Jerry, Frankie and Jimmy)
The group recorded songs for Bobby Miller’s Old Timer (a cappella)
label. "Happy Teenager" b/w "Come A Little Bit" Closer was released in
December 1965 on Old Timer 612 .Jimmy Appollo and Joe Foti were original
members of Jimmy & the Crestones ("New Girl On My Block" / "Angel Maureen"). Jimmy has been performing with various groups over the years.
1965 - No More Like Me / This Time (I'm Gonna Be True) (Shrine 103)
Discography :
The Matadors group actually evolved from a teenager street corner
doo-wop ensemble. They were Harry Bass and his younger brother Albert
who out sang Frankie Lymon on any given day of the week. Roy Scott and
Michael Edwards a guy Richard Steele joined together with Harry &
Albert to form The Epsilons. Tommy Bethea joined the singing group as
bass vocal accompaniment. in 1962, The group consisted of Harry Bass,
Tommy Bethea, Michael Edwards, Roy Scott and Jimmy Hall . In time they
link up with Richard Tenryke (Ritchie Tee) the classically trained
pianist who would travel with them to Broadway for recording auditions
and finally for Songwriter and producer: and co-founder of Shrine
Records : Eddie Singleton.
Ray Pollard
Eddie Singleton and the group decided on a new name. The Matadors.
Under that name they recorded "If You Left Me Today" / "It Ain't Nothin'
But Rock And Roll" and "You'd Be Crying Too" / "My Foolish Heart" on
Keith Records. Later they realized that another vocal group had the name
Matadors. So they became the Toreadors. This was part marketing
strategy and also an expression of cultural solidarity with the Spanish
speaking community members proliferating in NYC There were many Puerto
Rican doo-woppers, same as they and the Italians doing street corner
work. Also, the thing was, that they had designed some Matador style
costumes and could not afford to scrap the costumes. In 1965, Michael
Edwards, Harry Bass and Tommy Bethea sing backing vocals behind Ray
Pollard on the Shrine roster.
Songs :
The Matadors (4)
If You Left Me Today You'd Be Crying Too
My Foolish Heart It Ain't Nothin' But Rock And Roll
