1963 - Baby, Think It Over / I Don't Care (Success 110)
Lps :
1963 - Only For Teenagers And Swinging Adults (Success LP 1011MX)
Baby, Think It Over / I Don't Care
Biography :
The Martinels were signed with a newly founded record company Success
Records. Success Records was formed by Victor Laslow and their office
was on 6th ave., in Des Moines, Iowa. In the summer of '63, the
Blendtones, The Martinels, The Extensions went on a very successful tour
on the West Coast.
Upon
completion of the tour, it was suggested that an album be produced
featuring all of the artists that were currently signed with the
company. Hence, the album Only For Teenagers And Swinging Adults was
born. "Baby, Think It Over" and "I Don't Care" were written by George
Davis from the Blendtones.
1952 - Hambone / Be My Life Companion / Anytime (Air Check 1000)
1952 - Tell Me Why / Cry (Air Check 1001)
1952 - Is It A Sin / Slow Poke (Air Check 1002)
1952 - Undecided / Slow Poke (Top Ten 121)
1953 - Wrap It Up / My Greatest Sin (MGM 11622)
1954 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday / My Love For Dorothy (MGM 11886)
Herb George & The Normanaires
1952 - (It's No ) Sin / Wonder Why (Top Ten 118)
1952 - Any Time / Tell Me Why (Top Ten 127)
Gwyn Davies & The Normanaires
1952 - Sensational / Little White Cloud That Cried (Joe Mara) (Top Ten 123)
1952 - Cry / Please Mr. Sun (Top Ten 126)
Terry Merrittee & The Normanaires
1952 - Shrimp Boats / Unforgettable (Top Ten 125)
Biography :
Malcolm Doods (The Tunedrops)
was born in Brooklyn, and studied classical music at NYU. He was still
living in Brooklyn in the early 50s and was busy working as a
musical/vocal instructor and as always was involved with choral groups
in Schools, YMCAs and churches, using his real name, Malcolm Williams.
It was during this period that he was approached by arranger Fred
Norman, to sing in a group. Thus the Normanaires were formed, comprised
of Malcolm, Dorice Brown, Bill glover and Sam Dillworth. (Malcolm now
began using the name "Dodds", taken from his mother's maiden name, in
order to keep his two careers separate.)
Doris Browne The
Normanaires : Dodds, Doris, Glover & Dillworth
Though the group has been through several personnel changes, the
Normanaires recorded "Your Voice" for MGM in 1953 and appeared on
Godfrey's Talent Scouts. The Normanaires provided backup for Herb George
and Gwen Davies for some releases each on NYC's Top Ten Label. They
also had three 78-rpm on Air Check with other artists. The Normanaires,
although not credited on the labels, may be the group backing Doris
Browne on some of her Gotham releases (1953-54).
Malcolm Dodds & the Tunedrops
The group stayed together for two years, working locally, before
breaking up. After one single with the Four Clicks, "You Lied"/"Higher
Than High" in 1954, Malcolm , with Prentiss Polk, Bill Glover and Danny
Simmons are featured on this first side for George Goldner's End label
as Malcolm Dodds & the Tunedrops In 1957.
1958 - I'm In Love With You (I Am) / Be Nice To Me (Decca 30609)
Biography :
Very little information on this group. The Cousins were a Vocal and
Instrumental group from New Jersey composed by Billy Hayes, Kevin Barry,
Tom Gindhart and Bill Uhr.
The group will only have one single released by Decca with "I'm In
Love With You (I Am)" and "Be Nice To Me", both composed by the members
of the group. The Cousins performed locally for two years before
disbanding.
(paste-up picture) Top : Jesse Belvin. Bottom : Bobby Day & Earl Nelson
The Searchers (1) (Watts, Los Angeles) aka The Hollywood Flames aka ....
Personnel :
Bobby Byrd "Bobby Day" (Lead)
Earl Nelson (Tenor)
Jesse Belvin
Discography :
1958 - Wow-Wow Baby / Ooo-Wee (Class 223)
Biography :
According to Class & Rendezvous Vocal Groups, The Searchers were
another spin-off from the Hollywood Flames. We do not know their full
lineup but it appears to have included artists including Bobby Day and
Earl Nelson (who always seemed to be in the Class recording studio for
one reason or another) and Jesse Belvin. The two sides of their only
single, "Wow-Wow Baby” / "Ooo Wee”’ (Class 223), have similar titles and
energy. The beginning of "Wow-Wow Baby” is explosive while “Ooo Wee"
sounds a lot like "Over And Over" by Bobby Day and the Satellites,
issued on Class 229 during the same time period.
1960/61 - Jungle Twist / The Life Of Pepe Lococo (?)
1962 - She's Coming Home / Mr. Zebra (Mercury 71979)
1962 - I Waited / Just A Little Boy (Mercury 72037)
Biography :
Early in 1958 John Robinson began his music career with the R&B
group The Chanteers. This Vocal group from Roosevelt Senior high school,
West Palm Peach, Florida, including J.P. Robinson, Berdell Macon, Levon
Kinsey and Joe Fisher (future south florida disc jockey, who would
later bring Robinson to the attention of Henry Stone). The chanteers
playing gigs in many club around Miami. It states (in the ad) that the
Chanteers were already a 'recording act' back in 1958 though the 1st 45
by the group was titled "Jungle Twist" and so dates from 1960 or 1961.
The group later signed a recording contract for Mercury records and
cut two singles in 1962.. Three Years later, in 1965, John Robinson with
Victor Kerr cut one single as "Vick & John". John Robinson would
later launch a solo career that spawned through the early 1970's
recording as J.P. Robinson.
1961 - Gee Oh Gee / Angel Of My Heart (Segway 1002)
1962 - Bluebirds Over The Mountain / A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird (Smash 1766)
1963 - A Million Miles From Nowhere / Keep An Eye On Her (Smash 1807)
1963 - If Love Is / Annabelle Lee (Smash 1850)
1965 - I Love Candy / Paper Roses (Ascott 2188)
Unreleased :
1960 - Think It Over
1961 - In A Little Spanish Town
1964 - I Just Can't Help Myself
1969 - A Rose And A Baby Ruth
1983 - Maybe Tonight
1983 - Let's Go To Angelo's
1983 - I Flunked
1983 - It's Party Time
1984 - Little Star
1984 - Hushabye
1984 - Baby Blue Medley
Biography :
The
Echoes were a product of the great New York borough of Brooklyn. Harry
Boyle recalls that in 1959 (at the ripe old age of 15) he was singing
with a guy named Charlie Morrissey whose older brother Tommy (age 21)
was just getting out of the service. Tommy started signing with some
different guys including Bill Perry the lead of Billy and the Glens.
Bill Perry introduced Tommy to Tom Duffy. Duffy knew two other guys –
Sam Capano and Willie Bender. These five guys started practicing and
getting songs together as the Laurels. Duffy knew Johnny Powers (of
Johnny and the Jokers).
The Laurels
The
story goes that two teachers from Brooklyn wrote a song called “Baby
Blue.” Those two were Sam Guilino and Val Lagueux. The two offered the
song to Johnny Powers. Powers didn’t think the song was right for him
and he passed it along to Duffy. In 1959, the Laurels took the song and
did a slow, “Earth Angel” type ballad demo version of Baby Blue. They
shopped it around without success.
In 1960, Harry Boyle was asked to join
the group as a guitar player. Capano and Bender left the group and the
remaining trio asked Harry Boyle and Tommy Morrissey to start singing.
They renamed themselves the Echoes. Harry Boyle suggested re-recording
Baby Blue as a cha-chat. The group did that, picking up the pace a bit
and changing the intro of the song by spelling out the words “Baby
Blue.” It was Duffy, Morrissey and Boyle with Ralph DePalma on drums.
They shopped the record at the famous “1650″ building and met up with
Jack Gold of Paris Records (of the G-Clefs, Four Esquires, and Newports
fame). Gold liked it and re-recorded it again with a new arrangement
that included guitarist Billy Mueller. That was December 1960.
Baby Blue b/w Boomerange was released in
January 1961 on the S.R.G. label (named for Gold’s son Stephen Richard
Gold) and Gold leased the rights to Seg-Way (#103 1961). The song first
broke in Cleveland and was a huge hit going all the way to #12 in
Billboard and #9 in Cashbox. The Echoes followed up on Seg-Way with Sad
Eyes b/w Its Rainin (Seg-Way #106 1961) which did well locally but only
reached #88 nationally. They followed with Gee Oh Gee b/w Angel of My
Heart (Seg-Way #1002 1961) which did not chart. https://strathdee.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/one-hit-wonders-the-echoes/
Songs :
The Laurels (5)
Baby Blue (demo) Every Dream I Dream (demo)
The Echoes (6)
Baby Blue Boomerang
Sad Eyes It's Rainin'
Gee Oh Gee / Angel Of My Heart Bluebirds Over The Mountain
A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird A Million Miles From Nowhere
1961 - Tell Me / We Dined By Candlelight (Camelia 100-38/39)
1961 - The Stars Will Remember / Tell Me (Galaxie 77)
Biography :
A Lodi vocal group, “The Idols,” entertainers on radio and
television, have joined the ranks of recording artists, with their first
disc. The four young men are Lionel Handel, Larry Westgate, Mike
Harmon, and John Hops. One song on the record, “Tell Me” was written by
Mike Harmon. The other, “We Dined by Candle-light” is a composition of
Mrs Helen Allrich, a resident of Lodi. Both songs are ballads of the
type in which the group has gained recognition. The two songs were
released on The Camelia label from Sacramento.
Lionel Handel, John Hops, Mike Harmon & Larry Westgate
The Idols, an anagram for “Lodi” was formed in 1957 While the singers
were stil! attending Lodi High School, and all were playing in the
school band. Since that time they have entertained at numerous functions
in Lodi, Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton, and San Francisco. Later, after
the boys entered college, they continued the singing combo, and
branched into radio and video, appearing on the Bil] Rase show and on
several occasions they have been guests on the Don Sherwood Show. Some
months later, the Idols release their second recording on the Galaxie
label. The latest composition is "The Stars Will Remember" with a
repeat of "Tell Me" .
Anthony Antonelli, Jim Grote, Jimmy Amatullo and Johnny Antonelli
The Young Lads (2) (Hell's Kitchen, New York)
Personnel :
Anthony Antonelli (Lead)
Jim Grote
Johnny Antonelli
Jimmy Amatullo
Discography:
The Young Lads (2)
1963 - Night After Night / Graduation Kiss (Felice 909/712)
Stan Vincent bb The Young Lads (2)
1963 - Hot Fudge Sundaes and Pizza Pies / The World Is Round (Felice 711)
Biography :
Anthony Antonelli was born and raised in the west side in Hell's
Kitchen around 51st and 52nd street and 10th avenue. Anthony began his
singing career at the age of twelve and was a two-time winner on the Ted
Mack Amateur Hour. In the late fifties Anthony started his first vocal
group called The Young Ladds with his brother Johnny, Jim Grote and
Jimmy Amatullo.
Marty
?, Johnny Antonelli And Anthony
Antonelli
The Group was immediately signed to Felice Records. The group
released its first record on Felice Records entitled ''Night After
Night''. This record immediately made its way to Billboards Top 100.
During the session, the Young Lads backed Singer, songwriter, producer,
arranger: Stan Vincent on "Hot Fudge Sundaes and Pizza Pies" b/w "The
World Is Round"
Stan Vincent
Anthony's contract was sold to Music Tone Records where he joined a
group called "The Classics". Anthony's next venture in show business was
helping to launch a cartoon character called Smurf. '
Jimmy Amatullo was also a member (very possibly the Lead Singer) of the Dedications on the C & A label who had “Shining Star” b/w “Mary Lou” on C & A (# 506) in 1963.
1962 - My Best Friend / Dancin' & Cryin' (Rayna 5010 / Kram 1001)
1962 - The Puppet / Tell Me Yes (Tell Me No) (Blackbird 4004 / Cheer 1001]
Biography :
In 1962, agent Michael Amato from Jersey City who discovered "Ronnie
& The Hi-Lites" have a new group, The Corals. Te group consists of
Linda Kirkland; 16, Marie Poole, 16, and sisters Daisy, 13, and Thelma
Yarbrough. The girls all attend Ferris High. The Corals released "My
Best Friend" b/w "Dancin' & Cryin'" first on Kram (1962). The same
songs were re-issued on Rayna the same year. They also did "Puppet" on
Blackbird that year, which was re-issued on Cheer. New York City labels.
Their records was produced by Hal Wess whose wife wrote all the songs.
1959 - Jungle Bunny / My Heart's Desire (Dootone 448)
Unreleased :
1959 - She'll Understand (Dootone)
1959 - Baby Drop Top (Dootone)
1959 - I Laughed So Hard (Dootone)
The Four Pearls
1960 - Look At Me / It's Almost Tomorrow (Dolton 26)
Biography :
The
Pearls were an R&B vocal group that formed at Tacoma's McCord Air
Force Base in March, 1957. Artis Johnson Jr. -- an alumni of Oakland,
CA's Midnights -- recruited three other singers (Elsie Hall, Lloyd
Foster, & William Watson) & they competed in the military's
annual Tops-N-Blue talent contest. By the next year's show Johnson &
Hall had added new members: Rueben Martin & Ronald Small, they took
the prize, & ended up performing Hall's "My Love" on the Ed
Sullivan Show which aired from New York City on August 31st. Back home,
the Pearls began working weekends at Seattle's top R&B dancehall,
the Birdland (2203 E. Madison Street), where they were backed by
house-band, the Dave Lewis Combo. In February, 1959, the quartet left
Seattle by car & drove to Los Angeles with hopes of getting
discovered. Arriving at the offices of Walter "Dootsie" Williams'
Dootone Records, they lucked into an immediate audition – & as the
Los Angeles Sentinel noted on March 19th: "after hearing them sing just
once he immediately signed them to a long term contract." Ensconced in a
recording studio with Ernie "Raunchy" Freeman's ace band – Williams was
ecstatic about his Fabulous Pearls, declaring that "Both sides of this
record will explode."
Well, not quite: even though the newspaper figured that the single's
A-side ("Jungle Bunny") was an innocent "Easter-timed" (!) single, its
title was actually based on some racist graffiti that Hall had once seen
as a little girl. Williams thought it had "a slight edge due to its
unusual style," but its edginess caused it to flop – so he began
promoting the B-side, "My Heart's Desire," without much more luck. Three
additional tunes -- "She'll Understand," "Baby Drop Top" & "I
Laughed So Hard" -- were also cut, the latter finally surfacing on
compilation CDs in 1995. Back in Seattle -- & now recast as the
Four Pearls -- they were signed in July, 1960, by Bob Reisdorff to his
Dolton Records label which was scoring hits with Northwest acts like the
Fleetwoods, Ventures & FranticsThe beautiful "Look At Me" (with
Dave Lewis on piano) & "It's Almost Tomorrow" (with the Frantics)
were cut by audio engineer, Kearney Barton, at his Northwest Recorders
studio (622 Union Street). When issued by Dolton around August, KOL
& various other Northwest radio stations gave "Look At Me" some
support, but it failed to grow into a broader hit & the Four Pearls
headed to Canada where they played their final gigs.
1959 - Girl Of mine / At Seventeen (Able/Taurus 2969/2969)
Biography :
Early in 1957 three junior high school students from Brooklyn - Marty
Jolton, John Cipriani and Steve Tudanger - formed Marty & the
Joltineers. Soon they met Larry and Sal Ruggiero, and the Corsairs were
founded. When Larry dropped out, the group changed its name to the Vocal
Lords and recorded "At Seventeen", released first on the tiny Abel
logo, and then on Taurus. The disc earned the group some local fame and a
spot on Clay Cole's TV show. While at Taurus, they also did back-ups on
releases by Donnie & the Delchords and the Fireflies, whose song
"Good Friends" Steve also wrote.
Marty & the Joltineers
The Vocal Lords
Meanwhile, in another neighbourhood, Joe DiBenedetto, Jimmy
Gallagher, Tommy Saltzo and Nick Zagami formed the Paladians. After
releasing "I'd Climb The Highest Mountain" the outfit disbanded, with
Jimmy joining the Passions, while Nick and Joe teamed up with John and
Steve of the Vocal Lords. This new quartet renamed themselves the Four-Evers..
1962 - I'm On My Way To Love / When The Music Ends (Heritage 109)
1963 - Again / I Love You Diane (Laurie 3155)
1963 - How I Wish I Was A Single / Dance Joanne (Laurie 3183)
Unreleased :
1961 - Wedding Bells
1962 - My Love
1963 - Girl In The Moonlight
1963 - Summertime Angel
1963 - A Thing Worth Remembering
1963 - Mr.Weather
1963 - Girls
1963 - Cover Girl
1963 - Tammy Ann
1963 - Congratulations To Someone
1963 - For The First Time
1963 - Future Just Passed
The Vespers
1963 - Mr Cupid / Walk With My Angel (Swan 4156)
Johnny Greco bb The Four Epics
1963 - Rocket Ride / Why Don't You Love Me (Pageant 602)
Biography :
They started as a trio in the fall of '59 and called themselves the
Bancrofts, a name taken from their streetcorner hangout. They were Jack
"Rocky" McKnight (1st Tenor and vocal arranger). Mickey Neill (2nd
Tenor) and Jimmy Mullen (baritone). After months of practice, they were
eager to hear their sound on acetate and in May '60, they recorded Dion
and the Belmonts version of Wonderful Girl. Harmony and blend were
good, yet lacked the fullness Jack was striving for, It was decided a
4th voice was needed, and in early '61 enter Bobby Riccobene, who
completed the ensemble with his basso profundo.
Confident with their sound, they pooled their money for studio
time and recorded some original material. The group finally made their
mark after teaming up with Jerry Ross who, in 1962, suggested a name
change to the Four Epics and shuffled them to South Philly's AMS studio
to record "I'm On My Way" b/w "When The Music Ends" for his Heritage
label. Not only did promotional appearances abound along the eastern
seaboard, Jerry managed to keep the boys busy doing backround sessions
for established artists like Chubby Checker, Little Joey & the
Flips, Rick & the Masters, Freddy Cannon, and the Dovells. One of
the most memorable sessions was with some of the members of the Fortune
Tellers and the Dreamlovers on "Amazons & Coyotes".
While the Heritage release was still generating airplay, Bobby
Riccobene left the group and in stepped Richie Lalli just as Ross made a
connection with the NY based Laurie Records. So in 1963, the
boys headed for the Big Apple and the famous Bell Sound Studios where
they recorded an up-tempo version of the old standard "Again". Based on
airplay and record sales, Laurie execs were ecstatic and sanctioned
another release on the label.
So, hot on its heels in '63 came the follow-up, "Dance Joanne", a
ditty reminiscent of "Little Bitty Pretty One". Even as these tunes made
their improbable run up the charts, the boys would soon learn their
stint with Laurie would be short lived, Consequently disappointment
and frustration would lead to Mickey and Richie leaving the group. Jack
and Jimmy would go on to form a new group with Tony Barbella (1st
Tenor), and Buzzy Shearin (2nd Tenor). Now known as The Vespers, a
proficient, albeit ,short-lived ensemble.
The Vespers : Jack Mc Knight, Jimmy Mullen, Tony Barbella & Buzzy Shearin
They had only one release in '63 on Swan Records "Mr Cupid" b/w
"Walk With My Angel" It was a modest hit, however no others would
follow and the group soon disbanded. For the next 3 decades, the
musical virtuosity of Jack McKnight would be demonstrated many times,
whether it be the rebirth of the 4 Epics, Exodus, Exodus II, or
arranging and producing recording sessions for other recording artists.
The Concertones : Melvin Beckner, Gary Church, Kay Brooks, Roslyn King and Brenda Robinson
The Concertones (Newport News, Virginia)
aka The Brothers Kennedy aka The Hamptons
Personnel :
Melvin Beckner
Gary Church
Kay Brooks
Roslyn King
Brenda Robinson
Discography :
The Brothers Kennedy
1961 - I Know Why Dreamers Cry / Once In A Lifetime (1-2-3 Kick) (Legrand 1007)
The Concertones
1961 - Just One More Time / All Is Well And Fine (Legrand 1011)
The Hamptons
1964 - I Know Why Dreamers Cry / Once In A Lifetime (1-2-3 Kick) (Legrand 1007)
Biography :
Vocal group from From Warwick High School, in Newport News, Virginia
composed by Gary Church, Melvin Beckner, Kay Brooks, Roslyn King and
Brenda Robinson. In early 1960, Melvin Beckner wrote some songs like
"All's Well and Fine", "Don't Say I Love You" and "Heartaches For Me".
Warwick High's musical senior Mary Jane Cofer sponsored a concert with
Melvin who sang the lead on his three songs , backed by three girls
named The Mello-Tones Trio. The success was immediate and Melvin landed a
recording session. In April 1961, Melvin and his singing partner, Gary
Church, recorded "I Know Why Dreamers Cry" and " Once In A Lifetimethe"
both written by Melvin in a recording session in Norfolk produced by
Frank Guida.
The
Brothers Kennedy : Melvin Beckner and Gary Church
The
Concertones
They
went over to Norfolk twice a week for three weeks to work on it. The
last session, when they really got it, took from seven o'clock at night
to four o'clock in the morning, And some time later the single will be
released as The Brothers Kennedy on the Legrand Label. In 1964, the
single was also released credited to The The Hamptons. Four months
later, Melvin Beckner, Gary Church and the Mello-Tones Trio; Kay Brooks,
Roslyn King and Brenda Robinson Have a new recording session. Under the
name of the Concertones, Legrand released "Just One More Time" and "All
Is Well And Fine". Melvin also wrote "Time Ole Story", the flip side of
Quarter To Three for Gary (U.S.) Bonds.
Native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gene Bricker was a tenor singer
with the rhythm and blues group, The Marcels. They are best remembered
for their 1961 hit single, "Blue Moon." The song sold well over a
million copies, hit number one on the UK singles charts. Formed in 1959,
the group also included lead singer Cornelius Harp, bass player Fred
Johnson (Allen's brother), Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss. In 1961,
Bricker and Knauss left the group.
The Original Marcels (Gene Bricker in the Center)
Actually,
before joining the Marcels, Gene (Brick) Bricker and friend Ray (Buddy)
Bowling, both civilian employees at the North Park Nike Site (National
Guard) have recorded "Misty Eyes" and "Stick Around" (Two songs written
by Ray) and released by Greemwich Records.
