1959 - Am I Wasting My Time / Gambling Man (Note 10031)
Unreleased :
1958 - Sweet Names (Note)
Dottie Fergerson & The Five Stars (2)
1958 - Slow Burn / You And Me And Love (Kernel 31957/Mercury 71129)
Ronnie Haig bb The Five Stars (2)
1958 - Traveler Of Love / Don't You Hear Me Calling Baby (Note 10016/ABC 9912/10209 )
Biography :
From the Indianapolis Indiana area, this group of Five Stars had
several records on different labels. The Five Stars consisted of: Lead,
Ron Russel, First Tenor Jim Bruhn, 2nd Tenor Larry Huffman, Baritone
Bill Campbell, and on Bass Bruce Miller (later replaced by Popcorn
Johnson) . Their first record was on the Kentucky based Kernal label.
Using a somewhat popular theme at the time, "Atom Bomb Baby" b/w "You
Sweet Little Thing" on the flip. The record made enough noise for Dot
records to pick it up and distribute for the entire USA. It didn't meet
the expectations of Dot, but it certainly got the Five Stars name in
circulation.
The
next sequential release on the Kernal label was Dottie Fergerson backed
with the Five Stars. "Slow Burn" made enough local noise that Mercury
actually picked it up for their label. On the flip was "You And Me And
Love." Dottie Fergerson went on to have a couple additional issues for
Mercury. These sides were cut at the same session as the previous Five
Stars release on Kernal.
Ronnie Haig
The Five Stars signing a recording contract on the Indianapolis label
called Note a cut three singles. The First "Pickin On The Wrong
Chicken" was getting the play at local radio stations. Released in March
of 1958, it never made any national charts, but certainly scored high
on the local and regional sheets. On The Same Session Ronnie hag cut his
first record, "Traveler Of Love" b/w "Don't You Hear Me Calling Baby"
and The Five Stars provided vocal group back up on both sides.
The
Five Stars made several appearances on 'American Bandstand.' In early
summer of 1958 Note released "My Paradise" b/w "Friction". "My
Paradise" had all the elements to become a hit, except for sales. The
last release for was called "Am I Wasting My Time" backed with "Gambling
Man." In 1960 Jim Bruhn and Ron Russell reformed a vocal and
instrumental group called The Four Stars. The group backed Lorenzo Conyers of the Ink Spots.
