Tony Montalbano, Ronnie Kemp, Julian Barnett, Glenn Carlin and Johnny Smith
Personnel :
Tony Montalbano
Glenn Carlin (First Tenor)
Johnny Smith
Ronnie Kemp
Julian Barnett (Vocal & Guitar)
Discography :
Biography :
The Saints, vocal group from Houston, Texas are composed by Tony Montalbano, Glenn Carlin, Johnny Smith, Ronnie Kemp and Julian Barnett. The original singing group begin 1955 as the Velvetones but Montalbano and Kemp were the only original members. When the Velvetones broke up soon afterward, Montalbano, Kemp and two other singers appeared as the Saints at a dance at Oberholtzer Hall. Johnny Smith was present at this dance. He was so impressed with their performance that he decided to try to join them. With Johnny Smith as their new addition, the Saints began practicing for the Crow’s Nest show.
The Velvetones
Their appearance in Fiesta was the turning point in their early careers. Using Fiesta as a springboard, the Saints plunged into a new world-the entertainment field. Since Fiesta, the Saints have made some changes with the addition of Carlin as first tenor and Barnett as featured vocalist and guitar player. Two of the Saints are University students. Montalbano is a senior geology and business major and Smith is a mechanical engineering sophomore The other members of this singing group work full time. In November 1956 after all their performances Jimmy Duncan makes them sign a recording contract.
Cue Records was owned, in Houston, Texas, by Jimmy Duncan, songwriter, singer, composer, author, arranger and producer, best known for his 1957 song "My Special Angel", a #1 country/western hit for Bobby Helms. Cue release three singles of The Saints between 1957 and 1958, and one in 1958 on the Prescott Label. Four years later, Tony A. Montalbano and and Ronnie Kemp are part of a new group, The Gents. The group recorded two compositions of Tony, "Golly Golly Dolly" and "It's Too Late To Cry" released by All Boy Records.
The Saints (1)