DOO-WOP : DAYTONS - THREE JOKERS - THREE STRANGERS

DAYTONS - THREE JOKERS - THREE STRANGERS - THIEVES

(L to R) : Melvin Wright, Salome Bey and Ike Smith

The Daytons (Philadelphia)

Aka The Three Jokers

Aka The Three Strangers

Aka The Thieves

Personnel :

Salome Bey (Lead)

Heywood Royster (First Tenor)

Ike Smith (Second Tenor)

Jack “Buck” McLauglin (Baritone)

Melvin Wright (Bass)

Discography :

The Daytons

Single:

1958 - King of Broken Hearts / Friday Better Come (Norgolde 101)

Unreleased :

1958 - Yum Yum

The Three Jokers

Single:

1963 - He’s A Bum / Hi Diddle Diddle (Mercury 72345)

Unreleased :

1963 - Faith In A Young Man's Heart

The Three Strangers

1966 - Little Boy Blue / I’ll Be Alright (Paramount 10774)

1966 - Find My Baby - Part 1 / Find My Baby (Inst) (Frantics 201)

The Thieves

Single:

1966 - Why Did You Do It To Me / I’m Not The One (Broadway 405)

Unreleased :

1966 - Run To My Lovin Arms

1966 - Please Believe

Biography :

Salome Bey began his journey in music entertainment as a singer at a young age in South Philly where he grew up and went to school. In the late Nineteen Fifties, Salome along with Ike Smith, Melvin Wright, Heywood Royster and John “Buck” McLauglin sang together and formed The Daytons. The Daytons, a name lifted from a popular shoe style of the late 1950’s, were ready to take on all comers.

(L to R) : Ike Smith, Salome Bey and Melvin Wright

They began their career doing house parties. They practiced at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center and competed at the recreation center and South Philly HS in “sing- offs”. They competed with home turf rivals – Chubby Checker’s confab – The Quantrells, Bunny Sigler’s boys – The Opals and later, Pat and the Blenders. Plus they sang along side these guys at talent shows in many of the same venues.

(L to R) : Ike Smith, Leon Huff, Melvin Wright, ??? & Salome Bey... Seated Billy Ward

Salome with the Daytons went on to record King of Broken hearts for the NORGOLDE record label. Live appearances ensued, including one at the ever popular televised Summer Time at the Pier with Grady & Hurst in glitzy Atlantic City. All this transpired while Salome and the others were still attending Barrett Junior High School. The popularity of King of Broken Hearts and the Daytons subsided. The group took stock of their options and enrolled in high school. Salome attended Bok High and escorted Patty Labelle to the Junior/Senior Prom (11/27/59).

With Bobby Eli On Guitar

Later, Salome was off singing with Bunny Sigler and his crew. In 1963 Melvin and Ike reunited with Salome forming The Three Jokers and waxed a two-sider for Mercury Records entitled, He’s A Bum/ Hi Diddle Diddle. Salome, Melvin and Ike changed their name to the Three Strangers and recorded with ABC – Paramount and Frantic Records, and later with Broadway Records as The Thieves. Salome was in the early R&B mix and worked with such music greats as Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Tommy Bell.

http://www.andre-cafe.com/salome.htm

Songs :

The Daytons