(Clockwise from top) Joan Paulin, Betty Lloyd, Gail Houston, Jean Marie Johnson.
The Percells (Long Island, NY)
Personnel:
Gail Jones (Lead)
Jean Marie Johnson
Joan Paulin
Betty Lloyd
Discography :
1963 - What Are Boys Made Of / Cheek To Cheek (ABC 10401)
1963 - Look At That Guy / Hully Gully Guitar (ABC 10449)
1963 - My Guy / Boyfriends (ABC 10476)
1964 - The Greatest / I Stand Alone (ABC 10516)
Biography :
The
Percells formed in Long Island, NY by singer Gail Jones (while still in
high school) and Jean Marie Johnson, then added Joan Paulin and Betty
Lloyd to the group. When Pete Antell and his songwriting partner John
Linde heard the Percells at Ultra-Sonic Studios in Long Island, they
sensed they had found an act they could mould into the new Crystals or
Shirelles.
The Percells seated Joan Paulin, Jean Marie Johnson, Gail Jones and Betty Lloyd.
Standing : John Lindle, Stoney Jackson and Pete Antell
After months of practise they began to make a name for themselves singing at local venues, opening for Lenny Welch on one notable occasion. Sorties into Manhattan to record demos resulted in them taping a radio promo for DJ the Magnificent Montague. On seeing the group's first release 'What Are Boys Made Of' sitting pretty near the Top 50 in the spring of 1963, they must have felt that their instincts had been right
The success of their debut 45 earned the Percells a spot on American
Bandstand, plus bookings at Shea Stadium and the Apollo in Harlem, where
they shared the bill with Ruby & the Romantics, the Chiffons, the
Chantels and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans... None of the Percells
four records made any inroads commercially. Gail Jones has been active
as a gospel singer since the 1980's, and while the others have fond
memories of their time as Percells, their professional singing days
ended in 1964.
Songs :
What Are Boys Made Of / Cheek To Cheek My Guy / Hully Gully Guitar
Boyfriends I Stand Alone
The Greatest Look At That Guy