Personnel :
Richard Blair
Ronnie Blair
This group formed in 1956. After many hours of daily practice, they obtained their first job performing at local club. They led to many other local appearances. Pittsburgh Deejay Jay Michael helped them get an audition with Gale records. They recorded masters for gale, but nothing was ever released on that label. Moe Gale had sold their masters to Coral Records, which eventually released a three Vales disc with "Sure Nuff" b/w "Rock A Billy Blues".
The artist designation of their coral release was either an error or promotional "gimmick", they were identified as Dick Vale & The Three Vales instead of Three Vales.The Coral recording did quite well and they appeared with many of the names Rhythm and Blues and Rock'n'Roll stars at the dance hall. The success of "Sure Nuff" earned them a spot on Jay Michael's August 23, 1957 Top Ten Revue at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. The program was billed as "A Shower Of Stars"and included Sal Mineo, Jill Corey, the Four Coins, the clovers, the Bobbettes, Huey Smith, the Velours and others.
The fall of 1957, Richard Blair collaborated with Sonny Gilmer of the Premiers in penning a ditty called "Blue Lights Down Low". Jay Michael heard the three Vales do it at one of his hop. He was so impressed, Michael contacted his friend, George Goldner, who owned Roulette Records. Without delay, a recording session was shelled for the group. Sonny & the Premiers accompanied the Three Vales to New York and provided instrumentation for "Blue Lights Down Low" and "Aye Aye Aye". Following the release of "Blue Lights Down Low" on Roulette's subsidiary Cindy label, the Three Vales continued performing throughout the Pittsburgh vicinity. Ron Blair was drafted in June 1958 and the Three Vales parted. At this time brother Richard Blair moved on to California.
