The Wonders (5) (Akron,OH.)
Personnel :
Fred Kalail (Lead)
Wade Haddad (Tenor)
Ron Kalail (Baritone)
Harvey Russell (Bass)
Discography :
The Wonders (5)
1957 - Well Now / Cuttin' Out (Reserve 122)
1959 - I'll Write A Book / Hey Senorita (Ember 1051)
Harvey Russell
1963 - Out of My Teens / Cuttin' Out (Vicki 638)
Biography :
Harvey Russell began writing songs upon returning to Akron in 1955 after serving in the Air Force. With Fred Kalail (Lead), Wade Haddad (Tenor) and Ron Kalail (Baritone), they formed a group called the Wonders. They wrote a song called Cuttin' Out and they took it to a radio station and they wanted to play it. In 1957, "Well Now" b/w "Cuttin' Out" was released on Reserve Records. The Wonders were more of a pop group in the style of the Four Lads or Crew Cuts. Yet they knew what was selling, so they waxed "I'll Write A Book" with a nice version of the penguins' classic "Hey Senorita" in the winter of 1959.
The
Wonders toured throughout the south and east for four years, but,
according to Wade Haddad, never totally adapted to Rock and roll.
Several members evolved into another band, playing Arabic music for
Akron's large Middle-eastern constituency. In the early 60s Harvey
Russell continued to sing 'solo'. He had a local hit with "Out of My
Teens" on the Vicki label. In 1964 Harvey Russell started his own record
label, Janie, named for his wife. He recorded a record of his own, but
also released records by the Decades and Pacers. By 1965 he had decided
to start singing for the teenage set, so he partnered with the Rogues,
an Akron band who were pretty popular in the teen clubs.
Songs :
The Wonders (5)
Well Now Cuttin' Out
I'll Write A Book Hey Senorita