The Tempos (1) (Pittsburg, Pa)
Personnel :
Jim Drake
Mike Lazo
Gene Schacter
Tom Minito
Discography :
Singles :
1957 - The Kingdom of Love / That's What You Do To Me (Kapp 178)
1957 - The Prettiest Girl In School / Never You Mind (Kapp 199)
1958 - I Got A Job / Strollin' With My Baby (Kapp 213)
1959 - See You In September / Bless You My Love (Climax 102)
1959 - The Crossroads of Love / Whatever Happens (Climax 105)
1959 - Look Homeward Angel / Under 10 Flags (Paris 550)
1965 - My Barbara Ann / When You Loved Me (Ascot 2167)
1965 - My Barbara Ann (Re-release) / I Wish It Were Summer (Ascot 2173)
Unreleased :
1959 - A Boy And A Girl Were Meant To Fall In Love (Climax)
1959 - Eight Wonders Of The World (Climax)
Biography :
Mike
Lazo, Gene Schacter, and Bobby Vinton formed a singing trio The Hilites
in 1954 that performed at local records hops. Drafted into the Army
Lazo and Schachter sang at U.S.O. shows while stationed together in
Korea. Returning to civilian life in 1957 Lazo and Schachter joined
forces with two Duquense University music majors, song writer Jim Drake
(Lead Singer of the Four Larks)
and saxophonist Tom Minito to form the Tempos. Singing rich harmonies
the performed a local record hops where the came to attention of local
artist manager/producer Jack Gold. Gold, who was managing Lou Christie
at the time, persuaded David Kapp to sign them to his New York City
based Kapp Records. Kapp released 3 singles by the Tempos.
Mike Lazo, Gene Schacter, and Bobby Vinton : The Hilites
Brill Building song writers Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards wrote the
song “See You in September” on a Friday of June 1959. They pitched the
song to Jack Gold that afternoon. He brought the rights to it for $500
and called the Tempos that evening to fly New York. The Tempos recorded
the song the next day in New York, the record was on Monday, the
testing pressing was done on Thursday, and its was getting airplay on
WNEW on Friday. It was released on the short lived Climax Records
label. The record broke in San Francisco, hit the national charts in
July, and climbed to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the end of August.
The Tempos performed on American Bandstand on October 12, 1959. “See
you in September” was their one national success. Climax released a
follow-up single "The Crossroads of Love" / "What" later in 1959 that
did not reach the charts. They continued to perform at Pittsburgh area
dances, appear on local television dance programs, and record until
1965. They release the singles "Look Homeward Angel" / "Under 10 Flags"
(Paris 1959), "My Barbara Ann" / "When You Loved Me" (Ascot 1965), and
"My Barbara Ann (re-release) / "I Wish It Were Summer" (Ascot 1965).
https://sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/doo-wop/the-tempos
http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.de/2010/10/see-you-in-september.html
