Holiday Records, founded by Danny Robinson, the younger brother of
Fire/Fury Records founder Bobby Robinson, existed for only two years, a
period in which it cut music by such groups as the Bop Chords , Jimmy
Jones and the Pretenders, the Ladders and plus lesser-known acts like
the Harmonaires.The
Harmonaires Were from the Bronx: Clint Holland, Albert George, Bob
Trotman and Andre Lilly. It is also understood that several of the
members attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. Bob Trotman
& Andre Lilly went over to The Rob Roys and went on to sing all there great hits. Albert George became bass singer of the Bonnevilles.
1960 - P.S. I Love You / Where Is My Love Tonight (Astro 202/203)
1960 - Romeo and Juliet / Listen For A Lonely Tambourine (Astro 204/205)
Richie Dennis (bb The Starlets (1))
1960 - I'll Cry / I Am Alone (Julia 1101)
Biography:
The group originated in New Jersey as The Starlets which consisted of
sisters, Barbara "Bibs" and Phyllis "Jiggs" Allbut, Bernadette
Carroll, and Linda Malzone. They had some minor local hits and wound up
doing back-up work in the studio.
When Linda Malzone left, Linda Jankowski (later Jansen) became the
new lead singer. Their manager, Tom DeCillis, turned his focus to
Bernadette Carroll and dropped the rest of the group. Carroll would find
solo success in 1963 with her Laurie single "Party Girl." After a
failed attempt at record deal with producer Gerry Granahan, the Allbut
sisters turned their focus to education.
Phyllis Allbut was in teacher's college at the time and Barbara
Allbut was accepted into the Juilliard School for her abilities as a
musical arranger. Soon Granahan, who had previously rejected the group,
suddenly saw hit potential in the song they had performed for him in
their audition, a version of "Till," and wanted them to record it in the
studio.
"Til" became their first single under their new name, The Angels, and
also their first hit (#14 US) released by Granahan's Caprice label in
1961.
1955 - Rollin' Stone / Why Don't You (Excello 2057)
1955 - Two Strangers/ Love You - Love You - Love You (Excello 2061)
Unreleased :
1955 - Don't Say Tomorrow (Excello)
1955 - Rollin’ Stone (alt. take) (Excello)
Johnny Bragg & The Marigolds
1956 - It's You Darling, It's You / Juke Box Rock And Roll (Excello 2091)
The Solotones
1955 - Pork And Beans / Front Page Blues (Excello 2060)
Johnny Bragg (solo)
1956 - Foolish Me! / Beyond The Clouds (Excello 2078)
Biography:
The
Prisonaires, as the name suggests, were a group of inmates led by
Johnny Bragg, at the State Penitentiary in Tennessee who were in for a
variety of reasons but, through their singing, were touted as evidence
of the prison’s successful rehab program. Sam Phillips took notice and
brought the group to record at Sun where the group cut “Walking In The
Rain” written by member Robert Riley and Johnny Bragg, which was a
sizable hit even being covered by Johnny Ray. The group was allowed day passes to tour, even becoming a favorite of
the Governor while continuing to record during their imprisonment.
Henry Dishrag Jones (piano) Harold Hebb, Johnny Bragg, John Drue, L.B. McCollough(guitar), Alfred Brooks, Willy Wilson
After the third single, several members of the group were paroled, so Bragg formed a new Prisonaires renamed the Sunbeams that included Harold Hebb (brother of Bobby Hebb, "Sunny," #2 Pop, #3 R&B, 1966), William Stewart, Willy Wilson, and Henry "Dishrag" Jones . Meanwhile,
in July 1954, Sun issued the last Prisonaires single "There Is Love In
You," which Billboard described as a "pretty ballad sung skillfully,
sparked by a baritone lead. This is one of the group's best to date."
Al Brooks joined the group later, replacing William Stewart. In 1955 the
Sunbeams became the Marigolds and recorded in Nashville for Excello
Records.
The Excello-released "Rollin' Stone" became a number eight R&B
hit while the group was still based in the Tennessee penitentiary.
After the Marigolds Bragg changed names again recording the Solotones
and then under his own name before spending some additional time in
prison for parole violations eventually hanging up his recording career
though he continued to sing, as do many, in church.
1962 - Mash Potatoes With Me / The Hoppy Hop (King 5678)
1963 - The Jumpin' Bean / Just For Your Love (King 5735)
Unreleased :
1962 - Humpty Dumpty (Had A Great Fall) (King)
1962 - Stars In The Sky (King)
The Dealers
1965 - You Got It / (We're So) Glad That We Made It (Big Bunny 507)
Biography :
The
Mystics on King Record were : Claude Johnson, Doc Morris, Melvin
Thomas, and Don Thomas (he's the one who later joined the Drifters - his
real name was Charles Thomas, but he changed it to Don so as not to be
confused with the Charlie Thomas who'd been in the Drifters for many
years).
After two singles for king they became the Dealers and have a last one with Big Bunny Records.
1961 - Love Me, Love Me / Cileen (inst. by The Craftsman) (Gardena 121)
1961 - Love Me, Love Me / Summer Love (Archer 104)
Unreleased :
1961 - I Wonder Why / Little Girl
The Beverly Hills Painters
1961 - Model A Heap / Believe Me (Gateway 700)
1962 - Five Foot Three (Little Girl) / I Know Why (Gateway 701)
Biography :
They started as the Altones in about 1959, using the first part of
their names AL and TONY-thus the Altones. Albert Mastry (1930-2002)
played guitar and was heard on vocals. Tony Mastry (1920- 1997) was on
guitar, bass, harmonica, and vocals. The rest of the group included Ray
Sharkey on drums and Jack Freeman on keyboards. The Altones released
two records. They had a release on Archer and they split billing on a
sole release on Gardena. Apparently, they didn't copyright their name,
and it was then taken by a black vocal group.
Tony Mastry was a paint foreman at the Beverly Hills Hotel from 1956
to 1963, and followed the owner, Hernando Courtwright, when Mr.
Courtwright bought the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and sold the other. Albert
Mastry worked with Tony at the hotel, and moved on to the Beverly
Hilton around 1963. Through their common work as painters, they changed
their group name from the Altones to the Beverly Hills painters. Under
that name, they released two records on the Los Angeles based Gateway
records. They had a short run of popularity which included opening for a
young but established Aretha Franklin in 1960, and were reigning champs
on a short lived "Star Search" type program hosted by used car dealer
Cal Worthington around 1960/61, which was pulled off the air after just a
few short months. Besides singing, they were frequent writers and
arrangers.
1961 - Love Me, Love Me / Cileen (inst. by The Craftsman) (Gardena 121)
1961 - Love Me, Love Me / Summer Love (Archer 104)
Unreleased :
1961 - I Wonder Why / Little Girl
The Beverly Hills Painters
1961 - Model A Heap / Believe Me (Gateway 700)
1962 - Five Foot Three (Little Girl) / I Know Why (Gateway 701)
Biography :
They started as the Altones in about 1959, using the first part of
their names AL and TONY-thus the Altones. Albert Mastry (1930-2002)
played guitar and was heard on vocals. Tony Mastry (1920- 1997) was on
guitar, bass, harmonica, and vocals. The rest of the group included Ray
Sharkey on drums and Jack Freeman on keyboards. The Altones released
two records. They had a release on Archer and they split billing on a
sole release on Gardena. Apparently, they didn't copyright their name,
and it was then taken by a black vocal group. Tony Mastry was a paint foreman at the Beverly Hills Hotel from 1956
to 1963, and followed the owner, Hernando Courtwright, when Mr.
Courtwright bought the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and sold the other. Albert
Mastry worked with Tony at the hotel, and moved on to the Beverly
Hilton around 1963. Through their common work as painters, they changed
their group name from the Altones to the Beverly Hills painters. Under
that name, they released two records on the Los Angeles based Gateway
records. They had a short run of popularity which included opening for a
young but established Aretha Franklin in 1960, and were reigning champs
on a short lived "Star Search" type program hosted by used car dealer
Cal Worthington around 1960/61, which was pulled off the air after just a
few short months. Besides singing, they were frequent writers and
arrangers.
1957 - Hop Scotch Rock / Jungle Baby (Mercury 71154)
1962 - Been A Long Time / Get To School On Time (Harvey 114)
The Quails (2)
1962 - My Love / Never Felt Like This Before (Harvey 116)
1962 - I Thought / Over The Hump (Harvey 120)
Biography :
The Five Quails debuted on Mercury Records in 1957 and cut three
singles on Harvey Records in the early '60s. Originally, the Five Stars
formed at Kennard Junior High in the mid-'50s with William Fulgham
(lead), Harold Sudberry (second lead), Donald Brown, James Williams, and
Clarence Williams (no relation). Like most groups, the members changed
for a myriad reasons; the changes continued when they graduated to East
Technical High and became the Five Quails. With a lineup of Billy
Strawbridge, Billy Fulgrum, Art Kirkpatrick, Donald Brown, and James
Williams, they cut "Jungle Baby" b/w "Hop Scotch Rock" on Mercury in
1957.
The Five Stars
The novelty didn't chart, but they found work backing singer Chuck
Willis, touring with him briefly before he passed in April of 1958.
Harvey Fuqua befriended the Quails in the basement of the Apollo Theater
in New York when they were touring with Willis. Discovering they were
from Cleveland (his old stomping grounds), he promised to help them one
day.
Harvey Fuqua Kirkpatrick & Woodall
After the Willis experience they toured Canada for a year. In 1961,
Harvey Fuqua left Chicago for Detroit and hooked up with Gwen Gordy. The
two started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records and Fuqua fulfilled his promise
to help the Quails. Their
first song was a two-sided classic that sold regionally: "Got to Get to
School on Time" and the exquisite ballad "Been Such a Long Time." Junior
Walker & the All Stars backed them on the Harvey sessions. In
1962, they cut two more singles on Harvey records changing their name to
the Quails.
aka The Spartans (4) aka The Flairs (2) aka Jeff Barry
Personnel :
Jeff Barry
Discography :
The Redwoods
1961 - Shake Shake Sherry / The Memory Lingers On (Epic 5-9447)
1961 - Never Take It Away / Unemployment Insurance (Epic 5-9473)
1962 - Please Mr Scientist / Where You Used To Be (Epic 5-9505)
The Flairs (2)
1961 - Shake Shake Sherry / The Memory Lingers On (Epic 5-9447)
The Spartans (4)
1962 - Can You Waddle? / Can You Waddle (instumental) (Web 1)
Biography :
In
1961, Jeff Barry continues to issue recordings: A solo single on United
Artists, a Jubilee release under the pseudonym Billy Mitchell, and
pseudo vocal group records (he sings all voices) but were credited to
the groups the Redwoods, the Spartans, and the Flairs on Epic and Web
Records.
Songwriters Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
hire him to sing demos, some of which are recorded by Elvis Presley.
Barry also begins to produce records.
1958 - Color Cartoons / Wish I Was Back In School (Vee Jay 307)
Unreleased :
N/A - At The Football Game (Vee Jay)
N/A - Work, You Lazy Bones, Work (Vee Jay)
Biography :
Doo
wop group the Goldenrods formed in Gary, Indiana in 1955 , the lineup
originally comprised tenors Crosby Harris, Hiawatha Burnett, Robert
Garth and Cleve Denham, sibling baritones Sylvester and Jerome Armont,
baritone Jesse Rodgers and bass Clarence McClam.
The Vee Jay's Owners : James Bracken, Ewert Abner, Vivian Carter, Calvin Carter
Inspired by local heroes the Spaniels and taking their name from a
writing tablet purchased by Burnett for a school project, the Goldenrods
made their public debut at their high school talent show, but their
large roster proved too unwieldy for their harmonies to truly take
flight, and by 1957 the lineup was whittled down to Harris, Burnett,
Denham, Rodgers and new bass Charles Colquitt.
Auditions
for both Vee-Jay and United ended with the Goldenrods receiving
instructions to come back only when they'd written some original
material, so Burnett quickly penned four songs, all of which the group
recorded for Vee-Jay in late 1958 -- their debut single "Color Cartoons"
appeared early the following year, but for reasons unknown the label
opted against sending out review copies, essentially crippling the
record's shot at airplay. In 1959 both Harris and Rodgers got married, and their resignations
spelled the Goldenrods' end -- Colquitt later toured with the Spaniels,
replacing bass Gerald Gregory.
George "Danny" Daniels,Alfred Toddman, Lucille "Vicky" Burgess , James Cooke, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke,
The Charmers (1) (New York)
ref The Chorals
Personnel :
Lucille "Vicky" Burgess (Lead/Tenor)
Eugene "Sonny" Cooke (Lead/Baritone)
Alfred Toddman (First Tenor)
James Cooke (Second Tenor)
George "Danny" Daniels (Bass)
Discography :
1954 - The Beating Of My Heart / Why Does It Have To Be Me? (Central 1002)
1954 - Tony, My Darling / In The Rain" (Central 1006)
1954 - I was Wrong / The Mambo (Timely 1009)
1954 - The Church on the Hill / Battle Axe (Timely 1011)
Biography :
The vocal group The Charmers was formed in late 1953 and its members
were Vikki Burgess, George Daniels, Alfred Toddman, and James and Sonny
Cooke. They set up a recording date with Central Records run by Lee
Magid and Larry Newton (who was also head of Derby Records).
Alfred Toddman, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke, George "Danny" Daniels
The second side released by Central in mid December of 1953 by The
Charmers on the songs "The Beating Of My Heart" and "Why Does It Have To
Be Me?" on #1002. The record was a steady if unspectacular seller for
the first few months of the year, with heaviest action in the Northeast
corridor of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and D.C. In late April of
the year The Charmers have their second record for Central.
Lucille "Vicky"
Burgess
This second effort does not do as well as their previous release. In
October of the year Hy Seigel of Timely Records announces the signing of
The Charmers to his label. Soon they cut two singles on the Label.
Vikki Burgess joins with Myrna Hamilton and Renee Stewart and form a
group called The Solirettes and are signed to top New York independent
label Old Town Records.All of
the efforts by the group remain unreleased and The Solirettes become a
dim memory of the time. Burgess now forms another group with Margaret
Moore and Estelle Harper and call themselves The Joytones. In 1956,
Alfred Toddman, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke and George "Danny" Daniels sang
with the Chorals on Decca.
1956 - In My Dream / Rock And Roll Baby (Decca 29914)
Biography :
The vocal group The Charmers was formed in late 1953 and its members
were Vikki Burgess, George Daniels, Alfred Toddman, James and Sonny
Cooke . After two singles for Central, Vikki Burgess joins with Myrna
Hamilton and Renee Stewart and form a group called The Solirettes. Later
Burgess forms another group with Margaret Moore and Estelle Harper and
call themselves The Joytones.
Alfred Toddman , Robert Cassidy, Irwin “Teddy” Williams, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke and George "Danny" Daniels.
In 1954 the Checkers disbanded, Second Tenor Irwin "Teddy" Williams
hooked up with the Charmers as their manager for two new singles on .
In 1956, Irwin "Teddy" Williams replaced James Cooke and with the three
other Charmers Alfred Toddman, Eugene "Sonny" Cooke, George "Danny"
Daniels and with the addition of Robert Cassidy, they changed their name
to the Chorals. They made their name performing at the Apollo Theater
in Harlem on November 1956. The Chorals cut one single for Decca before
disbanded.
The Five Campbells (West Oakland, CampBell Village, Ca.)
Personnel :
Robert Woods (Baritone/Guitar)
Al "Adolph" Jacobs (Guitar)
Donald Alexanders (Tenor)
George Ashford (First & Second Lead)
Marvin "Toots" Hawkins (High Tenor)
Discography :
1956 - Morrine / Hey Baby (Music City 794)
Biography :
All the members hailed from West Oakland's CampBell Village
neighborhood. Due to the group's short lifespan, they cut only one
record for Ray Dobard (Music City's owner). Down in CampBell Village,
there was a beautiful girl called Morrine. Everyone was in love with
her. Then the group wrote the song "Morrine"and dedicated it to her.
Woods, Alexanders, Ashford, Hawkins, Jacobs
"Morrine" garnered a lot of play in the Bay Area. As all members of
the Five Campbells were under the age of eighteen, their performance
exposure was limited to dance hall, parties and school gymnasiums.
Dobard paid them nothing except the car fares to local talent shows he
had part-sponsored.
Al Jacobs with the Medallions Al Jacobs with the Coasters
Al Jacobs quit soon after the record came out and went with the
Robert Ward Band. He later moved on to Jimmy Green's Medallions and the
Coasters...
1962 - You Don't Love Me (Capitol) (Crystal Ball 138)
The Revelons
1961 - I Promise Love / This Restless Heart (Rae Cox 105)
Biography :
Vocal group from New York composed by Dave Barnes, J. Smith, R.
Alexander and maybe S.Wright ?. Their first record "I Promise Love" b/w
"This Restless Heart" will be released on the Rae Cox label in May
1961. The New-York based Rae-Cox was formed in 1959 by Teddy McRae and
Eddie Wilcox. Both men were experienced musicians and arrangers in the
world of Big Bands and smaller R&B combos of the late forties and
early fifties. They not only released gospel but also some Doo-Wop,
R&B and what else was in vogue in the late fifties – early sixties. .
The Revlons (1966) The Revlons (1966)
In
April 1962, The Tokens arranged their DRlFTERS-styled shuffle version
of "Dry Your Eyes" for the Revlons . The Revlons records the titles
"Moonlight Angel", "You Don't Love Me", "Dry Your Eyes", and "She'll
Come To Me" in New York City. Capitol Records will issue "Dry Your Eyes"
and "She'll Come To Me" together as a single . It will take four years
to finally listen to the group's ultimate single: "(Oh Oh Oh) What A
Love This Is" written by Luther Dixon & Larry Lucie and "Did I Make
A Mistake" written by The Revlons. The single will be released by toy
records owned by Larry Lucie
1958 - Pretty Girl / Game Of Love (Aladdin 3442) (not issued)
1958 - Is it Too Late (Aladdin)
Biography :
Freddie Gorman (born Frederick Cortez Gorman, April 11, 1939 – June
13, 2006) was an American musician and record producer, most famous as a
singer, songwriter for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early
1970s. He was a native of Detroit, Michigan. A member of the Motown
quartet The Originals, Freddie Gorman was also a vital unsung component
of the Motown label's formative development. He co-wrote the label's
first #1 pop hit "Please Mr. Postman", by the Marvelettes.
The Quailtones (1955) : William Sanders (Second from left), Freddie Gorman (Center)
In 1964 the biggest selling group of all time, the Beatles released
their version, and in 1975 the Carpenters took it back to #1 again. This
was the second time in pop history (after "The Twist" by Chubby
Checker) that a song reached #1 in the US twice. Freddie Gorman
developed his potent bass harmonizing on local street corners, and was
still in high school when he made his recorded debut on the Quailtones
1955 Josie Records. The Quailtones consisted of Freddie Gorman, Sonny
Sanders, Johnny Franklin, James Martin and Ted Scruggs.
Rufus Thomas & Sax Kari
They made one obscure record for Josie Records in New York which was
arranged through a local record store owner and part time Saxophone
Player, Sax Kari. Sax Kari and the Qualitones, "Roxanna" b/w "Tears Of
Love", came and went without a trace, and soon after, the group
disbanded. When that happened, Freddie Gorman and another of the group's
members, Sonny Sanders, formed a group called the Fidelitones, which
consisted of the two of them, Brian Holland and a singer nicknamed
"Bosco" who lived over on the other side of town. As it turned out,
Gorman happened to be Berry Gordy's mailman, and it wasn't long before
he convinced Berry to listen to his group.
The Fidelitones (1958) William Sanders, Freddie Gorman & Brian Holland
One year before Motown was started, Gordy recorded The Fidelitones
for the Aladdin record label. This was also Berry's first encounter with
Brian Holland . "Pretty Girl" b/w "Game Of Love" on Aladdin 3442 was
never released. While under contract for Aladdin, they recorded "Is it
Too Late" but again it was never released, possible because of a lack of
funds, or for some other reason. It was finally released years later
with this "Yesterday" record label release.
