DOO-WOP : 01/08/25

BLUE CHIPS (1)

The Blue Chips (1)

The Blue Chips (1) (New York)

Personnel :

Carlton Lankford (Lead Tenor)

Robert Banks (First Tenor)

Willie Page (Second Tenor)

James Fobbs (Baritone)

Robert Harris (Bass)

Discography :

1956 - Appointment With Love / Come Back (DeLuxe 6100)

Biography :

Lead singer Carlton Lankford, 20; Bass singer Robert Harris, 17; Baritone James Fobbs, 18; First Tenor Robert Banks, 19 and Second Tenor Willie Page, 18 formed their group a short while before their recording session. The group was known as the "Rockets" at this time . Their long hours of rehearsal and practice have made them into a sharp, fresh sounding act that was destined to go a long way in the musical world. All are New Yorkers, Three of them native. The Lead singer, Carlton Lankford was born in Franklin, Virginia. In October 1956, The Blue Chips recorded "Appointment With Love" and "Come Back" both written by Carlton Lankford. DeLuxe Released the single in December 1956.

Songs :

Appointment With Love Come Back

SKYLARKS (3)

The Skylarks (3)

The Genies ? - The Skylarks ?

The Skylarks (3) (New York)

Personnel :

Chet Barnes (Lead)

Bill Gains (Second Tenor) ???

Alexander "Buddy" Faison (Baritone) ???

Fred Jones (Bass) ???

Discography :

Chet Barnes & The Skylarks (3)

1961 - Everytime It Rains / Is You Is (Embassy 201)

The Skylarks (3)

1962 - Everybody's Got Somebody / Jeannie (Everlast 5022)

Biography :

All the photos of "The Genies featuring Roy C. Hammond" on the various albums published present a cut photo of the four guys. Marv Goldberg sent me the full picture, and it's titled "The Skylarks". After Five singles and one minor hit , the Genies had two interesting spin-offs. Roy Hammond embarked upon a solo career as Roy C and was rewarded with a hit in 1965 and Claude Johnson teamed with Roland Trone and they became Don (Roland) and Juan (Claude) and hit the # 7 spot on the Billboard charts in the early spring of 1962 with "What's Your Name".

The Skylarks (3)

A group of "Skylarks" emerged in 1961 after the separation of "The Genies". Their first record "Everytime It Rains" b/w "Is You Is" release by by Embassy , probably a New York label (though some locate it in Los Angeles). "Everytime It Rains" was written by Chet Barns and Roy Hammond, the two had already written "Mama Blow Your Top" for the Genies. Could it be a reformation of "The Genies" with the other three members and Chet Barnes?. A new single will be released the following year by Everlast Record from New York with "Everybody's Got Somebody" b/w "Jeannie" both written by Barnes....

If anyone has informations!

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Chet Barnes & The Skylarks (3)

Everytime It Rains Is You Is

The Skylarks (3)

Everybody's Got Somebody Jeannie

SOOTHERS

The Soothers

William Dempsey, Nicky Clark and Raoul Cita

The Soothers (New York)

aka The Harptones

Personnel :

Hank Jernigan (Lead)

Nicky Clark (Lead / First Tenor)

Curtis Cherebin (Baritone)

William Dempsey (Second Tenor)

Freddy Taylor (Bass)

Raoul Cita

Discography :

1964 - The Little White Cloud That Cried /I Believe In You (Port 70041)

Biography :

In 1964, The Harptones recorded "Sunset" released by On Warren Troob's KT Label. After "Sunset was released, Willie Winfield left the group to take a full time job. The Harptones tried it one more time. Hank Jernigan returned, and, along with Nicky Clark, Curtis Cherebin, William Dempsey, Freddy Taylor, and Raoul Cita, recorded "The Little White Cloud That Cried" (led by Nicky) and "I Believe In You" (led by Hank). Possibly feeling that without Willie there was no Harptones, the group called themselves the "Soothers." The disc was released, in July 1964, on the Port label (a subsidiary of Jubilee). Shortly after this, The Soothers disbanded and the members found day time jobs. Nicky Clark moved to Buffalo and died several years later while still in his 30's. http://www.uncamarvy.com/Harptones/harptones.html

Songs:

The Little White Cloud That Cried I Believe In You

TEARS (1)

Teri Akers

The Tears (1) (Torrance, Ca.)

Personnel :

Teri Akers (Lead)

Jill Moore

Dick Dawson

Sherwood Tiernan

Discography :

Single :

1956 - Nothing But Love / Until The Day I Die (Dig 112)

Unreleased :

1956 - I Don't Wanta Cry (Dig)

Biography :

The Dig Record label was originally called Ultra Records and was formed in late 1955 by Frank Gallo, Eddie Mesner, Leo Mesner and Johnny Otis in Los Angeles California. in February 1956, the name of the label was changed to Dig Records, probably because of the existence of another California record company called Ultra. In 1957, Johnny Otis acquired sole ownership of the Dig Record Label. The Tears, a quartet of Torrance High School since 1954, consisted of blonde vocalist/composer, Teri Akers, Jill Moore, Dick Dawson and Sherwood Tiernan.

Johnny Otis

The Tears impressed johnny Otis at one of his Talent Shows. Their Dig sides, "Nothing But Love"/ "Until The Day I Die" did well in Los Angeles but despite their appearance on the J.O. TV show, it didn’t help record sales all that much. Otis did not follow it up with another record. Yet a second record was ready to be released with the title "I Don't Wanta Cry". Could this group have been the inspiration for "To Know Him Is To Love Him" by the Teddy Bears? Similar lineup with a girl singing lead and boys on harmony.

Songs :

Until The Day I Die Nothing But Love

TRUETONES - CAPITOLS (2)

The Truetones aka The Capitols (2)

The Truetones (Washinton,D.C. / Baltimore)

aka The Capitols (2)

Personnel :

Ronald Henderson (Lead)

James Green (First Tenor)

Marshall Hawkins (Second Tenor)

Earl Briscoe (Baritone)

Leonard Campbell (Bass) )

Discography :

The Truetones

1958 - Honey, Honey / Whirlwind (Monument 4501)

1961 - Blushing Bride / Singing Waters (Felsted 8625)

1966 - He's Got The Nerve / That's Love (Josie 950/1103)

1966 – Girls Are Sentimental / One More Time (LSP 0001/0002)

The Capitols (2)

1973 - Honey, Honey / Alone In The Night (The Jones Boys) (Baron 103)

Biography :

This group started as the Capitols, and changed their name to the Truetones when they signed to Monument records. The Truetones were one of those groups whose personnel changed almost continuously. The only constant member was the group's organizer/Manager/writer and lead singer Ronald Henderson.

The Truetones aka The Capitols (2)
Top : Ronald Henderson, Gene Williams, Andrew Layer - Bottom : John Johnson, Kenny Willis

Their first records, "Honey, Honey" (not be confused with the Teenchords' song of the same name) is a great medium-tempo harmony group sound from the late 1950's. The group Other three records were spaced rather far apart : "Singing Waters"on Felsted was released in the early 60's and the two other were released on Josie & LSPin the Mid-60s. In 1973, Honey, Honey is released by Baron under their original name, The Capitols.

The Truetones (1966)

At personal appearances, the Truetones would perform as a "double group" that is, they would open the show with their own songs, and then return to sing back-up for another singer, usually, Pookie Hudson after he left the Spaniels. Thanks to Marv Goldberg

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Singing Waters Blushing Bride Whirlwind

Honey, Honey He's Got The Nerve That's Love

One More Time Girls Are Sentimental

ANTWINETTS

The Antwinetts

The Antwinetts (Baltimore, Maryland)

Personnel :

Patricia Diggs

Connie Green

Stella Mae Logan

Vicky Logan

Discography :

1958 - Johnny / Kill It (RCA Victor 7398)

Biography :

The Antwinetts for Baltimore is made up of Patricia Diggs, Connie Green, Stella Mae Logan and Vicky Logan. The group were recorded and promoted by Howfum Records, a very small music publishing company, which was based in Baltimore, Maryland. The actual pressing of the records was done on a contract basis with RCA, and - apparently due to some sort of confusion - many, if not most (possibly all) copies of the record ended up mistakenly printed with an RCA label. In 2003, Carroll Williams, who was one of the main figures in Howfum Records, gave an interview of his reminiscences of Howfum in the 1950s, which were published in a book, "Group Harmony", by Stuart L. Goosman (published in 2005). According to Carroll Williams, "The Antwinetts was the very first group we recorded. Young girls, twelve, thirteen, fourteen years old". He added that The Antwinetts "was our star group", and that they sold "thousands" of their records. Unfortunately, in the 1950s, the songs of The Antwinetts seem to have only been heard on the radio in Baltimore and the other major cities of Maryland, with some random airplay on various New York City stations. Howfum did not really have the money or connections to truly promote the group, and so, they faded into obscurity.

Songs :

Johnny Kill It

STARLETTES

The Starlettes

The Starlettes (Chicago, Il.)

Personnel :

Gloria J. Mandly

Edythe Jones

Catherine Cooper

Audrey Maben

Audrey Sparrow

Discography :

1958 - Jungle Love / Please Ring My Phone (Checker 895)

Biography :

In 1958, The Starlettes signing a contract with Checker, a record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The Starlettes were a backing vocal group who made one record of their own. The Starlettes cut one single "Jungle Love"/"Please Ring My Phone" for Checker but they also did a lot of background work for other artist. They were Gloria J. Mandly, Edythe Jones, Catherine Cooper, Audrey Maben and Audrey Sparrow.

Songs :

Jungle Love Please Ring My Phone

PRETENDERS (2) - DELL-MATES

The Pretenders (2) - ref : The Dell-Mates

The Pretenders (2) (New York)

ref The Dell-Mates

Personnel :

Johnny Hanrahan (Lead)

Billy Thompson (Second Tenor/Baritone)

Freddy Comas (First Tenor)

Ralph Sabatino (Bass)

Discography :

The Pretenders (2)

Singles :

1961 - Smile / I'm So Happy (Power-Martin 1001)

1976 - Could This Be Magic / A Very Precious Love (Power-Martin 1006/1007)

Unreleased :

1961 - The Seven Teens (Rome)

1961 - Guardian Angel (Rome)

1961 - She's Gone (Rome)

1961 - Teenager's Dream (Rome)

The Dell-Mates

1962 - Angela / Cross My Heart And Hope To Die (Fontana 1934)

Biography :

In the late 1950s and early 1960s Johnny Hanrahan & his friends spent most of his time working on perfecting their vocal harmonies. To achieve richness in their harmonies, Street Corner Harmony practice was accomplished in the Saint Columba church vestibule, the Chelsea NYC Housing project hallways, in brownstone hallways on 25th street between 10th and 8th avenues, the hallways of Charles Evans Hughes H.S. and under the 25th street elevated train tracks between 10th and 11th avenues (the elevated tracks are now part of The Hi-line). Neighborhood groups practicing nightly helped Johnny and the other Pretenders become good at the craft, and one Saint Columba 8th grade student, Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis (Tony Orlando), who was two grades ahead of John, was a role model and inspired Johnny even further.

The Pretenders (2) - ref : The Dell-Mates

The Pretenders (1976 ) L to R Freddy Comas, Billy Thompson, Johnny Hanrahan, Ralph Sabatino.

The Pretenders consisted of Johnny Hanrahan (Lead Vocalist), Billy Thompson (2nd Tenor/baritone), Freddy Comas (1st Tenor) and Mike Skoran (Bass). Mike left the group early on and was replaced by Ralph Sabatino. At fifteen Johnny Hanrahan and the Pretenders recorded "Smile" b/w "I'm So Happy" released by Power-Martin, a Rome Records' subsidiary owned by Trade Martin and Johnny Power. The Pretenders had won a Murray the K radio station week-night contest, and then on the Saturday ending the week, The Pretenders won the run-off contest against all the previous daily winners of the past week. “Smile” took the neighborhood by storm and it climbed the charts until another established artist bumped them off the airways but soon thereafter Timmy Yuro released her version of the song and she got all the airplay.

Dennis Genovese (Dell-Mates)

In 1962, John Hanrahan and Ralph Sabatino teamed with Daniel Marsicovetere (from the Youngtones) & Dennis Genovese. They are called The Dell-Mates and are produced by Artie Ripp. They recorded “Angela” and “Cross My Heart” released by Fontana Records in early 1964. In 1976, In 1976, the original group of Pretenders reformed and recorded "Could This Be Magic" b/w "A Very Precious Love".

Songs :

The Pretenders (2)

Smile I'm So Happy

Could This Be Magic A Very Precious Love

The Seven Teens Guardian Angel

The Dell-Mates

Angela Cross My Heart And Hope To Die

FOUR DOTS (1) - FOUR TROYS

The Four Troys aka The Four Dots (1)

The Four Dots : Marvin Brown, Fletcher Williams, Melvin Peters and Kenneth Miller

The Four Dots (1) (Pittsburgh, PA)

aka The Four Troys

Personnel :

Kenny Jackson (First Tenor)

Melvin Peters (Second Tenor)

Manning Rosemont (Baritone)

Marvin Brown (Bass)  

Discography :

The Four Dots (1)

1956 - Rita / He Man Looking For A She Girl (Bullseye 103)

Fletcher Williams & The Four Dots (1)

1956 - Peace Of Mind / Kiss Me Sugar Plum (Bullseye 104)

The Four Troys

Singles :

1959 - In The Moonlight / Suddenly You Want To Dance (Freedom 44013)

Unreleased

1959 - Weeping Willow (Freedom)

Fletcher Williams

1957 - Mary Lou / Stop Look And Love Me (Bullseye 1001)

Biography :

They Started as the Mellows around 1950, in the Hill and Homewood sections of Pittsburgh, PA. The original group did not have Marvin Brown included in it......because they hadn't found him yet. When they did, it was Fletcher Williams, Edgar Lee, Melvin Peters, Kenneth Miller and Marvin Brown . They changed their name to the five Mellows, and sang much of the standard fare of the R+B groups in the early and mid 50's.

The Five Mellows : Edgar Lee, Melvin Peters, Fletcher Williams, Kenneth Miller and Marvin Brown

They changed their name again,this time to the Four Dots, Edgar Lee left (and some additional swapping of members), and had one recording session in early 1956 with Bullseye records. They recorded four songs,"Rita","He Man Looking For A She Girl","Peace Of Mind","Kiss Me Sugar Plum." The first two were released as Bullseye 103. It was played locally in the Pittsburgh area, but didn't get play nationally. The second release pair the last two, Peace Of Mind", and "Kiss Me Sugar Plum." Same result. The story has some twists.

The Four Troys aka The Four Dots (1)

A different group from California, called the Four Dots, was signed to a Liberty records subsidiary, Freedom, in 1959. This group had Jewel Akens, Jerry Stone and Eddie Cochran as members, and released two 45's. That label also signed the Marvin Brown based Four Dots. You can't have two of the same named artists on a label, so the "Original Four Dots" became the Four Troys. They issued "In The Moonlight" and "Suddenly You Want To Dance" on Freedom 44013 in 1959. Melvin Peters also worked with the Del Vikings and Marcels. In the early 1960's, he joined Chuck Jackson and the Motown group The Originals. Then it was back home as a Headliner. He spent the seventies working with Solid Gold, Flashback, and the Katch. Now he's with a Cleveland group called Mellow Class.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/4Dots/4dots.html

http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.com/2009/07/george-goodman-and-headliners.html

SONGS :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Four Dots (1)

Rita He Man Looking For A She Girl Peace Of Mind

Kiss Me Sugar Plum

The Four Troys

In The Moonlight Suddenly You Want To Dance

Fletcher Williams

Stop Look And Love Me

BOSS-TONES - FOUR CASTS

The Boss-Tones

The Boss-Tones (Philadelphia, PA.)

ref : The Four Casts

Personnel :

Duval Young "Babbo"

Robbie Robinson

Willie Weaver

Buck

Discography :

The Boss-Tones

1961 - Mope-Itty Mope / Wings Of An Angel (Boss 401 / V-Tone 208)

The Four Casts

964 - Stormy Weather / Workin' At The Factory (Atlantic 2228)

Wee Willie Weaver bb The Ly-Dells

1965 - You're Gonna Be So Glad / Automatic Reaction (Tandy 101)

Biography :

Vocal group from high school at Philly's Edison HS (8th and Lehigh Avenue) composed by Duval Young "Babbo", Robbie Robinson, Willie Weaver and Buck (last name unknown). The Group recorded "Mope-Itty Mope" b/w "Wings Of An Angel" in 1961. The single was issued on the Boss Label (distributed by Ember) before the rarer V-Tone pressing. Matt Atkinson who sang with many Philly groups during the era - matter of fact he did several performances with the Bosstones on-stage singing with the Boss-Tones but was not on the original record. "Mope-Itty Mope" has been a huge oldie in Philadelphia in Philly since Jerry "Geator" Blavat featured it at his popular hops. The Boss-Tones received regional attention but never achieved the national success initially hoped for. The Dovells, even covered it for Cameo-Parkway.

The Boss-Tones

Jim Drucker worked as a teenager for Jolly Joyce Theatrical Booking Agency (JJA), Philadelphia and ran weekend WIBG Record Hops with Harold B. Childs, for Buzzy Curtis (Promotions) and was in high school at Philly's Edison HS with members of the Boss-Tones. In 1964 he combined Chuck Hatfield, Paul O' Lone from The Ly-Dells and Babbo and Willie Weaver from the Bosstones, and in the dark of night (at Chancellor Records Studios, 9th and Vine Streets), He produced: "Stormy Weather" b/w "Working at the Factory" . Jerry Blavat, Russ Faith (Chancellor Records) and Buzz Curtis sold the master (RCA Tape Recorder deck) tapes to Atlantic Records. The record was released in the spring of 1964, under the name of “the Four Casts” (Atlantic 2228)

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Boss-Tones

Mope-Itty Mope Wings Of An Angel

The Four Casts

Stormy Weather Workin' At The Factory

Wee Willie Weaver bb The Ly-Dells

Automatic Reaction

STUDENTS (1)

The Students (1)

The Students (1) (Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Emerson "Rocky" Brown (First Tenor)

Colly Williams (Second Tenor)

Janice Brown

Jim Dickerson (Bariton)

Clarence Smith (Bass)

Discography :

The Students (1)

Single :

1958 - Mommy And Daddy / My Heart Is An Open Door (Red Top 100)

Unreleased :

1958 - Bye Bye Truly (Red Top)

1958 - Mary (Red Top)

Colly Williams

1961 - You Know I'll Love You Tomorrow / Oh What A Love (Ry An 501)

1963 - We'll Make It Sommeday / My Vow (Poplar 118)

Biography :

When Doc Bagby, Irv Nahan and Marvin “Red Top” Schwartz got together to form Red Top records during the last spring of 1957, Philadelphia was well on it's way to becoming the most important city of the record business. Operating out of a small office in Downtown Centre City, Red Top was instituted showcase local Philadelphia Talent. Doc Bagby, Irv Nahan and Marvin Schwartz could get enough initial airplay locally to test any release, if there was sufficient action in Philly, they'd turn the master over to a larger label for national distribution. With that in mind, Doc Bagby cut Red Top's first session with a young (mid-teens) Philadelphia group called the Students (Not the Checker/Note group of "I"m So Yong" fame) on July 8, 1957. The Students consisted of Emerson "Rocky" Brown, Colly Williams, Janice Brown, Jim Dickerson and Clarence Smith. Four Songs were recorded that afternoon -"Bye Bye Truly ", "Mary", "My Heart Is An Open Door" and "Mommy And Daddy", the latter making up Red Top's first single with sold about 25,000 in Philadelphia alone (It was not released in any other area). The group performs locally before splitting up. Colly Williams will return a few years later with two singles on Ry An and Poplar.

Songs :

The Students (1)

Mommy And Daddy My Heart Is An Open Door

Bye Bye Truly Mary

Colly Williams

You Know I'll Love You Tomorrow We'll Make It Sommeday

My Vow

PRETENDERS (3)

The Pretenders (3)

Kenny Shott,Dan Wisniewski,Skip Pietrobone,Sam Talarico and Mick Diana.

The Pretenders (3) (Reading, Pennsylvania)

Personnel : 

Skip Pietrobone (Lead)

 Sam Talarico

 Mick Diana

Kenny Shott

Dan Wisniewski

  Discography :

 The Pretenders (3)

Single :

1962 - The Day You Are Mine / Ding Dong Bells (Bethlehem 3050)

Unreleased :

1962 - Anything For You / Ding Dong Bells (Al Stan)

 Barry Petricoin & The Belairs bb The Pretenders (3)

1962 - Pretty Little Angel / Come Back To Sorrento (Inst.) (Al Stan 103)

Barry Petri

1962 - Pretty Little Angel / Come Back To Sorrento (Inst.) (Swan 4111)

Biography :

Sam Talarico started singing on the street corners in Reading in 1959. He then joined the Pretenders, a local Doo Wop group composed in the early years by Skip Pietrobone,, Mick Dianna, Kenny Shott and Dan Wisniewski . The original group at the time consisted of five white men. In 1961, the Pretenders recorded "The Day You Are Mine" b/w "Ding Dong Bells" released by Bethlehem Records owned by Creed Taylor and Teddy Charles.

The Pretenders (3) Bethlehem is remembered for its jazz releases from the 1950s, Bethlehem released the first albums recorded by singers Chris Connor, in 1954, Nina Simone (Little Girl Blue) in 1958, and singer/actress Julie London. In 1958, Bethlehem began a distributing deal with King Records. In 1962, it was sold and absorbed by King. In early 62the Pretenders returns in studio with Barry Petricoin & The Belairs where they recorded "Anything For You" and "Pretty Little Angel" for Al-Stan Records a label founded by Al Zanino. Al-Stan released only "Pretty Little Angel" with an instrumental on the B side.

The Pretenders (3)

After the departure of Kenny Shott and Dan Wisniewski and arrival of Al Coleman and Jerry Prentice, the group consisted of 3 white men and two black. Bill Yuhas later with the Incvictors sang a time with the group. In 1962 the Pretenders opened up a huge Rock & Roll show in Reading at Saint Mary’s church sponsored by the legendary Alan Freed. In that show was Chubby Checker, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Patti Labelle & The Blue Bells, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon and many, many more great acts. The Pretenders performed at all the dances in and around Reading and in clubs like the Melody Bar, and the Flamingo Bar on Penn street.

The Pretenders (3)

Sam Talarico left the Pretenders in 1964 and formed Tali & The Hustlers and was the front man in that band until 1968. The Hustlers were an R & B soul band. They played all the clubs and big Rock & Roll shows around Reading, Harrisburg, Pottstown, Lebanon and beyond. They were also the house band at the Crows Nest in Atlantic City.

The Pretenders (3)

They opened and backed up Gladys Knight & The pips and several other big name artists. The Pretenders were asked to get back together in 1993 to open a huge oldies show at the Scenic River Days in Reading. Sam was the front man and lead singer. They did so well at that show that they stayed together and played several big shows for the next several years including The First Annual Loose Foundation show, celebrating the induction of Shorty Long.

Songs :

The Day You Are Mine Ding Dong Bells

Anything For You Pretty Little Angel

DOVERS (1)

The Dovers (1)

L-R: Miriam Grate, Frank Edwards, Wyndham Porter, Eddie Quinones & James Sneed

The Dovers (1) (New York)

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Miriam Grate (Lead)

Bobby Johnson (Lead) (replaced with Frank Edwards (Tenor) in 1959

Eddie Quinones (Tenor)

Wyndham Porter (Baritone)

James Sneed (Bass)

Discography :

Miriam Grate & The Dovers (1) / Bob Johnson & The Dovers (1)

1955 - My Angel / Please Squeeze (Apollo 472)

Lou Bartel (bb The Dovers) (uncredited)

1955 - I Pray / (Zoom) Give Me Your Love Tonight (Apollo 473)

The Dovers (1) (fb Miriam Grate)

Singles :

1959 - Sweet As A Flower / Boy In My Life (Davis 465)

1961 - The Sentence / Devil You May Be (New Horizon 501) (recorded in 1959)

Unreleased :

1955 - My Love (acappella) (Apollo)*

1955 - My Love (acappella) (with piano) (Apollo)**

1955 - Only Heaven Knows (acappella)*

1955 - Sweet As A Flower (acappella)*

1955 - The Sentence (acappella)*

1955 - Your Love (acappella)*

*Released in 1988 on Relic 5075

**Released in 1988 on Relic 5078

Biography :

The cozy, popular genre of doo-wop is no doubt considered to be great by the many listeners who cherish it. To explain how the actual name of Grate figures into this musical wonderland would require one of the few followers of '50s vocal groups who are not intimidated by endless detail. In a genre where dozens of groups use the same name, crossing over family lines as well as generations, it could even be considered comforting to single out Grate as one of the few surnames in the music business that simultaneously evokes excellence as well as details of sewer construction. To cut to the chase, or rather the grate, Miriam Grate is the female portion of a brother and sister that were active in the genre, although not together.

Top: Eddie Quinones, Charlie Richardson, Wyndham Porter, Roland Martinez and James Sneed -

Bottom : Unknown, Buddy Bowser and Sara Lou Harris

Her brother Tommy Grate performed and recorded with The Five Wings, The Marvels and The Dubs, a progression that indicates a penchant for shorter and shorter band names. Miriam Grate is associated with only two groups, beginning in the mid '50s with The Dovers. The ensemble cut "My Angel" for the Apollo label in 1955, initially seemed primed for several thick coats of hit record paint but were instead left to peel in the shadow of the competition, of which there was plenty.

L-R: Miriam Grate, Eddie Quinones, Frank Edwards, Wyndham Porter and James Sneed

Grate got something out of it, anyway, as in a husband and a new last name, although neither of the sort considered particularly desirable in the music business. Now legally Miriam Sneed after her marraige to James Sneed of The Dovers, the singer never had much choice about which surname to use in connection with four tracks also cut for the Apollo label in 1956.

L-R: James Sneed, Miriam Grate, Guitar player ? and Wyndham Porter

Performances with backing from the fine Mello-Tones--such as the aromatic "Sweet As A Flower" and a pair of possesive romantic variations, "Your Love" and "My Love"-- were simply never released, ending the label's efforts to send Grate back into the fray with a new group behind her. Historic doo wop compilations on labels such as Relic have brought such material to light. While some listeners feel Grate was a neglected, undiscovered Martha Reeves in Sneed clothing, others have dismissed her as sounding like an adolescent boy on her recordings with The Dovers.

Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide

http://www.uncamarvy.com/DoversVocaltones/doversvocaltones.html

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/miriam-grate-mn0001882918

Songs :

Miriam Grate & The Dovers (1) / Bob Johnson & The Dovers (1)

My Angel / Please Squeeze

Lou Bartel (bb The Dovers) (uncredited)

I Pray / (Zoom) Give Me Your Love Tonight

The Dovers (1) (fb Miriam Grate)

My Love My Love (with piano)

Only Heaven Knows Sweet As A Flower

Your Love Sweet As A Flower / Boy In My Life

The Sentence Devil You May Be

DEBONAIRES (3)

The Debonaires (3)

The Debonaires (3) (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Personnel :

Robert Adino

Mike DiBenedetto

Edwin Lamboy

Joe Reina

Discography :

Singles :

1956 - Won’t You Tell Me / I’m Gone (Gee 1008)

1959 - We'll Wait / Make Believe Lover (Gee 1054)

Unreleased :

1956 - Best Love (Gee)

1956 - I’d Climb The Highest Mountain (Gee)

Biography :

Vocal group from "Red Hook Brooklyn" composed by Robert Adino, Mike DiBenedetto, Edwin Lamboy and Joe Reina. Before becoming the Debonaires, Robert Adino and Mike DiBenedetto backed Lucille Val as the Echos, they recorded a disc that seems to have been released. The group began with several personnel combinations in 1956. Eventually, Adino and DiBenedetto were introduced to Lamboy and Reina. The group members all attended Boys High School. Between the school and their neighborhood came the Mystics, the Passions, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Velours, and so on.

They played at local clubs, fairs, and various nightspots and were soon spotted by Bert Keyes of Gee Records. Bert Keyes organizes a recording session for them where they recorded six songs. For quite some time it was rumored that this group , due to their sound, was black. However, this is simply not correct. Gee released only one single en 1956 - "Won’t You Tell Me" b/w "I’m Gone" (Gee # 1008) . Too little promotion of "Gee" and soon after the group split. However, three years later, gee releases two new titles (Gee # 1054) including the splendid "We'll Wait". Encyclopedia of Rhythm and Blues and Doo Wop Vocal Groups

Songs :

Won’t You Tell Me I’m Gone

We'll Wait Make Believe Lover

DOO-WOP-GROUPS