CREATIONS (7) - RIFFS

 

The Riffs- ( L to R) : Louie Liguori, Joe LoCicero, Joe Nisi , Richie Giovelli and Carmine DeSena.

The Riffs (Brooklyn, New York)

aka The Creations (7)

Personnel :

James Nisi (Lead singer) 

Richard Giovelli (First Tenor)

Louie Liguori (Second Tenor)

Carmine DeSena (Baritone)

Joe LoCicero (Bass)

Discography:

The Creations (7)

1961 - Wake Up In The Morning / Strolling Through The Park (PineCrest 101)

1961 - My Heart Belongs To Only You  (Gem 102)

The Riffs

1964 - Little Girl / Why Are The Nights So Cold (Sunny 22)

1965 - Tell Tale Friends / Why Are The Nights So Cold (Old Town 1179)

1978 - Storm / Where There's A Will (Crystal Ball 130)

Biography :

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joe LoCicero  started singing at the age of twelve in church choirs. In 1958, Joe LoCicero originated and sang lead in a group entitled "The Creations ».Original members of The Creations 1959 Joe LoCicero, Richie Giovelli, Carmine DeSena , Louie Liguori and Vinny Tilotta (not in photo). They were so young, we needed a Cabaret License, so they only did Church Dances and Confraternities .

 

The Creations - ( L to R) : Louie Liguori, Joe LoCicero , Richie Giovelli and Carmine DeSena.

They had three recordings at the time, which where, "Wake Up in the Morning", "Strolling Through The Park" on PineCrest and "My Heart Belongs to Only You" on the Gem Label in 1961. In 1963, The Creations changed their name to "The Riffs" under the management of writer and producer, Phil Spina, and new member Jimmy Nisi who replaced Vinny Tilotta.  Their recordings included, "Little Girl", "Why Are The Nights So Cold", "Where There Is A Will There Is Away", "Storm", and "Tell Tale Friends", recorded on New York Labels, Sunny, Old Town, Crystal Ball.  

   

                                                                                         The Riffs (1972)

By 1966 all the members were married and planning families and the group broke up. Later on, they released an LP, "The Riffs Now & Then", which featured all original Riff recordings. Joe Locicero who sings lead on most Riffs songs, sang lead for the Chimes for a couple of years when Lenny Coco was real sick.

Songs :

 

The Creations (7)

    

Wake Up In The Morning             Strolling Through The Park

The Riffs

     

Little Girl                  Why Are The Nights So Cold                 Tell Tale Friends

  

    Storm                    Where There's A Will

FOUR GRADUATES (2)

 


The Four Graduates (2) (Paterson, N.J.)



 

Personnel :



Bob Miranda (Lead)



Tom Gullano (First tenor)



Ralph DeVito (Baritone)



Dave Libert (Bass)

 

Discography:



1963 - A Lovely Way To Spend And Evening / Picture An Angel (Rust 5062)

1964 - Candy Queen / A Boy In love (Rust 5084)

1978 - May I Have The Dance / Caught In A Lie (Crystal ball 116)

1978 - Your Initials / Every Year About This Time (Crystal ball 119)

 

Biography :

The group formed in 1961 in Patterson, New Jersey, and called themselves the Four Graduates. Bob Miranda (lead), Tom Giuliano (first tenor), Ralph DiVito ( baritone), and Dave Libert (bass) began singing together in the army at Fort Dix New Jersey. Developing a versatility that enabled them to sing barbershop as well as jazz and doo wop, they became proficient enough to work in local clubs and begin doing background work on recording sessions.

  

In late 1962 they met Bob Crewe, who had just produced the huge hit "Sherry" for the Four Seasons. He used the Four Grads on a variety of sessions, including some by the Seasons. They signed with Rust (distributed by Laurie) in 1963 and, produced by Lor Crane  , cut a rhythm version of THE INK SPOTS' 1944 ballad hit (#16) "A lovely way to spend an evening". At Rust the Tokens met the quartet and were impressed with their sound, especially the stylistic possibilities they heard in the group's recording of " Lovely Way." (The Tokens were fond of reworking oldies in a new tempo).

The group was producing THE CHIFFONS (as the Four Pennies) and RANDY AND THE RAINBOWS for Rust in 1963 but kept the Four Grads on mental "hold."  In the early summer of 1964 the Tokens formed BT Puppy Records.A little over a year later, after recording such obscurities as the Cinnamons, the Three Pennies, and the English Muffins, the Tokens signed the Four Graduates . At that time Miranda and company opted for a name change to the Happenings.

Jay Warner "American singing groups: a history from 1940s to today"

Songs :

  

A Lovely Way To Spend And Evening               Picture An Angel                 

   

Candy Queen                             A Boy In Love

  

May I Have The Dance                          Caught In A Lie       

  

Every Year About This Time                            Your Initials        

CONCORDS (2) - SHERWOODS (3) - SNOWMEN

 

The Concords (2)  (Brooklyn, New York)

aka The Snowmen aka The Sherwoods (3)

Personnel :

Dickie Goldman (Lead)

Mike Lewis (First tenor)

Murray Moshe (Second Tenor)

Charles Presti (Baritone)

Steve Seider (Bass)

Discography :

The Concords (2)

Singles :

1961 - The Boy Most Likely / Again (RCA 47-7911)

1961 - Cross My Heart / Our Last Goodbye (Gramercy 304)

1962 - My Dreams / Scarlet Ribbons (Gramercy 305)

1962 - Away / One Step From Heaven (Rust 5048)

1962 - Marlene / Our Love Wasn't Meant To Be (Herald 576)

1962 - Cold And Frosty Morning / Don't Go Now (Herald 578)

1964 - It's Our Wedding Day / Should I Cry (Epic 9697)

1970 - I Feel A Love Comin' On / Down The Aisle Of Love (Polydor 14036/Boom 60021)

1970 - I Feel A Love Comin' On / Down The Aisle Of Love* (Polydor PD2-14036) *alt. vers.

Unreleased :

1964 - Tonight (Epic)

Wallie Hawkins bb The Concords (2)

1960 - First Date / Hog Tied (Joy 248)

Ginny Michels bb The Concords (2)    

1962 - True Confession / Ev'ryone Was There But You (Mala 446)

Neal Scott bb The Concords (2)

1962 - Run To Me / Tomboy (Comet 2151)

1963 - One Piece Bathing Suit / Little Girl (Herald 581)

Sue Kenny bb The Concords (2)

1963 - Look / A Fool In Love (Tribute 118)

Joel Grayson bb The Concords (2)   

1963 - No More / My True Story     (Riverside 4557)

Ricky Lisi bb The Concords (2)  

1963 - The River / Don't Go Now (Roulette 4511)

The Sherwoods (3)

1963 - Cold And Frosty Morning / True Love Was Born (With Our Last Goodbye) (Dot 16540)

The Snowmen

1964 - Cold & Frosty Morning / You Started It (Herald 597)

Lisa & The Lullabies bb The Concords (2) (uncredited)

1964 - He's So Good / Why Do I Cry (Coed 589)

Biography :

Formed in 1959 in the Brighton Beach enclave of Brooklyn, New York, USA. They named their group the “Concords” a Spanish word for “with cords.” The group started as the Con-Chords but later they became the “Concords” because their original label (RCA) spelled it that way and they stuck with it.The Concords' membership originally teamed Mike Lewis (lead and tenor), Dickie Goldman (lead and tenor), Murray Moshe (baritone), Charles "Chippy" Presti (second tenor) and Steve Seider (bass). Signed by RCA Records, the Concords made their debut with a vocal group standard, "Again".

The group did an uptempo version with Mike Lewis on lead. The record was arranged by the legendary Teacho Wiltshire who produced a number of great records for RCA. The record was not well-produced technically with too little bass and too much treble. The record was a “pick hit” of disc jockey Murray. This resulted in some publicity for the group and they later did some shows for Murray. The group also performed a memorable show at Stern’s Department store in Manhattan along with Santo and Johnny. Songwriter Stu Wiener then took them to his father's Gramercy Records label, where they released two singles, "Cross My Heart" and "My Dreams".

 

Neal Scott                                                                                        Tne Concords

After losing Goldman and deciding to continue as a quartet, they recorded  “Away“ b/w “One Step From Heaven“ on Rust Records in 1962, before finding a more permanent home at Herald Records. Their most successful single, "Marlene", followed, which became a major regional hit in the north-west, and led to them performing in Detroit with the Supremes. Their second single on Herald “Cold And Frosty Morning“ was  also released as The Snowmen and was sold to Dot who released it under the name of the Sherwoods. The group did a lot of backup work wile under the management of Stu Weiner for artists such as Sue Kenny, Joel Grayson, Ginny Michels, Wally Hawkins, Ricky Lisi and Neil Scott. However, it was not enough to dampen disquiet in the ranks and the Concords broke up in 1963.

   

Lewis briefly formed the Planets but returned to a reshuffled Concords in 1964, wherein he and Seider were joined by Teddy Graybill (ex-Stardrifts), Sal Tepedino (ex-Travelers) and Bobby Ganz. A new contract with Epic Records led to the release of "Should I Cry", although Lewis and Wiener enjoyed more success with their production of Roddie Joy's "Come Back Baby". A remake of the Quintones' "Down The Aisle Of Love" was the final Concords single in 1966, with only Lewis remaining in the music industry thereafter .

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Concords (2)

     

The Boy Most Likely                   Again                                 Cross My Heart

      

Our Last Goodbye                    My Dreams                   Scarlet Ribbons  

      

Away                     One Step From Heaven                    Marlene

    

    Our Love Wasn't Meant To Be       Cold And Frosty Morning       Don't Go Now                

      

It's Our Wedding Day                  Should I Cry                    I Feel A Love Comin' On

     

Down The Aisle Of Love                Tonight (unrel.)                         Away (alt.)           

 

Down The Aisle Of Love (Polydor alt. vers.)

 

Wallie Hawkins bb The Concords (2)

  

First Date                               Hog Tied

Ginny Michels bb The Concords (2)    

   

True Confession 

Neal Scott bb The Concords (2)

   

Run To Me                      Tomboy 

   

One Piece Bathing Suit                  Little Girl           

Sue Kenny bb The Concords (2)

  

Look                          A Fool In Love 

Ricky Lisi bb The Concords (2)   

  

Don't Go Now                          The River   

 

Joel Grayson bb The Concords (2)   

    

   My True Story                    No More      

 Lisa & The Lullabies bb The Concords (2) 

   

 He's So Good                     Why Do I Cry  

SHYTONES - SHY-TONES - HI-TONES (2) - TRENTONS

 (top L to R) Frank Barrata, Bill Sangiovanni & Fred Alvarez. (bottom L to R)  Al Scavuzzo, Ben Passantino & Rich Peluso 

The Hi-Tones (2)  (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

aka The Trentons aka The Shytones aka The Shy-Tones


 


Personnel :


Graham Lee True (Lead)

Sal Covais (First tenor)

Albert Scavuzzo (Second tenor)

William Scarpa (Baritone)

Fred Alvarez (Bass)

Frank Barrata

 

Discography :


The Shytones

1957 - Annette / White Bucks (Spot 14/15)

1957 - White Bucks / Bandstand Rock (Spot 14/15)

1957 - Annette / Bandstand Rock (Spot 15)

The Shy-Tones

1958 - A Lover's Quarrel / Just For You (Goodspin 401)

The Hi-Tones (2)

1958 - A Lovers Quarrel / Just For You (Fonsca 201)

1961 - No More Pain / I Don't Know Why (Fonsco 202)

The Trentons

1959 - All Alone / Star Bright (Inst.) (Shepherd 2204)

 

Biography :

The Shytones were one of many groups that grew up loving vocal harmony and singing on the street corners. They had a great sound, but too short of a career. The Shytones never made it big selling records, but they were celebrities in their own neighborhood, and at the local hops and shows . They cut just a few records, but with a group name change and a few different labels with the same songs.  They were given the name Shy-Tones/Shytones because their lead singer suffered from "stage fright" and had great difficulty performing in from of an audience. This lead a promoter to comment (something like) "Are you guys the Hi-Tones or the Shy-Tones?" The name stuck and the name "Hi-Tones" was not used after that.

The Shy-Tones "A Lover's Quarrel" B/w "Just For You was Reissued"  as "Lovers Quarrel" in April 1961 on Fonsca (# 201) with label credit to the Hi-Tones. A slight variation of the group had a release on the Spot label as the Shytones. The group was basically a Brooklyn (NY) group, with one member from Staten Island (NY). On this recording they were: Fred Alvarez, Frank Barrata, Ben Passanante, Rich Peluso, Bill Sangiovanni, Albert Scavuzzo , & Graham Lee True .

   

                                                                                                       Al Scavuzzo

The Shytones performed at many local hops and dances, and even got the chance to perform at one of Murray The K's big rock and roll show. They had some airplay on a couple of local stations, and were even a pick hit of the week on WINS. The group broke up when Al Scavuzzo tragically passed away on his 21st birthday.

http://www.colorradio.com/shytones.html

Songs :

The Shytones

   

Annette / Bandstand Rock                White Bucks        

The Shy-Tones

   

A Lover's Quarrel                           Just For You

The Hi-Tones (2)

   

I Don't Know Why                       No More Pain

The Trentons

All Alone  / Star Bright (Inst.)

 

PRECISIONS (3) - MAGICS (2) - PALISADES (3)

 

Donny Manzo, Teddy Santos, Mike Lanzo and Kenny Marsh

The Precisions (3) (Scranton, Pa)

aka The Magics (2) aka The Palisades (3)

 

Personnel :

Mike Lanzo (Lead & Bass)

Donny Manzo (Tenor)

Ken Marsh (Baritone)

Teddy Santos  (Second Tenor)

 

Discography:

The Precisions (3)

1960 - Dream On / You Can't Play Games (Strand 25038)

1963 - Sweet Dreams / Stop Leading Me On (Debra 1001)

Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3)

1962 - The Lover / What Has Happened (Bella 606)


1962 - The Whole World In My Arms / Mama Done (Debra 1007)

Jo Jo Vitale  bb The Precisions (3)    

1962 - My Little Cinderella (May 127)

The Magics (2)

1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

The Palisades (3)

1963 - Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing (Debra 1003)

Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts

1964 - At The Fair / Ghost Town (Debra 2006)

 

Biography :

"The Magics" are best known for their hit recording "Chapel Bells", which reached number three on the local charts in the Northeast part of the country. The song was written by " The Monotones" who had the smash hit " Book of Love". 100 Records pressed under the name of the Palisades, name was changed to the Magics because Palisades was taken.

 

Dick and the Halo's - Ted Santos, Ken Marsh, Dick Plotkin and Dom Manzo

The group was formed in the late 1950's with the original members being, Don Manzo (the founder), Mike Lanzo and Ken Marsh, at that time the group was known briefly as the " Supremes". Ted Santos was the next member to join the group and they then formed an alliance with Dick Plotkin who's group had recently broke up, and the name of the group was changed to Dick and the Halo's.

Dick & The Halo's  - Ken Marsh, Ted Santos, Dom Manzo and Dick Plotkin

The group split up once again and the original 4, Don Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Ken Marsh and Ted Santos moved to Tin Pan Alley in New York to search for a professional management. Nick Quesado Enterprises, the firm that managed the nationally known "Teenagers" of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" fame and "Randy & the Rainbows" of  "Denise" fame, took on the task and the group's name was changed to " The Precision's" then to "The Magics". 

The Magics : Donny Manzo, Mike Lanzo, Kenny Marsh, Teddy Santos

While in New York they recorded for  various New York labels and performed studio background for various artist such as Jo Jo Vitali who had the hit "My Little Cinderella", Jack Bailey from Canada who had hits such as "Tiger Lil" and "Your Magic Touch" all were hits in Canada. 

The group also did background for local artist  "Tommy Genova" who had a local hit "They Call Me the Lover". The group disbanded soon afterward and went on their own individual ways.


Songs :

The Magics (2)  

            Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing   

The Precisions (3)

    

You Can't Play Games             Sweet Dreams                 Stop Leading Me On 


Tommy Genova & The Precisions (3)

     

      

     The Lover                     What Has Happened                        Mama Done

Jo Jo Vitale  bb The Precisions (3)  

 

My Little Cinderella 

The Palisades (3)

  Chapel Bells / She Can't Stop Dancing 

Mike Lanzo & The Blue Counts

   

At The Fair                            Ghost Town

 

SHADOWS (3) - CARLOS BROTHERS

 

The Carlos Brothers (Chicago)

aka The Shadows (3)

 

Personnel :

Jimmy Carlos

Pete Antoniano

 

Discography :

The Shadows (3)

1958 - Under the Stars of love / Jungle Fever (Del-Fi 4109)

The Carlos Brothers

1959 - Come On Let's Dance / Tonight (Del-Fi 4112)


1959 - It's Time To Go / Little Cupid (Del-Fi 4118)


1960 - La Bamba / It's Time To Go (Del-Fi 4145)


1963 - I Realize / Meet My Town (Zen 106)

 

Biography :

Jimmy Carlos and Pete Antoniano were brothers who shared the same mother but had different fathers. They are credited as being the first Los Angeles-based act to bring the Mexican duet style into rhythm & blues. They grew up in the Cabrillo projects in the city of Long Beach, California. Their early influences were all-black doowop & R&B groups. Jimmy & Pete went to Banning High School in the city of Wilmington, California. There, they began performing under the name the Shadows at talents shows  and shows for local car clubs.

El Monte Legion Stadium

They were asked to come and perform at El Monte Legion Stadium  at a show headlined by Ritchie Valens. Ritchie was impressed by duo and told them he would talk to his manager Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records. At the time Jimmy was 17 and Pete was 15. They recorded "Under Stars Of Love" and "Jungle Fever" under the name the Shadows.

   

Ritchie Valens                                                                 

It was released in September of 1958 but the record went nowhere possibly because using the name the Shadows, they were thought to be black. For their next single, the duo recorded "Tonight" and "Come On Let's Dance" For that session they were joined by Ritchie Valens who plays guitar on both sides. The record was released just one month after Ritchie's tragic death in February 1959. For this release & the next they used the name The Carlos Brothers.

 

Later in 1959, Jimmy & Pete would record "It's Time To Go" and "Little Cupid". In 1960 the brothers would record an updated version of La Bamba" and it would be released with "It's Time To Go" as the flip side. For the track " La Bamba" Ritchie's original track was used, Bob Keane added some violins and the Blossoms, a Los Angeles girl group added the backing. The Carlos Brothers would quit music for a while but returned in 1963 for producer H.B. Barnum. They cut "Meet My Town", a sort of Beach Boys-styled tribute to Los Angeles and "I Realize". These tracks were released on the Zen label.

http://wwwyoufoundthateastsidesoundcom.blogspot.fr/2011/08/eastside-legends-carlos-brothers-aka.html

Songs :

The Carlos Brothers

      

It's Time To Go                    Come On Let's Dance                    I Realize    

      

Tonight                                  La Bamba                           Meet My Town

The Shadows (3)

Under the Stars of love / Jungle Fever

MAGIC-TONES (1)

 

1957 - Willie "Ricky" Stokes, Gene Hawkins, Bobby Jackson, Arthur "Boxy" Williams & Robert McGhee

The Magic-Tones (1) (Baltimore, D.C.)

Personnel :


Joe "Rico" Reed (Lead)


Arthur "Boxy" Williams (First Tenor)


James Williams Bbaritone)


Willie "Ricky" Stokes (Bass)


Gene Hawkins (Second Tenor/Guitar)

 


Discography :



1953 - When I Kneel Down To Pray / Good Googa Mooga (King 4665)

1953 - How Can You Treat Me This Way / Cool Cool Baby (King 4681)

1958 - Spanish Love Song / Tears In My Eyes (Howfum)

 

Biography :

The Magic-Tones were among the myriad Baltimore/D.C. doo wop outfits to emerge in the wake of local heroes and R&B icons the Orioles. According to the profile at Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks website, lead tenor Joe "Rice" Reed, first tenor Arthur "Boxy" Williams, second tenor/guitarist Gene Hawkins, and bass Willie Stokes formed the group in Baltimore in 1951. Originally dubbed the Five Kings, they briefly performed as the Dreamers before settling on the Magic-Tones.

 After becoming a staple of the Baltimore club circuit, the quartet in 1952 signed a management deal with Bill Robertson and Homer Murray, fresh off their success negotiating an Atlantic Records deal for local act the Tilters -- Robertson and Murray also bequeathed the Magic-Tones a clutch of original songs, among them "When I Kneel Down to Pray," which served as the A-side of the group's 1953 King label debut. "How Can You Treat Me This Way?" followed a few months later, and when neither disc garnered much attention at radio, King halted plans for a third session.

  

In early 1954, Stokes was drafted into military duty, and with new bass Henry Abrams, the Magic-Tones played the famed Apollo Theater as part of a King Records showcase headlined by the Midnighters and the Checkers. A full-fledged tour was planned, but Abrams opted to return to his previous group, the Marylanders, and the Magic-Tones soon dissolved. In early 1956, Stokes returned to Baltimore following his service discharge and recruited Williams and Hawkins for a new Magic-Tones lineup that also featured lead tenor Bobby "Trey" Jackson and second tenor Robert "Shue" McGhee. Two years later, this version of the group cut "Spanish Love Song" for the tiny Howfum label before splitting. 

https://www.uncamarvy.com/MagicTones/magictones.html

Songs :

When I Kneel Down To Pray / Good Googa Mooga

How Can You Treat Me This Way / Cool Cool Baby

   

Spanish Love Song                      Tears In My Eyes 

FABULOUS FOUR - FOUR J'S (1) - FOUR NATURALS - NATURALS (5)

  

 The Fabulous Four (1) (Philadelphia)

aka The Four J's (1)

ref : The Four Naturals aka The Naturals (5)

Personnel :

Joseph "Junior" Pirollo (Lead)

Bob Finizio (Second Tenor)

Joe Milaro (Baritone)

Jimmy Testa (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Fabulous Four (1)

Singles :

1960 - Mister Twist / In The Chapel In The Moonlight (Chancellor 1062)

1961 - Let's Try Again / Precious Moments (Chancellor 1068)

1961 - Sounds Of Summer / Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Chancellor 1078)

1961 - Betty Ann / Prisoner Of Love (Chancellor 1085)

1961 - Everybody Knows / I'm Coming Home (Chancellor 1090)

1961 - Everybody Knows / Mister Twist (Chancellor 1098)

1962 - Forever / It's No Sin (Chancellor 1102)

Unreleased :

N/A - Special Girl (Featuring Mike Dupree)

N/A - Silhouettes

N/A - Story Untold

N/A - (Reach Out for The) Hand of Love

N/A - Talk to Me

N/A - Blame Your Friend

N/A - Little Girl

N/A - Moonlight Shadows

N/A - A  Million Years

N/A - Fools Destiny

N/A - Soldier Boy's Comin' Home

Fabian & The Fabulous Four (1)

1959 - Tiger (Not Them)  / Mighty Cold (To A Warm Warm Heart) (Chancellor 1037)

1961 - Long Before / Kissin' And Twistin'(Not Them)(Chancellor 1061)

1961 - You Know You Belong to Someone Else / Hold On (No Group) (Chancellor 1067)

1961 - The Love That I'm Giving to You / You're Only Young Once  (Not Them) (Chancellor 1079)

1961 - A Girl Like You / Dream Factory (Not Them) (Chancellor 1084)

1961 - Tongue-Tied  (Not Them) / Kansas City (Chancellor 1086)

1961 - Wild Party / Made You (Chancellor 1092)

Fabian bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)

1959 - I'm A Man / Hypnotized (Chancellor 1029)

1959 - Got The Feeling / Come and Get Me (Chancellor 1041)

1959 - This Friendly World / Hound Dog Man (Chancellor 1044)

Sonny Vito bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)

1962 - Put' Em Down Joe / I Remember The Night (Chancellor 1122)

Maureen Gray bb The Fabulous Four (1) (Uncredited)

1961 - I'm so Young / There Is A Boy (Chancellor 1100)

... 

The Four J's (1)

1958 - Rock and Roll Age / Be Nice, Don't Fight (United Artists 125)

1958 - Kissin' At The Drive-In / Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen (Herald 528)

1964 - Here I Am Broken Hearted / She Said That She Loved Me (Jamie 1267)

1964 - By Love Possessed / My Love My Love  (Jamie 1274)

 

The Four J's (1) (featuring Junior Pope)

1969 - Dreamin' / Love My Love  (Congress 6003)

John Capri bb The Four J's (Uncredited)

1959 - When I'm Lonely / Look For Me (BoMarc 306)

Johnny Angel bb The Four J's (Uncredited)

1966 - This Is The Night For Love / You've Been Wrong (Swan 4263)

...

The Naturals (5)

1959 - Blue Moon / How Strange (Red Top 113/Hunt 325)

The Four Naturals

1960 - When I'm In Your Arms  /  I Hear A Rhapsody  (Red Top 119)

1960 - The Thought Of You Darling / Long Long Ago (Red Top 125)

Biography :

In 1957 four fellows from the South Philadelphia area formed a singing group they named The Four J's they took their name based on the fact that each member's first name began with the letter J. they were Jr. Pirollo, Jimmy Testa, Joe "Judge" Milaro and Joe Paparella. Joe Paparella didn't remain with the group long enough to record and left to personal reasons, being replaced by Jr's. brother-in-law Bob Finizio.

After winning a local talent contest they were approached by Buddy Greco, who later became their manager. Greco got the group thier first recording contract with United Artist Records in 1958. After several releases, Jr. and Bob became part of the Four Naturals.

   

The group was a studio group and after recording "How Strange", under the name of the Naturals, they didn't want to tour or perform live. Jr. and Bob replaced the two members who were unhappy and were on all the following releases including their hit "The Thought Of You Darling."

In 1960 Bob Marcucci of Chancellor Records approached Jr and asked if his group would be willing to vocally back up Fabian on both recordings and Tours. He also promised them several recordings on their own, a promise he kept proving to be one of the few honorable giants in the fields.

  

Fabian , his mother and the Fabulous Four                                       Fabian

 Jr.& Bob once again teamed up with Jimmy Testa and added Ernie Spano to the group (replacing Joe Milano). Ernie was an original member of "the Four Dates", another Chancellor recording act. The group was now backing the famous billed Fabulous Fabian, so Naturally Bob Marcucci came up with the Group's new name "The Fabulous Four"

   

For the next 3-4 years the group recorded with and without Fabian and toured the entire United States (except Alaska) and most of the world. The group has had numerous appearances on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand".

Fabian  and the Fabulous Four 

The Group backed another artists like Sonny Vito, Maureen Gray as the Fabulous Four, John Capri and Johnny Angel as The Four J's. In late 1964-65 the group changed their name back to "The Four J's" and achieved their biggest success recording for Jamie Records "My Love Possessed" and "Here I Am Broken Hearted". 

  

Johnny October was now a member of the group, Johnny was the original lead singer of the Four Dates.

 

DIALTONES

  

The Dialtones  (Queens, New York)

(With Hans-Joachim)

 

Personnel :

Rosalie Calindo (Lead)

Dominick Safuto

Frank Safuto (First tenor)

Eddie Scalla

 

Discography :

The Dialtones

Single :

1960 - 'Till I Heard It From You / Johnny (Goldisc 3005/3020)

Unreleased :

1960 - 24 Hours

1960 - Why Don't You Write Me

1960 - Bohemian Daddy (demo)

1960 - Johnny (demo)

1960 - 'Till I Heard It From You (demo)

Billie Daye bb The Dialtones

1961 - Twenty Four Hours / When A Girl Gives Her Heart To A Boy (Bliss 1002)

 

Biography :

In 1959, 12-year-olds Dominick Safuto, his brother Frank, cousin Eddie Scalla, and Rosalie Calindo on lead formed the Dialtones. They managed one obscure single, "Till I Heard It from You," for George Goldner's Goldisc label in 1960. The highlight of that session might have been the period the Dialtones spent sitting in the studio waiting room with idols Little Anthony & The Imperials awaiting their turn to record.

   

In 1961 Goldisc tried again, releasing the Dialtones single for another shot at the charts. It didn't work. Dom (lead) then joined up with friend Mike Zero (baritone) to form a new group with Mike's brother Sal (second tenor) and Ken Arcipowski (Bass) as The Encores. When the Grover Cleveland High School quartet decided to fill out their sound as a quintet, Dom convinced his brother and ex-Dialtone member Frank (first tenor) to join, and they renamed themselves Junior and the Counts.

   

    The Dialtones                                                                                 Junior and the Counts                       

The Counts started playing church festivities, sweet sixteens, and the like until they came to the attention of Fran Carrarie, who became their manager and introduced them to songwriter Neil Levenson. Neil brought them to Bright Tunes Productions, which was really the creative base of singing-group-turned-producers THE TOKENS. The Tokens produced the group on two songs written by Levinson titled "Denise" and "Come Back," but before they could issue them on Rust subsidiary Laurie Records, a more commercially acceptable group name had to be chosen. The Schwartz brothers, owners of Laurie, renamed them Randy and the Rainbows. Dom became Randy and "Denise" became a monster hit.

Jay Warner (American Singing Group)

 

Songs :

The Dialtones

 

   

'Till I Heard It From You                         Johnny            

      

                 24 Hours              Why Don't You Write Me      Bohemian Daddy  (demo)      

   

'Till I Heard It From You (demo)             Johnny (demo)          

Billie Daye bb The Dialtones 

   

                           Twenty Four Hours           When A Girl Gives Her Heart To A Boy