1959 - Alphabet Of Love / Sweet Diane Cha Cha (Port 70011)
1960 - Little Bird / King Of Broken Hearts (Kip 221)
1961 - Mississippi Mud / Love Me (Flamingo 539)
1961 - Lovin' Hands / Love Me (Gee 1076)
The Five Classics (2)
1961 - Mississippi Mud / Love Me (Pova 6142)
Biography :
Vocal group from Passaic, New Jersey. Leader of the singers is Harry
Arthur, 18 year old, Passaic High School Senior. Writer of most of their
songs, Harry has a tenor voice and does all the arranging. Ralph
Santora, 17 year old sophomore of Fairleigh Dickinson University, sings
Baritone and Joseph Pasquino, 18, is Tenor. Bernard Nathanson, 20, is
the Bass. When the Suburbans first organized they had five members.
Ronald VanDunk was with them until he was invited to a command
performance with the marines. Norman Oldam replaced him for a while. The
marines didn't call him, but a bride changed his mind. Joseph Serniglia
tried the entertainment field, but decided it wasn(t the profession for
him.
They practice about three times a week. Mrs Grace Schurman of the
Licoln Music Shop, is their manager. In May 1959, they cut their first
record on the Port Label, a subsidiary of Jay-Gee Record, "Alphabet Of
Love" b/w "Sweet Diane Cha Cha" both wrote by Harry Arthur. "Alphabet Of
Love" is being plugged by disk jockeys like Danny Styles the "Cat Man"
and Clint Miller. In September 1960, the Suburbans recorded for Kip
records owned by Lonnie Kaufman in New York, "Little Bird" b/w "King Of
Broken Hearts", both wrote again by Harry Arthur. The group have
entertained at many clubs in the area and across the country and
appeared on a number of TV and Radio shows.
At this time, Harry Arthur left and Bruce Starzzo and Angelo Gerardi
integrate the group. Joseph Pasquino takes the lead role and wrote the
fabtastic "Love Me". Paul Poveromo of The Five Classics
on Arc records produced the group for their third singles. The
Suburbans auditioned at Paul's house and recorded "Mississippi Mud" b/w
"Love Me". The single was released on Flamingo records. The same year
The single was re-released on Pova records as The Five Classics. The
Suburbans re-recorded "Love Me" the same year with different
arrangements for Roulette Records . The new "Love Me" was released by
Gee Records (Roulette subsidiary) with "Lovin' Hands".
1964 - You're Losing Your Touch / Jive Jimmy (Warner Bros. 5476)
Lorraine & The Socialites (2)
1963 - The Conqueror / Any Old Way (Mercury 72163)
Biography :
The
Socialites were from Grace Dodge High School in the Bronx and formed
around 1960. The group consisted of Lorraine Anthanio, Eloise Covington,
Gloria Meggett, Delores Rainey Kym Trant. Anthanio, Trant and Covington
had previously attended Junior High School 40 together where they had
become friends while singing in the glee club.
1962, Joe De Angelis (Manager), Lorraine Anthanio, Delores Rainey, "Kym" Trant, Eloise Covington & Gloria Meggett
Upon entering high school they again entered the glee club. Later
Meggett and Rainey joined with the girls to form the Socialites. Singing
the popular songs of the day. One day the girls sing at the schools
weekly assembly. Just sophomores or juniors the girls were to sing for
the seniors assembly where they did "Down the Aisle of Love."
The Socialites with Sunny & the Horizons at Alan Fredericks Show in 1962
After this the group began performing more and more, not only at
school, but as part of a youth organization tour too. Appearing at
record hops and summer concerts the group would perform at three and
four events daily. At the suggestion of a classmate that occasionally
played piano for the group they went to see Joe Simmons. Simmons was a
songwriter and producer that was associate with Arrawak Records a local
Bronx label.
Securing an audition, they journeyed to Manhattan where they sang
"Jimmy" and "The click", both written by Lorraine, for Simmons.
Thoroughly impressed, Simmons recorded the songs and they were released
in 1962. While at 1650 Broadway (the Brill Building) they met Brooklyn
songwriter Joe De Anglis who became the group's manager. De Angilis
proved to be a fair and earnest business man making sure the Socialites
got paid and that people didn't bother them. In the meantime "jimmy" was
receiving local airplay and the Socialites were busy playing locally.
1965, At the World’s Fair, Queen, New York. Eloise, Sandra, Gloria & Lorraine
In 1963 the group moved to Mercury Records. Re-named Lorraine and the
Socialites the recorded "The Conqueror." The was popular in New York
and the group continued making appearances around New York. Kym who was
married and in nursing school found the demands on her time to be to
great and left the group. The last Socialite single was "You're Losing
Your Touch" for Warner Brothers in 1964. Continuing to make live
appearances in 1964 and 1965. By this time Delores had left and been
replaced by Sandra Durant. They also appeared at the New York World's
Fair.
John Clemente (Girl Groups: Fabulous Females That Rocked the World)
Daniel Hood, Roland Clements, Donald Clements- Bottom Major Brooks
The Sophomores (1) (Boston)
Personnel :
Major "Eddie" Brooks (Tenor, Lead)
Roland "Rolly" Clements (Tenor)
Donald Clements (Baritone)
Daniel Hood (Bass)
Discography :
Singles :
1956 - Cool Cool Baby / Every Night About This Time (Dawn 216)
1956 - I Get A Thrill / Linda (Dawn 218)
1956 - I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain / Ocean Blue (Mountain Green) (Dawn 223)
1957 - Is There Someone For Me / Everybody Loves Me (Dawn 225)
1957 - I Just Can’t Keep The Tears From Tumbling Down / If I Should Lose Your Love (Dawn 228)
1957 - Charades / What Can I Do (Chord 1302/Epic 9259)
1958 - Checkers / Each Time I Hold You (Dawn 237)
Lp :
1959 - The Sophomores (SEECO CELP-451)
Linda
/ If I Should Lose Your Love / Cool, Cool Baby / Is There Someone For
Me / Everybody Loves Me / Every Nite About This Time / Ocean Blue
(Mountain Green) / I Get A Thrill / I Just Can't Keep The Tears From
Tumbling Down : I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain
Biography :
This group started in 1954 in the Roxbury section of Boston,
initially calling them selves The Five Stars of Love. They practiced
endlessly and appeared at many local nightspots. At one of these
nightspots, the Show Bar, Al Chambers walked off the stage during an
appearance swearing that he would leave show business. He was replaced
by Roland Clements, Donald's brother, who formerly had been with the
Dappers on Peacock.
The Five Stars of Love
In
1955, the group named itself the Sophomores and soon caught the
interest of Jack Darwin of Dawn Records. Darwin set up a recording date
in New York City. Following the recording, they continued with their
appearances at local clubs. They recorded more singles and cut an album.
Donald, Roland, Daniel - Bottom Major "Eddie" Brooks On Stage at Mechanics Building
Late
in 1957, they left the Dawn/Seeco organization. Roland Clements went
into the service and was replaced by Johnny Mack. The new foursome
recorded one song for Chord Records in New York. They recorded nothing
else after Chord. They continued to appear locally at clubs and
nightspots, despite the discouragement brought about by their
unsuccessful attempt for a hit record. They stayed together until the
late 1960s and then disbanded.
Unchained
Melody / Till I Dance With You / The Wanderer / Godess Of Love / Red
Light / I Wonder Why / Tonight The Night / Bum Ditty Ditty / Sentimental
Reasons / You Made Me Cry / Young and Lovely / Hey Brenda / What' Cha
Gonna Do / Baby Rock / Hear That Sound / Hop Scotch / Solitaire
Biography :
Salvatore "Sal Anthony" Corrente was inspired by the black and white
singing groups in and around his neighborhood in Yonkers, New York. He
became the first tenor of his first local neighborhood group, The
Pastels in 1956. This group consisted of Sal, Paul Miksad, Anthony
Pascuicco and Richard Bergan. They had a sound similar to the Four Aces
and the Four Freshmen, doing local partie and shows but no recordings.
The Sinceres
Then Sal would join a mixed group called the Five Flames. They
appeared at the famed Amateur Night at the Apollo in harlem, New York
City. It was here they came in tied for second place with the famous
Channels. This group too had no recordings. In 1957, Sal would form his
third group with some fellow students; Frank Camarota, Joe Petrosine, Al
Myslick and Paul Fernandes who would become kwow as the Sinceres. As
the Sinceres many demo were recorded including very first song Sal
wrote, "Joyce". By the end of 1960, this group would breakup and Sal
would form the Dials.
Sal and Frank Rangione, Dario Bianchini, Joe Raguso and Joe Rasulo
were again all neighborhood (Yonkers) friends. The Five singers making
up Philips' Dials met in the Park Hill Athletic Club in Yonkers, New
York, in 1961. They continued to appear at club functions and at one of
these functions were discovered by Louis De Lucia who immediately signed
them to a contract to manage them.
(Standing ,from left) Dario Bianchini, Joe Rasulo and Sal Corrente
(Seated) Joe Raguso and Frank Rangione Sal
Corrente
They were introduced and signed to Lou Cicchetti and his Cousins
Label from the Bronx. Lou got the group signed to Philips Records where
they felt they had a winner with "These Foolish Things". Sal had written
a 'B' Side "At The Start Of A New Romance" which became the 'A' side
after Lou's partner Morris Diamond made the decision since he now owned
the publishing. The Group would also background work on "Cheryl" by Al
Reno also recorded that day.
The
group would never follow up their Philips release although it did get a
lot of radio Play. Lou Cicchetti was also the manager of the Regents
and when they broke up a Splinter group, The Runarounds were formed. Sal
now was Asked to be the Lead Singer of the group. Later Sal Corrente
and Frank Rangone continued in another group : The Johnny Law Four and
The Blue Coats.
Songs :
The Dials (2)
Hey Brenda At The Start Of A New Romance Till I Dance With You
1958 - Don't Need You Anymore / Honey Take Me Home With You (Len 101)
Joe VanLoan bb The Parliaments (2)
1959 - Give Me Your Heart / Forever (V-Tone 200)
Biography :
The
Parliaments were first called the Imperials, but Little Anthony came
along and they were forced to choose another name. They spied a
discarded parliament cigarette pack in the gutter of a street in their
North Philly neighbourhood around 27th and York, and they were
henceforth known as The Parliaments, Arnold Bennett, Milton Harling,
James Frazier, John Gore and Bobby Taylor.
Joe VanLoan
In
1958, they cut "Don't Need You Anymore" and "Honey Take Me Home With
You" released on the short lived Len records (1958-1960) subsidiary of
V-tone label where the group backed Joe VanLoan in 1959 on "Give Me Your
Heart" and "Forever".
Songs :
The Parliaments (2)
Don't Need You Anymore / Honey Take Me Home With You
1960 - We Go Together / Sunday Kind Of Love (DMG 4000)
The Satellites feat. Sam Severin bb The High Seas
1960 - Each Night / Dark Town Strutter's Ball (Not them) (DMG 4001)
Biography :
The
High Seas were an interracial vocal group formed as Little Al and the
Uniques in Denver, Colorado with Jerome Drewett, Al Perkins, Anthony
Lopez, Adrian Torres and Billy Torres (2 blacks and 3 Hispanics).
Finally after multiple changes and a new name, the were the High Seas
with Chuck Price (Lead), Jerome Drewett (Tenor/Falsetto), Henry Gallego
(Baritone/Tenor), Adrian Torres (Bass) and Jack Davis (Piano), (3 blacks
and 2 Hispanics; Chuck, Jerome and Jack were black, and Adrian and
Henry were Hispanic))
Al & The Uniques
They moved to Hollywood, California and in April 1960 at Radio
Recorders on Santa Monica recorded 4 songs : We Go Together (a cover of
the Moonglows tune), Sunday Kind of Love (cover of the Harptones), The
Angels Sang (an old “popish sounding” song), and an acetate of another
song. They recorded with Sam Severin and the Satellites, a rockabilly
group as instrumental band. and Jimmy Bowen (a big name in music at the
time) was the A&R man for the whole session.
Al & The Uniques : Jerome Drewett, Anthony Lopez, Adrian Torres, Billy Torres and bottom Al Perkins
They
also backed up Sam Severin & The Satellites, on their song Each
Night. for D-M-G Records in 1960. The High Seas recording have a locally
big acceptacion and play in the radio circuit, the group singing in El
Monte Legion Stadium and They did perform on TV, Dance Party and
opened for Jan and Dean. When the record dead they back to Denver and
soon disbanded.
Joseph Sovathy, Julie Matthews, William Matthews, Robert Park and Geno
Geno & The Encores (2) (Finderne, New Jersey)
Personnel :
Eugene "Geno" Viscione (Lead)
William Matthews (Guitarist)
Julie Matthews (Bass)
Joseph Sovathy (Pianist)
Robert Park (Drummer)
Anthony Polnasek (Rhythm Guitarist)
John Rossi (Saxophonist)
Frank Fontinell (Saxophonist)
Disography :
Geno & The Encores (2)
1962 - Loves Encore / Fading Winds (The Encores) (WGW 3001)
1962 - Love Hidden Island / Gerry Gerry (Delree & The Encores) (WGW 3002)
1962 - Rita My Teenage Bride / Midnite Walk (The Encores)(Inst.)(WGW 3003)
Emil Spak & The Encores (2)(Vocal Background, The Plazas)
1962 - Stuck-Up / Hold-Up (Inst.) (WGW 3004)
Biography :
Eugene Geno Viscione got his first job in a barber shop in Somerville
at 13, working there after school. He later worked full-time as a
barber in Somerville and Manville, and in 1958 opened Geno's Barber Shop
on Main street, Finderne. In Bound Brook, where he was born, he began
singing when in the 6th grade at Lamont School. He made his debut as a
singer on the stage of Somerville High School two years later.
Geno Geno
In 1959, Geno began assembling his recording band, most of the
members also are parttime musicians who still earn their livings at
other jobs. Lead Guitarist of the Encores is William Matthews, Mrs Julie
Matthews, who with her husband teaches at East Brunswick Music Center,
also belongs to the band and play Bass. The other member of the band are
Joseph Sovathy, Pianist, who works at sears Roebuck, Newark, Robert
Park , Drummer, an office worker in Newark, Anthony Polnasek, rhythm
guitarist, John Rossi , Saxophonist, a school teacher in Somerset Conty
and Frank Fontinell, also a saxophone player and a school teacher.
Frank Fontinell, Anthony Polnasek, William Matthews, Robert Park, Julie Matthews, Joseph Sovathy, John Rossi & Geno
The
Encores, who practice in Keyport two nights each week, have
concentrated on rehearsing and recording during their first year. Their
four single will be released by the WGW label, owned and produced by
Geno. Geno has written both songs on the Encores' first record : "Loves
Encore" and "Fading Winds" and also is composer of "Love Hidden Island"
on their second backed by "Gerry Gerry" composed by Anthony Polnasek.
On their third records Geno has written "Rita My Teenage Bride" and
William Matthews "Midnite Walk". In a more rock & roll style
"Stuck-Up" and "Hold-Up" an instrumental will be released under the name
Emil Spak & The Encores.
Tony Montalbano, Ronnie Kemp, Julian Barnett, Glenn Carlin and Johnny Smith
The Saints (1) (Houston, Texas)
aka The Gents (2)
Personnel :
Tony Montalbano
Glenn Carlin (First Tenor)
Johnny Smith
Ronnie Kemp
Julian Barnett (Vocal & Guitar)
Discography :
The Saints (1)
1957 - I Rocked When I Shoulda Rolled / Will You (Cue 7934)
1957 - Turtle Dove / Take Me Back (Cue 7937)
1958 - Honky Tonk Baby / Ain’t Cha Ever Comin’ Home (Cue 1202)
1958 - Doin The Stroll / Snap Dragon (Prescott 1570)
The Gents (2)
1962 - Golly Golly Dolly / It's Too Late To Cry (All Boy 8501)
Biography :
The Saints, vocal group from Houston, Texas are composed by Tony
Montalbano, Glenn Carlin, Johnny Smith, Ronnie Kemp and Julian Barnett.
The original singing group begin 1955 as the Velvetones but Montalbano
and Kemp were the only original members. When the Velvetones broke up
soon afterward, Montalbano, Kemp and two other singers appeared as the
Saints at a dance at Oberholtzer Hall. Johnny Smith was present at this
dance. He was so impressed with their performance that he decided to try
to join them. With Johnny Smith as their new addition, the Saints began
practicing for the Crow’s Nest show.
The Velvetones
Their appearance in Fiesta was the turning point in their early
careers. Using Fiesta as a springboard, the Saints plunged into a new
world-the entertainment field. Since Fiesta, the Saints have made some
changes with the addition of Carlin as first tenor and Barnett as
featured vocalist and guitar player. Two of the Saints are University
students. Montalbano is a senior geology and business major and Smith is
a mechanical engineering sophomore The other members of this singing
group work full time. In November 1956 after all their performances
Jimmy Duncan makes them sign a recording contract.
Jimmy
Duncan
Cue Records was owned, in Houston, Texas, by Jimmy Duncan,
songwriter, singer, composer, author, arranger and producer, best known
for his 1957 song "My Special Angel", a #1 country/western hit for Bobby
Helms. Cue release three singles of The Saints between 1957 and 1958,
and one in 1958 on the Prescott Label. Four years later, Tony A.
Montalbano and and Ronnie Kemp are part of a new group, The Gents. The
group recorded two compositions of Tony, "Golly Golly Dolly" and "It's
Too Late To Cry" released by All Boy Records.
1958 - Fatal Charms of Love / Perriwinkle Blue (End 1034)
Unreleased :
1958 - Holly (End)
The Solidtones :
Demo:
1957 - Madness (Group Backing Frankie Sal)
1958 - It's The Talk Of The Town
1958 - Tears In My Heart
1958 - Love's Fatal Charms
1958 - Holly
Biography :
The Four Cheers were a vocal group whose members were from the Pelham
Bay section of the Bronx, NY. They actually got their start as a group
called the Solidtones. The Solidtones were 5 guys whose members came and
went. Sammy Dolson was an original member but he soon got drafted and
the group was reduced to four members. They were: Anthony Salveggi,
Tommy Salera, Angelo Ferraro and Pete Ortiz . The group had a manager
named Sheldon Noren who introduced the group to George Goldner, who was
in charge of Gone Records. Goldner, however, did not like the name
Solidtones, and it was decided to change the name to the Four Cheers.
Terry Deann & The Solidtones (Circa 1958)
The first song the group recorded was a song called “Holly,” and they
actually cut it in George Goldner’s office. They recorded the song live
and in one take but it was not released at the time. Goldner liked the
song and decided to sign them to Gone Records, which had a subsidiary
label called End Records. End was primarily a black group label, and the
only other white group signed to the label was the Del Satins, who went
on to back Dion on many of his records. A few months later, they went
to Bell Sound Studios on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, where they recorded
the two songs which thereafter were released on End, a subsidiary of
Gone Records.
The songs were “Fatal Charms of Love”
and "Perriwinkle Blue". Sheldon Noren and Anthony Salveggi wrote Fatal
Charms of Love and Perriwinkle Blue was a song that had earlier been
given to the group by George Goldner, and was written by a famous writer
named Jay Livingston. An interesting note is that Little Anthony and
the Imperials were also on the label, and they came in and recorded
their hit song “Tears on My Pillow” right after the 2 songs by the Four
Cheers, and using the same backup band.
George Goldner The Casals
Anthony Salveggi, the lead singer of the Four Cheers, also became
good friends with Richard Barrett. The Four Cheers were supposed to go
out on tour with Little Anthony and the Imperials but it never worked
out due to a feud that took place. End Records was having an argument
with Sheldon Noren, manager of the Four Cheers, and the manager got too
pushy and End decided to drop interest in the Four Cheers. Little
Anthony and the Imperials went on to become very popular.Tony Salveggi
remained active in the music Bussiness and joined forces with Jimmy
castor and formed a Rock'n Roll vocal duet in 1961 called the Casals,
with Castor alson on Saxophone and Tony also playing Guitar.
1964 - World’s Fairest Chic / Other Worlds (J & G 1719)
Jimmy Eden (Jimmy Testa) & The Revelers (Grand Prees uncredited)
1963 - Goddess of Love / Beatle Walk (Haral 780)
Biography :
Group
from South Philly in the late 50's / early 60's. They were from the
area around 11th & Shunk. Their members were Vince Palace, Anthony
Armentani, Nicky Pucillo, Johnny Lombardo & Jimmy Romano. 11th &
Shunk in South Philadelphia, the ward which produced Richie & the
Royals. In their wake came the Grand Prees, a melange of disparate
singers who idolized the Royals, as well as the Royals’ prime influence,
Anthony & the Sophomores.
As South Philly white groups go, the Sophs were top of the heap, with
hit records, a broad fan base, and more gigs than they could go to.
Insofar as idols, the Grand Prees could have done far worse. “In the
beginning,” notes first tenor/lead Anthony Armentani, “it was me, John
Lombardo, and a dude named Anthony Campagna, We harmonized on the street
corner like most everybody else, and I did some leads. We kept out of
trouble and enjoyed ourselves, plus the girls gravitated to singers.
That we loved.
“But
we were short a baritone, so I remembered this guy in the neighborhood,
Jimmy Romano. We shuffled around to his house one day and asked him if
he wanted to join us.” The ensemble was now a quartet, but a more
accomplished lead voice was called for as Anthony was only suitable for
certain songs. Jimmy was a member of the glee club at Thomas Junior High
(where his Science teacher was Mr. Todarello, owner of Rello Records
and discoverer of Richie & the Royals), where he sang side by side
with a sonorous voice, Vinnie Palace, so the task at hand was to lure
Vinnie into the fold. “He heard our sound,” burbles Romano, “and he
signed up right away. It was an easy sell.” Campagna lost interest, and
tenor Nick Pucillo was conscripted, and the final lineup was set, and
would remain so for the ensuing three years: Vinnie Palace, lead,
Anthony Armentani, first tenor and alternate lead, Nick Pucillo, second
tenor, Jimmy Romano, baritone, and John Lombardo, bass."
1962 - Pony Party / A Hundred Pounds Of Clay (Throne 801)
Carlo Gerace
1961 - Too Young To Love / Wild About That Girl (Chancellor 1080)
1961 - Daddy Knows Best / A Teenager Sings The Blues (Chancellor 1093)
Biography :
South
Philly singer Carlo Gerace gave us a couple of vocal group numbers
including "Daddy Knows Best" (possibly backed by the Fabulous Four/Four
J's) and "Pony Time" by Carlo & the Secrets.
The Secrets may have contained Anthony Maresco (of Anthony & the Sophomores) and some members of the Four J's.
