1961 - Love No One But You / When The Red Red Robin... (Mermaid 106)
1962 - Coney Island Baby / You Baby You (Blast 205)
The Excellents (2)aka The Ultimates (Second group)
1963 - I Hear a Rhapsody / Why Did You Laugh (Blast 207)
Unreleased :
1961 - Geraldine (Blast)
1961 - Gloria (Blast)
1961 - White Cliffs of Dover (Blast)
1963 - Lorraine (Cousins)
1963 - She's Not Coming Home (Cousins)
1963 - Biggest Mistake of My Life (Cousins)
The Excellons
1964 - Sunday Kind of Love / Helene (Your Wish Came True) (Old Timer/Bobby 601)
Biography :
Starting out as "The Premiers","The Excellents" were first formed in
early 1960. The members consisted of John Kuse-Lead and Second Tenor;
George Kuse-First Tenor; Phil Sanchez-Falsetto; Joel Feldman-Baritone;
Denis Kestenbaum-Lead/Baritone and Chuck Epstein-Bass. All members came
from The Bronx, New York. In June 1961, they recorded "Red Red Robin"
and "Love No One But You" for the Sinclair Record Corporation.
Denis Kestenbaum, George Kuse, Joe Feldman, Phil Sanchez, Chuck Epstein, John Kuse
These two sides were released on Mermaid Records(a division of
Sinclair Record Corp..) in late June 1961. The record received no
promotion and was aired by DJ Slim Rose on his Time Square radio show
heard only in the New York area. "The Excellents" signature song, "Coney
Island Baby" was arranged at the time thought to be the flipside of
their next release.
They had already planned on their own uptempo cover of "The
Cleftones" smash hit "You Baby You" to be the 'A' side. "You Baby You"
and "Coney Island Baby" were recorded in February 1962 for Blast Records
(a division of Sinclair Record Corp.) and released in April 1962.
Denis Kestenbaum,George Kuse, John Kuse, Joel Feldman, Phil Sanchez and Chuck Epstein.
Sinclair Records started promoting "Coney Island Baby" and, it won
DJ, Murray the K's 'Boss Record of the Week' contest. With prominent
local concerts and a rising reputation, the Excellents looked set for a
promising career until record business skulduggery intervened. Booked
for an appearance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand television
programme, their record company refused to pay their travelling fees.
The
Ultimates
When they learned that the group simply could not afford to travel to
Philadelphia, the label instead sent a Brooklyn group, The Ultimates (
Envoy Records )who recorded "I Hear a Rhapsody" / "Why Did You
Laugh"under the name of the Excellents .
Justifiably devastated at this turn of events, the Excellents never
recorded again. In 1964, Bobby Miller, owner of Bobby and Oldtimer
Record Labels, purchased and released demos "Sunday Kind of Love" and
"Helene" as the Excellons.
http://www.JohnKuseandTheExcellents.com
Songs :
The Excellents (1)
Love No One But You When The Red Red Robin... Coney Island Baby
Artie Ripp began his career as a singer, initially informally
harmonizing rock and roll songs with friends from high school. In 1957,
Ripp formed an official singing group with neighborhood friends; the
group was signed by ABC-Paramount Records as backup singers for ABC solo
artists. The singers sang backup for Paul Anka on his 1957 hit "Diana"
and broke up shortly thereafter.
Ripp rejoined with some of his informal singing partners (Mario
"Skippy" Scarpa, Stu Silverman, and Joe Tedesco) to form "The Four
Temptations". The quartet wrote its own songs and was signed by
ABC-Paramount Records, which released the group's first single in 1958.
The A-side, "Cathy" (named after Scarpa's newly born niece), was written
by Scarpa and Ripp; the B-side was "Rock & Roll Baby", written by
Scarpa, Ripp, and Silverman. When the group rejected opportunities
offered by the record company to record others' songs, the record
company withheld further recording opportunities, and the group
disbanded.
In
1958, Artie Ripp targeted George Goldner to be a potential mentor.
Goldner, based in New York City, was a music industry entrepreneur who
owned copyrights, produced records, and owned record companies. Goldner
was, in the words of American blues singer and songwriter Jerome "Doc"
Pomus, a "very hip, New York kind of tough guy." After Ripp spent weeks
informally observing Goldner at work, Goldner formally hired Ripp to be a
go-fer.
Artie Ripp with Phil Spector Temptations (3)
Ripp worked with songwriter and producer Richard Barrett within
Goldner's organization, where Ripp got a "street education in the record
business equal to none".[Ripp learned how Goldner worked a studio,
structured a record contract, and got records played on the radio.
Functioning as manager instead of performer, Ripp put together the New
York vocal group "The Temptations", (formed at least a year before the
name was used by the different Motown group). Ripp's Temptations
recorded for Goldner's Goldisc Records; its three singles were released
in 1960 and 1961. The song "Barbara" charted nationally, reaching number
29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1960.
1960 - Letter Of Devotion / Fickle Little Girl (Goldisc 3007)
Neil Stevens & The Temptations (3)
1961 - Ballad Of Love / Tonight My Heart She Is Crying (Goldisc 3019)
Biography :
No, not those Temptations. This Temptations were a vocal group from
New York best known for the 1960 hit "Barbara". Issued on Goldisc
Records, the song peaked on the Cash Box Magazine chart at #38 and on
the Billboard Hot 100 at #29. The flip side song on Barbara was Someday.
The Story of the group begin as the Four Temptations, three years
before. In 1957, Artie Ripp formed a vocal group with some others of his
local neighborhood friends from Flushing, Mario Scarpa, Stu Silverman
and Joe Tedesco. They signed in 1957 with ABC Records as back up group
for ABC. They backed to Paul Anka on their ABC hit "Diana" and released
Cathy as the Four Temptations.
Artie
Ripp had already decided that he liked management more than singing,
and went on to co-found Kama Sutra Records and then manage Billy Joel
during the Piano Man's early career. Artie Ripp formed and managed this
new group know as The Temptations who consisted of Artie Maren, Artie
Schlacman, Larry Schwartz and Neil Stevens also from Flushing,NY. Neil
Stevens had already recorded a single with the Dee-Vines
in 1958, "More And More" and "What Could Be Better" released by
Brunswick Records, and Shortly after "Barbara" became a hit, Neil left
to go solo.
The Remaining Temptations saw three releases before they broke up.
Artie Ripp later became a great arranger and sound engineer. He worked
on a lot of the girls group records and Brill Building sounds that came
out of NYC from 1963-1968 or so.
Songs :
The Temptations (3)
Barbara / Someday Fickle Little Girl / Letter Of Devotion
1961 - Rip Van Winkle / For Sentimental Reasons (Delta 1001/Roulette 4406/4541)
1964 - Sunday Kind Of Love / Tears From A Broken Heart (Roulette 4556)
1964 - Zindy Lou / Snow White (Roulette 4580)
1972 - How Do You Speak To An Angel / Teardrops Follow Me (Kape 701)
Unreleased :
1964 - Practice What You Preach
1965 - Looking For My Baby
Acapella :
Seceret Love
Soft And Sweet
Sunday Kind Of Love
Rip Van Winkle
Little Girl Of Mine
Stormy Weather
Who Can She Be
Teardrops From A Broken Heart
Sincerely
Three Wishes
Marty & The Symbols (1) / Mr Bassman & The Symbols (1)
1963 - You're The One / Rip Van Winkle (Graphic arts 1000)
Biography :
The Devotions were formed in 1960, in Astoria (a borough of Queens,
New York City), originally as a sextet. Soon they were pared down to a
quintet, consisting of Ray Sanchez (bass vocalist), Bob Hovorka, Bob
Weinbrod and the brothers Frank and Joe Pardo. After six months of
practicing virtually seven days a week, they met record promoter Joe
Petralia, who lived down the street from Frank and Joe. Petralia
introduced them to Bernie Zimming, owner of the small Delta label in
NYC.
Top : Bob Weibrod , Joe Pardo - Bottom : Bob Havorka, Ray Sanchez & Frank Pardo
The Devotions auditioned with doo-wop classics like "Sunday Kind Of
Love", "Life Is But A Dream" and "For Sentimental Reasons". Zimming
liked the group, but he wanted something more gimmicky that would sell
to teens. Ray Sanchez then wrote a novelty song in keeping with the kind
that was popular around 1960. The result was "Rip Van Winkle", based on
the classic tale of a man who slept for twenty years.
Zimming liked the song so much that he took the group into the studio
on the very day he first heard it. For the B-side the Devotions
recorded "For Sentimental Reasons". The group would give out copies on
the street and leave signs in record shops that they would be giving
away autographed copies. Despite these efforts, "Rip Van Winkle" (Delta
1001) slipped into obscurity almost immediately. In 1962, Times Square, a
New York oldies store that specialized in vocal group records, began
promoting "Rip Van Winkle" on a local radio show hosted by the store's
owner, Slim Rose. Roulette Records heard of its popularity among Times
Square's customers, bought the Delta masters, and reissued the record on
Roulette 4406.
It still didn't chart, but gave the group a chance to appear on Slim
Rose's rock and roll show in September 1962 at Palisades Park (New
Jersey), one of the first oldies shows and years ahead of Richard
Nader's late '60s successes. In late 1963, Roulette released an "oldies
but goodies" compilation called "Golden Goodies". Why a flop like "Rip
Van Winkle" was included among all those Top 20 hits is a mystery. A
disc jockey in Pittsburgh, Porky Chadwick, started plugging "Rip Van
Winkle" and the request phone lines started lighting up.
Porky Chadwick The Devotions
This prompted the folks at Roulette to reissue the record once again
in January 1964, this time on Roulette 4541. Within a week of its
release, "Rip Van Winkle" had sold 15,000 copies in Pittsburgh alone.
Three years after its initial release, the song finally became a hit,
peaking at # 36 in Billboard, in the midst of Beatlemania.
Top : Joe Pardo, Ray Sanchez - Bottom : Frank Pardo, Andy Sanchez & Bob Havorka
It turned out that two of the original Devotions were in the armed
forces, so a new group was formed with Louis DeCarlo replacing Ray
Sanchez on lead and Larry Frank as a replacement for Bob Weisbrod. The
group went on the road, had two further releases on Roulette, but
received no radio attention and Roulette soon lost interest, after which
the group disbanded. The Devotions reformed in the 1970s with Andy
Sanchez (Ray's brother) on lead, and ironically they performed more in
that decade than when they had their only hit.
aka The Secrets (1) aka The Loungers - ref :The Uniques (6)
Personnel :
Dave Concepcion (Lead)
Pat Russo (First Tenor)
Vinnie Santorelli (Second tenor)
Steve Murphy (Baritone)
Franck Del Cavo (Bass)
Discography :
The Five Secrets
1957 - Queen Bee / See You Next Year (Decca 30350)
The Secrets (1)
1957 - Queen Bee / See You Next Year (Decca 30350)
The Loungers
1958 - Remenber The Night / / Dizzy Spell (Herald 534)
1991 - Wedding Bells / Teenage Bells (Park Ave.5)
The Uniques (6)
1962 - Do You Remember / Come Marry Me (Flippin 202)
Biography :
The
group formed on Staten Island in 1955, initially singing for fun. In
1956 they decided to get serious about their talent. They soon got
themselves a manager and shortly thereafter signed with Decca. Their
first release with Decca came in 1957. The recording received little
promotion, but it nevertheless afforded them many appearances. Early
copies show "Secrets" on the label. Several weeks following the release
of this first disc, the Five Secrets signed with Herald.
As
a legal precaution, they changed their name to the Loungers. Because of
Herald/Ember's preoccupation with the Mellokings and The Five Satins,
the Loungers received little or no attention.At Herald the material was
written by the group, whereas at Decca Management gave them the material
to record. This is most probably why they sounded so different on the
two labels. Additionally, Decca had told the group that they wanted to
sound pop. Shortly before the group broke up, Murphy Left and was
replaced by Pat Russo's brother, Bernie. The group broke up at the end
of 1958, and it was three years later that Vinnie Santorelli and Bernie
Russo decided to form a new group "the Uniques". In 1962, the Uniques
recorded "Do You Remember" b / w "Come Marry Me" released by Flippin
Records.
Encyclopedia of Rhythm and Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups by Mitch Rosalsky
Songs :
The Five Secrets
See You Next Year Queen Bee
The Loungers
Remenber The Night / Dizzy Spell Wedding Bells / Teenage Bells
L to R: Guy Fredricks, Tony Fasce, Art Mayer, Sal LoCicero
Johnny Angel & The Creations (3) (Bergenfield, New Jersey)
Personnel :
Tony Fasce (Johnny Angel)
Guy Fredricks
Art Mayer
Sal LoCicero
Discography :
1959 - We're Old Enough / Where's My Love (Jamie 1134)
Biography :
The Group's career was launched when they won 1st place in the CYO
county talent championship in June of 1959. The Creations signed a
recording contract with Jamie Records. Their first appearance was June
1959 on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The show gave the song a 98%
rating!
L to R: Art Mayer, Sal LoCicero, Guy Fredricks, Tony Fasce, Father Bruce
There
was even a recording by The Creations on Jamie 1197 from 1961 that you
would think is the same group, recording on the same label just two
years later. However, this later record was produced by Phil Spector and
the group sounds quite different
1962 - When Two People (Are In Love) / Time Will Tell (Dimension 1014)
The Storytellers (2)
1962 - When Two People (Are In Love) / Time Will Tell (Ramarca 501)
1961 - I Don't Want An Angel / Down In The Valley (Capitol 5042)
Biography :
Steve Barri was born Steven Barry Lipkin in Brooklyn, New York, on
February 23, 1942. His family moved to California when he was just a
child. He began his career as a songwriter. He submitted his songs to
Screen Gems Music which was run by Lou Adler. Adler liked Barri's songs,
and helped him get his first recording of a Barri original. Steve Barri
teamed with Bernie Reed. Warner wrote "The Nortones, Bernie Reed and
Steve Barry, The two 18-years-olds who comprise the group, play their
own guitar accompaniment as well as write their own material". In May
Their manager, Norty Beckman sends them to the studio were they record
four songs. The same month, Warner released "Suzie Jones" / "That's The
Way The Cookie Crumbles" as the Nortones.
Carol Connors Steve Barri
The
single wasn't a hit but it was a way into the business for the newly
minted music professional, and over the next few years Barri tried
several other avenues of expression, including cutting a few records as a
singer, all to no avail. In the early '60s he teamed up with Carol
Connors. Carol Connors born Annette Kleinbard, 13 November 1940, New
Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Based in Los Angeles, California, USA,
Connors began her singing career under her birth name as a member of the
Teddy Bears, a late 50s vocal group that also featured Phil Spector in
its line-up. She then recorded singles for Imperial Records and Dunes
Records as Annette Bard and Carol Collins respectively. Her first single
under her own name, released in 1961, coupled ‘You Are My Answer’ with
‘My Diary’.
Carol Connors
Steve
Barri and Carol Connors formed a trio, the Storytellers, with Connors'
sister Cheryl, and their debut single on Dimension, "When Two People
(Are in Love)," brought Barri back into the orbit of Lou Adler, who
produced the record. This successful entrepreneur then paired Barri with
protege (Phil) P.F. Sloan and together the new team began creating
material for many of Adler's acts. Jan And Dean, Johnny Rivers and Terry
Black were among those benefiting from Sloan/Barri songs, while the duo
also recorded in their own right under various pseudonyms, notably the
surfing act the Fantastic Baggys.
1961 - Story Of The Ring / I Want Your Love (Rona 1004)
1961 - Please Let It Be You / Down Around The Corner (Rona 1003)
1962 - Don't Run Away From Love / Two Different Worlds (Rona 1005)
1962 - Never Before / Whenever You Kiss Me (Rona 1006)
Biography :
Steve Barri was born Steven Barry Lipkin in Brooklyn, New York, on
February 23, 1942. His family moved to California when he was just a
child. He began his career as a songwriter. He submitted his songs to
Screen Gems Music which was run by Lou Adler. Adler liked Barri's songs,
and helped him get his first recording of a Barri original. Steve
teamed with Bernie Reed. Warner wrote "The Nortones, Bernie Reed and
Steve Barry, The two 18-years-olds who comprise the group, play their
own guitar accompaniment as well as write their own material". In May
Their manager, Norty Beckman sends them to the studio were they record
four songs. The same month, Warner released "Suzie Jones" / "That's The
Way The Cookie Crumbles" as the Nortones.
Steve
Barri
The single wasn't a hit but it was a way into the business
for the newly minted music professional, and over the next few years
Barri tried several other avenues of expression, including cutting a few
records as a singer, all to no avail. In the early '60s he teamed up
with Carol Connors, an ex-member of the Teddy Bears (notable as an early
group featuring Phil Spector in its lineup, and for its recording of
his "To Know Him Is to Love Him") -- they didn't succeed as a duo, and
subsequently formed a trio, the Storytellers, with Connors' sister
Cheryl, and their debut single on Dimension, "When Two People (Are in
Love)," brought Barri back into the orbit of Lou Adler, who produced the
record. This successful entrepreneur then paired Barri with protege
(Phil) P.F. Sloan and together the new team began creating material for
many of Adler's acts. Jan And Dean, Johnny Rivers and Terry Black were
among those benefiting from Sloan/Barri songs, while the duo also
recorded in their own right under various pseudonyms, notably the
surfing act the Fantastic Baggys.
Gloria Jean Williamson, Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard
The Del-Phis (1) (Detroit)
aka The Dell Fi's aka The Del Fi's aka The Del-Phis aka The Vells (2)
aka Hattie Little & The Fayettes aka Martha & The Vandellas
Personnel :
Gloria Jean Williamson (Lead)
Martha Reeves (Second Lead)
Rosalind Ashford (Background)
Annette Beard (Background)
Discography :
J J Barnes & The Dell Fi's
1960 - Won't You Let Me Know / My Love Came Tumbling Down (Kable 437)
Leon Peterson & The Dell Fi's
1960 - Silver & Gold / Together Just We Two (Kable 438)
Mike Hanks & The The Del Fi's
1960 - When True Love Comes To Be / The Hawk (Inst.) (Mah's 000.3)
Mike Hanks & The Del-Phis (1)
1961 - I Think About You / I Think About You Part 2 (Mah's 000.4)
The Del-Phis (1)
Singles :
1961 - I'll Let You Know / It Takes Two (Checkmate 1005)
Unreleased :
1961 - My Heart Tells Me so (Checkmate)
The Vells (2)
1961 - There He Is (At My Door) / You'll Never Cherish A Love So True (Mel-O-Dy 108)
Hattie Little & The Fayettes
1962 - Here You Come / Your Love Is Wonderful (Gordy 7007)
Biography :
After graduating high school, Martha Reeves began singing
professionally in 1959 when she joined the Fascinations. The following
year, she joined the Del-Fis - Gloria Williamson (lead), Rosalyn
Ashford, Annette Beard - from which the Vandellas later emerged,
performing at local talent shows and backing Mike Hanks on his record,
Leon Peterson and J.J. Barnes's 1962 on “Won't You Let Me Know.”
J J Barnes From the top : Gloria Jean Williamson, Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard
Billy Davis snatched them for his Checkmate label for one release as
the Del-Phis: "I'll Let You Know" written by Joe Hunter and Martha
Reeves and "It Takes Two,". Checkmate folded and Davis moved to Chicago
to work for Chess Records. The girls found day jobs but still did backup
sessions. A chance for the Del Fi's came later in 1962 when William "Mickey" Stevenson needed background singers for a Marvin Gaye session; the Andantes were moonlighting in Chicago, so Martha called the Del Fi's down to 2648 West Grand Blvd. to do the job. The song "Stubborn Kinda Fella" became Gaye's first smash and introduced the Vandellas' chirpy sound to the world.
1962: Top left to right - Martha Reeves, Annette Beard, Mary Wells & Dick Clark. Marvin
Gaye
They recorded a single on Motown's
subsidiary Melody Records. Gloria Williamson led both sides of the
record "You'll Never Cherish a Love So True" b/w "There He Is at My
Door," released October 1962; It was credited to the Vells since Chess
Records owned the name Del Fi's. Mickey Stevenson put the Del Fi's
voices on "I'll Have to Let Him Go"; the "demo" became Martha & the
Vandellas' debut single.
1956-
Hank Ferrara, Richie Brooks, Jerry Ascher, Sam Infantino & Mike
harris were at a local social club in their home of Williamsburg
Brooklyn. The club was holding a "talent competition" and decided to try
and do some singing. Without any previous singing experience, they gave
it a try, after realizing they sounded really good.
While sitting in Hank's car outside, the guys were trying to think of
a name for their new found group...being they were sitting in a Pontiac
Catalina, the name just fit The Catalinas later went on to win a
talent contest (even beating out younger Johnny Maestro at the time)
For winning they were awarded a trip to Phoenixville PA.
In 1958 they signed with Glory Records. They recorded Marlene
(written by Hank). This recording is worth well over $200 dollars in
todays collector's market. One day while working with the machines in the shop, Hank had a "beat" stuck in his head all day long.
He kept humming it until he got home from work. It was so catchy that
he started to make up some words to go along. Upon showering after a
long hard days work, as fast as the water was flowing from the shower
head, the words were starting to flow as well.
He yelled for someone to grab a pen & paper and told them to "write this down" This song later became the hit " Hey Peanuts" . Later the group recorded "Hey Peanuts" and heard their song all over
the radio. They were becoming so popular in Brooklyn, and even later
sang at the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
A local disk Jockey "Ronnie I" had them sing a jingle every Saturday Night on the radio, and they were on CBS FM. They were on the top of the charts with "Hey Peanuts". Unfortunately, their manager made some wrong decisions, and the group slipped through.
