BARONS (2)

 

The Barons (2) (Tacoma, Washington))

 

Personnel :

Billy Gold (Lead)

Andrew Fisher (Second Tenor)

Danny (Baritone)

George Bonney (Bass)

 

Discography :

Singles :

1955 - Eternally Yours / Boom Boom (Imperial 5343)

1955 - Know I Was Wrong / My Dream, My Love (Imperial 5359)

1955 - Cold Kisses / Searching For You (Imperial 5370)

1956 - So Long My Darling / Crying For You Baby (Imperial 5383)

1956 - Don't Walk Out / Once In A Lifetime (Imperial 5397)

Unreleased :

1955 - My Secret (Imperial)

1955 - I Love You Baby (Imperial)

1955 - Hold Me Baby (Imperial)

1955 - Shake The Dice (Imperial)

 

Biography :

The group known as The Barons were from the great Pacific Northwest in Tacoma, Washington. They were all members of the choir at Bethlehem Baptist Church and also students at Lincoln High School in that city. In late 1954 they were heard at a local appearance and the word was passed to a talent scout for Imperial Records in Los Angeles. The Barons were one of the first vocal groups for the label who would soon also sign The Jewels from R & B Records. The group went down to L.A. for their first recording session for the label and in March of 1955 the first record was released by Imperial on # 5343 with the songs "Eternally Yours" and "Boom Boom". The record gets some immediate airplay in the Southern California area but soon fades out.

     

During the summer of 1955 Imperial releases the second recording by the group. The songs "I Know I Was Wrong" and "My Dream My Love" are issued on # 5359. By early August the mid tempo tune "I Know I Was Wrong" is selling well in Philadelphia and also gets some action in the New York area thanks to plugging by Alan Freed on his nightly radio show for station WINS. In October the Barons sign on with the Shaw Agency who set up a tour of the East Coast for the group. In November the group makes a number of personal appearances with Fats Domino and his band.

      

 "Searching For My Love" and "Cold Kisses" are released by Imperial on # 5370 in early December. Trade publications list the record as a pick hit in the Los Angeles area. However there is not much the record accomplishes in either airplay or sales. In march of 1956 "So Long My Darling" and "Crying For You Baby" are released by Imperial on # 5383. Once again there is not much success for The Barons, and Imperial gives them one last shot with "Once In A Lifetime" and "Don't Walk Out" on # 5397 in September of 1956. Once again the group is unsuccessful with their latest effort. Reportedly there were two unreleased records by the group - "Shake The Dice" / "Hold Me Baby" and "My Secret" and "I Love You Baby". Nothing further was recorded by the group and they returned to the Tacoma area. Some sources have said that the members religious background and negative opinions of the record industry by parents and friends persuaded the Barons to call it quits as far as the R & B music field was concerned. Today the story of The Barons is not known by many except some die hard vocal group record fans and collectors. A few compilation albums may include "I Know I Was Wrong", their best remembered tune as part of the package. Other than that their music is but a memory to those that were there back in the day. 

 Songs :

   

    Eternally Yours / Boom Boom      My Dream, My Love / Know I Was Wrong

  

   Cold Kisses / Searching For You       So Long My Darling           

  

        Crying For You Baby        Once In A Lifetime / Don't Walk Out

 

  

  My Secret                                         Shake The Dice 

CRYSTALS (2)

 

The Crystals (2) (New Orleans)

Personnel :

Cleveland Jackson (Lead)

Marcell Scott

Douglas Landry

General Jackson

Emery Johnson

Discography :

1958 - Love You So / In The Deep (Specialty  657)

Biography :

New Orleans was the home of the Crystals, all 18 years-old when their Speciality 45 "Love You So" was cut at Cosimo Studios in New Orleans on September 17, 1958.Allen toussaint led the session, and probably discovered the group with consisted of Cleveland Jackson (Lead), Marcell Scott, Douglas Landry, General Jackson and Emery Johnson. They shared their session time with a group called the Knights, whose "Be Faithful" and "Sherry" were never issued.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

  

Love You So                                    In The Deep

ROYAL ACES (JESSIE JAMES & THE)

 

L to R : Buddy Glass, Jessie James, Melvin Holmes, Charles Fuller & Calvin Talley

Jessie James & The Royal Aces (Vallejo, CA.)

Personnel :

James Herbert McClelland  "Jessie James" (Lead)

Buddy Glass

Melvin Holmes

Charles Fuller

Calvin Talley

Discography :

1961 - Cha Cha Minnie / I Will Go (Shirley 103)

Biography :

School group from Vallejo, CA. composed by Vocalists Jessie James (Lead), Buddy Glass, Melvin Holmes, Charles Fuller & Calvin Talley. The Royal Aces also consisted of five musician; Dick Ellis John Turk, Harvey Toney, Tarnage Horn and Sylvester Stewart Known later as "Sly Stone" was the guitar player in this group. In June 1961, the group recorded "Cha Cha Minnie" and "I Will Go" released in July by Shirley Records. Shirley Record is based in Fremont, Calif. owned by Ron Badger and gained distribution from Atlantic Records. After this record, Sly Stone will join the Viscaynes.

  

Musicians: L to R : Dick Ellis John Turk, Harvey Toney, Tarnage Horn                                Sylvester Stewart                         

Born in 1943 in El Dorado, Arizona, James Herbert McClelland recorded three more singles for Shirley and and one for Hit Records (several with guitar work from Sly Stone), then made the big time when he switched to 20th Century Fox Records. "Believe In Me Baby, Pt. 1" was a modest pop and R&B hit during 1967.  His biggest hit, 1970's "Don't Nobody Want to Get Married, Pt. 2," reached the R&B Top 20 for the Zea Records, and he continued recording during the '70s and '80s for T.T.E.D. Records and Gunsmoke. The latter was the label for full-lengths like 1988's "I Can Do Bad by Myself" and 1993's "Operator Please Put Me Through".

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

   

I Will Go                                       Cha Cha Minnie

HAFF-TONES

 

The Haff-Tones (Geneva, Ohio)

 

Personnel :

Denny Pasqualone (Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals)

Denny Pettit (Lead Guitar, Vocals)

Richard Haffa (Drummer, Vocals)

Archie Sines (Bass Guitar, Vocals)

Discography :

1963 - I Need You / Turnaround (Twilight 3476)

Biography :

Vocal & instrumental group from Genova, Ohio. The Group included bandmates - Denny Pettit, Lead Guitar, Vocals - Denny Pasqualone Rythm Guitar, Lead Vocals - Archie Sines, Bass Guitar, Back Up Vocals, & Archie Sines - Drums, Back Up Vocals. The Half-Tones performed all around the Northeastern Ohio region, most notably at Cappelli's Supper Club in Wickliff, OH; The Castaways at Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH; The Chatterbox, in Geneva, OH; Don's Danceland & The Pier Ballroom in Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH, and various other locations. They appeared with some of the most popular artists of the era including, Bill Haley & The Comets, Conway Twitty, The Crests, Bill Black's Combo. They produced a 45 record on the Twilight Label featuring the song "Turnaround" with "I Need You" in 1963.

Songs :

  

Turnaround                                    I Need You

EBBTONES

 

George Hollis & Kenneth Byley

The Ebbtones (Los Angeles, CA.)

Personnel :

Fred Romain (Baritone/Tenor)

Danny Kristian

Kenneth Byley (Tenor)

George Hollis (Bass)

Discography :

Single :

1957 - I've Got A Feeling / Danny's Blues (Ebb 100)

Unreleased :

1957 - Trinidad Woman (Ebb)

1957 - Fool For Affection (Ebb)

1957 - Jamaica Town (Ebb)

Biography :

From 1957 to 1959, the Los Angeles label Ebb Records released around 60 singles. Only one became a national hit, although there were several regional successes. Formed by Leonora "Lee" Rupe, with the money she received as a divorce settlement from her ex-husband Art Rupe (head of Specialty Records), and Jesse J Jones, an arranger and horn player, Ebb kicked off with The Ebbtones.

    

George Hollis & Kenneth Byley

When the Native Boys drifted apart in 1956, Fred Romain teamed up with Danny Kristian and George Hollis and Kenneth Byley of the Flairs . The Quartet recorded "I've Got A Feeling" for the new label. The group was called the Ebbtones. The flip, written and led by Danny Kristian, was "Danny's Blues." The Ebbtones record was reviewed the week of May 13, 1957.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

  

Fool For Affection                             I've Got A Feeling

  

Danny's Blues                                    Trinidad Woman

ARCS (1)

(L to R) Jimmy Beaver, Bill McSwain & Jerry Lambert

The Arcs (1) (Kannapolis, NC.)

Personnel :

Jerry Lambert (Piano / Vocal)

Gus Voss (Guitar / Vocal)

Jimmy Beaver (Drum)

Bill McSwain (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Arcs (1)

1958 -  Alone / Rockin' Strings  (K&C 101)

The Exclusives (1) - Music by the Arcs (1)

1958 - My Girl Friend / It's Over (K&C 102/103)

 

Biography :

In 1958, this three Kannapolis area boys were members of The Arcs a vocal & instrumental group. The group consisted of Jerry Lambert from Concord (piano and vocal), Jimmy Beaver of Landis (drum) and  Bill McSwain of Kannapolis (bass and vocal) . The Fourth member of the group are Gus Voss from California (guitar and vocal), he was not in the photo because he was playing at the Pavilion in Myrtle Beach.. The Arcs recorded "Alone" with the vocal of Jerry Lambert and "Rockin' Strings" an instrumental. The single was released by K&C Records from Myrtle Beach.  The Arcs tastefully supply the music on both songs for the next single on K&C  by The Exclusives, a vocal group.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim

 The Arcs (1)   

  

        Alone                                      Rockin' Strings (Inst.)

The Exclusives (1) - Music by the Arcs (1)

It's Over / My Girl Friend 

SYMPHONICS (2)

The Symphonics (2)  (East Liverpool, Ohio)

 

Peronnnel :

Sheridan Battistelli

Craig O'Neil

Chuck Capwell

Dick Kelly

Discography :

1961 - She's My Girl / Millionair Hobo (Bock 5001)

Biography :

Vocal group from East Liverpool Composed of Sheridan Battistelli, who was graduated in 1960, and Craig O'Neil, Chuck Capwell and Dick Kelly, high school students. The "Symphonies" recorded two original songs entitled "She’s My Girl" and "Millionair Hobo". The songs single was released by Bock. “She’s My Girl”  has been voted the top record of the week on the WOHi “Go Slow Show” and also has been spun on Steubenville radio and television and a Cleveland radio station. The "Symphonies” have make a personal appearance on Channel 9’s “Teen Time” program Saturday and other stations. he "Symphonies" had already planned two other recordings, unfortunately nothing will be recorded by the group.

Songs :

   

Millionair Hobo                                  She's My Girl

BLENDERS (3)

  

The Blenders (3) (Knoxville, Tennessee)

 

Personnel :

Lowell D. Kirby (Lead)

Pat Baker (Tenor)

Larry Joe

Larry Jo Davis

Ricky Hong

Jim Blakely

Bob Sharp

Bob Boatman

Mike Webb

 

Discography :

1961 – I Asked For Your Hand / Dance In The Night (Vision 1000)

1961 – There’ll Be A Tear In Your Eye / I’m Not Sorry (Vision 1001)

 

Biography :

Vocal & Instrumental group from Knoxville West High School, the group consisted of nine members, Lowell D. Kirby (Lead), Larry Joe, Pat Baker (Tenor), Larry Jo Davis, Ricky Hong, Jim Blakely, Bob Sharp, Bob Boatman and Mike Webb. For more than a year the Blenders played in the area for college and high school parties.

  

Ricky Hong                                                                                                                                      

In July 1961, Vision Records, a Knoxville recording firm released their first single  "I Asked For Your Hand" b/w "Dance In The Night". Lead singer, Lowell D. Kirby,  wrote and sing both songs of the records. A few months later in February 1962, Vision released a new Blenders record "There’ll Be A Tear In Your Eye" b/w "I’m Not Sorry", two new songs still written and performed by Lowell D. Kirby

 

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

    

      I Asked For Your Hand              There'll Be A Tear In Your Eye

  

I'm Not Sorry                                Dance In The Night

KLIXS

 

The Klixs (Richmond, Ca.)

Personnel :

Elvin Bridges

Richard Scott

Harold Andrews

Jim E. Moore

Discography :

Single :

1958 - This Is The End Of Love / It's All Over (Music City 817)

1959 - Elaine / This Is The End Of Love (Music City 823)

Unreleased :

1958 - Oobie Doobie Baby (Music City)

1959 - He-A-Woe (Music City)

1959 - Our Love Is Here To Stay (Music City)

1960 - Bye Bye Louie (Music City)

 

Biography :

The Klixs from Richmond, just north of Berkeley were produced by San Francisco disc jockey Jim Hawthorne. The group's two songwriters, Elvin Bridges and Richard Scott were members, the two other are Harold Andrews and probably Jim E. Moore.  Ray Dobard first released "This Is The End Of Love" as the A side of Music City 817 in April 1958 with "It's All Over" on the flip The master was taped in San Francisco featuring rockabilly guitarist Tyrone Schmidling . Ray Dobard  reissued  "This Is The End Of Love" a year and a half later as the B side to "Elaine". There’s a quartet of unreleased tracks from The Klixs on Music City .  "Oobie Doobie Baby" is the first of four unreleased tracks from The Klixs., an irresistible fusion of rock ’n’ roll and doo wop recorded in 1958. "He-A-Woe" Recorded on 2nd July 1959, it’s a driving, dramatic track that surely influenced surf music. The other two unreleased tracks are  "Our Love Is Here To Stay " from 1959 and The Klixs recorded Bye Bye Louie at a session on 9th August 1960. It’s a doo wop track where hurt and heartbreak shine through.

Songs :

  

This Is The End Of Love                                Elaine               

HAWKEYES

 

(bottom) Derk Simonson, Dixie Davenport, James Williams & Don Roeder (top) Bob Arvin

The Hawkeyes (Iowa City, Iowa)

Personnel :

Dixie Davenport (Lead)

Derk Simonson (Tenor)

James Williams (Tenor)

Don Roeder (Bass)

Discography :

1957 - Someone Someday / Who Is He? (Sky 2635 / Capitol 14764)

1957 - Full Moon Above / I'll Be There (Capitol 3813)

 

Biography :

The story began in 1957 when Tom Ecker, formerly of Waverly and at the time a senior at the State University of Iowa, went looking for some talent to make appearances around campus. His first discovery was his female lead, Dixie Davenport of Anamosa. Later, through reports that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social house had a fine swinging quartet, Ecker investigated and after little persuasion, induced Don Roeder from waterloo and Dark Simonson from Lagrange Ill.to join the group. As such the group sang one performance, Roeder, Bass, Ecker and Simonson, the two tenors and Dixie, Lead. However, Ecker discovered that he was no singing rage after that one show and they picked up Jim Williams from Homewood, Ill. This is how the group appears but with much more polish and showmanship than the group that got together to sing at campus cutups.

(bottom) Dixie Davenport (top) Derk Simonson, James Williams & Don Roeder

After a few shows around the Iowa City area, Ecker thought The Hawkeyes were good enough to goon record. The only trouble was, he had to prove it to the big record companies. In March 1957, he formed the Sky Record Co. and the Hawkeyes went on wax as the first, last and only group to appear under that label. Due to Lack of gold, Ecker could provide no more than a one-piece background, so Bob Arvin, a fraternity brother of Roeder's and Ismonson's was called to play Bass. The group cut a tape of "Someone Someday" and "Who Is He?" a couple of numbers that Ecker and his wife composed. The tape completed, they sent it to a Detroit from to be put on a platter.

The records returned from Detoit and were distributed throughout the state to radio DJ's and record counters. After a little while the platters began to sell and finally, demand exceeded existing supply. It proved one thing to Ecker, whose dreams expanded with each sale. The group had something to sell. His next stop was to get them on a name label, with in this day of romp and stomp, is like trying to con an english teacher out of better grade. With the help of Ford Roberts, a Cedar Rapids record spinner, the group sent records to four or five of the top recording companies. Roberts acting as go-between for the Hawkeyes with the companies, heard from three. The group signed with Capitol. In May 1957, Sky Records was disbanded forever and Capitol took over the Iowans.

  

In September, they go together again and flew to Hollywood, home of Capitol. For five days they appeared at the United Artists Theater where they sang 21 performances along with Frankie Lymon and Lavern Baker. The five day  stint was arranged by Capitol to help the group pay for the trip. On their sixth day in California, they cut their first record for Capitol. Capitol had arranged a four piece combo of guitar, bass, piano and Drums to back the group. They recorded four numbers including "Full Moon Above", "I'll Be There" with were released shortly afterward . The Other two numbers, "Waiting In The Dark" and "Don't Play Game With Me" will be released when the sale of the first Capitol record have dropped of. Following their recording date, the Hawkeyes returned to Iowa. They never heard the finished record until it was released.

  

                                                                                                                                 Dixie Davenport

As for royalties, the group is paid once a year.  They confess that not a great deal of money is made on the record unless it gets up around the million mark. The money lies in night club appearances. Records provide the artist with a means of building up a name for himself. The Hawkeyes returned to school. During the year they have made several personal appearances around the Iowa City area. Unfortunately, and despite their contract "Waiting In The Dark" and "Don't Play Game With Me" will never be released and the group will split up shortly after.

Songs :

updated by Hans-Joachim

   

   Full Moon Above / I'll Be There           Who Is He / Someone Someday  

NEONS (2)

 

Ricardo Rasheem King

The Neons (2) (Los Angeles)

 

Personnel :

Ricardo King (Lead)

Craig  Simmons (Tenor)

Robert Gordon (Bass)

Demelvin Woodfox (Baritone)

Discography :

The Neons (2)

1961 - Tuscon / My Lover (Waldon 1001)

1962 - Magic Moment / Fat Girls (Challenge 9147)

Ricardo King

1964 - At The Harlem Center / This Is The Moment (Joker 711)

1965 - Won't You Come On Home / On A Hot Summer Day In The Big City (Joker 712)

Biography :

Ricardo Rasheem King based in Santa Monica, singer, songwriter, performer and actor under the name of Ricardo J. King. Ricardo King began in music industry the early 1960 with the Neons (Los Angeles) group on Waldon et Challenge Records.  In 1961, a group of four black guys from Los Angeles were signed on Waldon Records and they recorded  “Tucson” and “My Lover” with Ricardo King as lead singer. The other members of the group was Craig  Simmons (Tenor),Robert Gordon (Bass) & Demelvin Woodfox (Baritone). Both songs were written by Demelvin Woodfox and Ricardo King. In 1962, the Neons signed for Challenge Records. Dave Burgess wrote "Fat Girls" for the Neons and was the Executive Producer for the Group. Studio producer World Famous Glen Campbell and on Guitar Backup group The Champs.

 

Glen Campbell                                                                                                                  

The songs were recorded in Hollywood at Sunset Highland at Challenge Studios on by Gene Autry the movie star and Singing cowboy. Manager and mentor fir Ricardo King was Johnny Woodson at great man and later was a music teacher at Carver Jr. High in Los Angeles California.  he also taught Ricardo how to read music and took him to BMI in Beverly Hills  and got him signed as a Song Writer for Ricardo's first solo writing if Ricardo's first song "Magic Moment" which was Recorded by The group.Ricardo Rasheem King later began a solo career for Joker Records produced by Hal Davis of Motown Records. When Motown moved to Hollywood, Ricardo recorded "At Harlem Center" b/w "This Is The Moment" and "Won't You Come On Home" b/w "On A Hot Summer Day In The Big City" on Joker Records/Jobete Publishing and Jancris/Vault. Ricardo Rasheem King also sings for the public in the streets of Santa Monica.

Songs :

The Neons (2)

   

Tuscon                                             My Lover

    

Magic Moment                                       Fat Girls   

Ricardo King

 

At The Harlem Center                       This Is The Moment

  

       Won't You Come On Home      On A Hot Summer Day In The Big City

SQUIRES (5)

 

The Squires (5) (New York)

 

Personnel :

Peter Baralt (Lead / First Tenor)

Garry Bonner (Lead / Second Tenor)

Bob Friedman (Bass / Baritone)

Arnie Magraner (Baritone)

 

Discography :

1962 -  So Many Tears Ago / Don't Accuse Me (Not Them) (Gee 1082)

 

Biography :

The last record on Gee (1082) was "So Many Tears Ago" by the Squires. The group consisted of Peter Baralt, Arnie Magraner, Gary Bonner and Bob Friedman. Arnie Magraner sang in 1958 with the Crystal Chords who recorded "Be Mine Again" b/w "When In The World". The Squires were discovered at the "Cafe Wha?" Greenwich Village in Manhattan and signed a contract the following day and recorded the next day. Richards Barrett was at the session, organizing the effort and playing maracas. Arlene Smith was there also. The flip of Gee 1082, "Don't Accuse Me" was not put on the record when it was recorded. In other words, that's not the Squires. They thinks that the group that is on the 45 doing "Don't Accuse Me", contains some of the Students (I'm So Young).

  

Richards Barrett                                        "Don't Accuse Me" by the Students?         

When they dug up the Gee masters for a box set, they came up with the Squires’ version and put it on the CD set. In 1964, The Squires won Amateur Night at the Apollo with their rendition of the Dominoes' "Stardust."  The Squires were together from 1962-65 during which time they cut many cover records of the Beatles, the Four Seasons and the Tams for the Twin Hits label. Each of them was paid $5 per record and the lead got $10. Gary Bonner went on to write "Happy Together" for the Turtles and some other sides. Bob Friedman  went on to sing with the Sparrows Quartet out of NYC for a decade and then moved to Chicago and sang with Yesterdays Rhythm.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Squires (5)

  

            So Many Tears Ago               Don't Accuse Me (unrel. diff. vers.)

ZEBULONS

  

The Zebulons (Brooklyn, New York)

 

Personnel :

Shawn Syville

Billy Hamilton

Leroy Harper

Clarence Ellis

Troy Mangum

Discography :

1960 - Falling Water / Wo-Ho-La-Tee-Da (Cub 9069)

Biography :

Billy Hamilton and Leroy Harper began to sing together in their spare time in the Navy, and when they returned to their hometown of Brooklyn (New York) they decided to form a Doo wop group, along with another guy they had met in the Marine, Clarence Ellis, and a neighbour, Troy Mangum. After some trials the success of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers was overwhelming, so they rushed to sign a singer with the voice of a child like that of Lymon, Harper's cousin, Shawn Syville, who although he was 19 years old was able to sing with falsetto tone.They called themselves the "Zebulons. The Zebulons only did a couple of shows, both at schools, appearing with the Crests and the Passions. Gribble got the guys a six-month with the record division of M-G-M., From where they sent them to their cheap subsidiary, Cub records.There they published the single "Falling water" (1960), Barely a month after the album was released and when it started to start, Harper and Syville went to a party where Sherman Williams was, a boy who wanted to join the Zebulons but was rejected because I did not know how to sing. This one, still hurt, told Syville that at least he danced better than he and the thing was more, when Syville, a drunken Harper and two other friends assaulted with punches, kicks, stabs, bottles, even with an antenna, to Williams until it killed him and left him almost unrecognizable. The four found their bones in jail and spent six and a half years behind bars, despite constant appeals to their innocence. The other Zebulons had tried to maintain the group, but the voice of Syville was irreplaceable and in addition Gribble died of a heart attack in 1962, reason why the group decided to separate.

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Zebulons/zebulons.html

Songs :

  

Falling Water                             Wo-Ho-La-Tee-Da

RIVALS (4)

The Rivals (4) (Detroit)

Personnel :

Gerald Green (Lead)

James Green (First Tenor)

Herman Green (Second tenor)

Robert Metcalf (Baritone)

Tolbert Dorr (Bass)

 

Discography :

Letha Jones & The Rivals (4)

1960 - I Need You / I Got That Feeling (Anna 1113)

1960 - I Need You / Black Clouds  (Anna 1113)

The Rivals (4)

1963 - It's Gonna Work Out / Love Me (Puff 1001/Lupine 118)

1964 - Make Your Mind Up / She's Mine (Puff 3912)

 

Biography :

The Rivals  first appeared on Anna Records backing Letha Jones. Anna issued two singles in 1960 credited to Letha Jones & the Rivals, "I Got That Feeling" b/w "I Need You" and "Black Cloud" with the same B-side as the first single. Neither did anything and the Rivals wouldn't appear on record again until 1963 when they waxed "It's Gonna Work Out" b/w "Love Me" on T. J. Fowler's Puff label. The session musicians included Fowler (keyboards), Uriel Jones (drums), Walter Cox (sax), and Dezi McCullers (horns) a.k.a. the T. J. Fowler Combo. It did well locally so Fowler sold the master to Bob West's Lupine Records, distributed by Atlantic Records, to give it a better shot.

      

Letha Jones                                                                                                                                                

But despite immense potential, the record never did much outside Detroit. Because of its popularity in the Motor City, the Rivals did commercials for Goebel Beer and Wrigley Gum, appeared on the Robin Seymour Show, and played local venues such as the 20 Grand and the Graystone Ballroom. A second Puff single came out in 1964, but "She's Mine" b/w "Make Your Mind Up," failed to achieve even local success, and the Rivals broke up. Their old session drummer, Uriel Jones, went to work for Motown, as did Gerald Green, who joined the Contours.

 Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide

Songs :

The Rivals (4)

It's Gonna Work Out  / Love Me            

        

   

    She's Mine                     Make Your Mind Up

 Letha Jones & The Rivals (4)

   

I Need You                               I Got That Feeling