GRACE NOTES - PAIR OF KINGS - TOKENS (3) (JOHNNY & THE) - KINGS (4) (JOHNNY & THE)

 

A Pair Of Kings   

A Pair Of Kings (Brooklyn, New York)

aka Johnny & The Kings (4)

aka Johnny & The Tokens (3)

aka The Grace Notes

 

Personnel :

John Guiffre (Lead)

Jimmy "Sims" Smith

Jerry Vance

John Truscelli

 

Discography :

The Grace Notes

Unreleased :

1957 - Send Me An Angel / First Love

A Pair Of Kings

1959 - Once / The Monster (RCA 7659)

1960 - Just Two Guys / I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight  (Warwick 608)

1961 - Ev'rytime / Just Two Guys (Warwick 647)

Johnny & The Tokens (3)

1961 - The Taste Of A Tear /  Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Johnny & The Kings (4)

1961 - The Taste Of A Tear /  Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Biography :

Jerry Vance attended James Madison H.S. with Barry Mann. Jerry played alto sax in the H.S. dance band. In 1956 his senior year, Jerry joined a group called the Grace Notes. Jimmy "Sims" Smith sang lead and two other members were John Guiffre and a girl. The group wrote, produced and arranged their session at Nola Studios. The demo was unmarketable and the group soon broke up. Jimmy and Jerry stayed together and met an independent producer who recorded them at Long Island studio, doing two songs which were unreleased; On both sides, singing background was a young girl named Ellie Greenwich.

      

                               1959 -    A Pair Of Kings                                                                  1960 - Johnny & The Kings                            

The fellows were becoming disenchanted when they met Howie Epstein, John McCarthy and Terry Phillips. Howie got the group an audition with RCA. As "A Pair Of Kings", Jerry and Jimmy recorded "The Monster". A pair Of Kings moved to Morty Craft's Warwick label, keeping their RCA Name. After two releases, John Guiffre rejoined the group after getting out of the service. With a four member named John Truscelli, they released "The Taste Of A Tear" b/w  "Never Till Now" as Johnny & The Kings.

  

                     1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park                                                                                                    

In 1961, The Tokens were one of the hottest and most talented groups in early 60s. kicking things off with "Tonight i Fell In Love" on the Warwick Label. Big boy RCA-Victor came up with a big money offer, and the Tokens jumped over There, immediately hitting #1 with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". their phenomenal career took all from there.

1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park

 Morty Craft of Warwick was not happy about losing these moneymakers and reacted by changing the Name of Johnny & The Kings into Johnny & The Tokens (his label had done extremely well with Johnny & The Hurricanes) . They were good enough to make a brief appearance on the national chart. This name was never used again.

 

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

 A Pair Of Kings

   

     The Monster                                         Once                

 

Ev'rytime

Johnny & The Tokens (3) / The Kings (4)

   

       Never Till Now                                The Taste Of A Tear

TWILIGHTERS (1) - COOL GENTS ( LEROY GREEN & THE)

 

Top : Melvin Jennings, Earl Williams - Bottom : DeRoy Green, Robert Richardson and William Pierce

The Twilighters (1) (Baltimore, Maryland)

ref : DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents

 

Personnel :

Robert "Bob" Richardson (Lead)

Melvin Jennings (Baritone)

Earl Williams (Bass)

DeRoy Green (Second Tenor)

William Pierce (First Tenor)

 

Discography :

The Twilighters (1)

Single :

1953 - Please Tell Me You Are Mine / Wondering (Marshall 702)

Unreleased :

1953 - Longing For You (Marshall)

1953 - Gee, Baby I Need You So (Marshall)

1953 - I Wonder Who's Calling Her Now (Marshall)

DeRoy Green & The Cool Gents

Single :

1961 - Beggar To A Queen / At The Teen Center (Cee Jay 584)

Unreleased :

1961 - Phoebe (Cee Jay)

 

Biography :

The Twilighters came from the "Old Town" district of Baltimore where they attented Dunbar High School. They neighborhood also produced the Cardinals & Four Buddies. The Group was composed of Robert "Bob" Richardson (Lead), William Pierce (First Tenor), DeRoy Green (Second Tenor), Melvin Jennings (Baritone) and Earl Williams (Bass).

1953 - The Twilighters

The Twilighters recorded five songs at a recording session in Washington, D.C., in 1953, two of which became the Marshall sides :  "Please Tell Me You Are Mine" b/w "Wondering" with Frank Motley (Dual Trumpets) and his Crew. In 1953, The Twilighters made one of their appearances on a Cesar Romero telethon. Evidently the appearance didn’t generate significant interest in the Marshall record.

1953 - The Twilighters

Without the appearances and record sales necessary to sustain interest in a singing career, and after a dispute with their manager because they are dissatisfied with the background music, the Twilighters broke up.

   

                                                                                                     DeRoy Green

Several years later, after his release from the Army in 1960, DeRoy Green formed the Cool Gents. The group recorded for Lillian Claiborne in D.C and "Beggar To A Queen" b/w "At The Teen Center" was leased to Cee Jay records in the Bronx in 1961. A previously unreleased tune from the same session , "Phoebe" will be released on Roadhouse.

 

Songs :

The Twilighters (1)

   

           Please Tell Me You Are Mine       I Wonder Who's Calling Her Now           

The Cool Gents

Beggar To A Queen / At The Teen Center

 

TEEN-KINGS - DELRAYS - DELIGHTS (1)

 

The Delrays (Reading, Pa)

aka The Delights (1)   aka The  Teen-Kings 

 

Personnel :

Walter "Buster" Lockman (Lead)

James Keith (Tenor)

Norman Keith (Tenor)

Jimmy Tindall (Baritone)

Bernie Washington (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Teen-Kings

1958 - That's A Teenage Love / Tell Me I You Know (Bee 1115)

The Delrays

1958 - Our Love is True / One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream (Cord 1101)

The Delights (1)

1961 - My one Desire /   Please Take My Love  (Nite 201 / Nite 1034)

 

Biography :

James and Norman Keith were performers from their pre-school day when they would entertain they neighbors with their singing and Ukulele playing . By the time they were attending Fitzsimmons Junior High School, they had a quintet assembled consisting of LaVester Littles, Ron Brown, Walter "Buster" Lockman, and themselves. They were called the Victors, and played opening night at the Blue Horizon Club on North broad Street in 1956. For The next two years they played regularly at other clubs, benefits, and neighborhood gatherings, mostly in North Philly. In 1958, Bernie Washington took over the Bass singer, and Jimmy Tindall replaced Littles as Baritone. With "Buster" Lockman on Falsetto lead, they quickly learned that they could get their biggest crowd reaction bodying Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers covers.

   

The Name change to Teen Kings, reflected their desire to develop their sound close to Lymon's group. Their shows also got the attention of Ben Johnson Jr (who had managed the Re-Vels since 1954), who signed them to a management contract, and a recording session at Virtue Studios, in the 1600 block of North Broad Street. They recorded four songs at Virtue, likely completed at a single session. In addition to "That a Teenage Love" and "Tell Me If You Know", Johnson released another single on his Cord label, credited to the Delrays. "Our Love Is True" (Wich is virtually the same melody as "That's A Teenage Love") and  "One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream", both list Johnson as the writer.

The Teen Kings, the Keith Brothers (Facing each other) and Buster Lockman (at the microphone)

All four sides suffered from a very muddily sound with the lead buried in a poorly placed sigle mike. Lockman was only 13 years old when he made this recordings. The same Lineup made one more records as the Delights ("My one Desire" / "Please Take My Love"), released in 1961. Around the same time, the group auditioned for Richard Barrett in New York but the deal did not materialize. Lockman continued his career as a solo artist through the sixties, releasing one record on the Wand Label in 1967 as Walter Wilson. Norman keith also continued in the music business as a side man, touring with Martha & The Vandellas.

 

Songs :

The DelRays   

Our Love is True /  One Kiss, A Smile And A Dream

The Teen-Kings      

Tell Me If You Know / That's A Teenage Love

The Delights (1)

   

 Please Take My Love / My One Desire 

DODGERS (1)

 

The Dodgers (1) (New York) 

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1954 - You Make Me Happy / Let's Make A Whole Lot Of Love (Aladdin 3259)

1955 - Cat Hop / Drip Drop (Aladdin 3282)

 

Biography :

In August of 1954, Aladdin records opened a New York office and announces the signing to its label of the vocal group known as The Dodgers. The Dodgers single was recorded at Fulton Studios in New York on August 9 1954 and Soon after #3259 is released - "Let's Make A Whole Lot Of Love" / "You Make Me So Happy" are the songs.

   

In January of 1955 the group records "Cat Hop" and a great version of "Drip Drop" on Aladdin #3282. Within weeks after the second recording The Dodgers drop from sight and are not heard from again.

Songs :

Drip Drop /  Cat Hop  

You Make Me Happy / Let's Make A Whole Lot Of Love

CADDY'S (JESSE POWELL & THE)

 

Jesse Powell with The Cadillacs

Jimmy Bailey, Earl Wade, Charles Brooks, Earl Carrol, Bobby Philips, Rudy Bailey (Chauffeur) & Jesse Powell

Jesse Powell & The Caddy's (New York)

aka The Cadillacs

 

Personnel :

Jesse Powell (Lead)

J. R. Bailey (Tenor)

Lavern Drake (Bass)

Roland Martinez (First Tenor)

Bobby Spencer (Baritone)

 

Discography :

1958 - Ain't You Gonna / Turnpike (Inst.) (Jessie Powell) (Josie 834)

 

Biography :

Jesse Powell was born February 2, 1924. There is very little biographical information about his early years, other than his working with Hot Lips Page, Louis Armstrong, and Luis Russell. He joined Count Basie's Band in 1946, replacing the great sax player Illinois Jacquet, which says something about his abilities. Powell appears on a number of blues recordings in the late 1940s with people like Brownie McGhee, Willie Jordan, and Doc Pomus.

   

J. R. Bailey                                                                                                                         

He also worked with Champion Jack Dupree and continued to play jazz, touring France with Howard McGee in 1948. He played bop and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie in 1949. During the 1950s, as bebop fell out of favor, Powell found steady work with a variety of R&B artists. He recorded as a leader for Federal in 1951 and 1953 and had established himself with the Josie label by 1954, which included groups like the Cadillacs.

Jesse Powell with The Cadillacs

In 1957, differences in opinion caused the Cadillacs to split. One group was initially known as The Four Cadillacs, with current bass J. R. Bailey, former bass Lavern Drake, and new members Roland Martinez and Bobby Spencer, writer of the song "My Boy Lollipop". The other four current members - Carroll, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips - continued recording separately, later as Earl Carroll and the Cadillacs. Bailey's group also included former group saxophonist Jesse "Tex" Powell, and recorded in early 1958 as Jesse Powell and the Caddys. Both groups recorded simultaneously on Josie Records.

Songs :

Ain't You Gonna

DING DONGS (2)

 

Paste up picture : Roy Richard, Bobby Sheen & Billy Richard

The Ding Dongs (2) (Los Angeles)

aka The Robins (1)

 

Personnel :

Bobby Sheen Lead)

Billy Richard (Tenor)

Roy Richard (Baritone)

"Little" Billy Richard (Tenor)

 

Discography :

1960 - Ding Dong (Saw Wood Mountain) / Sweet Thing (Eldo 109)

 

Biography :

Bobby Sheen is best known as one of the two lead vocalists for Phil Spector’s Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans, the other being Darlene Love. Sheen’s early days were spent in West Hollywood after moving from his home in St.Louis at the age of four. He grew up in an upper middle class African-American neighborhood, hanging out with the offspring of the Mills Brothers as well as Marilyn McCoo, later of the Fifth Dimension. Show business was his destiny. It was in 1958  that Sheen entered the studio with a revamped version of the Robins.

   

Billy & Roy Richard                                                                            Bobby Sheen

The Robins had scored a big hit with “There’s a Riot Going On” and the group splintered into the Coasters and the Robins, with the Coasters gaining greater success. The Robins were recording for Knight Records, a subsidiary of Liberty Records. Sheen’s first lead came on “A Little Bird Told Me” a  song very similar to Bobby Day’s hit, “Rockin’ Robin.” While still under contract to Arvee, the Robins recorded some sides for their old pal Johnny Otis. "Ding Dong (Saw Wood Mountain)" (led by Bobby) and "Sweet Thing" were released on Otis' Eldo label, by the "Ding Dongs," in October 1960. By 1962 Bobby Sheen was working with Spector, initially on a one-off 45 for Liberty Records. Sharing lead vocal duties with Darlene Love, he reached the Top 10 later that year with ‘Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah’, released as by Bob B Soxx & the Blue Jeans on the producer’s Philles logo. He also contributed a soaring version of ‘The Bells Of St Mary’ to Spector’s classic “A Christmas Gift For You” LP.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

 Sweet Thing   /  Ding Dong (Saw Wood Mountain) 

 

HITS (TINY TIM & THE)

  

Paste up picture - Top : Timothy Wilson "Tiny Tim" - Bottom : Thomas Price & William Collier

Tiny Tim & The Hits  (Eastern Shore, Maryland)

Personnel :

Timothy "Tiny Tim"  Wilson (Lead)

Thomas Price (Baritone)

William Collier

Lionel Brown

Orlesto Smith


Discography :

1958 - Wedding Bells / Doll Baby (Roulette 4123)

Biography :

Howard Harrison "Timothy" Wilson was born in 1943 in Salisbury, Maryland. Wilson got started young is a profound understatement. Adopting Frankie Lymon and Little Anthony as his prime models, he joined the group of Norma Lee Trader called Five Hits & A Miss in the late 50's. All the guys are from the Eastern shore of Maryland, and all went to the same schools and same churches. When Norma Lee Trader left to make life, Timothy Wilson, Lionel Brown, Orlesto Smith, Thomas Price and William Collier change name as Tiny Tim & The Hits. The group recorded "Wedding Bells" b/w "Doll Baby" for Roulette in 1958. After this 45’ the group splits.

     

                                                                                      Timothy "Tiny Tim"  Wilson

Five years passed before Thomas Price and William Collier resurfaced with Samuel Culley and Ervan Waters as the Diplomats on Arock Records. The tight-harmony remake of "Unchained Melody" was the first single, and they got their foot halfway through the door with their second single, "Here's a Heart" (October 1963). Timothy Wilson join the Serenaders with Howard Curry, Sidney Barnes and George Kerr.  Timothy Wilson went on to become a 60’s soul pioneer and scored his next huge hit in 1967 with “Baby Baby Please,” which was big on the soul charts in New York and New Jersey. Wilson became a favorite at the famed Apollo Theater in New York with a number of hits including “Queen Of Hearts,” “I Wanna Know Right Now,” “Say It Again,” and “Oh How I Wish She Were Mine,” and became the first east coast artist signed to Motown. In the early 1990’s he became the lead singer of Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, his voice still as strong as it was in the 60’s.

Songs :

   

Wedding Bells                                  Doll Baby          

DEL PRIS

 

 The Del Pris (Pittsburg, PA.)

Personnel :

Billy Cyrus (Lead)

Wilson Rue (First Tenor)

Jack Derbish (Second Tenor)

Harold ”Cowboy” Shields (Baritone)

Dan Carr (Bass)

Discography :

Single :

1961 - The Time / Womp (Varbee 2003 / Restored 1001)

Unreleased :

1961 - I Don’t Want To Cry (Varbee)

1961 - It Must Have Been Love (Varbee)

Biography :

At the beginning of the 60s in Pittsburg, Jack Derbish and Dan Carr was part of a vocal group named the Del Pris, But after a few months, the group disbanded. Not discouraged, Jack and Dan form a new group named The Legends. The group then consists of three black and two white members. In 1961, Billy Cyrus (Lead), Wilson Rue (First Tenor), Jack Derbish (Second Tenor), Harold ”Cowboy” Shields (Baritone) and Dan Carr(Bass) contacted O’Dell Bailey, owner of Varbee and Millage Records Records in Pittsburgh. Bailey send the group to the Glen Campbell’s united recording service where recorded four sides :  The Baby Washington’s 1959 hit "The Time", The Chuck Jackson side "I Don’t Want To Cry", "Womp" and "It Must Have Been Love".  Because the name "The Legends" was already being used "The Time" b/w "Womp" was released In November of 1961 under the first group name of Jack Derbish  & Dan Carr, The Del Pris. The disc have a big local acceptance and the group have appearances with DJ’s personalities as Bill Powell, Walter Raleigh or Porky Chedwick, also appear on the TV show “Teen Time” and for a brief time were the back up singer for Little Maxine Simmons. In the summer of 1962 the group want release a second record and looking for a new label, but without luck, Harold ”Cowboy” Shields leave the group and Billy Cyrus join the army and The Del Pris finally broke up.

Songs :

   

The Time                                                Womp        

KITTENS (3)

 

Sheila Ferguson

The Kittens (3) (Germantown, Philadelphia)

Personnel :

Barbara

Sheila Ferguson

Jeanie Scott

Yvonne Brown

Discography :

The Kittens (3)

1963 - Count Every Star / I’m Worried    (Chestnut 203)

1963 - I Need Your Love Tonight / Johnny’s Place (Don-El 205)

1964 - Walter / Light Bulb (Don-El 122)

1964 - Give Me A Shove / Hot Water (Don-El 123)

Johnny Alton bb The Kittens (3)

1963 - Please Love Me / Glad That You’re Mine (Chestnut 204)

Biography :

The Kittens included Barbara [last name not remembered], Sheila Ferguson, Jeanie Scott, Yvonne Brown and a fifth member. Sheila Ferguson would go on to sing with the Three Degrees and then star as a soloist. Jeanie Scott was the older sister of future Three Degrees’ Helen Scott. They were all in high school, Germantown High, except Barbara. The Kittens’ first release was “Count Every Star” backed with the Wally Osborne composition “I’m Worried,” released on March 1963 on the Don-El subsidiary label, Chestnut.

 

                                                                                                              The Three Degrees (Sheila Ferguson on top)

Don El was owned by real estate man Donald White. It was on the same block as V- Tone/Len records in Philly. He had three labels that I know of, Don El, Chestnut and Alpha. Chestnut was primarily used for country music which Don liked as well as r&b.  Don-El released three other singles by the Kittens. The girls never did any clubs because they were too young. They went on tour a couple times. The Kittens broke up in 1964 when Richard Barrett auditioned and signed Sheila Ferguson to record solo [Landa label] for him. She would then join the Three Degrees.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

The Kittens (3)

   

      Count Every Star                 I Need Your Love Tonight   

   

Johnny’s Place                           Give Me A Shove 

  

Walter / Lite Bulb                                  Hot Water      

I'm Worried

Johnny Alton bb The Kittens (3)

Glad That You’re Mine / Please Love Me

 

BUZZ & AL

  

Buzz & Al (New York)

Personnel :

Ray Buzzeo

A. De Felice

Discography :

1958 - When You're Gone / A Little Bit Of Lovin (Josie 848)

1959 - Will You, Huh? / Caring For You (Jimskip 909)

1960 - Jeannie Marie / Tomorrows That May Never  (ABC-Paramount 107)

1961 - Secretly / Wierdo (MGM 13018)

1962 - The Five Senses / For Stealing Her From Me (Columbia 42532)

1962 - Here Come The Tears / Litle White Sneakers (Columbia 42355)

(Columbia 42355)

 

Biography :

Raymond J. Buzzeo is an American session musician and songwriter from New York. He has written for Jeannie C. Riley, Waylon Jennings, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Johnny Paycheck, Ferlin Husky and many other.

   

His career began in 1958 when he premiered a vocal duet with A. De Felice. Under the name of Buzz & Al they recorded a few singles between 1958 and 1962 under various label: Jimskip, ABC, Josie, MGM & Columbia. After his separation with Al, Raymond J. Buzzeo recorded some singles as Buzz Ray, but with little success he focuses on writing.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

   

Jeannie Marie                          Wierdo

  

Tomorrows That May Never            Will You, Huh? / Caring For You

DE-LOS - SHERRYS

 

The Sherrys

The De-Los (Philadelphia)

aka The Sherrys

 Personnel :

Delores "Honey" Wylie (Lead)

Delphine Cook

Dinelle Cook

Joyce ? (Soprano)

Clarence Smith (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - Lullabye Serenade / Pork And Gravy (Cedar 302)

Biography :

The Sherrys were a short-lived girl group with a rich, soulful sound, built around dance numbers that they performed with extraordinary exuberance, organized by Philadelphia singing star Little Joe Cook. A veteran of gospel and R&B, Cook had led a group called the Thrillers from the mid-'50s. In 1958, Little Joe began putting a group together around his two daughters, Delphine and Dinelle Cook, Delores "Honey" Wylie, Joyce ? and Clarence Smith, Bass of the Students.     Billed as the De-Los the group recorded "Lullabye Serenade" b/w "Pork And Gravy" both sides lead by Delores Wylie on the Cedar label. In 1961, they changed their name as the Sherrys and did some backup work for Maureen Gray,  Billy & the Essentials and Bobby Rydell. At this time, the Sherrys consisted of Delphine 'Sugar' Cook, Dinelle Cook, Charlotte Walker and Delores 'Honey' Wylie.

Thanks to Mike Sweeney

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

   

Lullabye Serenade                            Pork And Gravy

 

FOUR CHAPS (1)

  

The Four Chaps (1) (Philadelphia, PA.)

 

Personnel :

Sam Ambrosino

Danny DeSapio

Jerry Ross

Frank Palerma

Discography :

1956 - Completely Yours / Foolish Little Butterfly (Rama 195)

1956 - Roll Over Beethoven / Wrong Number (Rama 199)

Biography :

James Edward Myers (26 October 1919 Philadelphia – 10 May 2001 Bonita Springs) was an American songwriter, actor, producer, and raconteur. Myers is best known as the credited co-writer of "Rock Around the Clock" for which he used the pseudonym "Jimmy DeKnight". Myers co-wrote the song with Max C. Freedman, though doubt has been cast as to whether Myers actually participated in the writing of the song.

   

In 1956, James E. Myers signed a vocal group, the Four Chaps, to a personal management contract. The Four Chaps are Sam Ambrosino, Danny DeSapio, Jerry Ross and Frank Palerma. Myers’s first move was to sign them to a term pact with Rama Records, and he supervised their first recording session in New York City .

   

James Edward Myers                                                                                                     

Their first are “Completely Yours”, backed with “Foolish Little Butterfly”. On their second records they covered Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" contemporary with Berry's own Chess Records release. Needless to say, the songwriter won this match-up -- no surprise given the dorky "do-wop do-wop do-wop" backing chorus and the Four Neat Guys-type vocals. The 4 Chaps disappeared soon after their thrust at immortality.

Songs:

(updated by Hans-Joachim)

  

            Roll Over Beethoven              Completely Yours / Foolish Little Butterfly

FABULOUS TONES

 

The Fabulous Tones (1960) 1st row: Joe Alexander, Shirley Hunter, Herman Hill;

2nd row: Teddy Rambo, Jesse Davis, Rudy Hunter; 3rd row: Count Yates, John Harris

The Fabulous Tones (Los Angeles)

 

Personnel :

Rudy Hunter (Lead)

Joe Alexander (Baritone)

John Harris

Norman Alexander

 

Discography :

1957 - You've Broken My Heart / Mr. Hog Face (Rushmore 103)

1958 - Close To You /  ???  (Ebb 135)

1959 - Lover, Lover, Lover / I’ll Never Cry Again (Mark 56 819)

Biography :

The Four Tones were a vocal group formed in the mid 1930s at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. By the late 1930s they started their recording career in Los Angeles and they appeared in a few films. Singing bass for this group was Dusty Brooks. He was often the featured performer and on several of their recordings they were billed as Dusty Brooks and the Four Tones.

The Four Tones

In early 1954, Rudy Hunter took over the leadership of the group, which consisted of Joe Alexander and Ruby Thrower Joined by Alexander's brother, Norman,  the group became Rudy Hunter & the Fabulous Tones with Brooks joining in as bass on occasion. Their minimum requirement for prospective group members was to have the ability to play 5 separate instruments as well as being able to sing. They make many appearances, for several years all over the country. The Fabulous Tones issued 45's on the Rushmore in 1957, The Ebb label in 1958  and George Garabedian's Mark 56 label in 1959. Garabedian would use the group to back demos that be contracted for songwriters and hopeful singing stars.

   

Jesse Davis                                                                                                                    

The group makes numerous staff changes over the years, Jesse Ervin, Rudy Hunter, Count Yates, Sammy Yates, Shirley Hunter, Herman Hill, Teddy Rambo, John Harris and Jazz singer’ Jesse Davis.  Jesse Davis is known as a Jazz singer but his repertoire includes, R&B, Pop, Latin, and Swing. Jesse Davis started his professional career singing in a few clubs in Michigan, with the Doug Cook Combo, and on his own, before joining in 1958 The Fabulous Tones in Los Angeles as a featured singer.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim) 

      

I’ll Never Cry Again                  You've Broken My Heart  

Close To You

TWILIGHTS (5) (TONY & THE)

(Paste-up picture) Top : Donnie Milo, Joe Gugliarda & Joe Agugliaro - bottom : Tony Passalacqua

Tony & The Twilights (5) (Brooklyn, NY)

 

Personnel :

Tony Passalacqua (Lead)

Joe Agugliaro (Baritone)

Joe Gugliarda (Bass)

Donnie Milo (Second Tenor)

 

Discography : 

Tony Richards & The Twilights (5)

Single :

1960 - Paper Boy / Please Believe In Me  (Colpix 178)

Unreleased :

1961 - September Song (Colpix)

Tony Richards

1961 - Shout My Name / Summer Is Coming (Colpix 199)

 

Biography :

Tony & the Twilights, also known as Tony Richards & The Twilights, were an offshoot of three different groups from the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, NY. Tony Richards, aka Tony Passalacqua, had sung with the Fascinators, a quartet formed in Bushwick in 1957. Among the Fascinators' rivals and contemporaries were the Clusters, who were friends of Passalacqua's, and the Markels, another Bushwick-based group, who scored a modest hit in 1958 with "Letter of Love." When the Fascinators broke up in 1961, Passalacqua hooked up with Joe Gugliarda (The Clusters) and Joe Agugliaro (who were cousins) of the Markels, and Donnie Milo, formerly of the Clusters, essentially forming a reconstituted Clusters.

 

                                                                                                         Tony Passalacqua (Tony Richards)

The new group was called the Twilights and the group was signed to Colpix Records, but they immediately ran into trouble when their first single was issued as The Twilights featuring Tony Richards, which was soon changed to Tony & the Twilights. The inevitable ego clashes ensued and the group split up in the next year. Tony Richards, as he was billed, later recorded as Tony Mitchell, but never recaptured the promise of his early work with the Fascinators.

 

Songs :

Tony Richards & The Twilights (5)

  

 Please Believe In Me                                    Paper Boy      

Tony Richards

Summer Is Coming / Shout My Name