Richard Owens "Dicky Dell" (Lead of The Bing Bongs)
Lou DeMarco (Lead of The Troys)
Michael John Rampino (Baritone)
Discography :
Dicky Dell & The Bing Bongs
1958 - Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong / Cling (The Bing Bongs) (Dragon 10205)
The Troys
1959 - Cling / Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong (Okeh 7120)
--------------?????---------------
Lou Demarco
1956 - Careless Love / My Lady Fair (Ferris 903)
1957 - Your Kind Of Love / You Tell Me Your Dream (Ferris 909)
The Four Chimes
19?? - It Grows, It Grows, It Grows / Chitarra, Bring Her Back To Me (Primos 1003)
Biography :
In 1958 Lou Demarco, Michael John Rampino and two neighbourhood
friends formed a singing group named The Troys. Their name derived from
The street corner they first started to sing on in Brooklyn NY. The
corner of Troy ave. and Schenectady boulevard. The Troys recorded two
songs "Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong" and "Cling". Dragon Records likes
"Ding-A-Ling-Ding-Dong" but would prefer another vocal lead. Dragon
Records forced them to take a singer named Richard Owens to record and
forced them to change their name as The Bing Bongs and renames Richard
Owens "Dicky Dell". The single of Dicky Dell & The Bing Bongs is
released at the end of 1959. Manager of the group sold the demos of the
two songs originally recorded by The Troys to the Okeh label who
released the Single in the summer of 1959. The Lead Singer of the Troys,
Lou DeMarco is probably the same artist who recorded two singles in
1956 and 1957 on The Ferris Label and with The Four Chimes on "It Grows,
It Grows, It Grows."
Donald Radford, Jim Haden, David Barber, and Tommy Padgham
The Montereys (1) (Stillwater, OK)
Personnel :
Tommy Padgham (Lead)
Dave Barber (Tenor)
Jim Hadden (Baritone)
Don Radford (Bass)
Discography :
1957 - Ape Shape / You're The Girl For Me (Rose 109)
Biography :
The Montereys have been singing together since they were in the eight
grade. They started it as a Joke, impersonating another vocal group,
but they stuck together. They began to polish their harmony as freshmen
in high-school with public appearances at assemblies and civic club.
Tommy
Padgham
The Montereys really slipped into high gear with appearances at Teen
Town during the Oklahoma Semi-Centennial Exposition and at local theater
Rock and Roll shows. Their repertoire includes about 80 numbers,
including at least two Padgham originals : "Ape Shape" and "You're The
Girl For Me"
They
have appeared on variety shows all over the state and in 1957 they
signing a recording contract with Bill Burden owner or Rose Records in
Stillwater. The Montereys recorded the two Padgham songs "Ape Shape" and
"You're The Girl For Me". The single does not have the expected success
and By the end of 1958, the Montereys had split up.
1957 - Give Your Love To Me / Kiss Me My Love (Bee 1101)
Unreleased :
1958 - Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Bee)
1958 - My Knees Are Knocking (Bee)
Hermy Herman & The Honeybees
Unreleased :
1958 - Laddie Daddy (Bee)
1958 - Bowlegged Sadie (Bee)
Biography :
Rodman Beckham, and his cousin Vic Johnson Jr., graduated from
Reading High School in the class of 1950. They later served together in
the Korean War, where Beckham lost a leg in an encounter with a land
mine. Upon their return to civil life, they began harmonizing with Vic’s
Brother Skip Johnson, another cousin, Barry Boswell, and Benji
"Chuckles" Williams, a friend of the family. Vic Johnson Sr. who was a
well-established musician in Reading’ Club scene, Knew Grover Barbour,
who founded Bee Records, and arranged an audition. Barbour and Russ
Golding, a young aspiring song writer, were so impressed by the group’s
talent that they wanted to record them sa soon as possible. Barbour gave
the group their name, and arranged a recording session in Juranis’
living room, at 5th and Buttonwood Streets.
Grover Barbour Hermy Herman
This
session produced the first sides for their own label, Bee Records,
released on August 1, 1957. Soon, the record was on every jukebox in
Berks County and getting heavy play locally on WEEU Radio. Beckham, who
was nicknamed "La La" early in life, as the result of a younger brother
being unable to pronounce his real name, sang lead on both sides of the
recording. The group was booked several nights a week for the rest of
the year, becoming regulars at Reading’s Melody and mademoiselle Bars,
the Circle Bar in Pottsville, as well as Pushniks and Chick Maples in
Lebanon. This exposure drew offers from some major labels, most notably
Atlantic, to purchase the masters and sign the group. Barbour turned
down the offer, convinced that he could promote the record himself. However,
when a scheduled date on Dick Clark’s "American Bandstand" fell through
in October, 1957, the group started pulling away from the label,
turning to Charlie Booker to land them bigger gigs in New York City. The
Following year, they played at Club Harlem, Albright College, and at
Shorty Long’s Santa Fe Ranch, where they opened for Bill Haley and the
Comets. Especially popular was their rendition of "Somewhere Over The
Rainbow ». Sadly this arrangement, and the song slated to be their
second 45, entitled "My Knees Are Knocking" were never recorded. The
Honeybees did some session work for Bee as backup singers for Hermy
Herman, and Disbanded toward the end of 1958.
The Videls : (L to R) Carol Mc Donald, Mary Jean Mc Donald, Bill Hoppe & Deviny James
Deviny James & The Videls (3) (St Paul, Minesota)
Personnel :
Jim Pewter "Deviny James" (Lead)
Carol Mc Donald
Mary Jean Mc Donald
Bill Hoppe
Discography :
Deviny James & The Videls (3)
Unreleased :
1958 - All Mine
1958 - Now She's Gone
Deviny James & The Fergusons Singer
1959 - Blue Denims / Little Girl (Beta 1003)
1959 - Blue, Blue Denims / Little Girl (Beta 1006)
Biography :
Jim Pewter, Guitarist, singer and songwriter debuted while still a
student in St. Paul, Minnesota. He formed his first vocal group in 1958
named "Deviny James & The Videls" with Carol Mc Donald, his sister
Mary Jean and Bill Hoppe . The Group recorded two songs "All Mine" and
"Now She's Gone" which will unfortunately unreleased. In the same time,
Jim started his career as a teenage deejay in St. Paul, Minnesota. In
January 1959, the youngster had interviewed Buddy Holly and J. P. “The
Big Bopper” Richardson when they were in St. Paul for a concert at the
Promenade Ballroom. A week later, the music stars were dead.
Deviny James
Determined
to become a professional, he sent a tape to the legendary Bumps
Blackwell, Producer Speciality among which highlighted Little Richard,
Larry Williams and Sam Cooke. Blackwell is very interested and brought
Jim to Hollywood. Pewter landed in Hollywood and a session was held in
August 1959. By October his first single was released. ' Little Girl,'
with Bumps Blackwell [under the name Deviny James, Beta 45-1006] .Jim
Pewter became better known by his given name as a DJ on KMET-LA and
later Armed Forces Radio.
Vocal
group from the Bahamas originally (at least their first record was
recorded in Nassau, Bahamas) They backed John Shaw on " Why Did You
Leave Me " .
The group moved to Henry Stone label Mida Records , which also was
based in Miami where they backed Donel Austin on "So Shy" as he
Sensational Dellos. The group finally recorded his own record on Mida
with "Lost Love" b/w "So Don't Go".
1958 - By The Candleglow (accompanied by The Dolls) / Patricia (X-tra 110)
1958 - Come On Baby / Oh Tell Me (Brunswick 55089)
1959 - Can I Come Over / Gonna Get Together Again (X-tra 120/121)
1964 - I Do / Day Train (by the Blasters) (Time Square 31)
Unreleased :
1961 - Memories Linger On
1961 - Mary
1961 - Moondust
1961 - What Am I Gonna Do
Biography :
Ben Smith had been, with Big Al Sears, a sax player in Andy Kirk's
Clouds Of Joy and then lead of the Ben Smith Quartet. Aside from Teenage
Records (co-owned with Bill Gordon), he owned the X-Tra label at 1650
Broadway in New York in 1956. "You I Adore" b/w "It's Over Now" was the first release by the Coney
Island based Youngtones for the new label.
The Youngtones were a
Hispanic group whose group members included Johnny Marsi (lead), Gilbert
Rivera (first tenor), Joe Crespo (second tenor), Willy Rivera
(baritone) and Louis Lugo (aka Louis Figueroa) (bass). The Group biggest records was "Patricia" released as X-tra 110 In
February 1958. The Group also recorded two sides for Brunswick in the
late of the Summer 1958, and their last effort for X-tra, the haunting
ballad called "Can I Come Over", appeared in 1959.
Ronald Jackson, the brother of Adam jackson who sung lead for the
Jesters on Winley, did the lead honors on "Can I Come Over". Unreleased
song was issued in the early sixties on Time Square Records by Irv
"Slim" Rose when he bought the X-tra catalog from Ben Smith in 1962.
Two of the members of the Youngtones, Johnny Marsi and Gil Rivera
later joined with Bobby "Ziggy" Andriani to record as Marci and the
Mates for two releases on the Big Top record label, and would later
record under other names (Johnny, Gil and Bobby; Hans, Chris &
Anderson, etc).
Dante & The Evergreens (2) (Santa Monica, California)
aka The Aktones
Personnel :
Donald "Dante" Drowty (Lead)
Frank Rosenthal
Bill Young
Tony Moon (Guitar & Vocal)
Discography :
Tony Moon & The Aktones
1959 - L-O-V-E / N-A-C-L (Pan World 514)
Akim & The Aktones
1959 - Fall In Love With Me / Voodoo Drums (with The Ravels) (Pan World 520)
Will Wendel & The Aktones
1960 - Lonely Blue Boy / Lover (Trans American 10 000)
Dante & The Evergreens (2)
Singles:
1960 - Alley-Oop / The Right Time (Madison 130)
1960 - Dream Land / Time Machine (Madison 135)
1960 - Yeah, Baby / What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Madison 143)
1961 - Da Doo / Think Sweet Thoughts (Madison 154)
Unreleased :
1960 - Special kind of love (Madison)
1960 - Starbright (Madison)
1960 - We're Ready For Love (Madison)
1960 - Lover Not A Fighter (Madison)
1960 - I don't Mind Anymore (Madison)
1960 - Love is a miracle Maker (Madison)
Lps:
1960 - Dante & The Evergreens (Madison LP 1002)
Alley-Oop
/ Dream Lover / Let the Good Times Roll / Glory of Love / Da Doo / Hush
A Bye / Time Machine / Venus / The Right Time / Blue Moon
Dante & His Friends (3) (The Rivingtons)
1961 - Are You Just My Friend / Something Happens (Imperial 5798)
1962 - Miss America / Now I've Got You (Imperial 5827)
1962 - Magic Ring / Am I The One (Imperial 5867)
Biography :
Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean) had discovered The Pastels, a trio
composed by Don Drowty (Dante), Bill Young, and Frank Rosenthal while
attending Santa Monica City College. Producer Kim Fowley asked Tony Moon
to help the Pastels improve their harmonies. The group's sound was
solidified with the addition of guitarist, arranger, and vocal coach
Tony who became a fourth Pastel.
TAt this time, The Pastels also working with Aki Aleong, who put out
"L-O-V-E" b/w "N-A-C-L" credited to Tony Moon and the Aktones on his Pan
World records. The Pastels backed Aki on "Fall In Love With Me" again
named the Aktones. Aki Aleong used the Pastels to provide backup vocal
for Will Wendel on his Trans American label with "Lonely Blue Boy" and
"Lover". A year later, Aki had a nice hit himself with 'Trade Winds,
Trade Winds' (Reprise 20021).
Dean Torrence introduced the Pastels to Herb Alpert and Lou Adler
(Jan & Dean's management and production team). who asked if they
would cover ‘Alley Oop’ for Madison. Agreeing to do so, they parted
amicably with Aki Aleong and signed with Madison. There was another
group of Pastels, known then for the hit "Been So Long", so they
changed their name to Dante and the Evergreens and rushed into the
studio. Their 'Alley Oop' (Madison 130) was out in just two or three
days!
With Merv Griffin
Gary Paxton had assembled a group which included Dallas Frazier and
himself, which he called the Hollywood Argyles, and they had recorded
the original version of Alley Oop.There was also a third recording by a
similar group known as the Dyna-Sores. Frazier had been inspired by the
comic strip of the same name about a caveman and his whereabouts. It was
a novelty song and the versions by both Dante and the Evergreens and
the Hollywood Argyles entered the charts on May 30, 1960.
Both proved to be big hits. Both went to #1 on the Cash Box chart,
Paxton's version made #1 on Billboard while Drowty's settled at #15 on
that chart, and the Dyna-Sores charted with it, but fell short of the
top forty. Dante and the Evergreens had a hit. The group was popular for
a while, particularly on the East Coast, where their version of Alley
Oop outsold the original version of the song which had been recorded by
Paxton's group. Dante and the Evergreens was a white group that played
at some of the venues that were popular with black music lovers, such as
the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
They stayed together for several more years, recording and touring.
They had another minor hit with Time Machine. Eventually the various
members would pursue other interests, disbanding in 1964. Donald "Dante"
Drowty (Lead) recorded six sides for Imperial as DANTE AND HIS FRIENDS,
using The Rivingtons as the background group.. One tune recorded by the
group, "Little Girl (You're My Miss America)," was covered by the Beach
Boys on their 1962 Surfin' Safari album.
Bill Young pursued a career as a solo act, and in acting. Frank
Rosenthal returned to college and eventually became a successful Beverly
Hills attorney. Tony Moon went on to a career as a record producer in
Nashville. And Don "Dante" Drowty worked for many years as a songwriter
and producer at Mellin Music Publishing Company, producing records by
various artists such as the Isley Brothers and the McCoys.
With Merv Griffin & Joannie Sommers
Drowty in his later years has been active in numerous charitable
events on the West Coast. He collects various donated items -- shoes,
toys, clothing -- and distributes them to those in need. He has provided
music lessons and other services to Native Americans. Drowty directs
much of his charitable work through his Project Touch organization, and
he has retained his friendship over the years with Alpert and Adler.
Dante and the Evergreens are remembered by fans of 60's pop music for
their huge hit from 1960 Alley Oop.
http://www.tsimon.com/dante.htm
http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/orchard/dante/
Songs :
Dante & The Evergreens (2)
Alley-Oop / The Right Time Time Machine / Dream Land
1962 - (If You Cry) True Love, True Love / Let's Twist (Say Man Let's Twist) (UWR 4241/4242)
1963 - Brenda / For You (KC 115/AAnko 1002)
1963 - Lorraine / Little Girl Of Mine (MusicNote 119)
1964 - Pretty-Baby / Lets Rock (Time Square 1)
Biography :
Vocal group from Brooklyn consisted of two Black guys ( Brothers
Nicky and Danny Rodriguez) , one White (Henry Jensen) and a Puerto Rican
as lead (Lenny Colton). In 1962, They recorded on United World Records
"True Love, True Love" b/w "Let's Twist". With their second single, The
Cupids enjoyed a big Hit with "Brenda" (First Issued on Aanko and leased
to KC owned by Nat King Cole ) but their career came to a sudden halt
with the death of Lenny Colton, their lead singer. He died by accident
while sleeping in his car of carbon monoxide. This caused hardly a
bother to their record company.
The
record started to make some noise so the record company decided to send
out another group in the Cupids place. The Camelots, David Nicholas ,
Milton Pratt , Joe Mercede , Elijah Summers and Julius Williams from
Coney Island recorded in the same time for the Jerome brothers (Steve
& Bill) for Aanko Records. Typical of the times, they simply took
one of their other groups and gave them the name. So the Camelots went
out doing shows as the Cupids, but didn’t make the record.
The Cupids The Camelots as The Cupids
The group got a free ride as the Cupids on the strength of "Brenda"
but they were already quite popular as the Camelots and later did well
as the Harps. A few months later despite the death of their lead singer,
the remaining three original singer recruited a new singer. Henry
Jensen took over the lead singer and the group recorded "Lorraine" b/w
"Little Girl Of Mine" on MusicNote in 1963 and "Pretty-Baby" b/w "Lets
Rock" on Time Square the next year.
1957 - Lovely Love / Can't You Understand (KRC 302)
Biography :
The King Bees are an outstanding male quartet discovered by Lloyd
Price. His band backs them on "Lovely Love" and "Can't You Understand".
Founded by Lloyd Price, Harold Logan, and Bill Boskent, KRC Records was
in existence for less than two years, but started out with a band. Its
first release "Just Because" was a massive R&B hit that also made it
into the top thirty Pop charts in the spring of 1957 when it was
released by ABC Paramount.
It was owned by Lloyd Price, a twenty three year old singer just
out of a stint in the army. Having relocated to Washington DC from his
native New Orleans, Lloyd retained the New Orleans musical flavor that
he made famous via his 1952 smash Lawdy Miss Clawdy. While only the
follow up release of Lonely Chair was able to briefly dent the bottom of
the Pop charts in the fall of 1957, his six releases on KRC maintained
the high musical standards that he had previously set during four years
of recording for Specialty Records.
1955 - Nobody Knows / Meet Me Meet Me Baby（Josie 786）
1956 - Blues For Josie (Inst.) / Don't You Know（Josie 798）
Biography :
Walter Spriggs (aka Wally Wilson, aka Ray Scott) recorded several
records for Apollo, Blue Lake & Atco from 1953-1957, he has been
with the Five Echoes from Chicago and recorded "Lonely Mood" b/w "Baby
Come Back to Me,"on Sabre 102 in September of 1953. Walter Spriggs sang
lead on both songs..
Where Walter Spriggs got his musical instruction we do not know, but
he sang and played piano, guitar, bongos, and drums. In 1959 he adopted
the "Ray Scott" moniker and waxed several more singles for Antler,
Tri-Ess, Ray-Dee and Decca up until 1967. Back in 1955, Walter Spriggs
join the Kansas City Tomcats, whether or not they were from Kansas City
is incertain. Despite the fact that they recorded for a New York label,
there is is not a New York Sound.In October of 1955 the group auditions
for Jubilee Records and is soon recorded.
The group consists of Walter Spriggs, Lucky Enois, Eddie Saunders,
Brooks Lewis and Jimmy Waters. In November Jubilee releases the record
on its Josie label as #786 - "Meet Me Meet Me Baby" and "Nobody Knows".
In May 1956 Josie released a second single by the group with "Blues For
Josie" and "Don't You Know" as #798.
The Clicks (1955) Top : Donald Ashby, Gabriel Suggs and Ray Wheaton - Bottom : Prentiss Polk
The Clicks (1) (New York)
Personnel :
Gabriel Suggs (Second Tenor)
Prentiss Polk (First Tenor)
Ray Wheaton
Donald Ashby (Bass/Baritone)
Discography :
Single :
1955 - Peace And Contentment / Come Back To Me (Josie 780)
Unreleased:
1955 - You Broke My Heart (Josie)
1955 - Hold Me (Josie)
Biography :
The Gabriel Suggs' Ebonaires changed their name to the Revelaires
about March 1954 & recorded Three singles for Burgundy records in
Detroit owned by Art & Bob Sutton. By 1955, Gabriel formed a new
group with Ray Wheaton, Prentiss Polk and Donald Ashby. Ray Weaton was
part of the Ebonaires occasionally, and sang with Charlie Owens Ink
Spots and Also with Dusty Brooks & The 4 Tones in the late 40,
early 50. Donald Ashby is not a beginner either, he have been with the
Beale Street Boys in 1950.
The newly formed group named the Clicks signed a recording contract
with Josie Records, a subsidiary of Jubilee Records in New York City and
was active from 1954 through to 1971. At the session, the Clicks
recorded four songs. Josie released "Peace And Contentment" b/w "Come
Back To Me" in June 1955. The single will go unnoticed and the band
split soon after. Prentiss Polk joined Malcom Dodds & the Tunedrops in 1957.
1955 - The Goose Is Gone (But The Nest Is Warm) / Tick Tock-A-Woo (Money 209)
1955 - When I Return / Emily (The Turks) (Money 211)
The Sharp Tones
1955 - Made To Love / Since I Fell For You (Post 2009)
Biography :
Record shop owner ("Dolphin's of Hollywood"), John Dolphin founded
Money Records in 1954, after having sold his Recorded in Hollywood
Records label masters. In 1955, Money Records released "No, No Cherry"
b/w "Tick Tock A-Woo" by The Turbans out of Los Angeles. These are not
the same Turbans (from Philadelphia) who recorded for the Herald label
("When You Dance)", but a group from Oakland, California. The Turbans
from Oakland were a sextet, led by Harry Caesar . Born Horace Caesar, 18
February 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pa. During his recording career Harry
"Little" Caesar was based in Oakland, California. He sounded enough like
Percy Mayfield that the Modern label withheld his 1951 session from
release. He enjoyed one hit in 1952, "Goodby Baby".
Harry "Little" Caesar
The
other Turbans were Al Williams (1st tenor), Burl Carpenter (2nd tenor),
Charles Fitzpatrick (tenor), Willie Roland (Baritone) and Andre Goodwin
(Bass). The same year, also appears on Money "The Nest Is Warm (But The
Goose Is Gone)" b/w "Tick Tock-A-Woo " same record number (Money 209) .
The Group have a third single with "When I Return" coupled with Emily
by The Turks on Money 211. The California Turbans had recorded months
before their East Coast namesakes However the group ended up changing
their name to the Sharp Tones and recording for the Post label (a
subsidiary of Imperial) "Made To Love" b/w "Since I Fell For You".
Although Caesar is undoubtedly best known for his ‘story’ songs, he was
recorded by his producers in a variety of different styles on different
label (Modern, Dolphin, Downey). He recorded as Little Caesar before he
made his acting debut in 1969 on an episode of Diahann Carroll's TV
series JULIA, as Herb the Handy(man). He became known for his low,
gravely voice and under-his-breath delivery.
1955 – If I Had My Wish / Hi-Diddle Diddle (Combo 74)
Clemons Penix & The Combonets
1956 - No Evil / I’ve Been Searching (no backing group) /(Combo 117)
Jake Porter & The Combo-Nets
1956 – I Ain’t Got Time / What Kinda Man Is This (Combo 118)
Unreleased :
1956 – Got To Have You Baby (Combo)
Discography :
A student at Jefferson and Freemont High Schools, Jennell gained her
first singing experience with Ray Brewster, Bill Piper and Marc Gordon
in the Fidelitones. (The group never recorded, but Gordon eventually
became a successful producer of acts like the Fifth Dimension.) While at
school, Jennell met Richard Berry (of 'Louie, Louie' fame). One day
early in 1954 Berry told Jennell he was going to the studio and asked
her if she wanted to accompany him. They met [arranger] Maxwell Davis
and ended up recording that same afternoon. The result was 'Each Step',
which was released by Flair Records under the monicker Ricky & Jennell.
Jake Porter
The experience of making a record helped Jennell establish herself in
local music circles. A reluctant vocalist, she preferred playing the
piano and organ, so when Berry asked her to join Fanita Barrett, Gloria
Jones and Annette Williams in the Dreamers, the group with which he
regularly recorded, she initially declined. Her piano, however, was
heard on 'My Aching Heart', a 1955 release on Flip Records by the
Flippers. Jennell subsequently joined the Dreamers on the same label for
'Since You've Been Gone', on which she sang lead. Also during 1955-56,
she teamed with Mary Ann Miles, Dora Lee Pickett and Darlene Powell in
the Combo-Netts, who recorded three singles for Jake Porter's Combo
label, including their best-known side, 'Hi Diddle Diddle'.
Jennell Hawkins
As
a solo vocalist, Jennell enjoyed her biggest success late in 1961 with
the Richard Berry-written tune 'Moments To Remember' on Titanic, which
was reissued as 'Moments' on Amazon, a label owned by the DJ Rudy
Harvey.Around the same time, Flip re-released 'Since You've Been Gone'
as Jennell Hawkins and the Dreamers. Another single, her version of
Barrett Strong's 'Money (That's What I Want)', reached the R&B chart
in 1962. Jennell also released 'In The Groove' on Harvey's Azuza label,
but his shady business practices (which may well have ultimately led to
his unsolved murder) left her disillusioned with the recording industry
and she quit the business, dedicating herself to her marriage and the
church.
