1958 - My Sentimental Heart / The Chapel By The Sea (Kay-Y 66781)
Biography :
The Quartet is composed of Walter Johnson, the lead Vocalist, Harvey
Hollis, Baritone, James Dukes, Tenor and William Brown, Bass. Three of
The Boys, Johnson; Hollis and Brown are graduates of Chetser High School
in Martinsville, Va. Walter Johnson, well know in the Chester area for
his activities in choir and chorus work, tried several times without
success to form a Quartet. Hollis also was interested along the same
lines. The Two met while singing with the senior choir at Bethany
Baptist Church, and often were teamed as a duet.
The
Search for a tenor and bass began. Dukes started rehearsing with the
duos and blended well. The trio became widely know for its performances
at benefits and clubs in Chester and in New Jersey. After many tryouts
for a bass voice, William Brown was selected for the spot. Brown is a
former member of one of the well known local religious quartet. After
Months of hard work and training under the direction of Milton Harris
Jr., talented young local musician, the group has reached its first
success in the recording of "Chapel by The Sea" on Kay-Y Records of
Chester. Al Czarenko is the Manager of the Group...
1957 - Cherry Pie / Always Be True (Perspective Sound 6457/Bullseye 1003)
Biography :
Billy Reynolds Eustis was born in Harden City, Oklahoma and raised in
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Billy sang in school group "the Contabulies" with Jim
Scott, Mary Hazelton & Dan Smith. As The Tri-Lads, Billy With two
other fellows from Tulsa Central High School, Bill Ragan and Chuck
Fournier, went on studio and recorded "Cherry Pie" and "Always Be True"
In 1957 . The Tri-Lads split up in 1957 after this record.
The
Contabulies (L to R) - Jim Scott, Mary Hazelton, Dan Smith and Billy
The first pressing was released on the
Oklahoma based Perspective sound label in June 1957 and in December on
the Bullseye label based in New York for national distribution. "Cherry
Pie" disc received regional attention, especially on the west coast, but
it failed to chart nationally. A few months later, in early 1960, Skip
& Flip's polished waxing came out and became a huge hit.
Billy Reynolds Eustis Chuck Fournier Bill Ragan
Billy Reynolds Eustis then went on to a solo career. His first solo
was “The Rope” in 1960 , produced by Sonny Thompson and recorded at the
famous Chess Studios in Chicago. Billy went on to record for Famous
Music (Bobby Boyd, producer), Paramount (Marty Paich, producer) and
Monument Records (as Billy Reynolds, Don Law, producer).http://www.eustismusic.com
1961 - This Broken Heart / Lonely Christmas (Set-Co)
1962 - My Lonely Senior Year / Lonely Footsteps (Set-Co 109)
1962 - Tears Of Love / Angel In My Heart (Set-Co 110)
Biography :
In 1957 two brothers, Dick and Ron, decided to join the fun. Starting
with one old guitar, a bass drum the size of those used by marching
bands and a snare drum, they practiced while searching for others that
were interested in making music. The band settled with six-members who
are considered the original Eschelons and were featured on the band's
first record. They are: Vic Hill, Jack Hazewinkel, Jim VanPutten, Al
Bishoff, Dick Beatty, and Ron Beatty.
(l. to r.) Jack Hazewinkel, Vic Hill, Dick Beatty, Jim VanPutten, Marty Chirgwin. and Ron Beatty.
In 1961, The Eschelons cut their first 45. Both sides of the single,
"This Broken Heart" b/w "Lonely Christmas" were composed by Ron Beatty.
They were recorded at Ted Mader's studio in Downtown Grand Rapids, one
of several recording studios in town. Dick and Ron's stepfather came
through for them by financing the 45 which was released on the SET-CO
label, an acronym for his business, the Stalter Edge Tool Company. The
single was pressed at the American Record Pressing Company in Owosso,
Michigan.
"This Broken Heart" reached # 16 on WGRD's Fabulous "50" chart in
January of 1962, shortly before the band underwent a major lineup change
compliments of their biggest Grand Rapids rivals, the Kingtones. Gil
King from the Kingtones joined up with the Eschelons adding keyboards
to the band and when Vic Hill decided to leave the band , The Eschelons
added two girls, Cheri Woudstra and Sue Greiner.
(l. to r.) Ron Beatty, Jack Hazewinkel, Dick Beatty, Jim VanPutten, Al Bischoff, Gil King, Cheri Woudstra & Sue Greiner.
Gil King assumed both roles on the second single by the Eschelons.
"Lonely Footsteps" and "My Lonely Senior Year" were recorded in 1962 .
The second 45 was once again released on the SET-CO label. Ron Beatty
was listed as the vocalist on both of the songs that were written and
produced by Gil King. "Lonely Footsteps" was the local hit, reaching #
12 on WGRD's Fabulous "50" chart on May 12th.
(l. to r.) J. Hazewinkel, A. Bischoff, G. King, R. Beatty, C. Woudstra, J. VanPutten & Sue Greiner.
Cheri Woudstra left the Eschelons in June of 1962. The band's final
single was recorded in Gil King's home studio. "Angel In My Heart" was
written by Ron Beatty and "Tears Of Love" by King. The 45 was again
released on the SET-CO label with both sides listed as being produced
and directed by Gil King. "Angel In My Heart" reached # 41 on WGRD's
Classic "50" chart in the late fall of 1962, but the original members of
the Eschelons had already begin to splinter due to high school
graduation, marriage, and other factors.
1957 - Love, Love Baby / Oh My Darling (Excello 2115)
Biography :
No information found on this group which in 1957 cut "Love, Love
Baby" b/w "Oh My Darling" for Excello Records. Excello Records was an
American blues record label, started by Ernie Young in Nashville,
Tennessee, in 1953 as a subsidiary of Nashboro, a gospel label.
Ernie Young
Excello
recorded such artists as Lonnie Brooks, Lightnin' Slim, Slim Harpo,
Charles Sheffield, Roscoe Shelton, Lazy Lester, the Kelly Brothers,
Lonesome Sundown, Martin Luther King, Silas Hogan, Arthur Gunter, Carol
Fran, and Maceo and All the King's Men. Ernie Young ran an empire that
dominated black music in the American south for nearly 30 years.
1961 - The Creep / Little Girl Don't Cry (Riff 105)
Biography :
Billy & Mickey are a Delaware Valley duo consisting of two
gentleman who would go on to have very successful solo careers. Billy
is Billy Harner and Mickey is Mickey Carroll. Mickey Carroll caught his
first taste of show biz as a dancer on American Bandstand in the
pre-Dick Clark days when the show was still being hosted by founder Bob
Horn. Although Billy started his own career as a singer, he was playing
drums .
It was at a Battle of the Bands competition when Billy Harner,
playing drums for his band, met Mickey Carroll who sang and played
guitar for another band in the competition. After the contest Billy
tracked down Mickey and expressed interest in wanting to sing again.
Carroll then went on to form a doo-wop singing duo. Four months later
they were picked up as, “Billy and Mickey" on Gilco 212.
Mickey Carroll with friend...
Red Top Records, an enthusiastic label with a reputation for hard
work, talent and success released "You Are" b/w "Rock & Roll Baby"
in 1958. The a-side was a doo-wop styled, two part harmony ballad and
the flip was an uptempo rocker with an introduction clearly lifted from
the popular "Short Shorts" by The Royal Teens. The twosome had two more
releases, one for Riff records with the nice doo-wop : "Little Girl
Don't Cry" and one for Franny Williamson's Impala label with another
beautiful song :"I Desire". That was the end of Billy & Mickey,
however just the beginning for Billy Harner and Mickey Carroll.
