Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 215

 

The Twin-Tones aka The Twins Jim and John. Rock and Pop vocal duo, James and John Cunningham, from Hicksville, Long Island, New York. In 1958, the boys recorded a cute rock-a-ballad called "Jo Ann" for RCA Victor, which was quickly covered by a group of three chubby comedians called The Playmates who turned the song into a hit for Roulette. RCA did not give up, however, releasing an LP, two EPs and several singles. The Twins didn’t realize and profit for composing the song – nor did they make any money from their RCA Victor long play and such was the business back then. 

John Cunningham, born 1940 in Flushing, New York, passed 2016 in Brockwell, Arkansas. His twin brother James Cunningham died 2018 in Cullman, Alabama.

There were in fact two different Twin Tones duets. The Twin Tones on Monte Carlo Records were girls.

https://doo-wop.blogg.org/the-twins-aka-the-twin-tones-2-a211995723

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 214

 

Bobby Webb & The Jets. Swamp Pop and R&B artist from Louisiana.

Cliff Rivers. Alias of Joey Castle (Joseph John Castaldo, see Rxx), rockabilly singer/guitarist born in Bronx, NY, in 1942 - died in 1978.

 

Buddy Blake. Country singer born Buddy Blake Cunningham (1910 - 2000). He worked as a jack-of-all-trades at Sam Phillips' Sun Records studio, often contributing musically as Buddy Cunningham.

In 1959, Cunningham Sr. founded the Cover Records label where his son B.B. Cuningham (aka B-B) released six singles that were far more in line with contemporary tastes, and where the instrumental tracks (see Q79).

Neil Darrow with The Quarter Notes. Born Neil Richard, Teen Pop singer from Buffalo, NY.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 213

 

Dianne Bailey. Teen Pop singer - recorded four singles: Rel (label from Durham, North Carolina); Choice Records (label from New York City); Swan (Philadelphia based label).

Lucia & Johnny. Vocal duo from California.

Dick Richards with Eddie Zack & His Dude Ranchers. Richard Zackarian (1923 - 2004), country artist from Providence, Rhode Island - inducted into the Rhode Island Country Music Hall of Fame.

 

Frankie Tyler. Early career pseudonym of Frankie Valli (lead singer of The Four Seasons).

Jim & Bob Harrison. R&B brothers' duo from New York.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 212

 

Linda Shannon. Pop singer. Started recording in 1953 for King Records, recorded one more single for this label in 1959, also one recorded for Linda (label from New York City). 

Valentino. Teen Sound singer - one single for Pinky Records, label from New York City owned by Pinky Herman who composed both tracks.

Frank Dean. Teen Rock singer - two singles for NYC labels.
 

Cindy & Lindy. Vocal duo from Massachusetts: Cindy Lord, Lindy Doherty.

Al Ward. Pop singer - one single for Big B Records (label from Avon-By-The-Sea, New Jersey).

 

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 211

 

Kenny Wade. Kenneth Wade Bordes, graduated from Akron Buchtel High School 1960 in Ohio, Teen Sound singer and songwriter. He recorded two singles in 1961/1962, the third single in 1962, as Cerf Glendown (see Ta62).

Spencer Trask. Country and Pop singer. Two singles for New York City labels (Madison Records and Keys Records).

DeDe Young. Teen Pop singer. One single for Ascot Records (subsidiary of United Artists Records), one single for Challenge Records, as Dee Dee Young.

 

The Wilder Brothers. Record producers and musicians, brothers George, Walter and Warner Wilder, who also recorded as Sounds Of Sunshine. Between 1954 and 1962 they recorded numerous singles for different labels. One single (1954) enter the chart, three later singles for NYC labels (Verve Records; Personality and Leeds Records) are classified by Kreiter to Teen Sound.

 

Joe Villa . Joe Francavilla, once the Lead Vocalist of The Royal Teens, joining in 1958, coming to the group from The Three Friends. In the 1960s, he continued on as solo artist.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 210

 

Sheila Ellis. Teen singer from Houston, Texas. In 1962/1963, when she was 12-13 years old, she recorded three singles for San Records (local label from Houston). She died in 2011.

 

The Sunbeams. Vocal trio composed by three sisters from Tacoma, Katie, Susie and Joanie Sauer.

In mid-1955, the girls signed a recording contract with Dot Records and released  two singles under the name of The Sunbeams.

in 1956, they released the third single (Chic Records from Georgia), as The Soo Sisters (see T45).

In 1959 Dynasty Records (label from Hollywood, California) released the last single of the trio, under The Sawyer Sisters name (see Ta91).

https://doo-wop-groups.blogspot.com/search?q=sawyer

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 209

 

Kenny Chandler. Born Ken Bolognese, 1940 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

In the late 1950s Bolognese formed a trio with his classmates: Ray Carlisle and Frankie Cacapardo. The boys picked up a manager, DJ Paul Landersman. the result of cooperation was a 1958 release as Kenny, Frank & Ray for Cameo. The record reportedly got played on American Bandstand, but little else happened. Bolognese, as Kenny Beau, had two subsequent releases on Landersman’s PL label, one of them backed by a local band called the Whirlwinds. 

In 1960 Kenny met in New York a manager Herb Wiener who took him into a small studio across from the Brill Building and did a piano/voice demo for $15.00. The result was “Drums,” Chandler’s first solo release. 

In the next years Chandler recorded several singles for different labels.

https://topshelfoldies.org/kenny_chandler.htm

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 208

 

Grant Evans. Comedian from NYC - one single in Comedy style for Prominent Records (label from New York, NY).

Jackie Tasker. Pop singer - one single for Terel Records (label fromToledo, Ohio).

Arnold Dover. Teen Pop singer - one single for Yale (label from Elizabeth, New Jersey).

Down Beats. R&R group from Hartford, CT. Originally formed in 1954 as The Stardusters. Probably later renamed Fabulous Downbeats. Between 1958 and 1961 they recorded three singles for different local labels.

Mike Malone and The Misters. Teen Pop and Doo-Wop group from Odessa, Texas. One single for Token Records (label from Midland, Texas).

Darryl Roberts. Pop singer, presumably from New York, NY. One single for Josie (label from NYC). 

Wendy Wilson. R&B Teen singer. One single for Jubilee (label from NYC), early Bob Crewe effort (composer, producer), arranged by Sid Bass.
 

Billy Elder. Teen Sound singer - two singles in 1960 for Capitol, more singles and one album in the late 1960s.

Jimmy Dee & The Meteors. Real Name; James Wallace Murphy, R&R musician from Texas. One single for Rev Records (label from Phoenix, Arizona). He recorded one more single as Jim Murphy And The Accents (see R…).

Simmons Twins. One single for Dwain (label from New York, NY).

 

Bob Jennings. Country musician (1924 - 1984). Between 1955 and 1969 he recorded numerous records for different labels. Two of them, recorded in 1958/1959 for Dot, are classified by Kreiter to Teen Sound. Several other singers used this name.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 207

 

Mike Smith. Larry Michael Smith was born in 1939, and lived in several small towns in Kansas before moving to Hollywood in 1958. Smith first appeared on Decca Records in 1960 with a rockabilly backbeat song, "Sara Ruth" which was written as a joke for a high school friend. The other side of the record "Week of Loneliness", had a limited success in the Bay Area of California and in his adopted home town of Stockton. In 1962, Smith had a release on Era Records of "By the Time You Read This Letter" b/w "That's What I'd Do", which were recorded in the Gold Star Studios of Hollywood, the inventors of flanging and phasing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Smith_(singer-songwriter)
 

Jan Kirby & Belletones. R&R group - one single for A-1 Records (label from New York, NY).

The Spectors Three. Trio formed by Phil Spector after the breakup of The Teddy Bears. Only two singles were recorded before finally disbanding. For the recordings, all male vocals were done by Phil Spector, while the female vocal parts were done by Rickie Page. For public appearances (lip-synching) the male members were Russ Titelman and Warren Entner, the female member was Annette Merar (later Spector's first wife).
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1329068-Spectors-Three

 

Benny Easely with Charlie and The Jives. Soul & Pop singer. One single for World's (soul label from Los Angeles, California) with

Charlie and The Jives.

Charlie Alvarado started playing clarinet and saxophone in his junior high school band. Around 1957, he became the leader of his own band, The Jives, which made a big name for themselves in the late ‘50s.

Jim Eddy. Singer from Minnesota, his repertoire ranges from pop tunes to ballads to light opera. After the army Jim sang at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, where he was a student. He was discovered by Mercury, signed a contract and recorded one single in 1957, three more in 1958/1959 for different labels.

 

Chance Eden. Pseudonym of Jim Neske, born (1942) and raised in Port Angeles, WA and worked in the timber industry as he pursued a career in music. Jim's first recordings were produced at Birthstone Records in Tacoma, WA and one of his early supporters was disk jockey Danny Holiday who worked at KPUG in Bellingham. In 1964, Jim signed a contract with Roulette Records, his musical conductor was guitarist and orchestra leader Trade Martin. Jim Neske died in 1992.
https://nwmusicarchives.com/artist/chance-eden/

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 206

 

Kenny Stevens. Teen Pop singer - one single for Joni (Chandler Music, Co. from Los Angeles, CA).

Laurie Loman. Teen Sound singer. While still a teen in the early 1950's, Laurie was offered a contact from ABC Paramount and began to tour quite regularly throughout the remainder of the 1950's and even had a minor hit in 1954 with "Whither Thou Goest." She remained popular throughout the early 1960's and is now best known for her version of "Johnny Angel," which appeared years before TV star Shelley Fabares made it a hit, no doubt inspired by Loman's original version. Years later, in the late 1970's, Laurie was recruited to record the album "Sings Country Weepers".
https://wearewarpedrecords.com/UPC/894231454721

Johnny October. John Ottobre (1937 - 1999). Pop singer from Philadelphia, PA. Lead singer of The Four Dates.

Chicky Simmons. Teen Pop singer from New York, NY. Two singles for Rider and Ember Records (New York labels).

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 205

 

Toby Taylor. Teen Sound singer - one single for Whirlybird Records (label from Hollywood, California). She also recorded one single as Toby Grogan (see T157).

Turnbull Sisters with Art Mineo Combo. Pop singers - one single for Birthstone Records (label from Tacoma, Washington).

Jimmy Easterling. Teen Rock singer from Louisiana - one single for Ron (label from New Orleans, Louisiana).

Gayle Fortune & The Terrytones. Teen Pop and Doo-Wop group - one single for WYE Records (Rhode Island label).

Rae Ann Hoffman. Pop singer - recorded for Rendezvous Records (label from Los Angeles, California).

Buddy Charles. Born Charles Joseph Gries, 1927 - died 2008. Pop and Jazz pianist and singer. He began playing professionally around 1947, played all over the Chicago area. In 1959 recorded one single in Teen Sound style, released by Warwick (label based in New York, NY).

Tony Richards. Alias of Anthony Passalacqua, pop singer from Brooklyn, NY. After his stint in The Fascinators (1958 - 1959) as a lead singer, he changed his name to Tony Richards and between 1960 and 1962 he recorded three singles. In 1962 - 1963 he recorded three singles for Canadian American, as Tony Mitchell.

In 1966 he recorded one more single, as Tony Pass. (see T173).

Glenn Wells. Born Glenn Durwood Stilwell, Jr. (1943 - 2006), musician and songwriter from Texas. Between 1959 and 1961 he recorded five singles for Jin Records (Louisiana based label), in 1962 for Hall-Way Records (label from Beaumont, Texas).