Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 240

 

Jerry Howard. Rock & Roll singer and guitarist from California. Recorded for Ditto Records (label from Los Angeles, California) and Imperial.

Bobby James. Teen Pop singer - one single for Indigo Records (label from Hollywood, California). Several other artists used this name.

Emmett Lord. Pop and Soul singer from East Coast - three singles for different labels.

Susan & Teri. Doo-Wop vocal duo probably from Arkansas. One single for Alley Records - label from Jonesboro, Arkansas, who produced the single.

Jeril Deane & The Choraleers. Pop vocalist from California. Jeril Deane, who was of Mexican-Italian descent, was in fact Gerri Garcia, the niece of Marie Mancusco. Gerri’s mother apparently was a famous opera singer.

In 1956/1957 she recorded three singles for local labels from Hollywood (RRC, Solo), the last one with The Leaders.

In 1959 she recorded one more single, for Dot.

Bobby Jameson. Singer and songwriter (1945 - 2015). He was briefly promoted as a major star in the early 1960s and later attracted a cult following with his 1965 album Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, issued under the name Chris Lucey. Starting his career in 1963, as Bobby James, for the next five years he released eleven singles across eight different American and British record labels.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 239

 

Lee Craig. Rockabilly singer - one single for Josie (subsidiary of Jubilee Records in New York).

Jerry Davis. Rock/pop producer, singer and songwriter. Born in 1934 in Omaha, Nebraska - died in 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Gino James. Teen Pop singer - one single for Epic (label from New York, NY), both tracks composed by Harry Nivens, aka Gary Randy (arranger and conductor from Detroit). 

Dale Houston. Pop singer from Missisipi (1940 - 2007), best known for his partnership with Grace Broussard in Dale & Grace vocal duo. Recorded three solo singles for local labels from Louisiana (Montel and Rocko Records).

Kelly Gordon. Teen Pop singer, songwriter and record producer, born 1932 - died 1981. 

After recording some unsuccessful solo singles for Mercury Records, Gordon was employed by Capitol Records as a staff producer. One of his first productions was Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe". His success with Gentry led to Gordon being given the chance to record his own album for Capitol.

Johnny Ray Gomez & The U-Neeks. Rock band from Omaha, Nebrasca with Johnny Ray Gomez on vocals and accordion. They recorded for Applause Records (local label from Omaha).

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 238

 

Johnny Meyers. Herbert John Meyers, Teen Pop singer from New Orleans. Recorded for Spinett and Instant Records (labels from New Orleans, Louisiana).

Suzie Clark. Teen Pop singer from Hollywood, California. Recorded for Rendezvous Records (label from Los Angeles), JAF Records and Crusader Records (labels from Hollywood, California).

Betty Jean. Betty Jean Revaz, Teen Pop singer from Detroit, Michigan. Recorded for JR Records Corporation (local label from Detroit).

June & Joy. Teen Pop duo from Southern California. One single recorded for Dot, both songs composed by George Motola & June Page – presumably they are June & Joy.

Nancy Steele. Pop singer, songwriter probably from New York, NY. One single for Celebrity (label from New York City, associated with producer Joe Davis).

Pat Tolland aka Jest Pat. Rock singer from Pennsylvania. Recorded for Al-Stan Records (label from Reading, Pennsylvania).

 

Kenny Tomerlin. Teen Sound singer and guitarist from Texas - one single for Teen Ager Records (label from Fort Worth, Texas).

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 237

 

Jimmy Barden. Teen Pop singer. Recorded for Doré and KR (label, distributed by Chess Records).

Craig Brown. Teen Pop singer from Los Angeles, California. Recorded for 20th Fox and United Artists.

Ric Carter. Teen Sound singer from Cleveland, Ohio. Recorded one single with The Jerry Packer Singers, for G.C. Records (local label). The second single as
"Masked Singer" Ric Carter,
for Mate (another local label from Cleveland). Artist Royalties donated to Parents Volunteer Association for Retarded Children.

Jordan Christopher Zankoff. Actor and singer. Born 1940 in Akron, Ohio to Macedonian immigrants parents - died 1996 in New York City. He formed a Doo-Wop group called The Fascinations, who released unsuccessful singles on several small labels in the early 1960s (se Tb63). He also recorded two unsuccessful solo singles.
Christopher's break came when he joined The Wild Ones, the house band at New York's Peppermint Lounge, as singer and guitarist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Christopher

Mickey Denton. Born Gasper Badalamenti in Detroit, in 1942. Blue eyed Pop singer and guitarist. He began performing in the early 1960s with the likes of Del Shannon and Johnny & The Hurricanes, but failed to find chart success. He recorded a large number of singles for various labels associated with Harry Balk (label owner from Detroit, Michigan).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Denton

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 236

 

Calvin Lee. Alias of Calvin LeBlanc, singer and songwriter from Louisiana, member of The Del Royals (see Vxx). One single for Minit (label from New Orleans).

Susan Levins. Rockabilly artist - one single released by Deero Records (label from Lubbock, Texas).

Kiki Paige aka Ki Ki Page. Pop and Soul singer from Los Angeles, California. Recorded for GNP Crescendo (label from LA) and A Side (label from Hollywood, CA).

T-J's. Rock band from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Originally: Bill Wrigel, Tom Terry and Jack Roubik later filled in with Duane Schroeder. In 1958/1959 recorded for Lindy (label from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, owned by Lindy Shannon). Later recorded as The Caravans (on Cuca).

Billy & Cliff. Duo of musiciansand songwriters:

Billy Mize. Steel guitarist, band leader, vocalist, songwriter, and TV show host born 1929, Arkansas City, Kansas, died 2017. One of the key figures from the golden era of the Bakersfield Sound.

Cliff Crofford. Guitarist, trumpeter, and singer. Born 1929 in Rochester, TX, died 2009 (see Ta20).

John Conte. Hollywood actor and singer active from the 30s to the 60s (1915 - 2006). Between 1961 and 1964 he recorded eleven singles for Chattahoochee Records (label from Los Angeles, California), two of them are classified to Teen Sound and listed by Kreiter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conte_(actor)

The Nuggets. Vocal group from Los Angeles, CA. Members: Herman Pruitt (tenor), Bobby Adams (first tenor), Stewart Crunk (baritone), Sidney Dunbar (lead/bass).
The group was an offshoot of The Calvanes who recorded earlier for Dootone. In 1961, Freddy Willis was drafted and replaced by bass Sidney Dunbar. The Calvanes then changed their name to The Nuggets and got a contract with RCA. They cut two singles for the label and broke up in 1962.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/main-tag/nuggets-2-c26505120

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 235

 

Jan Fields with The Milestone Singers. Pop singers - recorded two singles for Philips, arranged by Bill Justis.

Billy Frazier. Numerous artists used this name. They recorded for different labels and it is difficult to separate discographies.

Billy Frazier [Liberty]. Rock and Soul singer- one single for Liberty (multinational label, originally founded 1955 in Hollywood, California).

Billy Frazier {Togo}. Rock and Soul singer from New York City - one single for Togo (soul label from NYC).

Joey Page. Teen Pop and Doo-Wop singer - one single for Roulette.

Carol Burnett. Born Carol Creighton Burnett in 1933, San Antonio, Texas. Actress, comedian, singer, and writer. She raised in San Antonio, until her family moved to Hollywood, living a block away from Hollywood Boulevard. She attended Hollywood High School and eventually studied theater and musical comedy at UCLA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Burnett

The Capri Sisters. Vocal group from Yonkers, NY. Phyllis, Annette and Terry DeCaprio. The girls began their careers when Terry was 8, and Phyllis and Annette (twins) were 5. The Girls have performed with The Dorseys, Jackie Gleason and Louis Prima. They cut many singles for a large number of labels.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/the-capri-sisters-a117808642

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 234

 

Mike Russo. Rock and Roll singer - one single for Crosley Records (label from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

John Stone. Rock & Roll singer - one for Ace Records (label from in Jackson, Mississippi). Several other artists used this name.

Jimmy Stewart. Rock and Roll singer - one single for Ace Records (label from New Orleans). Several artists used this name.

Jimmie Stewart. Rock and Roll singer - one self-written single for Trump (label from Clovis, New Mexico).

Ed Forsyth. Ronald E. Forsyth, Pop singer born and raised in Texas. Recorded for Chess and Jewel Records (Shreveport, Louisiana based label).

 

Art Polhemus. Singer, songwriter, producer from New Jersey.

In 1960 he recorded two singles as a member of The Tree Swingers (see Ta65).
In 1963 he recorded the only solo single, for Harmon Records (label from New York, NY).
He was more successful a few years later as producer of such acts as The Blues Magoos.

Jimmy Dell. Born Oscar James Delbridge, on a farm in Michigan. He moved to Coolidge, Arizona in 1946 with his family. In 1954, at Coolidge High School, he met Duane Eddy who shared his love of music. Both played guitar and sang and soon they were performing on local radio (KCKY) as Jimmy and Duane. Jimmy was the better singer, Duane the better guitarist. At Duane's suggestion, Jimmy switched to piano. By 1955 local disc jockey Lee Hazlewood had become their loosely aligned manager. In June of that year Hazlewood took the boys into Ramsey Recording Studio in Phoenix to record two of his earliest compositions. In 1957, Jimmy signed a recording contract with Rev Records and recorded four songs. They did not come out on Rev, but on a major label, RCA Victor. 

Between 1958 and 1962, Jimmy sang and played piano in Buddy Long's Phoenix group. He returned to the studio in July 1962 for an instrumental single (Jimmy playing the organ) on the Philips label.

Debby Woods. Born Anita Bassetti, Teen Pop singer. Recorded for Epic, three singles and a few unreleased songs.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 233

 

The Light Brothers. Larry and Ronny Light, vocal duo from New York, NY.

Arlene Martell. Arlene Martell Martin, Teen Pop singer from New York City. One single composed and produced by Pomus-Shuman and released by Cub.

Linda Matheny. Country and Pop singer - one single for Gallio Records (label from Hollywood, California). 

The Stars. Swinging-singing quartet from Mobile, Alabama. The leader of The Stars was Johnny Lawrence, former band instructor at a high school in Prichard. They made two records in 1959, released by Vega (label owned by Johnny Lawrence).
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/main-tag/stars-3-c33441129

Lewis Weber. Teen Sound singer. Between 1958 and 1963 recorded five singles, for five different labels from Florida and Georgia.

Troy Ferguson. Country singer. Recorded two singles with his wife Sue Smith and other family members, for Flame (label from Philadelphia, PA) and Sharp (label from Newark, New Jersey).

Darlene Woods & The Starlings. Group of teenager from Los Angeles, California.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 232

 

Ann Grayson. Teen Pop singer - one single for RCA Victor.

Ronnie Johnson. Soul performer working with Billy Myles, who composed both songs of a single released in 1963 by Riverside Records (label from New York, NY).

Jeanette. Teen Pop singer - one single for Laurie Records.

Don Johnson [King]. Rockabilly performer, recorded for King Records. Numerous artists used this name.

Little Eddie. Edward A. Carrozza, Teen Rock singer from Coatesville, PA. In 1962 he recorded one single for Liberty, with The Johnny Mann Singers.
Probably the same Little Eddie recorded one single for Monument in 1963 (confirmed by Discogs, not confirmed by 45cat)

Evelyn Dell & The Vibra-Tones. Vocal group from Brooklyn & Queens, NY. Members: John Sescila, Sandy Anzalone, John Anzalone, Vinny Lombardy. In 1961, The Vibra-Tones recorded two singles as backup singers, the first with Evelyn Dell, the second with Art Wayne (see T43).  
Between 1961 and 1963, after a name change to The Allures, the group recorded a couple of demo tracks.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/main-tag/vibra-tones-2-c26505236

Tex & The Chex. New York Doo-Wop group.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/tex-the-chex-a116517340

Don Dell with The Up Starts. Vocal group from Brooklyn, NY. In 1961/62 they recorded two singles for East Coast Record Co. (label from New York City).

In 1962, Don Dell recorded another single with the Montereys on his own label (Roman Records).
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/main-tag/up-starts-2-don-dell-the-c26502700

Ray Rappa. Crooner, songwriter, film and TV agent. Born in Providence, Rhode Island. He went from Rhode Island to New York as a professional singer, then to Los Angeles as a Hollywood Film and Television Agent.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 231

Ken Dowd. Rockabilly singer - one single for RCA Victor.

Kimm Charney. Teen Sound singer. He started out as an actor, became a singer, and then ultimately decided to go into a profession that would continue to make him money... he became a surgeon. Recorded for Dot and Lagree (label from Los Angeles, California).

Freddie Davis. Teen Pop singer - one single for Count (label from New York, NY).

Tony Dek. Rockabilly singer - one single for De Rose (label from Westbury, New York).

Gillian Grey. Teen Pop singer - one single for Hamilton (division of Dot Records).

Bobby Jenkins. Rockabilly singer - one single for Hamilton. Numerous artists used this name. Probably the same artist recorded for Nasco (see Ta35). 

Rochelle Johnson. Pop and Soul singer - one single for Swan (Philadelphia based label).

Mirriam Johnson. Country singer and songwriter. After marrying guitarist Duane Eddy in 1961, and still using her real name of Mirriam Johnson, she released two singles that were issued on the Jamie label.

She achieved enormous popularity in the 1970s, as Jessi Colter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessi_Colter

Miss Nicollet. Nicollet Tady, Teen Pop singer and songwriter from Rock Island, Illinois.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 230

 

The Corlettes. Girl group managed/supported by Big Al Downing (piano), Vernon Sandusky (guitar) and Bobby Poe. They released two 45s, on their own small labels, composed 3/4 tracks.

Genifer Glenn. Teen Pop singer - one single for Ford Records (label from New York City).

Lloyd McNeil. Country and Rock musician from Phoenix, Arizona. One single for Stacy Records (label from Chicago, Illinois).

Stan Mitchell. Teen Sound singer. One single for Gone Records (label from New York, NY).

The Nightingales. Teen Sound girl group. One single for Ray Star Records (label from Los Angeles, California).

Phil Soffos. Teen Rock singer. One single for MEM (label from Baltimore, Maryland), Soffos composed both songs.

Jim Solley & The Lubocs. Teen Pop singer from Lubbock, Texas. Recorded for local labels (Deb Records, Luboc).

Paul Taylor. Detroit white teener Doo-Wop vocalist. One single for Go-Gee (local label from Detroit), songwriting of both songs credited to Paul Pesick (probably real name of Paul Taylor).

Judy Layne. Rockabilly singer from New Jersey. She recorded one single for Wren (label from Jersey City, NJ). Music by The Rumblers (rock instrumental group from New Jersey, see Q80).

The Grads. An early version of The Sandpipers. Founding members Jim Brady, Mike Piano and Richard Shoff first performed together in the Mitchell Boys Choir, before forming The Four Seasons with friend Nick Cahuernga. Because of the rising popularity of a group with that name from New Jersey, they changed their name to The Grads and continued as a trio. Although The Grads did not enter the charts with their early recordings, they performed well enough to secure a residency at Harrah's Lake Club (now Harveys Lake Tahoe) where a friend brought them to the attention of Herb Alpert of A&M Records. Alpert was impressed with The Grads, but after one single without success the group agreed to a name change, choosing The Sandpipers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sandpipers