Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 186

 

Nancy Day. Nancy Wasylik née Dummermuth, vocalist from Dover, Ohio, who recorded two tracks for Jay Wing (label from Stevenson, Maryland) in 1958.

The Derringers aka Len & Jim. Teen Sound vocal duo from California.

Davy Douglas. Rockabilly artist from California.

Ronnie McBee. Rock 'n' Roll singer, recorded at Dot and Spangle Records (label from Springfield, Ohio).

Ronnie Haig. Born Ronald Dale Hege in 1939. in Indianapolis, Indiana (died 2024). Rockabilly singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

 

Jerry Holmes. Pop singer. In 1961 recorded two singles for RCA Victor, with Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Jimmie Haskell (prolific American composer and arranger).

The Four Hits. Vocal quartet from Stillwater, OK, composed of four former Oklahoma State University students, specializing  in modern renditions of popular tunes. Male vocal harmony. Members: William L. Thompson (lead), Robert F. Hill (tenor), Glenn E. Phibbs (baritone), Walter B. Duke (bass). The group was featured weekly over television station WKY-TV in Oklahoma City, and had made two songs in 1957 for ABC Paramount.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/main-tag/four-hits-c26505682

The Itels. Vocal group from Port Chester, New York. Members: Augie DeCrecenzo (lead), Mike Lanza, Nick Genovese, Tony Giorgi.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/the-itels-a116516148

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 185

Bruce Chamberlain (& The Cams). Rockabilly artist from Illiniois.

Chamberlain Bros. Rockabilly artists from Portsmouth, Ohio. Their first single was released on Frank Porter's Porter label from Phoenix, Arizona.

Claire Charles (& The Terrytones). Pop Rock artist, recorded one single for WYE (Rhode Island label launched byWayne Cogswell, ex-Sun artist). The Terrytones recorded two more singles on WYE, backing Morton Downey, Jr. (see Ta79) and Gayle Fortune (see Tb05).

The Cheerleaders. Studio outfit, both tracks of a 45 released by Spinett Records (label from New Orleans, Louisiana) composed and performed by Huey Smith, Frankie Ford, and Jerry Byrne.

Woody Coleman. Teen pop singer from California. Both self-composed tracks were recorded at GOLD STAR in Hollywood and released by Jedco Records.

Ritchie Cordell. Born Richard Joel Rosenblatt in 1943, in Brooklyn (died in 2004). Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. As well as having a brief period as a recording artist, he also spent much of the 1960s as an in-house writer for Kama Sutra, then Roulette Records.

Dick Campbell. Born Richard S. Campbell in Boston Massachusetts and raised in Monroe, Wisconsin (died in 2002), Campbell was a relatively obscure singer-songwriter, who had released a couple of singles and composed for others including Artie Sullivan. He is best known for his 1965 album “Sings Where It's At”, rated as "the sole masterpiece of the fake-Dylan field”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Campbell_(singer-songwriter)

 

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 184

 

 Eddie Lee. Teen pop singer from Kentucky. Numerous other artists used this name.

Frankie Lee. West Coast pop performer. Numerous other artists used this name.

Jerry Miller. Teen pop singer from Kentucky. Numerous other artists used this name.

Glenn & Jerry. Teen rockers from Ohio.

Johnny Martino. Teen pop singer from New York City.

Mickey Milan. Born Michael F. Milanese in 1931 (died in 2016), a lounge singer from Troy, NY. He rose to popularity in the 1950's with his brother Johnny (Milanese), together forming a group called The Interludes. Mickey Milanese went solo in the early 1960's, and shortened his stage name to Mickey Milan.

 

Everit Herter. Teen pop singer. Side-B of the only single is an obscure Hal David-Burt Bacharach song.

Art Hudson. Teen pop singer from Houston, Texas. Art Hudson's contract with the Abbco label was taken over by United Artists, which changed his name to
Hoyt Hudson.

Lee & Paul. Duo of famous songwriters from Brooklyn, NY. Lee Julien Pockriss and Paul Vance (Joseph Paul Florio). In 1959, 1961 and 1965 they released own singles.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 183

 

Dana & Dexter Smith were brothers who grew up Brentwood, California. Dana was the older and Dexter the younger. They were signed up with Imperial Records.
https://vancouversignaturesounds.com/hits/artists/dana-and-dexter/

Wes Foley. Teen pop singer from New York City.

Rick Gambino.  His musical journey began as a child in Detroit Michigan where he sang on street corners with Doo Wop groups. As time went on, he led numerous groups headlining the top clubs in the Detroit area.  After completing his first recordings (recorded in Hollywood, California) he continued to entertain the masses as part of the Detroit Music Scene.

Billy Harris. Teen pop singer from California.

Sandy Blair. Teen Doo-Wop singer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pat Molittieri. Born in 1942, Pat grew up in a tight-knit Italian American family in Southwest Philadelphia. Molittieri was one of Bandstand's "Southwest Philly kids". For two years she was one of the most popular Bandstand regulars, until Dick Clark booted her from the show in June 1959. In 1958 Pat began writing for Teen Magazine,  recorded a 45 for Teen Magazine Records, featuring “The USA”, written by Paul Anka.
https://history-of-rock.com/pat_molittieri.htm

Bertha Colbert.  Soul singer, a giant in the Northern Soul genre. Born in 1941 in Atlanta, died in 2007. She first appeared in local night clubs with such known Southern performers as Piano Red. She moved to New York in 1962 and signed a contract with Columbia Records.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Bertha-Colbert-100028486519111/

Johnny Gamboa. Teen pop singer and multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles, California. He recorded the first single in 1962, for small local label. Johnny later signed a recording contract with Epic Records. He became a very accomplished musician and learned to play 26 different instruments.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/4811997-Johnny-Gamboa

Gino & The Barons. Vocal group from Woodbridge, New Jersey. Seated: Gino Custode , Richard Larson (Manager); Standing: George Cranden. Kenneth Parsons & Lee Parker. The boys, all of whom were 16 years of age, recorded two songs in Newark in December 1959. They picked up the 1000 copies of the disc which they must plug and sell themselves.
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/gino-the-barons-5-a180426880

Stephen Monahan. Pop singer from Detroit, Michigan. His father, a drum instructor, got sixteen-year old Stephen signed to the Raco label with his group, the Tremelos, in 1959. Their first release was ‘Cackle’ / ‘The Weird One’ (see Q14), an instrumental which received a lot of local airplay. It was followed up with ‘Annabelle Lee’.
Then Stephen had a record out on Vee Jay as a solo artist in 1961, ‘Leaves Of Fall’ / ‘Handsome Guy’. His seventeen-year-old friend Dan Bourgeoise arranged the deal after sending a demo tape to Vee jay. The Tremelos backed the two tracks.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s Stephen recorded for Kapp and Jamie.
https://www.45cat.com/biography/stephen-monahan

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 182

 

Julian Glad. Julian Graddick, Teen Sound singer from Alabama.

Jack Herbst. One single recorded in Norman Petty Studio by The Night Caps, rock group from Greeley, Colorado. Due to complicated contractual issues, released by the Del Fi label under Jack Herbst's name only.

The Hollywood Teeners. Teener band from Los Angeles.

Louie & The Ambassadors. Rock band from Newark, New Jersey. Louie's name is Louis Sleeman. Carl Day production - Day was a DJ from the Coshocton, and later Mt. Vernon, area and produced a couple more Hilltop Records (label from Ashland, Ohio).

Little Gracie. Teener singer, recorded for Band Box Records (label from Denver, Colorado). 

Kirby Ladner. Teen Sound singer from Mobile, Alabama.

Don Mikkelsen. Teen Sound singer from Los Angeles. Also recorded as Don Orbison with The Basics (see T93).

The Hollywood Playboys. Vocal-instrumental group from Newark, New Jersey. Hugh Garrity (piano, vocals), briefly played bass for The Four Lovers; Nick Massi (bass, vocals), member of The Four Seasons; Louie Leona (saxophone); Joe D'Amore (drums).
https://doo-wop.blogg.org/main-tag/hollywood-playboys-c26503680

Sammy Lara & The Skytones. Rock 'n' Roll singer from Texas.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 181

 

Ginny Dale. Pop & Soul singer, real name: Virginia Ragsdale.

Tommy Dishaw. Rock 'n' Roll singer from Upstate New York - in 1959 two singles for local labels. More singles in the late 1960s, as a member of The Continentals, The Panthers.

Freddy Douglas. Yet another unknown uptown NYC R&B singer.

The Down Beats. R&B group from Hartford, CT. In 1960 they recorded one single (listed by Kreiter) for Platter (local label), with occasional unknown local vocalists: Jeanne Garso (A-side) and Dicky James (B-side). Between 1958 and 1971 they recorded several other singles for different labels (see P??).

Terry George (a.k.a. George Terry). Teenie-pop performer from Pittsburgh, PA. Both tracks are self-composed, arranged by Dave Cortez.

Scott Free. Teen Sound singer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pam Dickinson. Country singer, native of Hammond, Indiana (1951 – 2018). One single in Teen Sound style, released by Gambit in 1963.

Moreover, in 1962, she recorded two singles as Pamela Dickinson, for Whirl, several singles between 1964 and 1966 - all of them in country style (not listed by Kreiter).

 Arlene Fontana. Teen Sound singer. In 1958/1959 she recorded two singles for Paris Records, produced by Jack Gold (founder of the label).

Gary & Billy.

Gary Wright, singer/songwriter & keyboard player and founding member of UK sixties rockers Spooky Tooth (born 1943 in New Jersey - died 2023 in California).

and

Billy Markle.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 180

 

Tommy Manno. Pop singer from Springfield, Massachusetts.

We Three. Folk trio based in Los Angeles: Danny Janssen, Myrna Janssen, Wally Keske - they composed all songs.

Joe Mondo & His Combo. Local rock band from Milford, Connecticut.

Eddy Bell & The Bel-Aires. Rock group from Chicago, founded by Eddie Blazonczyk (on bended knees). He was born in Chicago to Polish immigrant parents. Blazonczyk became a polka artist and founded the Chicago-based Bel-Aire Records in 1963. Before that, he recorded rockabilly and novelty songs for Mercury and Lucky Four records under the name Eddy Bell.
https://belairerecords.com/eddieblazonczyk1941-2012/

Jay Rees & The Monarks.  Band from Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jay Rees = James Reesor.

Bucky Brown & The Curios. Rock 'n' Roll ' band from Arkansas, fronted by teenage singer Bobby Brown (in the middle). In 1960 they recorded for XYZ Records (label from Philadelphia, owned by Frank Slay and Bob Crewe).
Prior to this single, they recorded as Bobby Brown & The Curios, for Vaden Records (local label from Trumann, Arkansas). In 1963, Bobby Brown recorded solo single for a small New York label (see Ta96),
The Curios recorded two singles (see Q20 and R56).

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 179

 

Hal & Carol. Vocal duo from New York: Harold Gibney, Carol Lou Webber - they composed both songs.

Bobby Kent & The Kentones. Robert Kassiotis, Teen Sound singer from Massachusetts - composed both songs.

Bobby Kriss. Teen rocker from Texas.

Mavis Kruse. Country artist, recorded for Fabor (label from Hollywood, California).

Morton Downey Jr. Born Sean Morton Downey, in 1932, in Los Angeles - died 2001. Singer, songwriter and rightwing TV talk show host.

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

Kerri Downs. Mary Lou Kiernan, ex member (briefly) of The Angels and wife of Gerry Granahan.

Gary Haines & The Five Sequins. Dr. Gary Haines was a renowned nightclub singer and entertainer in Detroit’s top clubs and elsewhere in the Midwest. He gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ in 1972 after 14 years as a professional entertainer.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1467958-Gary-Haines

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 178

 

Billy Cate. Teen rock singer from Fort Worth, Texas.

Lorrie Wayne. Teen pop singer from New York City.

Tony Amaro (& The Chariots). Pop and soul singer, born Louis Antonio Castro in Spanish Harlem to Puerto Rican immigrants from Ponce. Due to 1960’s foreign politics Castro used the stage name of Tony Amaro for the majority of his career. His first record release was in 1960 on Chicago based Stacy Records.

Jeff Condon. Teen Sound singer from New York City.

Terri Stevens. Born Rose Teresa Norbeck née Caruso in 1928, in Hartford, Connecticut - died 2020. Jazz/pop singer and Broadway actress.

Ronnie Styner. Rockabilly artist. Recorded for Capa Records, label from Mobile, Alabama.

Obscure American Artists 1956-1963, Teen 404

 

Dale Jimmerson. Teen Rock singer from California. Recorded one single for Corsair Records (label from Hollywood, California), with girl group backing, written by Beatriz Cleveland, Alex Furth.

Brends Lee (Jones). R&B singer and songwriter born 1938 (Dayton, Ohio), died 2001.

In 1956 she recorded the 1^st single for Apollo (label from NYC), credited to Brenda Lee, she composed the A-side. This single has been classified by Kreiter to Teen Sound.

In 1958 and in the 1960s she recorded numerous R&B singles as part of Dean & Jean duo or as Jean.

In 1966 she released one single on Rust (subsidiary of Laurie, NYC), as Brenda Lee Jones. B-side was a re-release, originally released in 1964 on Rust by Dean & Jean duo.

Jack Carroll. Real Name: Vincent (Vincenzo) Riccio (1921 - 2005). Pop & Jazz vocalist from Belleville, New Jersey. He was featured with Les Brown's Band of Renoun in the 1940s, also accompanied the bands of Tex Beneke and Sammy Kaye, and many more. He was night club entertainer, and singer, including commercial spots for such companies as Progresso Soup and Burger King. He also appeared in a few films.

He started recording in the late 1946.

Between 1956 and 1963 he released numerous singles for RKO Unique, Decca and Laurie, classified by Kreiter to Teen Sound.