Saturday, January 30, 2010

LABEL OWNERS, SONG WRITERS, AND PRODUCERS

No matter how good a group was, they didn't make the charts if they couldn't find the right song, the right producer, or the right label! In most situations the groups needed a combination of all three elements.
While researching information for this blog, some surprises popped up. I knew that a large number of the groups that sang doo-wop were Black, and a smaller number were Italian, and a smaller number were Puerto Rician, but it's the other numbers that got me. It seems that while most of the groups were minorities, most of the management were non-minorities, mostly Jewish. It seems that the music buisness was a metaphor for what was happening across the country, racism and corruption was rampant through out the industry. Most of the people I'll write about in this blog, tried to be fair, but we'll also talk about some of the people who were deep into the corruption.

Let's start with DEBORAH CHESSLER.
According to Rolling Stone Magezine, Deborah Chessler was a young White girl working in a shoe store when her dream came true. In 1948, 18 year old Chessler, was a wanna be song writer. Chessler had one song, ("Tell Me So") that had been recorded, but it flopped bad. A friend ask Chessler to listen to a group over the telephone. The group was led by a young, Erlington Tilghman, soon to become Sonny Til, the group was called The Vibranaires. The sound she heard was the sound she was looking for. The rest is doo-wop history.
The writer of the Rolling Stone's article, tells how Chessler had to fight the established pattern of racism, sexism and corruption to make things happen. After a lot of hard work, Chessler got the group a contract with Jerry Blaine, owner of the Jubilee label. It was Blaine who changed the groups name to The Orioles. In true doo-wop tradition, Chessler wrote the groups smash hit, "To Soon To Know", on a roll of toilet paper in a rest room.
Most Black groups of the day, like The Mills Brothers and The Ink Spots, aimed their music at White audiences, but The Orioles did just the opposite. They went straight for the Black auduence, with the lyrical impressions of a young White woman, the group was a success. The song went to #1 on the "race" charts and #13 on the pop charts. "To Soon To Know" has been covered by many singers over the years.
In later years Chessler was there to discover eight year old Leslie Uggams.


FLORENCE GREENBERG
Here's a story of an unlikely housewife who turned the music world on it's head when she took an unknown girl group and made them stars. Florence Greenberg was a female pioneer in a male dominated world of Rhythm and Blues. Greenberg said of herself, that she was a triple anomaly: A "White woman" who is in a "Black Business", and "who couldn't carry tune". What she did have was a triple treat "an ear for popular music", "a sharp eye for talent", and "a driving ambition", which worked great for her and the rest of the music loving world. Greenberg is responsible for introducing The Shirelles to the world. Greenberg wrote "Soldier Boy" for the group, and recorded them on her Tiara label. Her labels also produced 60's hits like, "Louie Louie", by the The Kingsmen, "Twist And Shout" by The Isley Brothers, and "Walk On By", by Dionne Warwick. Greenberg also produced "Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head" sung by BJ Thomas and was on the soundtrack of the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and won an academy Award in 1969.
After the release of "I Met Him On A Sunday" Greenberg made the rounds of all the radio stations and pestered DJ's until she got the song played. The song was such a hit that the demand for the song was fantastic. So much so that her small Tiara label could not handle the orders, so Greenberg sold The Shirelles contract to Decca Records. Not realizing what they had, and thinking the group would be a one hit wonder, Decca returnd The Shirelles to Greenberg, who formed Sceptor Records. Over the next decade, Sceptor became an industry sensation.
Greenberg's eye for talent was never more evident, than when Burt Bacharach, played her a demo. Greenberg said she didn't like the song, but she loved the singer. The next day Bacharach, returned saying that he had signed a new young singer named Dionne Warwick. Partly because of The Shirelles, and Dionne Warwicks successs Gulf and Western offered $6 million for Greenberg"s Sceptor label in 1965, Greenberg declined. This turned out to be a bad choice, Greenberg's success had faded over the years and by 1977, Sceptor folded and Greenberg lost everything.
Bette Midler wanted to make a movie of Greenberg's life, but could not get the required rights from two of the surviving Shirelles, so plans for the movie are dormant.

LUTHER DIXON
Luther Dixon wrote many songs that were hits for many groups of the 50's and 60's, like The Shirelles. Dixon was hired by Florence Greenberg to work at her Sceptor label. Dixon was in charge of artist development, while Greenberg ran the company. The Shirelles had their first hit with Dixon's arrangement of CAROLE KING and GERRY GOFFIN'S song "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".
Dixon produced many more hits including "sixteen Candles", "I Don't Want To Cry", "Soul Serenade, "MaMa Said", and "Big Boss Man".


VIVIAN CARTER
Vivian Carter was one of a few Black record company executives of the doo-wop era. Carter won a talent contest conducted by Al Benson in 1948, for new DJs in Chicago. She worked WGES in Chicago and later at WJOB in Gary, Indiana. In 1944 Carter met and would latter marry Jimmy Bracken, who would also become her business partner.
In 1953 the couple started a record company, called Vee-Jay Records taking it's name from their initials. During the 50's and 60's Vee-Jay grew to become a major independent record label with acts including The Spaniels, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Gene Chandler, and Jerry Butler, The four Seasons and for a while The Beatles.
Because of Carter's relationship with the radio industry she was able to get her groups played and attract new talent.
Carter passed in 1989, but the groups that she recorded and managed will keep her memory alive.

BERT BERNS
Bert Berns was born in the Bronx to Russian Jewish parents. Berns contracted rheumatic fever as a child, and this would affect him for the rest of his life. He turned to music and found comfort in the music of his Black and Latino neighbors. Berns danced the mambo as a young man and made his way to Havana Cuba. After his return he began a seven-year run, from an obscure song writer to the owner of his own labels.
Berns first hit was "A Little Bit Of Soap", by The Jarmels in 1961. A year later he scored with "Twist And Shout", by The Isley Brothers. The song was written by Berns and Phil Medley. Berns wrote for many labels including Wand, United Artist, Capitol, Laurie,MGM, Big Top, Old Town,Roulette, and Atlantic Records.
In 1963 Berns replaced Leiber and Stoller as staff producer for Atlantic Records, where he produced Solomon Burke's "Cry To Me", and "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love", The Drifters' "Under The Boardwalk" and "Saturday Night At The Movies", Barbara Lewis' "Baby I'm Yours" and "Make Me Your Baby", Little Ester Phillips, Wilson Pickettt, and LaVern Baker. Berns was one of the few producers to travel to London, where he produced acts for British Decca.
Berns passed in 1967 and a golden era of rock, soul and doo-wop passed with him. One of his last songs was "Piece Of My Heart", that was recorded by Erma Franklin, the song was covered by many artist over the years.
Berns' BANG and Shout Records catalogue is owned by Sony Music, but the Berns family owns the publishing operations originally called WEB IV Music.
Berns' list of songs cover doo-wop to soul to R&B and the list is long. Berns was not as well known as other Brill Building writers, but Berns should be listed among the most significant and influential of his generation and on par with the likes of Leiber and Stoller, Holland-Dozier-Holland. Berns is also credited with bringing soul,rock, and Latin rhythms together.


CAROLE KING
Born Carol Klein in Brooklyn, New York. Later she added an "e" to her first name and changed her last name to King.
King started out playing piano and moved on to singing and formed a singing group, called The Co-Sines while still attending James Madison High School. It was while she was attending Queens College that she met Neil Sedaka. She was his inspiration for his song "Oh Carol", and in response King wrote "Oh Neil". King befriended Paul Simon and Gerry Goffin who would play an important part in her life for years to come.
King and Goffin soon started writing songs together. Working for Aldon Music at the Brill Building, where hit songs were turned out on a regular basis in the 60's. The first Goffin-King hit was "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", recorded by The Shirelles in 1961. Like a lot of King's songs "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" has been covered by to many singers to count, and is still being sung today.
King and Goffin married in 1960 and divorced in 1968, but their song writing relationship continued during the marriage and after.
Some of the songs out of King's book are: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", By The Shirelles, "Some Kind Of Wonderful", and "Up On The Roof" by The Drifters, "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby" and "Loco Motion", by Little Eva, "Hey Girl" by Freddie Scott, "One Fine Day", The Chiffons, "Oh No Not My Baby", by Maxine Brown, "Don't Foreget About Me" by Barbara Lewis and " You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin.
As the 60's moved on, King's music changed with the times. King had many more hits in the following years, but it's her early years that are important to doo-wop lovers.
King has been inducted into the Song Writers Hall Of Fame, King and Goffin have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. King has Recieved four Grammy Awards and is look at as one of the greatest song writers around.


GEORGE GOLDNER
Goldner was born in New York, and original made his living as a garment dealer. His love of Latin music led him to run dance halls in the early 40's In the late 40's Goldner started his first label, Tico Records. In and effort to promote his records, Goldner started paying DJ's at the radio stations to play his records. This practice came to be known as payola.
Goldner was a gambler,and was always in need of cash, this problem put him in contact with Morris Levy, another dance hall owner. Over time Goldner would sell parts of his labels to Levy for cash. Goldner and Levy formed Rama Records which would later record R&B music. The Crows" recording of "Gee" inspired the formation of another label, Gee Records, who's most successful act was Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. Goldner helped establish a number of labels, including Gone Records, End Records, and the more famous, Roulette. Morris Levy would take advantage of Goldner's gambling problems and take control of these labels.
Goldner recorded some of the best doo-wop groups of the time, including, The Crows, The Wrens, The Valentines, The Cleftones, The Five Crowns, (who would become The Drifters), The Heartbeats, The Chantels, Little Anthony and The Imperials, The Starlighters, The Flamingos, The Dubs, The Channels and The Isley Brothers.
Goldner's last run at success was Red Bird Records and it's Blue Cats subsidiary, co-founded by Leiber and Stoller. As a partner of the company Goldner was in charge of promoting Red Bird releases, while Leiber and Stoller worked on production. Red Bird only lasted two years, Leiber and Stoller wanted out of the music business and Goldner started having gambling problems again. Leiber and Stoller sold their part of Red Bird to Goldner for $1.00. The Red Bird catalogue (except for releases by The Shangri-Las, whos contract was sold to Mercury Records) was sold to Morris Levy's Roulette Records. Goldner passed in 1970.
Goldner had his problems, but he also had a big impact on the music scene and started more than few groups on their way.

MORRIS LEVY
Born Moishe Levy in the Bronx, New York, but was known as Morrie Levy to the insiders of the music business.
After leaving the Navy, Levy became the owner of a string night clubs. His most famous club was The Birdland, which Levy is said to have taken over from Joseph "Joe the Wop" Catalano in 1949.
By accident Levy found out the value of publishing rights of a piece of music. Each time a song he owned was performed or played he was entitled to royalties. Levy learned this when an ASCAP representative told Levy at Birdland he must pay publishing companies for performing live music. Levy's lawyer confirmed that fact and soon Levy formed his first publishing company, Patricia Music.
Levy was one of the bad ones. He founded Roulette Records in 1956 where he started what would become his most profitable side of his business. Levy began claiming writers rights on songs he had nothing to do with. The first and most famous is, he claimed writers rights on "Why Do Fools Fall In Love". It is believed that Frankie Lymon and Herman Santiago wrote the song. Levy repeated this pratice through out the years. Levy collected revenues from all sides of the business. He claimed writers rights, he claimed publishing rights and he claimed distribution rights, and he claimed the profits form the sale of his records. There are stories that Levy even bootlegged his own records. Levy became one of the wealthiest executives in the record business.
Levy had a long running law suit with John Lennon over a phrase Lennon used from a Chuck Berry song.
After a time Levy sold Roulette for an estimated $55 million. There was an investigation started in the 50's about Levy's business practices, but it wasn't until 1986 that the law caught up with him. Levy was convicted of extortion, but died in Ghent, New York before serving any time.
Some of Levy's business practices were adopted and perfected by Berry Gordy at MOTOWN.


Next we'll look at Robert and Johnny, The Falcons, The Clovers, The Five Satins, and The Harptones. I onow Robert and Johnny are not really doo-wopers, but Victoria requested them so they're up next.
Please continue to leave comments and make request for your favorite group. In a few weeks we'll look two of the best writers and producers of the doo-wop era, Leiber and Stoller, and we'll take another look a Smokey's songs and productions from the beginning.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

THE DELLS

The Dells are one of the longest lasting groups of all times! They have found a way to keep original members in the group for over forty nine years. Their line-up did not change from 1960 until the death of Johnny Carter on August 21, 2009. Over the years The Dells repertoire included doo-wop, jazz, soul, disco, and rhythm and blues.
The Dells started singing together while attending Thorton Township High School, in Harvey, Illinois. The group formed in 1952, using the name, The El-Rays. The group consisted of Marvin Junior, Mickey McGill, Lucius McGill, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, and Johnny Funches. Lucius McGill left the group in 1954, making the group a quintet. Lucius signed with the Chess brothers' Checker label and recorded a doo-wop single, "Darling I Know", the record flopped.
The group changed their name to The Dells in 1955, and soon signed with Vee-Jay Records. In 1956 they recorded their first hit, "Oh What A Night". Funches was a co-writer and lead singer on the song. The song went to #5 on the R&B charts and is listed at #260 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. Follow up songs failed to have the same impact.
A tragic car accident in 1958, threatened to derail the group. Mickey McGill, nearly lost his leg in the accident. The group agreed to split-up to give McGill time to recover.
Barksdale joined a new version of The Moonglows, that included a young Marvin Gaye on lead. McGill did recover and Barksdale rejoined the group in 1960. By this time Johnny Funches, had left the group for good, frustrated with the group's slow progress. Funches was soon replaced by Johnny Carter, who came from The Flamingos. This would be the final line-up change for the group for over forty nine years. The Dells went on to sing background for the likes of Dinah Washington, Ray Charles, and Barbara Lewis, of "Hello Stranger" fame. The group got some fine tuning from Quincy Jones, and began to include jazz, and Broadway styled show tunes as part of their live and recorded acts.
The Dells returned to Chess' subsidiary label Cadet, working with Bobby Miller, and Charles Stepney. Stepney would later become an arranger and producer for Earth, Wind, and Fire.
In 1967, The Dells released an album called, "There Is", which included their first R&B hit in years with the titled track. The song featured a contrast to most other groups of the time by having the raspy baritone voice of Marvin Junior on lead, with the very tight harmony in the background. The song was also a top 20 pop hit. After "There Is", The Dells continued with a string of hits, including "Wear It On Your Face", "Always Together", "I can sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue", and their first #1 hit "Stay In My Corner" in 1968. The song also went to #10 on the pop chart. "Stay In My Corner" featured another contrast, it featured Johnny Carter's first tenor balanced against Marvin Junior's baritone. This arrangement became a trademark of The Dells. The group had to wait until 1969 before they were looked at as R&B stars. That year the group revived their first hit, "Oh What A Night", which was re-produced under a classic soul format. Marvin Junior's husky lead made the song sound new. It was in stark contrast to Johnny Funches smooth tenor on the original recording, this version went to #1. They had more hits with "Open Up My Heart", "Oh What A Day", and "On The Dock Of The Bay".
"The Love We Had Stays On My Mind", was another top 10 hit for the group on the R&B charts in 1971. Charles Stepney took over production duties from Bobby Miller at this time. In 1973 The Dells had their first certified gold record, "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation", that was produced by Don Davis. The Dells were now a top-selling recording act.
With The Chess Label having financial troubles, Cadet records, a subsidiary started having problems, so The Dells left at the end of 1974. The group then recorded for Mercury, ABC, 20th Century Fox, and Virgin labels, with a few hits including, "I Touched A Dream", which put the group back in the top 40.
For awhile The Dells were confined to the oldies market, until they were asked by Robert Townson to be creative consultants on his acclaimed 1991 musical "The Five Heartbeats". The movie was based loosely on the lives of The Dells. The group had a hit with the George Duke composition, "A Heart Is A Home For Love". The song was issued on the sound track of the movie and went to #13 on the R&B charts. This hit gave the group a push and made them the second group to chart singles in four different decades, after the Isley Brothers.
The group then moved to the Philadelphia International label, where they recorded the album "I Salute You". The Dells have kept an active touring schedule stopping from time to time to record an album, including 2003's "HOTT".
In 2004 the group was inducted in both the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame, and The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Like the Imperials, The Dells don't consider themselves a doo-wop group, but on their 1974 recording "I Miss You" you can hear the doo-wops in the background, ten years after doo-wop was said to be dead. In my mind and heart no matter what The Dells sing I hear doo-wop.

The next blog will be about some of the writers, arrangers, producers and managers. These are the behind the scenes people that created the songs, and the acts to sing them. Very few groups were able to direct their own lives once these other people got involved. Some of these people were good for the groups and really helped them along. So many of these groups were young and were exploited by some of these people.

Please leave comments and request and we'll keep doo-woping!!

Monday, January 25, 2010

LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS

One of the longest lasting groups from the doo-wop era is Little Anthony & The Imperials.
The group started out in 1957 as The Chesters. The group included Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nathaniel Rogers, and Ronald Ross. Anthony Gourdine joined the group and became the lead. Ross left the group and was replaced by Ernest Wright, and the group recorded for Apollo Records for a short time. Changing their name to The Imperials the group signed with End Records in 1958. Their first single was "Tears On My Pillow" which went straight to the top. One night while playing "Tears On My Pillow", D.J Alan Freed dubbed Anthony Gourdine, Little Anthony! The B-side "Two Kinds Of People" also became a hit. The next single, for the group was "Shimmy Shimmy , Ko Ko Bop" in 1960.
Little Anthony left the group for a solo career 1961, after their success dropped a little. Some other members left and the line-up became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain and George Kerr. Kerr was then replaced by Kenny Seymour, this group had very little success.
Little Anthony returned in 1963, replacing Seymour. Little Anthony, Ernest Wright, Clarence Collins, and Sammy Strain, became the classic line-up for the group. With the help of record producer/songwriter Teddy Randazzo, (a long time friend of the group), The Imperials found success at a new label, DCP (Don Costa Productions) with a new release "I'm On The Outside Looking In" in 1964. Then came a string of hits, "Going Out Of My Head" (1964), "Hurt So Bad" (1965), "I Miss You So" (1965),"Take Me Back" (1965), "Hurt"(1966), and "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind"(1969). In 1965 The Imperials appeared on the CBS-TV special Murray The K, It's What's Happening, Baby. On the show they delivered an explosive perfromance of a 50's hit "I'm Alright" before a live audience in New York.
The Imperials then joined United Artist and were assigned to it's Veep subsidary and then back to the parent label. During this time they recorded "Better Use Your Head", "World Of Darkness", " If I Remember To Foreget", "Yesterday Has Gone", and the Thom Bell produced "Help Me Find A Way (To Say I Love You)".
After this the group moved to Janus Records where they recorded the single "Father Father", which they performed on The Merv Griffin Show. The group then moved to Avco Records in the early 70's and recorded an album "On A New Street, and charted with "La La La" and "I'm Falling In Love With You". The album was produced by both Bell and Randazzo. Most of these songs did well on the R&B charts, but not so well on the Pop charts. A second album for Avco "Hold On" was pulled from the market.
Ernest Wright left the group in 1971, to join Tony William's Platters. He was replaced by Kenny Seymour, who was replacd by Bobby Wade. Strain left in 1972, and joined The O'Jays. Harold Jenkins replaced Strain, he had been the groups choreographer. Jenkins and Seymour were together in The Impacts. Little Anthony left again for a some what successful solo career. Collins, Wade and Jenkins continued on as The Imperials. Clarence Collins left 1988 and was replaced by Sherman James. The group became Bobby Wade's Imperials. James left in 1992 and was replaced by Ron Stevenson. That same year Collins, Wright, Strain and Little Anthony reunited for a concert at Madison Square Garden. The reunion was so successful that the group decided to stay together. When the decision was made for the group to tour again, Wade gave up the use of the name Imperials, and his group became The Emperors. The Emperors became the house band at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Strain left The O'Jays and permanently returned to The Imperials. 1992 the year of the groups reformation, just happened to be the 40th anniversary of Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and he invited The Imperials to appear as part of the television special celebration.
The line-up of Anthony, Strain, Wright, and group founder Collins, is considered the classic and best Imperials line-up, this is the group that had the hits. It's this same group that has been seen by millions of fans on television shows like, The Ed Sullivan Show, American Bandstand, Shindig, Hullabaloo, Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall, The Mike Douglas Show, and other natioal shows. In 1977 they were featured on NBC's Today Show's Summer Concert Series. The group also appeared on two PBS Rock, Rhythm and Doo-wop shows.
Anthony, Strain, Collins, and Wright continued touring as Little Anthony and The Imperials, until Strain retired in 2004. Harold Jenkins returned to replaced him. As of now The Imperials are the second oldest group keeping original members over the years, they are second behind The Dells. The are also one a few groups that have reinvented themselves and went on to have consistent recording success well passed the 60's.

The Imperials songs have been covered by some of the biggest names in the buisness, Frank Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt, Sergio Mendez, The Delfonics, Wes Montgomery, Ray Conniff, Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Reba McEntire, The Miracles, Chris Montez, and The Lettermen.
The Imperials were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame, in 2006, and The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999 In Oct. 2008 the group recorded a new album called "You'll Never Know" ad they performed on The David Letterman Show that same year. The Imperials song "Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop" was featured in the 1988 Tom Hanks movie Big.On January 14, 2009 Little Anthony and The Imperials were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Sammy Strain is one of a few artist to be inducted in two different groups. The Imperials and The O'Jays.
The Imperials' last Doo-wop show was in June 2009, they did a half hour set, which displeased Little Anthony. He felt that 30 minutes was not enough time to showcase their talents. Anthony commented that The Imperials were not a Doo-wop group, but an R&B group.
On Oct. 29, 2009, The Imperials returned to Madison Square Gardens for the 25th anniversary of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert. They were featured in a segment devoted to The Originals of New York. The show was aired Thanksgiving, weekend.

The next group will be The Dells, another long lasting group.
Please leave comments and request for future blogs. Coming soon we'll talk about the writers, arrangers and producers. These people gave us some of the greastes