Category: GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL JUKE BOX
You can write on book on the hits of The Platters. The group from Los Angeles, California 
included: Tony Williams-lead, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed and Zola Taylor. Their first big hit record is the classic…ONLY YOU (AND YOU ALONE) on Mercury Records (70633). The single record became a #1 R&B hit and a #5 Pop hit.
Any artist or group would be thrilled to have one cross-over hit that became a Top 10 hit…but The Platters were not just any group…they charted 3 hit single records that became not just Top 10 hits, but #1 hits…yes 3 hit singles that became #1 Pop and R&B hits…here they are.
1—THE GREAT PRETENDER…(Mercury 70753) Charting in December of 1955…and selling over 1 million records.
2—MY PRAYER…(Mercury 70819) Charting in July of 1956…it also sold over 1 million copies.
3—TWILIGHT TIME…(Mercury 71289) Charting in April of 1958 and it also became a million-seller.
The Platters were and still remain one of the very best vocal groups from the rock era.
..R&B or Pop…The Platters could do it all…On Mercury Records the original group charted 17 R&B single records and 38 Billboard Pop Hits. The Platters are the #1 vocal group of the 1950′s.
CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO LISTEN TO “THE PLATTERS”…SING THEIR #1 CROSS-VER HITS…
Till the next time—Joe
The Schoolboys are an R&B / Doo-Wop vocal group from Harlem, New York. Members included Leslie Martin, James Edwards, Roger Hayes, James McKay and Renaldo Gambie.
On February 16, 1957 The Schoolboys charted one side of their double-sided hit on the Billboard Top 100…SHIRLEY, climbed the Top 100 to #91. The single record also charted on the Billboard R&B chart on February 23, 1957 and went to #15. The Schoolboys hit was recorded on the Okeh Records label (7076). Th
e ballad side of the record is…PLEASE SAY YOU WANT 
ME…it charted on March 23, 1957 on the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #13. The song did not chart on the Top 100. The single record would become the groups only national hit record. Both sides of this classic single record are considered Doo-Wop classics.
The Golden Era Of Rock And Roll is pleased to present both sides of this wonderful record for you to enjoy…the great hits…from the greatest era in pop music…The “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.
The Schoolboys – Please Say You Want Me-1957
Till the next time—Joe
One great song two very different versions, both big hits. Nat King Cole charted his classic version of…MONA LISA in 1950. His version became a #1 hit on both the Billboard R&B and Pop charts. The single record on Capitol Records (F1010) became a #1 R&B hit for 4 weeks and a #1 Pop hit for 8 weeks. Nat’s version sold over 1 million copies and was awarded a “Gold Record”. He also won a “Grammy: Hall of Fame” award. The song was featured in the movie…”Captain Carey, U.S.A. starring Alan Ladd.
Carl Mann charted a rock-a-billy version in 1959. His recording on Phillips Records (3539) became a #24 Billboard R&B hit and a #25 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Carl’s version of MONA LISA remained on the Hot 100 for 16 weeks.
Conway Twitty charted his version of MONA LISA also in 1959. Conway’s version on MGM Records (12804) charted at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on th
e chart for 12 weeks.
Three versions of one classic song…pick your favorite…all three are here for you enjoyment.
Nat King Cole – Mona Lisa-1950 #1 R&B and Pop (Capitol Records)
Conway Twitty – Mona Lisa – 1959
Till the next time—Joe
One of my favorite tunes from the teen years is this great classic…OH JULIE by The Crescendos on the Nasco Records label (6005). The single record charted on January 6, 1958 and climbed the Billboard Top 100 chart to #5. The record crossed over to the Billboard R&B chart on January 27, 1958 and became a #4 hit record. Record sales topped 1 million and The Crescendos were awarded a gold record.
Members included…George Lanius, James Lanius, Ken Brigham, Tom Fortner and Jim Hall. George Lanius died in 1996 at the age of 56. The female voice on the record is Janice Green. The flip-side of the record is…MY LITTLE GIRL, it did not chart. The Crescendos did not chart any other hit records, but their one big hit…is a classic!!!!
CLICK THE TITLE BELOW…THE CRESCENDOS ARE SINGING…”OH JULIE”…JUST FOR YOU.
Till the next time—Joe
The Pentagons are an R&B/Doo-Wop group from San Bernadion, California. Members included Josephus Jones-lead vocal, half-brother Otis Munson and brothers Ken and Ted Goodloe. Ken Goodloe passed away in 2008 at the age of 60.
The groups biggest pop hit is their 1961 classic…TO BE LOVED (FOREVER) on Donna Records (1337). The record was first released on Fleetwood International (100) in 1960. The single charted on February 20, 1961, climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at #48. The Pentagons hit remained on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks. The flip-side of the single record is DOWN AT THE BEACH, it did not chart.
In October of 1961 the group charted their second single record…I WONDER (IF YOUR LOVE WILL EVER BELONG TO ME) on Jamie Records (1201). The single record charted at #84 on the Hot 100 and stayed on the pop chart for 5 weeks. The flip-side…SHE’S MINE did not c
hart.
The Pentagons did not chart any other hits, they should have, because they were that good. Their classic…TO BE LOVED (FOREVER) is an oldies and doo-wop classic that should have been even bigger in 1960 than it was. Thanks to oldies radio and internet oldies and doo-wop stations, the record has reached a new audience and lives in the ‘GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL”.
CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW…THE PENTAGONS ARE SINGING THEIR CLASSIC…”TO BE LOVED (FOREVER) JUST FOR YOU.
The Pentagons – To Be Loved (Forever)
Till the next time—Joe
Last Friday on February 3…marked 53 years since the tragic airplane crash took the lives of three of the biggest stars of Rock and Roll…BUDDY HOLLY…BIG BOPPER and RITCHIE VALENS. They lost their lives in a plan crash near Mason City, Iowa. The world grew a little sadder that day when news of their death flooded the air-waves…their star status…lifted to legendary…their music was of course, “original in sound”, each so very distinctive.
THE ”GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL” IS PROUD TO PRESENT A FEW OF THEIR CLASSIC HITS…LONG MAY THE MUSIC AND THEIR MEMORY LIVE…THEIR SONGS HAVE TOUCHED US ALL!!!
Big Bopper - Chantily Lace – 1958 Mercury Records
Big Bopper - Big Bopper’s Wedding – 1958 Mercury Records
Ritchie Valens – La Bamba – 1958 Del-Fi Records
Ritchie Valens – Donna – 1958 Del-Fi Records
Buddy Holly – Everyday – 1957 Coral Records
Buddy Holly – Maybe Baby – 1958 Brunswick Records (The Crickets)
LEGENDS LIVE FOREVER…
Till the next time—Joe
The Moonglows are one of the most famous R&B and Doo-Wop groups of all-time. They formed in Cleveland, Ohio. Lead singers were Bobby Lester, who died in 1980 (age 50) and Harvey Fuqua, died in 2010 (age 80), with Alexander “Pete” Graves, died in 2006 (age 76), Prentiss Barnes, also died in 2006 (age 81) and Billy Johnson, who played guitar…he died in 1987 (age 58).
The Moonglows recorded classic hits such as…SINCERELY a #1 R&B hit in 1955…MOST OF ALL…#5 in 1955…WE GO TOGETHER…#9 in1956 and…SEE SAW…a #6 hit also in 1956. In 1957 The Moonglows recorded the #5 R&B hit record…PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE.
One of the groups biggest hits charted in October of 1958…TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE on Chess Records, where all of the above mentioned hits were recorded. The single record was credited as “Harvey and The Moonglows” (Harvey Fuqua on lead) as was…SEE SAW and PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE. The single charted at #9 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE is a classic from the GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL and is still played today on oldies radio…great music takes on a life of its own…and lives on…CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW AND LISTEN TO…HARVEY AND THE MOONGLOWS…AS THEY SING…”TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE”.
Prentis Barnes is the brother of James “Pookie” Hudson of The Spaniels. The Moonglows were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
Harvey & The Moonglows – Ten Commandments Of Love
Till the next time—Joe
Growing up in the 1950s it is hard not to remember the great sounds of early rock and
roll. One of the songs that became a huge hit was recorded by the legendary R&B bandleader/composer…Johnny Otis…the classic…WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE. The single record on Capitol Records (3966), made its Billboard Top 100 debut on June 23, 1958 and charted at #9. The record remained on the Top 100 for 16 weeks. WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE charted even higher on the Billboard R&B chart, reaching #3. The song is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame..
With its great rhythm and beat the record was a natural for the teen market. Johnny was born John Veliotes on December 28, 1921 in Vallejo, California. In 1945 he started his own band, charting many hit records…one of his best is his version of HARLEM NOCTURNE-1951. He wrote, EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART which became a big hit for Gladys Knight and The Pips in 1961.
Johnny was known as the “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues”. Johnny’s R&B Caravan featured the top R&B artists of the 1950s. He is credited with discovering, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Willie John to name a few. He was also a well-known DJ in Los Angeles.
Johnny charted four hit records in the rock era, the biggest of course is his classic, WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE. Others include, CRAZY COUNTRY HOP-#87 in 1958…CASTIN’ MY SPELL-#52 in 1959 and MUMBLIN’ MOSIE-#80 in 1960. All of the single records were released on Capital Records.
Johnny Otis was selected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 (non-performer). On January 17, 2012 Johnny passed away at the age of 90. His music lives on…in our hearts and minds…remembering the days of WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE…wonderful memories from
the “GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL.
CLICK ON A TITLE BELOW…THE LEGENDARY JOHNNY OTIS IS WAITING TO SING FOR YOU!!!
Willie Did The Cha Cha Cha—Flip side of “Crazy Country Hop”
Till the next time—Joe
