Singers Who started in Doo Wop Groups Quiz

Answer: The Brooklyn Bridge

Luther Vandross' aunt Priscilla was an original member of the Crests along with J.T. Carter, Johnny Mastrangelo, Talmadge Gough and Harold Torres. Mastrangelo abbreviated his name to Johnny Mastro when The Crests had hits including "16 Candles", "Trouble in Paradise" and "The Angels Listened In". Patricia Vandross left the group in 1958 and Mastro left three years later to start a solo career. He had Top Forty singles in 1961 with "Model Girl" and "What A Surprise" before changing his name to Johnny Maestro.
He was backed in a New York night club by a group called The Rhythm Method which was changed to The Brooklyn Bridge. Their first release was a cover of "Worst That Could Happen" written by Jimmy Webb originally recorded by The 5th Dimension. The Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge version reached Number Three in the US.
"Does Your Mama Know About Me" by Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers went to Number 29 in 1968. The Dells released the Top Twenty "Always Together" in 1968 and "Searching for My Love" by Bobby Moore and The Rhythm Aces was a 1966 release.

Answer: The Regents

Ernie Maresca began his musical career with a group called The Monterays. They changed their name to The Desires before becoming The Regents. Maresca wrote "Runaround" for the Regents as well as several hits for Dion including "No One Knows", "Donna the Prima Donna" and "The Wanderer". He partnered with Dion to compose Dion's Number One single "Runaround Sue".
Maresca signed with Seville Records in 1961 and released the Number Six "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)" the following year. He failed to have another Top Forty single but continued to have success as a songwriter. He released his own version of "The Wanderer" in 1968 as Artie Chicago (From The Bronx).
The Capris had a hit in 1961 with "There's a Moon Out Tonight". In 1959 The Mystics released "Hushabye". The Spaniels released the hit single "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" in 1954.

Answer: The Impressions

Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield first sang together in a Chicago church choir. Jerry Butler co-wrote the song "For Your Precious Love" with Arthur and Richard Brooks then joined Curtis Mayfield, Fred Cash and Sam Gooden to form The Impressions. They secured a recording deal with Vee-Jay Records and released "For Your Precious Love". The song became the group's first hit and earned a Gold Record.
In the early sixties Butler embarked on a solo career. He wrote "I've Been Loving You Too Long" with Otis Redding and had hits with "He Will Break Your Heart", "Only the Strong Survive" and partnered with Betty Everett for a rendition of "Let It Be Me".
The Impressions went on to enjoy hit singles with "Gypsy Woman" (1961), "It's All Right" (1963) and "Keep On Pushing" (1964).
"Shop Around" was a 1961 hit from The Miracles. "Blue Moon" was released by The Marcels the same year and "Baby, I'm for Real" by The Originals came out in 1969.

Answer: Frankie Lymon

Herman Santiago, Joe Negroni, Jimmy Merchant, Frankie Lymon and Sherman Garnes were the members of The Teenagers in 1954. Frankie Lymon along with Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant received composer credits for their first hit, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love".
When the band was invited to audition for a recording deal the following year Santiago was too sick to sing so Frankie sang lead for their first and biggest hit song. All the members were indeed teenagers when the song became a hit single. In 1957 they became billed as "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers" which led to the record company eventually billing Frankie as a solo act. The remaining Teenagers remained a quartet but never realized the success they had enjoyed with Frankie singing lead.
Little Anthony fronted The Imperials. Vito Balsamo fronted Vito and The Salutations. Dominick "Randy" Safuto sang lead for Randy and the Rainbows.

Answer: Thurston Harris

The Lamplighters changed their name to The Tenderfoots and The Sharps while Thurston Harris was singing lead vocals. In 1957 Harris signed with Aladdin Records as a solo artist and recorded his rendition of the Bobby Day single "Little Bitty Pretty One". His version reached Number Six on the US Billboard chart. The following year "Do What You Did" made the Top Twenty. He released his final single on Aladdin in 1959 then signed with a number of labels without Top Forty success.
The Sharps changed their name to The Rivingtons and had a hit with "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" (1962).
Harold Winley, King Raymond Green and Franklen Poole were founding members of The Clovers who had a 1959 hit single with "Love Potion No. 9".

Answer: The Tokens

Formed in 1955 as The Linc-Tones original members Eddie Rabkin, Neil Sedaka, Hank Medress and Cynthia Zolotin changed their name to the Tokens and released "While I Dream" in 1956. The following year Cynthia Zolotin and Neil Sedaka left The Tokens.
Neil signed with RCA Victor Records and had three flops before "The Diary" charted. He followed with several hits including "Oh! Carol" (1959) and "Calendar Girl" (1961).
In 1961 the Tokens released "Tonight I Fell In Love" followed by the Number One single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
The Capris had a 1961 one-hit wonder with "There's a Moon Out Tonight". "Smoky Places" was a 1962 single from The Corsairs. The Echoes were an English group formed in 1960 by singer Chris Wayne.

Answer: The Teddy Bears

Phil Spector wrote "To Know Him Is to Love Him" while in high school and formed The Teddy Bears to record the song. With fellow members Harvey Goldstein, Marshall Leib and Annette Kleinbard they recorded the song for the Dore label. "To Know Him Is to Love Him" went to Number One for three weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Although the song was a major hit the group broke up the following year.
Phil went on to become a legendary producer and Annette changed her name to Carol Connors and focused on songwriting. She wrote The Rip Chords' single "Hey Little Cobra" and was nominated for an Academy Award for the Rocky theme song "Gonna Fly Now," which she wrote with with Ayn Robbins.
The Heartbeats released "A Thousand Miles Away" in 1957. The Sensations formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and had their first hit in 1956 with "Yes Sir That's My Baby". The Monotones released "The Book of Love" in 1958.

Answer: Clyde McPhatter

In addition to Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson was another singer who began his career with Billy Ward and His Dominoes. When forming his vocal group in the early fifties Billy Ward recruited Clyde McPhatter when Clyde won an amateur contest at The Apollo. Joe Lamont, Charlie White and Bill Brown joined the group originally called The Ques. When they signed with Federal Records they became The Dominoes and released "Sixty Minute Man" in 1951.
In 1953 McPhatter left and became part of The Drifters. He was replaced by Jackie Wilson. The following year Wilson was the vocalist on their single "St. Therese of the Roses". Wilson left the group in 1957.
Roy Brown wrote "Good Rocking Tonight" in 1947. In 1951 Johnny Otis released "Mambo Boogie". Bill Pinkney was a member of The Drifters.

Answer: Gene Chandler

In 1957 Gene Chandler joined The Dukays. Shirley Jones, Earl Edwards, James Lowe and Ben Broyles comprised the band with Chandler as their main singer. In 1961 the group released "The Girl Is a Devil" and followed with "Nite Owl" in 1962 on the Vee-Jay label.

In 1962 Vee-Jay released "Duke of Earl" with Gene as a solo artist. Both songs were on the US charts in 1962 with "Nite Owl" peaking at 73 and "Duke of Earl" topping the charts. Chandler appeared on stage and in the 1962 movie "Don't Knock the Twist" wearing a monocle and top hat while performing "Duke of Earl".

Despite his success Chandler left Vee-Jay the following year. Chandler collaborated with Curtis Mayfield on various projects after releasing "Duke of Earl". Maurice Williams fronted the Zodiacs and Otis Williams and the Charms were originally called The Charms.

Answer: True

Philadelphia native Len Barry was born Leonard Borisoff and aspired to be a baseball player. While in the service he began to sing with the Coast Guard band and decided music was his calling. When he was discharged he formed The Dovells and had a string of hits including "You Can't Sit Down" (1963), "Bristol Stomp" (1961) and "Hully Gully Baby" (1965). "Bristol Stomp" became the group's biggest hit, reaching Number Two on the US Billboard charts.

The Dovells toured with James Brown and were in the 1962 movie "Don't Knock the Twist". In 1965 Barry released "1-2-3" as a solo artist which made it to Number Two on the US Billboard charts.

In 1966 "Like a Baby" reached Number 27.