"The Rest of The story"

[GridLeakBias]

My wife wanted to see the Drifters on her birthday in the early 80s. I tried my best to talk her out of it by telling her there was nobody left in the group that you'll recognize. I tried & I tried, but she insisted on going.
We still joke to this day about how terrible they were that night.

Hornet--do you know who sang lead on "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway" my two favorite Drifters songs?

“Up On The Roof” - Johnny Stewart sang lead tenor

“On Broadway” - Rudy Lewis sang lead tenor

Trying to follow the Drifters personnel history is very confusing.
GLB

 

[GridLeakBias]

I noticed Sinatra was infinitely more popular there (NY/Jersey area) than he was out West (with the obvious exception of Las Vegas).

Could his Hoboken, NJ background have anything to do with that?

 

[hornet61]

My wife wanted to see the Drifters on her birthday in the early 80s. I tried my best to talk her out of it by telling her there was nobody left in the group that you'll recognize. I tried & I tried, but she insisted on going.
We still joke to this day about how terrible they were that night.

Hornet--do you know who sang lead on "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway" my two favorite Drifters songs?

“Up On The Roof” - Johnny Stewart sang lead tenor

“On Broadway” - Rudy Lewis sang lead tenor

Trying to follow the Drifters personnel history is very confusing.
GLB

As GLB stated very confusing, Rudy Lewis is credited as lead on both "Up on the Roof" and "On Broadway" on the Drifters 4cd Box set, and would have been lead on "Under The Boardwalk" but died suddenly the night before the session and was replaced by former member of the original Drifters Johnny Moore. Some publications list Johnny Stewart (brother of singer Billy Stewart) as lead on "Up On the Roof" as GLB referenced. So typically, again,we remain puzzled when dealing with the Drifters, what we do know for sure is that they were an incredible group with a huge body of work. My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

 

[radioman148]

My wife wanted to see the Drifters on her birthday in the early 80s. I tried my best to talk her out of it by telling her there was nobody left in the group that you'll recognize. I tried & I tried, but she insisted on going.
We still joke to this day about how terrible they were that night.

Hornet--do you know who sang lead on "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway" my two favorite Drifters songs?

“Up On The Roof” - Johnny Stewart sang lead tenor

“On Broadway” - Rudy Lewis sang lead tenor

Trying to follow the Drifters personnel history is very confusing.
GLB

As GLB stated very confusing, Rudy Lewis is credited as lead on both "Up on the Roof" and "On Broadway" on the Drifters 4cd Box set, and would have been lead on "Under The Boardwalk" but died suddenly the night before the session and was replaced by former member of the original Drifters Johnny Moore. Some publications list Johnny Stewart (brother of singer Billy Stewart) as lead on "Up On the Roof" as GLB referenced. So typically, again,we remain puzzled when dealing with the Drifters, what we do know for sure is that they were an incredible group with a huge body of work. My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

Thanks Hornet--I knew you would know.

 

[TheFonz]

My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

"Whatcha Gonna Do", another great Drifters song, is the same tempo as "Fools". Clyde McPhatter did the lead on that one.

 

[GridLeakBias]

My wife wanted to see the Drifters on her birthday in the early 80s. I tried my best to talk her out of it by telling her there was nobody left in the group that you'll recognize. I tried & I tried, but she insisted on going.
We still joke to this day about how terrible they were that night.

Hornet--do you know who sang lead on "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway" my two favorite Drifters songs?

“Up On The Roof” - Johnny Stewart sang lead tenor

“On Broadway” - Rudy Lewis sang lead tenor

Trying to follow the Drifters personnel history is very confusing.
GLB

As GLB stated very confusing, Rudy Lewis is credited as lead on both "Up on the Roof" and "On Broadway" on the Drifters 4cd Box set, and would have been lead on "Under The Boardwalk" but died suddenly the night before the session and was replaced by former member of the original Drifters Johnny Moore. Some publications list Johnny Stewart (brother of singer Billy Stewart) as lead on "Up On the Roof" as GLB referenced. So typically, again,we remain puzzled when dealing with the Drifters, what we do know for sure is that they were an incredible group with a huge body of work. My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

My follow up research resulted in this information, which appears to be historically correct:

On June 28, 1962, there was an (Atlantic) Drifters session, which produced “Another Night With The Boys” (led by Rudy Lewis), “Up On The Roof” (Rudy Lewis), and “I Feel Good All Over” (Charlie Thomas). “Up On The Roof”/”Another Night With The Boys” was issued in September 1962 (Atlantic 2162).

The Atlantic January 22, 1963 session turned out two songs, both led by Rudy Lewis: “Let The Music Play” and “On Broadway.” (Atlantic 2182) The blues guitar on “On Broadway” was played by Phil Spector.

On May 21, 1964, the Drifters were due to record “Under The Boardwalk” in an evening recording session. Earlier that day, Johnny Moore ran into Sylvia Vanterpool (of Mickey and Sylvia), who cryptically said: “Thank God it isn't you.” He asked her what she was talking about and learned that one of the Drifters (it turned out to be Rudy Lewis) had died. The cause of death has been attributed to both asphyxiation (Rudy liked to eat very heavy meals late at night) and a drug overdose. Whatever the reason, the group, in tears, showed up for the session anyway. Ironically, one of the songs scheduled was “I Don't Want To Go On Without You,” which Charlie Thomas led as a tribute to Rudy. The full lineup of songs recorded that day was: “Under The Boardwalk” (led Johnny Moore), “He's Just A Playboy” (Johnny Moore), and “I Don't Want To Go On Without You” (Charlie Thomas). After Rudy died, the make-up of the Drifters stabilized for two years at: Johnny Moore, Charlie Thomas, Gene Pearson, and Johnny Terry.

One can find references to Johnny Stewart singing lead on the Atlantic 2162 recording of “Up On The Roof”, and then we find a number of sources listing Rudy Lewis as lead – perhaps we’ll never know for sure. But there is one thing for sure – the Drifters, with all their personnel changes, was one of the top vocal groups of the era.

 

[radioman148]

My wife wanted to see the Drifters on her birthday in the early 80s. I tried my best to talk her out of it by telling her there was nobody left in the group that you'll recognize. I tried & I tried, but she insisted on going.
We still joke to this day about how terrible they were that night.

Hornet--do you know who sang lead on "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway" my two favorite Drifters songs?

“Up On The Roof” - Johnny Stewart sang lead tenor

“On Broadway” - Rudy Lewis sang lead tenor

Trying to follow the Drifters personnel history is very confusing.
GLB

As GLB stated very confusing, Rudy Lewis is credited as lead on both "Up on the Roof" and "On Broadway" on the Drifters 4cd Box set, and would have been lead on "Under The Boardwalk" but died suddenly the night before the session and was replaced by former member of the original Drifters Johnny Moore. Some publications list Johnny Stewart (brother of singer Billy Stewart) as lead on "Up On the Roof" as GLB referenced. So typically, again,we remain puzzled when dealing with the Drifters, what we do know for sure is that they were an incredible group with a huge body of work. My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

My follow up research resulted in this information, which appears to be historically correct:

On June 28, 1962, there was an (Atlantic) Drifters session, which produced “Another Night With The Boys” (led by Rudy Lewis), “Up On The Roof” (Rudy Lewis), and “I Feel Good All Over” (Charlie Thomas). “Up On The Roof”/”Another Night With The Boys” was issued in September 1962 (Atlantic 2162).

The Atlantic January 22, 1963 session turned out two songs, both led by Rudy Lewis: “Let The Music Play” and “On Broadway.” (Atlantic 2182) The blues guitar on “On Broadway” was played by Phil Spector.

On May 21, 1964, the Drifters were due to record “Under The Boardwalk” in an evening recording session. Earlier that day, Johnny Moore ran into Sylvia Vanterpool (of Mickey and Sylvia), who cryptically said: “Thank God it isn't you.” He asked her what she was talking about and learned that one of the Drifters (it turned out to be Rudy Lewis) had died. The cause of death has been attributed to both asphyxiation (Rudy liked to eat very heavy meals late at night) and a drug overdose. Whatever the reason, the group, in tears, showed up for the session anyway. Ironically, one of the songs scheduled was “I Don't Want To Go On Without You,” which Charlie Thomas led as a tribute to Rudy. The full lineup of songs recorded that day was: “Under The Boardwalk” (led Johnny Moore), “He's Just A Playboy” (Johnny Moore), and “I Don't Want To Go On Without You” (Charlie Thomas). After Rudy died, the make-up of the Drifters stabilized for two years at: Johnny Moore, Charlie Thomas, Gene Pearson, and Johnny Terry.

One can find references to Johnny Stewart singing lead on the Atlantic 2162 recording of “Up On The Roof”, and then we find a number of sources listing Rudy Lewis as lead – perhaps we’ll never know for sure. But there is one thing for sure – the Drifters, with all their personnel changes, was one of the top vocal groups of the era.

Thanks for the update Grid. I always thought that Rudy Lewis sang the lead in both "Up On The Roof" and "On Broadway", but I was never sure.

 

[Silkie]

My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

"Just play them two bars of 'Stardust'
Just hang out one silly moon...."

 

[radioman148]

My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

"Just play them two bars of 'Stardust'
Just hang out one silly moon...."

Anybody but me familiar with a Drifters song from 1966 called "The Streets of Harlem?"

 

[GridLeakBias]

My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

"Just play them two bars of 'Stardust'
Just hang out one silly moon...."

Anybody but me familiar with a Drifters song from 1966 called "The Streets of Harlem?"

Do you mean ""Up In The Streets Of Harlem" b/w "You Can't Love Them All", (Atlantic 2336) ?

 

[radioman148]

My alltime favorite Drifters song is a great jitterbug number "Fools Fall In Love In A Hurry".

"Just play them two bars of 'Stardust'
Just hang out one silly moon...."

Anybody but me familiar with a Drifters song from 1966 called "The Streets of Harlem?"

Do you mean ""Up In The Streets Of Harlem" b/w "You Can't Love Them All", (Atlantic 2336) ?

That's the one ;D

 

[hornet61]

In the early 60's Eddie Davis pressed by a young gent by the name of Billy Cardenas, started a series of labels including Rampart, Faro and Linda to showcase EAST LA burgeoning bands. Some of the bands brought in by Cardenas were "The Romancers", "The Salas Brothers"(eventually played with El Chicano and morphed into Tierra), "Atlantics" and "The Premiers" of "Farmer John" Fame on "Faro" records and eventaully a four man combo "Cannibal and the Headhunters on "Rampart". Cannibal and the Headhunters from the Ramona Garden Housing projects in east LA , consisted of the Jaramillo Brothers "Rabbit" and Jo-Jo, Richard "Scar" Lopez, and a dynamic performer and dancer Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia. the Headhunters were a local fan favorite and would tour with their stablemates on the various Davis Labels.
There are many stories surrounging what happened next, this is one of them....One historic night at the "Rythmn Room" in Fullerton Ca., the twin bill of "The premiers" and "The headhunters" was suddenly missing the "Premiers", who had recently released a version of the Chris Kenner classic "Land of 1,000 Dances". Forced to cover for the "Premiers" The Headhunters were implored by the club owner to sing the new record by the Premiers.......Frankie not knowing the lyrics, ad-libbed what is today an EAST LA legend..."I said a na na na na, na na na na, na na na na na na, you got to know how to pony like boney maroney"..thus was born "Cannibal and the Headhunters" legendary version of Land Of A 1,000 Dances" on Rampart. The story gets better, The Beatles had just agreed to tour the USA and the potential opening acts were being discussed , John Lennon shouted out, get us the NA NA Na Boys. So Cannibal and the Headhunters jumped on plane to England, opened for the Beatles at various UK sites and headed back to the USA to open for the Beatles on their historic tour, which was climaxed by a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which was packed with EAST LA kids, and they went nuts as the curtain came up and there stood "CANNIBAL AND THE HEADHUNTERS", the Beatles didn't stand a chance that night. Sadly Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia died in 1996 at age 49, Jo-Jo Jaramillio passed in 2000 aged 51.....but for that moment at the Hollywood Bowl, they could tell their grandchildren "We Were Bigger than the Beatles" no other group in the history of Rock N' Roll can make that claim.

 

[radioman148]

Great story Hornet!

 

[hornet61]

yeah, thats the kind of story that warms your heart...

 

[radioman148]

yeah, thats the kind of story that warms your heart...

Definitely.

 

[hornet61]

correction to my "Cannibal Story" ...it was Thee Midnighters not the Premiers that recorded "Land of 1,000 Dances" prior to Cannibal.

The Superstar...this future superstar female singer was turned down by Mitch Miller at Columbia, Mitch said "she has no potential"...then she was signed shortly thereafter by MGM,. She toiled at MGM thru several singles and just couldn't get untracked. In desparation they teamed her with their hit Country Singer Mavin Rainwater ("Gonna find me a Blue Bird") and that produced a flop duet LP. Her contract at MGM called for one more Lp her father and manager declared, "these big shot producers have'nt delivered, I will pick out the material for the LP". He went to the Roaring 20's for several cuts from that era, the first cut was from 1923 "Who's Sorry Now" and that jump started the career of Concetta Franconero, Connie Francis. "Who's sorry now peaked at #4, others he selected "My Happiness"(1938),If I Didn't Care (1939),"Among My Souvenirs"(1928). About the same time Connie was dating this Brash and cocky young singer, that the father despised...legend has It that on day the dad pulled a gun on this young singer and warned to stay away from his daughter, even thou he loved Connie he left for good , his name "Bobby Darin".

 

[radioman148]

correction to my "Cannibal Story" ...it was Thee Midnighters not the Premiers that recorded "Land of 1,000 Dances" prior to Cannibal.

The Superstar...this future superstar female singer was turned down by Mitch Miller at Columbia, Mitch said "she has no potential"...then she was signed shortly thereafter by MGM,. She toiled at MGM thru several singles and just couldn't get untracked. In desparation they teamed her with their hit Country Singer Mavin Rainwater ("Gonna find me a Blue Bird") and that produced a flop duet LP. Her contract at MGM called for one more Lp her father and manager declared, "these big shot producers have'nt delivered, I will pick out the material for the LP". He went to the Roaring 20's for several cuts from that era, the first cut was from 1923 "Who's Sorry Now" and that jump started the career of Concetta Franconero, Connie Francis. "Who's sorry now peaked at #4, others he selected "My Happiness"(1938),If I Didn't Care (1939),"Among My Souvenirs"(1928). About the same time Connie was dating this Brash and cocky young singer, that the father despised...legend has It that on day the dad pulled a gun on this young singer and warned to stay away from his daughter, even thou he loved Connie he left for good , his name "Bobby Darin".

And Connie has stated several times that the biggest mistake she ever made was not marrying Bobby Darin.
Why isn't Connie Francis in the Rock & Roll HOF?

 

[hornet61]

From Fred Bronson: 02/18/56 "Rock N' Roll Waltz" by Kay Starr........ became first number one on billboard by a female artist in the Rock N' Roll era....first #1 to have "Rock N' Roll" in the title.....and the first #1 for RCA records (Elvis would soon change That).

also Feb 1956
Lisbon Antigua and Poor People of Paris......first and only time Instrumentals were ever back to back 1's.............both songs featured foreign cities (only 5 of over 700 #1 songs have had non-american titles, the others were ...Calcutta, Winchester and Glasgow)

Dec 1959....Frankie Avalon's "Why"..........Last #1 of the 50's..........shortest Title to reach #1

Jan 04,1960 ..El Paso by Marty Robbins ...first #1 of the 60's decade.....First Country song to win a Grammy ...the longest song (at five minutes) to reach #1 up to then.

from fred bronsons Billboad Book of Number One Hits.

 

[radioman148]

From Fred Bronson: 02/18/56 "Rock N' Roll Waltz" by Kay Starr........ became first number one on billboard by a female artist in the Rock N' Roll era....first #1 to have "Rock N' Roll" in the title.....and the first #1 for RCA records (Elvis would soon change That).

also Feb 1956
Lisbon Antigua and Poor People of Paris......first and only time Instrumentals were ever back to back 1's.............both songs featured foreign cities (only 5 of over 700 #1 songs have had non-american titles, the others were ...Calcutta, Winchester and Glasgow)

Dec 1959....Frankie Avalon's "Why"..........Last #1 of the 50's..........shortest Title to reach #1

Jan 04,1960 ..El Paso by Marty Robbins ...first #1 of the 60's decade.....First Country song to win a Grammy ...the longest song (at five minutes) to reach #1 up to then.

from fred bronsons Billboad Book of Number One Hits.

Great info Hornet--Thanks!

 

[Silkie]

>>And Connie has stated several times that the biggest mistake she ever made was not marrying Bobby Darin.
Why isn't Connie Francis in the Rock & Roll HOF?<<

When the prince arrives, and you know it, you hold on for dear life - even if papa has a gun in his face - however long it takes for the prince to sort out and figure out whose foot the slipper fits. Now, why she isn't in the R & R Hall of Fame is as much a mystery as why Chicago is not in the R & R Hall of Fame. You should hear their excuses.