Hi, I'm Debbie the Dellette...
a teenager of the 1950s
dancing at the Shady Dell.
I am also president of the Old York -
Shady Dell chapter of the
Top Hit Club of America!
Today my friends and I will make
you regret the day you were born!
What do I mean by that? When you hear the records my fellow Dell rats
play at today's meeting, you will wish you had been a teenager in York, PA,
in the 1950s and 60s and a regular at Shady Dell during those golden years.
in the 1950s and 60s and a regular at Shady Dell during those golden years.
Remember, as these original rats spin their songs:
"Don't just listen with your ears -
listen with your heart."
The rats are restless and eager to get started, and I second that emotion.
The meeting of the Old York - Shady Dell chapter of the
Top Hit Club of America will hereby come to order!
The meeting of the Old York - Shady Dell chapter of the
Top Hit Club of America will hereby come to order!
In vol. 1 of this series, original
Dell rat Ron Shearer joined
Dell rat Tom Anderson.
The veteran vermin
took turns playing
classic Dell songs
and reminiscing.
Today it's our good friend
Jerre Slaybaugh's turn to play
dueling turntables with Tom.
Jerre was sworn in as a Dell rat
in 1959 and ran with the pack
through the mid 60s.
Jerre sent in a list of the most memorable tunes played
in the Dell dance hall during the years he hung out
there, and I am proud to play them for
Jerre's entertainment and yours.
THE FIESTAS
Jerre would like us to hear a song by The Fiestas,
the R&B group from Newark, New Jersey, led by
Tommy Bullock. The Fiestas are best known for
"So Fine," a single that brushed the top 10 in the
spring of 1959. On the back of "So Fine," Jerre
and other members of the rat pack found this
gold nugget, a sweet ballad entitled--
"Last Night I Dreamed."
the R&B group from Newark, New Jersey, led by
Tommy Bullock. The Fiestas are best known for
"So Fine," a single that brushed the top 10 in the
spring of 1959. On the back of "So Fine," Jerre
and other members of the rat pack found this
gold nugget, a sweet ballad entitled--
"Last Night I Dreamed."
"Last Night I Dreamed" - The Fiestas
(Apr./May 1959, B side of "So Fine")
THE RIVINGTONS
Here's more proof that Dell rats had a knack for
discovering hidden treasures on the flip sides
of jukebox singles. In 1962 The Rivingtons,
an R&B group from Los Angeles led by
discovering hidden treasures on the flip sides
of jukebox singles. In 1962 The Rivingtons,
an R&B group from Los Angeles led by
Carl White, had a top 50 minor hit with
the up tempo novelty number "Papa-
Oom-Mow-Mow." Jerre and his
fellow Dell rats took the plunge,
flipped the record and dove into
the fine B ballad-- "Deep Water."
the up tempo novelty number "Papa-
Oom-Mow-Mow." Jerre and his
fellow Dell rats took the plunge,
flipped the record and dove into
the fine B ballad-- "Deep Water."
"Deep Water" - The Rivingtons
(Sept. 1962, B side of "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow")
Hooray for the Rodentia Intelligentsia, Jerre! We already
knew that Dell rats had radar for cool, and you offered
even more evidence of the phenomenon with these
two obscure B sides that turned into slow dance
classics at the Dell.
knew that Dell rats had radar for cool, and you offered
even more evidence of the phenomenon with these
two obscure B sides that turned into slow dance
classics at the Dell.
Alright, Jerre, now it's time for you to take a break
so that we can find out what Dell Rat Tom brought
to the turntable. Tom told me he picked these
tunes with you in mind. Looks like he's set
to spin, so take it away, Tommy boy!
so that we can find out what Dell Rat Tom brought
to the turntable. Tom told me he picked these
tunes with you in mind. Looks like he's set
to spin, so take it away, Tommy boy!
THE LAVENDERS
Thanks, Debbie! The first record I'd like to play for you,
Jerre and the other club members was waxed in 1961
by The Lavenders, a doo-wop group from Camden,
New Jersey, right across the Delaware River from
Philadelphia. The Lavenders included lead singer
Brent Edwards, formerly with Dale and the
Cashmeres, and Leon Huff on piano. Huff,
as you know, went on to fame in the 70s
as one of the architects of The Sound of
Philadelphia through his partnership
with Kenny Gamble. As the story goes
The Lavenders were playing at a club
in West Philly when they were dis-
covered by John Madara of the East
Coast producing team Madara & White.
by The Lavenders, a doo-wop group from Camden,
New Jersey, right across the Delaware River from
Philadelphia. The Lavenders included lead singer
Brent Edwards, formerly with Dale and the
Cashmeres, and Leon Huff on piano. Huff,
as you know, went on to fame in the 70s
as one of the architects of The Sound of
Philadelphia through his partnership
with Kenny Gamble. As the story goes
The Lavenders were playing at a club
in West Philly when they were dis-
covered by John Madara of the East
Coast producing team Madara & White.
With another Philly music legend, Jerry Ross, producing them, The Lavenders
released the up tempo dance craze single "Slide" backed with this dreamy ballad
on the B side. Here's young Leon Huff playing with The Lavenders on-- "Angel."
"Angel" - The Lavenders
(Oct./Nov. 1961, B side of "Slide")
THE FASCINATORS
Like many other doo-wop groups of the 1950s,
The Fascinators emerged from a group of guys
who enjoyed singing harmonies on the street
corners of Brooklyn. With Tony Passalaqua on
lead vocals The Fascinators landed a contract
with Capitol but recorded only three singles
before being dropped by the label. I'm going
to play their third and final release. From the
summer of 1959, backed by Jesse Stone and
The Fascinators emerged from a group of guys
who enjoyed singing harmonies on the street
corners of Brooklyn. With Tony Passalaqua on
lead vocals The Fascinators landed a contract
with Capitol but recorded only three singles
before being dropped by the label. I'm going
to play their third and final release. From the
summer of 1959, backed by Jesse Stone and
his Orchestra, The Fascinators continue my
"Run for the Rosies" with-- "Oh Rose Marie."
"Run for the Rosies" with-- "Oh Rose Marie."
"Oh Rose Marie" - The Fascinators
(July/Aug. 1959)
JIVE FIVE WITH
EUGENE PITT
Thanks, Tommy! Great stuff there, and now you have me curious about the other
songs that go along with your "Run for the Rosies" theme. Before we find out,
let's listen to another platter recommended by Dell Rat Jerre Slaybaugh.
let's listen to another platter recommended by Dell Rat Jerre Slaybaugh.
Jerre loves The Jive Five, the Brooklyn based doo-wop group that featured the lead vocals of the late Eugene Pitt. I'm sad
to report that Eugene died in the summer of 2018. In 1961,
The Jive Five struck gold with their first single "My True
Story" which topped the R&B chart and went top 3 pop.
The group followed with a string of excellent doo-wop
records that kept Dell couples locked in warm embrace
night after night, year after year. Strange as it seems,
several of these great sounds missed the R&B chart,
the pop chart, or both. One such mysterious miss is the
1962 release "What Time Is It?"... a modest hit on the
pop side that never showed up on the black chart. Dell
rats paid no attention to the charts. They made their own
hits and left no record unturned - always checking out the
flip sides in search of gems. They found this one on the
back of "What Time Is It?" Listen to this killer B, a song
that might remind you of "My True Story." Credited as
Jive Five With Eugene Pitt, here's "Beggin' You Please!"
"Beggin' You Please" - Jive Five With Eugene Pitt
(September 1962, B side of "What Time Is It?")
That's classic doo-wop, Jerre.
Thank you! Okay, now sit
back, relax and listen as
Dell Rat Tom completes
his highly touted
"Run For the Rosies!"
ROSIE
Debbie, I'm sure you and Jerre can tell where I'm
going with this. I already played a song called
"Angel" and another called "Oh Rose Marie."
Now here's Rose "Rosie" Hamlin, lead singer
of Rosie And The Originals, the group best
known for their hit "Angel Baby." In 1961
Rosie released the solo album Lonely Blue
Nights. One of the songs on the LP is the
bluesy number "Maybe I'm Dreamin'."
going with this. I already played a song called
"Angel" and another called "Oh Rose Marie."
Now here's Rose "Rosie" Hamlin, lead singer
of Rosie And The Originals, the group best
known for their hit "Angel Baby." In 1961
Rosie released the solo album Lonely Blue
Nights. One of the songs on the LP is the
bluesy number "Maybe I'm Dreamin'."
"Maybe I'm Dreamin'" - Rosie
(from 1961 album Lonely Blue Nights)
THE
MELLO-TONES
To complete my "Run For the Rosies," here
are the Mello-Tones, a vocal group formed
by a group of boyhood friends from the
are the Mello-Tones, a vocal group formed
by a group of boyhood friends from the
same Manhattan neighborhood. Their
influences included the vintage R&B
groups The Orioles, The Cadillacs and
the Five Keys. With tenor Ray Hulbert
on lead vocals and backed by the
Hank Ivory Orchestra, The Mello-
Tones recorded "Rosie Lee," an
up tempo single that cracked the
top 30 in the spring of 1957.
influences included the vintage R&B
groups The Orioles, The Cadillacs and
the Five Keys. With tenor Ray Hulbert
on lead vocals and backed by the
Hank Ivory Orchestra, The Mello-
Tones recorded "Rosie Lee," an
up tempo single that cracked the
top 30 in the spring of 1957.
"Rosie Lee" - The Mello-Tones
(May/June 1957, highest chart pos. #24 Hot 100/#27 Cash Box)
Many thanks to Dell rats Jerry Slaybaugh
and Tom Anderson for sharing their
Shady Dell music and memories with us.
I hope you had a good
time eavesdropping on
today's meeting of the
Old York - Shady Dell
today's meeting of the
Old York - Shady Dell
Chapter of the Top Hit
Club of America. Stay
tuned for more doo-
wop classics of the
50s and 60s spun by
original Dell rats Jerre,
Ron and Tom coming
your way soon!
