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Cameo-Parkway
Cameo-Parkway Records was the parent company of Cameo Records and Parkway Records, which were major American Philadelphia-based record labels from 1956 (for Cameo) and 1958 (for Parkway) to 1967. Among the types of music released were doo-wop, dance music, dance hits, pop rock, popular/rock, rockabilly, big band, garage rock, soul music, soul and novelty song, novelty records. Until 1962, Cameo was also the parent company name for both labels, and Parkway was a subsidiary. In 1962, the parent company was renamed from Cameo to Cameo-Parkway, to give both labels equal status. In some foreign markets, Cameo-Parkway was also a label name, issuing records by artists from both labels. The Cameo-Parkway catalogue is currently owned by ABKCO Records. History Cameo Records was founded in December 1956 in Philadelphia by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann; it has no connection to the 1920s record label Cameo Records. Parkway, initially a subsidiary label, was formed in 1958. Mann and Lowe had been ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bobby Rydell
Robert Louis Ridarelli (April 26, 1942 – April 5, 2022), known by the stage name Bobby Rydell (), was an American singer and actor who mainly performed rock and roll and traditional pop music. In the early 1960s, he was considered a teen idol. His most well-known songs include "Wildwood Days", "Wild One (Bobby Rydell song), Wild One" and "Volare (song), Volare" (cover of an Italian song by Domenico Modugno, "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song), Nel blu, dipinto di blu"); in 1963 he appeared in the musical film ''Bye Bye Birdie (1963 film), Bye Bye Birdie''. In the 1980s, he joined a trio called The Golden Boys, with fellow former teen idols Frankie Avalon and Fabian Forte. He continued to tour up until his death in 2022. Early life Rydell was born on April 26, 1942 and was the son of Jennie Ridarelli (née Sapienza) and Adrio "Al" Ridarelli. Both of his parents were of Italian-Americans, Italian descent. He grew up in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of South Philadelphia. As a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ABKCO Records
ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. (Allen & Betty Klein Company) is an American independent record label, music publisher, and film and video production company. It owns and/or administers the rights to music by Sam Cooke, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Herman's Hermits, Marianne Faithfull, Dishwalla, the Kinks as well as the Cameo Parkway label, which includes recordings by such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, the Orlons, the Dovells, Question Mark & the Mysterians, the Tymes and Dee Dee Sharp. Until 2009, ABKCO administered Philles Records and its master recordings, including hits by the Righteous Brothers, the Ronettes, the Crystals and others (via a licensing deal with EMI Music Publishing, which owned the Philles catalog since the mid-1990s). The label is infamous for its management contracts and lawsuits by its founder Allen Klein, the latter of which persisted until his death. ABKCO Records is currently distributed by Universal Music Distribution, which also co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charlie Gracie
Charles Anthony Graci (May 14, 1936 – December 16, 2022), known professionally as Charlie Gracie, was an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer and guitarist. His biggest hits were "Butterfly" and "Fabulous", both in 1957. Career Early career Charlie Gracie was born in South Philadelphia to Santo ("Sam") and Mary Graci (née Cappizzi), who were both of Sicilian heritage. At the age of 10, Gracie's father encouraged him to play the guitar. His musical career started at the age of 16 when he appeared on the Paul Whiteman television show in 1952. Gracie performed at weddings, local restaurants, and parties, and on local radio and television. He also won regional talent contests. Charlie graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1952. The owner of Cadillac Records, Graham Prince, heard one of Gracie's early radio performances, contacted the young musician and signed him to a recording contract. This association yielded the single "Boogie Woogie Blues" backed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bernie Lowe
Bernard Lowe (born Lowenthal, November 22, 1917 – September 1, 1993) was an American songwriter, record producer, arranger, pianist and bandleader. Born in Philadelphia, Lowe started Teen Records and in 1955 was working with Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. He asked Bell to rewrite the lyrics of " Hound Dog" to appeal to a broader radio audience. Teen Records and the group had a regional hit with this version of the song, which was one of four songs the group did with Lowe. It was this same version that Elvis Presley heard in Las Vegas, Nevada, adopted, recorded, and made his own. Lowe went on to co-pen with Kal Mann the chart-topping song, "Teddy Bear", for the same singer. Lowe sometimes masqueraded as 'Harold Land'. This enabled him to be affiliated with both ASCAP and BMI. Lowe founded Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Cameo Records in 1956, and Cameo was later expanded into the Cameo-Parkway Records label. The owners then signed a then unknown singer, Ernest Evans, to their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Appell
David Appell (March 24, 1922 – November 18, 2014) was an American musician, arranger and record producer born in Philadelphia. Career Appell (pronounced "AP-el") is associated mainly with the Cameo-Parkway record label, in whose history he played a substantial part. He started working as an arranger for several United States Navy big bands in the mid-1940s during his service in World War II, including Jimmie Lunceford's black orchestra. He later arranged for dance orchestras, including Benny Carter and Earl "Fatha" Hines. He recorded for a while on Decca Records as the Dave Appell Four, until Paul Cohen of Decca suggested he change the group name to the Applejacks. Appell also became a publisher, joining ASCAP in 1955, collaborating with Max Freedman. He appeared prominently in the 1956 Alan Freed film, ''Don't Knock the Rock'', and worked for a while as the studio band and music director on the Ernie Kovacs TV and radio shows in Philadelphia. Next Appell and the Applej ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cameo Records
Cameo Records was an American record label that flourished in the 1920s. It was owned by the Cameo Record Corporation in New York City. Cameo released a disc by Lucille Hegamin every two months from 1921 to 1926. Cameo Records are also noted for dance music. The catalogue also included the Original Memphis Five and the Varsity Eight. Musicians such as Red Nichols, Miff Mole, Adrian Rollini, and Frank Signorelli made trips to the Cameo studios. In 1926, Cameo started recording using a microphone-electrical process. An interesting blues number is 583, "Crazy Blues", by Salt & Pepper. ''Dawnofsound.com'' The Cameo Record Corporation started [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Bandstand
''American Bandstand'' (AB) is an American Music television, music performance and dance television series that aired in various iterations from 1952 to 1989. It was hosted by Dick Clark who also served as the program's Television producer, producer. The program showcased teenagers dancing to popular songs from the Top 40. Originally broadcast from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it remained there from its debut in 1952 until it relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 1963. Throughout its run, a wide variety of musical acts appeared on the show, typically Lip sync, lip- syncing to one of their latest singles. Music artist, Artists performed for a studio audience, while the original recording played for viewers at home. Freddy Cannon holds the record for the most appearances, with 110. History 1950s ''American Bandstand'' premiered locally in late March 1952 as ''Bandstand'' on Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV Channel 6 (now WPVI-TV). Hosted by Bob Horn (broadcaster), Bob ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dinner With Drac
Dinner with Drac is a 1958 novelty song by American radio and TV presenter John Zacherle, released on Cameo-Parkway Records. It was his biggest hit and is widely considered his signature song. Zacherle later released several LPs mixing horror sound effects with novelty songs, like ''82 Tombstones'', ''Monster Mash'', ''Lunch with Mother Goose'', ''I Was a Teenage Caveman'' and ''Dinner with Zach'', none of which enjoyed the same succes. Background In 1958, partly with the assistance and backing of Dick Clark, Zacherle cut "Dinner with Drac" for Cameo Records, backed by Dave Appell. The lyrics, all delivered as limericks, describe how Zacherle has dinner with Count Dracula, but finds it strange that "''dinner was served for three"'', only to find out that "''the main course was me!"''. Zacherle describes all the occult and eerie things he saw during their meal, while trying to keep the conversation going. Zacherle closes the song off with the catchphrase from his TV show, ''"Goodn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Applejacks (US Band)
The Applejacks were a group of American studio musicians led by Dave Appell (March 24, 1922 – November 18, 2014), a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They released singles on Cameo Records Cameo Records was an American record label that flourished in the 1920s. It was owned by the Cameo Record Corporation in New York City. Cameo released a disc by Lucille Hegamin every two months from 1921 to 1926. Cameo Records are also noted f .... Their biggest hit was the instrumental "Mexican Hat Rock", a Top 20 hit in the U.S. in 1958. Singles *"Mexican Hat Rock" (1958) U.S. No. 16 *"Rocka-Conga" (1959) U.S. No. 38 (Early releases of "Rocka-Conga" were pressed as "Rocka-Tonga") *"Bunny Hop" (1959) U.S. No. 70 References American pop music groups Cameo-Parkway Records artists {{US-pop-band-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kissin' Time (song)
"Kissin' Time" is a song by the American rock and roll singer Bobby Rydell. It was released in 1959 on Cameo-Parkway Records. Written by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, the track was Rydell's first single and it would also go on to be his first Top 20 hit. Background Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, founders of Rydell's label, wrote "Kissin' Time". In the US, it quickly became a number 11 hit on the Hot 100, number 29 on the Hot R&B Sides chart, and number 5 in the Canadian CHUM Charts. The popularity of his first single, made Rydell (then a 17-year-old) a "teen idol", whose success was followed by a tour through Australia with The Everly Brothers, Billy "Crash" Craddock, Marv Johnson, the Champs and the Crickets. Rydell recorded a new version of "Kissin' Time" to fit Australia ("they're kissin' in Sydney. Perth and Brisbane too..."). Kiss version In 1974, the hard rock band Kiss released its eponymous debut album. The record struggled to stay on the charts and the group was in nee ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doo-wop
Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables (such as "doo-wop") is a common characteristic of these songs. Gaining popularity in the 1950s, doo-wop was commercially viable until the early 1960s and continued to influence performers in other genres. Origins Doo-wop has complex musical, social, and commercial origins. Musical precedents Doo-wop's style is a mixture of p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Butterfly (1957 Song)
"Butterfly" is a popular song written by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann and published in 1957. The song is credited to Anthony September as songwriter in some sources. This was a pseudonym of Anthony Mammarella, producer of ''American Bandstand''. The original recording of the song by Charlie Gracie reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Juke Box chart, No. 10 on the R&B chart and No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957. Andy Williams recording A cover version by Andy Williams reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Top 100 chart in 1957. Williams' version also reached No. 1 the UK in May 1957, where it spent two weeks, and also reached No. 14 on the US R&B chart. The Charlie Gracie and Andy Williams versions were ranked #20 on the first Canadian CHUM Chart, May 27, 1957. Other versions *A version recorded by Bob Carroll on Bally Records made the charts in 1957 peaking at No. 61. * The Crests recorded a cover version for their 1960 album, ''The Crests Sing All Biggies''. *Tommy Ste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
