The Four Coins were a popular American vocal group, consisting of Jimmy Gregorakis, George Mantalis, and brothers George and Jack Mahramas. They were all of

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

heritage and came from

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania Canonsburg is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, southwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 9,735 at the 2020 census. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 180 ...

. A local orchestra leader, Lee Barrett, took them to audition in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

and this led to their cutting some high-charting records and appearing on

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

. This also led to a recording contract with

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

recording on the

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

label. The group used the name the Four Keys until they learned another vocal group had it under copyright. They then became The Four Coins. They appeared in the 1957 Warner Brothers

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

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'' Jamboree'' singing the song "A Broken Promise". In 1970, however, they left show business to tend to family obligations, not performing again until 2003, when they performed two final shows back in their home town. George Mantalis died of lung cancer on December 10, 2016, at the age of 81. Jack Mahramas also died of lung cancer on June 24, 2023, at the age of 82

Singles

;1953 * Carona Records: "Hot Toddy"/"High Noon" s The Four Keys ;1954 * Carona Records: "I'll Make The Best Of It" s The Four Keys* Epic 5-9074: "We’ll Be Married In the Church In The Wildwood"/"Once More" (US #30) * Epic 5-9082: "I Love You Madly"/"Maybe" (US #28) ;1955 * Epic 5-9091: "My Anxious Heart"/"Oh Mother Dear" * Epic 5-9104: "That's The Way"/"Promises, Promises" * Epic 5-9107: "Story Untold"/"Magnolia" * Epic 5-9116: "The Song That Brought Us Together"/"Need You" * Epic 5-9129: "Memories Of You"/"Tear Down The Fence" (US #22) ;1956 * Epic 5-9148: "The Song That God Sings"/"The Old Professor" * Epic 5-9164: "Cherry Lips"/"All My Tomorrows" * Epic 5-9171: "One Kiss (Is Worth A Thousand Words)"/"This I Offer You" * Epic 5-9183: "Manhattan Serenade"/"Too Late" * Epic 5-9192: "Destination Love"/"Time Of The Year" ;1957 * Epic 5-9200: "My Love Is A Little Kitten"/"Falling Star" * Epic 5-9213: "Shangri-La"/"First In Line" (US #11) * Epic 5-9229: "My One Sin"/"This Life" (US #28) * Epic 5-9253: "Follow Your Heart"/"A Broken Promise" * Epic 5-9258: "My Love Loves Me"/"New World" ;1958 * Epic 5-9276: "Dream World"/"One Life, One Love" * Epic 5-9286: "Wendy, Wendy "/"Be Still In My Heart" (US #72) * Epic 5-9295: "The World Outside"/"Roselle" (US #21) ;1959 * Epic 5-9306: "Angel Of Love"/"Who Are You" * Epic 5-9314: "One Love, One Heart"/"My First Love" (US #82/#106) * Epic 5-9337: "Angel In The Rain"/"The First Signs Of Love" * Epic 5-9348: "Serenade Of The Bells"/"Buon Natale Means (Merry Christmas To You)" * Fontana H.168: "The World Outside"/"Be Still in my Heart" ;1960 * Epic 5-9383: "You’re Breaking My Heart"/"My Only Love" * MGM Records K12951: "Pledging My Love"/"I Want A Little Girl" ;1961 * MGM Records K12977: "Beat On Your Drum Little Suzan"/"Love Is Where You Are" * MGM Records K13003: "To Love"/"From Your Very Own Lips" * MGM Records K13031: "Pretty Nina "/"The Moon Of Manakoora" * Jubilee 45-5411: "The Miracle Of St. Marie"/"Gee, Officer Krupkie" ;1962 * Jubilee 45-5419: "Come A Little Bit Closer"/"Windows Of Heaven" * Jubilee 45-5429: "Wish You Were Here"/"One Red Rose" * Vee Jay Records VJ 474: "They Say"/"Jimmy San" ;1963 * Vee Jay Records VJ 551: "Nina"/"(Little Darlin‘) Take A Bow" ;1964 * Joy Records 45K-284: "Boys Cry"/" Love Me with All Your Heart (Cuando Calienta El Sol)" * Joy Records 45K-287: "Joanna"/"Answer Me My Love" ;1966 * Laurie Records LR-3331: "I’ll Never Love Again"/"Try Your Luck" * Laurie Records LR-3360: " Shout Shout (Knock Yourself Out)"/"People Get Jealous" ;1967 * Columbia 4-44006: "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)"/"Learning To Live Without Your Love" ;Year unknown * LanCo 2005/2006: "Maybe She’s Right"/"Forward Together" * LanCo 6900: "Hocus Pocus Dominicus"/"Forward Together"

Albums and EPs

;1955 * EP Epic EG 7164: ''Memories Of You / Rio Rita'' A: Memories Of You * Rio Rita
B: The Song That Brought Us Together * Need You * 10-inch LP Epic LN-1104: ''The Four Coins'' A: I Love You Madly * Maybe * My Anxious Heart
B: Rio Rita * We'll Be Married (In The Church In The Wildwood) * That's The Way ;1957 * LP Epic LN-3445: ''The Four Coins In Shangri-La'' A: Shangri-La * Memories Of You * Heartache Street (And Teardrop Ave.) * Lovers’ Island * Manhattan Serenade * The Curly-Headed Kid In The Third Row
B: You're Breaking My Heart * This Life * Ting-A-Ling Telephone * New World * I Will Never Be The Same * Maybe ;1958 * EP Epic ZTEP 60057/60058 A: Sal Mineo – My Bride * The Four Coins – All The Things You Are
B: Roy Hamilton – Great Day * Somethin‘ Smith & The Redheads – I Can't Get Started With You ;1961 * LP MGM Records E3944: ''Greek Songs'' A: Never On Sunday * The Girl I Want * In My Never Never Land * Rikoko * True True Love * There's Only One For Me
B: Oh Mustapha * Our Song Of Love * Carnation In Your Hair * Dance My Darling * Sum Yo Ti Sa * In Saloniki ;1965 * LP Roulette SR-25288: ''Greek Songs Mama Never Taught Me'' A: Iste Gynekes * Adio Athina * Thessaloniki * To Stauro Sou * San Sfyrikso 3 Fores * Pekse File To Bouzouki
B: Ela Ela * Thelo Nase Eftyhismeni * Poun Afta Tamatia * Himones Ftinoporake Kanokieria * Aspres Kordeles * Na Borousana Petakso San Paoli ;1995 * CD Collectibles COL-5498: ''In Shangri-La'' Shangri-La * Memories Of You * Heartache Street * Lovers' Island * Manhattan Serenade * The Curly-Headed Kid In The Third Row * You're Breaking My Heart * This Life * Ting-A-Ling Telephone * New World * I Will Never Be The Same * Maybe * I Love You Madly * My Anxious Heart * Rio Rita * We'll Be Married * That's The Way * My One Sin * The World Outside ;2011 * CD Small Change 1001: ''Back From Shangri-La Volume 2'' I'll Never Love Again * Try Your Luck * Story Untold * If You Love Me (Really Love Me) * Falling Star * One Life, One Love * Joanna * Answer Me, My Love * Shout, Shout * People Get Jealous * The Miracle Of St. Marie * My Love Loves Me * Wish You Were Here * Learning To Live Without Your Love * (Little Darlin') Take A Vow * One Red Rose * Jimmy San * Love Is Where You Are * From Your Very Own Lips * To Love * Love Me With All Of Your Heart * Boys Cry * Wendy, Wendy * Follow Your Heart * Shangri-La

References

External links

News story about The Four Coins reunionThe Four Coins Pittsburgh Music History
{{DEFAULTSORT:Four Coins, The American pop music groups Jubilee Records artists Vee-Jay Records artists