The Bell Notes were an early

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group from the East Meadow area of

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. The Bell Notes were regular performers in

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in the 1950s, and performed at a bar owned by the father of

Ray Tabano Ray Tabano (a.k.a. Crazy Raymond) (born December 23, 1946) is an American musician, who was a founding member of the rock band Aerosmith in 1970. Career Tabano was a founding member of the rock band Aerosmith, but was replaced by Brad Whitfo ...

; he and

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(of

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) occasionally played between Bell Notes sets, and covered their song " I've Had It". New York DJ (WADO)

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saw the group play at a record hop on Long Island and saw the group's potential. In 1958, he recorded "I've Had It" at a recording studio in

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, New York. The session cost a total of $50. He peddled the song around town and the group was eventually signed by Bob Shad. He was starting up a new label and thought the band would be ideal, because of the raw sound of the recording and the catchy tune. "I've Had It", released on

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, was a nationwide hit in the U.S. in March 1959, peaking at No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. They released four further singles in 1959 – "Old Spanish Town", "That's Right", "You're a Big Girl Now", and "White Buckskin Sneakers & Checkerboard Socks" – but only "Old Spanish Town" charted, peaking at No. 76. The band was managed by Natalie Fredericks. In 1960, they signed with

Madison Records Madison Records was an American record label. It was founded in 1958 by Larry Uttal. It lasted until 1961 when Uttal absorbed the label into his newly acquired Bell Records Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 in New Yor ...

and released two singles,"Shortnin' Bread" and "Friendly Star" followed. "Shortnin' Bread" hit No. 96 in the U.S. and was their last hit; they broke up by 1962. In 1959, the group appeared in the series of Nu-Trading Rock 'n Roll Trading Cards.

Members

*Carl Bonura – vocals, saxophone *John Casey – drums *Ray Ceroni – vocals, guitar *Lenny Giambalvo – bass *Peter Kane – piano

Discography

Singles

References

;Footnotes ;General references * The Bell NotesAt

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell Notes, The Musical groups from Long Island Rock music groups from New York (state)