Fred Parris, songwriter and lead singer of The Five Satins, died last week at the age of 85. He wrote “In the Still of the Night“in 1956, and recorded it in the basement of New Haven’s St. Bernadette Church school. Singers Al Denby, Ed Martin, Jim Freeman and Nat Mosley backed up Mr. Parrish with “shoo-doo-shooby-doo.” Doug Murray played bass, Curlee Glover was on piano, and Bobby Mapp on drums. There’s also a sax solo by Vinny Mazzetta, a St. Bernadette altarboy. The song title was originally rendered as “In the Still of the Nite” to differentiate it from a song by Cole Porter.
“Merry Christmas Darling,” written by Val Poliuto (Valerio Anthony Poliuto) and sung by him with his group, The Jaguars, who met in LA’s Fremont High. Xmas, South Central style.
“Hello Mr. New Year,” recorded in 1958 by the The Coolbreezers, of Washington ,DC: Joe Reuth, Richard Steward, Bob Armstrong, William Primrose, Earl J. Williams, Sonny Williams. Like many African American harmony groups, the ensemble originally sang Gospel music. The Coolbreezers recorded for Bale Records, a short-lived venture of long-time DC R&B empresaria Bea Williams, sister of two group members.
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“Merry Christmas Darling,” written by Val Poliuto and sung by him with his group, The Jaguars, who met in LA’s Fremont High. Xmas, South Central style.
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Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-soK
Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
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