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YOU CAN DEAL IN CONFIDENCE WITH SOMEONE WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN!
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“ORIGINAL ARTISTS” ~ ALWAYS ~
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 The Diamonds ~ Million Selling Hits
Following the success of "Little Darlin'", the Diamonds recorded their own up tempo version of
Buddy Holly's "Words of Love" and the pacy "Zip Zip".
Phil Levitt (baritone) returned to his studies at the University of Toronto in 1957 and was replaced by old pal Mike Douglas.
Their next hit was a double header
- "Silhouettes" b/w "Daddy Cool".  The Rays and the Diamonds both released the original recordings, and both groups shared chart
success. Mercury Records reported in 1972 that sales of The Diamonds' "Silhouettes" had exceeded
one million copies, giving the group its third million selling record. "The Stroll" was a
Diamonds original, and helped along by the exposure it received on "Dick Clark's American
Bandstand," made it to #4 on the American charts in December of 1957.The same year also saw
The Diamonds' debut album release.  Entitled "America's Number One Singing Stylists", the Album
was released both as a 12" L.P., and as a set of three 7" EP's.
On the April 1958 release, "High Sign" b/w "Don't let me Down", both sides were originals,
and "Don't Let me Down" was penned by the fellows themselves. The release also saw a departure
from the norm in that the "Carl Stevens Orchestra" was used on the A side, while Herb Hardesty
and his orchestra (Fats Domino's band) did the music for "Don't Let me Down" (Although this was not the first time
David Carroll was not used. "My Judge and My Jury" featured Hal Mooney's Orchestra). "Kathy-O",
from the movie of the same name was a polished ballad which exemplified the vocal prowess of the
group. The U.S release of this single was backed with the rhythmic "Happy Years", whilst here in
Australia, we got the beautiful ballad "Where Mary Go" (Originally recorded by The Flamingos on
DECCA). "Where Mary Go" was performed by The Diamonds in the 1958 Universal picture, "The Big
Beat". The Diamonds' final release of 1958 was the gimmicky "Walking Along" b/w "Eternal Lovers".
Both Bill and the group's tenor Ted Kowalski left the group in 1958, and were replaced
by two Californians, tenor Evan Fisher, and bass man John Felten. John's voice was very deep,
and he used it to full advantage on the 1959 hit "She Say (Oom dooby doom)". Following the
success of "She Say", the ballad "A Mother's Love" (b/w "Gretchen") was released, but failed
to chart. The next release ("Sneaky Alligator "b/w" Holding your Hand") was good material
indeed, but was not overly successful commercially. The brooding "Holding your Hand" displayed
the song writing capabilities of Somerville and Douglas, while "Alligator" featured a repetitive
but highly infectious bass chant by Felten. 
The Somerville/Goodman composition "The Twenty
Second Day" is a happy rocker based on the question-response format, and features good interplay
between lead and bass vocals, and was released along with the fine ballad "Young in Years".
Sadly neither of these sides achieved the success they deserved.
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DIDN'T FIND WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? WE CAN HELP LOCATE IT FOR YOU!
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Contact Mike Douglas
Personally Via E-Mail
mike@doowopcity.com
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Call 727.570.8885
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
(Eastern Standard Time)
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Doo Wop City
420 - 94th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
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