|
|
|
YOU CAN DEAL IN CONFIDENCE WITH SOMEONE WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN!
|
|
“ORIGINAL ARTISTS” ~ ALWAYS ~
|
|
 The Diamonds ~ Early Recordings
White bucks. Brush cuts. The postwar boom was underway.
Television had
arrived and style was the watchword in everything from fenders to
fashion. 
These were some of the defining qualities of the 1950s, when
restraint and rationing had given way to optimism.
Fuller Brush men were going door to door, while teenagers were "going
steady." Guy groups were all the rage. THE FOUR ACES and THE FOUR LADS
were favourites. But, for some, none sparkled brighter than THE
DIAMONDS.
"Why Do Fools Fall In Love?", "Church Bells May Ring" and
the late night sight of two "Silhouettes" on the shade. By the end
of 1957 The Diamonds enjoyed their first million seller, their smash hit of
"Little Darlin'". The Diamonds were climbing the charts with their
second million-selling original "The Stroll", thanks to an appearance
on Dick Clarks
 "American Bandstand." Their debut
album later that year dubbed them "America's Number One Singing
Stylists."
Unknown to many, however, The Diamonds actually began in Parkdale, a suburb of Toronto,
Canada, when two sets of brothers began singing for fun in the early
1950s. Mike Douglas and his older brother, Larry, teamed up with Tedd
and Pete Kowalski. Fans of The Four Aces, The Four Lads and The Mills
Brothers, the new group emulated their sounds. Before long, Larry and
Pete moved on and fellow Torontonians Bob Danko and Bill Reed stepped
in as their replacements.
Their first big challenge? The group needed a name. Bill suggested
"The Boulevardeers." (Images of singing under a lamp post?)
It was
rejected. Another group by the same name had been recording for
Atlantic Records and was on the downhill run. Besides, it was too
long. Instead, Bob christened them "The Four Diamonds."
There was high turnover in the group in those early days. Tedd left
to study at the University of Toronto, then formed a breakaway group
with two fellow students, Phil Levitt and Stan Fisher. The trio
invited Bill Reed to join them as their bass singer.
Around the same time, they met another young singer, David Somerville,
then working as an audio engineer for the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation. David studied singing with Dr. Ernesto Vinci, a medical
doctor and voice teacher. At first, David signed on to coach the group,
but later became lead vocalist when Stan Fisher devoted himself full
time to his studies. The group's first professional gig was in the
basement of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Toronto. They were an instant
hit and appearances across Canada soon followed.
|
|
THE MOST EXTENSIVE ON-LINE CATALOG OF SINGLE AND COMPILATION CD's!
|
|
DIDN'T FIND WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? WE CAN HELP LOCATE IT FOR YOU!
|
Contact Mike Douglas
Personally Via E-Mail
mike@doowopcity.com
|
Call 727.570.8885
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
(Eastern Standard Time)
|
Doo Wop City
420 - 94th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
|
Accepted Methods Of Payment
Orders Shipped Immediately Upon Receipt Of Payment
Design ©Copyright 2003-2008 DooWopCity.com
Site Content May Not Be Reproduced Without
The Express Written Consent Of Owner
Design By DaWorx Web Design©
|