The Mello-Kings

Last updated

The Mello-Kings were an American doo-wop group, who became popular in the late 1950s with their song, "Tonite, Tonite" (1957). [1]

The group consisted of brothers Jerry and Bob Scholl, Eddie Quinn, Neil Arena and Larry Esposito. The quintet was formed in 1956 at a high school in Mount Vernon, New York, United States, under the guidance of manager Dick Levister. Originally named the Mellotones, the group was signed to the Herald label. [2]

"Tonite, Tonite" was written by Billy Myles, a staff composer for the label. [3] The group was forced to change its name after the single's release, as another group had already claimed Mellotones. [2] The record lasted more than ten weeks on the US pop charts.

In 1957 the groups recorded several more singles, including "The Chapel on the Hill" and "Baby Tell Me Why Why Why", which did not chart, and "Valerie", which became a New York regional hit. [2] [4]

They appeared in the film Sweet Beat (1959).

Later, the quartet became a quintet with Anthony Pinto joining the group. The group appeared in revival shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s. On August 27, 1975, lead singer Bob Scholl was killed in a boating accident. [1] The group began performing entirely at private corporate events throughout the years led by Jerry Scholl.

Richard Levister was locally popular in his own right as a musician who played the Hammond B-3 organ and headed up a jazz-R&B trio that featured his brother, Millard Levister, on drums and either Jimmy Hill on alto or Mat Lewis on tenor. They played music clubs around Westchester County such as the Empire Room and The Blue Rose in New Rochelle. When Levister retired from the jazz/R&B scene, he continued working as a church organist in Mt. Vernon, New York, until his death at the age of 87 on December 7, 2014.

Jerry Scholl, founding member, kept the Mello-Kings legacy moving forward with his partner and former Mello-King, Mick Mansueto. Eddie Quinn, original second tenor, died October 8, 2006.

Jerry Scholl died on April 30, 2019. Prior to his passing he asked his partner, Mick Mansueto, to carry on the legacy of The MelloKings. Today they perform at casinos, performing art centers, theaters and festivals. In honor of Jerry Scholl, they book as Jerry Scholl presents The MelloKings.

On 4 December 2022, original member Neil Arena, with Ben Stephens, published Tonite, Tonite: The Story of the Original Mello-Kings [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis</span> American jazz saxophonist (1922–1986)

Edward F. Davis, known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" : it is either said that it came from the title of a tune or from his way of biting hard on the saxophone mouthpiece. Other theories have been put forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Shorter</span> American jazz saxophonist and composer (1933–2023)

Wayne Shorter was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Shorter came to mainstream prominence in 1959 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, for whom he eventually became the primary composer. In 1964 he joined Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report in 1970. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings of Rhythm</span> Band led by Ike Turner

Kings of Rhythm are an American music group formed in the late 1940s in Clarksdale, Mississippi and led by Ike Turner through to his death in 2007. Turner would retain the name of the band throughout his career, although the group has undergone considerable line-up changes over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Wheeler</span> Canadian composer and musician

Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC was a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Harris</span> American jazz musician (1934–1996)

Eddie Harris was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-known compositions are "Freedom Jazz Dance", popularized by Miles Davis in 1966, and "Listen Here".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1910 Fruitgum Company</span> US pop band

The 1910 Fruitgum Company is an American bubblegum pop band of the 1960s. The group's Billboard Hot 100 hits were "Simon Says", "May I Take a Giant Step", "1, 2, 3, Red Light", "Goody Goody Gumdrops", "Indian Giver", "Special Delivery", and "The Train".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Five</span> American folk rock group

We Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian & Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached No. 1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The original group split after recording their second album in 1967, but a re-formed band produced three more albums between 1968 and 1977.

The Mystics are an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici, Albee Cracolici, George Galfo, Bob Ferrante, and Al Contrera. Under the direction of their manager, Jim Gribble, The Overons became The Mystics when each group member wrote a name they liked on a slip of paper and placed the papers in a hat; Contrera's choice was drawn.

<i>The April Wine Collection</i> 1992 greatest hits album by April Wine

The April Wine Collection is a compilation album by the Canadian rock band April Wine, released in 1992. This album has the biggest selection of songs on one album by April Wine, and is still in print.

The Deep River Boys were an American gospel music group active from the mid-1930s and into the 1980s. The group performed spirituals, gospel, and R&B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Ward and his Dominoes</span> American R&B vocal group

Billy Ward and his Dominoes were an American R&B vocal group. One of the most successful R&B groups of the early 1950s, the Dominoes helped launch the singing careers of two notable members, Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silhouettes (The Rays song)</span> Original song written and composed by Bob Crewe and Frank Slay; first recorded by The Rays

"Silhouettes" is a song made famous by the doo-wop group the Rays in 1957, peaking at number 3 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. A competing version by the Diamonds was also successful. In 1965 it was a number 5 hit in the US for Herman's Hermits, and in 1990 it was a number 10 hit in the UK for Cliff Richard.

<i>VSOP</i> (album) 1977 live album by Herbie Hancock

V.S.O.P. is a 1977 double live album by keyboardist Herbie Hancock, featuring acoustic jazz performances by the V.S.O.P. Quintet, jazz fusion/ jazz-funk performances by the ‘Mwandishi’ band and The Headhunters. The concert was advertised as a "Herbie Hancock Retrospective," and Miles Davis, who was several months into his temporary retirement, was advertised as playing with the V.S.O.P. group. According to concert attendees, on the night of the show a handwritten sign was posted on the lobby door announcing that Davis would not be playing, but that Hubbard would be appearing instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Harper</span> American jazz saxophonist

Billy Harper is an American jazz saxophonist, "one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists" with a distinctively stern, hard-as-nails sound on his instrument.

<i>Everythings Coming Up Rosie</i> 1977 studio album by Rosemary Clooney

Everything's Coming Up Rosie is a 1977 studio album by the American jazz singer Rosemary Clooney. It was the first solo album that Clooney released on Concord Records. The title is a reference to the 1959 song "Everything's Coming up Roses". On the album, Clooney is accompanied by a quintet of jazz musicians. The album marked the beginning of a fifteen year recording and performance partnership with tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Me Tonite</span> 1984 Billy Squier single known for its widely criticized video

"Rock Me Tonite" is a hit song written and recorded by American rock artist Billy Squier. It was released in June 1984 as the lead single from his platinum-plus album Signs of Life. The song is Squier's highest charting U.S. single, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting No. 10 on the Cash Box singles chart. It also returned him to No. 1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in August 1984.

Ali Muhammad Jackson, also known as Ali Jackson, was a jazz bassist, composer, ethnomusicologist, actor, poet and artist.

Timothy M. Ries is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, band leader, and music educator at the collegiate/conservatory level. Ries is in his seventeenth year as a professor of jazz studies at the University of Toronto. His universe of work as composer, arranger, and instrumentalist ranges from rock to jazz to classical to experimental to ethno to fusions of respective genres thereof. His notable works with wide popularity include The Rolling Stones Project, a culmination of jazz arrangements of music by the Rolling Stones produced on two albums, the first in 2005 and the second in 2008.

Doles Dickens was an American jazz and R&B musician, bandleader, arranger and songwriter who was active in New York from the 1930s to the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Jason</span> American musician, producer and composer

Neil Jason, is an American musician, songwriter, producer and composer. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he has worked with some of the biggest recording artists, including John Lennon, Billy Joel, Roxy Music, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Kiss, Gene Simmons, Michael Jackson, Brecker Brothers, Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Harry Chapin, Joe Jackson, Charlie Watts, Dire Straits, Bryan Ferry, Diana Ross, Grace Slick, John McLaughlin, Gladys Knight, Debbie Harry, Michael Franks, Bob James, David Sanborn, Brigitte Zarie, Carly Simon, Janis Ian, Nils Lofgren, Eddie Van Halen and tenor Luciano Pavarotti. He also writes for TV and film.

References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 280. ISBN   1-85227-937-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Thomas, Bryan. "The Mello-Kings - Artist Details". AllMusic. ALLMUSIC, NETAKTION LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  3. "Billy Myles". SELBON Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  4. "The Mello Kings – Valerie / She's Real Cool". Discogs.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  5. Arena, Neil (2022). Tonite,Tonite. London: Arena&Stephens. ISBN   9781739083199.