Pam & Charlie Horner's 5th
Anniversary Celebration
Part 5 - The Concert
Except where credited, all photos on this page taken by JDV Music and Design,
www.jdvmusic.com,
and remain the property of Classic Urban Harmony LLC. JDV is the
official photographer, videographer and sound system provider for Classic
Urban Harmony LLC.
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After dinner, the entertainment segment of the celebration
began with the Sheps. The Sheps are the exceptional R&B acappella
quintet that we specifically chose because in addition to singing their own
tunes they have a unique talent for backing other lead singers. The
Sheps formed in 1992, taking the name in honor of their idol, James Sheppard
of the Heartbeats and Limelites. All of group members live in the New
Jersey - New York area. The Sheps take pride in singing selections from
some of the more obscure R&B vocal pioneer groups as well as better known
groups. Visit the Sheps website at
www.thesheps.com.
The Sheps
The Sheps opened up with "Lights Are Low," a tight harmony song
first done by the El Dorados. They followed that with the 1940's
Jubilaires' tune, "I Know" and then their own arrangement of Tommy Edwards'
"It's All In The Game".
Shep's lead and founding member, Tommie Shider
Charlie Coleman leading "I Know"
Richie Camacho, another founding member of the Sheps
Tommy Lockhart, formerly with the Master Four
Johnnie Barlow, bass
Johnny formerly sang with the Shades of Brown and the Ad Libs
The Sheps sang "Darling I Want To Get Married" (Heartbeats), "WPLJ"
(Four Deuces) and as special request for us, "All I Want" (the Five Chances).
Tommie Shider
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Tommy Lockhart
Tommy Lockhart led the Master Four on their 1967 record, "It's
Not The End". By our request, Tommy sang that for us, backed by the
Sheps. Tommy's dynamic voice (reminiscent of Little Anthony) is every
bit as strong now as on the record!
Original first press of Master Four's "It's Not The End" (1967)
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Master Four record re-released in 1969
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Richie Camacho
Charlie Coleman
The Sheps also sang "Painted Pictures" (Spaniels), "These
Foolish Things" (Five Keys) and a song Tommie Shider wrote just for us and
this occasion, "Another Anniversary". The group presented us with a
framed copy of the lyrics.
"Another Anniversary"
The Sheps continued a magnificent performance by welcoming to
the stage, guest lead Bobby Thomas.
Bobby Thomas (third from the left) posing with the Sheps
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
Our friend Bobby Thomas is from Asbury Park, NJ. He first recorded with the Vibranaires in
1954, before going on to join the V-Eights and then Sonny Til's Orioles.
As a special favor to us, Bobby had been rehearsing with the Sheps to recreate
the original arrangement of the Vibranaires' classic, "Doll Face." While
this superior arrangement never made it on the group's After Hours
label release, Bobby had waited 56 years to sing the song the way it should
have been sung. It happened for the first time at our anniversary.
It was worth the wait!
Bobby Thomas (left) and the Sheps
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Bobby Thomas and Johnnie Barlow
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Bobby Thomas (left) and the Sheps singing "Doll Face"
Bobby Thomas of the Vibranaires
"Doll Face" 78 RPM
Vibranaires, 1954
Bobby Thomas (top)
(Photo courtesy of Bobby Thomas)
Bobby Thomas & the Sheps
Bobby Thomas
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Our friends Sam Campbell and Ron Taylor from the Del Larks
agreed to recreate their group with the help of the Sheps. The Del Larks
were a group from Plainfield, NJ, who began singing in the mid-1950's.
Their recordings spanned the 1950's ("Remember The Night," "Lady
Love") and 1960's ("Job
Opening"). Sam and Ron are both original members. Sam Campbell
later recorded soul solos under the name Tyrone Ashley. For our detailed
article on the Del Larks, click
Del Larks Story.
Del Larks' Sam Campbell and Ron Taylor (fourth and fifth from
the left)
posing with the Sheps
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
The Del Larks/Sheps (left to right): Sam Campbell, Johnnie
Barlow,
Charlie Coleman, Ron Taylor and Tommy Shider.
Sam and Ron graciously sang their rare Sammy & the Del Larks'
Ea-Jay label recording, "I Never Will Forget," at our request.
Del Larks' Sam Campbell
Del Larks' Ron Taylor (center)
Del Larks/Sheps
Del Larks
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
We've been friends with "Golden Voice Harry" Schmitt for a long
time. Harry began singing group harmony as a teenager in Philadelphia
but first gained fame with the acappella group, Neighbors Complaint. In
1999 Harry formed his own group, Cornerstone. Cornerstone is now one of
the most polished vocal groups around. No longer an acappella group,
Harry has led his group into a mix of fifties R&B and sixties soul harmony.
We welcomed Harry's powerful voice as one of the many highlights to our
anniversary entertainment. The Sheps were happy be back him vocally.
Visit "Golden Voice Harry" Schmitt & Cornerstone's website,
www.doowoptosoul.com. Bill Diamond of Cornerstone was also in
the audience.
Golden Voice Harry Schmitt
Harry Schmitt & the Sheps
Though Harry usually sings to music now, he led the Sheps in
the Dreamlovers' tune, "When We Get Married," acappella.
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Vic Donna has had a long singing career, dating back to the
1950's in Brooklyn. His first recordings were done with backing from the
Parakeets and Fi-Tones on the Atlas label. He's also made
numerous solo recordings as well as soul harmony sides with the Compliments.
The complete Vic Donna story can be read on this website by clicking
Vic Donna.
Vic has recently released a CD with some of his older and many new group
harmony sides. Just recently, Vic formed a new vocal quintet called the
Vic Donna Group. This was their first public appearance!
Members of the Vic Donna Group waiting to perform
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
The Vic Donna Group, (left to right): Vic Donna, Dom D'Elia,
John Mirabile
Danny Pesci, George Marchese
The Vic Donna Group
The Vic Donna led the group singing two of his classic sides
originally done with the Parakeets, "Teenage Rose," and "Love Was A Strangers
To Me". Both were sung acappella with exceptionally tight harmony and
Vic's voice sounding much as it did in the 1950's.
To conclude the set, Vic Donna sang a powerful rendition of
"Hurt," this time done to music.
Dom D'Elia of the Vic Donna Group,
formerly of the Sparrows Quartette
Vic Donna Group's George Marchese
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
As an added surprise for our guests, Shelly Buchansky took the
stage to lead the Vic Donna Group on an acappella rendition of the Cadillacs
song, "Zoom". Shelly was an original founding member of Vito & the
Salutations. A versatile singer, Shelly is now also singing with the
vocal groups Silk City, the Five Discs and Kid Kyle's Kool Kats.
Shelly Buchansky leading the Vic Donna Group
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Shelly Buchansky
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
The original Vito & the Salutations, ca. 1961
Shelly Buchansky is second from the right.
Shelly singing "Zoom"
A group of distinguished singers formed just for our event.
Leading the group was Bill Keith. As well as being Charlie's former
radio co-host, Bill sang with numerous Philadelphia groups including the
Blendtones, A Moment's Pleasure, the (Philadelphia) Students, the Accords and
the Escalades. Also in the group was John Jones, who'd previously sung
with Neighbors Complaint and A Moment's Pleasure. John currently sings
with the acappella group, the Norristones from Norristown, PA,
www.thenorristones.com, Jim Bakay
sings with the acappella group, Street Corner Five,
www.streetcornerfive.com and also hosts a fine radio
program on WRDV-FM. Smitty (Kamau Osceola Akiba) sings with the
Philadelphia acappella group, Quiet Storm
www.myspace.com/quietstorm4u08.
Bill Keith
John Jones
Jim Bakay
Kamau "Smitty" Akiba of Quiet Storm
Smitty also formerly sang and recorded with the Informers on the J-Rude
label
Bill Keith selected the Revels tune, "Talking To My Heart" to
sing, since he and John Jones had once performed that song with a later Revels
group along with two original Revels members.
Bill Keith & John Jones
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
King Arthur (left), thanking the Bill Keith group.
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Frank Lafaro is one of Philadelphia's most versatile and
talented singers. Frank grew up in West Philadelphia and began singing
with a street corner group he founded in 1963 called Frankie & the Fashions.
When his singing career was interrupted by the Viet Nam War, Frank gave up
singing until 1990. He then began singing again with Billy and the
Essentials and soon restarted Frankie & the Fashions. Since that time
Frank has sung with a number of Philly groups. His voice is always in
demand. Bill Hyde of Frankie & the Fashions was also in the audience.
Frank Lafaro
Frank Lafaro honored us with his popular Frankie & the Fashions song, "What Do
I Have To Do." It has become one of the more popular doo wop songs in
Philadelphia.
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Frankie Lafaro singing "What Do I Have To Do"
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Little Isidore (David Foreman) is one of our favorite
entertainers. His recordings with the Inquisitors are known nation-wide
and are especially popular in the Carolina Beach Music scene as well as in New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. When we invited Little Isidore to our
anniversary, we told him he was our guest and he didn't have to sing if he
didn't want to. Little Isidore told us he was an entertainer and, of
course, he'd want to sing. We were thrilled to let him. Visit his
website at
http://littleisidore.net
Little Isidore
Little Isidore
We asked Little Isidore to sing his composition, "Oceans
Apart". At first he questioned why we wanted that song at our
anniversary, since it was a song about separation. We told Little
Isidore it was because it was a good song, and he had to agree.
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
The Masqueraders at the La Beat table, getting ready to
go on stage, with Bobby Thomas (left) looking on.
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
The Masqueraders
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
We then took the stage to introduce the headline group of the
celebration. Charlie told how he had listened to the Masqueraders
records on Philly's black radio stations as a teenager, while working in a gas
station in 1968. Pam explained how we met up with three of the
Masqueraders in Memphis in 2007 and how we came to reunite five original
members of the group for this event (see
Part 1 for details).
Charlie & Pam
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Charlie & Pam introducing the Masqueraders
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
What can we say about the Masqueraders? First of all, the
Masqueraders were, have always been, and still are, one of THE GREAT vocal
harmony groups of our era. (Trust us, we've seen most of them.)
Second, in 2010, what vocal group can claim to have the same five members who
were singing with them forty years ago? Only one member, Charlie Moore,
is no longer with us.
The Masqueraders started in Dallas, TX, in 1958 as a group
called the Stairs. By the early to mid-1960's the group had become the
Masqueraders, with Lee Jones (now Abdur Rahman Hatim), Robert "Tex" Wrightsil,
Harold "Sundance" Thomas, David "Cowboy" Sanders and Charlie Moore.
After a couple unsuccessful recordings, the group headed to Detroit in 1966
where the signed with the La Beat label. The Masqueraders had
several records on La Beat, including "A Family" and "One More Chance".
Next they headed to Memphis where they scored their biggest successes.
"I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else" reached #7 on the R&B charts in 1968; "I'm
Just An Average Guy" reached #24. It was at this time that group
welcomed Sam Hutchins, first as an unofficial and later as a permanent member
of the group. By the mid-1970's, the Masqueraders were being produced by
Isaac Hayes and scored again with songs like "(Call Me) The Traveling' Man".
We'll be posting a complete and detailed history of the Masqueraders soon on
this website.
The Masqueraders sprang onto the stage wearing black tuxes, and
true to their Dallas roots, cowboy hats. The captured the crowd
immediately with their opening number, "One More Chance".
The Masqueraders opening with "One More Chance"
(Left to right) David "Cowboy" Sanders, Robert "Tex" Wrightsil,
Abdur Rahman "Lee" Hatim, Harold "Sundance" Thomas and Sam Hutchins
The Masqueraders' 1966 recording "One More Chance"
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Lee Hatim & Sundance Thomas
Sam Hutchins on guitar
The Masqueraders are a self contained vocal group and band.
Sundance and Lee play keyboards.
Tex Wrightsil
The Masqueraders sang "I'm So Proud" and dedicated it to us.
David "Cowboy" Sanders
Tex
Cowboy & Tex
Sundance singing "I'm So Proud"
Lee Hatim
Sammie Hutchins
Next, the Masqueraders thrilled the audience with their hit
record, "I'm Just An Average Guy". Charlie can still recite the lyrics
from hearing them in 1968. This song led Charlie to refer to the group
as "modern day urban poets"!
If I were a beggar
I'd stand out on the corner everyday
I'd get down on my knees
And I'd beg for the right words to say.
But I'm just an average guy
And I don't know how to tell you
That I love you.
Lee Hatim, took the lead, as he did in the original recording.
Lee's voice was as robust and dynamic as ever, bringing more than a few gasps from
our guests. By this time, the audience was on their feet applauding
after every song.
"I'm Just An Average Guy"
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
The Masqueraders performed the Louis Armstrong classic, "What A
Wonder World," a song we'd heard them do in Memphis and felt was appropriate
for the occasion.
In what had to be one of the greatest moments of a momentous
day, the Masqueraders launched into their own arrangement of "A Change Is
Gonna Come," sung in blow harmony style. We heard them do it in Memphis
and it blew us away! By now the standing ovations were getting longer
and even more enthusiastic.
The Masqueraders have the audience spellbound.
Lee Hatim again took the lead on the Masqueraders' biggest hit,
"I Ain't Got To Love Nobody Else". The song went #1 in Philadelphia in
1968, #7 nationally. Hatim, an accomplished musician, also played
keyboard on the song. Again his voice was distinctive and powerful.
Another standing ovation followed.
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Bobby Thomas and Lynn enjoying the Masqueraders
As time was running short, the Masqueraders asked us if they
had time to do one more song. Pam motioned for them to do two more.
They performed another of their chart records, "(Call Me) The Traveling Man,"
(another number one song in Philly).
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Since this was a doo wop oriented crowd and the Masqueraders
are so versatile we asked them to do a couple doo wop numbers. They sang
"Daddy's Home," the Shep & the Limelites number with a whole new twist.
It's amazing what the song can sound like arranged for five voices instead of
the Limelites' three.
The Masqueraders singing "Daddy's Home"
The Sheps, standing to watch the Masqueraders
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Guests dancing to "Daddy's Home"
The group's final number brought yet another standing ovation.
Lafayette of the Tymes jumps to his feet while
Pam Nardella holds up a vintage photo of the Masqueraders!
Charlie asking the audience if they want and encore.
The guests were yelling, "More! More!"
Though it was already past 5 o'clock, Charlie explained to the
audience
that the Palace wouldn't mind if we ran a little bit overtime.
(This was news to the Palace.)
The Masqueraders return to the stage for an encore.
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
The Masqueraders closing number was their own arrangement of
"Since I Don't Have You".
Pam and Charlie thanked the audience for coming and invited
everyone to join us for an after party down the street. You can see
pictures of that (coming soon) in Part 6. We retreated to the upstairs
dressing rooms for more photos.
Pam & Charlie with the Masqueraders
Charlie, Pam and Sundance
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
Charlie with the Masqueraders
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
Chantels' Lois Powell, Tymes' Norman Burnett and the
Masqueraders
(Photo courtesy of Marian & Frank Cicerale)
Pam & Charlie with the Sheps
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
Pam & Charlie with the Masqueraders
The Masqueraders & the Sheps
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
Pam & Charlie, Patty & Val Shively, the Masqueraders
Pam & Charlie, Val, Sheps' Tommie Shider and the Masqueraders
(Photo courtesy of Tommie Shider)
Pam & Charlie with the Masqueraders
Right now you can click to view
Part 6 - Video Clips
From the Concert
To see PARTS 1, 2, 3, 4, or 7 return to the
Anniversary
Page.
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2010. All
Rights Reserved.
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