Oh, Starlight --The Quinns (Brooklyn, NY) 1958

Title:
Oh, Starlight --The Quinns (Brooklyn, NY) 1958

Description:
CREDIT FOR INFO AND PHOTOS TO Marv Goldberg , THANK YOU .,,,,,,As you might expect, the Brownsville Community Center, on Blake Avenue and Powell Street, was a place where lots of kids sang together. In 1954, one group of high school kids consisted of Willa Mae Jones (first tenor and lead), Pearly Mae Sumpter (first tenor and lead), Johnny Dusty Moye (second tenor), Gerald Johnson (baritone) and Leon McClain (bass). This aggregation kept practicing throughout 1955, until one day Dusty got Willa Mae and Pearly Mae to leave by telling them that the group was going to try something else. [The Quintones - 1956] There were other groups that practiced at the Brownsville Community Center. One of these consisted of Franchot Frenchy Johnson (lead), Freddy Brown (first tenor), Donald Thunder Lawrence (first and second tenor), Henry McKinnon (second tenor), and Bernard Smith (bass). In early 1956, Dusty got Donald Lawrence to transfer over, and they found a new lead singer in Pauline (last name unknown) who sounded a lot like Frankie Lymon. There are conflicting reports as to which group first claimed the name Quintones, but when the dust settled, this was the group that used it. They would practice the hits of the day, such as Church Bells May Ring and Long Tall Sally. Of course, with Pauline on hand, there were several Teenagers songs in their repertoire. Pauline only stayed for a few months, until Dusty decided she didn't fit in either. Says Leon: We could all sing lead, and she didn't sound right in the background. Recruiting another member of Donald's old group, first tenor Freddy Brown, the Quintones went into high gear. Therefore, the members at this point were: Freddy Brown (first tenor), Donald Lawrence (first and second tenor), Dusty Moye (second tenor), Gerald Johnson (baritone) and Leon McClain (bass). The Quintones played a lot of local theaters that had talent shows, including the Empire Theater on Ralph and Quincy Avenues. They also did a show at the Ebony Ballroom in the Bronx.

Author:
doowopIS4ever

Tags:
Oh, NY) 1958,