Doo Wop: The Elegants & The Flairs

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Bill Price, and in this Rock and Roll Flashback episode, I will feature two Doo Wop groups: The Elegants from the late 1950's and The Flairs from the early 1960's. 

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Transcript

In this Rock and Roll Flashback episode, I will feature two Doo Wop groups: The Elegants from the late 1950's and The Flairs from the early 1960's. 

The Elegants were formed in 1956 in Staten Island, New York by Vito Picone, Arthur Venosa, Frank Tardogno, Carman Romano, and James Moshello. When the group began performing, it was usually done under the boardwalk that was located near their homes. 

In June 1958, The Elegants recorded and released a nursery rhyme inspired single titled “Little Star”.  Arthur and Vito wrote the song, which was their only release that became a #1 hit and a million seller. The single remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for nineteen weeks and achieved gold disc status. “Little Star” reached the #25 position in the UK Singles Chart in September. 

As a result of the success “Little Star”, the group’s members who were still teenagers, were given the opportunity to tour with high profile Rock and Roll artists, which included Buddy Holly, Dion and the Belmonts, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis. However, subsequent releases by The Elegants failed to make it into the charts, thus making them one hit wonders.

In the early 1970s, Vito rejoined the group and replaced Frank as the lead vocalist.  They performed annually at the San Gennaro Festival in New York City. As of 2012, The Elegants were still active, performing at various concerts and events using the name Vito Picone and The Elegants.

Carmen Romano passed away on August 2nd, 2016, and Arthur Venosa passed away on April 20th, 2018.

 Here is The Elegants sole number one hit from 1958, “Little Star”.

The Flairs was a Doo Wop group formed in Los Angeles, California.  The group, which was initially called The Debonairs was formed at Jefferson High School and included Arthur Lee Maye, Pete Fox, Obadiah Jessie, Joe Winslow, and A V Odom.  Like some many other groups, the lineup went through several personnel and name changes.   Winslow left the group and then Odem also left and was replaced by Richard Barry.  Maye then left to concentrate on a baseball career. He later became a professional player for the Milwaukee Braves. He was then replaced by Beverly Thomson. Cornell Gunter who had previously been an initial member of the Platters, joined the group.

In 1953, “I Had A Love” was their first recording released on the Dolphin record label, under the name of The Hollywood Blue Jays.  As The Debonairs, they recorded several songs, but failed to generate any success. The group then left Dolphin and signed with Flair Records and changed their name to The Flairs, however any success eluded them. They recorded a few songs, which included “I Had a Love”and “Rabbit On a Log”. In 1954, several other singles were released which included “Baby Wants”, “You Were Untrue”, which featured Ike Turner on guitar. Thomson then left the group and was replaced by Charles Jackson.

After Thomson departed, Berry also left the group and was replaced by Randy Jones. The group continued recording and released the single titled “Love Me, Love Me,

Love Me”, however it was credited to an other group called The Chimes. Jackson then left to join The Chimes and Jones left to join The Penguins. The Remaining members, Gunter, Jessie and Fox, resumed recording for Tampa Records as The Jac-O-Lacs. However the group soon broke up. 

The next iteration of the group, The Ermines, was formed by Cornell Gunter and included George Hollis, Thomas Miller, and Kenneth Byley. The group initially recorded for Loma Records, then signed with ABC-Paramount Records under the name of The Flairs. Then they went to Modern Record and Aladdin records. 1957, Vince Weaver replaced Gunter. The following year they recorded for Antler Records. More personnel changes took place when two members joined after The Cadets broke up. 

For a short period of time Hollis, Collins, Davis, and Miller recorded as The Flairs, spelled F-L-A-I-R-S, then they changed the spelling to F-L-A-R-E-S in 1959. After a two year pause they resumed recording for Felsted Records, however with an additional personnel change. Then they recorded for Jan-Lar Records, with more changes in the group’s lineup.  In 1961 they had their biggest hit with “Foot Stompin’ Part 1”, which reached the #20 position on the Black Singles chart and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1961 the group recorded as The Peppers on the Ensign Record label, then recorded as The Flares for Press Records. Between 1961 and 1964, they alternated between the two names and eventually the group disbanded.

Here is the number twenty five hit from 1961, “Foot Stompin’ Part 1".

This has been another episode in the Doo Wop series, featuring two vocal groups from the 50s and 60s, The Elegants and The Flairs on Rock and Roll Flashback.  And until next time, I’m your host Bill Price.