Tonettes Claremonts and Vince Castro Record Label Shots

This picture was taken in 1957. The Tonettes/Claremonts are from left to right: Diana Sanchez, lead, Josephine Allen, and Sylvia Sanchez. Oh, Oh What A Baby!

Top Picture 2

The Tonettes again, this time with Vince Castro kneeling. Both pictures were taken on the night of a show put on by New York Disc Jockey Alan Fredericks, in 1957. Alan Fredricks' Night Train Show was quite popular on the east coast. Check out the interviews I have with the Tonettes from the fall of 2003, and with Vince Castro from the fall of 2006.

"Oh What A Baby"is one of my favorite female vocal group records of all time. It was released four ways that I know of, in 1958. First on the Doe label, which was a subsidiary of Apollo records, and then it was leased to ABC Paramount. A promo and stock copy on ABC were then issued. Lastly, a variation on ABC was also pressed in limited quantities. The Claremonts was the original name for the trio. Their name originated from the street the Sanchez sisters lived on in the south Bronx, which was 544 Claremont Pkwy.

Back To The Groups Page

HOME



The Tonettes started as the Claremonts. This is the first release on Apollo of "Why Keep Me Dreaming" backed with "Angel Of Romance".This two sider was very popular up and down the Eastern seaboard from New York to Florida.The record got lots of spins from the DJ's and a bunch of press from the trade papers. This recording was released in 1957. Above is the promotional version.

Here is the stock copy of the Claremonts disc. Notice the writing credits are given to Diane Sanchez and Lou Ezzo. Ezzo was a TV repairman responsible for "Discovering" the Claremonts/Tonettes in their apartment in Brooklyn.

This is a later pressing (1961) of the Claremonts record. It was probably re-released to try and cash in on the Vince Castro and the Tonettes issue of "Bongo Twist" in late 1960. "Bongo Twist" was actually the same song as "Bong Bong", but pressed again with the different song title to try and ride the beginning of the national twist craze. See records below, to follow the complete story.The stock issue is most likely on the yellow Apollo label.



Two more pictures of the Tonettes. The shot on the left was professionally done for ABC Paramount records. That was used in their promotion and would be sent out to various DJ's and to performance halls - wherever they might be singing. It may have also gone to the trade publications for additional exposure.The shot on the right was taken the same night as the Alan Fredricks' show picture shown near the top of this page, while they were performing.

Released on the Doe label in February of 1958, "Oh What A Baby" is a great up tempo song. The Claremonts are now the Tonettes, with the same personnel. Doe records was owned by Charles Merenstein, son-in-law to Bess Berman of Apollo records. The label was intended to showcase some of the up and coming pop releases. Apollo felt like they were "just" an R+B label. I don't think I would call this pop, but you can't argue with records that sell! The flip side "Howie", is a nice ballad, almost done tongue in cheek, but comes off sounding great. It looks like this 45 was sold for 98 cents in some bargain bin! The "A" side is my favorite, but a great record that plays well both ways.

Once the Tonettes song picked up steam, the record was leased to ABC Paramount for national distribution. This promo copy was sent out to the radio stations to promote airplay. It was published by "Bess" music, who was Bess Berman of Apollo records, getting half the action on this good sized hit.

Here is the stock copy.Though not a top 100 Billboard hit,it should have been. The label shown is in the standard ABC Paramount colors for 1958. Though no sales numbers have ever been published, I'm certain they were in the 6 figures. On an interesting note, there is actually a second, slightly different version of "Oh What A Baby". The dead wax numbers are slightly different, and that is the only indication present. You will see on the alternate version there is ABC 3232 followed by a crossed out etching of D AP -3640 #3 and then a sideways letter A The alternate version sounds very similar, but with a few variations. The tempo seems very close, but the first tip-off is the instrumentation that is a bit more pronounced, especially the bass. The instrumental break is slightly different, and the way "Baby" is said at the end is a bit different. If you know the song well, you can hear the differences. I also made a file that has two of the pronounced differences on it as well. The first is the regular version, the second is the alternate, listen to it HERE.



This is the first and only record I have seen on the Sparton label, for the Tonettes. It is their hit on 78. This is actually the alternate version of "Oh What A Baby, which makes me wonder if there are also 78's with the more common version, too. It does not have all the alternate dead wax numbers like the 45 on ABC. And if there is a 78, there must be a 45? I would think so. My theory on the alternate version is that it was produced first, likely in a small pressing run. That was the version that ABC also gave to the Canadian based Sparton label when the record started out selling well. ABC then would have realized the "mistake" and started pressing the common version domestically. Did they get that take to Sparton, and then there might be both available on Sparton issues? A good question that is still yet to be answered.

This is the follow up on Doe 103. Uh-Oh backed with He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me. Good two sided effort that unfortunately just didn't catch fire for the girls. This is the last Tonettes record that I know of, that has now been added to my collection. I am not certain if stock copies exist, as all the copies I know of, are promos like the one shown above.



Here are two pictures of Vince Castro. The picture on the left was a promotional shot taken when he recorded his one release for the Orchid label, after the association with Apollo and APT. The picture on the right was shot during a live performance of Bong Bong when he was with the Apollo/Doe label. Vince actually lived right across the street from Diana and Sylvia Sanchez, on Claremont Avenue. He heard them singing from across the street which led to the recording of "Bong Bong". He also appeared on many shows including Bandstand.

This is Vince Castro with the un credited Tonettes on a very big east coast regional hit,"Bong Bong". This was released in May of 1958,and the first issue shown here was the next sequential release, on Doe 102. The flip side, "You're My Girl" also includes the Tonettes,but not as prominently. An enjoyable flip, it was paired with the Bongo Twist on Apt 25047, in 1960. Vince Castro actually is singing in the background on this record, with the girls. Vince said to me that " I was asked at the end of the session to overdub, for a fuller sound, and I did.I go off with a different rift on the bong bongs, and at the end I come in with a low alto, to Josie's high alto, with the oooo's."

In nearly the same situation as the Tonettes record previously shown, Apollo leased the wildly popular Bong Bong to another record company.This time it was APT records, who already had great success with Vito Picone and the Elegants.This was another record that did very well for the Apollo subsidiary, Doe records. It seems they had a formula for making hits. Vince Castro got the top billing. The promo copy is shown above.

Here is the stock issue on the original multi color APT label. The Tonettes are heard in the background and really help make the record work. A great classic record!



Similar to the Elegants record on Apt, where the original was black with the rainbow logo and the second press was all black, Vince Castro's "Bong Bong" was also pressed on the all black label. This variation is much tougher to find than the first press, and was pressed in much smaller quantities.

This is the first promotional copy of "Too Proud To Cry" by Vince Castro. A real nice "Teener", you can hear Josie Allen of the Claremonts and Tonettes, singing answer parts very prominently. The flip, "Cause I Love You" is a middle of the road song with just Vince Castro. It was not a huge seller, but made some noise on the east coast. Shown is the Apt block print version which turns up less than the version shown below.

I often find many variations of labels on stock issues, but much less frequently do I locate it on promotional copies. APT seems to have had this version as their most standard promo, with the APT logo showing the "City" underneath the letters. APT was good about pressing up promos for most of their singles. All the information stays the same, just rearranged on the label. Also note that Vince Castro wrote both sides of this record.



This is the harder to find stock copy of Too Proud To Cry. It seems more promotional copies surface than stock, but in either case, it is one of the tougher of Vince's records to find.

"Bongo Twist" is the same exact recording of "Bong Bong". The title was changed to "Bongo Twist", to try and pick up sales from the twist craze. "You're My Girl" is also the same recording from APT 25007. Besides the twist dance connection, I'm not sure what other marketing schemes they used to promote the record. Since this is a promo, it is a certainty that radio stations got copies.

This is the stock issue of Vince Castro and the Tonettes "Bongo Twist" and "You're My Girl". Likely released in late 1960.





This is an interesting EP, that was issued in France! Entitled "Twist", it included two sides by Vince Castro and the Tonettes, and two recordings by the Twisters. "Bongo Twist" and "You're My Girl" are the same cuts that were issued on APT 25047 in the USA. And, as mentioned above, "Bongo Twist" is the same as "Bong Bong". This EP was produced to capture the twist craze, the same as the USA. They were twisting all over the world! The songs by the Twisters are group rock and roll songs that were used to keep people twisting. They were first released on Apt 25045. Unusual graphics are shown on the front cover. The back cover is devoted to promoting the latest Ray Charles EP releases. ABC Paramount was the label France used for the US issue APT issue. Click on the EP covers to see an enlarged view. I believe this was released in 1961.

Here is a good up tempo song by just Vince Castro, with no female group in the background on side "A". Released on the tiny Orchid records out of the Bronx, "I Feel So Grand", 1960. The flip side is "You Never Believe Me, which is a decent ballad that includes a female vocal group in the background. It is not the Tonettes. Not completely, anyway. Josie Allen from the Tonettes is on the recording along with Anna Castro Stone. Anna is Vince Castro's sister and was under contract to Tom Pungitore of Orchid records. Pungitore owned a local establishment in the Bronx called the Star Light Club.The silver background and blue lettering is an interesting combination. The gold mark on the "I Feel So Grand " side is just a label stain. On the same side you can see the label peeling away from the center hole. Orchid records had a real problem sticking labels on their records.

Here is the stock copy of the Orchid label release. At some point, this label had a distribution deal with Gone records, and they seemed to have a 5000 series. Jimmy Pemberton had a release of Ko Ko Mo Girl on 5002. The label was owned by Thomas J. Pungitore, as mentioned above, who just happens to share writing credits and publishing on the above record. Also notice that between the issue of the promo and stock release, the address of the record company changed.

Where Are They Now????? The Sanchez sisters, Diana and Sylvia, are alive and well. Sylvia is still on the east coast, and Diana is parked on the west coast. Josie Allen has passed on, and is missed by both of the Sanchez sisters. Diana and Sylvia still do some singing, a little writing, and have very sharp memories concerning details on their success in the music business. Nicer folks you couldn't ask for, they actually agreed to let me interview them! Click HERE to listen to the the interview we did in August 2003. It is about 23 minutes long, and gives you some great insight to their blast into the local charts in the late 50's and early 60's. Vince Castro is alive, well, and singing - at least privately - in the Bronx. I have also had a chance to talk with Vinnie. Check out our interview HERE.

GONE MISSING: Records include the Tonettes follow-up on Doe 103, "He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me" / "Uh-Oh" as a stock copy , any Doe Promos (I just recently confirmed a Doe label "Bong Bong" promo). If you have any of these for sale, please email me the details. Tonettes records on labels such as Modern, Stax and Dynamic are different groups, and not the Sanchez Sisters with Josie.

Up To The Top Of The Page

Back To The Groups Page

Mail

EMAIL ME!

Audio Clips Collecting Color Radio History Duets Favorites Mystery Artists Playlists R+B Review Single Artists

Want_List Site_map Links Page

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.