The Crests--16 Candles (1958)

     The Crests were formed in 1955 by J.T. Carter and included Talmadge Gough, Harold Torres, and Patricia Van Dross (the older sister of singer Luther Vandross). The next year, when vocalist Johnny Mastrangelo (later known as Johnny Maestro) joined the group, they began to take shape. They had a minor hit  with, "Sweetest One" in the summer of 1957 on the Joyce label, it was late in 1959 however that their fortunes began to change.
     "16 Candles" was written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent, and was the number 2 hit in the country for two weeks during the winter of 1958/59. It began a two year run on the charts which scored them four trips to the top 40 until Maestro left to pursue a solo career.
     The song was revived again by it's use in the John Hughes movie, "Sixteen Candles" with Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall.

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The Penguins--Earth Angel (1954)

    Tenor Cleveland Duncan turns 76 today....

    The Penguins only had one hit on the pop charts, but what a song it was. Written by Jessie Belvin and Curtis Williams (who was a bass/baritone with the group), the group reached No. 8 on the charts (#1 on R&B). As was a common practice because of segregated radio, The Crew Cuts did their version and reached #1 in 1955. They signed a contract with Mercury (who wanted The Penguins)  as a 2 for 1 deal where the company received The Penguins and The Platters which were managed by the same guy. Ironically enough, The Platters did well, while after one top 20 R&B hit, never charted again. The group saw turnover through the years, but Cleveland Duncan was a constant and as of 2001 were still touring.  Interesting note: They named themselves after Willie the Penguin which was the cartoon advertising character for Kool cigarettes. (get it, the group is cool??).

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Sunday Morning Vault: Sack dresses and The Accents Wiggle, Wiggle (1958)

The picture above is of a sack dress which evidently was in style in the 50's. Since I am not a fashion devotee (family and friends insert joke here), nor born before 1960, will have to take someone else's word on this monstrosity. Music has always touched on social commentary, moral sermonizing, or the latest fad. It could be fashion, a dance, a game (remember Pac-Man Fever?), or even a phrase.

Robert Draper Jr., Robert Armstrong, Billy R.Hood, James L. Jackson, Arvid Garrett and Israel L. Goudeau, Jr. made up The Accents. Draper was the lead singer, but at this time don't know any more about this band. It's only hit was in December 1958 and was called "Wiggle, Wiggle" (On charts for 12 weeks peaking at #51) . According to the song, all you needed was a sack dress and to "wiggle" where it counted. To my knowledge it's the only song written about this fashion fad, and if looks mean anything...there was a reason for that, however it's far from the last time a song implored a woman to um...wiggle. Hope you all have a great Sunday....

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