The Jaguars came from the halls of Fremont High in Los Angeles when they recorded their national hit The Way You Look Tonight.
Los Angeles, CA, August 08, 2008 — Grant Williams CEO of Memory Lane Concert Cruises today announced. The prestigious Jaguars will be among the twelve groups appearing on the legendary West Coast Doo Wop Cruise. The Jaguars never saw a dime from their greatest hit The Way You Look Tonight.†said Williams
Although the Jaguars known mainly for their rendition of “The Way You Look Tonight,” they had several other fine records. Several other vocal groups on the West Coast regarded them. The Jaguars came from the halls of Fremont High in Los Angeles. In fact, they had started, in 1954, singing in the Fremont High Mixed Chorus originally known as the Shadows; the members were Herman “Sonny” Chaney, Valerio “Val” Poliuto, Manuel Chavez and Charles Middleton. The Shadows were thus a true mixed group, being Black, White, and Hispanic. However, as time went on the guys became dissatisfied with the name “Shadows” and changed it to the Miracles in 1955. It was under this name that they made their first recordings.
The Miracles started recording for Dolphin Records who released “A Gal Named Jo” and “You’re An Angel,” Both released in April 1955 on Dolphin’s Cash label. The record made in such small quantities that it is one of the rarest today. Less than a month later, the Miracles hooked up with Bob Ross’ Aardell label. But their recording career began in earnest. Dolphin didn’t like the name “Miracles”. So they sat around trying to think up a new one. It came to them courtesy of comic Stan Freberg, who was at Ross’ office that day and suggested the name Jaguars and the their first release was “I Wanted You” and “Rock It, Davy, Rock It” and shortly after that. “I Wanted You” started doing well locally (DJ Zeke Manners ended playing it multiple times in a row). Because of its success, the Jaguars appeared on the first Hunter Hancock “Rhythm & Bluesville” TV show.
Ross released their second Aardell record “Be My Sweetie” and “You Don’t Believe Me” in November 1955. There was only minor success for both sides, but immortality was waiting in the wings. In the fall of 1956, Aardell now renamed “R-Dell” released the Jaguars’ version of the Jerome Kern standard “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Moonlight And You”. In October, “The Way You Look Tonight” reissued, with “Baby, Baby, Baby”. While not making the national charts, “The Way You Look Tonight” was their biggest hit. As Sonny said: “At least I think it was our biggest hit but we never saw a dime from it”. Then all was quiet for a year and the Jaguars didn’t appear anywhere despite their smash local hit. Finally, in early 1957, R-Dell released “I Love You Baby” backed by “The City Zoo” (a retitling of “Baby, Baby, Baby”) but for some strange they never released it. The Jaguars did a single session in late 1957 for Lee Rupe’s the ex-wife of Specialty Records owner, Art Rupe. She used the money she received in the divorce to setup Ebb record label “Hold Me Tonight” and “Piccadilly”. While at Ebb, the Jaguars became part of the backup on the Ralph Mathis and the Ambers session that produced “Never Let You Go” and “I’ll Make A Bet.” The Ambers were a group from San Francisco’s George Washington High School
In April 1959, the Jaguars recorded “My First Love” and “Do You Love Me†for Sabrina Records as Frankie & Johnny. In 1960, there were two more tunes, this time on the Spry label “Be My Love” and “Piccadilly Rose. Sometime in midyear, Art Laboe released his first “Oldies But Goodies” album and “The Way You Look Tonight” was a part of it. Probably not by coincidence, the Jaguars’ next recording stop was Art Laboe’s Original Sound label, where they recorded “Thinking Of You” and “Look Into My Eyes,” released in September 1959. Manny Chavez did not show up for some reason, and Laboe added top tenor Tony Allan and Richard Berry to the session. On the strength of the reaction to “The Way You Look Tonight” on the “Oldies But Goodies” album, Bob Ross dug into his unreleased R-Dell masters and came up with “Don’t Go Home” and “Girl Of My Dreams.” Which he released in July 1960 with Manny Chavez. Once again absent, Sonny, Charles, and Val recorded a session for Chess. In January 1961, once again as the T-Birds. “Green Stamps” and “Come On Dance With Me” also released that month. Although “Taco Harry” and “Hog Wild” remaining unissued.
In August 1961, the Jaguars had their last session for a long, long while this produced “Fine Fine Fine” and “It Finally Happened”. Which they recorded for Rendezvous later that year (and rereleased in June of 1963). The Jaguars seemed were ready to through in the towel at this point, and in late 1961, Manny Chavez recorded with the Seville’s, who had several releases on the JC and Galaxy labels. In 1989 and 1990. There were a few Jaguars releases on Classic Artists. All four original members were still around then, and were on these recordings. However, we can’t say that for a fact but even today. “The Way You Look Tonight” displays a group with a reservoir of talent and the ability to do a clean but fresh reading of an old classic; it remains one of my favorite songs. Unfortunately, this winning combination did not result in the rewards, which the Jaguars deserved.
On April 19 2009, The Jaguars will perform on Carnival cruise lines newest and most innovative ship in the world the Splendor. Sailing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera on a 7-day cruise. There has never been a Doo Wop event this spectacular on the West Coast in over fifty years.
Memory Lane Concert Cruises is musical theme cruise operator. Offering world-class concerts of performing artists in an array of music styles aboard luxury liners.
http://www.mlccruises.com
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Contact:
Grant Williams
Memory Lane Concert Cruises, LLC
Los Angeles, CA
(800) 795-1008
[email protected]
http://www.mlccruises.com
