The Paradons
Encyclopedia
The Paradons were an American doo wop group from Bakersfield, California
.
The group began by singing locally at school dances and clubs. Within a few months they secured a recording session with Milestone Records
, and recorded eight songs. Their first release with the label, "Diamonds and Pearls" b/w "I Want Love", became a hit in the U.S., peaking at #27 on the Black Singles chart and #18 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1960. The group appeared on American Bandstand
and at the Apollo Theatre
in the wake of its success. The group broke up shortly after over monetary disputes, having been together less than a year in total. Despite the group's demise, Marathon continued releasing singles from their initial recording sessions, but these releases - "Bells Ring", "Take All of Me", and I Had a Dream" - did not chart.
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
.
The group began by singing locally at school dances and clubs. Within a few months they secured a recording session with Milestone Records
Milestone Records
Milestone Records is a United States based jazz record label, founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz in New York City. The company was incorporated into Fantasy Records in 1972, since then it has been used for reissues as well as for new recordings....
, and recorded eight songs. Their first release with the label, "Diamonds and Pearls" b/w "I Want Love", became a hit in the U.S., peaking at #27 on the Black Singles chart and #18 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1960. The group appeared on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
and at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
in the wake of its success. The group broke up shortly after over monetary disputes, having been together less than a year in total. Despite the group's demise, Marathon continued releasing singles from their initial recording sessions, but these releases - "Bells Ring", "Take All of Me", and I Had a Dream" - did not chart.
Members
- William Powers
- Bill Meyers
- Chuck Weldon
- West Tyler
- Edward Scott (song writer)
- Walter Gibson (co-founder)