The Quotations
Encyclopedia
The Quotations are a doo-wop
band
, primarily from James Madison High School
in East Brooklyn, New York.
The group started in 1958 at Barney's Pool Room on Kings Highway in East Brooklyn, New York. The original members of the group were Richie Schwartz (first tenor
), Lew Arno (second tenor
) and Harvey Hersh[kowitz] (baritone
) who hung out together harmonizing
. Larry Kassman later asked if he could sing with the group; Kassman soon became lead for the group.
The group later picked up the name "Quotations" from one of the songs they liked to perform - "Quotations of Love" written by a friend of the group, Mike Rose. The group often sung at the Rainbow Store on Kings Highway near the train station; on the Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach boardwalks; and at Sid Gordon's bowling alley - all Brooklyn favorites for teenagers. In 1959, the group made their first demos - "Time Was", "Sunday Kind of Love" and "September in the Rain".
Helen Miller worked for the producer Don Kirshner
as a songwriter. She heard the Quotations' music and became their manager. Miller shopped the group around and they eventually met up with executives at Verve Records
. Historically, Verve was not considered a doo-wop label, focusing more on jazz
and blues
music. The group chose to do a new, uptempo style version of Jimmy Van Heusen's classic "Imagination
". The record was released in 1961 and reached Top-40 status by the end of the year http://www.musicradio77.com/Surveys/1961/surveydec1261.html.
The group enjoyed success in 1962, making concert appearances on the east coast, in the south and midwest. Their follow-up record in 1962 (Verve 10252) was "This Love of Mine". "We'll Reach Heaven Together" was the B-side.
The group recorded "See You in September" backed with "Summertime Goodbye" (Verve 10261) in April 1962, thinking it would be the perfect summertime record. But it wasn't released until late August and DJ's failed to pick up on it. Harvey remembers: "See You In September came next, but unfortunately Verve released the record in August which pretty much destroyed any chance of air play." The group had one last record - "In the Night" backed with "Oh No I Still Love Her" (1964 - Admiral 753) and Harvey believes that "Oh No" was their best record.
A few versions of the Quotations continued performing with Sandy Sonner and recorded some a cappella
selections during the 1970s for Relic Records. However, Harvey notes that not one original member has ever sung with another vocal group.
In 1998, after a few reunions, the group reformed with a new tenor. Richie moved to bass and new member Stu Abramson. Stu was with the group the Astralites who recorded "Space Hop" in 1961 and sings, plays sax, guitar, bass and keyboards as well. The group recorded a new CD in 2000 - Q2K - which includes not only new material but all their original selections. Harvey comments "This CD represents the culmination of lots of practice, plenty of live performances and a renewed love of this magical, musical entity we call Doo-Wop. We've recorded some favorites of ours, included are some a cappella and also the eight songs that we originally recorded 40 years ago. Some have never been heard before".
Richie Schwartz and Stu Abramson both died in 2006. Patty Bello joined the group as a new fourth member.
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, primarily from James Madison High School
James Madison High School (New York)
James Madison High School is a public high school located at 3787 Bedford Avenue, in the Madison section of Brooklyn, New York, and educates grades 9 through 12. It is part of Region 6 in the New York City Department of Education...
in East Brooklyn, New York.
The group started in 1958 at Barney's Pool Room on Kings Highway in East Brooklyn, New York. The original members of the group were Richie Schwartz (first tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
), Lew Arno (second tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
) and Harvey Hersh[kowitz] (baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) who hung out together harmonizing
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
. Larry Kassman later asked if he could sing with the group; Kassman soon became lead for the group.
The group later picked up the name "Quotations" from one of the songs they liked to perform - "Quotations of Love" written by a friend of the group, Mike Rose. The group often sung at the Rainbow Store on Kings Highway near the train station; on the Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach boardwalks; and at Sid Gordon's bowling alley - all Brooklyn favorites for teenagers. In 1959, the group made their first demos - "Time Was", "Sunday Kind of Love" and "September in the Rain".
Helen Miller worked for the producer Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
as a songwriter. She heard the Quotations' music and became their manager. Miller shopped the group around and they eventually met up with executives at Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
. Historically, Verve was not considered a doo-wop label, focusing more on jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
music. The group chose to do a new, uptempo style version of Jimmy Van Heusen's classic "Imagination
Imagination (1940 song)
"Imagination" is a popular song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen and the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was first published in 1940. The two best-selling versions were recorded by the orchestras of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey in 1940....
". The record was released in 1961 and reached Top-40 status by the end of the year http://www.musicradio77.com/Surveys/1961/surveydec1261.html.
The group enjoyed success in 1962, making concert appearances on the east coast, in the south and midwest. Their follow-up record in 1962 (Verve 10252) was "This Love of Mine". "We'll Reach Heaven Together" was the B-side.
The group recorded "See You in September" backed with "Summertime Goodbye" (Verve 10261) in April 1962, thinking it would be the perfect summertime record. But it wasn't released until late August and DJ's failed to pick up on it. Harvey remembers: "See You In September came next, but unfortunately Verve released the record in August which pretty much destroyed any chance of air play." The group had one last record - "In the Night" backed with "Oh No I Still Love Her" (1964 - Admiral 753) and Harvey believes that "Oh No" was their best record.
A few versions of the Quotations continued performing with Sandy Sonner and recorded some a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
selections during the 1970s for Relic Records. However, Harvey notes that not one original member has ever sung with another vocal group.
In 1998, after a few reunions, the group reformed with a new tenor. Richie moved to bass and new member Stu Abramson. Stu was with the group the Astralites who recorded "Space Hop" in 1961 and sings, plays sax, guitar, bass and keyboards as well. The group recorded a new CD in 2000 - Q2K - which includes not only new material but all their original selections. Harvey comments "This CD represents the culmination of lots of practice, plenty of live performances and a renewed love of this magical, musical entity we call Doo-Wop. We've recorded some favorites of ours, included are some a cappella and also the eight songs that we originally recorded 40 years ago. Some have never been heard before".
Richie Schwartz and Stu Abramson both died in 2006. Patty Bello joined the group as a new fourth member.