The Mello-Moods

The New York-based Mello-Moods are significant in the history of teen vocal groups, coming together almost four years before Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, who were acclaimed as the one of the first black "kiddie" groups to capture the public's attention in the early '50s. 13 and 14-year-old eighth graders Ray "Buddy" Wooten (lead), Bobby "Schubie" Williams (second lead, tenor, and piano), Bobby Baylor (second tenor and baritone), Monteith "Monte" Owens (tenor and guitar), and Jimmy "Bip" Bethea (bass) were so young that they were all still attending Resurrection Grammar School on West 151st Street in Manhattan when they began to attract attention. By late 1950/early 1951, the unnamed group of teenie vocalists could be found practicing at Macombs Dam Park across the bridge in the Bronx, right behind Yankee Stadium. Bobby Robinson, who owned the Red Robins record store and was looking to start the Red Robins record label, caught the group and decided that he'd invest his time and money to record them. By December 1951, the group -- now calling themselves the Mello-Moods -- had recorded their first single, a soft ballad called "Where Are You," which soon found its way on to Billboard's national R&B charts on February 23, 1952, where it reached number seven in the nation. Jimmy Keyes, a friend of the group (later a member of the Chords -- "Sh-Boom" -- on Cat) became their manager and managed to get them on the bill at the Apollo Theater, as well as nightclubs usually reserved for adults. The Mello-Moods also made an appearance on the Spotlight on Harlem TV show. The group's next single, a ballad called "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" earned them some airplay, but failed to chart and the group was soon signing up with new manager Joel Turnero. Turnero took them to...