The Dovells
Encyclopedia
The Dovells were an American
music
group
, formed at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia
, Pennsylvania
in 1957, under the name 'The Brooktones'. The members were Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff
(better known as Len Barry), Jerry Gross, Mike Freda and Jim Mealey (alias Danny Brooks). Their first single
was "No, No, No", which was a minor local hit
for The Brooktones, who soon broke up. Summers and Dennis left the group, forming The Gems with Mark Stevens and Alan Horowitz in 1960. The remaining Brooktones signed to the Chancellor
record label
and added Jerry Serlen and William Shunkwiler to the group, while changing the band's name to The Dovells.
Their first hit was "Bristol Stomp
", a dance
song
with the lead vocal actually sung by Matthew Cavallaro, a short time member forced to leave the band due to military obligations. This was followed by the similar hit "Do the New Continental" (featured in the John Waters movie Hairspray
for a minute). "Bristol Stomp" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. They appeared performing both songs in the Chubby Checker
movie
Don't Knock The Twist in 1961. They released a series of singles over the next few years. These included "You Can't Sit Down
", a #3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1963.
Len Borisoff left in 1965 for a solo career under the name Len Barry
. The high point of his solo career was "1-2-3" in 1965.
The Dovells continued as a trio
, and recorded
as The Magistrates for MGM in 1968. As the Magistrates they recorded the chart hit "Here Comes the Judge," taking advantage of the popularity of the skit of the TV show Laugh-In.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
group
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...
, formed at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1957, under the name 'The Brooktones'. The members were Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff
Len Barry
Len Barry is a retired American vocalist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:...
(better known as Len Barry), Jerry Gross, Mike Freda and Jim Mealey (alias Danny Brooks). Their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
was "No, No, No", which was a minor local hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
for The Brooktones, who soon broke up. Summers and Dennis left the group, forming The Gems with Mark Stevens and Alan Horowitz in 1960. The remaining Brooktones signed to the Chancellor
Chancellor Records
Chancellor Records was a record label associated with ABC-Paramount Records, which initially distributed the smaller label. Based in Philadelphia, PA, it was an integral part of the dominance of popular Philadelphia artists and music in the late 1950s and early 1960s.Its first hit was "With All My...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and added Jerry Serlen and William Shunkwiler to the group, while changing the band's name to The Dovells.
Their first hit was "Bristol Stomp
Bristol Stomp
"Bristol Stomp" is a song written in 1961 by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, two executives with the Cameo-Parkway record label, for The Dovells, an a cappella singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who recorded the song for Cameo-Parkway late that year. It was originally recorded by a group from...
", a dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
with the lead vocal actually sung by Matthew Cavallaro, a short time member forced to leave the band due to military obligations. This was followed by the similar hit "Do the New Continental" (featured in the John Waters movie Hairspray
Hairspray
Hairspray may refer to:* Hair spray, a personal grooming product* Hairspray , a film by John Waters** Hairspray , the film's soundtrack album* Hairspray , a stage musical based on the original film...
for a minute). "Bristol Stomp" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. They appeared performing both songs in the Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Don't Knock The Twist in 1961. They released a series of singles over the next few years. These included "You Can't Sit Down
You Can't Sit Down
"You Can't Sit Down" is the name of a song performed by The Dovells and released as a single in 1963. The song reached number three on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It is a vocal cover version of the 1961 Phil Upchurch Combo original instrumental....
", a #3 hit 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 1963.
Len Borisoff left in 1965 for a solo career under the name Len Barry
Len Barry
Len Barry is a retired American vocalist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:...
. The high point of his solo career was "1-2-3" in 1965.
The Dovells continued as a trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, and recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
as The Magistrates for MGM in 1968. As the Magistrates they recorded the chart hit "Here Comes the Judge," taking advantage of the popularity of the skit of the TV show Laugh-In.