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The Chevrons Biography

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Formed in doo-wop central, Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood, the Chevrons are best known for a couple of regional hits for the Brent label, as well as the beginning for Jim Croce producer and Cashman & West member Dennis Minogue (aka Terry Cashman). The group was formed in 1959, with lead Minogue (also a baseball prospect for the Detroit Tigers), first tenor Marty Trautman, second tenor Frank Williams, baritone Gary Giordon, and bass Al Conde. (Conde, the last to join the group, previously sang with the Spirals on their single "School Bells," recorded for George Goldner's Gone Records.) Signed to Bobby Shad's Time Records, the Chevrons debuted with "That Comes with Love," released on Shad's Brent subsidiary. Increased airplay on the East Coast also gave the Chevrons a chance to tour, with a caravan led by Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow. They entered the national charts in 1960-1961 with "Lullabye" and appeared on a few of the top rock & roll television shows of the era, including Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The Chevrons' debut LP, 1961's Sing-A-Long Rock N Roll, followed soon on its heels -- with arrangements by Mickey Baker of Mickey & Sylvia -- and two singles were pulled from the album: "Little Star" and "Come Go With Me." The group split soon after, however, with Conde going on to form another group (the Holidays) and writing "New Orleans" and "Life" for the Sabrina label, formed by Angelo D'Aleo and Fred Milano from Dion & the Belmonts. After changing his name to Terry Cashman, Minogue teamed with Gene Pistilli to write a hit for Spanky & Our Gang ("Sunday Will Never Be the Same") and produce several hits for Jim Croce. He also scored hits as part of the duo Cashman & West and with a solo single, "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke)." A 1989 reunion for Don K. Reed's radio show on New York's WCBS-FM brought the Chevrons back together once more, and ten years later, the Wop Ding a Ling collection compiled (among various artists from the Time and Brent labels) the Chevrons' "Lullaby" and "Don't Be Heartless." ~ John Bush, Rovi

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