The Essex › Similar Artists

The Raindrops - 52% match to The Essex

This rock ‘n’ roll girl group came from New York City, New York, USA. The group was actually the songwriting/producing team of Ellie Greenwich (23 October 1940, Brooklyn, New York, USA) and Jeff Barry (b. 3 April 1938). As part of the golden age of girl groups, the Raindrops presented a grating teenage-orientated sound with undeniable rock ‘n’ roll energy Read more

The Crests - 43% match to The Essex

Formed in New York City, USA, in 1956, the Crests soon became one of the most successful of the ‘integrated’ doo-wop groups of the period, after being discovered by Al Browne. Headed by the lead tenor of Johnny Mastro (Johnny Mastrangelo, 7 May 1930, USA), the rest of the band comprised Harold Torres, Talmadge Gough, J.T. Carter and Patricia Van Dross. By 1957 they Read more

The Penguins - 41% match to The Essex

Formed in 1954 in Fremont High School, Los Angeles, California, USA, the Penguins were one of the most important R&B vocal groups from the west coast in the early 50s. Their hit ballad ‘Earth Angel’ remains one of the most fondly recalled ‘doo-wop’ recordings. The group comprised lead vocalist Cleveland ‘Cleve’ Duncan (23 July 1935, Los Ange Read more

Little Eva - 40% match to The Essex

Eva Narcissus Boyd, 29 June 1943, Bellhaven, North Carolina, USA, d. 10 April 2003, Kinston, North Carolina, USA. Discovered by songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Little Eva shot to fame in 1962 with the international hit single ‘The Loco-Motion’, a driving, dance-based song that was the first release on the Dimension Records label. Its ebullient, adolescent Read more

The Spaniels - 40% match to The Essex

This vocal ensemble was formed in 1952 in Gary, Indiana, USA. Universally recognized as one of the great R&B vocal harmony groups of the 50s, the Spaniels’ magnificent body of work was not truly reflected in their moderate chart success. The group originally comprised Roosevelt High students James ‘Pookie’ Hudson (Thornton James Hudson, 11 June 1934, Des M Read more

Shep & The Limelites - 36% match to The Essex

R&B vocal group hailing from New York City, USA. James Sheppard (c.1936, Queens, New York City, New York, USA, d. 24 January 1970, Long Island, New York, USA) was lead and songwriter successively for two R&B groups, the Heartbeats and Shep And The Limelites. He created the first ‘song cycle’ (i.e., a string of songs constituting a musical and literary unit) Read more

The Cookies - 36% match to The Essex

This US vocal trio was formed in 1954 by Doretta (Dorothy) Jones (South Carolina, USA), her cousin Beulah Robertson, and Darlene McCrae (b. Ethel McCrae, North Carolina, USA). This line-up recorded a solitary single (‘Don’t Let Go’/‘All Night Mambo’) for the Lamp label. Robertson was replaced by Margie Hendricks (b. 13 March 1939, USA, d. July 1973, Read more

The Toys - 35% match to The Essex

The Chiffons - 34% match to The Essex

Formed in the Bronx, New York City, USA, where all the members were born, erstwhile backing singers Judy Craig (6 August 1946, New York City, New York, USA), Barbara Lee Jones (b. 16 May 1947, New York City, New York, USA, d. 15 May 1992), Patricia Bennett (b. 7 April 1947, the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA) and Sylvia Peterson (b. 30 September 1946), are best recalled Read more

Dion - 32% match to The Essex

During his peak, from 1958-63, Dion (Dion Francis DiMucci, 18 July 1939, the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA) was the quintessential Italian-American New York City rocker and was, perhaps, the first major white rock singer who was not from a southern city. The career of one of America’s legendary artists has spanned six decades, during which time he has made numerou Read more

Betty Everett - 31% match to The Essex

23 November 1939, Greenwood, Mississippi, USA, d. 19 August 2001, Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. Having moved to Chicago in the late 50s, R&B/soul singer Everett recorded unsuccessfully for several local labels, including Cobra, C.J. and One-derful, and briefly sang lead with the all-male group the Daylighters. Her hits came soon after signing to Vee Jay Records where ‘You Read more

The Five Satins - 31% match to The Essex

This R&B vocal group was formed in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, in 1955. The Five Satins’ first hit, ‘In The Still Of The Nite’ (US R&B number 3 and pop Top 30 in 1956), was one of the definitive songs of the early rock ‘n’ roll era, with its strong chanting of doo-wop riffs in the background and impassioned lead work. The group on this record c Read more

The Elegants - 30% match to The Essex

Formed in the mid-50s in Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA, the Elegants were a white doo-wop group. They achieved a US number 1 single, ‘Little Star’, in 1958, only to disappear from the charts permanently thereafter. The group was comprised of lead vocalist Vito Picone (17 March 1940), Carman Romano (b. 17 August 1939), James Moschella (b. 10 May 1938), Read more

The Exciters - 29% match to The Essex

Formed in 1961 in the Jamaica district of Queens, New York City, this aptly named group originally included Brenda Reid, Carol Johnson (1945, USA, d. 7 May 2007), Lillian Walker and Sylvia Wilbur. The sister act to local doo wop quintet the Masters, the group was originally known as the Masterettes. Wilbur was replaced by Penny Carter and then the Masters’ Herb Rooney ( Read more

The Jive Five - 28% match to The Essex

From Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, the Jive Five were one of the last doo-wop groups to have a national hit and one of the few to make a successful transition to the soul era. The group members were Eugene Pitt (6 November 1937; lead), Jerome Hanna (first tenor), Richard Harris (second tenor), Billy Prophet (baritone) and Norman Johnson (d. 1970; bass). Their bigge Read more