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Audio1957 - The Chancellors
About this film
The Chancellors were a mixed group formed in 1956 by white members Eddie Palatella (Lead), Jack “Jiggie Boy” Hopper (1st Tenor) and Peter Rocco (2nd Tenor) from Schreiber High School in Port Washington, N.Y. Black members Rowland Pinkney (Bass) and Donald Fields (Baritone) from Mineola High School in N.Y. After an amateur contest, Steve Blaine introduced the group to his father, Jerry Blaine, of Jubilee Records. The group was booked at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night on February 20th, 1957 with 24 other Rock & Roll acts. The Mellow-Kings won the contest but The Chancellors had the distinction of being the first interracial group to perform at the Apollo. On May 1st, 1957 the group had their first recording session in the Belltone Studios in Manhattan with the Billy Rock Orchestra; Panama Francis on drums and Tony Mottola Sr. on lead guitar and arrangements. On May 13th, 1957 Jerry Blaine released the group’s recordings of “There Goes My Girl” and “Tell Me You Love Me” on his new record label, Port Records (named after Port Washington). When the first records were distributed another group who had first claimed the Chancellor’s name appeared. Steve Blaine changed the group's name…
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The Chancellors
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The Chancellors
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