Tangeers (Tan-geers) - who were they ?

[Kegsy]

2 minutes ago, chalky said:

Nope, Elijah Jones, one of the group. 

Which group Tangeers or TNJ's, perhaps he had a sister.

[Chalky]

2 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

Which group Tangeers or TNJ's, perhaps he had a sister.

TNJs of course. Think yer clutching at straws mate personally. 

[Chalky]

4 minutes ago, johndelve said:

I don't believe there is any link between The Tangeers and The TNJ's - two totally different groups as far as I am aware.

Steve's Wand book does give more info on The Tangeers : he says they were Cora Boykins (replaced by Elaine Jones) , Bobby Covington, Richard Quarles, Earle Beale and Bill Hagie at one point .

I’ve yet to see a link even if there was and what links have been given seem a little far fetched. 

[Kegsy]

1 minute ago, chalky said:

TNJs of course. Think yer clutching at straws mate personally. 

Maybe but I can't find anything about who made up the TNJS, where have you got Elijah Jones from ?.

[Chalky]

5 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

Maybe but I can't find anything about who made up the TNJS, where have you got Elijah Jones from ?.

He is mentioned here for starters as a group member

https://www.trentonmakesmusic.org/article/the-tnjs/

[Kegsy]

2 minutes ago, chalky said:

I’ve yet to see a link even if there was and what links have been given seem a little far fetched. 

The link is a guy called Oscar Bucky Buchman, who owned record industry companies/labels etc.in Baltimore at the same time as Ron Bollon the Tangeers producer. Buchman also started Newark Records who recorded the TNJS. 

[The Yank]

According to Dave Moore's book "The Philly Sound", the TNJs were -

Al Stroman, Joe Anderson, Barry Higginbotham, James Gost and Elijah Jones.

 

 

[Johndelve]

The Soul Harmony Singles book references Elijah Jones as TNJ's lead singer.

[Chalky]

“She’s Not Ready” was not copyrighted until March 196& and was plugged in billboard in May 1968 under the distributors info. It is also in a radio chart of some sort for that year in April. It only just predates the Tangeers.  The info above is on 45cat. 

[Chalky]

6 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

The link is a guy called Oscar Bucky Buchman, who owned record industry companies/labels etc.in Baltimore at the same time as Ron Bollon the Tangeers producer. Buchman also started Newark Records who recorded the TNJS. 

My guess is Ron Bollon and Plato did the production at their own company and leased the two sides to Okeh. 

Edited April 17, 2019 by chalky

[Kegsy]

7 minutes ago, chalky said:

My guess is Ron Bollon and Plato did the production at their own company and leased the two sides to Okeh. 

Fair enough but that still doesn't prove the Tangeers were not also the TNJ's. Both seen to be involved with people on the Baltimore scene and both seem to have connections to New Jersey via Bucky Buchman. 

[Chalky]

4 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

Fair enough but that still doesn't prove the Tangeers were not also the TNJ's. Both seen to be involved with people on the Baltimore scene and both seem to have connections to New Jersey via Bucky Buchman. 

I think the two line ups given say otherwise, at least until they can be disproved? 

I would  imagine the people concerned were involved with plenty of groups. Do we know if the TNJs went to Baltimore or Bucky etc to Trenton, the latter looking at the various writings. 

[Kegsy]

28 minutes ago, chalky said:

He is mentioned here for starters as a group member

https://www.trentonmakesmusic.org/article/the-tnjs/

 

25 minutes ago, the yank said:

According to Dave Moore's book "The Philly Sound", the TNJs were -

Al Stroman, Joe Anderson, Barry Higginbotham, James Gost and Elijah 

Then who is Greg Jamerson who appears on the video ? 

[Blackpoolsoul]

1 hour ago, chalky said:

Given all the time and effort Steve put in maybe you should buy the book  

Where is the scan from?  

I have the book but not got round to reading yet. 

Popsikey

[Chalky]

3 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

 

Then who is Greg Jamerson who appears on the video ? 

I haven’t watched mate, only got me phone st the minute and hard work on that. Need to charge laptop too. 

[Blackpoolsoul]

4 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

 

Then who is Greg Jamerson who appears on the video ? 

Dave is the man as usual

[Chalky]

Just now, Blackpoolsoul said:

Popsikey

Dodgy?  Do you have the link?

[Blackpoolsoul]

1 minute ago, chalky said:

Dodgy?  Do you have the link?

This one 

https://www.popsike.com/NORTHERN-SOUL-RARITY-TANGEERS-ACETATE-listen/170615436097.html

[Chalky]

2 minutes ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

This one 

https://www.popsike.com/NORTHERN-SOUL-RARITY-TANGEERS-ACETATE-listen/170615436097.html

There is another as well for 233. Dodgy if you ask me at first glance. 

Edited April 17, 2019 by chalky

[The Yank]

28 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

 

Then who is Greg Jamerson who appears on the video ? 

      If you read the comments from the person who posted the video, it says it includes photos of the first group and the

     last group before they disbanded. 

[The Yank]

46 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

Fair enough but that still doesn't prove the Tangeers were not also the TNJ's. Both seen to be involved with people on the Baltimore scene and both seem to have connections to New Jersey via Bucky Buchman. 

     Hope this video helps- the group ( TNJs)  is clearly identified - 

 

[Kegsy]

20 minutes ago, the yank said:

      If you read the comments from the person who posted the video, it says it includes photos of the first group and the

     last group before they disbanded. 

So the TNJ's line up also changed over the years, holy moly this is a complete nightmare !!!!!.

 

[Kegsy]

Instant Funk look to be still around on Facebook, I'm not, so i can't contact them. Maybe someone else could and ask them about the TNJ's and possibly the tangeers too.

[Blackpoolsoul]

22 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

So the TNJ's line up also changed over the years, holy moly this is a complete nightmare !!!!!.

 

Oh Dear. what have I done  Don't you love it though !!!! and remember we are all creating history "Nearly Forgotten"

[Steve G]

16 hours ago, Kegsy said:

 

Are we totally sure about this ?. Nick Barker who arranged at least 2 Tangeers records also worked for Accent Sound Studios also in  Baltimore, he also recorded there in a group called Gross National Product. Almost all of the Bradley output appears to be almost exclusively religious/gospel type stuff.

Yes there was a Bradley Recording studios acetate of one of their O'Keh singles on eBay a few years ago. I did think of bidding on it so I could put it in my book, but in the end didn't for some reason.

Edited April 18, 2019 by Steve G

[Steve G]

13 hours ago, Kegsy said:

Fair enough but that still doesn't prove the Tangeers were not also the TNJ's. Both seen to be involved with people on the Baltimore scene and both seem to have connections to New Jersey via Bucky Buchman. 

Again, where books come in useful Part 54 . "Baltimore Sounds" lists the Tangiers / Tangeers as initially: Cora Boykins, Bobby Covington, Richard Quarles, Earl Beale, and Bill Hagie. Boykins was later replaced by Elaine Jones. By 1970 the group disbanded and Quarles and Jones became Over Easy (no recordings that I know of).

The TNJs are a different group from Trenton and were led by Elijah Jones and, as well as their own 45s, did back up vocals for various Philly records including Bunny Sigler. They are on his "Love train" for example. 

Instant Funk (also from Trenton) are a different group again (they too did back ups on Philly Records). They started as Music Machine. In that incarnation they actually backed up the TNJs on some of their recordings. I have a TNJs record from 77/78 (quite obscure), which further shows that they were separate groups. 

It is possible, but merely speculation, that one member of the TNJs could have been in Instant Funk at some point, since they were both from the same town, but I have seen zero evidence of this. 

Hope that helps. 

Edited April 18, 2019 by Steve G

[Kegsy]

15 minutes ago, Steve G said:

It is possible, but merely speculation, that one member of the TNJs could have been in Instant Funk at some point, since they were both from the same town, but I have seen zero evidence of this. 

Elijah Jones is documented as being in both groups, he also recorded as E-Jon on Apex records out of Trenton, and as Elijah john on Keylock/Key records a NY label.

Edited April 18, 2019 by Kegsy

[Girdwoodinc]

This Empty Place is definitely the better of their releases for me (top 3 record for me), LMHASBH/WTUOMT is still a great double sider but not a shade on this

[Chalky]

But Elijah wasn’t in the Tangeers, nor were any of the TNJs or Instant Funk according to any of the documented material we have. We are just getting sidetracked. 

Edited April 18, 2019 by chalky

[Girdwoodinc]

meant to say great photograph whoever posted it, first time I've seen it

[Blackpoolsoul]

47 minutes ago, chalky said:

But Elijah wasn’t in the Tangeers, nor were any of the TBJs or Instant Funk according to any of the documented material we have. We are just getting sidetracked. 

I agree we are but I have found this so now we can get back to the Tangeers  (in fact I think we have covered it now ) thanks for everyone's input, you should be proud making history.

Robert Earl and the Millers Brothers (Scott and Kim.) TNJ's But that could be wrong was well, it appears Ed Hogan was into their history

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kim-miller-mn0002291567

https://www.trentonmakesmusic.org/article/the-tnjs/

Edited April 18, 2019 by Blackpoolsoul
Updated with Link

[Kegsy]

3 hours ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

Robert Earl and the Millers Brothers (Scott and Kim.) TNJ's But that could be wrong was well, it appears Ed Hogan was into their history

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kim-miller-mn0002291567

https://www.trentonmakesmusic.org/article/the-tnjs/

Neither of those articles are correct the TNJS recorded 4 singles and the one said to be on Cameo was actually on Chess.

[Steve G]

7 hours ago, Kegsy said:

Elijah Jones is documented as being in both groups, he also recorded as E-Jon on Apex records out of Trenton, and as Elijah john on Keylock/Key records a NY label.

Can you inform me where that is?

 

[Kegsy]

42 minutes ago, Steve G said:

Can you inform me where that 

https://www.trentonmakesmusic.org/article/the-tnjs/

The other link is Discogs search, for Instant Funk, I'm on the mobile can't seem to copy that link.

Edited April 18, 2019 by Kegsy

[Benji]

Just a short question. Does somebody know where the name "Tangeers" comes from?

[Chalky]

21 minutes ago, Benji said:

Just a short question. Does somebody know where the name "Tangeers" comes from?

They were The Tangiers before they became the Tangeers. Possibly the same group with the Jetsons (Pumpkin & Date).  The Pumpkin one though is said to be Charlie Rich sped up?   Maybe they were named after a nightclub, popular name at one time, or after something in a movie?  Maybe Steve can shed some light on this?

Edited April 18, 2019 by chalky

[Chalky]

Upon looking the Tangiers on Decca look like they are the Hollywood Flames.

[Steve G]

2 hours ago, chalky said:

They were The Tangiers before they became the Tangeers. Possibly the same group with the Jetsons (Pumpkin & Date).  The Pumpkin one though is said to be Charlie Rich sped up?   Maybe they were named after a nightclub, popular name at one time, or after something in a movie?  Maybe Steve can shed some light on this?

Yes the same Tangeers group with the Jetsons (Baltimore Sounds book) - apparently the two groups performed together locally at various gigs, so guess it made sense to put out the Date 45. As to why they were called the Tangiers, no idea, they formed in 1955.

Edited April 18, 2019 by Steve G

[The Yank]

3 hours ago, chalky said:

Upon looking the Tangiers on Decca look like they are the Hollywood Flames.

  Not 100% sure but... I've heard that the Hollywood Flames, The Tangiers (Decca), Jets (Aladdin), ? Marks (Swing Time) , 
   Turks (Cash) and the Satellites (Class)  are basically all the same group !  I think there were a few more aliases also. 

[Blackpoolsoul]

9 hours ago, chalky said:

They were The Tangiers before they became the Tangeers. Possibly the same group with the Jetsons (Pumpkin & Date).  The Pumpkin one though is said to be Charlie Rich sped up?   Maybe they were named after a nightclub, popular name at one time, or after something in a movie?  Maybe Steve can shed some light on this?

This guy has them listed in his bands section, but that's all

https://baltimorejam.org/historian.html

[Blackpoolsoul]

5 hours ago, the yank said:

  Not 100% sure but... I've heard that the Hollywood Flames, The Tangiers (Decca), Jets (Aladdin), ? Marks (Swing Time) , 
   Turks (Cash) and the Satellites (Class)  are basically all the same group !  I think there were a few more aliases also. 

https://doo-wop.blogg.org/the-tangiers-1-a116517900

Looks like more

https://www.discogs.com/artist/6337867-The-Tangiers-3

[Chalky]

41 minutes ago, Blackpoolsoul said:

This guy has them listed in his bands section, but that's all

https://baltimorejam.org/historian.html

The Decca group consist of Bobby Byrd and Earl Nelson. Pretty sure none of the Tangiers on other labels are the same group as our Baltimore group.  

 

https://doo-wop.blogg.org/tangiers-2-c26505418

Edited April 19, 2019 by chalky

[The Yank]

Does anyone know if the Ron Bollons mentioned in the 2 pics are the same person?

The distributors were based on Guilford Street which is also one of the labels mentioned- 

[Kegsy]

10 hours ago, the yank said:

Does anyone know if the Ron Bollons mentioned in the 2 pics are the same person?

The distributors were based on Guilford Street which is also one of the labels mentioned- 

I think that's a fair assumption, Bollon produced a record on the Guilford label, for a group called Gross National Product, the group included Nick Barker who was the arranger on the Tangeers records. The Guilford label was owned by Oscar 'Bucky' Buchman, who owned another distributors called  Redisco One Stop also on Guilford Ave. Guilford had 2 releases by B.B. and the Oscars, both produced by Buchman. 

Edit.

I think Bollon also had something to do with Newark records, Bollon produced on the label, and the TNJs recorded on it, which was why I wondered if the Tangeers and TNJ's may be connected, as there were strong links back to Baltimore.

Edited April 20, 2019 by Kegsy

[Roburt]

This is the building on Guilford Ave (Balto) where New Deal Record Service Corp was based (#1601). After them, it was occupied for many years by Weant Press Incorporated (a printing outfit) and then sold off to a group of artisans / craftsman who make & sell their wares out of the place.

It looks more than suitable as the base for a record distributor (loads of storage & office space). Bradley's Studios wasn't too far away (a bit further east & north of this location). Doesn't look like the building that housed the studio still exists.

Edited April 22, 2019 by Roburt

[Chalky]

It would appear Rob Bollon was still active in the 90s and was owner of the Laurie Group of labels when they sold their back catalogue.....

Billboard 4 Jul 1992

[Roburt]

Al Levine also spent many years working in the record biz … Seems he had been part of New York based Ideal Distributors in the 50's but broke away from them to start up NEW DEAL RECORD SERVICES in the early 60's. From an original base in New York, that organisation expanded and set up bases in a number of cities. Seems Baltimore was one of the later bases they had (after New York; New Jersey; Florida; Hazelwood, Missouri & LA). They morphed into Interstate Rec Distributors in 65 but the larger outfit went bust in 1966 taking Rochelle Park, NJ based Garden State Rec Dist and Florida Rec Dist / Sunshine State Dist down with them.

Edited April 20, 2019 by Roburt

[Kenb]

I was meaning to bring a little new info to this topic after the original OP in April 2019. After the initial post I did some digging… but got side-tracked, and so i totally forgot. Until…John M’s auction listing of ‘Let My Heart…’ (ending 25/10/2023) jogged me to ‘post -up’.

Group names can be found on Discogs and elsewhere. I’m going to touch on the other folks associated with the groups recording.

Better known locally as ‘Tike’, Plato Theophilos wrote the lyrics and the melody on ‘Let My Heart..'.

Nick Barker was a senior at the University of Maryland. Recorded separately on 3 tracks Nick wrote the music for the musicians. 12 violins, 9 Brass, 3 Rhythm. Vocals were added, and Ron Bollon, ‘Tike’ and Joe Bradley did the mixing at his studio. Ron Bollon who was a native New Yorker working in Baltimore, took it to Okeh. If the record could do well, they would get finance for more projects so they ‘shopped’ the 45 around the DJ’s and Radio Stations (as per previous post Al Jefferson at WWIN) including Eddie C at WEBB, with the help of some members of the group, ‘Tike’ and Fred Teves promo man at Schwartz Bros.

Plato Theophilos (Tike) was an entrepreneurial guy. Since 1974 he had owned and ran Revolution Bar, and then in 1988 opened another bar called Rev on Maryland Ave, and his connections continued with WHFS Radio (Annapolis) DJ’s showing up on opening night. Rev maybe didn’t do so well? -because in 1989 Rev and an after-hours club called Cignel merged as Studio 10 on Lafayette Ave. There was an intention to use it as a ‘studio’ for record promo parties. Perhaps lofty ambitions. Plato was owner manager.

 

Some other associations in print at Baltimore Sounds by Joe Vaccarino;

Tangiers & Jetsons 1965 p479, Chancellors as backing group 1968 & name change from Tangiers to Tan Geers p480.

Plato also managed Koffee Beans and name-changed them to Gross National Product, Nick Barker on keyboards, p194.Three members of the band had been together with the Jetsons p257.

Jim Buckley ‘Third Time Today on Format Records, Bollon & Plato produced p59.

Ron Price recorded at Bradley studios and released on Newark Records co-produced by Bollon p376.

There are more I’m sure, and even think Nick Barker had been in the Uptowns who backed Clay Hunt (Bay Sound).

[Robbk]

On 18/04/2019 at 16:29, The Yank said:

  Not 100% sure but... I've heard that the Hollywood Flames, The Tangiers (Decca), Jets (Aladdin), ? Marks (Swing Time) , 
   Turks (Cash) and the Satellites (Class)  are basically all the same group !  I think there were a few more aliases also. 

This is all true.  The Tangiers on Decca WERE the same group on Specialty, and same as The Jets on Aladdin, ? Marks on Swing Time, Turks on Cash (with Jesse Belvin added), and Bobby Day & Satellites on Class.  They had Robert (Bobby Byrd (Day) and other L.A. resident singers in their group.  They were MUCH older than the Baltimore group, with NO connection possible that I can imagine.

[Yann V]

I've got in touch with Joe Bradley the studio owner few years ago and managed to get few copies (issues only) from his basement.