The Jodimars
Encyclopedia
The Jodimars was an American
rock and roll
band that was formed in the summer of 1955 and remained active until 1958. The band was created by former members of Bill Haley & His Comets
who had quit that group in a salary dispute. The name of the group was derived from the first letters of the first names of the founding members: Joey Ambrose (real name Joey d'Ambrosio) (saxophone
), Dick Boccelli (under the name "Dick Richards") (vocals
and drums
), and Marshall Lytle
(string bass). Other members included Chuck Hess (guitar
), Jim Buffington (piano) and Max Daffner (drums
).
and steel guitar player Billy Williamson, who were considered partners with Haley), requested a pay raise. According to the books Bill Haley by John Swenson and Sound and Glory by John W. Haley and John von Hoelle, their request was denied by either Haley's management or by Haley himself (accounts vary). During that summer, unknown to Haley, the trio recruited a couple of other musicians and recorded a few demo tapes - including a version of a Haley composition, "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie". This won the group a recording contract
with Capitol Records
and the group subsequently resigned from the Comets, although according to Swenson they agreed to help train the replacement musicians.
The group's first recordings on Capitol came out in late 1955, and the band scored a few minor hits such as "Well Now Dig This" and "Let's All Rock Together." In 1956, the Jodimars became one of the first rock and roll acts to take up residence in Las Vegas
showrooms. Soon after, they left Capitol and recorded for several smaller labels with no success. By 1958, the band had virtually broken up, though Lytle attempted to revive the group with a series of demo recordings later that year, though he was the only member of the core band to actually take part in the recordings (members of Ricky Nelson
's band worked on the recording session instead) and they sat unreleased until 1994.
By the 1960s, the Jodimars were only a memory, with Lytle going into real estate
, Ambrose becoming a casino pit boss in Las Vegas, and Boccelli/Richards becoming a stage and movie actor. In 1987, the band reunited for a series of concerts in conjunction with a simultaneous reunion of the original members of Bill Haley's Comets. In 1989, the late Johnny Hale brought the original Comets to the UK as part of his Brean Sands Rock 'n' Roll Weekender. The Jodimars (Joey, Dick and Marshall) were backed by three members of the UK Group The Stargazers (Pete Davenport on lead guitar, Chris Gardner on piano, and Ricky Lee Brawn on drums) in a set which included the Capitol album in its entirety plus a few other later Jodimars' numbers, and was followed by a set as "The Original Comets". This remains the only billed appearance by the Jodimars since the 1960s.
Today, Lytle, Ambrose and Richards continue to tour the world as part of the Comets, but include a couple of Jodimars songs in each show. As of the summer of 2006, the trio remain the only members of the 1954-55 Comets actively performing (following the death of Johnny Grande
and the retirement of Franny Beecher
, although 85-year-old Beecher was scheduled to rejoin the Comets in 2007).
In 1963, the Beatles
recorded a version of the Jodimars' "Clarabella" for the Pop Go the Beatles program for BBC Radio
, which appeared on the Apple/Parlophone/Capitol album Live at the BBC
in 1994, while the song "Well Now Dig This" inspired the name of the British
music magazine, Now Dig This.
Additional recordings exist from a demo session in 1955 ("Flip, Flop and Fly", "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
" (written by Bill Haley
) and "The Big Beat"). All but the latter were released in 1994; "Big Beat" remains unreleased. In 1958, Lytle recorded "Hip Shakin' Baby", "Be My Love Tonight", "Honey Baby", and "Bring Along Your Lovin'" with Ricky Nelson's band as The Jodimars but these recordings also were not released until 1994. A Jodimars cover version of "Dim Dim the Lights" (which was also a hit for Haley and the Comets) is also known to exist but has never been released.
Two compilation albums of Jodimars recordings exist: Well Now Dig This, first released in 1970 then in 1979 and finally in 1989 as a CD by the Bulldog Records label (France), and Let's All Rock Together on the UK Rockstar Records label in 1994, which included the first release of the 1955 and 1958 demo recordings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band that was formed in the summer of 1955 and remained active until 1958. The band was created by former members of Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
who had quit that group in a salary dispute. The name of the group was derived from the first letters of the first names of the founding members: Joey Ambrose (real name Joey d'Ambrosio) (saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
), Dick Boccelli (under the name "Dick Richards") (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), and Marshall Lytle
Marshall Lytle
Marshall Lytle , who also goes by the name Tommy Page, is an American rock and roll musician, best known for his work with the groups Bill Haley & His Comets and The Jodimars in the 1950s.-Career:...
(string bass). Other members included Chuck Hess (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Jim Buffington (piano) and Max Daffner (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
).
Career
During the summer of 1955, Lytle, Ambrose and Richards, who were paid on a set salary (as opposed to the other two Comets, pianist Johnny GrandeJohnny Grande
John A. Grande , better known as Johnny Grande, was a member of Bill Haley's backing band, The Comets.-Life and Career:...
and steel guitar player Billy Williamson, who were considered partners with Haley), requested a pay raise. According to the books Bill Haley by John Swenson and Sound and Glory by John W. Haley and John von Hoelle, their request was denied by either Haley's management or by Haley himself (accounts vary). During that summer, unknown to Haley, the trio recruited a couple of other musicians and recorded a few demo tapes - including a version of a Haley composition, "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie". This won the group a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and the group subsequently resigned from the Comets, although according to Swenson they agreed to help train the replacement musicians.
The group's first recordings on Capitol came out in late 1955, and the band scored a few minor hits such as "Well Now Dig This" and "Let's All Rock Together." In 1956, the Jodimars became one of the first rock and roll acts to take up residence in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
showrooms. Soon after, they left Capitol and recorded for several smaller labels with no success. By 1958, the band had virtually broken up, though Lytle attempted to revive the group with a series of demo recordings later that year, though he was the only member of the core band to actually take part in the recordings (members of Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
's band worked on the recording session instead) and they sat unreleased until 1994.
By the 1960s, the Jodimars were only a memory, with Lytle going into real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, Ambrose becoming a casino pit boss in Las Vegas, and Boccelli/Richards becoming a stage and movie actor. In 1987, the band reunited for a series of concerts in conjunction with a simultaneous reunion of the original members of Bill Haley's Comets. In 1989, the late Johnny Hale brought the original Comets to the UK as part of his Brean Sands Rock 'n' Roll Weekender. The Jodimars (Joey, Dick and Marshall) were backed by three members of the UK Group The Stargazers (Pete Davenport on lead guitar, Chris Gardner on piano, and Ricky Lee Brawn on drums) in a set which included the Capitol album in its entirety plus a few other later Jodimars' numbers, and was followed by a set as "The Original Comets". This remains the only billed appearance by the Jodimars since the 1960s.
Today, Lytle, Ambrose and Richards continue to tour the world as part of the Comets, but include a couple of Jodimars songs in each show. As of the summer of 2006, the trio remain the only members of the 1954-55 Comets actively performing (following the death of Johnny Grande
Johnny Grande
John A. Grande , better known as Johnny Grande, was a member of Bill Haley's backing band, The Comets.-Life and Career:...
and the retirement of Franny Beecher
Franny Beecher
Francis "Franny" Beecher , also known as Frank Beecher, was lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos combining elements of country music and jazz...
, although 85-year-old Beecher was scheduled to rejoin the Comets in 2007).
In 1963, the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
recorded a version of the Jodimars' "Clarabella" for the Pop Go the Beatles program for BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
, which appeared on the Apple/Parlophone/Capitol album Live at the BBC
Live at the BBC (The Beatles album)
Live at the BBC is a 1994 compilation album featuring performances by The Beatles that were originally broadcast on various BBC Light Programme radio shows from 1963 through 1965. The monaural album, available in multiple formats but most commonly as a two-CD set, consists of 56 songs and 13 tracks...
in 1994, while the song "Well Now Dig This" inspired the name of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, Now Dig This.
Discography
- "Well Now, Dig This" / "Let's All Rock Together", Capitol Records F-3285, November 1955
- "Dance the Bop" (also issued as "Dancin' the Bop") / "Boom, Boom, My Bayou Baby", F3360, February 1956
- "Rattle My Bones" / "Lot'sa Love", F-3436, May 1956
- "Eat Your Heart Out Annie" / "Rattle Shakin' Daddy", F3512, August 1956
- "Clarabella" / "Midnight", F3588, November 1956
- "Cloud 99" / "Later", F3633, January 1957
- "Story Telling Baby" / "Shoo Sue (Get Away From Me)": President 1017, 02/1958
- "One Grain of Sand" / "Time (Is Endless): Milestone 2004, 1958, credited to "Marshall & Wes and the Jodimars" (Wes being Wes Buchanan)
Additional recordings exist from a demo session in 1955 ("Flip, Flop and Fly", "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie
Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie is a 1952 song composed by Bill Haley and first recorded by The Esquire Boys in 1952. Bill Haley and the Comets recorded the song in 1955 for Decca. The song was featured in the 1956 movie Rock Around the Clock....
" (written by Bill Haley
Bill Haley
Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
) and "The Big Beat"). All but the latter were released in 1994; "Big Beat" remains unreleased. In 1958, Lytle recorded "Hip Shakin' Baby", "Be My Love Tonight", "Honey Baby", and "Bring Along Your Lovin'" with Ricky Nelson's band as The Jodimars but these recordings also were not released until 1994. A Jodimars cover version of "Dim Dim the Lights" (which was also a hit for Haley and the Comets) is also known to exist but has never been released.
Two compilation albums of Jodimars recordings exist: Well Now Dig This, first released in 1970 then in 1979 and finally in 1989 as a CD by the Bulldog Records label (France), and Let's All Rock Together on the UK Rockstar Records label in 1994, which included the first release of the 1955 and 1958 demo recordings.
Books
- John W. Haley and John von Hoëlle, Sound and Glory (Wilmington, DE: Dyne-American, 1990)
- John Swenson, Bill Haley (London: W.H. Allen, 1982)