SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Despite having become household names during their respective recording careers the biographies of some of the music industry's biggest names are clouded with inaccuracies, conflicting data and baseless tales. While a number of the skewed reports might have developed innocently, a product of longtime hearsay, and/or interviews with second-generation group members, other material was simply fabricated by record company agents, with the sole objective of selling an artist to the buying public.

The only way to correct the discrepancies was to gather information directly from each artist or founding group member. This book is based on a series of personal conversations with 50 of the music industry's leading artists, who graciously shared the true stories of their landmark careers. If their music and careers have left an indelible legacy on pop culture, which clearly it has, then the accuracy of their accomplishments deserves to be recorded.

Learn why Buddy Holly and the Crickets decided to disband and how Brenda Lee came to be billed as a 32 year old midget during a 1959 tour of France. Hear why Paul left Paula in the midst of a Dick Clark Caravan of Stars concert tour. Discover how a backstage discussion and handshake immediately transformed a young vocal group from Harlem into the legendary Drifters. And hear first-hand accounts about the trials and tribulations, the joys and tragedies of life on the road during the rock and roll era's infancy.

Within these pages, the artists' own words are "Setting the Record Straight!"

Some of the 50 recording artists featured in Volume One are:

Johnny Maestro (Crests, Del Satins, Brooklyn Bridge), Herb Reed (The Platters), Kenny Vance (Jay &the Americans, The Planotones), Judy Craig (The Chiffons), Carl Gardner (The Coasters), Terry Johnson (The Flamingos), Peggy Santiglia (The Angels), Chubby Checker ("The Twist"), Barbara Harris (The Toys), Brenda Lee ("I'm Sorry"), Harvey Fuqua (The Moonglows), Fred Parris (The Five Satins), Martha Reeves (The Vandellas), John Kuse (The Excellents), Nedra Talley (The Ronettes), Jerry Gross (The Dovells), Barbara Hawkins (The Dixie Cups), Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Joey Dee (The Starliters), Jerry Allison (The Crickets), Dave Somerville (The Diamonds), Jimmy Clanton ("Just a Dream"), Marshall Lytle (Bill Haley's Comets), Tony Butala (The Lettermen), Emil Stucchio (The Classics), John Sylvia (The Tune Weavers), Randy Safuto (Randy & The Rainbows), Vito Picone (The Elegants), Wally Roker (The Heartbeats), Joe Terry (Danny & The Juniors), Cleveland Duncan (The Penguins), Earl Carroll (The Cadillacs), Ray Hilderbrand (Paul & Paula), Lee Andrews (The Hearts), Milt Trenier (The Treniers), Bobby Lewis ("Tossin' and Turnin'"), Gordon Stoker (The Jordanaires), Ernie Sierra (The Eternals), Norman Fox (The Rob Roys), Willie Winfield (The Harptones), Vito Balsamo (The Salutations), Joe 'Speedo' Frazier (The Impalas), Jay Traynor (Jay & the Americans), Charlie Thomas (The Drifters), Dee Dee Kenniebrew (The Crystals)

Setting the Record Straight - Volume Two continues Anthony Musso's quest to dispel countless rumors, myths and inaccurate information that surrounds the music and careers of another 50 top recording artists from the 1950s and 1960s. By way of first-hand interviews with solo artists and/or founding and original members of leading vocal groups of the era, readers will learn the real stories about each artist's musical influences, entry into the music industry, and experiences while touring and performing during the infancy of the rock and roll era.

Learn how legendary vocalist Jerry Butler was first dubbed "The Iceman," why Ben E. King described his first year as lead singer of the Drifters as a grueling and somewhat harrowing experience, and how Gladys Horton and two childhood friends from Inkster, Michigan (known as The Marvelettes) scored the very first number one hit recording for Motown Records. Hear how Connie Francis first entered the business with an accordion in tow, why Peggy March decided to relocate to Europe and subsequently became a top international star, and learn about the bittersweet performance that a young Bobby Vee gave as the replacement act for his departed idol Buddy Holly.

These are the indisputable and accurate versions as told by the artists themselves, with the intent of finally "Setting the Record Straight!"

Some of the 50 recording artists featured in Volume Two are:

Connie Francis ("Who's Sorry Now"), Little Anthony Gourdine (The Imperials), Bo Diddley ("Bo Diddley"), James 'Pookie' Hudson (The Spaniels), Jerry Butler ("Your Precious Love"), Jay Siegel (The Tokens), Lou Christie ("Lightning Strikes"), Herman Santiago (Frankie Lymon's Teenagers), Percy Sledge ("When a Man loves a Woman"), Bobby Vee ("Rubber Ball"), Don Banks (The Tymes), Shirley Alston Reeves (The Shirelles), Gary U.S. Bonds ("Quarter to Three"), Lenny Welch ("Since I Fell for You"), Larry Chance (The Earls), Frankie Ford ("Sea Cruise"), Jimmy Beaumont (The Skyliners), Peggy March ("I Will Follow Him"), Lenny Dell (The Demensions), Phil Cracolici (The Mystics), Johnny Tillotson ("Keeps on a Hurtin'"), Charlie Gracie ("Butterfly"), Maurice Williams (The Gladiolas/The Zodiacs), Ben E. King ("Spanish Harlem"), Nick Santo (The Capris), Gene Chandler ("Duke of Earl"), Cleveland Still (The Dubs), Dickie Lee ("Patches"), Sonny Turner (The Platters), Eugene Pitt (the Jive Five), Earl Lewis (The Channels), Herb Cox (The Cleftones), Fred Milano (The Belmonts), Stephen Caldwell (The Orlons), Cornelius Harp (The Marcels), Gary Troxel (The Fleetwoods), Clarence 'Frogman' Henry ("Ain't Got no Home"), Joe Favale (The Emotions), Margaret Williams (The Cookies), Otis Williams (The Charms), Jimmie Rodgers ("Honeycomb")