The Dovells
Advertisement
Advertisement
Top Related Artists
Biography
Doo-wop vocal group The Dovells was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957. The groupâs line-up changed several times but they are best known for featuring a lead vocalist by the name of Len Borisoff, who would change his stage name to Len Barry and achieve success as a solo artist. Other members of The Dovells included Jerry Gross (born Summers), Arnie Silver, Mike Freda and Jim Mealy (AKA Danny Brooks). Originally called The Booktones, Gross left the the band to form a new group called The Gems. The remaining members signed with Parkway Records label in 1960 and changed their name to The Dovells. Their second single, âBristol Stompâ (1961) rose all the way to Number 2 on Billboardâs Top 100 Singles chart. Further hit singles included three Top 40 hits in 1962: â(Do the New) Continentalâ (Number 37), âBristol Twistinâ Annieâ (Number 27), and âHully Gully Babyâ (Number 25). In 1963, they hit the Number 3 chart position with âYou Canât Sit Downâ. While the bandâs career seemed to be moving forward, by the end of 1963, Borisoff left the group to pursue a solo career as Len Barry, who scored a hit with â1-2-3â in 1965. Historically, the bandâs performance at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium on November 22, 1963 was cancelled due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in the early afternoon that very day. The vocal group continued recording for another decade, although they never achieved the same level of success as they did during the Len Borisoff/Barry era. After Arnie Silver left in 1975, Jerry Gross and Mark Stevens continued as a duo. In the 1990s, they opened up twice for President Bill Clinton's ball, who performed with them on the saxophone. Len Barry, who joined his former group in 1991, died on November 5, 2020 at the age of 78.
Read All
Read Less
Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Bristol Stomp
- You Can't Sit Down
- Bristol Twistin' Annie
- Hully Gully Square Dance
- Time For The Madison
- Short On Bread
- Stop, Look And Listen
- Baby Workout
- Hully Gully Baby
- Hearts Are Trump
- Don't Come Back
- The Actor
- Do the New Continental by The Dovells
- Maybelline
- Bristol Stomp by The Dovells
- Foot Stompin'
- No, No, No
- Watusi With Lucy
- Wildwood Days
- Kissin' In The Kitchen
- Dance The Froog
- Jitterbug
- Short Fat Fanny
- One Potatoe
