Artist:The Edsels
Song:Rama Lama Ding Dong
Album:The Doo Wop Box
Rama Lama Ding Dong was the one chart hit for the doo wop group The Edsels. It was a hit in 1961 but was actually recorded in 1957. The Edsels were from Campbell, OH which is near Youngstown. The lead singer was George Jones Jr. Other members were Larry Green (first tenor), James Reynolds (second tenor), Harry Green (baritone) & Marshall Sewell (bass). They were originally called The Esso but changed the name when Ford brought out the Edsel. They auditioned for Cleveland music publisher Jim Manderitz and he signed them on the spot and had them record the Jones song Rama Lama Ding Dong. Now Manderitz had to figure out how to distribute the record. It was released on Foster Johnson's Dub label in 1958 without much success. Manderitz continued to record the group and the 1960 song What Brought Us Together got them an appearance on American Bandstand. A New York DJ was playing The Marcels hit Blue Moon in 1961 when he remembered a similar sounding song from a few years earlier and started playing it. That song was Rama Lama Ding Dong by The Edsels. Manderitz licensed the song to Hy Weiss at Old Town Records and he released it on his Twin label. It reached #21 on the singles chart in May 1961. The Edsels signed with Capitol Records but none of their subsequent recordings got anywhere. The Edsels split up in 1963. George Jones Jr. is deceased but James Reynolds leads a version of The Edsels today with his five sons. It's yet another memorable song from the Rhino 4CD Doo Wop Box. Here are The Edsels performing Rama Lama Ding Dong on the PBS special Doo Wop 50.
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