Variety (December 1954)

'Jr XP J-’iiiL Wednesday, December SCHOOL CUSTODIANS l MATRICULATE IN R&B Hollywood, Dec. 28. Current rhythm & blues kick is generally regarded as a younger generation setup, but The Nuggets, singing' group under contract to Capitol, is the exception to the rule. Its members range in age from 30 to 50—which makes the group one of the oldest r&b com- bos in the country. Nuggets are all employed as cus- todians by the Los Angeles Board of Education. They’ve been sing- ing together for some time and finally came in to see Jerry Sybil- rud. music librarian at KMPS here. He had a dub made and took it to Dave Cavanaugh at Capitol, 'who promptly made a deal for the group. They debuted with “Curl Up in My Arms.” Sybilrud, still at KMPC, is now manager of the group. And they’re •till with the Board of Education. Omaha Jokes to Dime Omaha, Dec. 28. Omaha jukebox ops last week de- cided to follow the lead of other major cities and will convert to dime play. The entire state is ex- pected to follow suit at the Ne- braska Automatic Phonograph Op- erators Assn, meeting in Norfolk Jan. 11-12. Three major phonograph distrib- utors of this area cooperated on the move. They were Atlas Music Co., Seeburg, H. Z. Vending & Sales Co., Rock-Ola, and Lieber- man Music Co., Ami. from the 20th Century Fox QnenuScope Production DESIREE" THE SONG FROM DESIREE WE MEET AGAIN MILLER MUSIC CORPORATION Jo. \ DO. ( a £ e. o r d s \ * •/ a# "The finest sound on record A WONDERFUL SEASONAL SONG j* , * r.ic 1 lorn \ Iff If 5 N 0 W.'" ltTIT$N0Wr LtriTSNOW!" CAHN MUSIC COMPANY RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS L? Survey of retail disk best sellers based on reports ob tained from lending stores in 19 cities and showing com- parative sales rating for this and last week. National Rating This Last wk. wk. Artist, Label. Title £ £ £ s c W3 2 | S ? fc S A A m a = • n T Q o e a « C < 8 1 I 1 i < * e J 5 6 11 i T 3 loll 6 6 8 10 9 12 10 8 11 11 12 9 13 16 14 21 15A .. 15B .. 17A 21 17B 24 19 18 21A 23 21B 20 24 13 25 16 JOAN WEBER (Columbia) “Let Me Go, Lover” ■' CHORDETTES (Cadence) “Mister Sandman” AMES BROTHERS (Victor) “Naughty Lady of Shady Lane” ROSEMARY CLOONEY (Columbia) “This Ole House” DeCASTRO SISTERS (Abbott) “Teach Me Tonight” “EDDIE FISHER (Victor) “I Need You Now” PERRY COMO (Victor) “Papa Loves Mambo” BILL HALEY’S COMETS (Decca) “Shake, Rattle and Roll” % FOUR ACES (Decca) “Mister Sandman” EDDIE FISHER (Victor) “Count Your Blessings" FONTANE SISTERS (Dot) “Hearts of Stone” SARAH VAUGHAN (Mercury) “Make Yourself Comfortable” ROSEMARY CLOONEY (Columbia) “Mambo Italiano” PENGUINS (Dootone) “Earth Angel” DAVID WHITFIELD (London) “Santo Natale” TERESA BREWER (Coral) “Let Me Go," Lover” DeJOHN SISTERS (Epic) “No More” JAYE P. MORGAN (Victor) “That’s All I Want From You” PERRY COMO (Victor) “Home for the Holidays” JO STAFFORD (Columbia) “Teach Me Tonight” THREE CHUCKLES (Label X) “Runaround” , f ; BILL HALEY’S COMETS (Decca) “Dim, Dim the Lights” *. CHARMS (DeLuxe) “Hearts of Stone” BILLY VAUGHN (Dot) “Melody of Love” DORIS DAY (Columbia) “If I Give My Heart to You” 31 1 5 22 2 3 1 2 48 3 8 3 146 9 114 2 6 4 2 2 8 112 2 1 1 1 2 1 141 5 8 4 5 3 4 8 95 5 7 3 5 3 3 99 10 367 1 5 83 3 3 4 4 .. 10 3 10 8 8 .. 10 5 4 5 .. 2 9 62 7 6 49 9 10 3 7 9 8 . 10 10 .. 7 6 .. 10 8 9 7 7 8 6 .. 44 . 10 6 6 4 5 2 1 76.. 68.. 7 . 43 4 .. 42 8 .. .. 5 .. 36 4 7 6 10 27 ..589 6 8 9 .. .. 19 2 .. 2 18 7 ^ 3 .. 12 7 10 . .. 5 SIX TOP ALBUMS STUDENT PRINCE Mario lama Victor LM 1837 ERB 1837 OLENN MILLER LIMITED EDITION, II GUnn Millar Victor LPT 6701 EPOT 6701 PAJAMA GAME Broadway Caat Columbia ML 4840 A 1098 McCONKEY UPS PITCH IN SMALL UNITS FIED Chicago, Dec. 28. McConkey Artists Corp., which lately dropped its band depart- ment, is strengthening its pitch in the small units field. Agency has plucked some new cocktail acts and has expanded its staff. Myron Katz was appointed mana- ger of the cocktail department in the Hollywood bureau; Lou Reda was hired to assist Lloyd La Brie in the New York office, and Dick Sarlo was added to staff in Chicago. MAC additionally pacted Nancy Lee and the Fandango Three, Frank Cock and the Western Capers, the Flo Dryer Quintet, and the Pat Sheridan Quintet. Combos of Don Ragon and Ray Reynolds renewed their five-year manage- ment contracts recently. ‘Hit Parade' Lineup (On Dec. 25 NBC-TV Show) 1. Mister Sandman... .Morris 2. Let Me Go, Lover...H.&R. 3. Count Blessings Berlin 4. Naughty Lady Paxton 5. I Need You Now. .. .Miller 6. Teach Me Tonight.... Hub 7. White Christmas Berlin Island Hopeful Hollywood, Dec. 28. Next singer to be brought in from the Hawaiian Islands is Gene Roland, 19-year-old baritone who has been working at The Clouds, Waikiki Beach. Roland signed a personal man- agement contract with Buddy Toub, who brought Alfred Apaka from Hawaii a few years ago. He’ll make the junket to the mainland after the first of the year. Toub now is trying to set a disk deal. JERRY FIELDING ORCH JOINS DECCA ROSTER Decca Records has enlarged its dance band roster with the ink* ing of the Jerry Field orch to * term pact. Milt Gabler, Decca ar- tist and repertoire chief, plans t« shift Fielding’s orch to a muted, sweet style. Decca’s hillbilly chief, Paul Cohen, meantime pacted country singers Bob Wills and Lee Bondi. ASSOCIATED BOOKING CORPORATION JOE GlASER Pres Chicaqo 203 N o WabaO’ Hollywood 86'9 filvd Dm. »»lll MILLS MUSIC, Inc. r Another BMI 'Pin Up" Hit LET ME GO, LOVE ffecorefeef by TIMM 'll 'wm ’ • Col “'" l,i « THI COUNTS SUNNY CALS ”*®Y L(( ' yatti pack. man maitin c hank snow.:;;: ££ ?** Mw «»«»...* ruHnJl * H,u * range songs, INC