THE LEOPARDS - by Al Kelly

Here is a different "Valerie" and a pleasant group style song. The
Leopards started out as the Mello Harps and were from Brookyn, NY. They
were all neighborhood friends when they started out singing together in
'55. In '55 they recorded their first record for Morty Craft's Do Re Me
label.  Well a few members came and went  and even Connie Hawkins (a
great basketball player and the best from NYC) brother  Bobby joined the
group. A friend introduced the group to Teacho Witshire, a well known
A&R  man, who got the group to record for Jack Covais' Tin Pan Alley
label  later in '55. They recorded three  releases for that label and
left in '56. Meanwhile more members left and others rejoined. They made
one last release in '58 on the Philly Casino label. Meanwhile the group
was in trouble again with Lead  Joe Gowder leaving and taking one of the
Mello Harps and formed the  Leopards and got a recording session for Les
Cahan's Leopard label, Les also owned the Lescay label. This was the
groups only release