THE CHARADES - by Al Kelly

This Charades group was formed in '57 in a little town in CA called
Tulare. Johnny Johnson was the lead and all the members were part of a
Doo-Wop group in high school. They started out as the Latin Kings and
were an instrumental group also with three musicians helping the group
out. The Charades got their first recording session in '59 in a small
studio in Fresno but none of the four sides were ever released. Next
came a four song session for LA DJ Hunter Hancock's Swingin' label but
again nothing was released. Sometime after that the group was appearing
in Santa Maria at a show when local label owner Tony Hilder saw the
group  and asked about a recording contract, the group turned him down,
been there and done it twice!!!. Tony didn't give up, he was in Pismo
Beach, the next night where the group was appearing and hit them again
and the group said no again. The group was appearing at a club in Tulare
and Tony broke the group and they signed the contract. The group cut
four songs and again nothing was released but the group told Tony, they
were leaving if he didn't release  a record. Tony released their first
release on  his Northridge label, not much happened but it's a rare
record for collectors.  In '63, they were signed with the Fred
Astaire's  Ava label and had a mild hit with "Please Be My Love
Tonight", this song was formerly released by the Hollywood Saxons and
another group.  Tony Hilder  picked the song and produced the record.
Next came  a release on Hilder's Impact label and this record was leased
to Original Sound label by  Hilder.  This was the last release  for the
group and they went back to their club dates working with the Rhythm
Kings, who had Little Ray as their lead singer.