In 1961, Lester Sill formed Gregmark Music, Inc. as a new label and vehicle for the Paris Sisters, an Andrews Sisters-inspired sibling vocal trio with a series of little-heard Decca singles under its belt. While the Paris Sisters' Gregmark debut "Be My Boy" earned little notice, the follow-up, "I Love How You Love Me," cracked the U.S. Top Five, galvanized by Priscilla's lead vocals. Since then Gregmark has grown to include the perennial classic Stormy Monday by T-Bone Walker and many other early 60's releases by Ray Sharpe, Sanford Clark, The Pentagons and The Coasters. Gregmark Artists |  | Sanford Clark A guitar player from childhood, Stanford Clarke was influenced by both early rock & roll music and by country music. He got his start in the early 50's playing in the Phoennix clubs. While stationed in the South Pacific during his stint in the Air force, he formed a band and won a talent contest in Hwaii. Eventually, the Air Force stationed him back in Phoenix, where he met his old friend Al Casey, who introduced Clark to Lee Hazlewood, the beginning of a successful writer / performer partnership in association with Gregmark Music. |  | The Pentagons
The Pentagons are remembered for their 1961 hits, "To Be Loved (Forever)" and "I Wonder." The original lineup featured Joe Jones, Carl McGinnis, Bill James, Otis Munson, and brothers Kenneth Goodloe (lead) and Ted Goodloe and formed in 1958 in San Bernardino, CA. Sometime during this early period, Munson left and James was later replaced by Odie Jones, Joe's brother, making for two sets of brothers in the Pentagons' lineup. |  | T-Bone
Born Aaron Thibeault Walker in May of 1910, T-Bone single-handedly revolutionized western culture as a whole, and modern music in particular, by introducing the electric lead guitar into the blues. His fluid phrasing in both instrument and voice have gone on to form the foundation which legends like Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Duane Allman, and Jimi Hendrix have freely admitted to building their own legacies upon. |  | Paris Sisters The Paris Sisters are Albeth (the oldest), Sherrell (the middle child), and Priscilla Paris (the baby). They were born and raised in San Francisco., CA. Their mother, Faye, was the quintessential stage parent, a former opera singer who continued her career vicariously through her children. They signed with Lester Sill's fledgling Gregmark label in 1961, the impresario implemented a top-to-bottom overhaul of their approach, tapping up-and-coming producer Phil Spector to shepherd the transformation. Spector relegated Albeth and Sherrell to the background, and while he turned the spotlight on Priscilla, he insisted she dial back her powerful voice to a dusky whisper. |  | Ray Sharpe Ray is an American Rockabilly pioneer, singer, guitarist and song writing icon. He grew up influenced by country as well as blues music, and many of his recordings are classed as rockabilly – he was described by one producer Major Bill Smith as "the greatest white-sounding black dude ever". His recording career started in Phoenix in 1958, when Lee Hazlewood produced his single "That's the Way I Feel / Oh, My Baby's Gone". His second record, "Linda Lu / Monkey’s Uncle" – both sides written by Sharpe, and featuring Duane Eddy and Al Casey on guitars was a mainstay on the Billboard charts in 1959. |  | The Coasters
The Coasters were one of the few artists in rock history to successfully straddle the line between music and comedy. With the connection from their manager Lester Sill to the legendary writing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, The Coasters created a trademark for their catchy songs, witty lyrics and on-stage antics. That engaging and infectious combination made them one of the most popular early R&B/rock & roll acts, as well as one of the most consistently entertaining doo wop/vocal groups of all time. |  | Lester Sill Producer and publisher Lester Sill was an omnipresent force in the music industry for over 40 years. He is primarily credited with the development of West Coast RB and rock roll, shepherding the fledgling career of the influential songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller before teaming with the legendary producer Phil Spector to found Philles Records, the premier U.S. pop label of the early '60s. |
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