The Orlons

Waterford, Mi.

248-318-2870
reedmusic@yahoo.com

Fun filled dance tunes were the Orlons specialty, making them one of the most popular groups ever to come out of Philadelphia. The group was originally called Little Audrey and the Teenettes in the early 50's and it included Audrey, Jean and Shirley Brickley along with Rosetta Hightower and Marlena Davis. When Mama Brickley refused to let the youngest, Audrey, sing with the others in one of Philadelphia's small clubs, she and sister Jean quit the group.

Shirley, Rosetta and Marlena continued singing at Over brook High School and where heard by the student Stephen Caldwell, who sang with a local unrecorded group called the Romeos. Stephen brought his baritone lead to the girls attention and soon turned the unnamed trio into a quartet. The girls subsequently followed in the footsteps of their Overbrook rivals the Cashmeres (who later became the famous Dovells) by calling themselves The Orlons.

They practiced at Shirley's house on songs like “Mama Said” (the Shirelles) and “Stormy Weather” (the Spaniels). They were also influenced by acts like the Chanels, Ray Charles, and the Moonglows.

In the fall of 1961, thanks to an introduction made on their behalf by Len Barry, of the Dovells, the Orlons auditioned for Kal Mann of Cameo Records and were signed almost immediately Mann/Appell started writing songs for the group and decided to feature Rosetta (Alto), with Shirley (alto), Marlena (Soprano) and Stephen (baritone) supporting her.

Their first single was “I'll be True” which Billboard described as a “sincere piping by the young sounding female lead on a wistful rock-a-ballad about a gal's message to her GI sweetheart. Wax has a chance.” It elicited little interest, dittos their early 1962 follow-up “Happy Birthday Mr. 21.”

In early 1962 the Orlons had their first hit. But no one knew it, they were backing up Dee Dee Sharp, another Cameo artist, on the dance tune “Mashed Potato Time” (#2 POP, #1 R&B).

In the spring, buoyed by their dance hit with Dee Dee, the Orlons moved in their own dance direction with “The Wah Watusi.” On May 26th Billboard cited it as “a solid item for teen buyers. The group sells the rhythmic swinger with enthusiasm and drive, while the combo provides effective backing. Watch it! In July it danced to number two, with only Bobby Vinton's “Roses are Red” above it.

The group had two top 10 records at the same time when Dee Dee Sharp's second hit (“Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes”) went to number nine with the Orlons again backing her (again without credit).

They followed with the Mann/Appell-penned “Don't Hang Up” which climbed the charts in the fall and winter of 1962 to number four POP, number three R&B, and number 39 in the United Kingdom.

Their first major performances were at New York's Apollo Theater with the Crystals, Bobb B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, Chuck Jackson (who the Orlons back on stage), Tommy Hunt (of the Flamingos), and Gene Chandler.

The quartet kept up their chart barrage into 1963 with “South Street” (#3 POP, #4 R&B), “Not Me” (#12 POP, #8 R&B), and “Crossfire” (#19 POP, #25 R&B)

By 1964 their style was being swept aside by the British invasion, and three of their four releases that year only rose to the 60s on POP listings: (“Shimmy Shimmy” #66, “Rules of Love” #66 and “Knock Knock” #64) They recorded for Cameo through 1965 but couldn't break back into the charts. In 1966 they moved to Calla and in 1967 to ABC, but for a time, the British invasion had taken its toll.

Still, with nine charted records and three top five hits, the group was able to work right into the 70's, until Rosetta decided to move to England. Shirley died that same year.

Two of the original members have passed, Shirley Brickley in 1977 and Marlena Davis in 1993. Rosetta Hightower lives in London, England. Before Marlena passed she and Stephen regrouped in 1988 and continued to carry The Orlons into the 1990's. Afterwards Stephen enlisted the help of Jean and Audrey Brickley. So now you had two members of the mother group and to make things even better, he got a first cousin of the Brickley's, Lillian Taylor to finish off the line up. This group completed the 1990's together.

In the year 2000, still full of energy with two members retired, Stephen enlisted some more help, this time his family. So now The Orlons consist of Jean Brickley, Stephen's two cousins, Madeline Morris and Alberta Crump and, of course, the Orlon himself,
Mr. Stephen J. Caldwell Sr.