Obscure '50s acts with surviving video footage

Ed Townsend (1958; Ed Sullivan Show)


His only Top 40 hit as an artist (#13 Billboard); he later worked with Marvin Gaye on "Let's Get it On". He was originally credited as the songwriter on a Nils Lofgren LP for a cover of the Graham Gouldman song with the same title as his hit.

Ed Townsend - Wikipedia

 

Bob Crewe - "Water Boy", on The Jack Spector Show (1959)



He was better at producing than lip-syncing

 

The Wanderers (with Ray Pollard)



The Wanderers--My Love Comes Oozing Down

The Wanderers & Pearl Woods--I Can't Wait

from "Rockin' the Blues" (1956)

Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - WANDERERS

 

Very rare clip of rockabilly legend Sid King on Ozark Jubilee (1955)

 

Oh Boy! - tv show april '59

 

Marie Adams & the Three Tons of Joy (with Johnny Otis & band)



MARIE ADAMS

 

The Dubs


their 1957 hit 'Could this be Magic'

Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - DUBS

 

Okay, I've got one: Moon Mullican Rock 'n' Roll Mr Bullfrog

 

This was the B-side to Blue Surf

 

Gary Stites - Starry Eyed

 

The Danleers


their 1958 hit 'One Summer Night'

 

Johnny Borg - Stairway To Heaven

'60
thought it belongs here rather then the '60s thread

 

Grade Wicker - Prettiest Babe


b-side no video but way cool version of somewhere over the rainbow
Grade Wicker - Over The Rainbow - 1959 - HMV EA-4368 - (B Side to 'Prettiest Babe')

 

David "Smokehead" Sanders

 

Sorry don't know any fifties, but this from a little known 1961 TV series is a treasure, given those who are in it.

 

Molly Bee - Buzz Buzz Buzz

 

Joe Maphis Larry Collins Merle Travis - Rockin' Along


obscure video at least maybe idk
Joe Maphis - Larry Collins - Merle Travis ~ Wildwood Flower

 

The Candy Mountain Girls - Night Train To Memphis


The Candy Mountain Girls - "A little bird told me" (1953)
The Candy Mountain Girls - "Can She Bake A Cherry Pie"/"Shortnin' Bread" (1953)

 

Bothing personal, but

Not as good as this trio from the thirties.

Boswell Sisters - The Object Of My Affection

 

The Montones (1958; Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show)


Not really obscure, but One Hit Wonders

 

Wanda Jackson - "You Can't Have My Love" (Her first national TV appearance, on Ozark Jubilee in 1955)

 

Ronnie Dawson - Hazel

 

The Blackwood Brothers

out of synch a bit
pt2
Blackwood Brother Show 1958 Pt 2

 

Pam Garner - Richard Diamond Theme "The Girl with The Long Black Hair"

 

Ike Turner