| The Paradons | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Kern County, Bakersfield, California, United States |
| Genre: | R&B, doo-wop, soul, rock-n-roll Country |
| Years Active: | 1959–1960 |
| Label: | Milestone Records |
| Past Members: | West Tyler Billy Meyers Chuck Weldon William Powers |
The Paradons are an American doo wop vocal group from Bakersfield, California, United States, that formed in 1959.[1]
The group began by singing locally at school dances and clubs. Within a few months they secured a recording session with Werly Fairburn's Milestone Records[1] —not to be confused with the like-named jazz label founded by Orrin Keepnews about six years later[2] [3] —and recorded eight songs. Their first release with the label, "Diamonds and Pearls" / "I Want Love", became a hit in the US, peaking at number 27 on the US Billboard R&B chart and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.[1]
The group appeared on American Bandstand and at the Apollo Theater in the wake of its success.
The group soon broke up over monetary disputes, having been together less than a year.[4]
Despite the group's demise, Milestone continued releasing singles from their initial recording sessions, but these releases – "Bells Ring", "Take All of Me", and "I Had a Dream" – did not chart.[4] [5]
Joe Karp and Billy Meyers revived the group in 1965 as 'Joey and the Paradons'.