The Paradons

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]

• William Powers
• Billy Meyers
• Chuck Weldon
• West Tyler^[1]

Joe Karp and Billy Meyers revived the group in 1965 as 'Joey and the Paradons'.^{[citation needed]}