Xentel - The Crystals



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The Crystals

When Dee Dee Kennibrew missed a few days of high school in 1961, it wasn't because of the flu. The fifteen-year-old's "excuse" was she was singing uptown at the Apollo theatre with her group, The Crystals. The Brooklyn girls' just-released first single, "There's No Other (Like My Baby)," would prove to be the making of Phil Spector's Phillies label, and under the direction of the legendary producer, the Crystals would have a run of six teen-femme classics, including "Da-Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me."
They consisted of original lead singer Barbara Alston, Dee Dee Kennibrew, Patsy Wright, Mary Thomas and Myrna Giraud (replaced by LaLa Brooks).

The Crystals today consist of original member Dee Dee (Dolores Kennibrew), Gretchen Gale and Marcella Mathews.
The Dick Clark Caravan of Stars Tours, The James Brown tours, The Sam Cooke Tours and many others throughout the years have been a great foundation for Dee Dee. "Working with the best performers when I was just a kid left an indelible mark of what a showman is and should always be. On and off stage" says Dee Dee, "and I do apply those lessons in my performances today!"
Gretchen Gale, the daughter of famed guitariest Eric Gale, first joined Dee Dee in 1986. Having done many studio recordings she was anxious to get on the road and do some live performances.
A Halle Berry look alike with a pleasing and ready smile, Gretchen eventually overcame her shyness and before long was doing her thing to the delight of the audiences worldwide with The Crystals.
Marcella Mathews — Growing up in a musical Salvationist family, Marcella, a native New Yorker began performing at the age of three. She was relentless in her pursuit of her education and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Vocal Performance. Marcella trained in opera, jazz and pop vocal styles. Marcella used her wide ranging abilities and vocal styles in the off Broadway musicals "Mama I Want To Sing" and "Gee Whiz, God is" she has also appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and "Live with Regis and Kathy Lee".
Holding to her strong Gospel roots, Marcella attributes her present success to the training and experience she received growing up in the Musical Forces as a member of the Salvation Army Harlem Temple Corps. Marcella is also a talented horn player, she has performed with the Bill booth Company, The Greater New York Youth Band and an Atlanta Georgia based band known as "Onward".
Marcella joined The Crystals as a result of an unfortunate tragedy that prevented a former Crystal from making a scheduled tour of Scotland, Ireland and Belgium. This talented performer stepped right in on a moments notice doing a terrific job, showing all what a true professional is capable of. Marcella is a true professional in every sense of the word.
Together The Crystals, whether performing in Australia with the Commodores, or in New Zealand, England, Scotland, Japan or "Inez, Kentucky", the audiences are always left highly satisfied. They have vocal versatility, youthfulness and excitement that's sure to please all crowds.
Nowadays The Crystals do lots of package shows (combined acts on bill), outdoor parks, amphitheaters, conventions and state fairs. The audiences seem to be getting more diverse nowadays with youngsters from 9 years and up coming with parents and grandparents to see the acts they hear singing in the movies that are made so often today while working with The Temptations, Charlie Daniels, Fabian or "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" Tokens. The Crystals manage to hold their own in a male dominated business. Dee Dee says, "After so many years, one of my best memories was being asked to perform with The Commodores for movies and TV producer Roger King's private birthday party at his beach house. With people like Gladys Knight, Danny Aiello, Kirk Douglas and many other celebrities in the audience I was flattered as well as excited to be asked to entertain such great entertainers. Truly thrilled!!"
"Da-Doo Ron Ron, And Then He Kissed Me, He's A Rebel, Uptown, There's No Other (Like My Baby) still serve me well after all these years," says Dee Dee!
When you put those classics along with other great songs like, "Rescue Me," "I'm So Excited," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "He's So Fine," "Dedicated To The One I Love," " Be My Baby," "Hold On, I'm Coming," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough/I'll Be There," "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?," and some other great tunes, you can't miss having a good time and that's what the show's about...having some fun!
The Crystals, a trio of lovely singers, under the able direction of Dolores Kennibrew (Dee Dee) are sure to delight you. They have been turning on audiences since their unparalleled beginning.
The group started in 1961, Phil Spector, that musical genius with magic in his ears heard then in a rehearsal. Biff, Bam, just like that, he signed them to his newly formed Phillies Record Label. The rest is pop music history. The hits just came pouring out. Sound smashes all. With those marvellous voices of the girls to caress the tunes, the results were record-breaking records.
The girls have not missed a corner of the world. Their popularity has taken them on numerous tours to England, Scotland, Wales, Hawaii, Australia, Japan, coast to coast in Canada, the Caribbean, Bahamas, etc. In all of these far off places the welcome mat was always a red carpet. But it's to our own shores that The Crystals devote most of their energy. They've played large-hall concerts all over the nation, from Madison Square Garden on the East Coast to the Forum on the West Coast. Whether convention, P.B.A., theatre or club, a warm and exciting time will be had by and given by The Crystals, as well as the audience. The audience becomes a part of the show, so don't expect to see a nice quiet Doo Wopp act, because they will have you shouting, clapping, and possibly dancing before they are through.
With songs from the 40's like "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" to the 80's with the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited", to a plain old rocker like Bob Seeger's "Old time Rock N' Roll"...and, of course all of The Crystal's hits will be sung for you too!
So come out and party with The Crystals.
Their first release, "There's No Other (Like My Baby)", landed in the top 20 in popularity charts all over the world. Then came "Uptown" which planted itself firmly in the no. 2 spot on all the national charts. "He's A Rebel" did better by becoming no. 1. "He's Sure The Boy I Love" and "Da-Doo Ron Ron", which took off like a rocket and in the process took over the no. 1 spot and gathered just about every accolade possible for a hit record. Wrapping up this sensational musical gift for all their fans was "And Then He Kissed Me", the sixth gold record for The Crystals, a lucky number for both the girls and their listeners.
Attesting to their impact in the music business and the world of entertainment, it must be pointed out that The Crystals songs have been re-created by such artists as Bette Midler, The Carpenters, The Hudson Brothers and Laverne and Shirley.
The Crystals have not only fulfilled their promise of their early years, they are recording a new album with some classics as well as some originals to be distributed worldwide. They are always prepared for a sentimental journey into the past or a bold leap into the future of sounds that are different.

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