Page A6 • May 10, 2012 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers Music industry leaders uplift local youth Pentagons: Oldies singing group seeing revival By Harvey M. Kahn T he Pentagons were a doo- wop era singing group known nationally, yet re- ceived little coverage in their hometown of San Bernardino, say music industry executives. The personnel of the 1950's Pentagons was interchangeable, although the main lineup was comprised of two sets of brothers, the Goodloe's and the Jones. The Pentagons never cracked Billboard Magazines Top- 10 but they had a string of self- written songs that received abundant radio play, ultimately earning them a 1961 appearance on American Bandstand. The song that gained the Pen- tagons the most publicity was, "To Be Loved," penned in 1958 by Ken Goodloe and introduced na- tionally for the first time on Amer- ican Bandstand. It reached No. 48 on the charts, possibly not netting the five singers much in the way of money. However, the authenticity by which the Pentagons captured their generation, has caught the ear of current Hollywood film produc- ers. Their songs have aired on episodes of the “Good Wife,” the “Unit,” and have been included on numerous motion picture sound- tracks. "We are doing better now than we ever did back then," said Ted Goodloe, along with Joe C. Jones are the only surviving members of the Pentagons. Goodloe, 76, said he gets a steady stream of royalty checks. "You never know who might be listening. Our sound was unique. It had good harmonic structure and you can hear our lyrics. There is now demand for that type music because you can clearly hear our voices," said Goodloe. "The Pentagons are getting more recognition now because they wrote great melodies," said veteran music producer Lee Silver, the au- thor of many gold records himself. Silver said the Pentagons came into his Los Angeles studio in the mid-1950's. "They were slaving away at Kaiser Steel. I could tell they were a prime group. We recorded, To Be Loved and it was well received right away in the Latin Community. They loved them," said Silver. He noted that the Pentagons trav- eled 28 states with artists like Dick Dale, Sam Cook, and opened for the Miracles in Detroit. They were booked on all the TV dance shows, appeared at West Coast venues like El Monte Legion Stadium and the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Ricky Nelson recorded their song, I Wonder. "We went on a good run. My biggest regret was that I didn't take enough pictures," said Goodloe. The onset of the West Coast surf music scene more than slowed the chances of major stardom for the Pentagons. If you listen closely to their 1961 song, Down at the Beach, you can hear the ground work they laid for the surf music craze which followed them. "Peo- ple didn't know that we were a Black group until they saw us," said Goodloe. "Some would come up to the stage and stare at us to make sure that we were really Black." Goodloe said the Pentagons started out performing in San Bernardino pizza parlors. That ob- viously the Pentagons always had to have five members, beginning with Joe Jones, Otis Munson and Carl Bass from San Bernardino High School, adding Johnny Tor- rence, Johnny Blakely, and a rotat- ing duo consisting of "two Caucasian guys." Odie Jones, Carl McGinnis, and Bill James were added later. Goodloe said Sonny Bono later helped them in the stu- dio. Lee Silver said that lead singer Joe C. Jones may have been only sixteen years old when he recorded those Pentagon classics, and at the same time was a track and field performer at SBHS. Goodloe said he attended Sturges Junior High but never made it to SBHS, instead went to Edison Continuation School. "We had 16 kids in our family, so it was hard to enforce the rules," said Goodloe, whose sister Pauline married Herbert Reed of the Platters. The Pentagons "To Be Loved" appears on the soundtrack to the 2002 movie “Deuces Wild” with songs by Richie Valens, Frankie Avalon, Jerry Butler, and Chan Romero from Redlands. Goodloe credits the management of Lee and Bonnie Silver. "Maybe it was going on the road or those late night drives back home to San Bernardino, but I no longer have interest in music. I do get emotional when I reminisce, especially when people call me and tell me they heard our music. I guess getting a little recognition now is better than never. It's amaz- ing when you look back." Silver said that at one time the original members of the Pentagons were recorded under various names including the Shields, the Corduroys, the Chesterfields, and 21st Century. Both he and Good- loe said that the group received no notoriety in San Bernardino. "In their prime, no group from San Bernardino was bigger. I am amazed that the Pentagons re- ceived little publicity," said Silver. For information regarding the Pentagons contact: [email protected]. By Naima Ford T he students at Kucera Middle School’s Think Together program were reminded to set goals and strive to reach their dreams at the Be Your Own Boss Tour. The tour is a collaboration be- tween local 99.1 FM radio host Diana Wehbe, recording artists and other professionals from the music industry. They have been traveling from school to school in the Inland Empire trying to inspire students to be the best they can be. The latest stop was at Kucera Middle School in Rialto. The event was sponsored by the Think To- gether Program, an afterschool program that focuses on academics through a variety of activities in- cluding homework assistance. They also provide tutoring, nutri- tion education and cooking classes. Kareem Gongora is the site coor- dinator at Kucera. “The kids really enjoyed it,” he said. He says they invited the tour be- cause giving students an example of success is something they pro- vide year round. Through the tour the students were able to receive encourage- ment from Wehbe and noted music industry manager Steve Lobel. Lobel is a music industry legend who got his start with RUN DMC. He told students the story of how he came from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to where he is now with his own record label and books. Wehbe told the story of how she became a deejay for 99.1 FM. She was working on their street team but realized her job there was going nowhere so she put in her two weeks notice. Before her two weeks were up one of the man- agers asked her to submit a demo. Soon after she was working as the night deejay for the radio station. She also used her story to encour- age the young women in the audi- ence saying that she faced challenges because of prejudices against women in the music indus- try. She told them to stay positive and set goals for themselves in order to be a success in life. She had three female students ex- press their life goals and then gave them a free t-shirt as the group ap- plauded their ambition. Gongora said that the tour was effective for the students because many of them are interested in the music industry and are fans of 99.1 FM. But as they were listening they were encouraged to look at the larger picture and learn about the importance of working towards your goals. “They are regular people and this is what it took for them to get where they are,” said Gongora. For more information about the Be Your Own Boss Tour and learn about future school visits go to www.dianawehbe.com. IECN PHOTO COURTESY KAREEM GONGORA The Be Your Own Boss Tour rolled through Kucera Middle School in Rialto during their inspiring tour throughout the Inland Empire. Pictured here are music industry legend Steve Lobel and 99.1 FM radio host Diana Wehbe with students. IECN PHOTO COURTESY KAREEM GONGORA Diana Wehbe is a radio personality at 99.1 FM and encouraged the students to set goals and remain positive about their dreams. IECN6_Layout 1 5/9/12 9:53 AM Page 1
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Page A6 • May 10, 2012 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers
Music industry leaders uplift local youth
Pentagons: Oldies singing group seeing revivalBy Harvey M. Kahn
The Pentagons were a doo-wop era singing groupknown nationally, yet re-
ceived little coverage in theirhometown of San Bernardino, saymusic industry executives. Thepersonnel of the 1950's Pentagonswas interchangeable, although themain lineup was comprised of twosets of brothers, the Goodloe's andthe Jones. The Pentagons nevercracked Billboard Magazines Top-10 but they had a string of self-written songs that receivedabundant radio play, ultimatelyearning them a 1961 appearanceon American Bandstand.The song that gained the Pen-tagons the most publicity was, "ToBe Loved," penned in 1958 byKen Goodloe and introduced na-tionally for the first time on Amer-ican Bandstand. It reached No. 48on the charts, possibly not nettingthe five singers much in the way ofmoney. However, the authenticityby which the Pentagons capturedtheir generation, has caught the earof current Hollywood film produc-ers. Their songs have aired onepisodes of the “Good Wife,” the“Unit,” and have been included onnumerous motion picture sound-tracks.
"We are doing better now thanwe ever did back then," said TedGoodloe, along with Joe C. Jonesare the only surviving members ofthe Pentagons. Goodloe, 76, saidhe gets a steady stream of royaltychecks. "You never know whomight be listening. Our sound wasunique. It had good harmonicstructure and you can hear ourlyrics. There is now demand forthat type music because you canclearly hear our voices," saidGoodloe."The Pentagons are getting morerecognition now because theywrote great melodies," said veteranmusic producer Lee Silver, the au-thor of many gold records himself.Silver said the Pentagons cameinto his Los Angeles studio in themid-1950's. "They were slavingaway at Kaiser Steel. I could tellthey were a prime group. Werecorded, To Be Loved and it waswell received right away in theLatin Community. They lovedthem," said Silver.He noted that the Pentagons trav-eled 28 states with artists like DickDale, Sam Cook, and opened forthe Miracles in Detroit. They werebooked on all the TV dance shows,appeared at West Coast venueslike El Monte Legion Stadium andthe Cow Palace in San Francisco.
Ricky Nelson recorded their song,I Wonder. "We went on a goodrun. My biggest regret was that Ididn't take enough pictures," saidGoodloe.The onset of the West Coast surfmusic scene more than slowed thechances of major stardom for thePentagons. If you listen closely totheir 1961 song, Down at theBeach, you can hear the groundwork they laid for the surf musiccraze which followed them. "Peo-ple didn't know that we were aBlack group until they saw us,"said Goodloe. "Some would comeup to the stage and stare at us tomake sure that we were reallyBlack."Goodloe said the Pentagonsstarted out performing in SanBernardino pizza parlors. That ob-viously the Pentagons always hadto have five members, beginningwith Joe Jones, Otis Munson andCarl Bass from San BernardinoHigh School, adding Johnny Tor-rence, Johnny Blakely, and a rotat-ing duo consisting of "twoCaucasian guys." Odie Jones, CarlMcGinnis, and Bill James wereadded later. Goodloe said SonnyBono later helped them in the stu-dio. Lee Silver said that lead singerJoe C. Jones may have been only
sixteen years old when he recordedthose Pentagon classics, and at thesame time was a track and fieldperformer at SBHS. Goodloe saidhe attended Sturges Junior Highbut never made it to SBHS, insteadwent to Edison ContinuationSchool. "We had 16 kids in ourfamily, so it was hard to enforcethe rules," said Goodloe, whosesister Pauline married HerbertReed of the Platters.The Pentagons "To Be Loved"appears on the soundtrack to the2002 movie “Deuces Wild” withsongs by Richie Valens, FrankieAvalon, Jerry Butler, and ChanRomero from Redlands. Goodloecredits the management of Lee andBonnie Silver. "Maybe it was going on the roador those late night drives backhome to San Bernardino, but I no
longer have interest in music. I doget emotional when I reminisce,especially when people call meand tell me they heard our music.I guess getting a little recognitionnow is better than never. It's amaz-ing when you look back."Silver said that at one time theoriginal members of the Pentagonswere recorded under variousnames including the Shields, theCorduroys, the Chesterfields, and21st Century. Both he and Good-loe said that the group received nonotoriety in San Bernardino. "In their prime, no group fromSan Bernardino was bigger. I amamazed that the Pentagons re-ceived little publicity," said Silver. For information regarding thePentagons contact:[email protected].
By Naima Ford
The students at KuceraMiddle School’s ThinkTogether program were
reminded to set goals and strive toreach their dreams at the Be YourOwn Boss Tour. The tour is a collaboration be-tween local 99.1 FM radio hostDiana Wehbe, recording artistsand other professionals from themusic industry. They have beentraveling from school to school inthe Inland Empire trying to inspirestudents to be the best they can be. The latest stop was at KuceraMiddle School in Rialto. The eventwas sponsored by the Think To-gether Program, an afterschoolprogram that focuses on academicsthrough a variety of activities in-cluding homework assistance.They also provide tutoring, nutri-
tion education and cookingclasses. Kareem Gongora is the site coor-dinator at Kucera.“The kids really enjoyed it,” hesaid.He says they invited the tour be-cause giving students an exampleof success is something they pro-vide year round. Through the tour the studentswere able to receive encourage-ment from Wehbe and noted musicindustry manager Steve Lobel. Lobel is a music industry legendwho got his start with RUN DMC.He told students the story of howhe came from humble beginningsin Brooklyn to where he is nowwith his own record label andbooks. Wehbe told the story of how shebecame a deejay for 99.1 FM. Shewas working on their street teambut realized her job there was
going nowhere so she put in hertwo weeks notice. Before her twoweeks were up one of the man-agers asked her to submit a demo.Soon after she was working as thenight deejay for the radio station. She also used her story to encour-age the young women in the audi-ence saying that she facedchallenges because of prejudicesagainst women in the music indus-try. She told them to stay positiveand set goals for themselves inorder to be a success in life. She had three female students ex-press their life goals and then gavethem a free t-shirt as the group ap-plauded their ambition. Gongora said that the tour waseffective for the students becausemany of them are interested in themusic industry and are fans of 99.1FM. But as they were listeningthey were encouraged to look atthe larger picture and learn about
theimportance of working towardsyour goals. “They are regular people and thisis what it took for them to getwhere they are,” said Gongora.
Formore information about the BeYour Own Boss Tour and learnabout future school visits go towww.dianawehbe.com.
IECN PHOTO COURTESY KAREEM GONGORA
The Be Your Own Boss Tour rolled through Kucera Middle School in Rialto during their inspiring tour throughout the Inland Empire. Pictured here are music industrylegend Steve Lobel and 99.1 FM radio host Diana Wehbe with students.
IECN PHOTO COURTESY KAREEM GONGORA
Diana Wehbe is a radio personality at 99.1 FM and encouragedthe students to set goals and remain positive about their dreams.
IECN6_Layout 1 5/9/12 9:53 AM Page 1
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