R&B group started in the early 1960s as a teen group with schoolmates from Shaw Junior High School in D.C.
A 1967 El Corols lineup led by Tiny Barge (trumpet), and featured vocalists ‘Little Wimpy’ Johnson, Brenda Brown, ‘Little Yvonne’ Glover, Sidney ‘El Cid’ Peoples, Jimi ‘Senor’ Smoot, and Arlene Williams, with rhythm section of Eddie Hicks (guitar), Milton Grant (bass), Frank Delaney (congas), and Robert Battle (drums), with brass section of Tiny Barge (trumpet), Johnny Freeman (trombone), and Linwood Newbold (sax).
The El Corols often performed at Carr’s Beach, sharing the stage with many of the top national acts such as The Temptations, James Brown and orhers. In the Baltimore area they were seen at Pleasant Plains Teen Center, Hampden Teen Center… The El Corols with Little Wimpy & the El Corolettes performed at a December 1966 Holiday Hop at the Towson American Legion Hall with the Spectres. Also seen at the Parkville Armory’s 1521 Club dances.
The group released a single as the El Corols Band & Show in 1968 on Tiny Barge’s own Tiny record label, and another single on Rouser Records. Both were pressed at Recordings Incorporated. Songs co-written by Tiny Barge and Fangette Willett (see Jason Willett)…
Early vocalist Lavenia Nesmith left the group after high school. She later went on to be an award winning jazz vocalist in the Columbia area, and in early 2000s she established Jazz in the Mills concerts in ‘The Other Barn’ at the Oakland Mills Village Center.
Barge later led the group The Big Chill…
1968 Tiny 2927 You Must Be an Angel / Chick, Chick
196* Rouser 2954 You Gotta Be an Angel / Chick, Chick
