Glen Burnie area soul band fronted by lead vocalist Trey Johnson.
Members included Johnson (lead vocals), Mooney Day (lead vocals), ‘Jazz’ (lead vocals), Carl Contrino (trumpet, trombone), Bob Dungess (trumpet), Tommy Martin (baritone sax), Don Chapman (tenor sax), Leon Parker (alto sax), Angelo Contrino (drums), Wayne Smith (trombone ex-Del Prixs), Steve Chesson (guitar), Bob Brown (bass), Barry Stevens (keyboards), Walt Tydings (sax ex-Terry & Uptights)… They also had a 5-member back-up vocal group. ‘Jazz’ had formerly done a stint singing with James Brown’s Flames.
Radio personality Wiley Daniels promoted the group and landed them gigs at the Lyric Theater where they opened for nationally known acts such as the Temptations, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, the Toys, and Walter Jackson.
Tray ‘n’ the Diamonds appeared at the Last Straw teen center in Ellicott City, dances at North East High, Owings Mills Fire Hall dances hosted by WCAO’s Les Alexander. They also worked as a house band throughout ‘67-68 at both the Keystone and the Half-Way House. While at the Half-Way they occasionally shared the stage with bands such as the Stratfords, Playmates, and Critical Mass. Also seen at The Zoo, and Hideaway clubs in Brooklyn.
Notes from Carl Contrino …
The band was pretty popular. We were a big band and therefor kinda limited to where we could play. We played the Lyric Theater quite a bit, mostly with Motown acts. We were the lead-in act for the Temptations, Martha & the Vandellas, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder, The Toys, Sir Walter Jackson, and others. We got a lot of our gigs from Smiley Wiley Daniels at WWIN radio.
A young Toni Braxton was in our back-up vocal group, and vocalist Jazz was a former member of James Brown’s original Famous Flames.
Below: 3 photos of Tray & The Diamonds at Dulaney Senior High School – 1968
Brown later played with the Hypnotics. Smith joined the Xpressions. The Contrino’s went on to form Kotton.
