The Vontastics

The Vontastics' career mirrors that of the Ideals, another Chicago group, in that each had three records that achieved some popularity outside of Chicago. They even recorded for the same label, St. Lawrence Records though the Cortland label released "Gorilla," "Mo Gorilla," and "Mo Jo Hanna," the Ideals most popular recordings. The latter, about a voodoo lady from Louisiana was first recorded by Henry Lumpkin (Motown 1962). Powered by two lead singers, Kenneth Gholar & Jose Holmes, a prolific songwriter, Bobby Lee Newsome, and Raymond Penn, the Vontastics' sound was fresh an...