12 10 129 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/2fb18a6c4af4841ff2d933ea17363853.jpg b84362ee80739f97d1bc459753754854 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Date Started 1958? Date Ended 1961? Type of Institution Economic Source of File Attached “<a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-rivieras-mn0002286617#biography">The Rivieras</a>.” AllMusic. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource El Rivieras Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-rivieras-mn0002286617#biography">The Rivieras</a>.” AllMusic. <div></div> Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Description An account of the resource The Rivieras was a Doo Wop quartet. The group comprised Homer Dunn, Ronald Cook, Andrew Jones, and Charles Allen. Their second manager was William Fix. They recorded their Coed album from 1958 to 1961. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1918-12-21 Birthplace New Rochelle, New York, USA Death Date 1967-05-14 Occupation Musician Source of File Attached “<a href="https://aaregistry.org/story/george-treadwell-musician-and-band-manager-born/">George Treadwell, Musician, and Band Manager Born</a>.” African American Registry, 12 June 2023. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Treadwell, George McKinley (1918-1967) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Sarah Vaughan Shellack Record cover "I cover the waterfront" Subject The topic of the resource Music, Jazz Music, Production Description An account of the resource George McKinley Treadwell (December 21, 1918 – May 14, 1967) was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and influential artist manager whose career bridged Harlem’s swing era and the rise of rhythm and blues in the postwar recording industry. Though he began as a working musician, Treadwell ultimately left his most enduring mark behind the scenes, shaping the careers of major performers and redefining the business structure of one of the most successful vocal groups of the twentieth century. Treadwell came of age in the vibrant jazz world of New York City. As a young trumpeter, he worked steadily in Harlem clubs and touring bands, performing with leading figures of the era including Benny Carter, Cootie Williams, Tiny Bradshaw, Ace Harris, J.C. Heard, Dicky Wells, Etta Jones, and Ethel Waters. His musical training and professionalism earned him respect within the tightly knit jazz community, but his ambitions extended beyond the bandstand. In the late 1940s, Treadwell transitioned from performer to manager, a move that placed him among a small number of African Americans operating at the executive level of the music business during a deeply segregated era. He became the manager—and later the husband—of Sarah Vaughan, whom he married in 1947. During their marriage and afterward, Treadwell played a central role in guiding Vaughan’s career at a formative stage, helping navigate recording contracts, touring schedules, and public visibility as her reputation rapidly expanded. The couple divorced in 1957, but their professional relationship had already cemented Treadwell’s standing as a skilled and determined manager. Treadwell’s most consequential work came through his leadership of The Drifters. After original lead singer Clyde McPhatter departed to pursue a solo career, Treadwell retained control of the group’s name and trademark. Treating the Drifters as a professional organization rather than a loose collective, he employed singers on salary, replaced members as needed, and maintained strict managerial authority. This approach—controversial then and since—allowed the group to continue recording and touring with remarkable consistency, even as its lineup changed repeatedly. Under Treadwell’s stewardship, the Drifters produced a catalog of recordings that became foundational to early rock and roll and rhythm and blues. By the late 1950s, Treadwell had expanded his work to include artist development and songwriting, further embedding himself in the commercial side of the music industry. His reputation was that of a sharply dressed, soft-spoken but firm businessman—someone who understood both the creative demands of musicians and the unforgiving economics of show business. Outside of his professional life, Treadwell was deeply rooted in Englewood, New Jersey. He lived in the Liberty Road–Belmont Street area, a neighborhood that was home to a remarkable concentration of Black cultural and creative talent. Nearby residents included members of the Isley family, Sylvia Robinson, Howard and Brad Johnson, and composer Ulysses Kay, situating Treadwell within a local community that quietly contributed to national music and arts history. Englewood also became the place where he built a family life with his second wife, Fayrene Johnson, whom he married in 1957, and where they raised their daughter, Tina. George Treadwell died in New York City in 1967 at the age of forty-seven after a long illness. Funeral services were held in Englewood, where he was remembered not only as a pioneering Black music executive but as a figure who helped shape the sound and structure of modern American popular music. His legacy endures through the artists he managed, the business model he imposed—however contested—and the cultural networks that linked Harlem, the recording industry, and suburban Black life in mid-twentieth-century New Jersey. "Daughter of Drifters' Founder sues 'imposters." The Ann Arbor News, March 25, 2007. Robinson, Major. "Sarah Vaughan's Ex-Mate Dies." New Pittsburgh Courier, 27 May 1967, p. 1. Partly written by OpenAI. (2026, January, 27). ChatGPT (GPT-5.2.) [Large Language Model] https://chat.openai.com/chat. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Freimut Bahlo Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available wikipedia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 11, 2009. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain Entertainment Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1929-04-16 Birthplace Fayetteville, Tennessee, USA Death Date 2003-08-13 Occupation Singer Music Producer Songwriter Source of File Attached McLellan, Dennis. "Ed Townsend, 74; Wrote, Performed 'For Your Love." The Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2003, p.B19. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Townsend, Edward "Ed" Benjamin (1929-2003) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Edward Benjamin Townsend in Liggins Family Tree." Ancestry. McLellan, Dennis. "Ed Townsend, 74; Wrote, Performed 'For Your Love." The Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2003, p.B19. Subject The topic of the resource Music, Production Music, R&B Veterans Description An account of the resource Edward Benjamin Townsend was a singer, songwriter, and producer. He also had some education in law, although he never practiced officially. He joined the Marine Corps in 1951 and served in Korea. His first record was "For Your Love" in 1958. He was one of the owners of Tru-Glo-Town Records with Gloria Toote in Englewood. He married Janie Carlton Moore on May 12, 1951. He had three sons, Edward David, Clef Michael, and Cherrigale. He had a daughter, Kathryn Griffin. He remarried to another woman, Janice. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Music https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/4500474367b719bbb98603b8771e4476.jpg 491bea21d185f4bda99370373bb95b4e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Type of Institution Economic Source of File Attached "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/4083462-Freddy-Cole-Id-Have-It-Made">Freddy Cole - I'd Have It Made</a>." Discogs. Type of Place Businesses Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Tru-Glo-Town Records Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/100715-Tru-Glo-Town">Tru-Glo-Town Label</a>.” Discogs. Subject The topic of the resource Music, Production Description An account of the resource Tru-Glo-Town Records was a record company in Englewood founded by Trude Heller, Gloria Toote, and Ed Townsend. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Event A non-persistent, time-based occurrence. Metadata for an event provides descriptive information that is the basis for discovery of the purpose, location, duration, and responsible agents associated with an event. Examples include an exhibition, webcast, conference, workshop, open day, performance, battle, trial, wedding, tea party, conflagration. Date Started 1966-11-25 Date Ended 1966-11-25 Source of File Attached "The Ronettes To Give Show." The Record, 23 Nov. 1966, p. B-3. Type of Event Concert Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Ronettes Dwight Morrow Performance (1966) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "The Ronettes To Give Show." The Record, 23 Nov. 1966, p. B-3. Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Description An account of the resource The Ronettes performed a concert at Dwight Morrow High School on November 4, 1966. It was done as a fundraiser for the school's scholarship fund. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Education Finances Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Type of Place Businesses Date Started 1966 Date Ended 1970 Source of File Attached Most, Mel. "Miss Gloria Toote Scores A Record Success." The Record, 22 June 1969, p.8-C. Type of Institution Economic Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Town Sound Studios Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "<a href="http://www.discogs.com/label/312447-Town-Sound-Studios">Town Sound Studios Label.</a>" Discogs. <div></div> "Burned Schneider Building in Englewood May Be Razed." The Record, 3 June 1970, p. C-3. Subject The topic of the resource Music, Production Description An account of the resource <a href="https://www.pennycolman.com/post/who-is-gloria-toote" title="Town Sound Studios">Gloria E. A. Toote</a> was a lawyer, entrepreneur, and recording executive whose most distinctive legacy is her creation of Town Sound Studios in Englewood, New Jersey, at 1 Dean Street, the site of the former Scheider's pharmacy, now a Starbucks. Town Sounds Studios was one of the most advanced independent recording facilities on the East Coast during the late 1960s. At a time when major studios were concentrated in Manhattan and controlled almost exclusively by white male executives, Toote built a Black-owned, woman-led recording complex that placed Englewood directly into the national music and media economy. Trained as an attorney, Toote earned her undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University and completed graduate study at Columbia University. Rather than remaining solely in legal practice, she applied her expertise to real estate development and media production. In 1966, she leased a neglected, multi-story building at the corner of North Dean Street and Palisade Avenue in Englewood and began an ambitious transformation. The result was Town Sound Studios, a fully modern recording and mastering facility equipped with state-of-the-art disc-cutting systems, multi-track consoles, automated equipment, and professional soundproofing. Between 1966 and 1970, Town Sound Studios earned a reputation for technical excellence that rivaled major New York studios. Recording artists, record labels, advertising agencies, filmmakers, and broadcasters used the Englewood facility for music recording, mastering, radio commercials, film soundtracks, industrial films, and spoken-word projects. Trade publications and newspapers regularly described Town Sound as one of the best-equipped studios in the eastern United States. Renowned performers recorded at Town Sound Studios such as Miriam Makeba, the South African singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist ; the British rock group The Animals; and The Mothers of Invention, and Jimi Hendrix. Other projects included a sound track for an Otto Preminger movie, a children’s record, industrial training films, and a session with a 72-piece high school band. Beyond its technical achievements, Town Sound functioned as a cultural hub. Industry events held at the studio drew musicians, actors, executives, and public officials to Englewood, quietly reshaping the borough’s cultural profile. The studio also created pathways into the recording and electronics industries for young people, many of whom received hands-on training and went on to secure professional technical careers. From offices within Town Sound, Toote operated charitable and educational initiatives that linked creative production to job training and community advancement. Toote’s work at Town Sound was widely recognized during its brief but influential existence. She was frequently cited as the first Black woman to originate and operate a major recording studio, and she received honors for both her entrepreneurial achievements and her commitment to youth training and community service. In 1970, a catastrophic overnight fire destroyed the upper floors of the building and its recording facilities, bringing the Town Sound era to an abrupt end. Although Toote later went on to hold prominent roles in federal government, national politics, and real estate development, Town Sound Studios remains the clearest expression of her vision—a belief that technical excellence, cultural production, and community opportunity could coexist in the same physical space. For a brief but remarkable moment, Gloria Toote turned Englewood into a center of sound, innovation, and Black ownership, leaving a legacy that continues to resonate in the city’s history. "Studio Founder Honored." The Record, January 27, 1969. "Town Sound Studio Installs 45G Cutter." New York Amsterdam News, October 5, 1968. "Recording Industry Honoring Unsung Hero." New York Amsterdam News, January 25, 1969. "Dr. Gloria E. A. Toote." The Desert Sun, 21 June 2017, p. A12. “<a href="https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/few-good-women/gloria-toote">Gloria Toote</a>.” Penn State University Libraries. “<a href="http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/gloria-toote-41">Gloria Toote’s Biography</a>.” The HistoryMakers. Most, Mel. "Miss Gloria Toote Scores A Record Success." The Record, 22 June 1969, p.8-C. "Narrative generated by [AI Tool Name], version [number], [Company], [Date]. The author provided original archival research and subsequently edited the content for historical accuracy and historiographical alignment." . Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Music https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/7ee9954fa637018b8ad35dad39906b0a.JPG b5fe4724eb4ec24c0d8691c3d2495289 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1932-11-15 Birthplace Durham, North Carolina Death Date 1972-06-13 Occupation Musician Singer Source of File Attached “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_McPhatter">Clyde McPhatter.</a>” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Apr. 2024. <div></div> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource McPhatter, Clyde Lensley (1932-1972) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Clyde McPhatter, 1950s singer." The Record, 15 June 1972, p.B-15. "Rite tonight for Clyde L. McPhatter." The Record, 16 June 1972, p.A-15. Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Veterans Description An account of the resource Clyde McPhatter was an R&B singer in the 1950s and 1960s. He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey moving to New York City. McPhatter was recruited by the group Billy Ward and his Dominoes. He eventually quit the group in 1953 and created the Drifters. During this time he also served in the U.S. Army. After he departed from the group and the military, he recorded numerous solo records including "Treasure of Love" (1956). He passed away due to alcoholism in Teaneck, New Jersey. He married Lena Rackely. He had a son, Patrick, and a daughter, Deborah L. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Colman, David Entertainment Music https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/65daf4658ad8a363c4d16aecf8f9ba8a.jpg 1dec9a61922c9bd8bf22bffd613b5725 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Source of File Attached “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelle_Bennett">Estelle Bennett</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 July 2024. Birth Date 1941-07-22 Birthplace New York City, New York, USA Death Date 2009-02-11 Occupation Singer Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bennett, Estelle (1941-2009) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Levin, Jay. "Estelle Bennett, 67, one-third of '60s group the Ronettes, dies." The Record, 13 Feb. 2009, p.L8. “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelle_Bennett">Estelle Bennett</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 July 2024. Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Description An account of the resource Estelle Bennett was a singer and member of the Ronettes with her sister Veronica "Ronnie" Yvette Greenfield and her cousin Nedra Talley-Ross. They began singing at age fourteen. They eventually recorded a No. 1 hit song "Be My Baby" in 1963. The group broke up in 1967 and Bennett went on to record a single. She joined Estal Bond in 1969 and became the lead in The Love Chain. She stopped singing publically in 1984. The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She married Joe Dong. She had a daughter and lived with her in Englewood for a time. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Entertainment Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1943-01-15 Death Date 2011-07-05 Occupation Musician Songwriter Source of File Attached "Wrote hits for Jackson 5, Supremes." The Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2013, p.AA5. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mizell, Alphonso "Fonce" (1943-2011) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keepnews, Peter. "Record executive helped create Jackson 5's first hits." The Gazette, 2 Aug. 2011, p. 2. “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizell_Brothers">Mizell Brothers</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2024. "Alphonso Mizell in the U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016." Ancestry. Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Music, Jazz Description An account of the resource Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell was a musician and record producer who worked with his brother Larry Mizell. The brothers grew up in Englewood and attended Dwight Morrow. He earned a degree in music from Howard University. In the late 1960s, he was a member of The Corporation the group of songwriters that produced Jackson 5's early hit songs. The brothers started a company in California named Sky High Productions. They produced numerous tracks of R&B and Jazz music. He retired with his brother in the 1980s but came out of retirement in 2007. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Entertainment Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1964 Birthplace Bronx, New York, USA Occupation Author Songwriter Activist, Political Source of File Attached “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Souljah">Sister Souljah</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Aug. 2024. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Williamson, Lisa "Sista Souljah" (1964-?) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Souljah">Sister Souljah</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Aug. 2024. <div></div> Brody, Leslie. "Controversial rapper's roots include Englewood." The Record, 18 June 1992, p. C-6. Subject The topic of the resource Music, Rap Writing Activism, African American Description An account of the resource Lisa Williamson is an author, rapper, and activist. She moved to Englewood when she was ten and attended Dwight Morrow High School. She won a scholarship and attended Cornell University's Advanced Summer Program. She attended Rutgers, graduating with a degree in American History and African Studies. She was a political activist and successfully led a campaign to get New Jersey to divest one billion dollars of holdings in apartheid South Africa. She has also recorded an album 360 Degrees of Power in 1992. She has also authored numerous books. She married Mike Rich. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Activism Africa African American Apartheid Music