Pearl McKinnon and her Kodaks - Live in Hampton Beach, NH - 1985

Formed in the Baxter Terrace housing project in Newark, New Jersey in 1957, the Kodaks originally consisted of Peal McKinnon, James Patrick, William Franklin, Larry Davis, and William Miller. Featuring 15-year-old Pearl, whose dynamic lead sounded much like Frankie Lymon’s voice, the group signed with Bobby Robinson’s Fury label and changed their name from the Supremes to the Kodaks, after the camera and film company.
In 1957-58, the Kodaks recorded four singles for Fury, “Little Boy and Girl”, “Oh Gee, Oh Gosh”, My Baby and Me”, and “Run Around Baby”. “Oh Gee, Oh Gosh”, written by Pearl when she was 12, became a top 10 hit in New York in the summer of 1958, but soon after, the original group went their separate ways, with Harold Jenkins and Richard Dixon replacing Franklin and Davis. Miller and Jenkins formed a new Kodaks group in 1960 and made a record for J&S, while Pearl recruited a new male quartet and re-recorded her first ballad side, “Teenager’s Dream”, as Pearl and the Deltars for Fury Records.
During the 1970s, Pearl returned to the concert stage, performing with a group called Second Verse, and also appeared with a Kodaks group at the Academy of Music in New York City in 1972. The following year, she fronted the four original members of the Teenagers in a similar concert performance. When Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant reformed the Teenagers in 1981, Pearl McKinnon was selected as the lead singer, and performed with the group for several years.
Pearl was also a favorite with United in Group Harmony Association audiences, where she appeared both with the Teenagers and a Jersey City, New Jersey-based group called Charm serving as her Kodaks.
Beginning in the early 1970s, Boston-area disc jockey, concert host and producer, historian and enthusiast, Little Walter DeVenne began documenting the pioneers of vocal group harmony, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll using Super 8 movie film, reel to reel tape recorders, and whatever means were available to him. Concerts in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and other locations were preserved. Sadly, Walter died in 2021, and the films were feared lost or destroyed. Through the efforts of Walter’s friend and longtime disc jockey, Mike Bollea, many of these recordings have been preserved. Through Mike’s generosity and a desire to see Walter’s historic films shared with fans and devotees of this music, we present the Little Walter’s Time Machine Official Archives series, remixed and synched by Todd Baptista, from the original source material. Copying, reuploading, distributing, selling, or any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
In the 1980s, Walter hired Pearl McKinnon on several occasions to come to New England to perform, initially with the Teenagers in Boston, Massachusetts. On June 15, 1985, Pearl was booked to appear with Hank Ballard, Rudy West and his Keys, and the G-Clefs at the Club Casino in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. For this show, Pearl teamed with a reorganized lineup of Charm, consisting of second tenor Tony “Zeke” Holding, bass Calvin Nadir Powell (both of whom later joined 14 Karat Soul), Franklin "Frankie D." Davis (first tenor) and Tyrone Aikens (baritone). Their 25-minute set, backed by the Ambient Band, was preserved on video and Walter’s original source tape was used for this film. The eight-song set consists of three of Pearl’s original Kodaks tunes, “Little Boy and Girl”, “My Baby and Me”, and “Oh Gee, Oh Gosh”. They also perform three Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers favorites, “The A.B.C.’s of Love”, “Share”, and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?”. A rendition of the Four J’s “Here I Am Broken-Hearted” and the Schoolboys’ “Please Say You Want Me” round out the set.
For the best in “oldies but goodies” from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, listen to Mike Bollea on MIXCLOUD and follow his discjockeymike page to hear new shows. To leave comments or connect with Mike, send him a friend request and visit his Facebook page Michael Bollea (Not Just Another DJ) and the Mike Bollea’s Radio Friends Group or e-mail him at [e-mail]

[@michaelcrain2674]

Why is Pearl not in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? One of the very greatest voices ever.

[@tonyoetjen1960]

Possibly the BEST video footage of Pearl McKinnon I've seen! Crystal clear video, fantastic fidelity, great band, Charm 2 is on the money and Pearl is totally in control of the stage! Thank you, Todd!

[@charlottemunnerlyn4394]

Pearl, Newarks finest. Love you ❤

[@jerryleeelvisberryrichard6247]

Fantastic, Pearl so great!!

[@lindadee2053]

Beautiful rendition of Share. Pearl never lost it - she's still fantastic. And the Charms had some beautiful harmonies behind her. Great performance.

[@Tony-DWK-56]

Excellent performance by Pearl Mckinnon and an amazing performance by her Kodaks group "Charm". This video & sound quality is one of the best for that time. Thanks Todd!

[@paulbarber9599]

Beautiful voice

[@JukeboxJoeB]

Wow! What a treat! I love Pearl & The Kodaks!

[@alsaggese3083]

RIP. Little Walter. One of a kind. Great video. Ty Todd

[@paulbarber9599]

Great performance

[@billniland-v2d]

I was blessed to be there, and now re-blessed to have the chance to see/hear it again thanks to the devoted mind of Todd..THANK YOU

[@54symusic]

Todd- tks for your amazing contribution to our music- for me who was lucky enough to see original groups in the 50s these videos are very special

[@dangreenfield8384]

I'm captivated by her charms (that's *her* charms, not *the* Charms, although they do a great job).

[@rockinrichardradio]

I like it very much!

[@beverlythompson7046]

Now thats singing.

[@dennishorlick7493]

wasn't Arthur Cryer a member of the group?

[@paulbarber9599]

Doo wop rules better than this garbage that’s out today