The 3rd Evolution were from the Bronx, NY, beginning as a doo-wop group the Hi-Dells.
Argot Meyer founded the group, singing and managing it. He first found Mike Saglimberi (Mike Henderson) to sing and play rhythm guitar. Mike brought in his good friend from Junior High (PS 98), Manny Colon on drums. Louis Bonilla (bass) and Ron Lupi (lead guitar) joined last.
They began rehearsing in Argot’s basement, then met Phil Rosano, owner of Dawn Records at Music Makers Record shop on Fordham Road, who released two of their records.
The first has both “Gone Gone Gone” with its ripping guitar solo and their most original work, “Don’t Play with Me”. Mike Henderson is given song writing credit on both of these, and R. Miller is credited with A&R. This was one of the first garage 45s I ever bought, for $10.
“Don’t Play With Me” made the local radio charts of WLOF 950.0 AM in Orlando, Florida in 1966. The Third Evolution played at the World’s Fair, and there’s talk of these guys opening for Jay and the Americans.
The second 45 has the weird slow version of “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” which I still find pretty cool, backed with a ballad, “You’re Gonna Lose the Only Love You Ever Had”.
They also have a good demo acetate recorded at Bruno-Dean Recording Studios in New Rochelle, NY, “Help Me” / “Turn Around” that has not yet been released.
Anyone have a photo of the group?
Dawn discography (garage-type 45s only):
Any help with this would be appreciated
Dawn 303 – Derbys ” People Say (She’s No Good” b/w The Bondsmen “Wipeout ’66”
Dawn 306 – 3rd Evolution – Don’t Play With Me / Gone Gone Gone (June 1966)
Dawn 309 – Creation’s Disciple “Psychedelic Retraction” / “I’ll Remember”
Dawn 312 – 3rd Evolution – Everybody Needs Somebody (to Love) / You’re Gonna Lose the Only Love You Ever Had (December ’66)
The Creation’s Disciple had their own unreleased Bruno-Dean acetate, “Strings of Rhyme”
Source: Mike Henderson’s notes in Psychedelic States: New York vol. 1
Don’t play with me is ace!! For me, it sums up the whole garage punk/girl put down genre. These guys are not to be messed with! I am also a proud owner of this single. One of the best buys I’ve made in ages!
Steve Willette writes:
“We are looking for Phil! My group recorded on Dawn in 1967 and have recently hooked up with a guy from Chicago who is doing a documentary about vocal groups – Abe Santiago. He already co-authored a book called Acappella Street Corner Vocal Groups. My group was The Five Chancells. Any direction you can give us on Phil would be helpful. I last saw him at his house on Hone Ave in Da Bronx. Thanks Steve (the bronx bird)”
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Phil passed away a few years ago.
He operated a coin & collectibles shop in the Poughkeepsie NY area. My pal and I went to his shop, where he sold us copies of the garage 45s on the Dawn label. Real nice guy, told us tons of stories. This would have been around 1999 or 2000.
We always planned to go back and check his master tape stash but things (life)always get in the way of fun pursuits. I was told he had passed away from my pal who lives up in that area, I think it would have been 4 years ago.
Phil passed away about two years ago. He had a collectible shop near West Point in N.Y. Which I visited often. He was a great guy. I bought some of his demos from his wife. But I have since sold them.
I was in the 5 Chancells and don’t remember Phil!
Hi! Mike Saglimbeni is my father. Any info you need about the band, please feel free to contact me. All members of the band are still alive except for Louis Bonilla who recently passed away from complications related to cancer. Thanks for keeping the music alive!
Tom
nursetvs@gmail.com
Your father band realize the legendary song “Don’t Play With Me”, this song can really be a real hit, but she was forgotten in the sands of time.
It is really sad.