Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Nov 16, 2025
One of the more respected rock and soul groups of the early 60s was San Diego-based George Semper & His Kingsmen which later became the Chessmen in 1966.
Semper had a knack for recognizing good talent and once had a young female singer in his group by the name of Alice Wagoner who went on to record for 4 J Records, a small Los Angeles recording label.
In 1962, the label’s first year, Wagoner, under the stage name, Little Alice, recorded a beautiful ballad penned by Lonnie Russ, a singer/songwriter who eventually made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 himself later that year with “My Wife Can’t Cook” (#57).
Wagoner’s ballad disappeared after some local airplay. When listened to today one can only ask why?
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The arranger/conductor of Wagoner’s ballad for 4 J Records was the talented Ray Shanklin from San Francisco. Shanklin’s career continued on as an arranger/producer for various labels and as a producer from 1963 through the 70s for Fantasy Studios, a major California recording studio with an influential roster of world renown artists.
Discovered some 50+ years later, Wagoner’s ballad was featured on the soundtrack in Season 2, Episode 14 of the TV series Riverdale which was shot in the metro Vancouver area of British Columbia (2017 – 2023).
As to why the ballad never made in mainstream, there are several plausible reasons:
- Many independent recordings from the late-50s/early 60s were pressed in small runs, on regional labels, with limited distribution. If the label doesn’t push the single, or it doesn’t hit a major market, it may get overlooked. 4 J Records fell into that category.
- A change in musical trends. 1962 was right before a major upheaval in pop/rock that included the British Invasion, the dance-tunes craze, and the rise of soul & Motown. Hence, bad timing for ballads.
- Top 40 Radio became firmly established, forcing the Deejays to play a formatted program lists of records. They had no say in what was to be played.
The fascination with discovering obscure tunes that should have been hits has really grown thanks to the web. And there’s a kind of romanticism to the idea of a beautiful ballad that nearly disappeared not only being found but deserving of more recognition during its time.
Such was the case for 4 J Records 1962 release by Little Alice, a lost but now found treasure and a first time play on Treasure Island Oldies. As to not hearing it before, you may ask yourself, “Why Oh Why,” and it’s this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube listing of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IeeEckUDco
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
