The Charades

US group from Tulare, CA, founded 1956. Originally known as "The Latin Knights".
Members: Johnny T.Johnson, [a=Syl Grigsby], Alex Pilkinton, Lavern Butler, [a=Raymond A. Baradat]
Since 1983: [a=Sally Watson (2)]

They have recorded for Impact Records which was owned by [a=Tony Hilder]. Another label they recorded for was [l261446] which was owned by [a=Fred Astaire]. They had a Top Ten hit in the Mid-West with " "Surf 'N Stomp". They were featured in an article in the [i]Tulare Advance-Register[/i] on September 2, 1963. At that time they were contracted to [l258254] while working with Hilder. The band musicians then were Ignacio Perez, 20, who played guitar, drum and bass, Isdero (Easy) Pena on lead guitar, Charles Crumm who played drums and Henry Vasquez who played bass.

In 1973 Ray Baradat went on a mission to find their old producer Tony Hilder in order to get hold of some original unreleased material by the group. Hilder directefd him to where the tapes were and told him to take what he wanted. This is confirmed by the liner notes in the various artists compilation, "Rare L.A. Tracks (West Coast Style Vintage R&B And Doo-Wop, 1956-1964)"

In the 2000s, the Charades still perform.