The Viscaynes were an American doo-wop group from Vallejo, California, United States, that released a few singles in the early 1960s.
[5][6] The history given by the Rockportraits website is, in late 1959, a group called The Webs which Stewart formed at the age of 16 had merged with The Viscounts.
At this time the line up consisted of Frank Arellano, Charlene Imhoff, Sylvester Stewart, Maria "Ri" Boldway and Charles and Vern Gebhardt who were brothers.
Due to another group already known as The Viscounts who had a hit with "Harlem Nocturne", and possible confusion with that band, they changed their name to The Viscaynes.
[8] This single which featured Stewart on harmony was also released on the Arteen label with the group credited as The Vi-Tones.
[10][11] One of the saxophone players who played on the "Yellow Moon" recording was future Sly & The Family Stone member Jerry Martini.
[12][13] Also in 1961, the group provided the backing vocals for Jasper Woods (real name Richard Berry) on his single "Hully Gully Papa" / "I'm Coming Home", released on VPM 1009.
[16] The amount of exposure "Yellow Moon" got on the radio got the attention of Tom Donahue, the co-founder of Autumn Records.
[23][22] The Biscaynes that appear on the Tony Hilder produced compilation, Surf's Up with "Church Key" are a different group.
[26][27] In later years Vern Gebhardt graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton; he had received a football scholarship.