Mixed Company was an a cappella and street-corner vocal quintet formed in 1982 on Henry Street in Jersey City, blending doo-wop, Motown, rock, and rhythm and blues.
In the Record§
The group came together after the breakup of the Jersey City street-corner outfit the Street-Tones (later Patty and the Street-Tones), and took its name to reflect its mix of nationalities, genders, and personalities.
The 1982 lineup was Patty Zielinski, John “Bull” Zielinski, Jimmy Woods, Jeffrey Chambers, and Charles “Cada” Brooks on bass vocals; they sang together until 1993, when they added instrumentation and became Slick and Soul.
For Jersey City's Catamount Records they cut a now sought-after 45, a cover of Leiber and Stoller's “Kansas City” backed with Barbara Mason's “Yes, I'm Ready.”
Their album Buzzin' With Mixed Company paired classic doo-wop with country and down-home R&B, and their catalog was later reissued in officially remastered digital form.
Performing over the decades as The Original Mixed Company out of nearby Bayonne, members shared stages with national oldies acts including The Drifters, The Marvelettes, and The Platters.
Photographs§
Sources§
- Group history and discography contributed to The Jersey City Sound, 2026
- Classic Urban Harmony — Catamount Records label history — link
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