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Billy Mure, who recently left us at age 97, had an incredible 80-year career in the music industry. We are in the process of creating a very special detailed page on this website devoted to him. The Delicates owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He produced their signature recording "Black And White Thunderbird," backed with "Ronnie Is My Lover."
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Sharman Howe and Alfred Nittoli: they are the ultimate Jersey couple and they make beautiful music together!
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The Brooks Four (aka The Four Winds, aka The Teamates) are four very talented Italian "Jersey Boys." Click their picture at the left to read their impressive story and hear a sample of their wonderful work.
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Teddy Randazzo, the wonderful singer, songwriter, musician and record producer,
was one of the most beloved gentlemen in the music business.
He produced the very first recording that the Delicates sang backup on,
Al Martino's "Journey To Love." For more information about this man of so many talents
as well as a photo gallery featuring both him and his son Teddy Jr.,
please click on the picture at the left.
Thanks for everything, Teddy...we love you!
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Vicki Spencer, when she was only 16, appeared as a featured performer in two motion pictures,
the first with Jimmy Clanton and the second with Clay Cole.
They were Teenage Millionaire and Twist Around The Clock respectively.
Chubby Checker and Dion also appeared in each of those movies.
Vicki sang two songs in each. Her father was one of the country's top dancers and also had a very successful
career as an act arranger. So it's no surprise that Vicki is as talented as she is and that her daughter Jamie
is well on her way to a great singing career as well.
Ronnie recently did an interview show with Vicki especially for Clay Cole's
website. Please click on Vicki's picture for more information and to listen to that show.
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Jean
Thomas was lead singer for the "Rag Dolls", a female version of the "Four
Seasons" created by Bob Crewe. Jean wrote over 80 songs and sang
back-up on hundreds and hundreds of tracks and has backed many well known
singers. She also sang on many commercials during the 60's and early
70's. If you listened to music of the 60's, you definitely heard
her voice. Thank you, Jean, for your incredible talent, your many
contributions and for being such a huge part of Rock and
Roll history. |
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Connie
Francis was born in Newark and grew up in Belleville, New Jersey.
Connie has one of the most beautiful and distinctive voices in pop music
history. On the advice of her father she recorded Who's
Sorry Now?, which made her the top female recording artist of the
late 50's and early 60's. We salute you, Jersey girl! |
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Laura
Pinto, having a great passion and love for the music and artists of the
60's and 70's, has created some of the most incredible websites for the
stars of that time. Her sites include those for Jeff Barry, The Archies,
Ron Dante, Andy Kim, The Detergents, Ellie Greenwich, Joey Dee and the
Starliters , Eddie Rambeau and the wonderful Oldies Connection site.
Thank you, Laura, for keeping our great music alive. You Rock! |
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Bucky
Pizzarelli is a classical guitarist and banjoist. He joined the Vaughn
Monroe band in 1943 and was a member of the Doc Severinson band on the
Tonight Show while Johnny Carson was host. Bucky
has worked with the likes of Les Paul and Benny Goodman and played guitar
along with the great Don Costa on Vaughn Monroe's hit Ghost
Riders in the Sky. Bucky was a studio session musician and
has played on hundreds of recordings. We thank you, Bucky, for your
countless work and incredible talent. |
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Don Costa, music arranger and record producer, is best known for his work with
Frank Sinatra, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, as well as many, many others.
Don also had his own huge instrumental hits : Never on Sunday,
The Unforgiven and I'll Walk the Line, to
name just a few. The great Don Costa was indeed a "Musical Genius,"
and he was often referred to as the "Puccini of pop." We just love
you so much, Don, and working closely with you was heaven. |
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Miss
Sue Thompson is our Queen of Rock and Roll, a beautiful woman with the
voice of a little girl. She is best known for her hits Norman,
Sad Movies (Make Me Cry), Paper Tiger and
Have a Good Time. She also sang great country duets with
Don Gibson. Oh, Sue, we love you. Sue Thompson always makes
us smile. |
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The
original Four Seasons were four Italian boys from New Jersey: Tommy
DeVito, Nick Massi, Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli. In 1965, Nick was
replaced by Charles Calello and then Charles was replaced by Joe Long.
With great hits like Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry and
Walk Like a Man, just to name a few, the Four Seasons sold
millions of records. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 1990. Today the Seasons are still going strong with the
incredible Broadway success of Jersey Boys, which rewarded
them with the Tony Award. Frankie is still going strong and is great
as ever. Our life-long friends . . . we love you. |
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Teresa
Brewer was a beloved lady with an exuberant voice whose recordings always
sparkled and shined and earned her millions of fans throughout the world.
She was best known for her pop hits, which included Music
Music Music, Till I Waltz Again With You, Ricochet,
A Tear Fell, A Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl and
many others. Later on she re-invented herself as a very respected
jazz vocalist and she performed with the biggest names in that field, including
Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. We are so sad that she has left us,
but we can continue to enjoy the wonderful body of work that is her musical
legacy. |
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Jack
Wild, an English actor, achieved fame for his roles in both stage and screen
productions of the Lionel Bart musical "OLIVER", playing the Artful Dodger.
At the age of 16 he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting
Actor. He also starred in an American family TV series H.R. Pufnstuf
in 1969. Recording for Capital and Buddah Records, he had a very
successful musical career. Tragically, on March 2, 2006, at the young
age of 53, Jack Wild passed away of throat cancer. He was a major
talent and will be missed by many. Working with him was lots of fun,
and I am honored to be part of his wonderful recordings.
With
love, Denise |
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"JerseySound"
Now meet
the individual musicians Phil, Bobby "Keys," Paul, Bob, Pete, Mike and
Joe:
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PHIL
BRUNO, a Jersey Boy from Belleville, was influenced by the great Tommy
DeVito of Four Seasons fame. Phil is a songwriter and for many years
has been a studio musician. From 1980 through 1984 he was a member
of the "Sidewalk Symphony," opening for such acts as Patty Loveless and
Charlie Daniels. Phil was a founding member of the JerseySound. |
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BOBBY
"KEYS" ANDERSON was born and raised in Newark. Bobby played
country music throughout the 70's, backing headliners such as Smokey Warren,
Dottie West, Mickey Gilley, Eddie Rabbit and countless others. |
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PAUL
TARLOW , originally from West Orange, started as a sax player but switched
to bass guitar in '63. Paul backed up the likes of Etta James, Johnny
Maestro and the Duprees to name a few. |
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BOB
D'ANGELO grew up in Newark and served as a back-up singer on many recordings.
Bobby D, as they call him, was one of the founding members of JerseySound.
One of his inspirations has been the great Frankie Valli. |
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PETE
DEL VECCHIO, a drummer originally from Newark, spent over forty years in
the business. Pete played with such groups as the Foremosts, Twilight
Time and Just Crusin.' |
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MICHAEL
FEDE , also originally from Newark, now lives in Belleville.
A singer for over thirty years, he worked with "Sidewalk Symphony" and
the Duprees. |
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JOE
CAP from Newark, New Jersey is the newest member of JerseySound. |
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Click
on image at left for
CLAY
COLE'S TRIBUTE TO BACKUP SINGERS. |
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PETER
ALTSCHULER used to run away from home a lot... and hang out in the radio
studios at WINS waiting to be discovered. His father, Murray "the
K" Kaufman, never seemed to notice . . .
Read
much more about Peter by clicking on his picture.
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This
is a special tribute for me. To celebrate the years that meant the most
to me with gratitude for TOM DECILLIS, the man that started it all. If
it weren't for Tom, all of the stories of The Starlets, Angels, and Bernadette
Carroll would not have come to be.
I
always knew him as a trustworthy, kind and very sincere person. He would
be a chaperone, a supporter, a listener and a booking agent. Never once
did we question what he was doing. He would always look out for our best
interest. Even my Mother would let me go on the road at the tender age
of 16, as long as Tom was with me.
With
great respect and admiration, do I owe it all to this wonderful man. He
has earned the respect of many people in the industry with his kind hearted
ways and endless determination to make the most of the many talents he
had and managed.
Thank
you Tom ..... Love, Bernadette
Read
much more about Tom by clicking on his picture.
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Jersey girl Rachel Millman, who is 25 and hails from Springfield, is being praised as
a fresh and exciting new interpreter of songs, a songwriter’s muse, and an artist decidely on the way to the
top. Her debut album "If I Believe" has earned her dozens of outstanding reviews, feature stories and interviews. For more on this rising star, including Ronnie's interview with her and an 18-minute TV documentary entitled "The Music Mentor: Meet Rachel Millman," please click her picture on the left. [Photo credit: Stephanie Berger]
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Denise Marsa is a Jersey girl who was the mystery singer on Dean Friedman's duet "Lucky Stars" (a smash hit in England) and the lead singer of the Flirts on "Helpless (You Took My Love)" (a smash dance hit). She put out her own critically-acclaimed album called "Self." Recently she created a TV series called "The Music Mentor" and is presently managing, producing and mentoring Rachel Millman (above). For more info on Denise, including Ronnie's interview with her and a synopsis video of her TV project, please click her picture on the left. [Photo credit: Jennifer Stead]
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