The Duprees

The Duprees is an American musical group of doo-wop style, which had a series of hit records in the early 1960s.

Career

The group was founded in the early 1960s in Jersey City, New Jersey, by William L. Dickinson High School students Michael Arnone, Joe Santollo, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, and lead singer Joey Canzano (later known as Joey Vann). George Paxton, a former big band leader was impressed by the group's style and signed them to his Coed Records label. Their first single, "You Belong to Me", had been a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952.[1] The Duprees' version was given a big band backing by Paxton and reached the US top ten in 1962.

The group had more top 40 hits in the next few years. "My Own True Love" was a vocal adaptation of "Tara's Theme" from the soundtrack of Gone with the Wind and became the group's second hit. "Have You Heard" and "Why Don't You Believe Me" also reached the Top 40 charts and, like "You Belong to Me," were originally early 1950s female vocal hits (Joni James, in this case).[1] The group became known for mixing doo-wop vocals with big band arrangements. Tom Bialoglow left in 1963. Mike Kelly, who had recorded on the group's original demos for George Paxton, replaced Joey Vann as lead vocalist in 1964, and formally left the group in 1977. In the late 1960s and early 1970s they released an album under the name The Italian Asphalt & Pavement Company (or I. A. P. CO.), and had a minor hit called "Check Yourself." Mike Arnone kept the group going into the 1980s with Richie Rosato on lead, Al Latta on baritone, Bob Leszczak on first tenor, Bobby Wells on keyboards, and Duane O'Hara on drums. This group lasted from 1981-83.

Joe Santollo died in 1981, Joey Vann died in 1984, and Mike Arnone died in 2005. John Salvato is a booking agent. Mike Kelly sang with The Chaperones for a brief stint in 2006 and later (August 7, 2012) died of cancer.[2] Tommy Bialoglow had his own group called Twilight Time and currently performs with Joe Zisa & Friends "Jersey Tribute".

The Original Duprees (Joey Vann Canzano, Mike Kelly, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, Joe Santollo, and Mike Arnone) were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006.


Along with their unique sound and outstanding vocal harmonies, The Duprees perform with showmanship that is individually and collectively, second to none. Thousands of fans around the globe are captivated with their wonderful mixture of romance, energy, and fun. When The Duprees take the stage, be prepared to be thoroughly entertained for more info. visit_www.duprees.com. THE DUPREES TODAY have a 37 year lineage of stage performances and pay homage in every show to the original guys who started it all..Mike Arnone, Joe Santollo, Joey Van, John Salvato, Tom Biaglo, and Mike Kelly. Little has been written about the Duprees before the internet but much has been discussed by people who either have an agenda, a favorite lead singer or just by people who think they know the facts or try to lay claim to its membership. Many people have come up to me and asked do you know this guy or that guy who claims to be the original lead singer or former member and it goes on and on and on. So for this reason I would like to go on record publicly.

All though I knew all the original member's except Tommy B who left the group in 1963. I cannot talk about the early days of the Original Duprees as I came into the group in 1978 through my cousin Joe Cataldo who was there stage manager from 1961 on. I did not keep a record of my stage performances in 1978 and only started to keep a record in 1979. Popular music was changing in all directions at that time, for various reasons we only performed 25 jobs that year with Joe Santollo, Mike Arnone, John Salvato, Larry Casanova and myself on lead. Up to that point there were only three lead singers for the group, Joey Van, Mike Kelly and myself Tommy Petillo. Sure there were a couple of tryouts that did not cut the mustard and shortly gone, sorry no names. The only other main stay lead was Richie Rosatto. Starting in 1980 for a short time in the scope of things, there were two seperate Duprees groups performing at the same time. There was the Mike Arnone group with lead singer Richie Rosato and also John Salvato’s Duprees with myself on lead for the 2nd time. Richie Rosato who came into the Duprees in 1980 left the group in 2001 to be replaced by Me Tommy Petillo for a third time as lead for the Duprees. Around 1989 Mike Arnone won the rights to the name and that is the group that is performing today for the past 38 years. The Mike Arnone family holds the Trade Mark. Also with Tony Testa who is the caretaker and leader of the Duprees today and that's a fact jack of Duprees history. LOL TOMMY PETILLO As a foot note I would like to add the names in chronological order lead singers and vocalists who have filled in, work with (for a short time) or replaced members in the past 40 years as best as I remember. Mike Kelly (lead-1964 to 1979)… Larry Casanova_(vocalist-mid 1970’s to 1979)…Tom Petillo_(lead_1978 to 1979 then with (Salvatos Duprees) 1983 to 1986_ then with (Arnone Duprees)(2001 to present)…. Phil Granito (early 1980's to present)...Tony Testa early 1980's to present)...Jimmy Spinelli (mid 1980's to present)...Allan Ladda(vocalist-early 1980’s)…..Richie Rosatto_(lead-1981 to 2001)… Larry Caton_(vocalist-early 1980)…..Mike Shavo_(lead-early 1980’s)….Bobby Valli_(vocalist-early 1980’s)….Vinny Crecca_ (vocalist-early 1980’s)….Tom Biaglow_ (vocalist-1980’s) Anthony Cagiano_ (lead-2000-2001)…Johnny Rand_(lead-2003)…' www.duprees.com............. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKKit54-5OFqOSCHkPT65wg


Discography

Chart performance

Albums chart

Singles chart

All chart listings are according to Billboard

References

  1. 1 2 Richie Unterberger. "The Duprees". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  2. ↑ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2012 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2012/08/mike_kelly_of_the_duprees_dead.html

External links

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