Hall of Fame: Tributes

Hall of FameTributes Click any image to enlarge. ..

	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.
	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!
	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!
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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
	"JerseySound" Now meet the individual musicians Phil, Bobby "Keys," Paul, Bob, Pete, Mike and Joe:
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.'
	MICHAEL FEDE , also originally from Newark, now lives in Belleville. A singer for over thirty years, he worked with "Sidewalk Symphony" and the Duprees.
	JOE CAP from Newark, New Jersey is the newest member of JerseySound.
	Click on image at left for CLAY COLE'S TRIBUTE TO BACKUP SINGERS.
	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.
	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.