Event flyer designed by Warren Tesoro
It's great to see the Doo Wop Singers Club still thriving and
celebrating its Fourth Anniversary. The club meets on the third Sunday
of each month from 11 AM to 4 PM at 9 Deerbrook Blvd., North Brunswick, NJ.
Pat and Stu Pushkin and a staff of volunteers organize each monthly meeting as
a way for singers of vocal harmony groups to make connections, socialize,
harmonize and even establish new vocal harmony groups.
We attended their Fourth Anniversary
celebration and were lucky be among the last reserve a spot, as the event
filled up quickly. We had a fabulous time with a hot lunch and even
hotter harmony from eight performing vocal groups. Haddie Westerfield
emceed and Ray Block's group, The Jersey Jukebox supplied the sound system.
Among the groups that gave us a harmony filled afternoon were Still Around, Re-MemberThen, The Classic Five, Echoes of Time,
The New Dimensions, The Jersey Jukebox, The Goldtones and Quiet Storm. Our congratulations to Stu and Pat Pushkin
for their hard work in keeping the Club successful over the past four years.
Stu Pushkin, Club organizer and singer with "Still Around"
Pat Pushkin welcoming everyone to the event
Singers, Warren Tesoro (LarKings and dozens of other groups)
and Joe Grimaldi (Ecstasies)
Pam Horner, Frank Cicerale (Re-MemberThen) and
Alan David Stein (WMTR's "Doo Wop Drive")
Alan David Stein (WMTR) and Jim Offner (Re-MemberThen)
A pick up group, singing
Lou Rallo, WRSU's "Big Beat Show"
John Bishop (left) leading the acappella group, Still Around.
Ray Block (center)
filled in for Stu Pushkin who was under the weather and did not sing.
The group did three strong numbers including "Chapel of Dreams" (Dubs),
"Would You Still Be Mine" (Emblems) and "If I Should Lose You" (Dreamlovers)
Re-MemberThen began their acappella set with a couple of lesser
known but still
great harmony numbers. Frank Cicerale (left) led "How Will I Remember"
(Sunsets)
and Jim Offner (center) led "Tears From My Eyes" (Net Roman). They
closed with "Lost Love" and the rhythmic "Acappella With My Friends" (Earls).
The Classic Five were an acappella group from Long Island that
we had not seen before.
They sang "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely" (Dubs) and a strong version of
"Sunday Kind Of Love" (Harptones). They closed with the standard "Glory
of Love".
The New Jersey acappella group, Echoes Of Time, was up next.
They started with "Peace Of Mind" (Spaniels) and then gave us a swinging
rendition of "Can't We Be Sweethearts" (Cleftones). The concluded their
set
with nice versions of "Lovers Island" (Blue Jays) and "The Echo" (Emotions).
The New Dimensions (formerly the Del Angels) are a female trio
that performed to tracks.
They sang sixties and seventies songs like "Chains" (Cookies), "What's Going
On"
(Marvin Gaye) and "Son Of A Preacher Man" (Dusty Springfield/Aretha Franklin).
We were especially impressed with Krystal (center) leading "At Last" (Etta
James).
The Jersey Jukebox is made up from some former members of RB
Express.
They also sang to tracks. They sang nice versions of "Sh-Boom" (Chords),
"I Only Have Eyes For You" (Flamingos), "Life Is But A Dream" (Harptones),
and "Since I Fell For You" (Lenny Welch). Ray Block engaged the audience
with a soulful rendition of "Mustang Sally". Particularly impressive was
the
group's "Take Me As I Am" (Demons/Duprees).
The Goldtones were a professionally sounding acappella group
that has been
together for ten years. They are from the Jersey Shore and Staten Island
areas.
They had an impressive set including "Vows Of Love" (Paragons), "I Laughed"
(Jesters), "Crazy For You" (Heartbeats) and "Most Of All" (Moonglows).
The final group of the afternoon was the great acappella group
from Philadelphia,
Quiet Storm. They began with "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" (Temptations)
and followed
with "Sincerely" (Moonglows) and "You're Mine" (Crickets/Vibrations).
Next, they
sang the Orioles' "It's Too Soon To Know" and dedicated it to the late Bobby
Thomas.
Smitty handled the bass-lead "The Sun" (Del Vikings) and Darrall ended the
program
with "Some Enchanted Evening," one of our favorites by the group.
Shelly Buchanski (Vito & Salutations), recently recovered from
a serious illness
and Jim Offner (Re-MemberThen). We're glad to see our friend Shelly is
doing so well.
Jim Bakay (WRDV's "Sound of the City"), Pam Horner and Darrall
Campbell (Quiet Storm)
Marian and Frank Cicerale with Nick @ Nite of the Vocal Group
Harmony Association
(VGHA) (seen here in the center).
For info about the Doo Wop Group Harmony Singers Club, contact
Stu Pushkin at
doowopstu@hotmail.com.
To see photos from the third anniversary of the Club click
Doo Wop Singers
Club 2011.
To see photos from the Club in the early days, click
Doo Wop Singers Club 2009.
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2012. All
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