Morris Museum "New Jersey Doo
Wop Groups - Part 2"
June 15, 2011, Morristown, NJ
Special Presentation for the "Jersey Rocks" Exhibit
In one of the more unique happenings in
our music’s history, our two week event at the Morris Museum combined a
major New Jersey music exhibit with a historical presentation of NJ group
harmony’s history. Attendees were able to meet and greet some of the
singers discussed in the presentations and represented in the museum
displays. As an added touch, both weeks featured impromptu demonstrations
of how vocal harmony was put together on the street corners by spontaneous
acappella singing. Any one of these elements may have been done before but
the combination will likely never happen again. Those who were present were
treated to an enjoyable and educational one-of-a-kind occurrence.
We are grateful to Morris Museum team
for giving recognition to our New Jersey Doo Wop music. Much credit should
go to Paul Ressler for championing the 1950’s group harmony section of the
Jersey Rocks program.
On June 15, attendees began filing into
the Morris Museum's "Jersey Rocks" exhibit, in the museum's Main Hall, at 5
PM.
Audience filing in to Morris Museum
Entering the exhibit room, attendees stopped at the Classic
Urban Harmony table where Pam Horner greeted everyone and made sure those
who had missed Part 1 received a copy of our printed souvenir program,
listing more than 200 New Jersey 1950's style R&B, doo wop and acappella
groups. We also displayed photos of fifty New Jersey doo wop groups.
At the next table, Norman Donegan of the Ad Libs and Jeff Chambers of the
acappella group Mixed Company were busy autographing photos and CD's of
their groups.
Souvenir program of New Jersey
Doo Wop Groups
People arriving between 5 and 6 PM strolled
around the "Jersey Rocks" exhibit, looking at memorabilia displays of groups
like the Avons, Coleman Brothers, Duprees, Shirelles, Hi-Fives, Royal Teens,
Frankie Valle & the Romans and many more.
There were plenty of singers present, happy
to greet people and talk about New Jersey group harmony. Doo Wop
singers present included Norman Donegan (Creators & Ad Libs), Jeff Chambers
(Patty & Street-Tones & Mixed Company), Tom Austin (Royal Teens), Johnnie
Barlow (Shades of Brown, Ad Libs & Sheps), Glenny T (Fourteen Karat Soul),
Ron Taylor (Del Larks), Ronnie Stewart (Shades
Of Brown & Ad Libs), Frank Cicerale & Andy Martin (Re-MemberThen), Pete
Sherwood (Memories of You), Jim Bakay (the Copians) and Paul Payton
(Fabulous Dudes).
Radio personalities present in the audience
included Lou Rallo (WRSU-FM), Alan David Stein (WMTR-AM and WCTC-AM) and Jim
Bakay (WRDV-FM).
The Meet & Greet Hour
Meet & Greet with Singers (Left to right)
Paul Payton (Fabulous Dudes), Jeff Chambers (Mixed Company),
Bob Lane, Norman Donegan (Ad Libs)
Charlie Horner, Jeff Chambers (Mixed
Company), Norman Donegan (Ad Libs)
Jeff Chambers (Mixed Company), Pam Horner,
Norman Donegan (Ad Libs)
Frank Cicerale (Re-MemberThen) & Norman
Donegan (Ad Libs)
Norman Donegan autographed Ad Libs photos.
Marion & Frank Cicerale, Angelo Pompeo,
Norman Donegan, Jeff Chambers
Angelo Pompeo wearing his Fortune record
label cap & Norman Donegan (Ad Libs)
Paul Payton (Fabulous Dudes) & Alan David
Stein of WMTR-AM's "Doo Wop Drive"
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Gary "Fuzzy Robertiello, WRSU-FM's Lou
Rallo ("Big Beat Show"), Alan David Stein (WMTR)
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Frank Cicerale (Re-MemberThen), Paul
Ressler, Pam & Charlie
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Radio personalities, Lou Rallo (WRSU) and
Alan David Stein (WMTR)
Paul Payton & Tom Austin (Royal Teens)
Tom Austin autographed photos of the Royal
Teens
WMTR-AM's Alan David Stein & Charlie Horner
Bob Markman, Alan David Stein, Charlie
Horner
Johnnie Barlow (Shades of Brown, Ad Libs &
Sheps) & Jeff Chandler (Mixed Company)
Charlie, with Ronald Stewart & Johnnie
Barlow of Shades of Brown
Glenny T of Fourteen Karat Soul
Charlie & Glenny T of Fourteen Karat Soul
Demonstration of Street Corner
Harmony
We had originally scheduled an acappella
group to demonstrate street corner harmony to the audience but a last minute
illness cancelled their appearance. Fortunately five singers in
attendance volunteered to put together an acappella group, on the spot, much
like what occurred on the street corners tens of thousands of times during
the 1950's and early 1960's. As the goal of the "Jersey Rocks" was to
explain how Rock & Roll developed in New Jersey, this was as authentic of a
demonstration as you'll find. Frank Cicerale and Andy Martin of the
acappella group, "Re-MemberThen", got together with Pete Sherwood of the
acappella group, "Memories Of You," Jim Bakay of the acappella group, "The
Copians" and group harmony connoisseur Angelo Pompeo and worked out some doo
wop harmony outside in the hallway. This combination of voices had
never sung together before that night. After running through a couple
songs, the newly formed quintet returned to the exhibit area and gave an
illustration of how five voices can be assembled in an impromptu singing
session. Charlie quickly dubbed the group, "The Morris-Tones".
Frank Cicerale, Andy Martin, Jim Bakay,
Pete Sherwood harmonizing in the hallway to "Gloria". Angelo Pompeo
would soon join in.
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Pete Sherwood, Angelo Pompeo, Andy Martin,
Frank Cicerale, Jim Bakay
demonstrate how doo wop harmony can come together spontaneously.
The "Morris-Tones"
The short career of the Morris-Tones!
Left to right:
Pete Sherwood (of Memories of You), Angelo Pompeo,
Andy Martin (of Re-MemberThen), Jim Bakay (of the Copians),
Frank Cicerale (of Re-MemberThen)
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Frank Cicerale (front) leading the
Morris-Tones
Impromptu doo wop harmony by the
Morris-Tones
The Morris-Tones singing "My Juanita"
(YouTube video courtesy of Gary "Fuzzy"Robertiello)
The Morris-Tones singing "Remember Then"
(YouTube video courtesy of Gary "Fuzzy"Robertiello)
Charlie, Jim Bakay and Paul Ressler.
Paul giving details of the "Jersey Rocks"
acappella concerts coming July 15 and 29.
Charlie, Jim Bakay and Paul Ressler
The Classic Urban Harmony
Presentation
Doo Wop Groups of New Jersey - Part 2
Charlie and Pam Horner's presentation, "Doo
Wop Groups of New Jersey - Part 2" covered the musical careers of the
Rivals, Shirelles, Creators, Ad Libs, Avons, Monotones, Fiestas, Hi-Fives,
Royal Teens and many more. The second in the two part series concluded
with the stories of the NJ acappella groups Fourteen Karat Soul, the Shades
of Soul and Mixed Company.
Charlie giving the "New Jersey Doo Wop
Groups Part 2" presentation.
Playing the Shirelles Coco Cola commercial!
Classic Urban Harmony presentation.
Charlie talking about the origins of the Fiestas' "So Fine".
Classic Urban Harmony presentation.
Charlie discussing the Creators and Ad Libs.
Introducing Norman Donegan, original member
of the Ad Libs.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Introducing later Ad Libs members, Ronnie
Stewart and Johnnie Barlow.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Classic Urban Harmony presentation.
Charlie talking about how the Royal Teens'
"Short Shorts" went from the Power label to ABC-Paramount.
Introducing Royal Teens' cofounder, Tom
Austin
Royal Teens' Tom Austin
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
After covering the career of the East
Orange acappella group, Fourteen Karat Soul,
Charlie introduces the group's founding member, Glenny T.
(Courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Following a discussion of the 1980's
Morristown, NJ, acappella group, Shades of Brown,
Charlie introduces group member Johnny Barlow. Johnnie now sings with
the Sheps who
will perform on the July 15 "Jersey Rocks" acappella concert.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Introducing the Shades of Brown's original
lead singer,
Ronnie Stewart (left) and bass, Johnnie Barlow.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Introducing Jeff Chambers of the 1980's NJ
acappella groups,
Patty & the Street-Tones and Mixed Company
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Just some of the many celebrities at the
"NJ Doo Wop Groups - Part 2" presentation.
(Left to right) Norman Donegan (Creators & Ad Libs), Jeff Chambers (Patty &
Street-Tones &
Mixed Company), Tom Austin (Royal Teens), Johnnie Barlow (Shades of Brown, Ad Libs & Sheps),
Glenny T (Fourteen Karat Soul), Paul Ressler, Ron Taylor (Del Larks), Ronnie
Stewart (Shades
Of Brown & Ad Libs), Pam Horner, Charlie Horner
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
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