Morris Museum Acappella & Doo Wop Concert # 1
Morristown, NJ, July 15, 2011
Scroll down to see videos!
What an incredible night it was at the Morris Museum’s stately Bickford
Theatre on the evening of July 15, 2011. We were telling people all along
not to miss this concert and those who attended found out why. Four
outstanding acappella groups combined to give us a night of sheer delight.
This concert had been in the works for several months. Paul Ressler, was
the architect, producer, MC and chief champion of the concert. It was but
one of several events surrounding the Morris Museum’s “Jersey Rocks”
exhibit, a celebration of New Jersey’s contributions to Rock & Roll. This
was the first of two Museum acappella concerts, the second took place on
July 29.
We've added
some videos to this review, thanks to Marian Cicerale. Scroll down to
see them. All videos were posted after first receiving permission from
the individual groups.
Many concert goers arrived early to first tour the Jersey Rocks exhibit.
When we entered, the theatre was already buzzing with excitement. We had a
few minutes to visit backstage and ran into many of our singer friends.
Charlie presenting Glenny
T with a 1979
Fourteen Karat Soul flyer,
designed by KJ O'Doherty
1979 Flyer
(from the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Nicky Addeo & Pam
Ecstasies' Joe Grimaldi &
14 Karat Soul's Glenny T
Pam, Glenny T, Frank &
Marian Cicerale
Fourteen Karat Soul
Left to right: Calvin Nadir Powell, Glenny T, BDavid, Anthony Holding, Mark
Beckett
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Group harmony aficionados
Tom Rowell, Pam Horner and KJ O'Doherty
Sheps' Johnnie Barlow,
(MC) Paul Ressler, Tommie Shider and Charlie Coleman
14 Karat Soul's Glenny T
and Vibranaires' Bobby Thomas
The Copians: Bill
Keith, John Paloney, Jim Bakay, Rich Giresi, Paul Maxwell
Fourteen Karat Soul
(Photo courtesy of Marain Cicerale)
We took our seats just as Paul Ressler welcomed everyone to the theatre.
Paul dedicated the concert to two people who meant so much to his life but
whom are now only with us in spirit; Four Fellows’ lead singer Jim McGowan
and Paul’s late son.
Concert producer and MC,
Paul Ressler
Opening were the newly formed Copians acappella group. In keeping with the
New Jersey theme, group organizer Jim Bakay announced that four of the
Copians live in New Jersey and that he did so until his recent move to
Philadelphia. Though the Copians have only been singing together for a
short time, all of the members have long singing careers with other groups.
Jim Bakay and Rich Giresi formerly sang with the group, Street Corner Five.
Bill Keith sang with the Blendtones (“Lights Please”), A Moment’s Pleasure
and numerous other groups. John Paloney began his singing career with the
Intentions (“Summertime Angel”) but has also sung with the Ecstasies,
Balladeers and more recently with Junior & the Four Seniors. Paul Maxwell
has a strong background in Gospel harmony.
The Copians opened the evening’s entertainment with Rich leading the Dubs’
standard, “Is There a Love For Me”. Some of the Copians’ highlights
included Jim Bakay’s falsetto lead of the Ebonaires’ “Love Call”; Bill Keith
leading the Revels’ “Talking to My Heart,” and Rich Giresi’s two collectors’
tunes “Please Say You’ll Be Mine” (Sunbeams) and “Missing You” (Starlites).
Jim Bakay introduced the Sunbeams record by telling the audience how Charlie
Horner's radio program got him back into the music many years ago. He
recalled how Charlie played the Sunbeams record and said it was the king of
record that makes you beat your head against the wall.
Opening a concert of this quality is never easy but the Copians were more
than up to the task and very entertaining. Great job, guys!
The Copians
The Copians
Copians' Rich Giresi
belting out "Missing You"
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Copians' co-founder
"Night Train" Jim Bakay did a great falsetto lead on "Love Call".
Jim also does a fine Saturday morning radio show on WRDV-FM.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Bill Keith singing
"Talking To My Heart" (Revels), a song he led with
Jim Bakay at our anniversary, in a forerunner of the Copians group.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
The Copians
The Copians
Copians singing "Please
say You'll Be Mine," a rare collectors side
originally recorded by the Sunbeams on the Acme label.
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
Jim Bakay leading the
Copians with "Love Call"
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
Next up was the New Jersey based quintet, the Sheps. The fine acappella
group, who took their name from the late Heartbeats’ lead James Sheppard,
has been thrilling audiences in this area for twenty years. They are able
to perform either 1950’s doo wop standards or obscure collectors’ tunes with
equal ease. Their superb harmony has led the Sheps, at various times, to be
picked to back up the leads of the Spaniels, Moonglows, El Dorados, Charms,
Prisonaires and many many more. Richie Camacho lead the group on several
songs including “It’s All In The Game”. Charlie Coleman surprised the
audience with the obscure 1952 song “My Love Is Gone,” originally recorded
by Joe Van Loan with Chris Powell’s Blue Flames. Johnny Barlow led a
magnificent version of “I Only Have Eyes For You”. Another highlight was
Tommy Lockhart’s lead of “There In The Night,” a version that rivaled the
original by the El Dorados. It was great seeing Tommy Shider back with the
group after a short absence due to an illness. Though Tommy did not sing
lead, the rest of the group stepped up their performance and it was
magnificent.
Richie Camacho (left)
leading the Sheps
The Sheps
The Sheps
Sheps' Tommie Shider
(left) and Charlie Coleman
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Sheps' Tommy Lockhart
leading "There In The Night"
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Richie leading the Sheps
The Sheps singing "There
In The Night," originally done by the El Dorados
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
The Sheps singing "My
Love Is Gone"
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
Paul Ressler introduced the Vibranaires’ lead, Bobby Thomas, who will be
performing on the next Morris Museum concert on July 29. He then invited
the attendees to take a short intermission and another chance to visit the
Jersey Rocks Exhibit.
Paul Ressler &
Vibranaires' Bobby Thomas
Paul Ressler, Bobby
Thomas. Museum's Eric Hafen in background.
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
In 1975, a teenager from East Orange, NJ, named Glenny T put together a
group that would soon become one of the most respected young vocal groups in
the world. Many of us first saw Fourteen Karat Soul in 1979 at a Ronnie I’s
United in Group Harmony Association show. From there they began recording,
appeared in two off-Broadway shows, sang on national TV on Saturday Night
Live, backed Brian Seltzer on the Stray Cats’ “I Won’t Stand In Your Way,”
and toured Europe with Whitney Houston. The Village Voice called them “the
finest teenage singing group in America”. In the mid-1980’s they started
touring Japan where they became huge stars. Although they haven’t sung in
many years, Paul Ressler recently encouraged Glenny T to put 14 Karat Soul
back together, specifically for this concert.
Fourteen Karat Soul gave the performance of a lifetime! Even those of us
who were very familiar with Fourteen Karat Soul, were unprepared for what we
were about to see and hear. The high energy group used finger snapping,
hand clapping and even acrobatics all while singing superb harmony. The
group began with Genny T leading “Take Me Back Baby” (Four Fellows) followed
by "It's Alright" (Impressions) and “Wonderful World” (Sam Cooke). Just
when 14 K Soul had the audience at a fevered pitch, they slowed the pace
with the Harptones’ “That’s The Way It Goes”. Although 14 K Soul sometimes
sings songs that originated with other groups, their arrangements are so
unique that they ought to be given co-writer credits! Nowhere is this more
evident than with the groups’ rendition of “Jump Children,” a song that we
associate with the Flamingoes. 14 Karat Soul took command of the song using
an energetic arrangement and heart-stopping choreography. It's been
awhile since we've seen an acappella singer jump over a microphone stand let
alone leap over the back of another singer. They received a standing
ovation from the crowd. From the back of the room, someone shouted, “We
love you!” Not allowed off the stage without an encore, 14 Karat Soul sang
a song they performed on Saturday Night Live, “That’s My Baby”. Fourteen
Karat Soul combines perfect harmony, choreography and excitement. This is
the type group we want to see again and again. Welcome back Fourteen Karat
Soul!
Fourteen Karat Soul
Fourteen Karat Soul
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Fourteen Karat Soul
Fourteen Karat Soul's BDavid leaps over another
singer.
(Photo courtesy of Janet Markman)
Fourteen Karat Soul
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
Fourteen Karat Soul
Fourteen Karat Soul
Fourteen Karat Soul singing "Jump Children"
A MUST WATCH VIDEO!
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
Fourteen Karat Soul singing "Take Me Back Baby"
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
Fourteen Karat Soul singing "That's The Way It Goes"
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
(Video posted with prior permission of the group)
Fourteen Karat Soul
After an unbelievable show to this point, we still had a New Jersey legend
to go. His name is Nicky Addeo. Nicky Addeo was born in Newark but raised
in Asbury Park. His lead voice has been a huge part of the Asbury Park
music scene for many years. He has sung with the Darchaes, the Uniques, the
Plazas, Barbaroso & the Historians and now the Nite Owls as well as solo.
Nicky along with Bobby Thomas and several other R&B singers laid the
groundwork for later Asbury Park singers like Bruce Springsteen and
Southside Johnny.
Nicky had a new group of Nite Owls for this performance, a group that
included our friends BJ Jones (bass) and Warren Tesoro (first tenor) along
with Bobby "Blue" Castellano (baritone) and Elliott Banks (second tenor).
Nicky sang most of the leads, occasionally sharing leads with Warren and
BJ. The highlights of the performance were some of the songs we’ve come to
associate with Nicky Addeo’s soaring operatic tenor voice; “Blue Star” (Blue
Notes), “Gloria” and of course, “My Hero”. It was wonderful to hear Nicky’s
distinctive voice again, especially with the talented group he had backing
him.
Nicky Addeo & Nite Owls, (Left to right):
BJ Jones, Warren Tesoro. Elliott Banks, Bobby "Blue" Castellano, Nicky Addeo
Nicky Addeo (left) & the Nite Owls
Nicky Addeo
Nicky Addeo & the Nite Owls
For a finale, Nicky Addeo called all the performers back on stage to sing
“In The Still Of The Night”. Paul Ressler joined in and even sang lead.
After the show, the audience didn't want to leave and hung around the front
of the stage until the theatre staff started blinking the lights.
The Finale
The Finale
Paul Ressler leading the finale with "In The Still of the
Night"
(Photo courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
The Finale
(Photo courtesy of Marain Cicerale)
Part of the grand final. Paul Ressler leading all the
singers with
"In The Still Of The Night"
(Video courtesy of Marian Cicerale)
This was an exciting night for lovers of vocal group harmony and may not be
duplicated again. For a review and photos (and soon videos of Morris Museum Acappella
& Doo Wop Concert Part 2 with Bobby Thomas & the Vibranaires, Quiet Storm,
the Del Larks and
Joe Zisa & Friends’ Jersey Tribute click
Morris Museum
Concert Two.
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2011. All
Rights Reserved.
