What a fabulous night of harmony at Roxy & Dukes in Dunellen, NJ, April 3, 2016. We again had two great acappella groups, the Larkings and Re-MemberThen.
The Larkings were up first, starting off with Gil Torres leading the group on the Moonglows’ “Over And Over Again” and “Most Of All”. The Larkings actually began in the early 1960’s but are best known to us when they came back together again at UGHA in the early 1980’s. They excel in songs by the classic groups like the Moonglows and Nutmegs. Speaking of Nutmegs songs, the Larkings treated us to “Story Untold” and “Make Me Lose My Mind”. In all, the Larkings gave us twelve outstanding songs including “Island Of Love,” “So In Love,” “Six Nights A Week,” “More More More,” “Desirie,” Don’t Say Goodnight,” and “Why Do You Have To Go”. Warren Tesoro’s soaring falsetto on the Turban’s “Congratulation” was a show stopper. Our sincere thanks to Gil Torres, Cal Ng, Tino Alvarez, Warren Tesoro and Les Levine for a great performance.
After a short break, our friends Re-MemberThen took the stage. Following the Larkings is never easy but Re-MemberThen was certainly up to the task. Frank Cicerale led the group in serenading WMTR Radio personality, Alan David Stein, with his on air jingle and then had the audience clapping along with the Larry Chance song “Acappella With My Friends”. Just five weeks earlier, Re-MemberThen had thrilled the Monmouth University audience at our Doo Wop Explosion by backing the famous Earls’ lead on an all acappella set. At Roxy & Dukes, the group also rendered excellent versions of Earls tunes, “Life Is But A Dream” and “Never”. But Re-MemberThen is equally skilled at singing ballads, giving us fine versions of “Two Kinds Of People,” “That’s My Desire,” You Are,” “Please Stay” and “Diamonds And Pearls”. Mike Del Franco led a great rendition of the Teenchords’ “Please tell The Angels”. Marty Geliebter led on the Del Larks’ “I Never Will Forget” which they sent out to original Del Lark, Ron Taylor, who was in the audience. Re-MemberThen closed with two powerful and emotional songs, “I Believe” and “My Mother’s Eyes”. Great job, Frank Cicerale, Bill Butkowski, Sal Contrino, Marty Geliebter and Mike Del Franco!
In the audience, besides Alan David Stein, were WRDV’s Jim Bakay and arranger/bandleader extraordinaire, Hal Keshner. Hope you enjoy the photos. Click on any photo to enlarge it and then click the left or right arrows to see others [Scroll down to watch videos of the event.]
