On Sunday evening January 14, 2018, we will be honoring Philadelphia doo wop legend, Frank Lafaro, for 55 years of recorded vocal harmony. Frank has been writing and singing doo wop songs all of his life, but 2018 marks the 55th anniversary of the formation of Frankie & the Fashions, his first group to make recordings. Frankie & the Fashions sang locally before going into the studio to record “Funny Girl” early in 1964. The record remained unreleased until 1992 when Frank put it out as a 45 on the 49th Street label. As detailed in the lyrics of Frankie & the Fashions’ song, “Lost Masters,” Frank Lafaro was inspired to dig out the old acetate and release it, by Charlie Horner’s radio program. Charlie had a segment on his program that featured old “lost masters” that were finally coming to light. Charlie played “Funny Girl” on his radio show and Frank and Charlie have been friends ever since.
For 55 years, Frank Lafaro has been one of the cornerstones of doo wop music in Philadelphia, singing with Frankie & the Fashions, Billy & the Essentials, the Balladeers, JT’s Emeralds, and many other groups. He now sings lead with both Frankie & the Fashions and Reunion. Both groups will be singing “all acappella” at Roxy & Dukes, 745 Bound Brook Road, Dunellen, NJ, on Sunday evening, January 14, 2018 as we celebrate Frank’s long career as a singer and songwriter. Doors open at 7 PM, show at 8. Admission will be $20 at the door, but please email us at [email protected] for reservations as we expect a full house.
Those attending this event will be treated to two great acappella groups; Reunion and Frankie & the Fashions. In celebration, the first 50 paying attendees/couples will receive a FREE copy of Frankie & the Fashions “Trilogy” CD on the Sweet Beat label, issued in Barcelona, Spain in 2002. The CD’s were graciously donated for this occasion by Juan Ibanez Mateos of Sweet Beat Records.
This will be Reunion’s first all acappella performance since returning to the spotlight a few months ago. Reunion had long been one of New Jersey’s finest acappella groups but stopped singing after the untimely death of their lead, Sharkey. Now they are back and sounding great with Frank Lafaro on lead. Watch the promo video below.