![[New!]](images/smallnew.gif)
6th Annual Philly Doo Wop Festival
Philadelphia, PA, September 17, 2011
By Pamela Horner
(Our thanks
to Matty G and John Bishop for use of some of their photos.
Where not stated, all other photos are from the Classic Urban harmony
Archives.)
Each year Charlie and I look forward to the annual Philadelphia Doo Wop
Festival at Penn’s Landing which benefits the Philadelphia Veterans’
Multi-Service & Educational Center. The large outdoor festival is produced
annually by Bill Diamond and his staff. This year the weather was
threatening but the many fans that turned out not deterred by the dark
clouds. As it was, rain was not a factor and everyone seemed to enjoy
themselves.
Pam & Charlie
arriving early at Penn's Landing along the Delaware River
(Photo courtesy of John Bishop)
The crowd and the excitement started building.
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Almost show time
Pam & Charlie brought portable chairs and set up in front of
the stage
(Photo courtesy of John Bishop)
Festival producer, Bill Diamond & Pam Horner
The crowd contained numerous doo wop, R&B and Gospel singers
and radio personalities, past and present.
Beverly and Jimmy "Cannonball" Parsons greet Robert Hoffman
who traveled from Germany to attend the event.
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Local singing stars, Frank Lafaro and Smitty (from Quiet
Storm) getting ready to perform
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Radio personalities Jimmy "Cannonball" Parsons and Jimmy
DePre
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Neighbor's Complaint's L.A. Moore & Charlie Horner
Shelly Buchansky (of Vito & Salutations, 5 Discs, Silk City)
and Pam Horner
Matty G & Jack Strong (formerly of the Contenders, now with
One More Time)
,%20John%20Bishop.JPG)
Shelly Buchansky (Vito & Salutations) with Tony Gutierrez and
John Bishop
(both of the acappella group, Still Around)
After the
posting of the colors and the Star Spangled Banner, Frank Lafaro sang
the quintessential song “Philadelphia" which he wrote and recorded.
Frank Lafaro
Frank Lafaro
The Men Of Jubilee, a Gospel group who were all veterans, sang next. It
was noted that they’d won the National Veterans Association Award. Their
harmony was impeccable and they spoke about the close relationship between
doo wop and Gospel. Men of Jubilee sang several soulful numbers
including "People get Ready," "Jesus Met The Woman At The Well," and "I'm
Grateful".
Men of Jubilee
Men of Jubilee
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Men of Jubilee
DJ Steve Kurtz introduced the first doo wop group, our
friends Re-MemberThen. They are a new acappella group who displayed
tight harmony. Re-MemberThen opened with "Tonight Could Be The Night," ending with a crowd
pleasing “You Are” in honor of the Cadillacs’ lead, Earl Carroll.
Re-Member Then, (left to right): Randy Croce, Marty
Geliebeter,
Frank Cicerale, Marty Rosen, Jim Offner
Sunshine Croce, Marian Cicerale and Helene Geliebeter cheering
on their
husbands, all members of the acappella group, Re-MemberThen
Re-MemberThen
Re-MemberThen
Re-MemberThen's Frank Cicerale and Jim Offner
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Re-MemberThen
Frank Cicerale and Frank Lafaro
Frank Cicerale, Frank Lafaro and Still Around's John Bishop
Frank Lafaro, Marty Rosen, Frank Cicerale, Marian Cicerale,
Pam Horner, John Bishop
Charlie Horner, Frank Cicerale, Frank Lafaro, John Bishop
After a
short dance party with DJ’s King Arthur and Steve Kurtz, another group of
our friends took the stage. The Vic Donna Group harmonized to
many of the songs from Vic’s long singing career, including acappella
versions of the recordings he made with the Parakeets, "Teenage Rose" and
"Love Was A Stranger To Me". All together the Vic Donna Group sang
nine fabulous vocal harmony songs, including some of our favorites, "Great
Big Night For Love" and "Hurt".
Pam Horner and Vic Donna Group's bass singer, George Marchese
WRSU's "Big Beat Show" host Lou Rallo with Dom D'Elia of the
Vic Donna Group
The Vic Donna Group waiting to perform
The Vic Donna Group, (Left to right): Vic Donna, Dom D'Elia,
George Marchese, Danny Pesci and John Mirabile
Charlie & Pam with the Vic Donna Group
Vic Donna Group, Re-MemberThen and Shelly Buchansky
The Vic Donna Group
The Vic Donna Group
Vic Donna
Shelly Buchansky greets WRSU's Lou Rallo and WMTR's Alan
David Stein
Neighbor’s Complaint, a Philly doo wop group active
for more than thirty years, sang next. They are comprised of three Navy
vets, led by the dynamic lead of Bob "Big Murph" Murphy.
Rounding out the group are L. A. Moore and Kenny Latrell. Neighbor's
Complaint was in fine form, singing a number of Little Anthony & the
Imperials' songs like "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop," ""On The Outside Looking
In," and "Tears On My Pillow" (Murph and Little Anthony have similar
voices). The also performed "True Love (Drifters)," "I Don't Want To
Cry (Chuck Jackson) and several other tune. We especially loved their
version of the Flamingos’ “I Was Such A Fool”.
Neighbor's Complaint
Neighbor's Complaint
Neighbor's Complaint lead, Bob Murphy
Neighbor's Complaint on stage
Neighbor's Complaint: Ken Latrell, Bob Murphy & L. A.
Moore
Neighbor's Complaint with Charlie & Pam
Charlie helped the group early in their career and is an honorary
non-singing member of Neighbor's Complaint
Neighbor's Complaint with Golden Voice Harry Schmitt,
a former member of the group. Harry's current group Cornerstone
has performed at all six Philly Doo Wop Festivals.
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Riding up
on a bicycle was Jerry Blavat, “The Geater With The Heater,” a
Philadelphia legend. The Geater stopped by the stage long enough to make a
donation before making his way to a booth to autograph copies of his new
autobiography, “You Only Rock Once”.
Festival producer, Bill Diamond, on stage explaining how
donations at the
Festival benefit
the
Philadelphia Veterans’ Multi-Service & Educational Center.
Philly radio, TV and music industry legend, Jerry Blavat
The Geater making a donation
Jerry Blavat & Charlie Horner
The Geater, Pam & Charlie
Gold Radio's George Frunzi, Jerry Blavat & Charlie Horner
George Frunzi's Echoes of the Past article on the Geater
is quoted in Jerry's autobiography, "You Only Rock Once"
Jerry Blavat & Sirius XM Radio's Cool Bobby B
Jerry Blavat & Matty G
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
King Arthur, Bill Diamond, Janet (Queen) Alvarez
Angelo & Delores Pompeo, Pam Horner
Vic Donna & Angelo Pompeo
Cornerstone's Harry Schmitt & Matty G
Crowd enjoying the Festival
DJ's Janet Alvarez, King Arthur & Steve Kurtz
WMTR's Alan David Stein on stage
A number of local singers combined to
lead the audience in an emotional “This Land Is Your Land”. There was a
moment of silence for members of the Philly doo wop community who passed
away during the past year.
DJ Jimmy Parsons, “The Cannonball,” introduced
the very popular acappella group, Quiet Storm. They began their
set with the rhythmic “Don’t Leave Me Baby”. Quiet Storm had the crowd
in the palm of their hands as they entertained for twenty-five minutes with
songs like "You're Mine" (Crickets), "Love, I'm So Glad I Found You"
(Spinners), "Your Promise To Be Mine" (Drifters) and "Can I" (Manhattans).
Quiet Storm
waiting to perform
Jimmy Cannonball Parsons introducing Quiet Storm
Quiet Storm
Quiet Storm
Eddie Natale (One of the hosts of the South Philly String
Band Club),
Jack Strong and Matty G
Crowd at Penn's Landing. Sailing ship in background.
Pam Horner & Cool Bobby B
Popular
vocal group, 45 RPM, has been on the Philly music scene for several
years and they performed for thirty minutes. Their repertoire included
“Have You Heard,” “Sh-Boom” and other crowd favorites.
45 RPM
45 RPM on stage
Sammy Strain (of the Chips, Fantastics, Little Anthony's
Imperials & O'Jays),
Andre Verdin (of the Gospel Nobleaires), Charlie & Pam Horner
The Copians' Rich Giresi and Pam Horner
Returning to the
Festival once again, Cornerstone, lead by Golden Voice Harry,
sang a mixture of doo wop and soul music standards. As usual, Harry’s
strong voice was complimented by fine background vocal harmony.
Performing with a band, Cornerstone gave us outstanding renditions of "The
Way You Look Tonight" (Jaguars), "When I Woke Up This Morning" (Bopchords),
"Gonna Take A Miracle" (Royalettes) and more.
Cornerstone
waiting to perform
Cornerstone
Cornerstone
Cornerstone's Golden Voice Harry
Charlie & Neighbor's Complaint's Big Murph
(Courtesy of Matty G)
Big Murph wearing the Neighbor's Complaint jacket
Strolling acappella group, Still Around, harmonizing
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
There were plenty of singers in the audience.
Here members of the Emeralds gather by the stage.
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Refreshment stand at the Festival
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
John Wisdo, three members of the Majors ("Wonderful Dream")
including original member Ronnie Gathers (third from right),
Pam & Charlie Horner
Steve Kurtz, the Majors, Sammy Strain, Tom Hight, John Wisdo
Tom Hight, the Majors, Steve Kurtz, Frank Chille, Sammy Strain
Pam & Charlie Horner
The Majors, John Wisdo, Steve Kurtz, Frank Chille, Donna
Whitworth
Sammy Strain, Pam & Charlie Horner
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
Pam with former Destinations' Al Muyzchka and Ray Murphy
Charlie & Pam swing dancing
(Photo courtesy of John Bishop)
Members of the audience line dancing by the stage
The
headliners of the show were Herb Cox and the Cleftones. The
Cleftones have been singing doo wop for the past 56 years. Their songbook
paid tribute to artists that they’d worked with, along with their own hits
like “Heart And Soul,” “You Baby You,” and “Little Girl Of Mine” and "Can't
We Be Sweethearts".
Cleftones' Herb Cox arrives and is greeted by the Geater
The Cleftones
The Cleftones
The Cleftones
The Cleftones' Herb Cox
(Photo courtesy of Matty G)
It was
nice too see so many old friends and make some new ones. Doo Wop is
definitely still alive in Philadelphia.
We've also
posting photos of the After Party at the South Philly String Band Club.
To see those photos click
After Party at South Philly String Band Club.
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2011. All
Rights Reserved.
