Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Maestro-Harmony-doo-wop

Full Text:

Fundraiser Will Benefit High School Sports Programs-

Maestro & Brooklyn Bridge Will Raise The Roof At NHS

(with cut & dropquote)

BY SHANNON HICKS

Two musical groups who will be performing in Newtown next month will, for one

night, remind us of a bygone era, when Boomers were still babies and sweet 16

birthday parties were celebrated in song.

On Sunday, February 8, the auditorium at Newtown High School will reverberate

with the sounds of the later '50s and early '60s. A concert by Johnny Maestro

and The Brooklyn Bridge, with an opening performance by Harmony Street, will

raise money for the Newtown High School Blue & Gold Booster Club. The club is

a financial sponsor for all sports activities at the school.

Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance, or $25 at the door. To buy tickets

before the concert, ticket outlets have been set up in Newtown at Drug Center

Pharmacy, Dunkin' Donuts, Dr Gellert's office and Newtown General Store.

Tickets are also being sold at all NHS home basketball games.

(For tickets or additional information, call John Pantan, 426-3054. )

The Booster Club, founded in 1991, is a group of parents, faculty members,

friends and business leaders in and around Newtown that raises funds to help

support boys' and girls' athletic programs at the high school. The club tries

to step in when the Board of Education's budget cannot be stretched far

enough.

Each year, the club provides funding for all varsity and junior varsity

letters, awards and certificates for all sports, including cheerleading. The

group pays half of the salary of the school's trainer, who is available for

all athletic programs. It also provides 100 percent of the funding to maintain

and update the Wall of Fame banners, which recognize team and individual

Conference and All State athletes annually.

To date, the club has funded projects that have provided two new scoreboards

at the school; two portable bleachers; pitching machines and cages for the

baseball and softball teams (separate equipment for each team); two ice

machines for the locker room area; new lighting for the school's gymnasium; a

lap clock for the boys' and girls' swim teams; and lighting for Bruce Jenner

Stadium. Blue & Gold has also provided funding for the girls' soccer Spring

Jamboree.

A Musical History Tour

Johnny Maestro began his career singing with a group called The Crests, out of

Manhattan, in the late '50s.

The band's first records - including the songs "My Juanita" and "Sweetest One"

- generated regional response, but it would be through the breakthrough

success of "Sixteen Candles" the group would gain national attention.

Subsequent hits included "Trouble in Paradise," "Step By Step," "The Angels

Listened In" and "Six Nights A Week."

The group disbanded in 1962, but not before the public became aware of the

voice that was leading the group: one Johnny Maestro. Maestro continued in the

music business, working next with The Del-Satins, another New York City group.

While The Del-Satins had some amount of success with its own recordings, one

of the group's largest claims to fame was the fact it provided backing vocals

for all of the solo recordings by the singer Dion.

While working New York's club scene, Johnny and The Del-Satins met a

seven-piece band called Rhythm Method. The groups were so impressed with each

other, a collaboration took place and The Brooklyn Bridge was created. Members

at this point included Fred Ferrara, Les Cauchi, and Jim Rosica.

Members today include Louis Agiesta, drummer, who joined immediately after

traveling with the touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar ; Martin D'Amico,

who joined as keyboard player and eventually added trumpet and vocals to his

contributions; former RCA recording artist Ed Lisciandro, a guitarist and

vocalist, and an ex-member of New York Central; and guitarist Jim Sarle who,

ironically, was once a student of original member Jim Rosica.

For three more decades, Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge has continued,

updating its sound and blending swing, blues and country with traditional rock

'n' roll. Through new recordings and a stage show that is one of the most

perpetually popular on the East Coast, The Brooklyn Bridge takes its audience

on a tour of musical history.

Doo-Wop Revival

Mike Miller, the founder of Harmony Street, believes Baby Boomers "really need

to hear their music, and there aren't too many places to hear the real

harmonies." So seven years ago, Mr Miller founded Harmony Street, a five-voice

vocal doo-wop group that caters to those who love to relive the music of the

Fifties. Today the group is considered by many to be one of New England's

premier doo-wop vocal groups.

The group has been building a strong following in recent years, with shows

around the area attracting huge crowds. Harmony Street performs the music of

legendary doo-wop acts like The Platters and The Drifters, but with two things

that set the group apart from traditional acts.

First, there are three women in the group; doo-wop groups historically feature

only one female singer. The ladies of Harmony Street - Dee Heavrin, Robin

Miller and Ellen Pacelli - were once known as Class, a trio that performed

music of the 1950s and '60s, but not necessarily doo-wop. When the trio

answered an ad placed by Mr Miller seven years ago for vocalists, the women

learned the intricacies of doo-wop, and the mixture has worked from the go.

In addition to Mr Miller, the group's other male vocalist is Scott Poarch, a

Newtown resident.

The group's second variation is that the singers perform with one

instrumentalist. Keyboard player Larry "Cozy" Colby steps in where most

doo-woppers perform with a full band. In Harmony Street's case, Mr Colby

programs his synthesizer with the songs the group performs. Then during live

shows, he plays live with the prerecorded sounds.

Even with its modifications, Harmony Street has found the perfect balance.