Doo Wop
The Fascinators came together as did many others by singing on street corners in New York City (for them, that was Brooklyn). Group members were Tony Passalacqua, Angelo LaGrecca, Nick Trivatto, Ed Wheeler, and George Cernacek. In the late 1950s, Capitol Records was a label that, with a few exceptions, was not releasing much doo wop or rock and roll. (Among the exceptions were Gene Vincent and The Five Keys.) However, the manager for The Fascinators had some connections there — and the group was doing well locally. Capitol particularly wanted Passalacqua, but it was all of them or nothing. The group came out with “Chapel Bells” and “Who Do You Think You Are.” Those are fine doo wop recordings, but they did not sell that well nationally, although they were popular locally. Promotion issues, perhaps. It’s hard to tell; it’s a tough business.
“Oh Rose Marie” came out in 1959 and didn’t chart nationally much either. There are excellent vocals and (a sometimes-doo wop element) a mid-song recitation of the singer’s inner thoughts and feelings. The song was written by Joseph Passalacqua, Nick Trivato, George Cernacek, Angelo LaGrecca, and Ed Wheeler. Passalacqua went on to a career on his own and with others, recording as Tony Richards, Tony Mitchell, and Tony Pass.
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I USED TO LIVE IN FORT LAUDERDALE FOR 31 YEARS (I’M NOW IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL) IN THE MID 90″S I WAS LEAD SINGER WITH THE CHARADES, A 5 MAN DOO-WOP GROUP. I MET AND REHEARSED WITH TONY PASSALACQUA ONE NIGHT. I KNEW HIM AND OTHER “ORIGINAL” DOO-WOP SINGERS THROUGH THE SOUTH FLORIDA GROUP HARMONY ASSOCIATION; NOW DEFUNCT. OH ROSE MARIE IS ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT DOO-WOP TUNES!……..WANT TO KNOW ME? GO TO MY PAGE AT : FACEBOOK.COM/HOWARDRALPHFRANCISKROMMES…..PEACE OUT.
Wonderful. Thank you.