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 The
Original Comets
On August 7, 1955, Rock & Roll music was introduced to U.S. television
viewers when Bill Haley and the
Comets performed their number one hit
record "Rock Around the Clock" on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" TV
show. More than 35 years later, the same Comets (minus Bill Haley, who
died in 1981) are back and better than ever, playing their classic Rock
& Roll to new generations of audiences the world over. In October
1987, The Original Comets -- Franny Beecher (lead guitar), Johnny Grande
(piano), Joey Ambrose (tenor sax), Dick Richards (drums) and Marshall
Lytle (bass) reunited. Since then, The Original Comets have made
several tours of the U.S., Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland
and Spain. They also headlined the third Annual Benefit dinner "It's
Only Rock And Roll" on March 21, 2003 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in Cleveland, and have released two CDs, "We're Gonna Party" (1992) and
"You're Never Too Old to Rock" (1996).
 The
Drifters
Music’s Drifters represent more than the
story of a single group’s
success. Changes in personnel and management have led over the years to
the sprouting of many Drifters permutations since organizer
CLYDE MCPHATTER
first went to the Atlantic Recording Company.
When Atlantic
rejected McPhatter's initial singers (The Mt. Lebanon
Gospel Singers), he recruited versatile gospel singers BILL PINKNEY from
the Southern Knights, and brothers GERHARDT and ANDREW
THRASHER from The Thrasher Wonders to join forces with him. They signed
with the company in 1953,
thereby establishing the foundation upon which a music legacy was
subsequently built.
Thirty five years later in 1988, originals McPhatter, Gerhardt Thrasher,
and Pinkney, along with subsequent Drifters Johnny Moore, Ben E. King,
Rudy Lewis, and Charlie Thomas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. It's staff filmed Pinkney’s oral history for archival inclusion
as a part of its Legends Series in March, 2000.
PINKNEY was the last surviving 1953 member when he passed away in 2007.
He had used the name mark THE ORIGINAL DRIFTERS since 1958, keeping
alive the
name and the sounds of the fifties for 64 years.
 Fabian An overnight singing sensation, a film star with over
30 films to his credit and the producer of his own concert series,
FABIAN continues to expand his ever growing career. On January 8, 2002,
he received show business’ highest honor, a star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame. In his latest endeavor, FABIAN hosts and performs in The
Original Stars of American Bandstand at the new Dick Clark’s American
Bandstand Theatre in Branson, Missouri, along with Bobby Vee, the
Chiffons, Brian Hyland and Chris Montez. FABIAN also performs with
Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell as The Golden Boys. Besides
appearing in every major city in the United States and playing to packed
venues in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, The Golden Boys have
starred in such television specials as "The American Music Awards",
"Miss Teenage America", and "Command Performance: An All Star Salute To
The President". As an actor, FABIAN makes frequent television and
feature film appearances and helps raise awareness and money for the
American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association and veteran’s
causes. In 1998 FABIAN married Andrea Patrick, a former Miss
Pennsylvania and Miss West Virginia, who is owner/CEO of the Patrick
Talent Agency. He is also the proud father of a son, Christian, who is
a successful screenwriter (“Albino Alligator”) and a daughter, Julie.
FABIAN and Andrea live in their recently built dream house in western
Pennsylvania. Born on February 6, 1943, FABIAN FORTE was actually
discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps in Philadelphia.
Soon thousands were to throng to his concerts. Capitalizing on his good
looks and ability to excite an audience, FABIAN reached dizzying heights
of success. At 15, he won the Silver Award as "The Most Promising Male
Vocalist of 1958". By the time he was 18, he had recorded dozens of hit
singles, eight albums, and earned gold records for "Turn Me Loose" and
"Tiger" and a gold album for "The Fabulous Fabian". In 1959, FABIAN
made his screen debut in "Hound Dog Man" opposite Carol Lynley. He then
began to concentrate on another aspect of show business that interested
him more than singing‑‑acting. His role as a homicidal maniac in a TV
production titled "A Lion Walks Among Us" directed by Robert Altman
solidly established his credentials as a versatile and powerful actor.
Serious about his craft, FABIAN studied in New York for three years
under Wynn Handman and with Charles Conrad and Sandy Meisner in
Hollywood. His impressive acting credits include featured roles with
John Wayne, James Stewart, Jack Palance, Tuesday Weld, George Segal and
Karen Black. FABIAN never disappoints his fans. They see a stunning
man to whom the years have been kind, a man who is as fresh and as
magnetic as ever. A consummate professional, FABIAN has pursued his
career with an admirable intensity. He has traveled the show business
ladder and survived, his sense of humor and integrity intact.
The Chiffons
Throughout rock and roll
history, vocal groups have spent entire careers in search of hit bound
melodies and captivating lyrics.
One of the best
early-'60s New York girl groups, combining sassiness and innocence on
several of the style's greatest classics. The Chiffons' had some singles
under their belt when they reached number one with "He's So Fine," whose
classic "doo-lang, doo-lang" riff was appropriated by George Harrison in
1970 for his own chart-topper, "My Sweet Lord". Their follow-up, Goffin-King's
"One Fine Day," was just as good, featuring killer piano riffs from King
herself. Actually cut as a Little Eva track, The Chiffons' vocal was
substituted, resulting in a Top Five hit. There were a couple other
memorable hits -- "I Have a Boyfriend" and the Motown-influenced "Sweet
Talkin' Guy" -- and interesting misfires like the Martha and the
Vandellas-inspired "The Real Thing," as well as some singles issued
under an alter ego, The Four Pennies.
  Bobby
Vee and The Vee's
'Devil or Angel' was certainly the foundation for a string of hit
records reaching the nations top 20 throughout the entire 60's era. By
1963 he had collected seven top ten hits in England as well as a number
2 album called "Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets" and in 1963 shared the
charts for forty weeks side-by-side with the Beatles. His forty plus
year recording career has produced over twenty-five albums including a
Gold Album from England for his 1981 "Singles Album" release. Back in
the U.S., Billboard Magazine called him, "One of the top ten most
consistent chart makers ever."
The Diamonds' Original Lead Dave Somerville
It's been over Fifty years
since THE DIAMONDS
 released an instant million selling hit called Little Darlin'. The song continues to sell worldwide and to date has sold over
20 million copies. Through the years since the release of Little
Darlin' THE DIAMONDS have learned one important lesson-the durability of
1950's music is as much about the future as about the past. As a result,
THE DIAMONDS continue to expand their audience to this day by performing
in a myriad of surroundings, including: with Symphony Orchestras, in
Performing Arts Theatres and major concert halls, on cruise ships, in
casinos, at county and state fairs, on tours of England, Ireland,
Brazil, Chile, Korea, and Japan, for benefit concerts and conventions,
at nightclubs and, through the most recent addition to their repertoire,
the Christmas show "Silver Bells And Diamonds". "We've been pleased to
find a growing audience among all age groups. They like songs they can
understand, remember and actually sing the words to-tomorrow, or even 20
years from now."
Frankie Faucet
and The Drips
My wife and I cruised with Frankie Faucet
and the Drips three times on various Caribbean cruises and fell in love
with these guys. They were the main reason we re-booked the cruises each
time. They are a great band and we had so much fun when they performed.
We ended up dancing until I thought our legs would fall off. We hope
that they will continue to perform on Oldies theme cruises and you can
be sure we will be there. Sincerely, John and Vicki Rosen;
Minneapolis, MN
http://www.frankiefaucet.com/
Stacey Wayne
as
Elvis
One of the most asked questions I get is, "How did you get started
impersonating Elvis?" I have always enjoyed Elvis' music, but I've been
singing "Hound Dog" since I was two years old. My real start came at the
age of eighteen, I was persuaded into going to a community jam night
where I was forced on stage to sing an Elvis song. For the next
two years I did a few small appearances. Then I met up with a
great man, Big Jack Armstrong! He invited me to perform at various KOOL
104.3 events. These gave me the opportunity to perform at the same
venues that many rock and roll legends have performed. Recently I made
my first CD "Stacey Wayne's Elvis Anthology", a compilation of some of
the greatest Elvis songs from the 50's, 60's, and 70's.
 Some
fun facts I have in common with Elvis are:
1.) We share the same birthday, January 8th.
2.) Elvis and I have the same blood type, O Positive.
3.) We were both inducted into the Army on March 24th and discharged
at Fort Dix on March 5th.
4.) Both of us were married May 1st.
5.) Our original hair color is the same, strawberry-blonde.
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