Everett’s Doo Wop Scene

Everett’s Doo Wop Scene
by - Arthur Ardolino

Ferry Street, Everett, about four blocks north of Arlington Street was my little Corner of the world, Reed Ave. In my very early teens, baseball down Glendale Park, “half-ball” at the bottom of the street by the corner of Ferry, or pitching baseball cards against the wall (early form of gambling) filled our summer hours.

In the winter you would see the more daring kids “hitch a ride” on the Woodlawn streetcar by grabbing onto the rear bumper ans sliding along snow covered Ferry Street. Not the smartest thing you could do, but I don’t remember ever hearing of anyone getting hurt.

In the summer, waiting for that uniquely Everett institution, the “Pony Boy” to come up Ferry from the “Springs” with his ice cream wagon. I have no idea why we waited his visit, there were three mom & pop grocery stores about a seven-iron from the corner of Reed and Ferry … “Ricci’s,” “Rudy’s,” and “Little Ann’s.”

A few steps north of Reed Ave, across from Shirley Street, you found Mandolese’s Bakery…fresh baked bread, pastry, and pizza by the slice. This was the mid-fifties before there was a pizza place on every other street corner. I only remember two places in Everett where you could buy pizza like that. There were some down Revere Beach in the summer, but only Mandolese’s on Ferry Street, and Piantedosi’s on Main Street sold those squares.

And they were nothing like today’s pizza, covered with cheese. These were mainly sauce and spices, with scattered half-dollar sized pieces of real Scamozza. Sometimes you would get a piece with no cheese at all, but I would dearly love to experience one of those slices again. I can still smell that heavenly aroma.

In about 1956 Mandolese’s opened a little coffee shop, which quickly became our hangout. And out in front, in the good weather, there would be lots of singing going on by whatever group of teenagers happened to be there at the time.

We were learning the basics of harmony, and emulating the vocal groups we loved that dominated the music charts at the time. One combination of five singers was clearly better than all of the others, and remain in my memory as one of the very best “acappella” groups I have ever heard in my life, and I’ve heard a great many.

They were not the first group formed in Everett in those harmony filled years. There were others, some even lucky enough to record commercially. One of the earliest, as well as one of the best, were the “Emeralds.” They got together “down the Square,” and practiced at one or another’s house down the Lynde.

The group I remember seeing contained Jackie Neider, Al Bova, Jimmy Jordan, Ritchie Steen, and Butchie Roche. All groups underwent changes in personnel, of course, and I remember Steve Degenova, Steve Spinelli, and Joe DiVirgoilio also sing with the Emeralds at various times (as well as some I’ve probably forgotten).

They broke up after a couple of years, leaving only one “demo” recording as their legacy. The only known copy of which is pretty well trashed. But they were good, and they attempted to professionalize their act a bit more than the others with primitively choreographed steps, and back-up musicians, whereas most of the other local groups concentrated strictly on their sound.

The first Black local group I remember was the “La-Vells.” Lenny Young, not only an outstanding running back, but was also an outstanding “lead” for the “LaVells.” It is truly sad that we lost Lenny within the past year, and he never got to read these words. He, and his group, were truly inspirational to the rest of us.

With Lenny in the “La-Vells” were Ernie Chambers, Ritchie Martin, and Jay Welsh. They existed in about the same time-frame as the Emeralds, and also, unfortunately, left us nothing to remember them by but those beautiful chords echoing in our memories.

Gill’s Drugstore on Broadway, a couple of blocks north of the “Square” was the home of the “Dehlia’s.” They were probably the first “doo-wop” group to organize in Everett, and were also good enough to make a commercial record. They were Dave and Jerry Wilcox, Al Lattanzi, Joe DePietro, and Pat Padro.

They had one release, “Go ‘Way and Leave Me/The Storm Tossed Sea of Love” (Big #612) in 1957, which received moderate air play on local radio, but didn’t break any sales records.

My father used to buy his gas at Spencer’s Sunoco on Ferry Street, and he once came home laughing about the character who had just begun working there. He was a bit older than me, and he used to entertain the people with his guitar, jumping around in an Elvis-imitative manner. His name was Fred Picarello. He was from East Boston, and next I heard of him he had joined some local “Doo-Woppers,” and formed the “Spindrifts.”

Their home base was the Spa on Union Street at the corner of Florence. The other members were John Falzone, Louis Venezia, and Porky Pasqueralia, and at one point, Tommy Guanci. Unlike most of the other local groups, they had a manager, and uniforms, and did several local appearances. They also made a record that got some local air play, “Cha Cha Doo/Belinda” (Hot #100), then picked up and released on ABC-Paramount #9904, in 1958.

When the record did little to promote their careers, Fred decided to leave the group and try it as a soloist. It worked for him as he assumed the stage name, “Freddy Cannon,” and I’m sure you know he went on to a long and illustrious career as an entertainer, setting attendance records in Las Vegas. The group, at that point, broke up, never to sing together again.

This brings us back to Mandolese’s, and the group that were, if not the best, nearest to my heart. They were actually formed by the fusion of two other groups – the “Cresents” from the far end of Ferry Street, near the Malden Line, and the “Tempo’s” from the area of Orange Court. When the dust settled the “Majestics” were born.

Their blend of voices was probably the best I’ve ever heard in person, and their harmony was made especially rich by the strong bass voice of “Steve Catallo” at the bottom, and the beautiful, crystal clear voice of “Eddie Rogers” at the top. Tom Pasacarella did most of the leads, and the harmony was filled out by Frank “Junior” Sanfilippo, and Tom Guanci.

They, too, experienced personnel changes, other members at various times were John Falzone (from the Spindrifts), Ritchie Steen, Jackie Neider, and Joe DiVirgilio (all former Emeralds).

They also had one commercial release “Lone Stranger/Sweet One” in 1959 (Sioux #91459), picked up (too late, however) by Twenty Century Fox (#171). This record had a good chance of “breaking out,” as it was beginning to, as they say”Make some noise” in California, and Twentieth Fox showed some interest in distributing it. The group’s manager, and/or the original label “stalled” a bit in an effort to work a better deal, but this tactic apparently backfired. When they did finally get the rights to distribute the record, initial interest had past, and it was too late.

One other 45 was released on Vintage (#1002) in the Seventies by an edition of this group. “Symbol of Love/Two Purple Shadows” was recorded in about 1961 by a group consisting of members of both the Majestics, and the Emeralds.

It was a good record, released only to the collector’s market, but did nothing to ressurect their career. The original group did record many demos during their heyday in the Fifties, but the ones that have survived are barely listen-able, even after remastering.

There were other groups, of course. My Everett High classmate, Ronnie Brodeur, had a group called the “Fortunes” that lasted quite a while. They were based in the “Hancock Street/Swan Street” area, and I’m sorry I never got to hear them. They were reportedly very good.

This group consisted of Ron, Kenny Bennet, Jimmy Rankin, Vinny Luongo, Billy Burgoyne, Eddie Spacer, and Bob Spaulding (not all at the same time, I’m sure). They also had instrumental accompaniment, and were well practiced, but they, too, left us with nothing to remember them by.

There was another black group called the “El Ducewans” (not sure if I’m spelling that correctly), but they consisted of Barry Matthews, Arthur Pryor, and two other guys. They showed some real professionalism, as I remember seeing them on stage at the Parlin Junior High, and they sounded and looked good.

There were other short-lived groups. Bob Spaulding was in a couple of them. The “Mellow-Tones” were Bob, Jackie Gear, Jack White, Ernie Chambers, and Jimmy Rogers. He and Ernie were also in the “Clusters” along with Joe McDonald, Paul Taylor, and a couple of other guys whose name now escape me. Maybe they’ll read this and get in touch.

So those are my memories of the “Doo-Wop” scene in Everett. My own groups are barely worth mentioning, but I will anyway. Billy Beekman, Wilton Till, And Ritchie Haroutounian, and I practiced a few times as the “Windsors.” Bill Beekman, and I, also sang with Tony Radzikowski, Bill Gear, and Kevin Galvin in the best forgotten, “Sultans.” Neither of these groups lasted more than a few practice sessions, but we sure had fun.

I’ve been careful to list only those groups that contained Everett members, or were based in Everett. Several of the people I’ve mentioned also sang with groups from neighboring communities, like the “Eldons,” and the “Magnetics” from Chelsea, just to name two, but our concern is the music that was alive on our street corners, and echoed in our hallways back in the day.

Mention should be made of a couple of fairly recent groups active in that field. “Everett Station” consisted of Sonny Harper, Ritchie Steen, and (floating in and out) several others including Jimmy Jordan, Bobby Spaulding, Terry Mackie, Peggy Rogers, and Kevin Bryant.

They took their name in tribute to the old “Everett Station” on the MTA line. This place had a large waiting room with great echo, making it a great place to sing, and lots of guys did.

Also, in recent years, a group calling themselves “Remember When” had been appearing in local clubs, featuring that great old sound. They consisted of Frank Sanfilippo, John Falzone, Bob Spaulding, Sonny Radzikowski, and “Doc” Roland.

Both of these recent groups had some of their product released on CD, and it’s all worth seeking out, though hard to find. Neither group is still active, but we can only hope that they will gather together once again to take us back over the years to those magic days of our youth. If you know any of these guys, tell them to get their act back together again for all our sakes.

So I guess it’s time to wrap up this little venture back in time. Every time I reread it something or somebody else comes to mind. And if I don’t stop now it might go on forever.

I’d like to dedicate this to the memory of three singers mentioned herein that are no longer with us. Lenny Young, Jimmy Jordan, and Sonny Radzikowski were three men who truly loved their music. I’d rather hear them sing than have a slice of Mandolese’s pizza.

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Go Way & Leave Me - The Dahlias

Storm Tossed Sea of Love - The Dahlias

Cha Cha Doo - The Spindrifts

Belinda - The Spindrifts

Lone Stranger - The Majestics

Sweet One - The Majestics

Symbol of Love - The Majestics

Two Purple Shadows - The Majestics

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