DONNY & THE DREAMERS (12) - KENNY & THE WHALERS (2)
Donnie & The Dreamers (12) (Bronx, NY.)
aka Kenny & The Whalers (2)
Personnel :
Louis "Donnie" Burgio (Lead)
Peter "Pete Alonzo" Vecchiarelli
Andy Catalano (Tenor)
Frank Furstaci (Baritone)
Discography :
Donnie & The Dreamers (12)
Singles:
1961 - Count Every Star / Dorothy (Whale 500)
1961 - My Memories Of You / Teenage Love (Whale 505)
1961 - Carole / Ruby My Love (Decca 31312)
unreleased
1961 - Heaven Only Knows (Whale)
Kenny & The Whalers (2)
1961 - Life Is But a Dream / Life Is But a Dream (Whale 504)
Biography :
Lead Singer Louis "Donnie" Burgio, Peter "Pete Alonzo" Vecchiarelli,
Andy Catalano, and Frank Furstaci came from the Bronx, that fertile
field for Street Corner doo whoppers. Donnie & The Dreamers had a
talent for adding that doo wop touch to pop standards and they proved it
in early 1961 with their hit version of the 1950 oldie "Count Every
Star".
While this was hot (it spent 10 weeks on the chart) the Whale label
followed it up by sending out deejay samples of "Life Is But A Dream",
calling the Group Kenny & The Whalers. It went nowhere. The Dreamers
then turned the Harptones' 1954 ballad favourite "My Memories Of You"
into a sparkling jump tune and scored their second national hit. Two
weeks after "Count Every Star" left the chart, "My Memories Of You" took
its Place.
Vinny Catalano
Encouraged by this, Decca leased all the
Whale tracks by the group and issued "Carole" in October,1961. No
Further hits came along and the group disappeared. Vinny Catalano worked
with his kid brother's group, recording over 10 excellent sides, most
lost and unreleased.
