aka The Consorts (2) aka The Four Clefs aka The Darts (4)
Personnel :
Bruce Laurent
Sal Donnarumma
Billy Abbate
Eddie Jacobucci
Discography :
The Darts (4)
1961 - Barbara Ann (Demo)
1961 - A Fool in love (Demo)
1961 - Runaround (Demo)
1961 - A mother's Love (Demo)
The Consorts (2)
Singles :
1961 - Please be mine / Time after time (Cousins 104/ Apt 25066)
1978 - Star Above / Carrie (Crystal Ball 111)
Unreleased:
1961 - No One Knows
The Chuckles (3)
1964 - On the Street where you live / I'll Wait (West Side 1019)
The Four Clefs
1966 - Please Be Mine (acapella) / Time After Time (acapella) (B-J 1000)
Biography :
Most stories about vocal groups are usually very similar. Only names,
places and how they got their lucky break change. It was no different
for four guys from the Bronx - Sal Donnarumma, Billy Abbate, Eddie
Jacobucci and Bruce Laurent. They were seniors at Theodore Roosevelt
High School and in 1960 they formed their first group, The Majestics.
They Cut two demo's at Associated Studios in Manhattan. Johnny Falbo
played Guitar and over dubbed the drums. He is bet known as Dion's
guitar player who traveled with him on the road and played on some
Columbia recordings. The Majestics brought the songs, both covers, to
Lou Chiccetti, owner of Cousins Record Shop and the now famous Cousins
Record Label.
Lou Like the group but was interested in only original material. At
this point which is still not very clear, two things happened. The
Majestics were friends with Ernie Maresca who would give them 4 songs
which they would record as the Darts. Also Eddie Jacobucci was the young
brother Of Dan Jacobucci, an original member of the Regents. In 1958,
The Regents recorded 3 songs at associated Studios, the last being an
original they use to warm up with "Barbara Ann".
The group had broken up and eddie saw no problem in taking the song
for the Majestics/Darts. This was the song Lou Chiccetti decided he
would record. Only problem was the song writer, Fred Fasscett, whose
brother Chuck was also an original Regent, only wanted The Regents to
record it. The Regents regrouped and the rest is History. To compensate
the Majestics he would change their name to the Consorts and record two
originals written by group members Sal & Billy.
Just before releasing the 45 on his cousins label, Lou placed the discs with Apt Records.
Sal
would eventually work for Lou at Cousins Record shop where he met many
song writers and artists. He lent his vocal talent on many Eenie Maresca
demo's (ex-Unbelievable) and sang on a Few Frankie Lyndon 45's before
Frank became a member of the Belmonts. During this time song writer
Tommy Bogdany had the group record 3 songs including the original
version of "Carrie". The tunes would eventually be released in the 80s
on Crystal Ball records. The Consorts had changed personnel and their
new lead singer, Dennis Mesciano was the former lead singer of the
Visuals.
The Consorts had gone into the Studio and recorded a version of "On
the Street Where You Live" they also did a fast version of "No one
Knows" which seems to be lost and "I'll Wait" which was "Now That
Summer's Thru" with different words. Once again they brought the
material to Lou Chiccetti and once again he changed their name, This
Time to The Chuckles and released the songs on his newly formed West
Side Record Label.Sal would sell the Acappella masters to the Apt
sessions and they would soon surface under the name The Four Clefs.
