(top L to R) Frank Barrata, Bill Sangiovanni & Fred Alvarez. (bottom L to R) Al Scavuzzo, Ben Passantino & Rich Peluso
The Hi-Tones (2) (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
aka The Trentons aka The Shytones aka The Shy-Tones
Personnel :
Graham Lee True (Lead)
Sal Covais (First tenor)
Albert Scavuzzo (Second tenor)
William Scarpa (Baritone)
Fred Alvarez (Bass)
Frank Barrata
Discography :
The Shytones
1957 - Annette / White Bucks (Spot 14/15)
1957 - White Bucks / Bandstand Rock (Spot 14/15)
1957 - Annette / Bandstand Rock (Spot 15)
The Shy-Tones
1958 - A Lover's Quarrel / Just For You (Goodspin 401)
The Hi-Tones (2)
1958 - A Lovers Quarrel / Just For You (Fonsca 201)
1961 - No More Pain / I Don't Know Why (Fonsco 202)
The Trentons
1959 - All Alone / Star Bright (Inst.) (Shepherd 2204)
Biography :
The
Shytones were one of many groups that grew up loving vocal harmony and
singing on the street corners. They had a great sound, but too short of a
career. The Shytones never made it big selling records, but they were
celebrities in their own neighborhood, and at the local hops and shows .
They cut just a few records, but with a group name change and a few
different labels with the same songs. They were given the name
Shy-Tones/Shytones because their lead singer suffered from "stage
fright" and had great difficulty performing in from of an audience. This
lead a promoter to comment (something like) "Are you guys the Hi-Tones
or the Shy-Tones?" The name stuck and the name "Hi-Tones" was not used
after that.
The Shy-Tones "A Lover's Quarrel" B/w "Just For You was Reissued" as
"Lovers Quarrel" in April 1961 on Fonsca (# 201) with label credit to
the Hi-Tones. A slight variation of the group had a release on the Spot
label as the Shytones. The group was basically a Brooklyn (NY) group,
with one member from Staten Island (NY). On this recording they were:
Fred Alvarez, Frank Barrata, Ben Passanante, Rich Peluso, Bill
Sangiovanni, Albert Scavuzzo , & Graham Lee True .
Al Scavuzzo
The Shytones performed at many local hops and dances, and even got
the chance to perform at one of Murray The K's big rock and roll show.
They had some airplay on a couple of local stations, and were even a
pick hit of the week on WINS. The group broke up when Al Scavuzzo
tragically passed away on his 21st birthday.
(top L to R) Frank Barrata, Bill Sangiovanni & Fred Alvarez. (bottom L to R) Al Scavuzzo, Ben Passantino & Rich Peluso 
