The Splendors (L to R) : Harold Marcus, Joe DiBartolo, Tommy Tucker, Georgie Moe and Bernie Drosdcz
The Motions (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : The Splendors (2) aka The Del-Fons
Personnel :
Tommy Tucker (Lead)
Larry Angeli (Baritone)
Joe Basta (First Tenor)
Richie Merrit (Second Tenor)
Discography :
The Motions
Single:
1961 - Mr. Night / Make Me A Love (Laurie 3112)
Unreleased :
1958 - Mambo City
The Del-Fons
Unreleased:
1959 - I Only Want You / This Is My Love
The Splendors (2)
Unreleased:
1963 - Lonely, Lonely Nights / Record Hop (Wilshire)
1964 - Roses Are Red / Embraceable You
1964 - Runday Runday / Mambo City
1964 - Stormy Weather / Make The Knife
1964 - Walkin' My Baby Back Home / I'm In The Mood For Love
1964 - My Vow To You / My Love For You Will Never Die
Biography :
1958, and the Place was the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. During this
time, St. Michael's church used to hold dances which were attenuated by
the local neighborhood teenagers. At this dances, four guys discovered
they enjoyed singing together very much and decided to form a group
called the Emotions. Members consisted of Tommy Tucker (Lead), Larry
Angeli (Baritone), Joe Basta (First Tenor) and Richie Merrit (Second
Tenor). The Group's first songs was "Mambo City" recorded on a demo. The
group eventually gained a local following and began appearing at record
hops, social clubs… At this time Richie had left the group and was
replaced by Eddie Povenelli.
Tommy Tucker (Motions' Lead singer)
The
group met a man named Marv Kalfin, who eventually became their manager.
He introduced the group to two songs he had written…"Mr Night" and
"Make A Love". While the master recordings were being cut, a female
member was added to the group. Marv brought the master tape to Laurie
and their reaction was quite favorable. Another group who had already
gained much popularity in the area, was using the same name. At the last
time before going to press, Laurie did the first thing that came to
mind. The "E" was dropped and the Guys were named The Motions. The
single was released in June 1961. At about the time the Motions' record
was released, another Laurie single was "Breaking Big"… The Jarmels' "A
lItlle bit of Soap". "Mr Night" never really had a chance, the group
rapidly became disguise ted and eventually disbanded.
Vinny Catalano
The Story of the Motions, does not end here. Let us go back to the
year 1957 and the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New york. At this
time, Three teenagers in the same junior high school, Joe DiBartolo
(First Tenor and Lead), Bernie Drosdcz (Baritone and Bass) and Harold
Marcus (Second Tenor) and two others Johnny Jerrywicki (Baritone) and
Georgie Moe (Lead) joined together to Form a Group called the Del-Fons.
Although this group only sang at parties, they recorded a demo 1959
that featured the songs "I Only Want You" and "This is My Love". Soon
after this same two songs, released back to back, became a two sided hit
for the Passions early in 1960. During 1962, the Del-Fons changed their
name to the Splendors. However, due to repeated problems involving
members , the group finally broke up, this was the same time that the
Motions Disbanded.
Tommy Tucker, Joe DiBartolo and Harold Marcus Joe DiBartolo with group's demos
Early
in 1963, Joe DiBartolo met Tonny Tucker and decided to reform the
Splendors, consisting of Himself, Tommy Tucker and those two original
members Bernie Drosdcz and Harold Marcus. Later that year Joe's cousin,
Vinny Catalano, at this time in charge of Wilshire Records, had written
two songs for the Splendors, "Lonely, Lonely Nights" and "Record Hop".
The group recorded both songs but the reared wasn't released. In 1964,
George Moe rejoined the group. They now began appearing at various
places throughout New York. The Boys would occasionally buy time at a
local recording studio in order to capture some of their harmony on
tape. Of course, Demo discs were made of these sessions...
By Ken Berger (Story Untold)
Songs :
The Motions
Mr. Night Make Me A Love
