Vito & the Salutations
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Vito & the Salutations are a New York doo wop group from the 1960s, whose first popular recording "Gloria" was a regional hit.
In the early 1960s, doo wop versions of standards were popular. These included 1961's "Blue Moon" by The Marcels and "Heart and Soul" by The Cleftones.
Vito & the Salutations scored a success in 1963 with an up-tempo version of the song "Unchained Melody", which reached number 60 on the Cash Box hit parade, and made the Top Ten in many cities.
The group existed from roughly 1961-1965, with a reunion in 1971. Lead singer Vito Balsamo also performed with the DelVons and The Kelloggs.
The doo wop version of Unchained Melody has been included in several movies, most notably the 1990 film Goodfellas.
[edit] External link
- Articles on Vito & The Salutations and other "Street Corner" groupsThe Salutations history is complicated. Dave Rick was thier manager, producer and talent scout. As with any group, the members and the chronology are always being confused. As a former member I can summarize group membership from 1961-1967, which covered my stay as bass baritone and alternate lead voice.
1960-61 Vito Balsamo Bobbie DePaolo Johnny Vernaro and Doug and Mitchell-sang on Gloria -b/w Let's Untwist The Twist -Barry Lynn Musical Director 1961-1962 Vito Frank Fox Shelly Buchansky Ray Russell Johnny Venero sang on Your Way b/w Hey Hey Baby Barry Lynn Musical Director 1963 Vito Frank Ray Shelly sang on Unchained Melody b/w Hey Hey Baby, Extraordinary Girl b/w Eenie Meenie, Can I Depend On you- Barry Lynn Musical Director 1964 Vito Frank Shelly Barry and Jack Mercury- no recordings with this group- Late 1964-1965 - Vito Frank Ray Barry and Alan Messenger sang on Don't Count on Me, Day-O and Girls I Know, Get a Job Norman Bergan musical director in mid 1965. Vito Frank Ray and Alan Sang on High Noon and Walkin. 1966 Vito Frank Shelly B returned with Lenny Citrin to do So Wonderful, I'd Best Be Going 1966-1967 Vito Frank Randy Silverman and Johnny Monteforte- Bring Back Yesterday and I Want you To Be My Baby Many other tunes were recorded and never released until a 1995 bootlegged CD from Italy Titled Unchained Melodies
