The DeFranco Family

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The DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco was an early and mid 1970s pop music group from Welland, Ontario, Canada however, there has been some friendly banter about where the DeFranco's are from. All five group members were born in Port Colborne, Ontario. Brothers Tony and Benny appeared together in Port Colborne in November 2001 and gave no help to if they were from Port Colborne or Welland. Consisting of Benny (born 11 July 1953), Marisa (born 1954) Merlina (born 1957) , Nino (born 19 October 1955), and lead singer Tony (born 31 August 1959), this group had a number of hits between 1973 and 1977, including "Abra-Ca-Dabra" and their biggest hit, "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)." The DeFranco Family appeared in almost every issue of a number of the teen magazines of this period, such as Tiger Beat and Flip. By the late 1970s, the group had faded from the pop scene. Tony DeFranco is now a real estate agent in the Los Angeles, California area, where most of the family members reside.

Contents

[edit] Biography

With their youthful exuberance and lighthearted approach to pop, the DeFranco Family was one of the most successful pop groups of the 1970s. Their debut 1973 single, "Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat," featuring the lead vocals of then 13-year-old Tony DeFranco, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the top slot on the Cashbox singles chart, and sold more than two million copies. Their second single, "Abra-Ca-Dabra," which reached the Top 40, was followed by their final hit, "Save the Last Dance for Me," which reached number 18 on the charts in May 1974.

The DeFranco Family's reign came to a sudden halt when a rock version of their tune "Write Me a Letter" failed to generate much attention and reached no higher than the 104th slot on the charts. Although their earlier hits had been produced by Walt Meskell, the disappointing sales of "Write Me a Letter" prompted their record label, 20th Century Fox, to fire Meskell and team the group with Mike Curb, who had previously worked with The Osmonds. The collaboration proved disastrous. When Curb attempted to recast the group as a cover band, they resisted and severed their relationship with their publisher and manager, Charles Laufer and Laufer Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox.

Unable to attract interest from another label, they continued to tour and perform in Las Vegas. Frustrated by their inability to attain their previous heights, they disbanded in 1978. A reunion concert at Rhino Records' Retro Fest in August 1999 was followed by the DeFranco Family's final performance at B.B. King's Nightclub in Los Angeles in April 2000.

The five siblings who comprised the DeFranco Family were born to Italian immigrant parents and raised in Port Colborne and Welland, Ontario. Initially performing as the DeFranco Quintet, the group found success after a demo tape of their songs was heard by Sharon Lee, editor of teen magazine Tiger Beat. Impressed by what she heard, Lee arranged for Charles Laufer to fly the group to Los Angeles for an audition. Laufer signed the group to an exclusive deal with his company, Laufer Entertainment, financed a three-song demo, and helped them to secure a contract with 20th Century Records.

The DeFranco Family recorded in Los Angeles' Western Studios with accompaniment by Wrecking Crew veterans Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Carlton on guitar, and Max Bennett (bass player). They appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand nine times.

[edit] Discography

  • 1973 "Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat"
  • 1973 "Abra-ca-dabra"
  • 1974 "Save the Last Dance for Me"
  • 1974 "Write Me a Letter"
  • 1975 "We Belong Together"
  • 1976 "Venus" (released in Japan only)
  • 1973 "Heartbeat, It's A Lovebeat" LP (#109 Billboard)
  • 1974 "Save The Last Dance For Me" LP (#163 Billboard)

[edit] Television appearances

  • Dinah - January 23, 1975
  • Dinah - March 17, 1975
  • Dinah - April 16, 1975
  • Dinah - August 19, 1975
  • Dinah - August 28, 1975
  • Mike Douglas - April 2, 1975
  • Mike Douglas - June 27, 1975
  • Mike Douglas - August 12, 1975
  • Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special - January 24, 1974 (Taping dates: December 15-16, 1973)
  • Sonny & Cher Show
  • American Bandstand - July 14, 1973
  • Action '73 - 5th Special - October 27, 1973
  • American Bandstand - February 2, 1974
  • Action '74 - April 27, 1974
  • American Bandstand - June 1, 1974
  • American Bandstand - September 21, 1974

[edit] Recent appearances

  • Boston, MA - February 9, 1993 (Tony only)
  • Rhino Retrofest - Santa Monica, CA - August 14 & 15, 1999 (Benny, Marisa, Merlina & Tony only)
  • BB King's - Universal City, CA - April 13, 2000
  • Port Colborne, Ontario Canada - November 16, 2001 (Benny & Tony only)
  • Detroit, MI - February 13, 2004 - (Tony only)
  • Warsaw, IN - February 14, 2004 - (Tony only)

[edit] External links


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