DESCRIPTION:
Today's songs feature the music of the Chaperones. These two are their final recordings and are led by Tony.

First up 'I Dream' by Tony Amato & Chaperones from 1985.

Second one is the flipside 'Pizza Pie' by Tony Amato & Chaperones.

The Chaperones (1) (Long Island, New York)



Personnel :

Tony Amato (Lead)

Roy Marchesano (Tenor)

Tommy Ronka (Second Tenor)

Nick Salvato (Baritone)

Richard Messina (Bass)



Discography :



The Chaperones (1)
1960 - Cruise to the moon / Dance With Me (Josie 880)
1962 - Shining Star My / Shadow And Me (Josie 885)
1963 - Man From The Moon / Blueberry Sweet (Josie 891)
N/A - Pizza pie / Dream

Lou Jordan & The Chaperones (1)
1962 - Paradise for two / Close your Eyes (Josie 888)

Adrian Lee (backup the Chaperones uncredited)
1960 - Barbara / Let's Go Steady (Richcraft 5006 P)



Biography :

The Chaperones were five guys from Long Island - Tony Amato (lead), Roy Marchesano (1st tenor), Tommy Ronca (second tenor), Nick Salvato (baritone) and Richard Messina (bass). The group was put together by Tony Amato who sang with The Fabulous Exquisites previously. They had a couple of different names prior to The Chaperones, including The Sharptones and The Fairlanes. The name "Chaperones" was chosen because dances and proms were popular at the time and the term was in vogue.
In 1959, the group was invited to record for the famous Josie label. The song was "Cruise To the Moon". It was produced by Steve Blaine and Mickey Eichner. "We go into the studio", recalls Tommy Ronca, "and there is this big band. It was just terrific - the most exciting time. We never dreamed it would do anything. All of a sudden you start hearing it on the radio. I'm in my 1955 Chevy - my Dad's car and I'm listening to my song on the radio. It was a wonderful time of life".



While the group was waiting for "Cruise To The Moon" to be released (it was recorded in May 1959 but not released until the summer of 1960), they backed up Lee Adrian on "Barbara, Let's Go Steady" and "I'm So Lonely" (Richcraft Records). Off the success of "Cruise To The Moon", the group became, what Tommy Ronca calls, the "Kings of Supermarket Grand Openings" as they played their share of the same. "We used to go in a limo, our record was really cooking then", recalls Tommy.

Other memorable shows included Murray the K gigs at Frontierland and Freedomland, shows with The Earls and one memorable show when they appeared with The Five Satins and one where they backed Paul Anka.

The group's follow up record - "Shining Star" (1961) was an attempt to play on the success of "Little Star" by The Elegants and "Hushabye" by The Mystics. It was not successful.

They backed Lou Jordan on "Paradise for Two" / "Close Your Eyes" (1961) on Josie label, then released their last record on Josie a remake of "Blueberry Sweet" by The Chandeliers / "Man From the Moon" - the follow up from their early success.Following Shining Star, Tommy Ronca left for Las Vegas where he performed for many years and produced Vegas shows. Tony Amato kept the group going for many years until his death in the late 1980's.