Doo Wop All Stars "LOOKIN FOR MY BABY"

[@LarryCaruso-ix8tl]

Verry nice!

[@frsantariga]

Great music 🎵

[@erastuserazade9785]

Definite Doo Wop sound, very nicely done. What is the story of this group harmony sound performance?

[@beast47x]

Hey buddy. Hope all is well...story behind this cut? Sure! When Lenny Welch moved back to California to persue his acting, we asked Jimmy Merchant to join the group and he was happy to be asked and became an All-Star. We decided to record an album and spent about a year and 1/2 at Willie Weist's studio in Jersey. The band layed down all the tracks and we were working on the vocals next. The grouo was actually called "The Royal All Stars" at the time and included: Jimmy Merchant - Teenagers Eugene Pitt - Jive Five Artie Loria - Belmonts/Earls Randy Silver - Salutations/Impalas And myself as musical director and would sing some parts when real pretty 4 part harmany was used.... So we had 20 music tracks layed down. But unfortunately we only were able to lay down vocals on about 14 of them when Vito and Randy left the group and joined J.Franks Wilsons Cavaliers or The Cavaliers or Vito Balsamo and the Cavaliers or Vito Balsamo and the Cavaliers featuring Randy Silver or Vito Balsamo former lead of the Salutatuons featuring Randy Silver formerly of the Impalas. What their reason for that was, only they know and ill keep my thoughts on that to myself. But the tracks we did lay down were something to be heard for sure. We finished *Gloria *Paper Castles* Begin the Begiune * My True Story * Girl I Love* Looking for my Baby* Happy Man + a bunch of others. Since the project was abandoned, and i had 90% of the masters i decided to release just a taste of what we did and the completed songs. And I know you know whats real and whats not, and im tellinh you, when these guys harmonized, it was such a streetcorner gem - each singer brought their own unique sound to the mix and when all put together, it was a wall of sound for sure. When Vito and Randy went to become Cavaliers, Artie Loria (Pop) and Eugene Pitt renamed the act "The Doo Wop All Stars" and went touring all over the country and also did a bunch of recordings (a bit more on that shortly). We had BJ Jones from The Dubs, Danny Hicks and Harold Gilly from The Contintenals, Tito Santiago and George Villanueva from the Eternals, Dickie Harmon and Butch Phillips from the Del Vikings (Very Very talented), Freddy "Hey Girl" Scott - just to name a few of the great talents we had the honor2 and pleasure of working with from.....This group lasted from approx 1997-2008 when tragically my father passed away. We played all the major gigs, Vegas, Cruises, etc. and were extremely big in the Pittsburgh area. We played 3 Rivers Stadium for "Porkstock" a tribute to the legendary DJ Porky Chadwick and we were traveling out thay way at least one or two times a month. As a matter of fact, the song your referring to here, Looking for my Baby" made the charts due to Porky pushing it on his radio program. We also recorded another song "It's Christmas" with Eugene on lead and that also charted. Bit you asked what the story was on this particular cut. ** We wanted to do it acapella, real street corner sound. We layed down a click track and taught the fellas the "real" Earls backround. (Wasnt easy teaching them"Run run run dayo, run dayo chickie wahwah"-lol) But when they finally got that baby talk backround harmony, it was quite easy. Randy sang 1st tenor, Eugene sang 2nd tenor and Vito sang baritone. Jimmy Merchant wasn't there at that recording cause he would have sung the bass. So Pop layed down the bass vocals with the triad harmony and then layed down a lead track. In a way it worked out with Jimmy not being there because since Pop sang bass on that song for many years when he was with The Earls, he just had that real Bronx/ NYC street corner doo wop sound. It was finished in 2 takes because each one of the guys were so talented, there wae no need for rehearsing and nobody that group sang flat or sharp- thats for sure. After it was all finished, i took a Casio keyboard and added in some percussion parts on top of the kick and hi-hat click track. I added some bongo riffs, egg shakers and a few more bells and whistles. Not overkill, just to give it a different sound. It has gotten real nice responses and feedback and im honored and proud to have been a part of this particular cut and that album. Im going to be releasing the rest of the tracks from these sessions and also a whole CD from The Doo Wop All Stars with 18 cuts already in the can, such as *These Golden Rings * Falling Tears* Tell me Why * Never Never* Close Your Eyes * Johnny Never Knew* You * Dear Lord & many more as a special edition release since we lost Eugene Pitt. Myself and Street Corner Entertainment (las Vegas) are in touch with the Pitt family and Eugene's daughter Star, discussing when the timing will be right. So keep your eyes peeled for alot of great stuff and unreleased material that will blow any doo wop fan away! Myself, Harold Gilly , my cousin Stevie Dunham still perform as The Doo Wop All Stars at many corporate events and outdoor concerts with our "Alll Star Review" and cater to many agents and promoters who have established a great repore with over the years. Lenny Welch still performs his terrific solo act and does alot of SAG work. Randy Silver has retired from what i heard due to bad health Vito Balsamo sings with local oldies cover groups - im sure its named Vito Balsamo and whomever. Some patterns and people never change. Vito and Salutations Vito Balsamo and Grouo Vito Balsamo and Calvaliers Vito Balsamo and Chaperones Vito Balsamo and Teenchords Joey and Paradons feat Vito Balsamo So I'll play the averages. BJ Jones is still with Cleve and dubs (and everyone else too - lol) Butch Phillips sadly died of Liver Cancer and was dismissed from the Del Vikings (Sweet Lou) 8months before he passed after a 20 stint with the group because.he performed on PBS doo wop show with The Charts. (One of the most nicest person ive ever met and one of the most talented as well. He had an ear for harmony only a few people are blessed by God to have. A dear friend of mine who is sorely missed Dickie Harmon met tbe same fate and treatment as Butch Phillips but survived to join the J5 and Teenagers (also extremely talented and a gentleman) Jimmy Merchant, the man with "dog ears" continues on til this very day work8ng on various projects as recording, producing, consulting, screenplaya, wtc....The youngest 80 year old man ive ever met. He also has that gift that cannot be taught, that comes form God and cant be learned and cant fake it either. Truly a magician with music chords and arranging vocal Harmony. I once sat with Jimny in my studio for hours and he taught me all the real chords to "Out in the Cold Again" with all the Major 7ths and 9's. And that wasn't enough, e taught the real harmony to the tune. Note by note, part by part. And when you liaten the final result, its mindblowing! Freddy "Hey Girl "Scott died after a long illness Each member i mentioned were truly gifted singers and entertainers and tops in their trade Hope this was informative for you and answered your question

[@cruisercliff8195]

@@beast47x Thank you..

[@lindadee2053]

Great acapella cover (except for the drum beat).

[@johncatone7433]

That’d Italian doo wop.