Tom Tourville has been writing about Midwest rock & roll for close to 30 years and has published over 25 books based on Midwest rock music history. His latest book on the Hollyhock Ballroom is on sale in Pipestone at Pipestone Publishing and at the Pipestone County Museum. He lives in Lake Okoboji, Iowa, and can be reached at tourvillea@aol.com.
The year was 1962 and the East Coast vocal groups were dominating the rock and roll charts. There was something special about those doo-wop groups from the East, like Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons or Dion and the Belmonts. They just really knew how to sing.
The same could be said for the Duprees, who hailed from Jersey City, N. J., right in the heart of the doo-wop world.
The group was formed in the early 1960s as a group of high school kids who came together to sing. They consisted of John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, Joe Santollo, and Joey “Vann” Canzano, and their sound was like the soundtrack for the Broadway hit, “Jersey Boys.”
While seniors in high school they were signed by New York City’s Coed Records. Coed quickly put them into the studio and their first effort was a hit and reached Billboard’s Top Ten in 1962 with “You Belong To Me/Take Me As I Am” (Coed Records #569)
Next, they hit it big again with “My Own True Love/Ginny” (Coed 571), which was based on the song “Tara’s Theme” from the movie “Gone With The Wind.” They followed that up with more top 40 hits in the form of “Have You Heard/ Love Eyes” (Coed #585) and “Why Don’t You Believe In Me/My Dearest One” (Coed #584).
The group was famous for mixing doo-wop vocals with big-band arrangements. Because of the big-band arrangements, they were very popular with the Midwest’s older big-band influenced ballroom owners.
In 1963 Tom Bialoglow left the Duprees and was replaced by Mike Kelly. The group kept recording for Coed and other labels until the late 60s producing more hits, yet they often didn’t reach Billboard’s Top 40 with these later recordings. These include: “The Sand & Sea/It’s No Sin” (Coed #587), “Goodnight My Love/Ring Of Love” (Heritage Records #805), “I Wish I Could Believe You/I’d Rather Be Here In Your Arms” (Coed #594) and “Let’s Make Love Again/Gone With The Wind” (Coed #576).
In 1970 the band decided to take on a name change and try for a newer sound and renamed themselves the Italian Asphalt & Paving Company. They released one record for Colossus Records titled “Check Yourself” (Colossus #110). While it was not a big seller, it helped the group establish a new sound.
By the mid 70s the Duprees had for the most part hung up their rock and roll careers. By the 1980s, the name of Duprees gets a little sketchy, as two different groups called the Duprees were touring again as the “original” Duprees, but at that time no member in either of the groups had ever sung with the Duprees. For the most part, they consisted of old band members that were hired to back the singing Duprees for touring.
As for the original Duprees, sadly Joe Santollo, Joey Canzano, and Mike Kelly have all passed away. As for John Salvato, he is still active in music as a booking agent. The only member that is still singing and performing is Tommy Bialoglow with his group Twilight Time.
In August of 1962 the Duprees did a Midwest ballroom tour and the idea was to play smaller ballrooms so the group could draw turn-away crowds in smaller venues to help increase record sales.
The Duprees were paired with South Dakota’s surf band the Shattoes. I’m not sure how those shows must have sounded with a surf band backing the doo wop singing Duprees.
On this tour they were booked into and performed at our Hollyhock Ballroom. I would have loved to have heard the show where surf guitar meets doo wop.
Until next month
Take care & remember the music