Classic Urban Harmony Newsletter. Issue # 53 Bringing the world of Doo Wop, R&B, Soul and Gospel Harmony to your Inbox..

Classic Urban Harmony Newsletter
Issue # 53: January 2021

Happy New Year !!!!! If you're reading this, our 53rd issue of the Classic Urban Harmony free email newsletter, we know you've made it through a disastrous 2020. Sadly, many of our musical family did not. We are including a list of 110 "2020 Lost Luminaries" below. As we venture into the new year, please take a moment to remember them and the ways they made our world a little brighter.
[More tragic news: As we prepare to published this newsletter comes the sad news that Tom Luciani, co-host of the Time Capsule Show has just passed away. Scroll down to see more details.]

Quote of the Month: "Hello Mr. New Year, Hello. Yes, we welcome you here. We wipe down our tears of yesteryears because New Years has come our way." - The Cool Breezers

Classic Urban Harmony LLC promotes the legacy of Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop, Soul and Gospel Vocal Group Harmony through multimedia presentations, historical research, interviews, magazine articles, museum exhibits & displays, radio guest appearances, lectures, college courses, concert production and emceeing, consultation for documentaries, vocal group bookings, our website, www.classicurbanharmony.net, and this free newsletter. Here you'll find news of important events relevant to our music as well as updates to our website and summaries of our Classic Urban Harmony activities and projects. To read more about and see more photos from the articles in this newsletter, check the What's New Page of www.classicurbanharmony.net. We hope you'll enjoy this issue of the newsletter and again find it entertaining and informative. Please continue passing the word on to others who might want to receive it. They can sign up by sending their names and email addresses to CUH@att.net. - Charlie & Pamela Horner - January 3, 2021

Date	Lost Luminary	Age	Group
1-Jan	Marty Grebb	74	Buckinghams (pop group)
2-Jan	Lorraine Chandler	73	solo soul vocalist
8-Jan	Robert Conti	74	Broadways (soul group)
9-Jan	Bobby Comstock	79	r&r soloist
10-Jan	Jerry Stevens	85	radio host
16-Jan	Leroy Binns		Charts, Coasters, Del Vikings
18-Jan	Mic Gillette	64	Tower Of Power (soul)
27-Jan	Donald Clements	87	Sophomores
28-Jan	Harry Harrison	89	radio host
?? Jan	Jack Seidl		radio host
6-Feb	Lynn Evans Mand	95	Chordettes (pop group)
4-Mar	Barbara Martin	76	Supremes
9-Mar	James Mays		Van Dykes (soul group)
11-Mar	Al Trommers		label, record store owner
14-Mar	Phil Phillips	94	Twilights
14-Mar	Francis Flynn	79	Sons Of Robin Stone (soul)
20-Mar	Skip Mahoney	71	Casuals (soul group)
20-Mar	Kenny Rodgers	81	solo pop vocalist
28-Mar	Donald Azzati	89	Four Sparks (ABC)
30-Mar	Bill Withers	81	r&b, pop vocalist
1-Apr	Bucky Pizzarelli		musician
1-Apr	Ellis Marsalis	85	jazz musician
4-Apr	"Chubb" Whitacre		Tributes, radio host
7-Apr	Frank Hosendove		Ray Dots, V-Eights
9-Apr	Jeff Calloway		Flamingos, Purple Mundi (soul)
10-Apr	Eugene Thomas	78	Joel/Dynamics, Epitome Sound
15-Apr	Eddie Cooley	87	Dimples
21-Apr	Frank Pescatore	73	r&r soloist "Dean Randolph"
21-Apr	Cookie Genovese		Cookie & Castle-Tones
25-Apr	Hamilton Bohannon	78	solo soul vocalist
27-Apr	Obie "Young" Jessie	95	Flairs, r&b soloist
27-Apr	Wm. Buzzy McClain	81	Cleftones
28-Apr	Bobby Lewis	95	r&b, r&r vocalist
29-Apr	Timothy Scott	61	Street People (soul group)
29-Apr	John "Billi" Stokes	72	Royal Five (soul group)
29-Apr	Robt."Chico" Patrick	88	Counts
?? Apr	Bill Godwin		Ink Spots
1-May	Bobby Wells		Infernos Band
4-May	Yvonne Baker	85	Sensations, solo soul vocalist
5-May	Millie Small	72	Jamaican solo vocalist
7-May	Jeanette Baker		Dots
9-May	Lil Richard Penniman	87	r&b, r&r solo vocalist
10-May	Betty Wright	66	solo soul vocalist
2-Jun	Gaynell Hodge	83	Platters Hollyw'd Flames Turks
8-Jun	John Sebastian	73	Juke Box Legends
8-Jun	Bonnie Pointer	69	Pointer Sisters (soul group)
8-Jun	John Sebastian	73	Juke Box legends
26-Jun	Arnie Ginsburg	93	radio host
27-Jun	Ritzy Lee	83	Del Vikings
1-Jul	Barney Zarzana	79	Bay Bops
3-Jul	J. Marvin Brown	66	Softones (soul group)
5-Jul	Sharon Page	67	Blue Notes (soul group)
11-Jul	Reginals Haynes	71	Escorts (soul group)
12-Jul	Rod Bernard	79	r&b soloist
14-Jul	Angel Anglero		Riffs, Endings, Channels
17-Jul	Milton Williams		Coalitions (soul group)
20-Jul	Roger Koob		Premiers, Travelers, Frontiers
21-Jul	Annie Ross	89	Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
26-Jul	Joseph B. Jefferson	77	Continental Five, songwriter
26-Jul	John DiLorenzo		concert sound, lighting, staging
27-Jul	Richard Wallace	80	Mighty Clouds Of Joy (gospel)
29-Jul	Pepe Cordona		Alive N Kickin' (r&b, pop group)
11-Aug	Trini Lopez	79	solo r&r vocalist
14-Aug	David Sanders		Masqueraders (soul group)
14-Aug	Ronald Trautz	74	JerseyDream,SidewalkSerenade
19-Aug	Lou Ragland	78	Dominos, Ink Spots
26-Aug	Sammy Campbell	79	Del Larks
27-Aug	Verlene Rogers		Meditation Singers (gospel)
6-Sep	Bruce Williamson	49	Temptations (soul group)
9-Sep	Ronald Bell	68	Kool & Gang (soul group)
11-Sep	Charles Patrick	82	Monotones
11-Sep	Toots Hibbert	77	Toots & Maytals (Jamaican)
12-Sep	Edna Wright		Honey Cones (soul group)
16-Sep	Roy "C" Hammond		Genies
17-Sep	Mickey "B" Borak	74	Tico & Triumphs. promoter
21-Sep	Tommy DeVito	92	Four Seasons
21-Sep	Roy Head	79	solo r&b, pop, vocalist
27-Sep	George Pando	61	musical director Mystics
28-Sep	Helen Reddy	78	solo pop vocalist
29-Sep	Mac Davis	78	pop solo vocalist
30-Sep	Eddie Van Halen	65	Van Halen (rock group)
3-Oct	Larry Cutrone		musician, songwriter, radio host
6-Oct	Johnny Nash	80	solo r&b and Jamaican vocalist
7-Oct	Bunny Lee	79	Jamaican record producer
12-Oct	Bob Black		Plurals
18-Oct	Pamela Hurchinson	61	Emotions (soul group)
18-Oct	Georgie Dobbins	78	Marvelettes
24-Oct	Ferdie Gonzalez	77	music historian, discographer
27-Oct	Frank Jackson	82	Rocks Of Harmony (gospel)
27-Oct	Steven Shatzberg	79	Tex & Chex
29-Oct	Denise ferri	76	Delicates
30-Oct	Carl Anderson	80	Plurals
30-Oct	Ed Hurst	94	radio and tv host
31-Oct	Rance Allen	71	Rance Allem group (gospel)
5-Nov	Len Barry	78	Dovells, soul solo vocalist
7-Nov	Dee Holland	97	musician
26-Nov	Herman Green	90	musician
30-Nov	John Wray		Earls
4-Dec	Ron Silva	68	Quiet Storm, Royal Blue
4-Dec	Kenny Jeremiah		Dedications, Soul Survivors
7-Dec	Bob Coleman		Earls
7-Dec	Dick "Richie" Allen	78	Ebonistics (soul group)
7-Dec	Bobby Ferrante	84	Mystics
14-Dec	Lewis Peoples		Five Satins, Scarlets
15-Dec	Richard Rome	90	record producer, arranger
24-Dec	Robert Brown		Chessmen, Cashmeres, Velons
26-Dec	Charles Kasper		record collector
27-Dec	George Buonocore	66	New Shades Of Soul
28-Dec	Phyllis McGuire	92	McGuire Sisters (pop group)
29-Dec	Rudy Sales	72	Tierra (soul group)

A New Years Message

Classic Urban Harmony wishes all of our readers a happy and healthy New Year. We deeply appreciate the support you've given us over the difficult past year. Things will get better and, God willing, we'll be back producing acappella concerts, having book signings, curating museum exhibits and doing whatever else we can thing of to preserve the music. May God bless you and and keep you safe, - Charlie & Pam Horner,

De'Sean Dooley's New Christmas song draws almost 5,000 Spotify plays in first week.

Our friend De'Sean Dooley, star of the musical "Soul Harmony" and grandson of legendary Orioles' lead Sonny Til has released his first recording, a self-penned Christmas song, just before Christmas.. We heard a preview of it and the song is fabulous. It reminds us of the first time we heard Boyz-II-Men. The song is streaming on Spotify and Apple Music as "Lonely Christmas" by De'Sean Ricardo (De'Sean's stage name). The song was streamed almost 5,000 times on Spotify alone in the week before Christmas. For those who are old school and aren't used to steaming music, you can join Spotify's basic service for free and then search for De'Sean Ricardo. We just saw that the song is also on Amazon Music and ITunes. You can preview a clip of the song the song on ITunes by clicking "Lonely Christmas." Congratulations, De'Sean. This song should be a seasonal hit, every December!

Book Review: "R&B and Vocal Group Recordings on 45 RPM (1949-1965), Vol. 1 & 2," by Marvin Podd

Collectors and fans of R&B and Doo Wop vocal harmony group records will love this news. Well-respected record collector and music historian, Marvin Podd, has just completed and published his two volumes of "R&B and Vocal Group Recordings on 45 RPM (1949-1965)." Combined, the two volumes comprise 1217 pages of listings of just about every pressing of every R&B vocal group record we can think of. The combined information and price guide lists for each record: The artist (and often the lead singer and other info); the different pressings (dj, stock, different label variations, wax colors and pressings, etc); label and number; release date; and current value of a M/VG+ copy. Record prices are taken from recent average sales and conversations with record dealers. Assembling these books has been a nine year project for author Marvin Podd. "I've always loved this music and have been collecting it most of my life," Marvin told Classic Urban Harmony. "I bought my first set of records in 1956, including the Teenagers' 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love,' the Channels' 'The Closer You Are' and the Penguins' 'Earth Angel' I've been collecting ever since. I used to go to Times Square Records, the Relic Rack and stores like those. Since I retired, I thought I'd like to put all the little bits of information I had into a book. It's sort of my way of giving back to the collecting community. Marvin self-published the two volumes, both available as 8 1/2 X 11" paperbacks for $20 each on Amazon.com. To purchase click Volume 1 and Volume 2.

From the CUH Archives: Little Willie John's first Record

As Pam and I were taking down our Christmas decorations this record from our archives came to mind. It's Little Willie John's first record, "Mommy What Happened to Our Christmas Tree," recorded in November 1953. Willie was 15 at the time but at 90 pounds, he looked like he was 10. He managers promoted him as a 14-year-old. The record was played on Detroit radio stations and was advertised as selling 5,000 copies in that city, a number that I really doubt. It's just not that easy to find. Little Willie John's biography, "Fever," says the record came out as a 78. I do believe most copies are 78's but I was able to find my 45 on a long ago record hunting trip to Detroit. The recording was done at United Sound, a two story house on Detroit's Second Avenue that had been converted into a recording studio. The vocal backup was done by professional session singers called Three Lads & A Lass. Prize Records is believed to be part of Dizzy Gillespie's Dee Gee Records. Give a listen by clicking "Mommy What Happened..." - Charlie

Look what just turned up on the Internet

We're always amazed at what bits of music history can be found on the Internet. In this case, our friend George Felice, sent us a photo he found on a FaceBook site. It is a photo of the Band Box Theatre at West Chelten & Germantown Avenues, Philadelphia. This appears to have been taken on November 5, 1965. At that time, the Band Box had just been completely renovated and the first live show in there was dee jay Lloyd Fatman presenting the Del Knights. To read our article containing the history of the Del Knights, click " The Musical Legacy of Richard Barrett – Pt. 6 Earl Lewis & the Channels, the Isley Brothers, the Del Knights and more.."

Northern soul record by the Ascots sells for $1,103 on auction

Scarcer Northern Soul vinyl singles continue selling for high prices. Our Classic Urban Harmony Archives has an original mint condition copy of "Another Day"" by the Ascots on Mir-A-Don that I picked up 50 years ago for a dollar or two. I just saw it sell for $1,103.05 in a July 2020 record auction. Of course, I don't sell records from our collection unless we have doubles. But, I'm glad I was buying soul records way back when they were affordable. The Ascots actually did four records on Mir-A-Don with the first one, "This Old Heartache" also coming out on M.B.S. All came out in the 1964 - 1966 timeframe. We have three of their four records. I believe that Archie Powell of the Presidents on Sussex was also in the Ascots. To hear the record, click Ascots.

New Feature: Rare 7" Picture Sleeve of the Month

Our Classic Urban Harmony Archives is full of hidden gems. Of particular interest to our record collector readers are oddities, like vinyl picture sleeves and EP covers. While picture sleeves on vocal group records are scarce in the U.S., in Europe and elsewhere the same records were issued with colorful paper and cardboard covers. The one pictures here is a 7" vinyl EP by the doo wop group, the Emotions containing both sides of their hit record, "Echo" plus the follow up single. In the United States these were issued as two separate singles on the Kapp label. The EP shown here came out on the Kapp label in France. I had never seen this EP in the U.S. and couldn't resist purchasing it when I saw it in a used record store in Paris, some years ago. To listen to "Echo," click Emotions.

Visit our website.

If you haven't visited our website in awhile, you're in for a treat. We're nominated for East Coast Music Hall Of Fame Music Maker Best Website / Publication. The Articles By Us page lists our many articles from Echoes of the Past, which you can click on and read. Unfortunately our Events Page for now is sparse as the pandemic has postponed many events. But when the lock down is lifted you'll be able to see the new dates for all your favorite events. For more about Classic Urban Harmony's activities, along with news, articles, photos and videos, please visit our website, www.classicurbanharmony.net.

Follow Us on FaceBook

We have a FaceBook Page that we post to - "Classic Urban Harmony". Please like and follow our FB Page to keep up on all of our latest activities.

The CUH Inbox

After each issue of this news letter, we get interesting feedback from out readers. We'd like to share a few emails with you.

"'Extraordinary! Much to read and follow up on. Thank you so much," - Alan Berg

"Charlie & Pam. Sorry to hear about Ron Silva. We talked for minute when they were guests on your show. Tell all the guys I said hello." - Norman Donegan of the Ad Libs

"Warmest holiday wishes to you and yours, as cozy as you've made it for us." - Kate Karp

"It was a THRILL to read my email on your GREAT site! Thank You! I listened to the Dick Allen song & enjoyed a comment 'Imagine if Dick Allen could have sung like Arthur Lee Maye & Arthur Lee Maye hit like Dick Allen.' I imagine if Doo Wop is sung in Heaven, all the groups will be named THE ANGELS." - Dave Budlong.

"Keep up the good work keeping our music alive. Your newsletter, received yesterday, was much appreciated, a reminder of the importance of our community during this time of isolation. In Harmony." - Richie Reicheg

"Hi Charlie & Pam.  As always, another great informative newsletter! I always look forward to reading it as soon as it's available. In fact, I keep them all filed in a folder on my computer. Your efforts in keeping us informed and keeping our music alive are greatly appreciated It was great seeing and speaking with the both of you at the Sheps' Zoom Conference. You're always welcome to attend. Thanks to Tommy Lockhart, we're able to stay in touch. I truly appreciate your mentioning our 20 year old Christmas CD, "Give Your Heart For Christmas." I've invited all our fans to enjoy it on YouTube. It's hard to believe it's been that long ago. Who knows, maybe one of these years, it'll become a classic. Again, kudos on a job well done! Until the next time, stay healthy, safe and blessed! Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Your forever friend in harmony," - Tommie A. Shider of the Sheps

"Merry Christmas, Charlie and Pam.  To add to your list of our records showing up in TV commercials, the Walmart commercial has been playing "You're All I Need To Get By" by Aretha Franklin. I have also heard the Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream" but I don't remember whose ad it was in. So sorry to hear about Ron Silva, Bobby Ferrante and John Wray." - Elaine Lewis.
[Thanks Elaine. Seems like our music in TV commercials is a never ending column. - C&P]

"I've heard so much about the [Richard Barrett] manuscript over the years and am really happy to hear that it (hopefully) will be published soon. Richard Barrett was such an important part of the music we love, in so any ways. That he has not been inducted into " that building in Cleveland" is a travesty." - Don Ceglecki

More on the Time Capsule Show

We had planned a short article on the Time Capsule Show for this newsletter before learning the sad news of Tom Luciani's passing. It is now more relevant than ever. There's a great website on the Time Capsule Show giving its history and links to listen to many of the classic shows that many of us grew up listening to. You can visit it by clicking Time Capsule Show. In addition, Joe Marchesani has continued the great TCS tradition by each year, producing a Time Capsule Discoveries Show where plays high-quality, rhythm n’ blues and rock n’ roll, vocal group harmony sounds from the late 40s to the early 60s that he would have played on the original “Time Capsule Show” if he had known about them. Many of these are unreleased songs from the archives of various record companies that came out after the TCS went off the air. You can access the Time Capsule Discoveries website and listen to those newer shows by clicking TCD. Both websites along with Dean Shapiro's page mentioned above, are HIGHLY recommended. Many of the original reel to reel tapes of the Time capsule Show are now housed by the East Coast Music Hall Of Fame. - Charlie

Until next time... Stay safe!!

Holiday Greetings from the East Coast Music Hall Of Fame

On behalf of our Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a season filled with good health, happiness, friendship, and peace. This has been a year that no one will soon forget. Lives and livelihoods have been affected around the world. As we look towards a New Year and a new beginning, let us look with a heart filled with love and compassion for our fellow man and woman. We at the East Coast Music Hall of Fame are hopeful for a better 2021 for all. Every day of our lives are filled with obstacles and opportunities. Our solemn wish for each of you is that you will overcome every obstacle and take advantage of every opportunity that 2021 will afford each of us. God bless you all. - Billy Grieco, Vice President
Visit the ECMHOF website.

Gloria Gaynor performs at Times Square New Years Eve Celebration

If you were watching the New Years Eve celebration from Times Square on TV you were treated to Gloria Gaynor singing her big hit, "I Will Survive," a fitting tune for the end of 2020. Though you might not have recognized him, playing keyboards on the stage was our friend and Charlie's fellow Board Member of the East Coast Music Hall Of Fame, Mark Barron. Mark is Gloria Gaynor's musical director. Congratulations Mark (and Gloria). Great performance. By the way, if anyone missed it, you can watch it here by clicking New Years Eve.

New additions to the Classic Urban Harmony Archives

Our Classic Urban Harmony Archives exists to preserve the legacy of our music, be it R&B, Soul or Gospel vocal harmony. This week, our good friend Kay Harris, president of the Asbury Park Museum and the Asbury Park Historical Society, donated to us a program and flyer from the Kershaw Royal Singers. The Kershaw Royal Singers were a gospel group from Camden, NJ, who sang from 1948 until 1960. The group had quite a history, beginning with founder Charles V. Kershaw receiving awards from Presidents Roosevelt and Truman for entertaining our troops while in the service during WWII. The Kershaw Royal Singers had a long running radio program on WKDN Camden. They also toured extensively. The group openly advertised that they would come and sing for any shut-in person without charge. In fact, they never charged for a performance, accepting only donations to cover travel and lodging expenses. Kay Harris' donation of the flyer and program seem to be the only photos of the group that have survived, and as such are quite historic. The group also recorded at least one recording (label scan above) on the Divine label out of Philadelphia. We collect small Philly label 78's but we have never seen or heard this record. If anyone has this record. we'd appreciate a donation of it. ;)

Our Music in TV Commercials - Continued

The good thing about writing an ongoing column about our music in commercials is that I never run out of commercials to write about. It seems that every month a new commercial hits TV using an R&B song from the 50's or 60's. And thank you to everyone who emails me to tell me about commercials you've seen. This month I saw the Google Chrome commercial with the Lewis Lymon & the Teenchords' record, "I'm So Happy." While the song plays, the screen flashes "For Shiny New Smart Phones ... For Triumphant Tablets ... For Joyful Laptops ... For happy Computers." To watch the commercial click Chrome. Wonder what songs the commercials will use in 2021. - Pamela Horner [Photo above is me and Lewis Lymon in Las Vegas, 2007]

Volume 1 of our book on black music from Asbury Park (1871 - 1945) is available on Amazon.com

Haven't yet ordered Volume One of our new book, "Springwood Avenue Harmony: The Unique Musical Legacy Of Asbury Park's West Side, Volume 1, 1871 - 1945"? What are you waiting for? It's a great read if we do say so ourselves. We're working hard on Volume 2 (1946 - 1980) which covers the R&B, Doo Wop and Soul music years as well as Gospel and Jazz. But if you only buy Volume 2 you'll miss what led up to that era. Visit Amazon.com to pick up your copy now. - Charlie & Pam

Artifact from our CUH Archives: Rare Sheet Music of the Month. "Love Love Love" by the Clovers

Our newsletter feature, rare sheet music of the issue is "Love Love Love" by the Clovers. The Clovers began singing in 1948 in Washington DC. One of the greatest R&B vocal groups of all time, they placed 20 records on the R&B Charts between 1950 and 1956, all on Atlantic Records. "Love Love Love," recorded in March of 1956 and released in May of that year was the last of their Atlantic sides to chart, reaching #4 on the R&B Charts. It was also their first record to reach the Pop Charts, ending up at #30. At the June East Coast Music Hall Of Fame Gala in Atlantic City we are planning an afternoon tribute to pioneer groups, the Clovers, Dominoes, Five Keys and Ravens. In addition to showing rare videos of the groups, we're also planning a panel discussion including the Clovers' legendary bass singer, Harold Winley. I spoke to Harold on New Years Day. He's doing well and looking forward to the event. Harold will captivate the audience with his stories of the Clovers on the road. He was telling me about the time the Clovers were performing in New Orleans and the great Louis Jordan came up on stage from the audience and sang "Little Mama" with them. Looking forward to the return of live events again!

Alan David Stein's Doo Wop Drive radio program to pay tribute to Doo Wop singers lost in 2020.

Just a note that our friend Alan David Stein will be paying tribute to doo wop singers lost over the past year on his next two weekly radio programs. Classic Urban Harmony's Pamela Horner supplied information for the tributes.. Alan's program can be heard on www.WMTRAM.com Fridays from 7 - 10 PM (EST). The tribute shows will be Fridays January 8 and 15.

New Skyliners CD to be previewed on virtual release party

The Skyliners are proud to announce their newest CD, 2020 Vision. It’s filled with all of the songs you love, sung by the voices who are carrying the legacy of this legendary group forward into 2021 and beyond. Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp is hosting a virtual CD Release and Listening Party including a chat with the Skyliners about their new recordings and clips of some of the beautiful music they’ve made...This “Virtual CD Release Party" is absolutely free. For info, click the FaceBook Event Page Skyliners.

Are you receiving the Doo Wop Ramblings newsletter?

If you're enjoying reading this newsletter, there's another great free email newsletter we know you'll enjoy and this one comes out weekly! Doo Wop Ramblings hits your inbox every Sunday. You can subscribe by visiting Subscribe Now.

Yet, Another Great Newsletter you should be receiving!

In addition to the newsletter above, you need to check out the New England Doo Wop Society's free email newsletter. Published by our friends Bob Belniak and Gary Jones the NEDWS is quite active in keeping our music alive in New England but their newsletter covers music news from all over. Click Subscribe to email Bob and get on their mailing list.

Past Issues of the CUH Newsletter Now viewable on our website!

Want to catch up on any past issues of this newsletter that you may have missed? Now you can. Just go to the top of this newsletter and click on "View it in your browser". Then you be able to click on "Past Issues" on the upper left of your screen. You can also see most of our past CUH email newsletters (going back to 2012) from the link on our website's Articles Page. Here's a Direct Link.

More great acappella on Our YouTube Channel

Looking for something to do while you're in lockdown? Our YouTube channel "chorner1" has nearly 350 acappella doo wop and R&B video clips from our past concerts. That's over 17 hours of great acappella. Our channel has had 630,000 views from acappella fans in 37 countries. Over 920 people subscribe to our channel. We'll be posting more videos shortly.

Time Capsule Show's Tom Luciani passes.

Just as we prepared to send out this edition of the newsletter we received some terrible news. Tom Luciani, co-host of the legendary Time Capsule Show has passed away. The following word comes from Tom's long time partner on the program, Joe Marchesani.
"I am very sorry to report that my longtime friend and co-founder of the
Time Capsule Show, Tom Luciani, passed away at a Long Island medical
facility last night. Tom suffered a very bad, accidental fall in August
where he hit his head. He was never the same since. Tom and I were childhood friends, and that continued through college and beyond. He loved the old group sound, and tried to share it with the New York audience on WFUV. After the show went off the air, Tom continued in radio on Long Island playing jazz and big band at night and on weekends. (He was a banker by day). He had a large following. Tom had a great, professional vocal style that was as good, if not better, than any deejay in the NY metro area. Please keep Tom in your prayers." - Joe Marchesani
"Tom Luciani and Joe Marchesani influenced my life beyond anything that I can ever put into words. I listened to the Time Capsule Show religiously every week, writing down every song they played and every bit of information they gave. I would not be who I am today and you would not be reading this newsletter, had there never been Tom and Joe. I am heartbroken at this news." - Charlie Horner
The photo of Tom Luciani above is from his high school yearbook, courtesy of Joe Marchesani.
For those who want to read Dean Shapiro's comprehensive tribute to the Time Capsule Show click our web page, Time Capsule Show, and also see the post to the left.

Recent internet articles of interest.

For those, like us, with a strong interest in music history, check out a couple of articles that have recently been published on line. The first is Marv Goldberg's new article on singer Nellie Hill. The second is Tony Fournier's article on the Loumell Morgan Trio. Both articles are well researched and well written.

Classic Urban Harmony Newsletter Issue # 53: January 2021