Original -DUPREES 1969 video_tomi petillo's Jersey Spotlight

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The Duprees are by fare one of the best vocal groups to be influenced by the early Doo Wop era known as Rhythm and Blues. Unfortunately there is not enough written about the original group or seen on video as well. I came by this video of the group's performance by talent scout Mr. Walter Golinder who aired it on my show for the first time ever on TV in many years, if at all, in 1994. There Performance at that time in the late 60's, I believe the group was at its prime with the great lead of Mike Kelly who was actually the lead on the demo tapes that Coed Records heard and then decided to record the group. But as all Duprees fans know Joey "Van" Canzano ultimately sang the lead's on all the early hits and then was replaced by Kelly in the mid 1960's. Watching them on stage as a fan they where pure class, dressed to kill and showmanship with style, not to mention the great leads and smooth unmistakable harmony. To understand the whole package the saying "you had to be there" is perfect. Though not singing live, this video is a testimony to the music and spirit of the Original Duprees.
THE DUPREES TODAY have a 37 year lineage of stage performances and pay homage in every show to the original guys who started it all..Mike Arnone, Joe Santollo, Joey Van, John Salvato, Tom Biaglo, and Mike Kelly. Little has been written about the Duprees before the internet but much has been discussed by people who either have an agenda, a favorite lead singer or just by people who think they know the facts or try to lay claim to its membership. Many people have come up to me and asked do you know this guy or that guy who claims to be the original lead singer or former member and it goes on and on and on. So for this reason I would like to go on record publicly.
All though I knew all the original member's except Tommy B who left the group in 1963. I cannot talk about the early days of the Original Duprees as I came into the group in 1978 through my cousin Joe Cataldo who was there stage manager from 1961 on. I did not keep a record of my stage performances in 1978 and only started to keep a record in 1979. Popular music was changing in all directions at that time, for various reasons we only performed 25 jobs that year with Joe Santollo, Mike Arnone, John Salvato, Larry Casanova and myself on lead. Up to that point there were only three lead singers for the group, Joey Van, Mike Kelly and myself Tommy Petillo. Sure there were a couple of tryouts that did not cut the mustard and shortly gone, sorry no names. The only other main stay lead was Richie Rosatto.
Starting in 1980 for a short time in the scope of things, there were two seperate Duprees groups performing at the same time. There was the Mike Arnone group with lead singer Richie Rosato and also John Salvato’s Duprees with myself on lead for the 2nd time. Richie Rosato who came into the Duprees in 1980 left the group in 2001 to be replaced by Me Tommy Petillo for a third time as lead for the Duprees. Around 1989 Mike Arnone won the rights to the name and that is the group that is performing today for the past 38 years. The Mike Arnone family holds the Trade Mark. Also with Tony Testa who is the caretaker and leader of the Duprees today and that's a fact jack of Duprees history.
LOL TOMMY PETILLO
Video-Photo's_CD_As Time Goes By"For more info visit-www.duprees.com
The Jersey Music and Video Spotlight cable tv show featured DooWop_Aceppella_Rhythm and Blues and Soul Music. The show hosted and produced by Tommy Petillo aired on Cable Television in the Metro New York area from 1992 to 1996. The show would feature a host of local talent, established personalities and bands throughout the vocal group harmony establishment.