I agree that Johnny was the best one to do a tribute to Roy Orbison but he never recorded it out of respect for Roy so most people not familiar with the TV show never heard it. Roy was unique. His 3 octave range even made Elvis nervous. Even though Elvis had the edge ,he refused to do anything Roy had done. He really liked Roy. When Roy was overseas on tour and his family were all killed in the house fire, Elvis himself called him. As a result ,Roy wrote and recorded Crying which hit number one. It was dedicated to his family. Johnny is good but Roy owns this song. 😢😢😢😢😢
Roy showed up at a Sha concert asking to meet Johnny.. Johnny had left the band not long before that show . He thought Johnny did it better than himself .
It is a shame that we have to get old. These guys had the greatest show. Johnny had the best voice around and really looked the part of a 60's teen idol.
YES!!! My mom use to call to me out in the backyard "Corey, Sha Na Na is on!" and I'd blitz straight to the T.V. !!! Loved this show. Why can't television be now what it was back then. Actual GOOD entertainment.
I listened to an interview of Johnny Contardo on Jeff Rense this eveining. Amazingly, he said Roy contacted Johnny to let him know he did this song better than he! Better still these guys had talent behind them, no digital alchemy was available then. Thank you faerydancer for posting this.video.
I loved watching ShaNaNa on TV when I was a kid. They were all cool guys, but Johnny was truly in a league all of his own in terms of having "the voice"...
When you say put Sha Na Na back on TV do you mean the old shows or do you mean bring back Sha Na Na ? If you mean the old shows, that's one thing but if you mean the group as they are now, well some of them are dead and the rest are old. There is a touring group of sha na na with 3 from the 70's show but it's not the same.
@proudtobefromwv I'm 50 and was raised on DooWop .When disco was king I listen to" the King" ,the Diamonds, ect. This genre of music is the best there ever was . Elvis was a gracious man, and that was a nice charitable thing to say to Roy. I too have heard ALL of Roy's music as well as Elvis, Ricky Nelson,etal. As for Shanana, I rarily missed a show or a concert. I love roy and miss him, but his delivery lacked the heart Johnny put into his songs. "Only The Lonely" is my favorite Roy song.
Its us who should be Thanking you!!!!! so here goes....from all us millions of Johnny Contardo and Sha na na fans, thank you so much, for sharing your wonderful voice(s) with us and giving us all so much pleasure, we love u nita xxx
A masterpiece of talent and a performance that demonstrates what a great performer Johnny is. I am so glad he has returned to music for all to enjoy. A great post!
Johnny did more than just sing songs, he was the whole package. Visual as well as vocal performer. This is one of my favorites by him. He not only caught your attention but he pulled on your every heart string with this particullar performance.
Okay, so I have not watched Sha Na Na since I was a kid and listening to Johnny sing this and others makes me realize how great of a vocalist (not singer) he is/was. The control in his range is nothing short of brilliant.
Just drop the mic and walk away in triumph, Johnny, you just killed that song! Vocally and emotionally, he masters every moment - right up there among his very best performances. Perfection...
This man, and this band, absolutely can bring the emotion and heart and soul of the lyrics of ANYTHING they orchestrate, and sing and play. WOW these guys just ROCK!!!
Johnny’s voice is like silk... absolute perfection. So incredibly underrated. I’m sure he has great memories with sha na na, but he could have easily had legendary status with that voice, those looks, had he gone solo.
All of us who grew up watching Santini lose his hair thank the content provider for posting these blasts from the past. I'm sure we all miss the days when America was classy. ❤️ShaNaNa❤️
I know exactly what you mean. It doesn't matter how many times I hear Johnny, I'm still AMAZED at how wonderful he is. He really touches my heart, and he is still great!
How dare this man make middle aged women puddles of goop when we listen to him sing? I hope he continues to do so because we like being puddles for Johnny Contardo. Orbison really had little stage presence but could sing his butt off. Johnny on the other hand could sing his butt off and it was like watching a broadway production with his stage presence. He made you think he was singing just to you and not millions. That my friends is a true entertainer.
Johnny had a great voice but the voices and talent of ALL the guys that made up this fabulous show weren't too shabby. They were each and everyone of them just AWESOME in talent, personality looks.
@mikeletz lol I have found the joys of RUclips. Being able to hear these great songs some 30 yrs later has been a real treat for me. Also makes me realize how few classic voices we have anymore. Yes I'm a Johnny addict and I don't need a cure lol Have a great weekend Mike. Always nice to hear from you.
I knew Johnny well in the 70's and 80's. Back then I was Linda Bowers. I was able to get Johnny on WJZ TV with Oprah when Johnny was releasing his own album. Wow! What great times.
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
To hear Johnny Contrado sing Crying, would definately make Roy Orbison proud.
He did see them.
If Johnny had been born 20 years earlier Elvis would be known as the prince of rock and roll.
Musician here. I listen to this guy when I want to hear crying. Oh, Roy's got it. But Johnny owned that. A real performer.
Agreed
I agree that Johnny was the best one to do a tribute to Roy Orbison but he never recorded it out of respect for Roy so most people not familiar with the TV show never heard it. Roy was unique. His 3 octave range even made Elvis nervous. Even though Elvis had the edge ,he refused to do anything Roy had done. He really liked Roy. When Roy was overseas on tour and his family were all killed in the house fire, Elvis himself called him. As a result ,Roy wrote and recorded Crying which hit number one. It was dedicated to his family. Johnny is good but Roy owns this song. 😢😢😢😢😢
Amen brother!!!
Forget Roy Orbison or The Maverick's Raul Malo's version...Johnny blows them both out of the water. Johnny's incredible!!!!
I just recently discovered Sha Na Na and am awestruck!!
Johnny is my All Time Favorite singer ever. I am 76 years old and still dance to all his songs like I was 16. ❤
i love this guy, he sure can belt them out.
The best version ever. Considering it's a Roy Orbison song, that is a huge statement. He knocked this one out of the park.
This version still raises the hair on the back of my neck. A also heard Roy Orbison loved it too !
Roy showed up at a Sha concert asking to meet Johnny.. Johnny had left the band not long before that show .
He thought Johnny did it better than himself .
Johnny’s singing sounds better every time I hear it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Johnny has lot a lot of range in his voice. Fantastic singer!
Nobody sang it better. Beautiful song.
I'm 24 years old and Johnny's voice and talent have reached my heart in an age where music is so morally bankrupt! incredible sound on vinyl.
Way to go Johny!😉😎🎶🎼🎵
Will always remember them ❤️ 💓 💖 💕 💗 💛 ❤️ 💓 💖 💕 💗 💛 ❤️ 💓 💖 💕 😊😊😊😊😊😊
There's only one Johnny Contardo! Bravo!
Johnny Contardo is one of the great, unsung geniuses of American music. Beautiful and brilliant in every way.
Agreed!
Johnny Contardo in his prime is quite possibly the best singer of all-time. Perhaps rivaled by Donny Osmond, but not many others.
No hes a asshole he said my mom has no chance at singing and wouldn't even give he a chance
Oh, God, yeah!
I cannot agree with you more. A most brilliant singer and magnificient stage presence
This is the only singer I've heard that compares to the original Roy Orbison rendition; amazingly good!
It is a shame that we have to get old. These guys had the greatest show. Johnny had the best voice around and really looked the part of a 60's teen idol.
No no no!! It's great to be old now and young back then!! We had the the best decades of music. Blessed indeed!
YES!!! My mom use to call to me out in the backyard "Corey, Sha Na Na is on!" and I'd blitz straight to the T.V. !!! Loved this show. Why can't television be now what it was back then. Actual GOOD entertainment.
I love this man!
What a voice!
I could listen to him for hours!
Thank you Johnny for sharing
your fabulous gift with the world!
Wow. What great pipes!
Text me all the way back to my Early childhood hallelujah hallelujah
I listened to an interview of Johnny Contardo on Jeff Rense this eveining. Amazingly, he said Roy contacted Johnny to let him know he did this song better than he!
Better still these guys had talent behind them, no digital alchemy was available then. Thank you faerydancer for posting this.video.
I loved watching ShaNaNa on TV when I was a kid. They were all cool guys, but Johnny was truly in a league all of his own in terms of having "the voice"...
THE LATE ROY ORBINSON WOULD BE TICKLED OVER THIS! ENJOYED, VERY COMPLIMENTARY, THANKS!!
The most beautiful face that I've ever seen with the most beautiful voice I've ever heard! Johnny, you are amazing!!
Let's put Sha Na Na back on t.v.!! Better than the crap they're showing on there now! Thanks for the memories Johnny, what a voice ! ! !
Amen!!
Agree. Unfortunately, copyright issues will probably not allow. 💔
I was little when their show was on. Can’t remember anything except for Bowser and that I loved them.
doctommy tv’s in caves?
When you say put Sha Na Na back on TV do you mean the old shows or do you mean bring back Sha Na Na ? If you mean the old shows, that's one thing but if you mean the group as they are now, well some of them are dead and the rest are old. There is a touring group of sha na na with 3 from the 70's show but it's not the same.
This was simply great!!
Good Lord. This always holds up for me. Absolutely amazing.
@proudtobefromwv
I'm 50 and was raised on DooWop .When disco was king I listen to" the King" ,the Diamonds, ect. This genre of music is the best there ever was . Elvis was a gracious man, and that was a nice charitable thing to say to Roy. I too have heard ALL of Roy's music as well as Elvis, Ricky Nelson,etal. As for Shanana, I rarily missed a show or a concert. I love roy and miss him, but his delivery lacked the heart Johnny put into his songs. "Only The Lonely" is my favorite Roy song.
This is the very best crying from history. I still can't find another that improves it
Love Johnnys beautiful voice..miss the ShaNaNa show, never missed it!♡♡♡
Even Roy would agree! Johnny knocked this one out of the ballpark!
Roy admitted Johnny did it better.
Its us who should be Thanking you!!!!! so here goes....from all us millions of Johnny Contardo and Sha na na fans, thank you so much, for sharing your wonderful voice(s) with us and giving us all so much pleasure, we love u nita xxx
A masterpiece of talent and a performance that demonstrates what a great performer Johnny is. I am so glad he has returned to music for all to enjoy. A great post!
He hits those high notes with perfection!
Great song! Loved watching him when I was a kid! Great voice!!
Thanks everyone!
-Johnny
Thank you Sir
We were blessed to have such a voice during these tough times. God bless you Johnny!
Saw you guys live back in the 70's in Chattanooga. Great show. You da man.
Oh, that falsetto!
(swoons)
Incredibly timeless
Johnny was, without a doubt, their best vocalist by far.
The MAN can sing!
Johnny did more than just sing songs, he was the whole package. Visual as well as vocal performer. This is one of my favorites by him. He not only caught your attention but he pulled on your every heart string with this particullar performance.
@OneHokie4Life I could not agree more. When it came to delivery and stage presence no one beats Johnny. He took you there and held you there.
Fantastic !!! I miss you guys!
Johnny Contardo - one of the greatest velvet throats ever. Sadly underrated.
Okay, so I have not watched Sha Na Na since I was a kid and listening to Johnny sing this and others makes me realize how great of a vocalist (not singer) he is/was. The control in his range is nothing short of brilliant.
Johnny had the passionate voice!!! He can kill any ballad!!!
What a joy hearing him!
Just drop the mic and walk away in triumph, Johnny, you just killed that song! Vocally and emotionally, he masters every moment - right up there among his very best performances. Perfection...
If he had dropped the mic my 13 year old heart would have been finished!!!! I'm 51 and still get chills from his version...
This man, and this band, absolutely can bring the emotion and heart and soul of the lyrics of ANYTHING they orchestrate, and sing and play. WOW these guys just ROCK!!!
Johnny’s voice is like silk... absolute perfection. So incredibly underrated. I’m sure he has great memories with sha na na, but he could have easily had legendary status with that voice, those looks, had he gone solo.
All of us who grew up watching Santini lose his hair thank the content provider for posting these blasts from the past.
I'm sure we all miss the days when America was classy.
❤️ShaNaNa❤️
Johnny rules, Johnny rocks, Johnny reigns. Johnny forever.
I know exactly what you mean. It doesn't matter how many times I hear Johnny, I'm still AMAZED at how wonderful he is. He really touches my heart, and he is still great!
Always looked so forward to watch the Sha Na NA show.Loved when Johnny was featured to sing.Was so in love with his voice.His voice is flawless
Beautiful voice,beautiful man!Love ya,Johnny!😗
wish the singers these days sounded like this awesome voice
Thank you Johnny....Awesome !!
No kidding, I know the name and love Sha Na Na watched the show all the time it was on TV.
He could sing ANYTHING. ❤️
Makes singing look effortless! Amazing!
I always loved to hear Johnny sing His voice is so professional and really excellent.
LOVE THIS... love Sha Na Na and Johnny, wooooooooooooo... sing it to me BABY!
Outstanding! We gotta get this stuff on DVD or on demand. It's too amazing to be forgotten!
Just about as smooth as Orbison... and that's a compliment of the highest degree.
He is so good, love this song
Bravissimo!!!!! Johnny. Love it!!!
What an amazing man!!! I miss Sha na na .....Those were the good days when you could actually understand the vocals!!!! Johnny, you are awesome!!!
Oh, Johnny! What a Voice! I adore you, baby
What an angelic voice...and that face. He works that gold stretch suit!
I have heard others sing this and I must say Johnny does it the best!
God, that was beautiful.
I agree 100%
What an incredible voice.
Well done.
This performance never fails to give me the chills!
I'm simply enthralled with his golden voice! You will always be a wonderful memory from my childhood, Johnny!
How dare this man make middle aged women puddles of goop when we listen to him sing? I hope he continues to do so because we like being puddles for Johnny Contardo. Orbison really had little stage presence but could sing his butt off. Johnny on the other hand could sing his butt off and it was like watching a broadway production with his stage presence. He made you think he was singing just to you and not millions. That my friends is a true entertainer.
Beautiful!!!
Awesome performance. Johnny was BY FAR the best vocalist in Sha Na Na...no comparison!
Johnny had a great voice but the voices and talent of ALL the guys that made up this fabulous show weren't too shabby. They were each and everyone of them just AWESOME in talent, personality looks.
Awesome.
Roy Orbison is looking down from rock n role heaven and applauding. Thanks for this wonderful post.
He. Owned. This. Song!!
Johnny, we must all be inspired by your voice. Such energy and passion for the most beautiful songs of this era. Tks.
Johnny nailed this song!!
Yessssss!
@mikeletz lol I have found the joys of RUclips. Being able to hear these great songs some 30 yrs later has been a real treat for me. Also makes me realize how few classic voices we have anymore. Yes I'm a Johnny addict and I don't need a cure lol Have a great weekend Mike. Always nice to hear from you.
I loved their show as a kid. I was so into 50's and early 60's music even though I was born in '68.
These guys do such a great job with covers. Not many can come close with the great Roy Orbinson's songs and his magnificent voice.
Now Orbinson and Contardo are singing a duet in Heaven to teen angels.
Johnny's alive & well!
viewingut Oh. My mistake. Well, at least Roy is smiling from Heaven and singing along with Johnny.
He better be I have a singing lesson with him tomorrow.
Johnny you're just amazing wowie zowie.
I listened to it this morning and it is beautiful. Wow. 4 days without electric and water in Texas I needed this song. So amazing.
talent like this i dont think exist anymore, thats a voice to fall in love with
Geez! I really miss this show. Bring it back
DAMN... impressive... what an under-appreciated voice... anyone who could go toe-to-toe (vocally) with Roy Orbison... wow
Nice job and those are the hardest shoes to fill.............
So full of earnest, youthful longing. Just beautiful.
Yes, Terry is amazing, too! I love watching all his clips over and over as well.
I knew Johnny well in the 70's and 80's. Back then I was Linda Bowers. I was able to get Johnny on WJZ TV
with Oprah when Johnny was releasing his own album. Wow! What great times.
****FOUR STARS ~ Johnny Contardo nails this song.
aahhh... watching and listening to Johnny.......Merry Christmas to me!!!!
Damn he's amazing
Spectacular.
Beautiful