Sha Na Na
Encyclopedia
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll
group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop
hit song "Get a Job
", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes
.
Billing themselves as "from the streets of New York" and outfitted in gold lamé
, leather jackets, and pompadour
hairdos, Sha Na Na performs a song and dance repertoire of classic fifties rock and roll, while simultaneously reviving and sending up the music and 1950s New York street culture. Sha Na Na hosted the Sha Na Na
syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981.
Their current touring group features original members Donny York, and Jocko Marcellino, and another member from the TV show who joined just after the band's appearance at the Woodstock Festival
(1969), Screamin' Scott Simon
. Everyone else from the TV show has left the group. Current band members include bass player Jim Waldbillig, guitarist Gene Jaramillo, drummer Paul Kimbarow, and sax player Michael Brown.
a cappella
group The Kingsmen, but changed their name due to the Pacific Northwest
group of the same name
, famous for covering "Louie, Louie". Conceived by George Leonard, then a graduate student in Humanities, Sha Na Na began performing in 1969, at the height of the hippie
counterculture
, and achieved national fame after playing at the Woodstock Festival
, where they preceded Jimi Hendrix
. Their 90-second appearance in the Woodstock film
brought the group national attention and helped spark a 1950s nostalgia that inspired similar groups both in North America and in the United Kingdom
, as well as the Broadway musical Grease
and the TV show Happy Days
.
The degree to which their act was truly nostalgic, as opposed to the degree to which it was "invented nostalgia", has been called into question.
The group's first manager, Ed Goodgold, codified Trivia
as a nostalgic quiz game and conducted the nation's first trivia contests with Dan Carlinsky in 1965. The future Sha Na Na/Kingsmen were featured singers at these contests. Four years later, he co-authored "Rock "n" Roll Trivia" just as he and the William Morris Agency
began steering Sha Na Na's career.
From 1969 through 1971, the band played at, among other places, the Fillmore East
and Fillmore West
, opening for such bands as The Grateful Dead, The Mothers of Invention
and The Kinks
. When Sha Na Na began headlining at other venues, one of the opening acts was Bruce Springsteen. In 1972, Sha Na Na was one of just four acts invited by John Lennon
and Yoko Ono
to perform with them at their One-to-One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden
. Subsequently, the group appeared in the movie Grease
as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. From 1977 to 1982, the group reached perhaps the height of its success with its own hit syndicated television show Sha Na Na
, featuring guests such as James Brown, the legendary punk rock
band the Ramones
, and musicians such as Little Richard
, Bo Diddley
and Chubby Checker
.
The original band line-up featured 12 performers: Alan Cooper
(bass vocals), Rob Leonard (vocals), Frederick 'Denny' Greene (vocals), Henry Gross
(guitar), John 'Jocko' Marcellino (drums), Joe Witkin (piano), Scott Powell (also known as Captain Outrageous and Tony Santini) (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals), Elliot Cahn (also known as Gino), (rhythm guitar), Rich Joffe (vocals), Dave Garrett (vocals) and Bruce 'Bruno' Clarke. The initial act had three up-front performers in gold lamé and the other nine in "greaser" attire (rolled up t-shirt sleeves, leather jackets, tank tops). On their album The Golden Age of Rock and Roll, the lead singer taunts the audience on one of the live tracks by announcing, "We've got just one thing to say to you fucking hippies, and that is that rock and roll is here to stay!". The act usually ended after several encores, and closed with "Lovers Never Say Goodbye". The closing song was changed to, "Goodnight Sweetheart" for the TV series. In concert, they would often return for up to seven encores - but none more meaningful than when performing in Toronto
, Canada
at Ontario Place
and performing Hound Dog
after announcing Elvis Presley
's death earlier that same day (August 16, 1977).
syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981. It was among the most watched programs in syndication during its run. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications.
The show featured the group performing hits from the 1950s and 1960s, along with comedy skits. The "tough guys" road act from their original road shows was adapted for TV and the group moved to a comedy and self-deprecating routine. The mainstay continued to be the 1950s song and dance routines. The show opened in a typical concert scene, and then moved through various street and ice cream parlor
scenes where they and their guests performed several songs. That was followed by a comedy-oriented song ("Alley Oop
", "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah
") and closed with a slow song, again in their concert format.
Among the supporting members featured in the series were Avery Schreiber
, Kenneth Mars
and Phillp Roth (all of them in the first season); Pamela Myers and actress Jane Dulo (who played the crabby Lady in the Window, who watched over the street scenes from the window of her apartment with undisguised disdain) (Both throughout the show's run), June Gable and Soupy Sales
(Seasons 2 to 4); Michael Sklar (Season 2); and Karen Hartman (Season 4).
Guests included Jan & Dean, Fabian
, Chubby Checker
, the Ramones, Ethel Merman
, Frank Gorshin
, Billy Crystal
, Danny and the Juniors, and others
The members of Sha Na Na during the TV series were Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman
(vocals), Lennie Baker
(sax), Johnny Contardo
(vocals), Frederick 'Dennis' Greene (vocals), 'Dirty Dan' McBride (guitar) (left after third season), John 'Jocko' Marcellino (drums), Dave 'Chico' Ryan (bass), 'Screamin' Scott Simon' (piano), Scott 'Santini' Powell (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals). Each was introduced only by his nickname or his first name in a voice-over by Myers at the beginning of each show.
, the movie, as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. The group remains well-known for their tracks on the Grease soundtrack, including "Those Magic Changes
", "Hound Dog
", "Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay", "Blue Moon
", "Born to Hand-Jive", and "Tears on My Pillow
". Sha Na Na's performance in Grease was during the school dance scene. The song "Sandy", sung by John Travolta
for the film, was co-written by Screamin' Scott Simon. The group also appeared as themselves in the documentaries Woodstock
and Festival Express
.
assumed Taylor's identity and performed as him, which eventually led to his discovery and capture.
Former Sha Na Na bass player Dave "Chico" Ryan, from their television show lineup, died in 1998. Former Sha Na Na guitarist Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride, from their television show lineup, died in 2009. Member Reggie Battise died in October 2010.
Founding member of the band Robert Leonard is a professor of linguistics
at Hofstra University
, and had an appearance as a qualified expert in linguistics for the murder case of Charlene Hummert in the episode "A Tight Leash" of the TV medical detectives series Forensic Files
in 2004.
The group's first guitarist, Henry Gross
, went on to become a solo performer, and had a hit single with "Shannon" in 1976. Another founding member, Alan Cooper
, the lead singer in the group's performance of "At the Hop
" in the Woodstock film, went on to pursue an academic career. He taught religious studies at McMaster University
in Hamilton, Ontario
, for ten years, then became a professor of Bible studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, and now serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies and provost at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
.
Longtime member Jon "Bowzer" Bauman
replaced Alan Cooper and became a recognizable member of the group as he taunted audiences while he flexed his muscles, burped and spat in the direction of the bass player. In the 1980s he had a brief career as a game show master of ceremonies. Today, Bowzer continues to tour under his own banner.
Elliot Cahn, the group's original rhythm guitar
player and musical arranger, later became the first manager of Green Day
. "Screaming" Scott Simon replaced Joe Witkin, the original keyboard player (and singer of "Teenager in Love" on their first album). Witkin left the band in 1970 to finish medical school, and subsequently moved to San Diego in 1975 to do his internship and residency at the University of California in San Diego. He worked at Scripps Hospital East County from 1978 to 2000 as an ER physician, and currently holds the same position at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa
. Witkin lives with his family in San Diego, California
and plays with a band called "The Corvettes" doing an oldies revue in his spare time. Witkin's son, Brian Witkin
, is the founder of Pacific Records
.
Scott Powell is a specialist in orthopedic surgery
and sports medicine. He performed on the TV show under the stage name "Santini" (another alias was "Captain Outrageous"). Powell left the band in 1980 and returned to Columbia to take pre-medical courses. He is a member of the medical staff of U.S. national soccer teams, and is the team physician for the Federation Women's National Team and an associate clinical professor at USC
. While Powell was with Sha Na Na, he sang the bulk of the Elvis
revival songs.
Frederick "Denny" Greene left the group to pursue studies in law. After graduating from Yale Law School
, he became the vice president of production and features at Columbia Pictures
. He is currently a professor at the University of Dayton
. Greene was known for his skilled dancing, and sang the lead in "Tears on My Pillow
", "Duke of Earl
", and others.
Bruce "Bruno" Clarke is now a professor of English at Texas Tech University
in Lubbock, Texas
. Richard Joffe is currently a class-action litigator for a law firm in New York City.
Original Sha Na Na vocalist Dave Garrett ran Earth Sound Research, a Long Island-based musical instrument amplifier company, during the 1970s. His whereabouts today are unclear.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
hit song "Get a Job
Get a Job (song)
"Get a Job" is one of the best known doo-wop songs of the 1950s. Recorded by The Silhouettes in October 1957, the song reached the number one spot on the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts in February 1958....
", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes
The Silhouettes
The Silhouettes were an American doo wop/R&B group whose single "Get A Job" was a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and pop singles chart in 1958. The doo-wop revival group Sha Na Na derived their name from the song's lyrics. "Get A Job"' is included in the soundtracks of the movies,...
.
Billing themselves as "from the streets of New York" and outfitted in gold lamé
Lamé (fabric)
Lamé is a type of fabric woven or knit with thin ribbons of metallic yarns, as opposed to guimpé, where the ribbons are wrapped around a fibre yarn. It is usually gold or silver in color; sometimes copper lamé is seen. Lamé comes in different varieties, depending on the composition of the other...
, leather jackets, and pompadour
Pompadour (hairstyle)
Pompadour is a tall style of men's haircut which takes its name from Madame de Pompadour.There are Latin variants of the hair style more associated with European and Argentine tango fashion trends and occasionally with late 20th century musical genres such as rockabilly and country.The pompadour...
hairdos, Sha Na Na performs a song and dance repertoire of classic fifties rock and roll, while simultaneously reviving and sending up the music and 1950s New York street culture. Sha Na Na hosted the Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na (TV series)
Sha Na Na is a syndicated television variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981 for a total of 97 episodes, hosted by the popular rock & roll/comedy group of the same name. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications. Sony Pictures Television currently...
syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981.
Their current touring group features original members Donny York, and Jocko Marcellino, and another member from the TV show who joined just after the band's appearance at the Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
(1969), Screamin' Scott Simon
Screamin' Scott Simon
Screamin' Scott Simon has been Sha Na Na's piano-player since April 1970.- Biography :Simon graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in 1970 and joind Sha Na Na. He has written numerous songs that have been recorded by the band and others over the years.For the film version of Grease he and...
. Everyone else from the TV show has left the group. Current band members include bass player Jim Waldbillig, guitarist Gene Jaramillo, drummer Paul Kimbarow, and sax player Michael Brown.
Career
The group began singing as part of the longstanding Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group The Kingsmen, but changed their name due to the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
group of the same name
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
, famous for covering "Louie, Louie". Conceived by George Leonard, then a graduate student in Humanities, Sha Na Na began performing in 1969, at the height of the hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
, and achieved national fame after playing at the Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
, where they preceded Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. Their 90-second appearance in the Woodstock film
Woodstock (film)
Woodstock is a 1970 American documentary on the Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969 at Bethel in New York. Entertainment Weekly called this film the benchmark of concert movies and one of the most entertaining documentaries ever made...
brought the group national attention and helped spark a 1950s nostalgia that inspired similar groups both in North America and in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, as well as the Broadway musical Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
and the TV show Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
.
The degree to which their act was truly nostalgic, as opposed to the degree to which it was "invented nostalgia", has been called into question.
The group's first manager, Ed Goodgold, codified Trivia
Trivia
The trivia are the three lower Artes Liberales, i.e. grammar, rhetoric and logic. These were the topics of basic education, foundational to the quadrivia of higher education, and hence the material of basic education, of interest only to undergraduates...
as a nostalgic quiz game and conducted the nation's first trivia contests with Dan Carlinsky in 1965. The future Sha Na Na/Kingsmen were featured singers at these contests. Four years later, he co-authored "Rock "n" Roll Trivia" just as he and the William Morris Agency
William Morris Agency
WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...
began steering Sha Na Na's career.
From 1969 through 1971, the band played at, among other places, the Fillmore East
Fillmore East
The Fillmore East was rock promoter Bill Graham's rock venue on Second Avenue near East 6th Street in the East Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City. It was open from 1968 to 1971, and featured some of the biggest acts in rock music at the time...
and Fillmore West
Fillmore West
The Fillmore West was an historic music venue in San Francisco, California made famous by concert promoter Bill Graham. Named after Graham's original "Fillmore" location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it stood at Market Street and South Van Ness Avenue and was formerly...
, opening for such bands as The Grateful Dead, The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
and The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. When Sha Na Na began headlining at other venues, one of the opening acts was Bruce Springsteen. In 1972, Sha Na Na was one of just four acts invited by John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
to perform with them at their One-to-One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. Subsequently, the group appeared in the movie Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. From 1977 to 1982, the group reached perhaps the height of its success with its own hit syndicated television show Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na (TV series)
Sha Na Na is a syndicated television variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981 for a total of 97 episodes, hosted by the popular rock & roll/comedy group of the same name. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications. Sony Pictures Television currently...
, featuring guests such as James Brown, the legendary punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band the Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, and musicians such as Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
and Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
.
The original band line-up featured 12 performers: Alan Cooper
Alan Cooper (biblical scholar)
Alan Cooper is the provost of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America , an academic institution in Jewish Studies and one of the centers for Conservative Judaism. He also serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies at JTS....
(bass vocals), Rob Leonard (vocals), Frederick 'Denny' Greene (vocals), Henry Gross
Henry Gross
Henry Gross , is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group, Sha Na Na, and for his hit song, "Shannon".-Early years:...
(guitar), John 'Jocko' Marcellino (drums), Joe Witkin (piano), Scott Powell (also known as Captain Outrageous and Tony Santini) (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals), Elliot Cahn (also known as Gino), (rhythm guitar), Rich Joffe (vocals), Dave Garrett (vocals) and Bruce 'Bruno' Clarke. The initial act had three up-front performers in gold lamé and the other nine in "greaser" attire (rolled up t-shirt sleeves, leather jackets, tank tops). On their album The Golden Age of Rock and Roll, the lead singer taunts the audience on one of the live tracks by announcing, "We've got just one thing to say to you fucking hippies, and that is that rock and roll is here to stay!". The act usually ended after several encores, and closed with "Lovers Never Say Goodbye". The closing song was changed to, "Goodnight Sweetheart" for the TV series. In concert, they would often return for up to seven encores - but none more meaningful than when performing in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
and performing Hound Dog
Hound Dog (song)
"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
after announcing Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's death earlier that same day (August 16, 1977).
TV series
Sha Na Na hosted the Sha Na NaSha Na Na (TV series)
Sha Na Na is a syndicated television variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981 for a total of 97 episodes, hosted by the popular rock & roll/comedy group of the same name. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications. Sony Pictures Television currently...
syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981. It was among the most watched programs in syndication during its run. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications.
The show featured the group performing hits from the 1950s and 1960s, along with comedy skits. The "tough guys" road act from their original road shows was adapted for TV and the group moved to a comedy and self-deprecating routine. The mainstay continued to be the 1950s song and dance routines. The show opened in a typical concert scene, and then moved through various street and ice cream parlor
Ice cream parlor
Ice cream parlors are places that sell ice cream and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is normally sold in two varieties in these stores: soft-serve ice cream , and hard-packed, which has an assortment of flavors, as well as frozen yogurt, which is a low-fat alternative and tastes slightly...
scenes where they and their guests performed several songs. That was followed by a comedy-oriented song ("Alley Oop
Alley Oop (song)
"Alley Oop" is a song written by Dallas Frazier. The song, heavily inspired by the V. T. Hamlin-created comic strip of the same name, was first recorded by Frazier as a country tune in 1957.-The Hollywood Argyles:...
", "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! is the name of both a musical review and a children's book based on a similarly named Allan Sherman song that received the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance.-Hello Muddah, Hello Fuddah! :...
") and closed with a slow song, again in their concert format.
Among the supporting members featured in the series were Avery Schreiber
Avery Schreiber
Avery Lawrence Schreiber was an American comedian and actor. He was a veteran of stage, TV, and film.-Biography:...
, Kenneth Mars
Kenneth Mars
Kenneth Mars was an American television, movie, and voice actor. He may be best-remembered for his roles in several Mel Brooks films: the insane Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in 1968's The Producers, and the relentless Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Fredrich Kemp in 1974's Young Frankenstein...
and Phillp Roth (all of them in the first season); Pamela Myers and actress Jane Dulo (who played the crabby Lady in the Window, who watched over the street scenes from the window of her apartment with undisguised disdain) (Both throughout the show's run), June Gable and Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
(Seasons 2 to 4); Michael Sklar (Season 2); and Karen Hartman (Season 4).
Guests included Jan & Dean, Fabian
Fabian (entertainer)
Fabiano Anthony Forte , known as Fabian, is an American teen idol of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He rose to national prominence after performing several times on American Bandstand. Eleven of his songs reached the Billboard Hot 100 listing.-Early life:Fabian was the son of Josephine and Domenic...
, Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
, the Ramones, Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
, Frank Gorshin
Frank Gorshin
Frank John Gorshin, Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He was perhaps best known as an impressionist, with many guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show...
, Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
, Danny and the Juniors, and others
The members of Sha Na Na during the TV series were Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman
Jon Bauman
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's popular Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer" Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na,...
(vocals), Lennie Baker
Lennie Baker
Lennie Baker was born on April 18, 1946, in Whitman, Massachusetts. He is a former saxophone player for the 1950s rock group, Danny and the Juniors.Baker went on to become a member of the musical group Sha Na Na, doing vocals and playing sax...
(sax), Johnny Contardo
Johnny Contardo
Johnny Contardo is best known as former lead singer with the musical group, Sha Na Na. In 1978, he appeared with Sha Na Na in the blockbuster hit movie musical Grease as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers...
(vocals), Frederick 'Dennis' Greene (vocals), 'Dirty Dan' McBride (guitar) (left after third season), John 'Jocko' Marcellino (drums), Dave 'Chico' Ryan (bass), 'Screamin' Scott Simon' (piano), Scott 'Santini' Powell (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals). Each was introduced only by his nickname or his first name in a voice-over by Myers at the beginning of each show.
Film
Sha Na Na appeared in GreaseGrease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
, the movie, as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. The group remains well-known for their tracks on the Grease soundtrack, including "Those Magic Changes
Those Magic Changes
"Those Magic Changes" is a pop song from the musical Grease which was performed by Sha Na Na in the film version.In the movie version of Grease, "Those Magic Changes" is played at the high school dance scene, preceded by "Rock n' Roll Is Here to Stay", and succeeded by "Hound Dog". However, in the...
", "Hound Dog
Hound Dog (song)
"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
", "Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay", "Blue Moon
Blue Moon (song)
"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....
", "Born to Hand-Jive", and "Tears on My Pillow
Tears on My Pillow
"Tears on My Pillow" is a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. Their original recording of the song became a Billboard Top 10 Pop...
". Sha Na Na's performance in Grease was during the school dance scene. The song "Sandy", sung by John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
for the film, was co-written by Screamin' Scott Simon. The group also appeared as themselves in the documentaries Woodstock
Woodstock (film)
Woodstock is a 1970 American documentary on the Woodstock Festival that took place in August 1969 at Bethel in New York. Entertainment Weekly called this film the benchmark of concert movies and one of the most entertaining documentaries ever made...
and Festival Express
Festival Express
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the eponymous 1970 train tour across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends...
.
Member information
Vinny Taylor (1949–1974) (born Chris Donald), who replaced Henry Gross as the lead guitarist in 1970, died of a drug overdose in 1974. Escaped child killer Elmer Edward SollyElmer Edward Solly
Elmer Edward Solly was convicted of manslaughter in 1970 for the death of two-year-old Christopher Welsh. Solly escaped from custody in 1974 and spent the next 27 years living under numerous pseudonyms...
assumed Taylor's identity and performed as him, which eventually led to his discovery and capture.
Former Sha Na Na bass player Dave "Chico" Ryan, from their television show lineup, died in 1998. Former Sha Na Na guitarist Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride, from their television show lineup, died in 2009. Member Reggie Battise died in October 2010.
Founding member of the band Robert Leonard is a professor of linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
, and had an appearance as a qualified expert in linguistics for the murder case of Charlene Hummert in the episode "A Tight Leash" of the TV medical detectives series Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
in 2004.
The group's first guitarist, Henry Gross
Henry Gross
Henry Gross , is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group, Sha Na Na, and for his hit song, "Shannon".-Early years:...
, went on to become a solo performer, and had a hit single with "Shannon" in 1976. Another founding member, Alan Cooper
Alan Cooper (biblical scholar)
Alan Cooper is the provost of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America , an academic institution in Jewish Studies and one of the centers for Conservative Judaism. He also serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies at JTS....
, the lead singer in the group's performance of "At the Hop
At the Hop
"At the Hop" is a hit rock 'n' roll song written by Arthur Singer, John Medora and David White and originally released by Danny & the Juniors. The song was released in the fall of 1957, and reached number one on the US charts on January 6, 1958, thus becoming one of the top-selling singles of 1958...
" in the Woodstock film, went on to pursue an academic career. He taught religious studies at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, for ten years, then became a professor of Bible studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, and now serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies and provost at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
.
Longtime member Jon "Bowzer" Bauman
Jon Bauman
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's popular Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer" Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na,...
replaced Alan Cooper and became a recognizable member of the group as he taunted audiences while he flexed his muscles, burped and spat in the direction of the bass player. In the 1980s he had a brief career as a game show master of ceremonies. Today, Bowzer continues to tour under his own banner.
Elliot Cahn, the group's original rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
player and musical arranger, later became the first manager of Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
. "Screaming" Scott Simon replaced Joe Witkin, the original keyboard player (and singer of "Teenager in Love" on their first album). Witkin left the band in 1970 to finish medical school, and subsequently moved to San Diego in 1975 to do his internship and residency at the University of California in San Diego. He worked at Scripps Hospital East County from 1978 to 2000 as an ER physician, and currently holds the same position at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa
La Mesa, California
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
. Witkin lives with his family in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and plays with a band called "The Corvettes" doing an oldies revue in his spare time. Witkin's son, Brian Witkin
Brian Witkin
Brian Witkin is the founder and president of Pacific Records. As an entrepreneur and music producer, he owned a record label and chain of retail record stores by the age of twenty...
, is the founder of Pacific Records
Pacific Records
Pacific Records has been the name of at least two record labels:-Pacific Records :Pacific Records, was founded by Brian Witkin in 1999. Formerly known as "Real2Reel Records", in 2004 Pacific was introduced as a division of Wingnut Media Group, Inc, based in Del Mar, California. The company was...
.
Scott Powell is a specialist in orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
and sports medicine. He performed on the TV show under the stage name "Santini" (another alias was "Captain Outrageous"). Powell left the band in 1980 and returned to Columbia to take pre-medical courses. He is a member of the medical staff of U.S. national soccer teams, and is the team physician for the Federation Women's National Team and an associate clinical professor at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. While Powell was with Sha Na Na, he sang the bulk of the Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
revival songs.
Frederick "Denny" Greene left the group to pursue studies in law. After graduating from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, he became the vice president of production and features at Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. He is currently a professor at the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
. Greene was known for his skilled dancing, and sang the lead in "Tears on My Pillow
Tears on My Pillow
"Tears on My Pillow" is a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. Their original recording of the song became a Billboard Top 10 Pop...
", "Duke of Earl
Duke of Earl
"Duke of Earl" is a 1962 number-one song, originally by Gene Chandler. It is the best known of Chandler's songs, and he subsequently dubbed himself 'The Duke of Earl'. The song was penned by Bernice Williams, Eugene Dixon, and Earl Edwards....
", and others.
Bruce "Bruno" Clarke is now a professor of English at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. Richard Joffe is currently a class-action litigator for a law firm in New York City.
Original Sha Na Na vocalist Dave Garrett ran Earth Sound Research, a Long Island-based musical instrument amplifier company, during the 1970s. His whereabouts today are unclear.
Members
- Alan CooperAlan Cooper (biblical scholar)Alan Cooper is the provost of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America , an academic institution in Jewish Studies and one of the centers for Conservative Judaism. He also serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies at JTS....
(1968–1970 +1971): original bass singer; brief return in 1971 due to Bowzer's illness - Billy Schwartz (1971): guitarist on Canadian tour in 1971 due to Chris Donald's inability to enter Canada
- Bruce "Zoroaster" Clarke, a.k.a. "Bruno" (1969–1973): original bass guitarist
- Bryan Cumming, a.k.a. "Mighty Joe" (1987–1989): guitarist; replaced guitarist Glenn
- Buzz CampbellBuzz CampbellBuzz Campbell is an American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He plays anything that is close to Rockabilly music, Blues, Swing, Country & Rock & roll. Buzz Campbell is also a renown song writer. He has played with numerous "rockabilly acts", including Lee Rocker, Slim Jim Phantom and Brian...
(2002–2006): guitarist; replaced Rob Mackenzie - Chris Donald, a.k.a. Vinnie Taylor (1971–1974): replaced Larry Packer
- Danny McBride, a.k.a. "Dirty Dan" (1975–1980): replaced Elliot Randall
- David Garrett (1968–1970): original vocalist
- David Ryan, a.k.a. "Chico" (1973–1998), replaced Bruce Clarke
- Donald York, a.k.a. "Donny" (1968–present): original vocalist
- Dora Pearson (1984–1988): original female vocalist
- Elliot Cahn, a.k.a. "Gino" (1968–1973): original rhythm guitarist
- Elliot Randall, a.k.a. "Enrico Ronzoni" (1974–1975): replaced Chris Donald
- Frankie Adell (1999–2005): saxophonist and vocalist; replaced Lenny Baker
- Frederick "Dennis" Greene, a.k.a. "Denny" (1968–1984): original vocalist
- George Sluppick (1999–2000): drummer
- Gene Jaramillo (2006–present): guitarist; replaced Buzz
- George Leonard: conception and choreography
- Glenn Jordan, a.k.a. "Guitar Glenn" (1980–1986): guitarist; replaced Danny McBride
- Grover Kemble (1970): replaced Rob Leonard
- Guerin Barry, a.k.a. "Tito Mambo" (1984–1988): bass singer; replaced Jon Bauman
- Henry Gross (1969–1970): original lead guitarist
- Ian Harold Brown, a.k.a. "Bootlace" (1976–77): lead guitarist
- Jim Waldbillig, a.k.a. "Billy" (1990 – present): guitarist
- Jimmy Hun, a.k.a. "June" (1987)
- Joe Witkin (1968–1970): original pianist
- John Marcellino, a.k.a. "Jocko" (1969 – present): original drummer, vocalist
- Johnny "Kid" ContardoJohnny ContardoJohnny Contardo is best known as former lead singer with the musical group, Sha Na Na. In 1978, he appeared with Sha Na Na in the blockbuster hit movie musical Grease as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers...
(1971–1983): vocalist; replaced Grover Kemble
- Jon BaumanJon BaumanJon "Bowzer" Bauman is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's popular Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer" Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na,...
, a.k.a. "Bowzer" (1970–1983): bass singer; replaced Alan Cooper - Kal David, a.k.a. "Casual Kal" (1984): interim replacement for Jon Bauman (filling in for Guerin Barry)
- Larry Packer (1970): briefly replaced Henry Gross and was subsequently replaced by Chris Donald
- Lennie BakerLennie BakerLennie Baker was born on April 18, 1946, in Whitman, Massachusetts. He is a former saxophone player for the 1950s rock group, Danny and the Juniors.Baker went on to become a member of the musical group Sha Na Na, doing vocals and playing sax...
(1970–1999): saxophonist and vocalist - Lisa Sunstedt (1993–1995): third female vocalist
- Michael Brown, a.k.a. "Downtown Michael Brown" (2005–present): replaced Frankie Adell
- Pamela Day (1989–1991): second female vocalist
- Paul Kimbarow, a.k.a. "Paulie" (2002 – present): drummer
- Reggie Battise, a.k.a. "Reggie de Leon" (1989–2010): bass singer; replaced Guerin Barry
- Richard Joffe, a.k.a. "Joff" (1968–1973): original vocalist
- Robert Leonard (1968–1970): original vocalist
- Rob Mackenzie (1990–2001): guitarist; replaced by Buzz
- Scott PowellScott PowellScott Powell was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 13, 1948. He was a founding member of Sha Na Na, which began at Columbia University in 1969, under the name The Kingsmen. The group's name was later changed to avoid confusion with another band of the same name.Powell performed with Sha Na Na at...
, a.k.a. "Captain Outrageous," a.k.a. "Tony Santini" (1968–1981): original vocalist - "Screamin" Scott SimonScreamin' Scott SimonScreamin' Scott Simon has been Sha Na Na's piano-player since April 1970.- Biography :Simon graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in 1970 and joind Sha Na Na. He has written numerous songs that have been recorded by the band and others over the years.For the film version of Grease he and...
(1970 – present): pianist; replaced Joe Witkin
Discography
- Woodstock Festival Soundtrack [1969] (includes "At The Hop" by Sha Na Na) (later releases include "Duke Of Earl", "Book of Love", "Teen AngelTeen Angel (song)"Teen Angel" is a teenage tragedy song written by Jean Dinning and her husband, Red Surrey, and performed by both Jean's brother, Mark Dinning, and Alex Murray in 1959....
", "Get A JobGet a Job (song)"Get a Job" is one of the best known doo-wop songs of the 1950s. Recorded by The Silhouettes in October 1957, the song reached the number one spot on the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts in February 1958....
") - Rock And Roll Is Here to Stay [1969] (re-released in 1973 with different cover)
- Sha Na Na [1971] (Side A: Recorded live at Columbia University, New York)
- The Night Is Still Young [1972] *certain releases missed one of the songs*
- Live in Belgium, With Francis Bay & His Orchestra [1972] (Bootleg)
- Live in Central Park, New York City, NY (radio broadcast) [1972] (Bootleg)
- Live in Winterland, San Francisco, CA [1973] (Bootleg)
- The Golden Age of Rock ’N’ Roll [1973] (Double LP, sides 2, 3 & 4 live recordings probably from late 1972)
- Sha Na Na Live in Germany (TV: Musikladen), 1973 (DVD, CD+VCD)
- From The Streets Of New York (live) [1973]
- Hot Sox [1974]
- Sha Na Now [1975]
- Rock 'n Roll Graffiti – Live In Japan [1975]
- Grease Soundtrack [1978] (includes 6 songs by Sha Na Na)
- Rockin' In The 80's [1980]
- Silly Songs (1981)
- Rock 'n Roll Concert & Party [1987] (VHS)
- 34th & Vine (1990) [8 songs]
- The Sha Na Na 25th Anniversary Collection [1993] (20 songs including the 8 tracks on the previous 1990 album)
- Live in Concert (late 80s and early 90s concerts) [199?] (1 CD, 2 cassettes, or 1 DVD)
- 20 Classics Of Rock 'N' Roll (mid 90's) (compilation including a few new recordings)
- Rock 'n Roll Dance Party (20 tracks in 1996; 16 tracks in 1998)
- Then He Kissed Me (with Conny) [1999], Japan
- Live in Japan (with Conny) [2000], recorded In November 1999, Japan
- Rockin' Christmas [2002] (re-released in 2003 with different cover and one additional track)
- One More Saturday Night [2006]
- 40th Anniversary – Collector's Edition (includes -at least- 6 previously unreleased performances) [2009]
External links
- Chico Ryan website
- Official website
- [ AMG profile]
- http://www.wickedlocal.com/barnstable/fun/entertainment/x751579026 Lennie Baker performs