The Scuzzies
Encyclopedia
The Scuzzies were a mid 1960s recording and performing group of 5 teen cousins from the South Bay, Los Angeles
area of California. The group gained notoriety for recording a song, written by group leader Suzie Cappetta
, entitled "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" in the winter of 1964. The song was a tribute to a popular Los Angeles Disc Jockey Dave Hull
, AKA "The Hullabalooer" who worked at KRLA
, a 50,000 watt AM radio station in South Pasadena, California
. Hull was more recently named one of the top ten greatest broadcasters in Los Angeles radio history.
. Hull used the acetate disc many times to air his song during the next few days that followed.
Hull really meant it as a joke to humor his listeners, and the kids laughed and thought it was funny, so they adopted the name their idol had given them, but shortened it to "The Scuzzies", which was a very unusual group name for that time in music history, but Scuzzies fans seemed to approve of it.
' road manager, Don Wayne, who happened to hear the song being aired one evening the way it was originally recorded at the radio station. So, under the direction of Don Wayne, together with Bob Field, friend and owner of California Recording Studios(CRS Records), and with a local back-up band "The Vibrants", who were the house band at the Cinnamon Cinder Club for Bob Eubanks
, The professional version of "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" was recorded, finished and pressed before the Christmas holiday season of 1964.
's Clubs. One of the highlights for the Scuzzies in 1965 was when they became the opening act for "Sonny & Cher
" at the Grand Opening of "Jamaica West Jr." in Torrance, California.
in the Casinos of the Mint and Hacienda Hotels, and continued to headline in major hotels, restaurants, and night clubs throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
In 1993, Suzie Cappetta, at 44, had a bout with colon cancer. Five years later, she began to have heart problems leading to congestive heart failure, which caused her health to decline more rapidly after the year 2000. Cappetta died on April 13, 2007, at the age of 58.
South Bay, Los Angeles
The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border.The picture at right uses the broadest definition of the...
area of California. The group gained notoriety for recording a song, written by group leader Suzie Cappetta
Suzie Cappetta
Suzie Cappetta was an American pop musician.Suzie Capetta and her younger brothers, Michael and Robert, got their start in the music industry while growing up in Redondo Beach, California in the 1960s....
, entitled "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" in the winter of 1964. The song was a tribute to a popular Los Angeles Disc Jockey Dave Hull
Dave Hull
Dave Hull, aka "The Hullabalooer", is a Los Angeles radio personality voted one of the top ten LA radio personalities of all time. Born Jan. 20, 1934, he admits to being 77 with his personal addition herewith dated Mar. 3, 2011....
, AKA "The Hullabalooer" who worked at KRLA
KRLA
KRLA is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Glendale, California, USA, it serves the Southern California area. The station is currently owned by Salem Communications.- KIEV :...
, a 50,000 watt AM radio station in South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
. Hull was more recently named one of the top ten greatest broadcasters in Los Angeles radio history.
Lineup
The core of The Scuzzies in 1964 consisted of 3 siblings, The Cappetta Kids, as they were known in earlier years. Suzie Cappetta, age 15, Michael Cappetta, age 14, and Robert Cappetta, age 11. Their two cousins, also siblings, Gale Chodkowski, age 14, and Paula Chodkowski, age 11, rounded out the quintet. Their recording of "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" Became a regional hit when the song made the Top 40 charts in Los Angeles by March of 1965.Scuzzies meet the Dave "The Hullabalooer" Hull
Hull first heard his song when the 5 kids went to the KRLA Pasadena studios, during the fall of 1964, to perform the song for him in person. Hull liked it so much that he wanted to put it "On The Air" right away, so he instructed an employee to take the kids upstairs to their recording booth and record it onto an acetate discAcetate disc
An acetate disc, also known as a test acetate, dubplate , lacquer , transcription disc or instantaneous disc...
. Hull used the acetate disc many times to air his song during the next few days that followed.
Named by Hull
Hull inadvertently gave the group their name when he introduced the song for the first time on his radio show as being sung by "The Scuzzy, No Good, Beat-Up, Bad Guys".Hull really meant it as a joke to humor his listeners, and the kids laughed and thought it was funny, so they adopted the name their idol had given them, but shortened it to "The Scuzzies", which was a very unusual group name for that time in music history, but Scuzzies fans seemed to approve of it.
Hit song recording
The Scuzzies finally had their chance to record the "Hullabalooer" song professionally when they were contacted by The Everly BrothersThe Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
' road manager, Don Wayne, who happened to hear the song being aired one evening the way it was originally recorded at the radio station. So, under the direction of Don Wayne, together with Bob Field, friend and owner of California Recording Studios(CRS Records), and with a local back-up band "The Vibrants", who were the house band at the Cinnamon Cinder Club for Bob Eubanks
Bob Eubanks
Robert Leland "Bob" Eubanks is an American television/radio personality and game show host, best known for hosting the game show The Newlywed Game on and off since 1966, where he was known for using the catchphrase, "Makin' Whoopee"...
, The professional version of "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" was recorded, finished and pressed before the Christmas holiday season of 1964.
Performances
As the Scuzzies, the Quintet made television appearances on "9th Street West" with Sam Riddle in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and "TV-8 Dancetime" with Bob Hower in San Diego, California. They were also featured in Bob Eubanks "Cinnamon Cinder" and Casey KasemCasey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
's Clubs. One of the highlights for the Scuzzies in 1965 was when they became the opening act for "Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher were an American pop music duo, actors, singers and entertainers made up of husband-and-wife team Sonny and Cher Bono in the 1960s and 1970s. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector....
" at the Grand Opening of "Jamaica West Jr." in Torrance, California.
Beyond the 1960s
In the decades that followed the 1960s, the Cappetta Kids stayed together as a family trio headlining as "The Cappetta Company". Throughout the 1970s, the trio was booked in the Reuben's Restaurant chain performing five nights a week. They also showcased in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in the Casinos of the Mint and Hacienda Hotels, and continued to headline in major hotels, restaurants, and night clubs throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
In 1993, Suzie Cappetta, at 44, had a bout with colon cancer. Five years later, she began to have heart problems leading to congestive heart failure, which caused her health to decline more rapidly after the year 2000. Cappetta died on April 13, 2007, at the age of 58.