REMEMBER SIDEWALK SERENADES? I know how much the Greenpoint Baby Boomers like to reminisce about growing up in 'The Point' during the 50's and 60's. They were wonderful, simple, almost magical times. One of the most prominent memories of that era was listening to the sweet, pure sounds of a close harmony a cappella doo-wop group. Hearing those groups give an impromptu street corner serenade was as close to heaven as you could get. 

The Greenpoint Doo-Wop section is dedicated to Greenpoint's Doo-wop era, the late 1950's thru the 1960's.  This page will provide information, stories and facts (past and present) about the various groups and individuals that filled Greenpoint's street corners with the sounds of Doo-Wop music.  As always, if you have information that is not published here about Greenpoint Doo-Wop but should be, we invite you to e-mail us at fdmuchow@optonline.net so it can be shared with everyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donnie Barto and the Del Chords
(Bartolemeo)

Donnie Barto lived on Humbolt St., between Nassau and Driggs Avenues. In 1961, Donnie and his cousins Al and Santo Barbarino formed "Donnie and the Del Chords" and released their first record, "When You're Alone". In its first week, this song won WABC's Bruce ("Cousin Brucee") Morrow's contest for best new artist release.  The song went on to obtain a respectable position on the charts.  They also released an album and were planning a second before the group broke up.  Donnie lives upstate these days.

 Last year Donnie got Santo and Al together to record and release a new CD called, "Down by Coney Island" with a new song that will be used as a theme song for the newly renovated Coney Island.  Click on this link to hear the song, "Down by Coney Island (MPG3)" or Real Audio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bruce Smith  

Bruce Smith lived on the corner of Nassau Avenue and Russell Street (over Shankman's, and later Siegel Brothers).  Your favorite web master used to sing with Bruce in a group called "The Deacons". Later, Bruce went on to sing with The Montclair's" right up to 1979 when he moved to Dallas Texas. Bruce loved living in Texas, but he did miss doo-wop. He finally joined a men's a cappella chorus and used that talent pool to find three other oldies addicts, who became "4 EVER YOUNG." Now, five years later, they are delighting audiences all over the Southwest with that old time Brooklyn doo-wop sound.  "4 EVER YOUNG" is proud to announce their first CD. A collection of  fifteen classic a cappella doo-wop songs, sang the way you remember it.  Check out their web site at http://www.4ey.com. See if you remember Bruce from the group's pictures and drop him an e-mail on the site's response icon. While you're there, check out a few sample sound bites. If you like what you hear you can order their CD and have your own street corner serenade whenever you're feeling nostalgic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deena &
The Pointers

"Deena and the Pointers" performed together for a little more than a year between 1964 and 1965.   From (l to r) in the photo below, at baritone was Tom Orbanski (N.Henry St.), at second tenor was Stan Altyn (Engert Ave.), at first tenor was Frank Dmuchowski (Russell St.), at lead and guitar was Deena (Leonard St.), and singing bass was Mike Urban (N.Henry St.).  Prior to the formation of the group, Mike, Tom, Stan and Frank performed as a group called the "Topix" (see next section). "Deena and the Pointers" performed at various dances and competitions in Brooklyn and Queens.  In the summer of 1965 they were invited to perform at the New York State Pavilion at the World's Fair in Flushing, NY.  

Their World's Fair performance turned out to be a pivotal point for the group.  On the high side, they were offered an opportunity to audition for a recording contract; on the low end,  Mike, Tom and Stan received draft letters that precipitated their enlistment in the U.S. Air Force.  Thus, the group was forced to break up in the fall of 1965.


(photo courtesy of Mike Urbanski)

Of all the group members, Deena was the only one to pursue a career in music.  She now lives in a suburb of Wash. D.C.  and has been working as a full-time musician/vocalist for the past 20 + years.  According to Deena, "Music has always been my first love and thank God I'm able to keep the love affair going."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The Topix

The Topix was formed in circa 1963 by combining members of 2 other groups.  They mainly performed at parties and dances in Greenpoint.  They could often be heard on the street corners or in Winthrop Park drawing a crowd of listeners.  The group consisted of Frank (The Monk) Dmuchowski (first tenor/lead); Stan (Goofy) Altyn (second tenor/lead); Tom Orbanski (baritone/lead); Mike (Ox) Urban (bass).  

To the author's knowledge, of the four, only Frank Dmuchowski continued singing and performing and does so currently.  However, since the breakup of Deanna and the Pointers, Frank's singing experience until recently did not include doo-wop.  In 1971 he moved out to the mid-west (Wisconsin and Illinois) where he performed gospel, sacred and contemporary Christian music in church choirs, ensembles, and as a professional soloist.  In 1993 he returned to NY (Long Island), but did not perform again until 2000, when at the encouragement of Bruce Smith (featured above), he joined the Nassau Mid-Island chapter of the International Barbershop Society.  He performs regularly with the chorus as a tenor.  He currently sings lead/tenor in a barbershop/doo-wop fusion quartet, "The AfterGlo Worms". Here is Frank at lead during a recent "AfterGlo Worms" live performance of, "For The Longest Time".   You can also hear Frank sing  "Daddy's Home" -Lead (page background song), 'Little Star" -Lead, "In the Still of the Night" - Lead.  Actually, except for the bass part in "In the Still of the Night", Frank sings all the parts to these songs.

Tom Orbanski became an FAA Air Traffic Controller after doing so while in the Air Force.  After being furloughed by President Regan during the famous firing of striking Air Traffic Controllers,  he then pursued a career as a stock broker in Denver.  Tom now lives in Denver and is both a stock broker and Air Traffic Controller.

Mike Urban became a computer programmer in the Air Force, then worked as a Zookeeper (an appropriate job for "The Ox") in the Denver Zoo while he completed his education.  He is currently living in Colorado Springs, CO, and works as a civilian Systems Manager for the Air Force, and is now working on his Ph.d.  

These days Stan Altyn works as a Web Press operator for a large Metropolitan area newspaper company.  He lives in Yonkers, NY, but he also spends time in Florida, and in contact with many of the "Old Gang" that became Sunbirds.


(photo courtesy of Frank Lepre of The Brentwoods)
From l to r: (Standing) Frank Dmuchowski, Stan Altyn, To Orbanski (Kneeling) Mike Urban
 

Eddie and the Emeralds

"Eddie & The Emeralds" attended St Francis Prep from 1960 to 1964. They met in the school's locker room and began singing in 1962. The group consisted of Ed Deschner (Lead), Jim McGreevey (Bass/Baritone), George Taylor (Second Tenor) and Charley DiVuolo (First Tenor). They sang at Dances, Parties and spent many afternoons (after school) singing under The BQE by the Lorimer Street subway station. They stayed together until the early seventies when Jim and Charley lost touch with Eddie and George. Charley gained fame and cut an album on the Clifton label with "The Jersey Dream" in the early 90s. The group will be featured in the revised edition of A cappella Street Corner Vocal Groups, a book written by Abe Santiago and Steve Dunham this year. There is also talk of including some of our cuts that we salvaged on tape in a new album of unreleased A cappella recordings to be produced by the same two guys. Jim is currently singing with "The Saints" based in New Port Richey, FL.  You can visit Jim's personal Web site www.insearchofharmony.com to see pictures of "Eddie & The Emeralds" under Jim's "PHOTO GALLERY" section.


(photo Courtesy of Jim McGreevey)
From l to r: Ed Deschner, George Taylor, Jim McGreevy, Charley DiVuolo

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brentwoods

 
"The Brentwoods" were together for a short time in the mid 60's. Frank Lepre continued to sing with other groups over the years. He  sang on and off around Philadelphia (the Doo Wop Circuit) with a lot of groups. The two groups that he sang with for any great length of time are New Harmony and Mid Life Crisis.
 Mid Life Crisis: Formed in 1992 and still singing today (http://www.midlifecrisis.net). Frank sang second tenor in the group that had Four guys and a Gal, who was a music teacher at a local high school and played keyboards. They did a lot of the Wildwood gigs in the summer, opening for acts such as Bobby Rydell, Hearts of Stone and the Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners
 
"New Harmony": He started with this group in 1995 and continued till 2000, Frank says, they are great bunch of guys and are still great friends today. He designed their Web Site and actually trained his replacement Buddy Rhodes who sings with them to this day.    They also produced an album called "In Motion, The Boys Are Back In Town"  it did quite well locally.  

These days Frank is kept busy with his network consulting business in Southern New Jersey.

Steve Shelto went on to make a career in show business and has performed for Presidents and royalty.  Here is Steve's Web site to give a flavor of his career thus far.

 


(photo courtesy of Frank Lepre of The Brentwoods)
From left to right.  (top row) Pete Ponticelli - second tenor, Frank Lepre - first tenor, Nicky Maranilli - baritone, Beverly Warren - false seto. (bottom row) Steve Shelto - lead.