The 50's seemed to end in 1963. When Kennedy was assassinated, things seemed to go nuts. Everyone I talk to from that time said that. ShaNaNa is my favorite group. They brought back all that fun and innocence. My parents and I used to watch the TV show back in the day. We had fun singing along to the music of the time. I do like the earlier ShaNaNa with Vinnie Taylor. I like his guitar playing. So sad he didn't last long.
Very interesting. Been a fan since late 70s. Never missed a show on tv. Went to their concerts in Cleveland. Now in nm got to see them a few times. Being older now..I can appreciate their voices more. Their energy..and simply their talent. Learning more now about who they are personally. I value Donnys political beliefs and his stand to stand firm. Wanted to chat after concert with boys and just get to know them as people but of course no time..and needed to be respectful. They sound even better nowadays..they look great.. all very handsome and donny has so much energy on stage even more so now. Simply appreciate them more these days. Happy they still tour. Brought back many fab memories. They spent time to sign photos and say hello and hugs as well. Glad I listen to this and found it after all these yrs.
I'm tempted to repair the overly sibilant sound quality on this with my home software and re-post it myself, but I'd be violating rights ownership, so maybe I'll check in from time to time and answer questions of the sort I notice in the comments here. No notes or outline guided me in this interview, I just yammered away! (I don't remember learning that much in college except how to write without great discomfort, and doing it willingly is a reasonable payback to you who've kept me from ever having to "get a job" other than singing rock & roll classics all my life! When I think it over, my not appreciating any of your genuine interest would be a breach of proper human gratitude.) Johnny Contardo didn't get mention, which seems to annoy "999YORK" I notice below. Contardo was the replacement we found (via Elliot Cahn's mom knowing of him in the Boston cast of "Hair") for Rob Leonard. Rob left to pursuit his first love, which was academic study of linguistics, and our act had used him not only for some effective vocals (His "Teen Angel" performance at Woodstock gets lottsa views, somewhat to his chagrin, because the sound system at the festival gave us poor stage monitoring enough for him to lament his flawed intonation later. But his flair for authentic greaser impersonation preceded "Happy Days" and "Grease" by a few years and could have been a good model for the likes of Henry Winkler!) The worry as to Contardo was whether he could fit into the tight dance routines Rob did along with Scott Powell and Denny Greene dressed in gold lame suits! We voted to accept him as a partner once he proved capable. Contardo seemed to idolize Johnny Mathis and (his own mom's big fave) Tom Jones, and we ended up using his rendition of the Mathis 1957 hit "Chances Are" in our act to provide the "spotlight dance" with rotund Lenny Baker, our "Sensuous King of Rock & Roll," at the end of our "dance contest" feature, which was a fun mocking of American Bandstand, pulling three actual audience members on stage, during our live concerts. As to the accuracy of "Rock Around the Clock" coming out in 1955... You're correct, it was actually released in 1954, but didn't get much airplay at first. A little copy & paste from Wikipedia here: "On July 9, 1955, 'Rock Around the Clock' became the first rock and roll recording to hit the top of Billboard's Pop charts" goes along with the fact that it got a boost from its use in the hit movie "Blackboard Jungle" in 1955.
Donny York Hey there Donny, I now run a radio Station here is Rapid City, South Dakota, If ya like get ahold of me via my email frankyslawsonshow@gmail.com and me & my cohost would love to have you on our new station to do a live interview, sound quality would be better then before............let me know man, facebook.com/rapidfireradionetwork thanks brother!
Donny, I agree with Brett Lowden that this is a real interesting interview, despite the bad sound quality. I thought you guys would worry about whether or not Johnny Contardo would take kindly to the gold lame suit and greased up hair, but he did! Since then, his speaking voice aged, and he sounds more like Henry Winkler! Did you see any of his cooking videos from "Cooking With Johnny Contardo?" He doesn't speak in all of them, and he doesn't show his face, either, but I tried his cooking tip for Fettuccine Alfredo, and I loved it!
Interview review history books documentary about biography book of Life arts center spot in TV's show episode season of episode story life Ture in movie theater TV with oasr awesome picture awards TCM hollywood new movie sounds great I just love it so much
We must not forget and we must always remember the pioneers whom helped music threw the ages that helped music not only did Shanana entertain millions of fans world wide they are true pioneers and lovers of music we should not forget them...They not only should be on the Walk of Fame but also in the Music Hall OF Fame! #music #USsenate
Really interesting interview. Being from the UK I only discovered Sha Na Na recently and had no idea they had the history that they did. Have really enjoyed catching up on their music (and choreography). Interesting comment as well that they had a 'cut-off point' in the music that they covered.
Hey Donny. I grew up watching the show. It was one of my favorite shows. It's a shame that it can never be sold on DVD or aired on TVLAND. Copyright and royalties would make it impossible. Thanks to everyone sharing the clips on TH-cam.😊
With TH-cam so gi-normous now, they're administering all the intellectual property royalties "in house" and allowing just anything to be uploaded. For Sha Na Na, this is sublime news, because every episode of our TV series will be available whole, many in original broadcast quality! 🤩 (In the music business where success was always measured in hits on the radio, we never had one of our own; so the TV series will be the treasured artifact to make up for that!)
Thank you for a very good interview! Good to let Donny talk and you're a brilliant host! Thanks both of you
The 50's seemed to end in 1963. When Kennedy was assassinated, things seemed to go nuts. Everyone I talk to from that time said that.
ShaNaNa is my favorite group. They brought back all that fun and innocence. My parents and I used to watch the TV show back in the day. We had fun singing along to the music of the time. I do like the earlier ShaNaNa with Vinnie Taylor. I like his guitar playing. So sad he didn't last long.
Very interesting. Been a fan since late 70s. Never missed a show on tv. Went to their concerts in Cleveland. Now in nm got to see them a few times. Being older now..I can appreciate their voices more. Their energy..and simply their talent. Learning more now about who they are personally. I value Donnys political beliefs and his stand to stand firm. Wanted to chat after concert with boys and just get to know them as people but of course no time..and needed to be respectful. They sound even better nowadays..they look great.. all very handsome and donny has so much energy on stage even more so now. Simply appreciate them more these days. Happy they still tour. Brought back many fab
memories. They spent time to sign photos and say hello and hugs as well. Glad I listen to this and found it after all these yrs.
Donny you guys had it all. You were my favorite and quite the little doll. Loved to watch you dance.May the other members Rip. God Bless ♥️
I'm tempted to repair the overly sibilant sound quality on this with my home software and re-post it myself, but I'd be violating rights ownership, so maybe I'll check in from time to time and answer questions of the sort I notice in the comments here. No notes or outline guided me in this interview, I just yammered away! (I don't remember learning that much in college except how to write without great discomfort, and doing it willingly is a reasonable payback to you who've kept me from ever having to "get a job" other than singing rock & roll classics all my life! When I think it over, my not appreciating any of your genuine interest would be a breach of proper human gratitude.)
Johnny Contardo didn't get mention, which seems to annoy "999YORK" I notice below. Contardo was the replacement we found (via Elliot Cahn's mom knowing of him in the Boston cast of "Hair") for Rob Leonard. Rob left to pursuit his first love, which was academic study of linguistics, and our act had used him not only for some effective vocals (His "Teen Angel" performance at Woodstock gets lottsa views, somewhat to his chagrin, because the sound system at the festival gave us poor stage monitoring enough for him to lament his flawed intonation later. But his flair for authentic greaser impersonation preceded "Happy Days" and "Grease" by a few years and could have been a good model for the likes of Henry Winkler!) The worry as to Contardo was whether he could fit into the tight dance routines Rob did along with Scott Powell and Denny Greene dressed in gold lame suits! We voted to accept him as a partner once he proved capable. Contardo seemed to idolize Johnny Mathis and (his own mom's big fave) Tom Jones, and we ended up using his rendition of the Mathis 1957 hit "Chances Are" in our act to provide the "spotlight dance" with rotund Lenny Baker, our "Sensuous King of Rock & Roll," at the end of our "dance contest" feature, which was a fun mocking of American Bandstand, pulling three actual audience members on stage, during our live concerts.
As to the accuracy of "Rock Around the Clock" coming out in 1955... You're correct, it was actually released in 1954, but didn't get much airplay at first. A little copy & paste from Wikipedia here: "On July 9, 1955, 'Rock Around the Clock' became the first rock and roll recording to hit the top of Billboard's Pop charts" goes along with the fact that it got a boost from its use in the hit movie "Blackboard Jungle" in 1955.
Donny York Hey there Donny, I now run a radio Station here is Rapid City, South Dakota, If ya like get ahold of me via my email frankyslawsonshow@gmail.com and me & my cohost would love to have you on our new station to do a live interview, sound quality would be better then before............let me know man, facebook.com/rapidfireradionetwork thanks brother!
Shawn Slawson easier catching me via Facebook. Busy at the moment, but I'll try to remember to get more of a Google + habit
You were in it for the long haul, not like them bums who left to become doctors and lawyers. You should write a book.
This is a real interesting interview and I wish that the Sonic quality of it was better.
Donny, I agree with Brett Lowden that this is a real interesting interview, despite the bad sound quality. I thought you guys would worry about whether or not Johnny Contardo would take kindly to the gold lame suit and greased up hair, but he did! Since then, his speaking voice aged, and he sounds more like Henry Winkler! Did you see any of his cooking videos from "Cooking With Johnny Contardo?" He doesn't speak in all of them, and he doesn't show his face, either, but I tried his cooking tip for Fettuccine Alfredo, and I loved it!
Astute spokesman, and passionate artist. Thx for the post.
Interview review history books documentary about biography book of Life arts center spot in TV's show episode season of episode story life Ture in movie theater TV with oasr awesome picture awards TCM hollywood new movie sounds great I just love it so much
We must not forget and we must always remember the pioneers whom helped music threw the ages that helped music not only did Shanana entertain millions of fans world wide they are true pioneers and lovers of music we should not forget them...They not only should be on the Walk of Fame but also in the Music Hall OF Fame! #music #USsenate
facebook.com/KG5CUOHOME
Donny you were classy cool. love you with JONIE SUMMERS SINGING HER HIT JOHNY GET ANGRY LOVE WHEN YOU SAY IM NOT JOHNY MY NAME IS DONNY . GOD BLESS
Really interesting interview. Being from the UK I only discovered Sha Na Na recently and had no idea they had the history that they did. Have really enjoyed catching up on their music (and choreography). Interesting comment as well that they had a 'cut-off point' in the music that they covered.
Hey Donny. I grew up watching the show. It was one of my favorite shows. It's a shame that it can never be sold on DVD or aired on TVLAND. Copyright and royalties would make it impossible. Thanks to everyone sharing the clips on TH-cam.😊
It can be sold in the late 2050s, when the copyrights run out on those songs. Ask Gino, he's a lawyer.
With TH-cam so gi-normous now, they're administering all the intellectual property royalties "in house" and allowing just anything to be uploaded. For Sha Na Na, this is sublime news, because every episode of our TV series will be available whole, many in original broadcast quality! 🤩 (In the music business where success was always measured in hits on the radio, we never had one of our own; so the TV series will be the treasured artifact to make up for that!)
Sound gets really bad in the middle which is unfortunate because what Donny is saying is very interesting.
miss you man and show
They're STILL rocking and rolling today!
Please write a book about Sha Na Na
DONNY!!!!! 3