THE DUPREES YESTERDAY & TODAY. The Duprees lead singers with the most amount of respectable stage performance time and lineage. Joey Van 1961 to 1965 - 4 years Michael Kelly 1965 to 1978 - 13 years Tommy Petillo 1978 to 1980 - 2 years Richie Rosato 1981 to 2001 - 20 years Tommy Petillo 1984 to 1986 - J. Salvato Duprees 2 years Tommy Petillo 2001 to 2023 - 22 years The group was founded in the early 1960s in Jersey City, New Jersey, by [William L. Dickinson High School] students Michael Arnone, Joe Santollo, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, and lead singer Joey Canzano (later known as Joey Vann). Mike Kelly, former lead singer of "The Vocal Teens" who sang on the original demo tapes for Coed Records, replaced Joey Vann as the lead singer for the Duprees from 1964 to 1977. George Paxton, a former big band leader, was impressed by the group's style and signed them to his Coed Records label. Their first Single "You Belong to Me" Pop Chart #7 (1962) had been a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952. The Duprees' version was given a big band backing by Paxton. Tom Bialoglow left the group in the early 1960's not to be replaced to continue as a four man vocal group. Singles chart All chart listings are according to Billboard The group had 6 top 40 songs. "My Own True Love" - Pop Chart (1962) "You Belong to Me" - Pop Chart (1962) “Ginny”- (1962) “As Time Goes By” (1962) "Gone with the Wind" - Pop Chart #89 (1963) "Have You Heard" - (1963) "Why Don't You Believe Me" - (1963) “The Things I Love” - 1963 "Take Me as I Am" (1963) "Love Eyes" (1963) The Sand and the Sea" # (1964) "(It's No) Sin" - (1964) "It Isn't Fair" - (1964) "Let Them Talk" - (1966) “Exodus" - (1966) "Check Yourself" - (1970) "Delicious" - (1975) “The Sky's The Limit” - (1975) Discography Albums 1963 to 1975 "You Belong to Me" (1962) "Have You Heard" (1963) "Total Recall" (1968) The Italian Asphalt & Pavement Company - (1970) With Jesus Alverez on lead vocals. "Delicious'' / Disco Singles charted #3 (1975) In the late 1970s, The Duprees became unfashionable after the Beatles spearheaded the British Invasion in the 1960s and although they continued to record, turning in a more "pop" direction they released an album under the name "The Italian Asphalt & Pavement Company" and charted with lead singer Mike Kelly with one song reaching #97 "Check Yourself". The again with a great performance by Mike Kelly on "The Sky's The Limit" In 1978 lead vocalist Mike Kelly and singer Frank Cirel left the Duprees and was replaced by Tommy Petillo on lead vocals, a cousin of Joe Cataldo who sang with the Elgins of Jersey City and friends of Joe Santollo and the Duprees. John Salvato was starting up his "Talent Spectrum" booking agency and only sang on the big show's being replaced by Larry Casanova. The original group members of John Salvato, Mike Arnone, and Joe Santollo's last live performance with Larry Casanova vocals and Tommy Petillo on lead was New Years' 1979. Mike Arnone trademarked the Duprees name and kept the group going into the 1980s with leads Johnny Petillo and Richie Rosato, with replacement singers Al Latta, Bob Leszczak, from 1981-83. In mid-1983 John Salvato went on to form his own group with Tommy Petillo on lead, Bobby Valli, and Vinnie Crecca. The group stopped performing in 1986 with a court order issued by the trademark. Mike Arnone with Richie Rosato on lead, Tony Testa, Phil Granito, and Jimmy Spinelli went on to perform as the Duprees for the next 20 Years (1981 to 2021) Richie Rosato left the group in 2001 and was replaced by Tommy Petillo for the third time as lead singer for the Duprees to the present-day performing with Tony Testa, Phil Granito, and Jimmy Spinelli. Joe Santollo died in 1981, Joey Vann died in 1984, and Mike Arnone died in 2005. Mike Kelly died on August 7, 2012...Tommy Bialoglow left the group in the early 1960's. The Original Duprees (Joey Vann Canzano, Mike Kelly, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, Joe Santollo, and Mike Arnone) were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. Today's Duprees The current edition of The Duprees performing today with Tommy Petillo who came back as lead singer in 2001 continues to perform with The Duprees today. Phil Granito has been with the Duprees since 1987, Jimmy Spinelli joined the group in 1989. 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of "You Belong To Me" Today The legend and the legacy continues. The Duprees are known the world over for their romantic interpretations of the most beautiful love songs ever written. They have made a career out of giving new life to old hits. In 2021 Tony Testa retired after 30 years of Duprees stage performances. The tradition and sound that originally made the Duprees such a well-loved and successful group has echoed through time for more than 50 years. Tommy Petillo, Phil Granito, and Jimmy Spinelli active today clearly show their dedication and passion for the type of music that started on a New Jersey street corner and grew to something both classic and ultimately timeless. Todays Duprees have 9 CD releases and 1 DVD release The Duprees Live At The Sands (vol-1 2003) The Duprees Live At The Sands (vol-2 2003) Duprees Go To The Movies (2008) The Duprees Today (2008) A Duprees Christmas (2009) As Time Goes By (2010) Great Songs of Our Time (2011) Fiftieth Anniversary Album 2012 Happy 100th Mr. Sinatra (2016) Night of Legends Live DVD "The Duprees Live / Little Anthony & The Imperials" (2010)
THE DUPREES YESTERDAY & TODAY.
The Duprees lead singers with the most amount of respectable stage performance time and lineage.
Joey Van 1961 to 1965 - 4 years
Michael Kelly 1965 to 1978 - 13 years
Tommy Petillo 1978 to 1980 - 2 years
Richie Rosato 1981 to 2001 - 20 years
Tommy Petillo 1984 to 1986 - J. Salvato Duprees 2 years
Tommy Petillo 2001 to 2023 - 22 years
The group was founded in the early 1960s in Jersey City, New Jersey, by [William L. Dickinson High School] students Michael Arnone, Joe Santollo, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, and lead singer Joey Canzano (later known as Joey Vann).
Mike Kelly, former lead singer of "The Vocal Teens" who sang on the original demo tapes for Coed Records, replaced Joey Vann as the lead singer for the Duprees from 1964 to 1977.
George Paxton, a former big band leader, was impressed by the group's style and signed them to his Coed Records label. Their first Single "You Belong to Me" Pop Chart #7 (1962) had been a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952. The Duprees' version was given a big band backing by Paxton. Tom Bialoglow left the group in the early 1960's not to be replaced to continue as a four man vocal group.
Singles chart All chart listings are according to Billboard The group had 6 top 40 songs.
"My Own True Love" - Pop Chart (1962)
"You Belong to Me" - Pop Chart (1962)
“Ginny”- (1962)
“As Time Goes By” (1962)
"Gone with the Wind" - Pop Chart #89 (1963)
"Have You Heard" - (1963)
"Why Don't You Believe Me" - (1963)
“The Things I Love” - 1963
"Take Me as I Am" (1963)
"Love Eyes" (1963)
The Sand and the Sea" # (1964)
"(It's No) Sin" - (1964)
"It Isn't Fair" - (1964)
"Let Them Talk" - (1966)
“Exodus" - (1966)
"Check Yourself" - (1970)
"Delicious" - (1975)
“The Sky's The Limit” - (1975)
Discography Albums 1963 to 1975
"You Belong to Me" (1962)
"Have You Heard" (1963)
"Total Recall" (1968)
The Italian Asphalt & Pavement Company - (1970)
With Jesus Alverez on lead vocals. "Delicious'' / Disco Singles charted #3 (1975)
In the late 1970s, The Duprees became unfashionable after the Beatles spearheaded the British Invasion in the 1960s and although they continued to record, turning in a more "pop" direction they released an album under the name "The Italian Asphalt & Pavement Company" and charted with lead singer Mike Kelly with one song reaching #97 "Check Yourself". The again with a great performance by Mike Kelly on "The Sky's The Limit"
In 1978 lead vocalist Mike Kelly and singer Frank Cirel left the Duprees and was replaced by Tommy Petillo on lead vocals, a cousin of Joe Cataldo who sang with the Elgins of Jersey City and friends of Joe Santollo and the Duprees. John Salvato was starting up his "Talent Spectrum" booking agency and only sang on the big show's being replaced by Larry Casanova.
The original group members of John Salvato, Mike Arnone, and Joe Santollo's last live performance with Larry Casanova vocals and Tommy Petillo on lead was New Years' 1979.
Mike Arnone trademarked the Duprees name and kept the group going into the 1980s with leads Johnny Petillo and Richie Rosato, with replacement singers Al Latta, Bob Leszczak, from 1981-83.
In mid-1983 John Salvato went on to form his own group with Tommy Petillo on lead, Bobby Valli, and Vinnie Crecca. The group stopped performing in 1986 with a court order issued by the trademark.
Mike Arnone with Richie Rosato on lead, Tony Testa, Phil Granito, and Jimmy Spinelli went on to perform as the Duprees for the next 20 Years (1981 to 2021)
Richie Rosato left the group in 2001 and was replaced by Tommy Petillo for the third time as lead singer for the Duprees to the present-day performing with Tony Testa, Phil Granito, and Jimmy Spinelli.
Joe Santollo died in 1981, Joey Vann died in 1984, and Mike Arnone died in 2005. Mike Kelly died on August 7, 2012...Tommy Bialoglow left the group in the early 1960's.
The Original Duprees (Joey Vann Canzano, Mike Kelly, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, Joe Santollo, and Mike Arnone) were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006.
Today's Duprees
The current edition of The Duprees performing today with Tommy Petillo who came back as lead singer in 2001 continues to perform with The Duprees today.
Phil Granito has been with the Duprees since 1987, Jimmy Spinelli joined the group in 1989.
2012 marked the 50th anniversary of "You Belong To Me" Today The legend and the legacy continues. The Duprees are known the world over for their romantic interpretations of the most beautiful love songs ever written. They have made a career out of giving new life to old hits. In 2021 Tony Testa retired after 30 years of Duprees stage performances.
The tradition and sound that originally made the Duprees such a well-loved and successful group has echoed through time for more than 50 years. Tommy Petillo, Phil Granito, and Jimmy Spinelli active today clearly show their dedication and passion for the type of music that started on a New Jersey street corner and grew to something both classic and ultimately timeless.
Todays Duprees have 9 CD releases and 1 DVD release
The Duprees Live At The Sands (vol-1 2003)
The Duprees Live At The Sands (vol-2 2003)
Duprees Go To The Movies (2008)
The Duprees Today (2008)
A Duprees Christmas (2009)
As Time Goes By (2010)
Great Songs of Our Time (2011)
Fiftieth Anniversary Album 2012
Happy 100th Mr. Sinatra (2016)
Night of Legends Live DVD "The Duprees Live / Little Anthony & The Imperials" (2010)