The Passions (American band)
The Passions are an American doo-wop group from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
In 1958, the quintet recorded demos and sought more career-focused members. They found Jimmy Gallagher, former lead singer of the Runarounds, in Bensonhurst. After approaching him at his home and harmonizing together, they formed a quartet with Jimmy on lead, Tony on first tenor, Albee on second tenor, and Vinnie on baritone.
In 1959, during the recording of "Hushabye" by the Mystics, their friend Tony Armato introduced his group to their manager, Jim Gribble. Gribble signed the Sinceres, renaming them the Passions. He provided them with a demo of "Just to Be with You" by studio singers known as the Cousins, who were Paul Simon and Carole King.
In 1960, the Passions recorded "Gloria" with Lou Rotondo replacing Vinny. Lou Rotondo and Albie Galione, along with Albie Contrera of the Mystics, provided backing vocals for Clay Cole's "Here, There, Everywhere" single. The group's next release, "Made for Lovers", was lost by Audicon Records. The Passions recorded additional songs for Audicon, which were leased to Jubilee and Octavia. Their hit song "Just to Be with You" was released in August 1959 on Audicon label, reaching the top 20 in many eastern cities and charting nationally at number 69. The follow-up singles, "I Only Want You" and "This Is My Love", were also well-received and competed for radio play and sales nationwide.[1]
Managed by Jim Gribble, who also managed other doo-wop groups such as the Mystics and The Jarmels, the group collaborated with producer and songwriter Stan Vincent.[2]
In the late 1990s, the Passions reunited with the Mystics and the Classics for the Brooklyn Reunion Show. Lead singer Jimmy Gallagher left the Passions in 1960 to join the Navy but later performed with The Legends of Doo Wop in 1998.[3]
Original members
- Jimmy Gallagher (Lead)
- Albie Gallone (Second Tenor)
- Vinnie Acierno (Baritone)
- Tony Armato (First Tenor)
- Lou Rotondo (Baritone / Lead - replaced Vinnie Acierno in 1960)
Discography
- 1958 - "Tango Of Love" / "Nervous About Love" (Dore 505)
- 1959 - "Just To Be With You" / "Oh Melancholy Me" (Audicon 102)
- 1960 - "I Only Want You" / "This Is My Love" (Audicon 105)
- 1960 - "Gloria" / "Jungle Drums" (Audicon 106)
- 1960 - "Beautiful Dreamer" / "One Look At You Is All It Look" (Audicon 108)
- 1960 - "Made For Lovers" / "You Don't Love Me Anymore" (Audicon 112)
- 1961 - "I Gotta Know" / "Aphrodite" (Octavia 8005)
- 1962 - "Lonely Road" / "One Look At You Is All It Look" (Jubilee 5406)
- 1963 - "The Bully" / "Empty Seat" (ABC 10436)
- 1963 - "Sixteen Candles" / "The Third Floor" (instrumental) (Diamond 146)
References
- ^ Mark Rotella, Amore: The Story of Italian American Song, 2010, "The list of Italian doo-wop groups is endless: the Brooklyn group the Mystics sang "Hushabye" the Passions, from Red Hook, Brooklyn, sang "Just to Be with You" the Capris, from Queens, sang "There's a Moon Out Tonight" the Regents came ..."
- ^ Jay Warner, American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today, 1992, 0634099787, p. 430. "Released in August 1959 on Sol Winkler's Audicon label, the Passions' impeccable harmonies and Gallagher's impassioned lead put "Just to Be With You" on radios... "This Is My Love" later became a doo wop classic and part of the repertoire of countless harmony groups" by tackling "Gloria," a street-corner classic that few white groups had been able to pull off as well as the original by THE CADILLACS. The Passions did an excellent version that became the yardstick by which other white groups measured their ability to handle the song.
- ^ Anthony M. Musso, Setting the Record Straight, 1438952929, 2008. In the meantime, the Passions found a replacement for Gallagher. "Jimmy O'Neill took my place in the ... Simultaneous to his work with Dion, Gallagher helped form the popular Legends of Doo Wop group in 1998.