The Beginning of The Chaperones - 1956
- In 1956 a very young Tommy, Roy and Nick Salvato started a singing group. At that time they did not have a name for the group. All members were from Farmingdale, Long Island New York. As Tommy remembers, we heard of a man in the nearby town of Amityville who wrote the hit record “A Thousand Miles Away” for The Heartbeats. His name was Mr. William Miller. Mr. Miller was a songwriter and teacher. He would take young singing groups and give them singing lessons. I will remember him forever for his kindness and generosity.
- He named our group “The Heartthrobs” and gave us two special songs to learn that he wrote for us. Every week we would go to him for lessons. This was a great man who was loved by all the singers he helped. Mr. Miller also had five singing daughters who sang like angels. They were a wonderful Gospel singing group that appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York every Sunday. Their harmony was so beautiful. Each girl helped us in learning our harmony parts. They were so fabulous to us.
- From that time on, The Chaperones were born. A special thanks to Mr. William Miller and The wonderful “Miller Sisters”
A Thousand Miles Away-The Heartbeats
The Heartbeats
The Miller Sisters
ONE OF THE FIRST DOO-WOP SINGING GROUPS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
When you think of great love songs from the early 60’s, the song “Cruise to the Moon” by The Chaperones comes to mind. It’s one of those memorable tunes from a memorable era sung by a group with a special sound.
The Original Chaperones second tenor and founder since 1957. Tommy helped write, Cruise to the Moon and many other Chaperone hits. He currently lives in Maricopa, Arizona and is mostly retired. Most of Tommy’s career has been in Las Vegas working with former partner and friend Donnie Lee Moore of “American Superstars Show” fame. They worked as The Brothers on the Las Vegas strip.
The Chaperones were five guys from Long Island – Tony Amato (lead), Roy Marchesano (1st tenor), Tommy Ronca (second tenor), Richard Messina and Nick Salvato (baritone). Tommy, Roy, Nick and Richie went to Farmingdale High School on Long Island, Tony Amato was from Deer Park. The group had a couple of different names prior to the Chaperones including the Sharptones and Fairlanes. The name “Chaperones” was chosen because dances and proms were popular at the time and the term was in Vogue and given to us by the Josie Label an affiliate of Jubilee Records.
Tommy remembers going into the RCA Studios in Manhattan and being very nervous. He says we were very prepared and well rehearsed but tense. After the recording and while the group was waiting for “Cruise to the Moon” to be released, in the summer of 1960 they backed up Lee Adrian on “Barbara, Let’s Go Steady” and “I’m So Lonely” for the Richcraft Label. They also backed up Lou Jordan for the Josie Label on “Paradise for Two’ and “Close your Eyes”. Lee was also an up and coming singer with the Josie Label stable.
Some of the more memorable shows the Chaperones played included, Murray the K gigs at Frontier Land and Freedom Land. And when the group appeared with the Five Satins and Little Anthony and the Imperials on the Clay Cole Show at Palisades Park in New Jersey. The group’s follow up record “Shining Star” (1961) was an attempt to play on the success of “Little Star” by The Elegants and “Hushabye” by The Mystics. They then released their next record on Josie a remake of “Blueberry Sweet” by the Chandeliers. The “Man From the Moon” was the one tune they were looking forward to put out there, but the timing was too late. The Beatles & Rolling Stones were now taking over the airways and the British invasion was now in America.
Tommy left for Las Vegas in 1965 bringing the Peppermint Lounge Twisters Show from 45th Street in Manhattan to the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. And Roy went on to Los Angeles where he joined all the other west coast song writers. Johnny Contino at the time joined the Chaperones taking Tommy’s place. Tony Amato and Nick Salvato did a wonderful job keeping the Chaperones legacy alive all through the years in New York until Tony’s death in 1990. Roy also passed away in 1995. We Trademarked The Chaperones name in 1987 and shared all rights with the other original members. The Doo-Wop Genre lives on!
“The Chaperones” are waiting for induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame!
The Chaperones are on page 390
Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music
