Representative Albums: "All-Time Greatest Hits," "Their Complete Coed Masters," "The Best of the Duprees"
Representative Songs: "You Belong to Me," "Have You Heard," "My Own True Love (Tara's Them"
Biography
One of the final Italian doo wop groups to make a wave in the early '60s, the Duprees were in some senses not a rock & roll act at all. They relied on updates of pre-rock pop standards for most of their material, dressed up in classy big band arrangements. Their New Jersey street-corner roots were still audible in their doo wop harmonies, giving their treatments of moldy oldies enough of a contemporary flavor to compete in the rock and pop marketplace. They were very good at what they did, and in 1962-1963, they were very successful: "You Belong to Me" (previously recorded by Jo Stafford, Patti Page, Dean Martin, andJoni James) made the Top Ten, and "My Own True Love" (from the soundtrack of Gone With the Wind), "Have You Heard," and "Why Don't You Believe Me" were also Top 40 hits. The Duprees were already retro when they were at their peak, and were washed out by the British Invasion, although they continued to record throughout the late '60s, sometimes in a Jay & the Americans/Vogues style. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
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). 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" had previously been a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952. The Duprees' version was given a big band backing by Paxton and reached the US top ten in 1962.
The group had more top 40 hits in the next few years. "My Own True Love" was a vocal adaptation of "Tara's Theme" from the soundtrack of Gone with the Wind and became the group's second hit. "Have You Heard" and "Why Don't You Believe Me" also reached the Top 40 charts and, like "You Belong to Me," were originally early '50s female vocal hits (Joni James, in this case). The group became known for mixing doo-wop vocals with big band arrangements. Tom Bialoglow left in 1963. Mike Kelly, who had recorded on the group's original demos for George Paxton, replaced Joey Vann as lead vocalist in 1964.
Despite becoming unfashionable after The Beatles spearheaded the British Invasion in 1964, the Duprees continued to record, turning in a more "pop" direction, and reaching the Top 100 as late as 1975. Joe Santollo died in 1981, Joey Vann died in 1984 and Mike Arnone died in 2005. In the late 60's and early 70's they released an album under the name "The Italian Asphalt And Paving Co.".and had a minor hit called "Check Yourself." Michael Kelly (lead singer from 1965-1977) sang with The Chaperones for a brief stint in 2006. Tommy Bialoglow has his own group called Twilight Time. John Salvato is a booking agent and no longer performs.
On November 6, 2008 the Duprees were officially inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame honoring the original members. Tommy Bialoglow performed and accepted the Harmony Award.
Discography
* You Belong to Me 1962
* Have You Heard 1963
* Total Recall 1968
Chart performance
Album Charts
You Belong to Me #101 Billboard album charts 1962
Single Charts
All chart listings are according to Billboard
"My Own True Love" Adult Contemporary chart #13 1962
