Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks & Jimmy McHugh


Doo Wop idols, The Duprees, held their own during the British Invasion, scoring a string of hits between 1962-1966 with standards like Jimmy McHugh’s Where Are You.
The Duprees were formed in the streets of New Jersey, just like those other Jersey Boys, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
Every night these five leather-jacketed high school buddies rehearsed on the same street corner, under the same street light and every night they were chased away by the same local beat cop!


Luckily a friend of one of the boys had a cousin who had a friend who knew former big band leader George Paxton, who had just started up a label, Coed Records.
Having written arrangements for Bunny Berigan, Charlie Spivak, Vaughn Monroe and Sammy Kaye, Paxton recognized the potential for recording updated versions of classic American standards.
Guided by Paxton, The Duprees, perfected their signature sound which blended Joey Vann’s lead vocals and classic doo wop harmonies with big band arrangements.


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