In the Lobby on a break and still singing
Richard Nader's Doo Wop Reunion Show V
Sunday, March 13, 2005 at 7:00PM
Broward Center for The Performing Arts
201 SW 5th Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312
Box Office: 800-564-9539; 954-462-0222
Web: www.browardcenter.com
Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge
"16 Candles"
"The Worst That Could Happen"
"Step By Step"
"The Angels Listened In"
KENNY VANCE & THE PLANOTONES
"Looking For An Echo"
Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners
"Since I Don’t Have You"
"Pennies From Heaven"
“This I Swear”
The Platters
"My Prayer"
"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"
"You've Got The Magic Touch"
"Only You"
The Crests featuring Tommy Mara
&
Special Guests:
George Galfo's Mystics
"Hushabye"
The Mystics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mystics are a singing group which began in Brooklyn, New York, USA in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici, (b. 1937, lead), Albee Cracolici (b, 1936, baritone), George Galfo (b. 1940, second tenor), Bob Ferrante (b. 1936, first tenor), and Al Contrera (b. 1940, bass). Under the direction of their manager, Jim Gribble, The Overons became The Mystics when each group member wrote a name they liked on a slip of paper, placed the papers in a hat and Al Contrera's choice was drawn.
In late 1958, The Mystics soon recorded two songs for Laurie Records, "Adam And Eve", and the old Weavers' tune "Wimoweh". Unhappy with the results, Laurie Records commissioned Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman to write an original tune for the group. Their first effort, the song "A Teenager In Love", however, was given to labelmates, Dion and The Belmonts. Pomus and Shuman were instructed to come up with something else for The Mystics. The next day, the writers returned with "Hushabye".
In May of 1959, Laurie Records released "Hushabye" b/w "Adam And Eve" and within a few weeks the record was a smash. Soon Alan Freed started featuring "Hushabye" as the closing tune on his televised Saturday night Big Beat Show. At its peak, "Hushabye" was Top Ten in most of the tri-state area, spending 9 weeks on the national charts that spring and summer, where it climbed to #20.
After Phil Cracolici left the group and beginning in 1960, the Mystics' lead singer changed several times. Paul Simon (aka Jerry Landis), who frequently hung around Gribble's office, became The Mystics' new lead. In January 1960, "All Through The Night" (with five voices singing together with no distinct lead), "I Began To Think Of You" and "Let Me Steal Your Heart Away" were recorded.
When Paul Simon left the group to pursue other projects, The Mystics chose John "Jay" Traynor, who later went on to form Jay and the Americans. On May 11th, 1960, The Mystics with Jay Traynor on lead recorded "White Cliffs Of Dover", "Blue Star" and "Over The Rainbow" at RCA Studios. Inspired by The Del-Vikings' version, they chose "White Cliffs Of Dover", (a song they often sang at live shows long before recording it). Backed with "Blue Star", "White Cliffs Of Dover" received only local play. "Over The Rainbow" remained unreleased until the late 80s when Ace Records issued a Mystics album.
Eddie "Shots" Falcone became their next lead singer, and The Mystics recorded "Star Crossed Lovers" b/w "Goodbye Mister Blues", with Falcone singing lead. This record failed to chart and shortly thereafter, a young Ralph Lizano led the group with a song he had written called "Darling I Know Now". "Sunday Kind Of Love" and "Again" also featured Ralph Lizano on lead. Unfortunately, the first two songs, though released, received no airplay. "Again" was not released until the Crystal Ball LP.
In mid-1961, The Mystics stopped recording and performing. The nostalgia boom that began in 1969 brought the original five members back together and they began performing again on the rock and roll revival circuit. As members moved or left for other reasons, new members came in and for a while, Joe Esposito, Bruce Sudano and Eddie Hockinson were part of the group.
From the mid-1970s to 1990, the main replacement singers in The Mystics were John Tarangelo (Johnny T), Joey Napoli and Emil Stucchio. (Emil is the original lead singer of The Classics, famous in their own right with their hit record "Till Then"). However, four original members - Phil Cracolici, Albee Cracolici, Al Contrera and Bob Ferrante - got back together again in the winter of 1981, along with Johnny T, to record an album called "Crazy For You" for the Ambient Sound label. The Mystics recut three Overons original tunes: "Prayer To An Angel", "Why Do You Pretend" and "The Bells Are Ringing".
Today, Phil Cracolici heads up his version of the Mystics, while George Galfo leads his own group with Mike Miller (former lead singer of Harmony Street). Mike wrote the new "Hushabye Again"(c), which is the new Mystic hit. Michael recorded, produced , sang lead and tenor, and arranged harmony for GG's Mystic during his time with the group. Joe Neary who sang backup for Dion for many years and Franco Caprioli (former lead singer of the Fabulons. The Mystics under George Galfo's trademark "George Galfo's Mystics"(R) have been taking South Florida by storm. They have never sounded better. Franco Caprioli was replaced by Anthony DeFontes and after Mike Miller left the group to persue new horizons and concentrate on his new marriage, he was replaced by Howard Sprotzer. Other members of George Galfo's Mystics include Shelly Brill who sings with The Fabulons and was a member of The Four Coins Shelly was an original member of GG's Mystics and Joel Starr, who was replaced Franco Caprioli.
There are currently 3 albums released by George Galfo's Mystics(R) under George Galfo's leadership, which are "Singing Your Favorites", "Hushabye Again", and "Beautiful Lady", a ballad and the title track of their new CD.
George Galfo is honored and excited about being back in the limelight and having 3 very talented men joining him and creating wonderful harmony and enabling the music of yesteryear to be kept alive as well as bringing more original material to the fans. George has come forth today doing the Lead Vocals on their latest 2006 Hit original song "Beautiful Lady"(c) along with the lead vocals on Hushabye, Don't Take The Stars, Darling I Know Now , and other Mystics songs. All of George Galfo's Mystics tunes are getting massive amounts of play on oldie radio stations around the country and worldwide on the Internet stations as well.
SUN SENTINEL
STEPPIN OUT FLORIDA
SUN JUNE 13, 2010
Joey and the Gigolos at City Pub- great oldies and Doo Wop music -open BBQ buffet -$6.95 per person-music starts at 4pm, till 8pm- guest singer Mike Miller of Harmony Street and formerly of George Galfo's Mystics–located on 10th and Federal Hwy.-Deerfield Beach
Hushabye Again Mike Miller on lead with George Galfos Mystics
Beautiful Lady George on Lead
Arranged and Produced by Mike Miller
I Believe acappella
The Wind
My arragement with GG's Mystics
Wonderful Girl
GG Mystics Joey Neary on Lead
It Happened Today
Mike Miller on Lead
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Michael on Lead
Sunday Kind Of Love Mike on Lead
Teardrops Follow Me
Shelly Brill on Lead
A Tribute to some great years
with George Galfo's Mystics
SINGIN AND STEPPIN
Press Release: Boomers International
By George Galfo on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 09:50 am:
I want to take this opportunity to inform everyone that I, George
Galfo, (one of original member of The Mystics), have the following
Mystics Group in Fla. area
This group from the Florida area consists of
George Galfo
(Original Member)
Recorded songs below with all the other original members:
Hushabye, White Cliffs Of Dover, All Trough the Night,
Adam & Eve, Sunday Kind of Love, Blue Star,
It's Only A Paper Moon, So Tenderly, Again,
Star Crossed Lovers, Don't Take The Stars,
Darling I Know Now, (I Begin) To Think Of You,
Over The Rainbow, Goodbye Mr. Blues and
Let Me Steal Your Heart Away
Shelly Brill
Former lead singer of So. Florida's "The Fabulons,"
a 50"s & 60's show band. First Tenor performing in
1977 with the Four Coins of the 1957 hit song
"Shangri-La."Performed w/Dick Clark's Child
Care Connection for 3yrs, for Oprah Winfrey's
private parties on South Beach and House singer for
Donald Trump's Mar- A- Lago Club for the last 3 years.
Mike Miller
Former lead singer of Harmony Street.
Performed at The White House for President Clinton,
sang with Vito & The Salutations, with the Islanders
on Relic Record label, and with Ron Palillo in movie
"The Root of All Evil." He has also sung the National
Anthem at Shea Stadium, Yankee Stadium,
The White House,as well as at Madison Square Garden
among many other credits.
Joe Neary
Sang with various local groups such as the Valiants,
the Four Surfmen up North and the Paramounts In Calif.
Joined local Fla. group Reunion as their First Tenor in 1980.
Had the honor of being asked by Dion to do some work for
him which lead to becoming the First Tenor for Dion's tour
during 1997-1998 and worked on Dion's "Deja Nu" CD
featuring the hit song, "Shu Bop (The Lost Track.)"
CLASSIC JOE NEARY
FREDDIE JOHNSON BASS OF THE MARCELS IN THE BACKGROUND WITH RAINBOWS
AND SOME GG MYSTICS
MIKE, GEORGE, JONI, SHELLY AND BEV THE BRONX BABE
Kickoff Pary at The Signature Grande
After Dinner at The Red Rose Room
THE BROWARD CENTER
SHIRLEY ALSTON REEVES
The Mystics is an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici (born 1937, lead), Albee Cracolici (b. 1936, baritone), George Galfo (b. 1939, second tenor), Bob Ferrante (b. 1936, first tenor), and Al Contrera (b. 1940, bass). Under the direction of their manager, Jim Gribble, The Overons became The Mystics when each group member wrote a name they liked on a slip of paper, placed the papers in a hat and Contrera's choice was drawn.
Biography
In late 1958, The Mystics soon recorded two songs for Laurie Records, "Adam And Eve", and the old Weavers' tune "Wimoweh". Unhappy with the results, Laurie Records commissioned Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman to write an original tune for the group. Their first effort, the song "A Teenager In Love", however, was given to labelmates Dion and The Belmonts. Pomus and Shuman were instructed to come up with something else for The Mystics. The next day, the writers returned with "Hushabye".
In May 1959, Laurie Records released "Hushabye" b/w "Adam And Eve" and within a few weeks the record was a smash. Soon Alan Freed started featuring "Hushabye" as the closing tune on his televised Saturday night Big Beat Show. At its peak, "Hushabye" was Top Ten in most of the tri-state area, spending 9 weeks on the national charts that spring and summer, where it climbed to #20.
Gene Schwartz, head of Laurie Records, was visited by Mark Harris regarding a song of his recorded by another artist on the Laurie label. Gene showed him a stack of demos of songs rejected by The Mystics and asked him to write a song for the group's next recording session. Mark, still in high school, wrote "Don't Take The Stars" over the weekend and presented a demo to the company the following week. The group liked the song and recorded it the very same week. Thanks to heavy play by New York deejays, "Don't Take The Stars" hit the charts and became The Mystics' second hit after "Hushabye".
After Phil Cracolici left the group and beginning in 1960, the Mystics' lead singer changed several times. Paul Simon (aka Jerry Landis), who frequently hung around Gribble's office, became The Mystics' new lead. In January 1960, "All Through The Night" (with five voices singing together with no distinct lead), "I Began To Think Of You" and "Let Me Steal Your Heart Away" were recorded.
When Paul Simon left the group to pursue other projects, The Mystics chose John "Jay" Traynor, who later went on to form Jay and the Americans. On May 11, 1960, The Mystics with Jay Traynor on lead recorded "White Cliffs Of Dover", "Blue Star" and "Over The Rainbow" at RCA Studios. Inspired by The Del-Vikings' version, they chose "White Cliffs Of Dover", (a song they often sang at live shows long before recording it). Backed with "Blue Star", "White Cliffs Of Dover" received only local play. "Over The Rainbow" remained unreleased until the late 80s when Ace Records issued a Mystics album.
Eddie "Shots" Falcone became their next lead singer, and The Mystics recorded "Star Crossed Lovers" b/w "Goodbye Mister Blues", with Falcone singing lead. This record failed to chart and shortly thereafter, a young Ralph Lizano led the group with a song he had written called "Darling I Know Now". "Sunday Kind Of Love" and "Again" also featured Ralph Lizano on lead. Unfortunately, the first two songs, though released, received no airplay. "Again" was not released until the Crystal Ball LP.[1]
In mid-1961, The Mystics stopped recording and performing. The nostalgia boom that began in 1969 brought the original five members back together and they began performing again on the rock and roll revival circuit. George Galfo and Bob Ferrante left the group after a few years, making the group the Cracolicis, Al Contrera, and new members Joe Esposito, Bruce Sudano, and Eddie Hockinson. Contrera was invited to California for a special project shortly thereafter; he declined, but sent Esposito. Sudano and Hockinson followed, and the three formed the group Brooklyn Dreams.[2] Three new members came in- John Tarangelo (Johnny T), Joey Napoli, and Emil Stucchio. Stucchio is the original lead singer of The Classics, famous in their own right with their hit record "Till Then". The Classics and Mystics were acquainted, as they both came from Brooklyn.
By the early 1980s, the group was Phil Cracolici, Albee Cracolici, Al Contrera, and Johnny T.[3] In 1982, Bob Ferrante was in town when the group was set to record an album, so he joined them. The album was Crazy For You for the Ambient Sound label. It featured re-recordings of three Overons original tunes: "Prayer To An Angel", "Why Do You Pretend" and "The Bells Are Ringing". That year, Ken Filmer joined the group.[4] This quintet made up the Mystics until 1990, when Johnny T left the group.[1]
In the late 1990s, the Mystics, the Classics and the Passions, who are all from the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn and have been friends since the 1950s, started performing together in the Brooklyn Reunion Show. This act emphasized their common roots and long-time friendships, and the fact that each group scored successive hit records. The Brooklyn Reunion Show proved to be a popular act, recording and releasing a CD and touring for almost ten years.
Phil Cracolici and Ken Filmer were featured with the Brooklyn Reunion in the pledge breaks of Doo Wop 50 when the special was broadcast in May 2000. Al Contrera and Emil Stuccio were also featured with their current group, The Classics. Albee Cracolici later joined with his brother and Filmer, and the trio comprised the group in the early 2000s.[5] This lineup with Al Contrera performed as "The Mystics" for another PBS special, Doo Wop Love Songs, filmed in 2007. Filmer and Albee Cracolici left the group in 2007,[4] and Phil Cracolici performs with a new group.
George Galfo headed up his own Mystic group, billed as "George Galfo's Mystics" (r), from 2002 till January 2011, which included members Joe Neary (toured with Dion and formerly of Bits N Pieces), Mike Miller, (formerly of Harmony Street), Howard Sprotzer (formerly of the DooWop Kings), and Anthony DeFontes (toured with Dion). George Galfo's Mystics" (r) have been actively performing since 2002, touring throughout Florida, New England, New York, PA, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Las Vegas.
As of Jan 2011, Phil Cracolici (Original Lead singer) has joined his nephew George Galfo ( Original 2nd tenor who is now doing leads) and his group George Galfo's Mystics, which is now to be known as the Mystics. Members are George Galfo, Phil Cracolici, Joe Neary, and Rocky Marsicano.
Mike Miller sang with, arranged harmony for, recorded and produced 2 of George Galfo's Mystics earlier CD's. Mike Miller wrote "Hushabye Again", a song that is the title song on the Hushabye Again CD which is out on Collectables Records.
The Mystics today
Rocky Marsicano, George Galfo Phil Cracolici and Joe Neary
MIKE MILLER
AND PHIL CRACOLICI
