30 Years of Hits During This 'Sidewalk Serenade'

The first time Rich LaPadura sang in public, it was on a street corner in the Bronx. The next time he sings in public, it will be on Cranbury Road in East Brunswick.

On Saturday, July 30, Sidewalk Serenade, a vocal group whose musical repertoire span three decades and countless more styles, will appear at East Brunswick’s Community Arts Center as the final act of the township’s 2011 Summer Concert Series.

Ask LaPadura to describe the group’s style and you may be overwhelmed by the response. “Doo Wop, Motown, Classic Rock. Fifties, sixties, we’ll sprinkle in a little seventies… We learned early on when you only sing a cappella, even if you love it, people get bored.”

The six members of Sidewalk Serenade all hail from similar backgrounds, having sung group harmony and a cappella for decades with such well-known local groups as The Be-Bops, Jersey Dream and The Shoretones. “We’ve been together 12e years,” LaPadura says. “We had all met each other through the channels when we were singing with other groups. Three of us were with the group that I worked with prior to this one, then I also knew a guitarist, a keyboard player. When we were all available we just put it together ourselves.”

In addition to LaPadura (who currently calls Monroe home), the core members of the group are Nick Signore of East Brunswick, Ronnie Trautz of Hamilton, Frank Resola of Freehold, John D’Amaro of Millstone, and Frank Tierno of Helmetta.

“Whatever we do, we try to do group harmony. Even if we do Billy Joel’s “For The Longest Time” or (Van Morrison’s) “Brown-Eyed Girl,” we put some background to it. Even if it’s a Beatles song. It’s who we are.”

After 12 years, LaPadura says the band is careful never to get too locked into a single style or era. “Today we might do a little 'Jersey Boys' segment in our show, finish it up with something a little more traditional. We’ll probably do (Neil Diamond’s) 'Sweet Caroline' but we’ll put some background to it. We do change it up so it’s not all one generic thing. A little something for everyone. Once in a while we’ll throw in a song by The Monkees. It gives everyone a chance to do something different.”

If you attend the show, you’ll be able to tell LaPadura from the others relatively easily. “I’m the bass,” he says. “I don’t get to do a lot of in terms of leading.”

With one exception.

“My favorite song, my wedding song, 'Till Then,' ” he says. “We usually dedicate that to the troops. It’s a World War II era song the Mills Brothers did, then the Classics did it again in 63, around the time of Vietnam.”

LaPadura says audiences may be most impressed by the group’s ability to mimic certain distinct styles. “We rotate leads. If someone asks for the Four Seasons, we sound like the Four Seasons.”

“We have a lot of fun,” he adds. “Twelve years singing with the same guys, you have to get along.”

Sidewalk Serenade’s July 30 show beings at 7 p.m. and will run approximately 90 minutes. For more on the band, visit sidewalkserenade.tripod.com. For more on this particular appearance, visit the township website.