Monthly Elks Dance Helps Keep Doo Wop Alive

Fonzie and friends would have fit right in April 28 at the monthly music and dance night sponsored by the New Jersey Doo Wop and Street Corner and Harmony Association.

Lights were low at the as DJ Nick at Nite spun the sounds of the '50s and '60s. Strains of  “Blue Velvet,” Chuck Berry’s “School Days,” and Frankie Avalon crooning “Venus,” moved some couples to the dance floor. Others lined up at the snack bar for orders of '50s-style fare like burgers, fries, pretzels and fizzy sodas.

Though most of the nearly 200 who attended were of a generation that grew up with doo wop, a music genre characterized by strong rhythms and distinctive vocal harmony, it’s not all about nostalgia for them.

“We want to keep the music alive,” said DJ Nick Galletta, who co-founded NJ Doo-Wop three years ago with John Skelly.

Their goal is to foster awareness and appreciation of classic doo wop, rhythm & blues and contemporary a capella music by introducing it to new generations of fans through special events and live performances.

A non-profit, all-volunteer group, NJ Doo Wop currently has about 200 members and also sponsors other '50s-style events, such as Cruise Nights, area car shows featuring music and DJs usually held at '50s style car-hop spots. One of the biggest car/music shows, Lead East, is slated for September and raises funds for various charities.

“About 100 to 150 come to our dances every month,” said Galletta, who wants to see those numbers increase. “We usually have at least two acts every month, sometimes more.” Past performances featured The Dubs, Lenny Cocco and the Chimes, and the Cameos, among others.  “Our biggest draw was the Del Vikings,” said Galletta. “About 300 people showed up for that one.”

Last week, a group from Saddle Brook High School came out to hear alumnus Joel Katz and his group, the Dynamics. The headline act drew cheers with their renditions of  “I Had a Boyfriend,” “So In Love,” and the Ronettes’ golden oldie, “Be My Baby.”

The Fellas, a Bronx-based group, opened the show with a capella renditions of Motown hits, showing how that form of music, like rock, pop, and others, had roots in doo wop.

In the crowd Saturday were other performers and fans who are actively involved in efforts to preserve the music. Alan Stein, host of  “Doo Wop Drive” on internet radio’s WMTR, took the microphone to talk about the international interest he’s encountered. “I’ve heard “Yakkety-Yak”  in German,” he said of a famous oldie. He also heard other songs in Swedish and even Swahili.

Stu Pushkin runs the Doo Wop Group Harmony Singers Club, a North Brunswick group that meets regularly to sing together for fun. “You don’t have to be a singer to come and enjoy,” said Pushkin.

Like the flip sides of an old 45 disc, fans differ on the future of the genre. “Doo-Wop is alive and well,” declared Ronn Rossi, a music presenter who runs Gold Coach Productions  with Mike Quinn-Cohen, the more pessimistic partner.

“The future doesn’t look good,” said Quinn-Cohen. “The performers and people who come to these events are getting older, and we’re not seeing much interest from younger people.”

The dwindling fan base has led to other casualties, like the demise of many doo wop clubs, the closing of music stores that specialized in oldies and scarcer radio programming.

Stuart Weiss, another internet DJ, said many doo wop broadcasters went online, because radio stations didn’t think there was enough profitable listener interest to maintain doo wop programming. “All the good oldies stations believe their main listeners are older and don’t have the money to spend,” Weiss said.  

All these factors make it harder to expose new listeners to the genre and rebuild the fan base.  “We see some younger vocalists getting into the field, but we’re not getting the young audiences,” Galletta said.

Though NJ Doo Wop members sometimes bring their own younger relatives to events, that hasn’t resulted in sustained interest from the next generations.  “I’ve even tried approaching area schools, especially the ones with a cappella singing groups, but there doesn’t seem to be much response,” added Galletta.

While some fans are prepared to fight to the death, Pam Nardella is going beyond that. The Elmwood Park resident claims to have the tombstone of  '50s teen idol Frankie Lymon (whose body is buried in a Bronx cemetery) in her backyard. 

The story of how it got there was featured in a recent issue of Weird NJ magazine. “I’m having a tombstone barbecue in July,” said Nardella.  Whether that’s an omen for the future of doo wop remains to be seen.

NJ Doo Wop music/dance nights are the last Saturday of every month at the Elks Club. Admission is $20 and non-members are welcome. For information about events or membership:  www.njdoowop.com