A Lyrical Piece Of The Bronx Returns To Pelham

More than 100 people poured into the Town House Park’s lawn on Monday night to listen to the Butch Barbella’s Streets of the Bronx Band perform, as part of the Pelham Summer Concert Series. 

“We are so happy to have Butch Barbella’s Streets of the Bronx Band back here again for our summer concert series.  The band is a hit with many locals and they have something for everyone,” stated Frederick Fiorito, interim supervisor of Pelham’s Recreation Department. “The concerts are really an opportunity to enjoy great entertainment locally and for people to get together and have fun."

Bronx-bred Butch Barbella the group’s founder, lead singer, and keyboardist is a veteran of both the music and motion picture worlds. Butch Barbella wrote the music for the film, "A Bronx Tale."

“The theme song for the movie was called "On the Streets of the Bronx," Barbella noted. "So, when I put together my own band I saw it appropriate to name the band "The Streets of the Bronx Band," because we are doing that kind of music from the era of 40s and 50s as well as music from the movie."

Prior to starting his own local band, Barbella, played with many well known crews, including Barry Chancellor and The Earls, Duprees of Jersey and Dion DiMucci. 

Many of the area's music lovers, such as Pelham resident Kathi Kulick and Throgs Neck resident Maxine Horvath, were eager to dance to the crew's tunes.

“I am here at the concerts every year," Kulick noted. "Streets of the Bronx are fantastic, and we love rock and roll. It’s a great place to meet everybody and dance under the stars and enjoy friends."

Hovath agreed and said she feels a particularly close attention to the band since she was born and raised in the Bronx. 

Some concert-goers traveled from as far as Greenwich to get to the show.

“We have seen the band over 10 times around Westchester County due to the [free concert] flyers I get from each town hall,” said Ken Cullen of Connecticut. 

Though most of the audience grew up during the 40s and 50s with the sounds of Barbella, Shango Shawn learned to appreciate the music from his parents, who also went to the show. 

“I came all the way from Coney Island to hear them," Shawn said. "I love their music and concerts. Their music is so beautiful and it’s a wonderful thing that they have the free concerts during the summer."