Anthony & The Sophomores (2)  (Philadelphia)
aka The Dynamics (5)
ref Tony & The Twiliters (4)





Personnel :

Anthony "Tony" Maresco (Lead)

Ernest Funaro Jr. (First tenor)

John Donato (Second tenor)

Anthony Perri (Baritone)





Discography :

Singles :
1963 - Play Those Oldies, Mister D.J. / Clap Your Hands (Mercury 72103)
1963 - Better Late Than Never / Swingin' At The Chariot (Mercury 72168)
1963 - Embraceable You / Beautiful Dreamer (Grand 163 /Jason Scott 18)
1965 - Gee (But I'd Give The World) / It Depends On You (ABC 10073/10737)
1966 - Wild For Her / Get Back To You (ABC 10770)
1966 - Heart Break / I'll Go Through Life Lovin' You (ABC 10844)
1967 - Workout / Serenade (Jaimie 1330)
1967 - One Summer Night / Workout (Instrumental) (Jaimie 1340)

Unreleased :
1963 - Play Those Oldies, Mister Bassman (Mercury)
1963 - Don't Play It No More (Grand)
1963 - Embraceable You (Alt. ver.) (Grand)
1963 - Wild For Her (Alt. ver.) (Grand)

Biography :

The street corner music in South Philly in early 1957 was very simple, almost every corner had 4-6 guys harmonizing. On the corner of 20th and Moore, Ernie Funaro, Anthony Perri and John Donato, were no different than the rest. They were raw and had little, if any experience. Anthony Perri - "Perri" to his friends, decided the group needed his 13-year-old cousin Anthony Maresco. Even at this tender age, Tony was a gifted talented singer with a beautiful voice. So was born "Tony & The Teens".

     
                                                                      Tony & The Dynamics                                                                  

Anthony's lead carried the group as they learned to sing background harmonies. Ernie was doing bass because he liked it, and the group was having fun doing Acappela. Ernie started singing with group in the schoolyard at South Philadelphia H.S. and learned he was a very good first tenor. Now the group had John doing second tenor and Perri - baritone to complete the harmony behind Tony's lead. It was now 1958 and the group's sound was born.

 They were curious see how they would sound professionally, so they went into a local studio and recorded two sides; "Zoom" and "In The Still Of The Night". By this time the group took the name Tony & The Dynamics. Soon the group would enter the studio. This time a more professional demo was cut using a full band for back up. "I promise to Remember" and "Gee, But I'd Give the World" was the result. It was at this session that they came to the attention of a songwriter who had written some tunes and his artist backed out of the session.

 L to R : Ernest Funaro , Anthony Perri & John Donato - Top : Anthony Maresco 

With the tracks already down, the group went to his house to learn the songs. The end result being placed with Herald records in 1959 "Betty My Own" B/W "Forever Love" became the first professional release by the group released under the name Dynamics featuring Tony Maresco.

Some internal problems caused Tony Maresco to leave the group. He now formed the Twilight's, and in 1961, Tony & The Twilight's had two releases on Red Top and its subsidiary Jalynne. In this group was Philly Legend Bob Finizio from the Four J's. Anthony Maresco sang with the Secrets of Carlo Gerace for one single in 1962.

With Sonny & Cher

Tony and the Dynamics also disbands because John had left the group to meet his military responsibilities. John had now come back from the military and Tony put the original Dynamics group back together. Bob Finizio remained  with the group as their bass singer and musical arranger. They went into the studio with a tune "Sing This Oldies Mr. Bassman". At this time "Mr Bassman" by Johnny Cymbal was released, to prevent any confusion the Sophomores reworked it into "Play Those Oldies Mr. D.J.". The New group name "Anthony & the Sophomores" was bestowed the group by a Mercury Records Executive after they purchased the Masters. 

 This was to become the group's best commercial effort still being played regularly on oldie stations around the Country, 35 years after its initial release. The Lack of this record's success allowed the group to move to ABC Records where some personal changes occurred as well. John Donate and Bob Finizio left the group and were replaced by Richie Benatti (Second Tenor) and Bob Beato (Bass) who recently had their own group "Richie and the Royals".

Joe Terry of Danny & The Juniors had written a song for the group "It Depends On You". It had a Motownish sound and the group needing a "B" side decided "Gee" would be easy enough since they were performing it for years Acappela. To Everyone's surprise, it was this side that began to receive airplay. A few more releases with Pete DeAngleis followed on ABC. Then one release on Grand and then to Jaime records for a few releases, ending their recording career in 1967 with "One Summer Night".



Songs :

   
Play Those Oldies, Mister D.J. / Clap Your Hands          Better Late Than Never / Swingin' At The Chariot

   
Embraceable You / Beautiful Dreamer                Gee (But I'd Give The World) / It Depends On You


Get Back To You / Wild For Her

     
Heart Break              I'll Go Through Life Lovin' You                   Serenade

  
One Summer Night         Play Those Oldies, Mister Bassman

...