Donnie & The Dreamers (12) (Bronx, NY.)
aka Kenny & The Whalers (2)

 
Personnel :

Louis "Donnie" Burgio (Lead)

Peter "Pete Alonzo" Vecchiarelli

Andy Catalano (Tenor)

Frank Furstaci (Baritone)


Discography :

Donnie & The Dreamers (12)
Singles:
1961 - Count Every Star / Dorothy (Whale 500)
1961 - My Memories Of You / Teenage Love (Whale 505)
1961 - Carole / Ruby My Love (Decca 31312)
unreleased
1961 - Heaven Only Knows (Whale)

Kenny & The Whalers (2)
1961 - Life Is But a Dream / Life Is But a Dream (Whale 504)

Biography :

Lead Singer Louis "Donnie" Burgio, Peter "Pete Alonzo" Vecchiarelli, Andy Catalano, and Frank Furstaci came from the Bronx, that fertile field for Street Corner doo whoppers. Donnie & The Dreamers had a talent for adding that doo wop touch to pop standards and they proved it in early 1961 with their hit version of the 1950 oldie "Count Every Star". 

While this was hot (it spent 10 weeks on the chart) the Whale label followed it up by sending out deejay samples of "Life Is But A Dream", calling the Group Kenny & The Whalers. It went nowhere. The Dreamers then turned the Harptones' 1954 ballad favourite "My Memories Of You" into a sparkling jump tune and scored their second national hit. Two weeks after "Count Every Star" left the chart, "My Memories Of You" took its Place.

 
                                                                                                                                    Vinny Catalano

Encouraged by this, Decca leased all the Whale tracks by the group and issued "Carole" in October,1961. No Further hits came along and the group disappeared. Vinny Catalano worked with his kid brother's group,  recording over 10 excellent sides, most lost and unreleased. 

 

Songs :

Donnie & The Dreamers (12)

  
Count Every Star                                        Dorothy        

  
My Memories Of You                                 Teenage Love  

  
   Carole                                             Ruby My Love


Heaven Only Knows


Kenny & The Whalers (2)


Life Is But a Dream


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