The Pretenders (3)

Kenny Shott,Dan Wisniewski,Skip Pietrobone,Sam Talarico and Mick Diana.

The Pretenders (3) (Reading, Pennsylvania) 

Personnel :


Skip Pietrobone (Lead)


Sam Talarico


Mick Diana

Kenny Shott

Dan Wisniewski



Discography :


The Pretenders (3)
Single :
1962 - The Day You Are Mine / Ding Dong Bells (Bethlehem 3050)
Unreleased :
1962 - Anything For You / Ding Dong Bells (Al Stan)


Barry Petricoin & The Belairs bb The Pretenders (3)
1962 - Pretty Little Angel / Come Back To Sorrento (Inst.) (Al Stan 103)

Barry Petri
1962 - Pretty Little Angel / Come Back To Sorrento (Inst.) (Swan 4111)

Biography :

Sam Talarico started singing on the street corners in Reading in 1959. He then joined the Pretenders, a local Doo Wop group composed in the early years by Skip Pietrobone,, Mick Dianna, Kenny Shott and Dan Wisniewski . The original group at the time consisted of five white men. In 1961, the Pretenders recorded "The Day You Are Mine" b/w "Ding Dong Bells" released by Bethlehem Records owned by Creed Taylor and Teddy Charles.

Bethlehem is remembered for its jazz releases from the 1950s, Bethlehem released the first albums recorded by singers Chris Connor, in 1954, Nina Simone (Little Girl Blue) in 1958, and singer/actress Julie London. In 1958, Bethlehem began a distributing deal with King Records. In 1962, it was sold and absorbed by King. In early 62the Pretenders  returns in studio with Barry Petricoin & The Belairs where they recorded "Anything For You" and "Pretty Little Angel" for Al-Stan Records  a label founded by Al Zanino. Al-Stan released only "Pretty Little Angel" with an instrumental on the B side.

After the departure of Kenny Shott and Dan Wisniewski and arrival of Al Coleman and Jerry Prentice, the group consisted of 3 white men and two black. Bill Yuhas later with the Incvictors sang a time with the group. In 1962 the Pretenders opened up a huge Rock & Roll show in Reading at Saint Mary’s church sponsored by the legendary Alan Freed. In that show was Chubby Checker, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Patti Labelle & The Blue Bells, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon and many, many more great acts. The Pretenders performed at all the dances in and around Reading and in clubs like the Melody Bar, and the Flamingo Bar on Penn street.

Sam Talarico left the Pretenders in 1964 and formed Tali & The Hustlers and was the front man in that band until 1968. The Hustlers were an R & B soul band. They played all the clubs and big Rock & Roll shows around Reading, Harrisburg, Pottstown, Lebanon and beyond. They were also the house band at the Crows Nest in Atlantic City.

They opened and backed up Gladys Knight & The pips and several other big name artists. The Pretenders were asked to get back together in 1993 to open a huge oldies show at the Scenic River Days in Reading. Sam was the front man and lead singer. They did so well at that show that they stayed together and played several big shows for the next several years including The First Annual Loose Foundation show, celebrating the induction of Shorty Long.
 

Songs :

  
The Day You Are Mine                     Ding Dong Bells

  
Anything For You                           Pretty Little Angel

…