Rick & The Masters (5) (Philadelphia)


Personnel :

Tony "Rick" Trombetta (Lead)

Frank 'Tweetie' Condo (First Tenor)

Mike "Teardrops" Silenzio (Second Tenor)

Richie Finzio (Baritone/Bass)


Discography :

Rick & The Masters (5)
1962 - Flame Of Love / Here Comes Nancy (Taba 101/Cameo 226)
1962 - Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered / A Kissin Friend (Haral 778)
1962 - Let It Please Be You / I Don't Want Your Love (Cameo 247)

Billy Lane (bb Rick & the Masters)
1961 - Space Ship Blues / Beginner In Love (Rick & the Masters) (Taba 201)

Billy Lynn (bb Rick & the Masters)
1961 - Only One For Me / Little Pony Tail (Amy 820)
1962 - Barbara / Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (Cr 1001)

Bobby Young (bb Rick & the Masters)
1963 - Only Girl For Me / To Each His Own (Guyden 2087)

Bobby Rydell (bb Rick & the Masters)
1962 - Remember Then / Up On The Roof (not them) (Cameo 104)
1962 - Butterfly Baby / Love Is Blind (not them)  (Cameo 242)
1962 - That's My Desire (Cameo ‎LP-1006)

Lee Andrews (bb Rick & the Masters/The Hearts/The Dreamlovers)
1963 - I'm Sorry Pillow / Gee But I'm Lonesome (Parkway 860)

Johnny Greco (bb Rick & the Masters)
1963 - Rocket Ride / Why Don't You Love Me (Pageant 602)

Johnny Maestro (bb Rick & the Masters)
1963 - Over The Weekend / I'll Be True (not them) (Cameo 256)

Don Covay (bb Rick & the Masters)
1963 - Popeye Waddle / One Little Boy Had Money  (not them)  (Cameo 239)


Biography :

In the early '60s, Mike "Teardrops" Silenzio needed a lead singer for the doo-wop group he was putting together. Mike attended South Philadelphia High School and he was chums with Fabian Forte, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and other kids who would go on to stellar singing careers, and he knew what he was looking for. His group, the Masters, consisted of Mike himself as second tenor, baritone Richie Finizio (Richie was a cousin to South Philly Legend Bob Finizio of the 4 J's.), his cousin Frank "Tweetie" Condo as first tenor, and a clutch of others who were semi-members and hangers-on. But he didn't have a true lead singer. It wasn't until after a stint in the Navy that Mike found who he was looking for - Tony "Rick" Trombetta.

Rick originally had a solo act where he used his mother's maiden name "Rigiano", so he called himself Rick Rigiano and decided to stick with Rick. And the Masters became Rick & the Masters. The group had to make a record to further its career, and it was Billy DiMuro who gave it the opportunity when he started Taba Records.  Jim Cunningham and Billy DiMuro wrote "Flame Of Love". Billy also recorded with the group doing back-up vocals on several releases under the name Billy Lynn and Billy Lane.

In actuality, Billy's real name was Trombetta, one of the Tony's Brothers.  "Flame of Love' emerged from Taba's portals in 1962, and was immediately scooped up by Cameo Records when it showed sales potential. Another release by the group under the name Bobby young, was actually Tony's younger Brother Bobby Tombetta. On " To Each His Own", Bobby shared the lead with older brother Tony. Jack "Rocky" McKnight of the Four Epics arranged this. The group's next effort as Rick and the Masters came out on the Haral Label. Jack "Rocky" McKnight  again arranged "Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered ".

    

 The Group's final release under their name came on the Cameo Label. Cameo really liked the Guys using them several times to do back-up for such artists as : Bobby Rydell, Johnny Greco, don covey, Johnny Maestro and Lee Andrews.




Songs :

Rick & The Masters (5)

      
Flame Of Love      Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered          A Kissin Friend

      
Let It Please Be You             I Don't Want Your Love          Here Comes Nancy
 

Billy Lane (bb Rick & the Masters)


Beginner In Love


Billy Lynn (bb Rick & the Masters)

     
Only One For Me                    Little Pony Tail                       Barbara


Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone


Bobby Young (bb Rick & the Masters)

  
Only Girl For Me                To Each His Own


Bobby Rydell (bb Rick & the Masters)

     
Remember Then                Butterfly Baby                   That's My Desire


Lee Andrews (bb Rick & the Masters/The Hearts/The Dreamlovers)

   
I'm Sorry Pillow                 Gee, But I'm Lonesome


Johnny Greco (bb Rick & the Masters)

  
Rocket Ride                  Why Don't You Love Me


Johnny Maestro (bb Rick & the Masters)


Over The Weekend


Don Covay (bb Rick & the Masters)


Popeye Waddle

….