The Teardrops (2)

The Teardrops (2) (East Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Paulie Ciaurella (Tenor, Baritone & Guitar)

Tony Ciaurella (Baritone, Accordion)

Discography :

Singles :
1956 - My Inspiration / I Prayed For Love (King 5004)
1957 - Don't Be Afraid to Love / After School (King 5037)
1957 - Jellyfish / Bridge Of Love (Dot 15669)
1958 - Sugar Baby / Catch Me, I'm Falling Again (Rendezvous 102)
1959 - Al Chiar Di Luna (Porto Fortuna) / We Won't Tell (Josie 856)
1959 - You're My Hollywood Star / Cry No More (Josie 862)
1959 - Daddy's Little Girl / Always You (Josie 873)
1966 - Till / Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (Frisky 243)
1966 - Two Stars / Ol' Man River (Frisky 914)
1966 - Hey Gingerbread / Champaign Lady (Laurie 3325)
1976 - Welcome Back Kotter / Champagne Lady (Laurie 3642)
1977 - Goodnight Elvis / Hey Gingerbread (Laurie 3660)

Unreleased :
196? - You and I (Laurie)

Lps :
1963 - The Teardrops At Trinchi's (20th Century Fox 5011)
Hey Look Me Over / Mala Femmena (Always You) / Chella La / My Prayer / My Melancholy Baby / Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You) / Scarpricciatiello / You Are My Destiny / Ddoje Stelle So Cadute / Just Say I Love Her / Mama / My Yiddish Mama / When The Saints Go Marching In

1966 - Our Best (Frisky 243)
Let Me Know / Love Is A Many Splendored Thing / You Mean Everything To Me / My Yiddishe Momma / 'Till / Old Man River / Two Stars / Why / Na Voce Na Chitarra / Passione / Just Say I Love Her / Infatuation

Biography :

Paulie “Teardrop” Ciaurella, and his brother, Tony, started making music in the early 1950s as the Teardrops. Born in East Harlem, they would pack up their instruments, and take their show on the road.  The Teardrops became known for their Italian songs and show, unique to the era. From opening at New York’s Copacabana Club in 1953, to Las Vegas and ultimately Atlantic City, The Teardrops were a fixture.

When they signed to king records in 1956, Paul is twenty two years old plays the guitar, and sings both tenor and baritone. Tony, twenty years old play the accordion and sing baritone. Before the end of 1956 and April 1958, the teardrops recorded four singles, two for King records, one for Dot Records, who have moved to Hollywood, California, and one for the Label Rendezvous, also established in california.
 

The Four Coins with Tony & Paul Ciaurella

According to Cashbox February 21, 1959, Danny Kessler, Record company executive, publisher and talent agent send them to Josie Records, a subsidiary of Jubilee Records in New York City. The Teardrops recorded "Al Chiar Di Luna (Porto Fortuna)" b/w "We Won't Tell", and two others records for Josie. Another group of "Teardrops" had already recorded two singles for Josie in 1954, one of which was re-released in 1960 on the Port label. The Teardrops of 1954 has nothing to do with the brothers Paul & Tony. It is possible to imagine that they did not agree to change their name after having already made a reputation on stage and having recorded four singles. 

   

Over the next six years, The Teardrops appeared on all the major stages and recorded an album for 20th Century Fox in 1963: The Teardrops At Trinchi's. In 1966, they recorded a second album for Frisky Records owned by Henry Rosenberg in Kearny, NJ. In 1966, Ernie Maresca with whom the two brothers have been friends for a long time, wrote them two songs which were released by Laurie the same year :"Hey Gingerbread" b/w "Champaign Lady".


Songs :

     
You're My Hollywood Star                Champaign Lady                        You and I             

     
      My Inspiration                   I Prayed For Love                  Don't Be Afraid to Love

     
  Jellyfish                            Bridge Of Love                        Sugar Baby

     
Al Chiar Di Luna (Porto Fortuna)           We Won't Tell                    Hey Gingerbread             


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