The Motions (ref : The Splendors (2) aka The Del-Fons)

The Splendors (L to R) : Harold Marcus, Joe DiBartolo, Tommy Tucker, Georgie Moe and Bernie Drosdcz

The Motions (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : The Splendors (2) aka The Del-Fons

Personnel :

Tommy Tucker (Lead)

Larry Angeli (Baritone)

Joe Basta (First Tenor)

Richie Merrit (Second Tenor)

Discography :

The Motions
Single:
1961 - Mr. Night / Make Me A Love (Laurie 3112)
Unreleased :
1958 - Mambo City

The Del-Fons
Unreleased:
1959 - I Only Want You / This Is My Love

The Splendors (2)
Unreleased:
1963 - Lonely, Lonely Nights / Record Hop (Wilshire)
1964 - Roses Are Red / Embraceable You
1964 - Runday Runday / Mambo City
1964 - Stormy Weather / Make The Knife
1964 - Walkin' My Baby Back Home / I'm In The Mood For Love
1964 - My Vow To You / My Love For You Will Never Die

Biography :

1958, and the Place was the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. During this time, St. Michael's church used to hold dances which were attenuated by the local neighborhood teenagers. At this dances, four guys discovered they enjoyed singing together very much and decided to form a group called the Emotions. Members consisted of Tommy Tucker (Lead), Larry Angeli (Baritone), Joe Basta (First Tenor) and Richie Merrit (Second Tenor). The Group's first songs was "Mambo City" recorded on a demo. The group eventually gained a local following and began appearing at record hops, social clubs… At this time Richie had left the group and was replaced by Eddie Povenelli.

                                                                                                        Tommy Tucker (Motions' Lead singer)

The group met a man named Marv Kalfin, who eventually became their manager. He introduced the group to two songs he had written…"Mr Night" and "Make A Love". While the master recordings were being cut, a female member was added to the group. Marv brought the master tape to Laurie and their reaction was quite favorable. Another group who had already gained much popularity in the area, was using the same name. At the last time before going to press, Laurie did the first thing that came to mind. The "E" was dropped and the Guys were named The Motions. The single was released in June 1961. At about the time the Motions' record was released, another Laurie single was "Breaking Big"… The Jarmels' "A lItlle bit of Soap". "Mr Night" never really had a chance, the group rapidly became disguise ted and eventually disbanded.

                                                                                                                      Vinny Catalano

 The Story of the Motions, does not end here. Let us go back to the year 1957 and the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New york. At this time, Three teenagers in the same junior high school, Joe DiBartolo (First Tenor and Lead), Bernie Drosdcz (Baritone and Bass) and Harold Marcus (Second Tenor) and two others Johnny Jerrywicki (Baritone) and Georgie Moe (Lead)  joined together to Form a Group called the Del-Fons. Although this group only sang at parties, they recorded a demo 1959 that featured the songs "I Only Want You" and "This is My Love". Soon after this same two songs, released back to back, became a two sided hit for the Passions early in 1960. During 1962, the Del-Fons changed their name to the Splendors. However, due to repeated problems involving members , the group finally broke up, this was the same time that the Motions Disbanded.

Tommy Tucker, Joe DiBartolo  and Harold Marcus                                 Joe DiBartolo with group's demos

Early in 1963, Joe DiBartolo met Tonny Tucker and decided to reform the Splendors, consisting of Himself, Tommy Tucker and those two original members Bernie Drosdcz and Harold Marcus. Later that year Joe's cousin, Vinny Catalano, at this time in charge of Wilshire Records, had written two songs for the Splendors, "Lonely, Lonely Nights" and "Record Hop". The group recorded both songs but the reared wasn't released. In 1964, George Moe rejoined the group. They now began appearing at various places throughout New York. The Boys would occasionally buy time at a local recording studio in order to capture some of their harmony on tape. Of course, Demo discs were made of these sessions...

By Ken Berger (Story Untold)

Songs :

The Motions

   
Mr. Night                                    Make Me A Love


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