Topically Yours - The Duprees Tony Testa

Deardra Shuler interviews Tony Testa of The Duprees who will be performing as part of a Doo Wop show at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, NY. on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 8:00 pm.  Other groups featured to appear with the Duprees are The Platters, The Belmonts, Barbara Harris & The Toys, Larry Chance & The Earls and Ragdoll.

The Duprees were formed in the early 1960’s in Jersey City, NJ by five William L. Dickinson High School students. They were discovered by big band leader George Paxton who combined their smooth doo-wop vocal harmonies with a big band backing on their first single, a cover of Jo Stafford’s “You Belong To Me”, which was an instant top-ten hit and million-seller. Thus the sound of the Duprees was born and hits in the same format kept coming throughout the 1960s including “My Own True Love,” “Take Me As I Am,” “Why Don't You Believe Me,” “Have You Heard,” “Love Eyes,” “It Isn't Fair” and “Let Them Talk.” Over the years, various members of the band have come and gone, but their unique mixture of doo-wop vocals with big band arrangements has remained.

Along with Tony Testa, Jimmy Spinelli, Tommy Petillo, and Phil Granito make up the rest of the current group. Original member Michael Kelly left the group in 2012.  The other 3 original members, Joe Santollo, Joey (Canzano) Vann and Michael J Arnone passed.

In 2006, the original Duprees were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is located on the Lehman College campus, located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 or online at www.LehmanCenter.org.