The NYCB Theatre at Westbury recently hosted the holiday oldies show, which brought the audience back in time to relive the good times of their youth. It was hosted by Emil Stucchio of the Classics with a surprise guest appearance by the former WCBS FM DJ great Don K. Reed. rec
The show was opened by the Bronx group The Eternals, who rocked the crowd with “Rocking in the Jungle” and “Bobaloos Wedding Day,” both up tempo tunes. They can still make their unusual bird call sounds for this fun sounding group. This was followed by California’s Kathy Young, who at only 14 years of age, sang her hit “A Thousand Stars.” She still looks great at 70 as if unaffected by time.
Brooklyn’s Emil Stucchio and the Classics with group member Theresa McQueen did “Till Then” as well as some West Side Story numbers. Pennsylvania’s group The Tymes followed with their 1963 hit “So in Love” as well as “Somewhere” and “Wonderful Wonderful.” Dressed all in black with red sequins, they still showed their dance moves.
Santo & Johnny’s Johnny Farina, surviving brother of this Brooklyn instrumental duo played “Sleepwalk,” their huge hit from 1959. He also played “Pipeline” and Duane Eddy’s “Rebel-Rouser” with the Coda Band’s Mary Beth Ryan playing an absolutely great sax. No lion slept through this show with The Tokens doing their huge hit, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Jay Seigel explained the group used to first sing this song on Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, in order to meet girls. Little did he know then it would be such a classic multi-media hit.
The romantic group The Duprees ended the show with their string of well known hits.
—Submitted by Dick Salembier
