The Five Sharks started in the lunch room of Taft High School in The Bronx 1964. Eddie Black, Henry Levy, Mark Dinep and Mario Ibenez -who later became the lead singer of The Zirkons- harmonize in the school stairwell. One night me, Mark and Henry went to a dance at Saint Tolentines High School, where we met a guy named DJ or at least that is what he called himself, he had a 45 record with him of a group he had just recorded named The Rueteens - Formerly Jimmy and The Crestones, who recorded a song called Angel Maureen. He invited us over his house to hear it, while at his house, a friend of his came by - named Larry Rosenzweig- and we had four guys.  Larry also sang, so we tried a few songs and the blend was great. DJ wanted to record us, that was our start.

MP3 - Five Sharks Intro

We started recording for Bobby Miller at Cat Time Records. Our harmony was very high and Bobby suggested a bass , so we sang with several basses and none clicked. Then we heard a bunch of guys harmonizing in a store front,  the bass was pretty good we asked him to try out , his voice clicked and so did his personality, now we had five steady guys. About two years later Larry got drafted and Henry drifted away. They were replaced by Kenny Bank, baritone and Henry (Sal) Salis as second tenor with myself as first tenor and some time lead and Mark as main lead and Steve Horn as bass, this version of the Sharks had a higher and better blend.

MP3 - Five Sharks - 1966 - Flames

MP3 - Five Sharks - LIVE - 1967 - WFUV RADIO

We sang all over the place, discos, clubs, bars and the first two East Coast Acappella shows. The Chambers Brothers heard us and thought we were the best white group they ever heard. They introduced us to their producer at Columbia Records. It was The Chambers Brothers who taught us People Get Ready version that is on the beaudaddy web-site. Steve dropped out to sing with a band called Peck’s Bad Boys. The rest of the group got a record deal with Diamond Records and recorded a song written by one of The Detergents (of Leader of The Laundremat fame)  it was produced by Johnnie Cymbal (Hey Mr. Bassman). The song was called Monday Kind of Friday. It did quite well on the east coast becoming number one in upstate New York for awhile. Kenny and me then got pulled into the service and The Five Sharks dissolved. We regrouped two years ago - 2006. Mark is gone, he died in 1980 - a shame. I now sing lead and Frank of the The Legends of Doowop does first tenor sometimes. He also does lead and I do first , we have recorded again and it should be out soon .Whew!!!
                 

Eddie Black - October 2008