The Heartaches began back at Holy Rosary grammar school in Downtown
Jersey City, New Jersey sometime around 1961. Back then they were called the
Vydells. Joe Calamito started the original group after watching American Bandstand.
He decided he wanted to sing bass in a doo-wop group. Having no idea how to
begin, Joe Calamito talked a few friends in trying to sing at a grammar school
class night program. He recruited the help of one of the star football players
on the Holy Rosary football team, Tommy D'Alesandro. Joe Calamito and Tommy
D'Alesandro's friendship has spanned more than 40 years and lead them on a
vocal journey that lasted 30 years where they performed with some of the best
vocal artists on the American doo-wop and top 40 scene.
After a disastrous performance at the grammar school class night.
Joe Calamito and Tommy D'Allesandro realized that what they needed was better
singers and more rehearsal-lots more. After trying -retrying and trying different
singers, they found the perfect vocal blend in what became known as Joanne
and the Heartaches, and then finally just the Heartaches. The original Heartaches
Joe Calamito bass- baritone, Tommy D'Allesandro, 2nd tenor, Charlie Romano
tenor, Bobby Taglarini tenor and, lead singer Joanne Lucas spent two years
listening to the radio and practicing songs they heard and liked and then
attempted to put them into acappella renditions.
The Original Heartaches worked hard to achieve their own style and blend of
harmony and at that time became known as "Blue Eyed Soul group."
In 1964 they entered a state talent contest and were awarded third place.
This lead to various performances in and around New Jersey. In 1965 they signed
a recording contract with Stan Krause's Catamount record label. In the summer
of 1966 "I' m So Young" b/w A Lover's Call an original song by Calamito
was released. They appeared at many more shows especially the legendary State
theater in Hackensack NJ along with The Royal Counts, The Concepts and the
Persuasions and many of the early acapella doowop groups, the Zircons, the
Delstars etc. The Heartaches became known for their female lead-four man back
up harmony. In 1967 the lead vocal shifted from Joanne Lucas to Gerry O'Neil.
In 1968 Joanne Bevaqua and Russell Capo were added. They were now called the
"Heartaches" They performed in and around the metropolitan area
until 1969 when the group stopped performing after Calamito entered the United
Sates Army. In 1971 an attempt to regroup took place but only for a few months.
However Joe Calamito and Tommy D'Alesandro continued to sing with Russ Capo
and became known as the "Neighborhood Wish" Performing at Ronnie
I's UGHA. There they performed with an acoustic guitar played by Calamito
and singing originals by Crosby Still and Nash and others from the 1970;s.
Fortunately this was short lived and the group broke up.
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