The Duprees

The group was founded in the early 1960s in Jersey City, New Jersey, by [William L. Dickinson High School] students Michael Arnone, Joe Santollo, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, and lead singer Joey Canzano (later known as Joey Vann).

Originally Tom Bialoglow and Joey 'Vann' Canzano were singing with a local Jersey City group, The Utopians while Arnone, Santollo and Salvato were with another local group The Elgins. One night while the Utopians sang at Hamilton Park, Arnone, Santollo, and Salvato cameto hear Joey Vann. The Elgins had just broken up and they wanted Vann to sing lead in a new group they were forming, The Parisians. Vann accepted under the condition Bialoglow came with him. While practicing in a men's room at a Jersey City park, police officer Mike Pelosa walked in, sending the boys running. He called them back explaining he had been listening to them for several weeks and asked if they'd like to sing at the Bergen Avenue CYO. This was the Duprees first gig, then known as The Parisians.[1]

Early in their run, Joey Vann got into a dispute with Joe Santollo causing him to leave the group. Without a lead, the group decided to hire a black lead singer sending them on a search through Jersey City's black neighborhood, Monticello Avenue. They asked a man on a street corner where they could find singers around there, he directed them to a local barbershop. As they pulled away, Santollo asked him his name to which he replied "Dupree." Santollo liked it as a group name, but they remained as The Parisians until signing with Co-Ed in 1962.[2]

While looking for lead singers, they met a local barber who they tried hiring, he was impressed with them, but already had a group and was a bit too old for The Parisians. He did however introduce them to "My Own True Love" from the Gone With The Wind soundtrack which they were surprised to discover had words. He also told them to look for Michael Kelly who had been singing lead for another local group, The Vocal Teens. They invited Kelly to a rehearsal and loved his vocal ability and feeling. Their manager did as well, taking them to Bell Sound where they recorded a demo of "My Own True Love" and a Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers song, "It's Christmas Once Again."

After recording their demo, The Parisians were looking for a record label to notice them. They began dropping off the demo at various labels in New York City, most of them throwing it away. One of the labels they dropped a demo off to was Coed Records. Forgetting to leave a phone number, the group waited two months for a response before finally returning to check in. As it turned out, Coed had liked their sound, and wanted them to audition but had no way to contact them. During the waiting period, Michael Kelly was discovered by songwriting team Hal and Muriel Weiss who also wrote for Ronnie and the Hi-Lites. He left The Parisians and recording a low-performing single "When A Man Cries" in August 1962. Though he was the lead singer on their demo, they decided not to tell the label and instead call Joey Vann to see if he would return. He did, and they auditioned in the office of Coed founder George Paxton who liked them and offered them a six-month contract with two one year options, never realizing it wasn't Joey Vann on the demo.

The group liked to rearrange old, lesser known standards to their style, much like The Flamingo's with I Only Have Eyes For You. Paxton, a former bandleader, loved this and especially loved their ability to arrange their own songs. Paxton however wasn''t fond of their name, The Parisians, so he had them write down 15 names and choose from one of them. Tom Bialoglow made the list, and included the name The Duprees, remembering the man on the corner sometime before. In the spring of 1962, with the help of Paxton and A&R man/arranger Fred Weismantel, they created The Duprees sound, using big-band style arrangements with their doo-wop vocal sound. In August 1962, they released their first album titled "You Belong To Me." The title song would become the groups biggest hit, spending 10 weeks on the weekly Billboard Top-40 charts and two weeks on weekly the Top-10 peaking at #7. Their recording of "My Own True Love" would also chart, peaking at 13 on the weekly Top-40 charts.

After their first release The Duprees became stars, touring the United States performing at concert venues such as the Apollo Theatre and for radio disc jockeys. They also toured with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars.

In 1963, they released an album "Have You Heard?" and three charting singles, "Gone With The Wind" peaking at #89, "Have You Heard?" peaking at #18, and "Why Don't You Believe Me" peaking at #37.

Shortly before the release of "Have You Heard?" Tom Bialoglow left the group after underwhelming royalties left him to decide between family and the group. After leaving the group, Bialoglow was not replaced and the album was produced and released without him.

In 1964, like many other groups, The Duprees were hurt by the British Invasion. Joey Vann left the group sometime after "Have You Heard?" and was replaced, once again, by Mike Kelly.

In 1965, The Duprees would have their final charting single with a release with Columbia Records titled "Around The Corner" which peaked at #93 on the weekly Top-40 charts.

The Duprees, with Phil Granito joining in 1987 and Jimmy Spinelli joining the group in 1991 and Tommy Petillo returning as lead singer in 2002 continue today.

Today, Phil Granito, Jimmy Spinelli and Tom Petillo are looking forward to continuing the legacy and will be performing in 2021.

Today's Duprees have over 40 years of on-stage performances with Phil Granito, Tommy Petillo, and Jimmy Spinelli who continue to perform all the chart-topping songs you know and love.

• You Belong to Me (Co-Ed, 1962)
• Have You Heard (Co-Ed, 1963)
• Total Recall (Heritage, 1968) - Mike Kelly replacing Joey Vann as lead

• The Italian Asphalt & Pavement Co. Presents Duprees Gold (Colossus, 1970)

• The Duprees Go to the Movies (vol-1 2003)
• The Duprees Live at the Sands (vol-2 2003)
• Duprees Go to the Movies (2008)
• The Duprees Today (2008)
• A Duprees Christmas (2009)
• As Time Goes By (2010)
• Great Songs of Our Time (2011)
• Fiftieth Anniversary Album 2012
• Happy 100th Mr. Sinatra (2016)

• Night of Legends Live: The Duprees/Little Anthony and the Imperials (2010)

• "My Own True Love" – Pop Chart #13 (1962)
• "You Belong to Me" – Pop Chart #7 (1962)
• "I'd Rather Be Here in Your Arms" - Pop Chart #91 (1962)
• "Gone with the Wind" – Pop Chart #89 (1963)
• "Have You Heard" – Pop Chart #18 (1963)
• "Why Don't You Believe Me" – Pop Chart #37 (1963)
• "(It's No) Sin" – Pop Chart #74 (1963)
• "Around the Corner" – Pop Chart #93 (1965)
• "Check Yourself" – Pop Chart #97 (1970)
• "Delicious" – Disco Singles #3 (1975)