The Imaginations, fue un Grupo Vocal de gran talento procedente de Nueva York, conocidos por su éxito de 1961 "Goodnight Baby" y por temas como "Mystery of You", "The Search Is Over", "Guardian Angel" y "Wait a Little Longer Son". Frank Mancuso, cantante principal de The Imaginations nos habla de su carrera
Muchas gracias, Frank por aceptar mi invitación para realizar esta entrevista. Frank, ¿en dónde conoció a Phil Agtuca, Bobby Bloom, Pete Agtuca y a Richie LeCausi?
Frank Mancuso: Les conocí en la tienda de caramelos Charlie’s en Bellmore, Long Island, N.Y.
¿Quiénes han sido sus influencias musicales?
Frank Mancuso: Por aquella época yo diría que The Charts, The Paragons, The Jesters y The Heartbeats.
Frank, ¿cómo era su vida cuando era un adolescente en Bellmore?
Frank Mancuso: Disfrutaba siendo adolescente. Me divertía mucho, sobre todo con The Imaginations.
¿Cómo surgió la idea de formar un grupo?
Frank Mancuso: Es una larga historia. Básicamente cuando me mudé a la Isla y estuve buscando cantantes. Me dijeron que había algunos chicos en el pueblo de al lado, y gestionamos un encuentro en la tienda de caramelos Charlie´s.
¿En dónde conocieron a Darlene Day?
Frank Mancuso: Wow. I meet her at my High School, W. C Mepham. We were in Music class together.
¿Actuaron en la televisión o en algún show conocido de la época?
Frank Mancuso: Actuamos en el show de television de Conn. Bandstan. También fuimos invitados para cantar en la fiesta para el American Bandstand. Fue muy divertido conocer a las chicas que solíamos admirar cuando veíamos la televisión. Desafortunadamente nunca actuamos en el American Bandstand. También aparecimos en el show de televisión The Clay Cole, y después para uno de sus shows en vivo. En una ocasión actuamos en el Palisades Amusement Park.
Frank, ¿recuerda alguna anécdota divertida de aquellos días?
Frank Mancuso: Lo pasábamos muy bien, recuerdo una noche después de escuchar el estribillo de una canción, fuimos a coger tapacubos de acero. Cuando estábamos cogiéndolos, se me cayó el mío, hizo mucho ruido y nos escapamos corriendo. Tuvimos mucha suerte de no haber sido arrestados y nunca lo volvimos a hacer. Hay muchas historias que podría contar pero el tiempo no me lo permite.
Divertida anécdota. ¿Continúan actuando?
Frank Mancuso: Sí, soy muy afortunado de poder actuar actualmente con tres grupos, The Legends Of Doo-Wop, The Doo-Wop Mob y con The Whitestone Band. Me mantengo muy ocupado. Espero, a mi edad, poder continuar cantando por más tiempo.
Muchas gracias, Frank, espero que tenga un Feliz Año.
Frank Mancuso: Muchas gracias por tu interés.
The Imaginations. Phil Agtuca, Tom Meade, Frank Mancuso,
Pete Agtuca y Richie Le Causi. At High School, W. C Mepham, 1959
The Imaginations. Phil Agtuca, Pete Agtuca, Bobby Bloom, Richie Le Causi and Frank Mancuso
Artículo recogido en el Periódico "Newsday" de Long Island en 1961
Appeared in "Newsday" Long Island's daily Newspaper, 1961
"I was thrilled that day to have autographed this for a happy fan, was not aware it was photographed back then in '61.
Taken on school grounds when we were part of the 4th of July celebration at our hometown in Wantagh, Long Island." Phil Agtuca
Taken on school grounds when we were part of the 4th of July celebration at our hometown in Wantagh, Long Island." Phil Agtuca
The Imaginations were a talented Vocal Group from New York, best known for their 1961 hit "Goodnight Baby" and songs as "Mystery of You", "The Search Is Over", "Guardian Angel" and "Wait A Little Longer Son." Frank Mancuso, the lead singer of The Imaginations tells us about his career
Thank you Frank for accepting my interview request. Frank, where did you meet Phil Agtuca, Bobby Bloom, Pete Agtuca and Richie LeCausi?
Frank Mancuso:I met them in Charlie’s candy store Bellmore Long Island N.Y.
Who were your biggest musical influences?
Frank Mancuso: At that time I would have to say The Charts, The Paragons, The Jesters and The Heartbeats.
Frank, how was your life when you were a teenager in Bellmore, Long Island?
Frank Mancuso: I enjoyed being a teenager. I had lots of fun especially with The Imaginations
How you got started as a group?
Frank Mancuso: That’s a long story. Basically when I moved out to the Island I went searching for singers. I was told there were some guys from the next town over, and arranged for a meeting at Charlie’s candy store.
Where did you meet Darlene Day, Frank?
Frank Mancuso: Wow. I meet her at my High School, W. C Mepham.
We were in Music class together.
Have you appeared on TV or any popular show?
Frank Mancuso: We performed on the Conn. Bandstand TV show. We were also invited to sing at a party for American Bandstand. That was lots a fun meeting the girls I used to admire watching them on TV. Unfortunately we were never asked to appear on American Bandstand. We also appeared on The Clay Cole TV show, and then invited to one of his live shows. We also played at Palisades Amusement Park.
Frank, do you have any funny anecdote of those days?
Frank Mancuso: We had lots of fun, I recall one night following the prompt of a song to go out a steel hubcaps. Well as we were taking of somebody’s hubcap I dropped mine and it made such a racket we all took off. We considered ourselves very lucky not to have been arrested and never attempted that again. There are so many more stories I could talk about but time will not allow.
Funny. Are you still performing?
Frank Mancuso: Yes I am very fortunate to be performing with three groups. The Legends Of Doo-Wop, The Doo-Wop Mob and with the Whitestone Band. So I keep myself very busy. Hopefully at my age I can continue for a while.
Thank you so much, Frank, I wish you a Happy New Year.
Frank Mancuso: Thank you so very much for your interest.
The Imaginations - Desfile del 4 de Julio de 1961 Wantagh
The Imaginations - Wantagh 1961 4th July Parade
The Imaginations en su primera aparición en el WC Mepham High School. A la derecha Tommy Meade, tenor principal. (Bobby Bloom fue el que reemplazó a Tommy. Bobby cantó en todos los discos de The Imaginations incluida la primera sesión. Bobby era cantante principal también en The Expressions) Phil Agtuca, Frank Mancuso, Pete Agtuca y Richie Le Causi.1961
The Imaginations on his first appearance at WC Mepham High School . From the right Tommy Meade, first tenor. (Bobby Bloom was the replacement first tenor for Tommy. Bobby sang on all of The Imaginations recordings including the first recording session and on. Bobby sang lead for The Expressions as well) Phil Agtuca, Frank Mancuso, Pete Agtuca y Richie Le Causi.1961
The Imaginations on his first appearance at WC Mepham High School . From the right Tommy Meade, first tenor. (Bobby Bloom was the replacement first tenor for Tommy. Bobby sang on all of The Imaginations recordings including the first recording session and on. Bobby sang lead for The Expressions as well) Phil Agtuca, Frank Mancuso, Pete Agtuca y Richie Le Causi.1961
The Imaginations, también conocidos como The Expressions. On The Corner - To Cry Parkway records editado en 1963
The Imaginations AKA The Expressions. On The Corner - To Cry Parkway records released 1963
The Imaginations AKA The Expressions. On The Corner - To Cry Parkway records released 1963
Frank Mancuso and The Whitestone Band
The Imaginations ~ Guardian Angel, 1961
The Imaginations ~ Hey You, 1961
The Imaginations ~ Wait A Little Longer Son
The Imaginations ~ I Love You So
The Imaginations ~ Mystery Of You (Written by Phil Agtuca) & Mama´s Little Baby
Unissued Video ~ First part taken at Phil Agtuca´s home : The Search is Over ~ 2nd half.: Mama's Little Baby The Imaginations with special other guests in video (DJ Babalu, Tony Orlando, The Eternals, The Dimensions and local recording artist Frank Montanaro of The Gleams)
24 de Abril de 1961 ~ April 24, 1961
The Imaginations ~ Goognight Baby, 1961
June 5, 1961
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