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The Delltones
The Delltones were an Australian rock and roll band, which formed in 1958. They started as a doo-wop, harmony quartet with Warren Lucas (tenor vocals), Brian Perkins (baritone vocals), Noel Widerberg (lead vocals) and Ian "Peewee" Wilson (bass vocals). In July 1962 Noel Widerberg died in a car accident in Brighton-le-Sands in Sydney, and three weeks later the group's single, "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands", reached the top five on the local charts. Widerberg's position was filled by Col Loughnan (ex-The Crescents). The group disbanded in 1973.
Wilson, as the sole founding mainstay, reformed the group with new members in 1978 as a five – piece band. Along with stylistic changes, it led to their resurgence and a top 20 compilation album, Bop Til Ya Drop (1983). The Delltones performed for five decades; although their most successful recording years were in the 1960s. They were consistent live entertainers in Australia before disbanding in 2016.
In 1958, Noel Widerberg (lead vocals) and Ian "Peewee" Wilson (bass vocals) were lifesavers at the Bronte Surf Club. They were interested in four-part doo wop harmonies, "such as The Diamonds and Elvis Presley's The Jordanaires," and began singing together at club socials. Later that year they were joined by Warren Lucas (tenor vocals), a member of a vocal group the Sapphires, and then by Brian Perkins (baritone vocals). The four met at a Bronte Club social to form the Delltones. According to music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, the name means "'of tones' ('dell' meaning 'of' in Spanish)." They began harmonising at talent quests and on street corners. The quartet's first "professional engagement" was at a Kings Cross nightclub after they stopped its owner in the street and sang for him. He invited them to perform an impromptu session consisting of four songs – their total repertoire. They were paid with spaghetti bolognese and beer.
In early 1959, the Delltones visited Bob Rogers, a radio DJ for 2GB.[citation needed] They auditioned Widerberg's composition "Why" during a commercial break. Rogers phoned Lee Gordon, an American-born, Sydney-based promoter, and persuaded him, "to feature them on one of the early Stadium shows." The Delltones, whose average age was 21, performed in many of Gordon's Big Shows, backing vocalists and with their own feature spot. They provided harmony backing vocals for performances by visiting international and local artists (Johnny O'Keefe, Dig Richards, Johnny Rebb and Johnny Devlin). The Delltones also sang backing vocals on recording sessions for O'Keefe.
In mid-October 1959, the group (backed by The Rebels) performed in shows titled Lee Gordon's 1959 Rock'n'Roll Spectacular. The Sydney concerts were edited into a film called Rock 'n' Roll which premiered on 30 October. The film, thought lost but rediscovered in 2020, includes rare footage of a 1950s rock and roll concert in Australia.
O'Keefe invited the Delltones to appear as regulars on his ABC Television music show Six O'Clock Rock, and the radio show, Rockville Junction. The band also appeared on the rival show, Bandstand, hosted by Brian Henderson. Their television show appearances helped to promote their act and "was the perfect platform for a successful recording career."
Lee Gordon also signed the Delltones to his Leedon Records recording label and, within a week, the group had cut their first single – a remake of the Crows' "Gee" and the Widerberg composition "Why". "Gee" was a success, eventually peaking at No. 15, with eight-week duration, on the Sydney charts; though it failed to make headway on the national Australian charts. Their second single, "Tonight", was released in October 1959, and was written by Widerberg. Its b-side was their cover version of Dion and the Belmonts' "Every Little Thing I Do"; it became a minor hit, but failed to generate sales nationally.
At this stage, the group's popularity as live performers began to increase rapidly.[citation needed] They were in demand for recording sessions, including on O'Keefe's "Shout", and Rebb's "Highway of Love". They also recorded harmony backing for country music artists, Slim Dusty, Reg Lindsay, and Lionel Long.[citation needed]
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The Delltones
The Delltones were an Australian rock and roll band, which formed in 1958. They started as a doo-wop, harmony quartet with Warren Lucas (tenor vocals), Brian Perkins (baritone vocals), Noel Widerberg (lead vocals) and Ian "Peewee" Wilson (bass vocals). In July 1962 Noel Widerberg died in a car accident in Brighton-le-Sands in Sydney, and three weeks later the group's single, "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands", reached the top five on the local charts. Widerberg's position was filled by Col Loughnan (ex-The Crescents). The group disbanded in 1973.
Wilson, as the sole founding mainstay, reformed the group with new members in 1978 as a five – piece band. Along with stylistic changes, it led to their resurgence and a top 20 compilation album, Bop Til Ya Drop (1983). The Delltones performed for five decades; although their most successful recording years were in the 1960s. They were consistent live entertainers in Australia before disbanding in 2016.
In 1958, Noel Widerberg (lead vocals) and Ian "Peewee" Wilson (bass vocals) were lifesavers at the Bronte Surf Club. They were interested in four-part doo wop harmonies, "such as The Diamonds and Elvis Presley's The Jordanaires," and began singing together at club socials. Later that year they were joined by Warren Lucas (tenor vocals), a member of a vocal group the Sapphires, and then by Brian Perkins (baritone vocals). The four met at a Bronte Club social to form the Delltones. According to music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, the name means "'of tones' ('dell' meaning 'of' in Spanish)." They began harmonising at talent quests and on street corners. The quartet's first "professional engagement" was at a Kings Cross nightclub after they stopped its owner in the street and sang for him. He invited them to perform an impromptu session consisting of four songs – their total repertoire. They were paid with spaghetti bolognese and beer.
In early 1959, the Delltones visited Bob Rogers, a radio DJ for 2GB.[citation needed] They auditioned Widerberg's composition "Why" during a commercial break. Rogers phoned Lee Gordon, an American-born, Sydney-based promoter, and persuaded him, "to feature them on one of the early Stadium shows." The Delltones, whose average age was 21, performed in many of Gordon's Big Shows, backing vocalists and with their own feature spot. They provided harmony backing vocals for performances by visiting international and local artists (Johnny O'Keefe, Dig Richards, Johnny Rebb and Johnny Devlin). The Delltones also sang backing vocals on recording sessions for O'Keefe.
In mid-October 1959, the group (backed by The Rebels) performed in shows titled Lee Gordon's 1959 Rock'n'Roll Spectacular. The Sydney concerts were edited into a film called Rock 'n' Roll which premiered on 30 October. The film, thought lost but rediscovered in 2020, includes rare footage of a 1950s rock and roll concert in Australia.
O'Keefe invited the Delltones to appear as regulars on his ABC Television music show Six O'Clock Rock, and the radio show, Rockville Junction. The band also appeared on the rival show, Bandstand, hosted by Brian Henderson. Their television show appearances helped to promote their act and "was the perfect platform for a successful recording career."
Lee Gordon also signed the Delltones to his Leedon Records recording label and, within a week, the group had cut their first single – a remake of the Crows' "Gee" and the Widerberg composition "Why". "Gee" was a success, eventually peaking at No. 15, with eight-week duration, on the Sydney charts; though it failed to make headway on the national Australian charts. Their second single, "Tonight", was released in October 1959, and was written by Widerberg. Its b-side was their cover version of Dion and the Belmonts' "Every Little Thing I Do"; it became a minor hit, but failed to generate sales nationally.
At this stage, the group's popularity as live performers began to increase rapidly.[citation needed] They were in demand for recording sessions, including on O'Keefe's "Shout", and Rebb's "Highway of Love". They also recorded harmony backing for country music artists, Slim Dusty, Reg Lindsay, and Lionel Long.[citation needed]