The Three Chuckles were an early American rock & roll group from Brooklyn, New York, United States.[1]
Although designated rock & roll by contemporary observers, the sound of The Three Chuckles is closer to vocal pop, in hindsight.[2] They formed around 1950, naming themselves after a popular candy of the day, and played East Coast establishments. Original accordionist/keyboardist Phil Benti left the group in the mid-1950s and was replaced with Teddy Randazzo, then a teenager. In 1954, they recorded a song called "Runaround", written by a truck driver named Cirino Colacrai, and released it on Boulevard Records as the B-side to "At Last You Understand".[2] The single was picked up for national distribution by RCA Victor, and "Runaround" became a hit, peaking at No. 20 on the US national chart.[2]
With their newfound fame, Randazzo became the lead singer and songwriter. They scored two further hits on the new Billboard charts: "Times Two, I Love You" (No. 67, 1955) and "And the Angels Sing" (No. 70, 1956).[3] In 1956 the Three Chuckles performed the song "Cinnamon Sinner" in the movie, The Girl Can't Help It.[1] Also in 1956, Alan Freed offered them a spot in his movie Rock, Rock, Rock;[1] following this Randazzo left the group for a solo career. Jackie Farrell joined after Randazzo left, but the group did not return to record, and broke up by 1958.[2] Randazzo recorded solo.
Tommy Romano continued in the music industry, performing into the 1970s. In 1997, Collectables Records issued a collection of Three Chuckles songs on CD.
Members edit
- Tommy Romano - vocals, guitar
- Tommy "Russ" Gilberto - vocals, bass
- Phil Benti - accordion
- Teddy Randazzo - accordion, vocals
- Jackie Farrell - accordion
References edit
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 443. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- ^ a b c d "The Three Chuckles | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ "The Three Chuckles Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved October 29, 2019.