Article published in Song Hits, January 1968
The Bay Ridge | Veterans Of The Battle Of The Bands | All of the members of The Bay Ridge are young (they range in age from fourteen to seventeen) but the tremendous number of appearances they have mode in clubs, dances and at concerts has already built them a huge following in their home city of Brooklyn.
The Bay Ridge is composed of five dynamic young men: Joe Carbone – lead vocalist; Augie Perotti – vocals and boss; Richie Zito – vocals and lend guitar; Peter Pinto – drums; and Bobby (Red) Garnbale – organ.
They met when they were attending Mc-Kinley Jr. High in Brooklyn and decided to form a soul-rock group. The practiced and rehearsed for months before taking their first job, backing singers at school dances.
They made such an impact that soon they were starring at dances at their own school, and were in demand for appearances at other schools in Brooklyn.
The Bay Ridge | Veterans Of The Battle Of The Bands
School dances, church dances and sweet sixteen affairs followed one another in quick succession for The Bay Ridge (who at that time were known as The Chosen Few – a name they dropped after discovering that they were close to a score of groups under that title).
They were asked to play at the Palm Shores Club in Brooklyn and went on to star at McNulty’s Discotheque. But their biggest kick came when they played a “Battle Of The Bands” date at Action City in Brooklyn, New York, and WON! They won many “Battle Of The Bonds” at Action City after that.
One day, when the boys were in Manhattan, they noticed The Rascals coming out of a recording studio. They decided to go upstairs to the studio and see if they could get an audition for themselves. They walked upstairs, but were so nervous they ran down again. Finally, after a long conference, they walked up again and plucked up enough courage to ask for on audition.
The engineer flipped over their rendition of “I Got You” (the James Brown hit). He called Anita Wexler, daughter of Atlantic Records executive vice-president, Jerry Wexler, and asked her to come over and hear the group. She did, flipped too, and convinced her father to sign them for the label.
The Bay Ridge | Veterans Of The Battle Of The Bands
The Bay Ridge (their name comes from the section of Brooklyn where they all live) are songwriters as well as singers and instrumentalists.
They are all self-taught and they rehearse their songs in the basement (a former wine cellar) of one of the members of the group. Their favourite groups ore The Young Rascals, The Animals, and all soul groups.
The first recording by The Boy Ridge on Atlantic, “BACKTRACK,” was released in August, 1967. Producer is Anita Wexler. Did anybody out there hear it?
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