Short Stories from Wing's Authors.

One Hit Wonders

by

Jim Daddio

Chapter 1

1999

Vince Danelli sat in front of his television sipping a cold beer. He watched as PBS was broadcasting a pledge drive offering CD’s and Video’s of music called “Doo-Wop Box 1 and 2.” He had mixed emotions as the announcer introduced Jerry Butler, a famous singer from the fifties and sixties. He appeared on camera and said, “Our next group features the soft mellow voice of “Pookie” Hudson. Don’t be fooled by his laid back style. His voice still sounds the same as he did forty-five years ago when The Spaniels’ sang, “Good Night Sweetheart, Goodnight.”

Vince sighed as he watched the group. He couldn’t believe that PBS was not only offering the music but had brought back many of the groups who had hit songs during the fifties and early sixties. They were sponsoring concerts and many of the old groups re-formed and sang their hits in front of a live audience. He had watched all of the shows and knew several of the singers in the various groups.

When the group called “The Crests” came on the screen he let out a yell. He had been good friends with the group years ago. His phone rang. It was his brother, Lenny. His voice was filled with excitement. “Can you believe this? Why hasn’t anybody called us…you?”

“You know PBS has nothing to do with the songs on the box sets. It was produced by Rhino Records in Santa Monica. I watch it and still can’t believe they’re offering our music.”

The words ‘our music’ hit Vince hard. It was forty years ago that with his brother, Lenny, their cousin Tommy Matello and a neighbor, Bobby Jenkins, formed a singing group called the Mello-Tones and had a hit record, “Summer Love.”

“We should be there,” Lenny said.

“Yeah, right. Bob’s dead and we haven’t sung in thirty years.”

“I know. It’s just, well, what can I say? It brings back so many memories. We were so cool. We…never mind. I’ll see you soon.”

“Hey, I’m glad you finally moved down here.”

“Me too.”

Vince hung up and watched the rest of the show. When it was over he grabbed another beer and walked out to a screened patio and sat down. The South Florida air was warm and thick. He didn’t mind. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder back to nineteen-sixty. He was nineteen years old.

Chapter 2

1960

 Vince sat in the driver’s seat of his red and white nineteen-fifty Ford. His cousin, Tommy, sat in the back seat. He tapped the steering wheel then called out, “Where the hell are they? Man, Lenny and Bobby should be here by now. We got to get going. A chance of a lifetime comes along and these two are probably chasing some chicks.”

Tommy laughed. “That Bobby, man, he gets a lot of white chicks for a colored kid.”

“Tell me about it. He’s gettin’ more than I’m gettin’. “

“He can sing. That’s for sure. I watch the girls lookin’ at him when he’s singin’ and their drollin’ all over the place.”

“Yeah, well…”

Vince looked up and saw the two boys running toward the car. He yelled out the window, “Come on. We got to drive into the City. Traffic is going to be heavy. Move it.”

The four boys from Jericho, Long Island, were on their way to Manhattan to meet with a record producer and do a live performance of two songs Lenny had written.

They drove in a nervous silence. They had sent in a demo tape of “Summer Love” and “If I Ask You To Love Me.” They called themselves the Mello-Tones and had been singing at high school dances and at every holiday event for two years. This was their chance to get a record deal.

Tommy broke the silence. “I prayed all last night. It’s our time. I just know it. Look at the Cavaliers. They got a hit. They ain’t better than us. And how about Jimmy Ricci and his group, The Bell Notes? They stink.”

Lenny replied, “Remember, they have a band. Groups are fading. That’s what I’m worried about.”

“That’s bullshit. Look at the Jive Five and Sheppard’s and… and…”

“Okay. You’re right. I’m just nervous. It seems that lately it’s all about bands. Drummers, a sax…and guitars.”

“The guy liked our songs. That’s all that counts. We just have to sing it like we know how.”

Lenny leaned back, “You ready, Bobby?”

He sang out, “I had a summer love, a love that was so true.”

Tommy sang base and everybody laughed loudly. It was a nervous laugh.

Chapter 3

 The four boys walked into the lobby of Meca Records They stood in amazement at the large ornate furniture and stared at the gold records and the pictures of the singing groups that lined the walls.

Vince, who had always been the leader and spokes person for the group, could hardly talk as he approached the young girl sitting at the reception desk. Before he could muster a word the girl smiled and said, “I bet you’re the Mello-Tones.”

The boys nodded their heads up and down in a rapid motion. The girl continued, “I heard your song, “Summer Love.” I love it. It’s going to be a big hit.”

None of the boys could even respond. They watched as she used the headset and called for Archie Ledbetter. Within a few minutes the door opened and he walked into the room. He called out, “The Mello-Tones. I love this. Four handsome young men. And a mixed group. Very, very cool.”

Not one member of the group said a word. The girl laughed and said, “They’re a little shy. Hey, guys, loosen up.”

Archie waved his hands and shouted, “Name is Archie. Come on in boys. I want to hear you sing in person. No music. Just a cappella.”

The four boys followed him back into the studio. It was the first time they had seen one. Archie said, “Any of you guys talk?”

Vince stepped forward. “Me. I’m Sorry we’re acting like this. It’s…never mind. I’m Vince Danelli and this is my brother Lenny. This is our cousin Tommy Matello and our friend, Bob Jenkins.”

“Well, boys, it’s nice to have you here. Time is money and we need to get you on a track. We move fast around here. I hope you’re ready to sing your hearts out. I produce hits. I can spot one right away. I loved your demo tape.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“Good. Go into the studio there and when you see my engineer here give you a high sign, start singing. What song is first?”

“Summer Love.”

“Good. Now go. Sing. And make it work the first time.”

The boys walked into the enclosed room. There was a microphone hanging from the ceiling. There were three other microphones set up. Both Bobby and Vince could sing the lead. They had decided that Vince would sing “Summer Love” and Bobby would sing, “If I Ask You To Love Me.”

Vance started, “I had a summer love a love that was so true. I had a summer love a love that felt so new. I had summer love a love that would last forever.”

The song continued with the refrain, “As the summer wind turned cold. She said she could not stay. I never thought she would leave me when the summer sun faded away.

I had summer love a love that was so true….I had a summer love, Vince paused and sighed….did you have one too.”

The song ended with a rolling of the word ‘too’ from high to low. There was complete silence for a few minutes. A voice bellowed through the walls, “Unbelievable. That was a one-time take and it worked. We’ll put the music to it later. Now sing the other song.”

Bobby switched with Vince. He took a deep breath and sang, “If I ask you to love me would you smile and put me down and if I ask you to want me would you laugh and call me a clown….because I love you and I want you to be a part of me….and if I ask you to stay with me would you turn and walk away and if I ask you to lay with me would you feel the words I say….”

The song was soft and sad. The words rolled off of Bobby’s lips. He paused and ended the song, “Oh please, won’t you be a part of me…be a part of me….”

The door flew open and Archie flew into the room. “We got ourselves a record, boys. Follow me to my office and let’s sign some contracts. The Mello-Tones are on their way.”

Chapter 4

Present

 Vince watched as the hard rain pelted the already soaked ground. He popped open another beer and lay back in the lounge chair knowing he would stay dry in the covered patio.

As part of his daily routine he had started taking a few minutes to reflect on his life--especially the past few years. He had injured his back in a freak accident at work and was placed on permanent disability. For a second he felt the pain and gulped down his beer.

He had moved his family to Miami from his boyhood home in Long Island after he was offered a job with Delta Airlines. He thought about his son and daughter. His son was married and lived in West Palm Beach. His daughter followed in her mother’s footsteps and was finishing up nursing school.

He thought about his cousin, Tommy. He too had moved to Miami and lived a few blocks away. He had been married, divorced and re-married. His new wife had two young girls that were still in high school. And then there was brother Lenny. He had tried for years to get him to move to Miami. He finally made the move two years earlier. He married late and had one teenage son. Bob Jenkins had died five years earlier.

There were days that the pain was so intense he could hardly walk. When his wife had the day shift at the hospital he would sit and stare at the fruit trees in his back yard and do nothing but think about the Mello-Tones. The only thing that kept him going was the fact that his brother and cousin were now living near-by and they became a close family again. But it was those memories of the Mello-Tones that made him feel good.

Their song “Summer Love” became a hit. It hit the Billboard 100 at fifty with a bullet and went all the way to number five. The group began to tour. For four teenagers from Jericho, Long Island, life couldn’t be better. They toured with the best singing groups at the time. They became close friends with The Five Satins, The Crests, The Penguins and several other groups.

For two years they were on top of the world. They played in theaters, clubs and even appeared on American Bandstand. They partied, drank, chased and caught the girls. They thought nothing could stop them.

Their next song, “Our Love” made the charts but didn’t sell. After two more misses, Meca Records dropped them. They toured around the New York area singing their songs, but the magic was over. Three years after “Summer Love” sold close to a million copies they were shaken and broke. The group disbanded and everybody went their separate ways. Later they would be identified as one of many singing groups from the fifties and sixties that were known as one hit wonders.

Chapter 5

Sundays were always special for Vince. The families would gather for a pasta feast. The three men would drink wine and usually end up singing a couple of songs. Lenny’s wife loved to hear them sing. She didn’t know them when they were popular. After a few songs she called out, “I just love hearing you guys sing. And Vince, your voice is so soft and…”

Lenny called out, “Mello.” Everybody laughed out loud. She said, “Yeah. I get it. The Mello-Tones.”

Vince’s son called out, “I still can’t believe that you guys had a big hit and were once a famous group. My dad was a rock star.”

Laugher again filled the room.

The three men grabbed their wine and walked out to the patio. Vince said, “I love these Sundays. Everybody together eating pasta and drinking wine. Just like when we were growing up.”

“Always at our grandmother’s house,” Lenny said. “And could she cook or what? The sauce, the meatballs and the macaroni. Man oh man.”

“I remember you would always sneak in the kitchen and make a few meatball sandwiches. Funny thing was you thought you were so cool but everybody knew.”

Tommy sat down. He took a long drink of wine from his glass and said, “Seems like a hundred years ago.”

“Yeah, but you know, now that Lenny’s here, well, it makes everything so much better.”

“And, Vince, how’s the back been?” Lenny asked.

“Good days and bad days. When it gets bad I pop a few pain pills and gut it out.”

Vince’s wife opened the sliding glass door and called out, “Phone call for you Vince.”

“Who is it?”

“How the hell would I know?”

Vince walked in the house and grabbed the phone, “Hello.”

“Is this Vince Danelli?”

“Speaking. Who is this?”

“The Vince Danelli who sang with the Mello-Tones?”

Vince’s head snapped back. He could feel a quick heartbeat. He mumbled, “Yes.”

“Man, I’m glad I found you. My name is David Goldfarb. I’m calling from Hollywood. I hope you don’t mind me calling on a Sunday.”

Vince didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know the caller or why he was calling. The man continued, “The reason why I tracked you down is that from what I understand you own the copyright to the song, “Summer Love.” Is this correct?”

Vince didn’t hesitate. “Yes. After Meca Records dropped us I bought the rights to the song.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear. I am the writer, director and producer of a new movie being made titled, “The Lost Summer.” I would like to use the song in the movie.”

Vince couldn’t breath. He wasn’t sure what the man meant. He tried talking but nothing came out. David said, “Hello…You still there?”

Vince stuttered, “Yes…yes…I…I…”

David interrupted, “Let me explain. I know the song. I grew up listening to it. It’s my favorite song of all time. It was me. It was me on the beaches of Long Island. So many summers. Now that I have a chance to use it I want to make you an offer.”

After another few minutes of more silence, he continued, “The song fits perfectly in the movie. The deal is simple. We’ll pay you fifty thousand for the rights to use….”

“Huh? Did you say fifty thousand dollars?”

“Right. Now. Here’s the deal. If you agree, the production company will then manage you and the song when it’s released. We will get fifteen percent of all revenues generated by songs sales, downloads and concerts. Now…”

Vince’s head was spinning. He tried to collect himself. He exhaled and said, “Let me see if I’m getting this. The song will be in the movie and then be released and it sounds like you’re thinking that it will be a hit…again…and the Mello-Tones will tour.”

“You got it.”

“I get it…but I don’t.”

“Do you watch PBS…the Doo-Wop shows? The fifties music is hot right now. All the old groups are getting back and doing Doo-Wop revival shows all over the country. Vince, when this movie comes out this summer and the people hear your song…bam; instant hit. You have to remember almost everyone who will see this movie has never heard the song. They will love it…as I did.”

“It sounds so, ah, out there.”

“You watched Happy Days, right. Well, twice in the show they played “Earth Angel.” The next day the radio stations around the country were deluged with phone calls requesting the song. The kids didn’t know it was an oldie-goldie. The Penguins had to get back together because the song was a hit. Vince, they made more money on the re-release twenty years later than they did when the song was released in nineteen-fifty-five. This will happen with the Mello-Tones.”

Vince’s whole body was shaking. He said, “Could you hold for a minute?”

“Sure.”

Vince placed the receiver down on the kitchen table and walked into the living room. Everyone was sitting and talking. He called out in excitement. “I don’t know how to say this but…well, the Mello-Tones are back.” He yelled, “We are back in business.”

Everybody in the room sat in silence and stared at him. The silence lasted for several minutes. Finally his wife said, “It’s the wine. He gets like this after a few bottles of Cianti.” Everybody went back to what they were doing.

Vince raised his hands. “Very funny, Terry. So you don’t want to hear that on the phone is a Hollywood movie producer who just offered us fifty thou….get it, fifty big ones…to use “Summer Love” in his movie and…”

Before he could finish Lenny leaped off the couch. He ran toward Vince. He grabbed him around the waist. “Holy, shit. What the hell?”

“And they are going to release the song and we’re going on tour.”

Tommy sat in silence. Vince’s wife’s mouth opened wide. Nothing came out. Tommy’s wife didn’t know what to think or say. Vince said, “The man is still on the phone. I better get back….we’re back boys, we are back.”

Vince grabbed the receiver. Tommy and Lenny huddled behind him. “Sorry about that. I wanted to tell the boys.”

“The group is there?”

“All but Bobby Jenkins. He died five years ago.”

“Sorry to hear that. So, is it a yes?”

“Yes. One hundred percent yes.”

“Good. Do you have an e-mail address?”

He gave David his address.

“I’ll send you all the information. Look it over and when you reply let me know when the group can come out. But be quick…maybe as soon as next week. We need to get the contract signed and the voice over for the movie. I want to use your group singing it new. Let me know when and I will make the plane reservations for you and have a limo pick you up and take you to the hotel. Everything will be paid for. I look forward to meeting you and hearing you sing the song.”

Vince was totally in shock. He hung up and turned around. “He wants us out there next week. He is paying for our plane tickets, limo pick up and hotel room. Oh, man, what the hell just happened?”

Chapter 6

The excitement level wasn’t what Vince expected. All three of the wives were against the whole thing. Lenny and Tommy had jobs and young children. Vince had a bad back and at times could hardly move. They were all close to sixty years old. How could they leave their jobs and families and tour? It was only one song. How much could they make? Could Lenny and Tommy afford to leave their jobs and make enough money to support their families? The questions and negativity kept on coming.

Vince’s excitement level tapered off. He listened to the woman as they voiced their opinions. He waited for the right time and stood up. “We have to do this. We can’t turn down fifty thousand dollars.”

His wife snapped, “From what I remember the deal was always an even share. Divided by three that’s a little less than seventeen thousand apiece. Surely not enough money for Lenny and Tommy to quit their jobs and run off to Hollywood? And don’t forget you’re bad back…you’re on disability…you would lose your monthly payments.”

Vince pleaded, “But the song will be re-released. It will be a hit again and we’ll tour and…”

“And what, “Terry shouted. “I know the story. You guys got screwed so bad you hardly made a dime from “Summer Love.” I heard it a thousand times. Yeah, you partied and had cash in your pockets but when it was over that record guy….Archie….never paid you a dime. What makes you think it won’t happen again…even if the song is a hit…which I doubt it will be.”

“We were kids. We didn’t know anything about what was going on. It’s different. We’ll get a lawyer to review the contract. We’ll use that accountant we use to do our taxes to keep track of royalties and…Jesus, what are we doing here? We got a chance to make a bundle and get back to doing what we love.”

They all agreed to take a few days to think it over. Vince told them they had to make a decision and answer David’s e-mail.

Two days later it was agreed that Lenny and Tommy would take a two week vacation and see what happened in Hollywood. And the wives would go with them and be at the meeting with the producer. And if Vince’s back became a problem they would sing the song and take the fifty thousand and end it.

Chapter 7

 The Mello-Tunes and their wives sat in a large conference room waiting for Goldfarb to come to the meeting. Fifteen minutes later he walked into the room. He smiled from ear to ear. “Welcome, welcome. It’s the Mello-Tones; and looking as handsome as ever.”

The three men stood up. David said, “Sit. Please. I want you all to know how excited I am you came as quickly as you could. Now, which one of you is Vince?”

“Here. I’m Vince….and this is my wife, Terry. My brother, Lenny and his wife, Mary. And my cousin Tommy and his wife, Ginger.”

“It’s great to meet you all. And as I told Vince I loved and still love, “Summer Love.” I can’t wait to get you in the studio and record the track. And, the wives are welcome to be on the set for a few scenes we’re re-shooting.”

David continued explaining what he wanted to do over the next few days. He talked about releasing the song--that he already had a deal with Images Records. He rambled on about concerts, TV appearances and PBS.

After about twenty minutes Terry raised her hand. “Mister Goldfarb I…well, it’s not that we’re not excited about everything you said it’s…it’s, oh, hell, I have to tell it like it is; Vince is on disability with a bad back, Lenny and Tommy have jobs and teenage children. And, and….their old, sorry, older…and we just don’t see how they can just drop everything and do this.”

David didn’t respond right away. He looked around the room. Finally he spoke, “I understand. I believe you think it is a risk and fifty thousand dollars for the three Mello-Tones is for sure not enough money to, as you say, drop everything. But there comes a time in everybody’s life when it’s time to follow their dreams and make it happen. There are no guarantees in this life, but “Summer Love” will be in the movie, the song will be released and there will be concerts and it will be a hit.’

Terry interrupted, “But it’s still a risk. I don’t know if we can take that kind of risk.”

“If you’re worried about money, here’s the deal. I’ll pay each member one thousand a week for the first year plus the fifty grand we talked about for the use of the song in the movie. After one year if the group is not busy as hell and singing all over the country with that song, we’ll dissolve the contract. And, as stated, the group will be under my management.”

He paused and looked around the room. He smiled and continued, “Before you say anything, I ain’t no Santa Clause. The management company will get twenty-five percent of all record sales, concerts, personal appearances and whatever else. Now, I know I said fifteen percent, but hell, it’s still an offer you can’t refuse.”

Nobody said a word.

~ * ~

Six months later the movie was released. The song was played in its entirety twice in the film and the melody was heard many times. The song was released and was an instant hit. The Mello-Tones were in demand. Their other song, “If I ask you to love me” was also released. And for the first time the Mello-Tones released their first album, a CD, Titled, “The Mello-Tones sing “Summer Love.’ The CD featured three of their songs and several popular Doo-Wop songs from the fifties. Their appearance on PBS was a hit and they never looked back. Vince’s back never bothered him again. The Mello-Tones were no longer listed with the “one hit wonders.”