Joey Dee

As leader of the house band at New York's Peppermint Lounge, Joey Dee enshrined the nightclub's name in his 1961 chart-topper "Peppermint Twist." Born Joseph DiNicola in Passaic, NJ, he joined forces with veteran producer Henry Glover to record "Peppermint Twist" for Roulette Records, and that massive success earned him a starring role in the movie Hey, Let's Twist. Although most of his hits stayed locked in the Twist style—including a high-energy cover of the Isley Brothers' "Shout" in 1962—he scored a notable departure that same year by tackling the gentler Johnny Nash composition "What Kind of Love Is This." By opening the revolving roster of his Starliters to up-and-coming talent, Dee provided early opportunities for the Ronettes, three-quarters of the Young Rascals, and Jimi Hendrix. He kept issuing records through the mid-'70s and afterward sustained a steady presence on the oldies circuit.