Biography
The Five Discs, one of numerous vocal ensembles that formed on the sidewalks of Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood during the first half of the 1950s, enjoyed only modest regional notice. Their track "Never Let You Go" captured Murray the K's Record of the Night and Record of the Week honors on WINS and reached number 28 on New York-area listings, though it never appeared on national charts. Persistent personnel turnover, insufficient promotional support from the labels that issued their singles, and repeated misfortune hampered wider recognition, yet the act endured across four decades, outlasting many neighborhood peers who had achieved greater initial visibility.
Mario DeAndrade, the lead singer, and Andy Jackson on bass—both formerly with the Lovenotes—teamed in 1954 with Joe Barsalona handling baritone, Paul Albano taking first tenor, Tony Basile covering second tenor, and Joe Brocco to create a new unit initially known as the Flames. Albano's sibling Joe, who worked as an ambulance driver, assumed managerial duties for the ensemble.
The Flames made their concert debut on Valentine's Day 1956 alongside the Royaltones and the Paragons, but they waited until 1957 before laying down their initial demo. Barsalona then carried the tape to Manhattan labels housed at 1650 and 1674 Broadway, among them Hull, Hy Weiss's Old Town, and George Goldner's Gone, only to have every company decline the material. Songwriter Billy Martin later encountered the recording and urged the singers to remake it. He presented the updated version to Gene Schwartz, who signed them to the Emge imprint. Following a suggestion from Albano's sister, the group adopted the name Five Discs. Early in 1958 they cut "I Remember" for the third time; the resulting Emge single premiered on WMGM, climbed to number 28 locally in New York, and peaked at number two in Boston.
Schwartz soon founded Laurie Records and scored an immediate success with Dion & the Belmonts' "I Wonder Why." Preoccupied with that release, he gave the Five Discs scant attention. At the group's urging he leased the single to RCA's Vik subsidiary, but Vik quickly folded and the record again failed to gain traction. Rust Records, a Laurie affiliate, issued it once more in 1961. The Five Discs also supplied uncredited backing vocals for other Emge artists during this period.
In 1959 Martin joined attorney Jack Astor and soda salesman Jack Levinthal to establish Dwain Records. Levinthal's son, living near Barsalona, heard enthusiastic reports about the Five Discs and prompted his father to approach them. Eager for a fresh start, the group signed with Dwain and cut two sides, only to discover a flawed mix that required a complete redo. The initial pressing on the orange-labeled edition was withdrawn at once and supplanted by Dwain 803 on a green label, rendering the first variant exceedingly scarce and valued today at up to one thousand dollars among collectors. Neither pressing received airplay.
DeAndrade married and exited in 1960, followed by his associate Jackson. Replacements arrived in the persons of Lenny Hutter, previously of the Chalets and a Bushwick resident, and neighborhood vocalist John Russell. The lineup secured new management and a contract with Yale Records, releasing several singles that still failed to reach broader audiences.
John Carbone supplanted Hutter by 1961, and Andy Leonetti's Tap Records expressed interest, issuing a single on its Calo subsidiary that likewise sold poorly. Russell soon departed, making way for Charlie DiBella, an alumnus of the DelVons from Brooklyn's East New York area. The refreshed Five Discs recorded for Cheer Records, after which Carbone left; Eddie Pardocchi, formerly of the DelVons and the Darcels, took his place. The Cheer single "Never Let You Go" earned Murray the K's Record of the Night and Record of the Week accolades on WINS and rose to number 28 on local charts the following week.
Under manager Herb Kessler the Five Discs signed with Kapp Records in 1963 and cut three tracks. Another name change, to the Boyfriends, accompanied the new affiliation, yet commercial results remained elusive. In 1964 Albano, Basile, and DiBella stepped away.
The remaining Boyfriends reconstituted with Pardocchi on lead, Donnie LaRuffa from the Darcels on first tenor, and Frank Arrione on second tenor. They joined Rust Records in 1968, but none of the new configuration's releases found listeners. The Five Discs resurfaced in 1972 with Pardocchi, Barsalona, Arrione, Albano, and DiBella; Albano withdrew immediately after the first performance and LaRuffa returned, while DiBella was succeeded by Mike Strippoli. The group signed once more with Laurie, issued several singles, and finally disbanded.
Pardocchi later performed with the Impalas before reuniting with his former DelVons partner Vito Balsamo in Vito & the Salutations. Around 1980 the Five Discs reassembled with Pardocchi, Barsalona, Albano, Strippoli, and Shelly Buchansky, making numerous appearances until 1982.
Pardocchi resumed activity in 1990 alongside Albano, Barsalona, Strippoli, and newcomer Jack Scandura, a second tenor whose prior credits included Ricky and the Hallmarks on Amy Records and the Uniques on Roulette Records. During the 1970s and 1980s Pardocchi had also sung with the a cappella ensembles the Blendaires and the Blue Stars. Joe Barsalona died in 1994 shortly after his final UGHA concert appearance.
Mario DeAndrade, the lead singer, and Andy Jackson on bass—both formerly with the Lovenotes—teamed in 1954 with Joe Barsalona handling baritone, Paul Albano taking first tenor, Tony Basile covering second tenor, and Joe Brocco to create a new unit initially known as the Flames. Albano's sibling Joe, who worked as an ambulance driver, assumed managerial duties for the ensemble.
The Flames made their concert debut on Valentine's Day 1956 alongside the Royaltones and the Paragons, but they waited until 1957 before laying down their initial demo. Barsalona then carried the tape to Manhattan labels housed at 1650 and 1674 Broadway, among them Hull, Hy Weiss's Old Town, and George Goldner's Gone, only to have every company decline the material. Songwriter Billy Martin later encountered the recording and urged the singers to remake it. He presented the updated version to Gene Schwartz, who signed them to the Emge imprint. Following a suggestion from Albano's sister, the group adopted the name Five Discs. Early in 1958 they cut "I Remember" for the third time; the resulting Emge single premiered on WMGM, climbed to number 28 locally in New York, and peaked at number two in Boston.
Schwartz soon founded Laurie Records and scored an immediate success with Dion & the Belmonts' "I Wonder Why." Preoccupied with that release, he gave the Five Discs scant attention. At the group's urging he leased the single to RCA's Vik subsidiary, but Vik quickly folded and the record again failed to gain traction. Rust Records, a Laurie affiliate, issued it once more in 1961. The Five Discs also supplied uncredited backing vocals for other Emge artists during this period.
In 1959 Martin joined attorney Jack Astor and soda salesman Jack Levinthal to establish Dwain Records. Levinthal's son, living near Barsalona, heard enthusiastic reports about the Five Discs and prompted his father to approach them. Eager for a fresh start, the group signed with Dwain and cut two sides, only to discover a flawed mix that required a complete redo. The initial pressing on the orange-labeled edition was withdrawn at once and supplanted by Dwain 803 on a green label, rendering the first variant exceedingly scarce and valued today at up to one thousand dollars among collectors. Neither pressing received airplay.
DeAndrade married and exited in 1960, followed by his associate Jackson. Replacements arrived in the persons of Lenny Hutter, previously of the Chalets and a Bushwick resident, and neighborhood vocalist John Russell. The lineup secured new management and a contract with Yale Records, releasing several singles that still failed to reach broader audiences.
John Carbone supplanted Hutter by 1961, and Andy Leonetti's Tap Records expressed interest, issuing a single on its Calo subsidiary that likewise sold poorly. Russell soon departed, making way for Charlie DiBella, an alumnus of the DelVons from Brooklyn's East New York area. The refreshed Five Discs recorded for Cheer Records, after which Carbone left; Eddie Pardocchi, formerly of the DelVons and the Darcels, took his place. The Cheer single "Never Let You Go" earned Murray the K's Record of the Night and Record of the Week accolades on WINS and rose to number 28 on local charts the following week.
Under manager Herb Kessler the Five Discs signed with Kapp Records in 1963 and cut three tracks. Another name change, to the Boyfriends, accompanied the new affiliation, yet commercial results remained elusive. In 1964 Albano, Basile, and DiBella stepped away.
The remaining Boyfriends reconstituted with Pardocchi on lead, Donnie LaRuffa from the Darcels on first tenor, and Frank Arrione on second tenor. They joined Rust Records in 1968, but none of the new configuration's releases found listeners. The Five Discs resurfaced in 1972 with Pardocchi, Barsalona, Arrione, Albano, and DiBella; Albano withdrew immediately after the first performance and LaRuffa returned, while DiBella was succeeded by Mike Strippoli. The group signed once more with Laurie, issued several singles, and finally disbanded.
Pardocchi later performed with the Impalas before reuniting with his former DelVons partner Vito Balsamo in Vito & the Salutations. Around 1980 the Five Discs reassembled with Pardocchi, Barsalona, Albano, Strippoli, and Shelly Buchansky, making numerous appearances until 1982.
Pardocchi resumed activity in 1990 alongside Albano, Barsalona, Strippoli, and newcomer Jack Scandura, a second tenor whose prior credits included Ricky and the Hallmarks on Amy Records and the Uniques on Roulette Records. During the 1970s and 1980s Pardocchi had also sung with the a cappella ensembles the Blendaires and the Blue Stars. Joe Barsalona died in 1994 shortly after his final UGHA concert appearance.
Albums
