Ron Onesti: A BIG show with Little Anthony

What a fabulous performance by Little Anthony and the Imperials at The Arcada last Sunday! And just as spectacular was the onstage interview Little Anthony did with me after the show in front of the sold-out audience.

As a "rock 'n' roller" myself, I love the hard-edge guitar solos, arm-swinging drum acrobatics and the deep thumping bass of the classic rock era of the Seventies and the hair-band era of the Eighties. But as a true lover of the music and its rich history, the doo-wop/pop groups of the Fifties and early Sixties have a special place in the inner-amplifier of my heart.

As I began my career in this business in the early 1980s, I have been fortunate enough to have worked with many of those legendary groups and individuals who are credited with being a part of the beginnings of the rock 'n' roll movement of 1954-1955-1956.

Legends including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Danny & The Juniors, the Flamingos, Joey Dee & the Starlighters, Dion, the Tokens, Chubby Checker, the Drifters, Jay & The Americans and many, many others have graced our stage. Appearing with them are their colorful, coordinating costumes, choreographed spins and smooth hand gestures - all performed in unison - with bright harmonies and rich falsettos in the foreground, and deep basso vocals in the background.

One group I have had the privilege of working with on several occasions is Little Anthony and the Imperials. They were part of that wave of super groups of the late Fifties that emerged from the East Coast doo-wop explosion from New York and Philadelphia.

Having the Imperials for the first time at The Arcada a few years ago was another of those situations where I thought I knew all about the group, their hits and their stage show, but was actually blown away because I never realized just how many hits there were, and how dynamic their show could be. But after witnessing their show firsthand, I could not believe how much their songs have influenced popular music, even today.

Their break out hit "Tears On My Pillow" was an immediate million-seller in 1958, with the guy who is credited with coining the moniker "rock 'n' roll," pioneer disc jockey-slash-concert promoter Alan Freed, becoming a huge fan. He even renamed the group's young, small statued lead singer, Anthony Gourdine, as "Little Anthony," and the rest is rock history.

Because of this relationship, the Imperials became one of the few African-American doo-wop recording groups to have its success continue into the 1960s.

"Everybody wanted to know who this 'girl' was with the high falsetto," Anthony said. "The look on the record company bosses' (faces) was priceless when I walked in!"

They had another smash with their next release in 1960, "Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop," but then their popularity began to wane. Little Anthony tried his hand at a solo career, but that was a short-lived endeavor. It wasn't long before he rejoined the group, and their popularity once again began to soar.

After Anthony returned, they joined forces with a childhood friend, Teddy Randazzo. Randazzo was a vocalist and played the accordion in a group called the Chuckles (named after the candy), but he was also a talented songwriter. His work got the attention of Alan Freed, who was looking for a "face" of rock 'n' roll to appear in the movies Freed was to produce.

"He (Randazzo) was an absolute Adonis, and had the look Alan Freed needed," said George Randazzo, a close personal friend of mine who is the founder of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago and Teddy's second cousin. "He was from New York, but came through Chicago on occasion. One time, he came over to the house to visit my father, and my mother made pasta and meatballs for him. All the girls in our neighborhood of Ohio Street and Leavitt (Street) were going out of their minds!"

So even though Teddy Randazzo starred in several Freed movies, including "Rock, Rock, Rock" and "Hey, Let's Twist," his true forte was in songwriting. He wrote "Goin' Out Of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad," and Little Anthony and the Imperials appeared on every television and radio show across the country. Randazzo passed away at the age of 68 in 2003.

In 2013, I first had Little Anthony and the Imperials at The Arcada. When Anthony walked into the theater, I nearly flipped! He still had that unique, youthful look about him, with that unmistakable smile. His speaking voice was as soft and higher pitched as his singing voice was on the hit records. "Man, this is going to be good," I thought to myself. And "good" was a massive understatement! Every song was as magical it was on the radio, and the band's charm was infectious.

That show was a bit of a stories-behind-the-songs presentation, and the crowd responded with two standing ovations. In remembrance of the 10th anniversary of Teddy Randazzo's passing, I wanted to bring in a surprise for Little Anthony that night in 2013.

I found out Teddy Randazzo Jr. was a singer/songwriter living in California. I brought him in as a "special guest," and it was incredible. Anthony took one look at Teddy Jr. and knew it was him. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your father," Anthony said as he teared up and started reminiscing about those days on the busses, going from city to city with Teddy Sr.

I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to bring acts such as Little Anthony and the Imperials to The Arcada. As rock 'n' roll" celebrates its circa-60th anniversary, it is truly amazing some of the groups that started it all are still around and sounding and looking as good as ever!

And how lucky are we, to be able to celebrate their journey with them? That's the magic of The Arcada. It is a grand palace that has gone through the same ups and downs many of these legendary entertainers have.

Yet in the end, they reunite - showbiz legend and historic stage - together re-creating memories of music for us all. I am not sure where I will be in 60 years, but I DO know the memories will always live on, and the music will continue to make smiles from generation to generation.

• Ron Onesti is president and CEO of The Onesti Entertainment Corp. and The Historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Celebrity questions and comments? Email ron@oshows.com.