In 1961 in Bellmore, Long Island, NY. Were formed the vocal group know as The Imaginations consisted of Frank Mancuso (lead), Bobby Bloom (first tenor), Phil Agtuca (second tenor), Pete Agtuca (baritone) and Richard LeCausi (bass) all from Wantagh, LI.
They auditioned for Tony Serafino of Galaxie productions who liked the group and send this to Music Makers Records where the group recorded on March,1961 two original tunes_Goodnight Baby/The Search Is Over. (Mickey”Guitar”Baker of Mickey & Silvia and King Curtis were some of the musicians in this session).
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The A Side was very popular in New York City,Baltimore,Philadelphia and Washington.the group appear on a Clay Cole and Jerry Blavat shows.
Their second release also on Music Makers on May was as back up group to Darlene Day on his sides_Will/I Love You So.
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Followed for another own record with the side_Guardian Angel(original by The Selections) and their own composition_Hey You.
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These two sides were two potential hits and the label sold the master to Duel Records but this give to poor promotion and the recording failed in the national charts.
In 1962 Frank left the group and joined the marines,now the group have a new Lead named Bobby Caupin and recorded on January,1962 with him as Bobby Caupin & The Ebonaires_Chapell Bells/My Little Girl. But these sides never were released.
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After this recording Philip,Pete,Richie and Bobby on lead back again as The Imaginations but with a black sound in their sides_Wait A Little Longer Son/Mamma’s Little Baby.
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Released on their own label Ballad Records but the record failed again in the charts and the group finally disbanded in late 1962.
Above The Imaginations at the 4th 4 of July festivities at the Beech St. School in Wantagh, LI.
In 1976 Harvey Records released The Imaginations unreleased sides_I’ll Never Let You Go/Mystery Of You.
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In 1985 Relic Records released an album with all the sides and unreleased songs(except_I Hate To See A Little Girl Crying.) of the group.
Hey You /Autumn leaves /The Search is Over /Never let you go /The mystery of you /Harry Goody /Fannie Brown /I love You So /My Little girl /Chapel bells /Will /Wait a little longer son /Goodnight Baby /Guardian Angel / Mamma little baby.
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In 1963 Frank Mancuso Recorded with The Cor-Don’s ( see in this blog)
In 1963 Bobby,Philñip,Pete and Richie recorded as The Expressions on Parkway Records(see in this blog).
In 1964 Philip recorded with The Four Motions(see in this blog).
The Imaginations Live...
7 comments:
Correction: "Mystery of You" was the name of the song written by Phil Agtuca of the Imaginations not "Mystery of a Woman". Phil is still singing & sounds great!!! He has a CD "Light the Way" out comprised of 5 songs that he wrote/produced. Try it, you'll like it!!
The original Imaginations did not have Bobby Bloom as 1st tenor. A guy named Tom Meade was the original 1st tenor of the Imaginations. He sang on their demo records but left the group shortly thereafter and was replaced by Bobby Bloom. Tom Meade had many reel to reel tapes of the Imaginations practicing a cappella and these tapes have been put on a new CD titled, The Imaginations, The Early Years. Tom Meade is singling lead in 4 of the songs on this CD and is singing background in 10 others.
My name is Tom Meade, Jr. and the Imaginations' Tom Meade was my dad. He passed away in 1975 at the age of 33 but his memory will live forever!
Wow Tom thanks for that great info, one of my favorite groups always loved all their songs and over the years i've tried to gather as much information about them as i could find, first time i'm hearing about your father, sorry to hear of him passing so young would love to hear those reel to reel tapes.
Thanks for the blog.
The Imaginations are one of my favorite groups. And "Will" with Darlene Day one of my top doowop songs.
I'm searching for the lyrics, but I don't find them anywhere. Can someone post the lyrics for "Will"? My english skill is too poor for understand the whole song.
Many thanks in advance.
What a fantastic sounding group!
WHAT A GREAT STORY.I HEARD THE SONG HEY YOU ON A CD I BOUGHT MEMORIES OF TIMES SQUARE RECORD SHOP VOL. FIVE.AND HAD TO KNOW ABOUT thE GROUP.I WAS BORN IN 1945 LIVE ON STATEN ISLAND.DANNY LENZA THANK YOU FOR THE INFO.
This isn't "white" doo-wop. It's Italian. New York Italian.
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