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"Rock 'n' roll has nothing to do with a generation gap any more.
Today, it's really a generation bridge."
Donny York, co-founder,
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na may not have invented rock nostalgia, but the group has
successfully – very successfully – celebrated the music and the memories for the
past four decades… in concert, in the movies and on TV, and on record.
Sha Na Na’s story is an all-encompassing one: they were in the original
Woodstock Festival lineup, starred in “Grease”, hosted the “Sha Na Na” TV series
for four years, and still play more than 50 concerts a year, from state fairs,
performing art centers, casino showrooms to mega corporate functions world wide.
And through it all – flower power, hard rock, metal music, disco, hip hop, rap
and more – Sha Na Na remains true to the original concept: rock ’n’ roll is here
to stay!
The Sha Na Na story begins oddly for a group that, in appearance, runs the gamut
from greaser to gold lame. Attired in turtleneck and blue blazers, the nucleus
of Sha Na Na were undergraduate members of The Kingsmen, a glee club ensemble at
New York’s Columbia University that used to perform a cappella versions of 50s
rock songs as part of the performances.
These proved very popular and eventually rock ’n’ roll took over, instruments
were added and Sha Na Na – the name comes from the 50s Silhouettes’ hit, “Get A
Job” – was born.
Heard of Woodstock?
If the original 1969 Woodstock Festival was a defining moment in
rock history, it was also a defining moment in the history of Sha Na Na. The
group’s appearance – only the seventh in Sha Na Na’s career, followed by the
Woodstock album and movie, cemented their reputation and style.
“We went on second to last, at sunrise on the final day, but, importantly, just
before Jimi Hendrix,” recalls co-founder, drummer Jocko Marcellino.
“We did 40 minutes and were paid $300…and the check bounced!”
Sha Na Na was the only group at Woodstock without a record deal. Immediately
afterwards, they had one and today the group has released more than 25 albums in
total, with worldwide sales of more than 20 million.
TV was another important step for the group…
The group taped 97 episodes of the Sha Na Na music variety shows
from 1977 to 1981 that were seen – and still can be – in worldwide syndication.
The shows, which featured Sha Na Na’s music, plus the group in comedy skits with
special guests, further established the group’s credentials as a part of the
landscape of rock ’n’ roll America.
“Grease:
The Movie” became another significant building block in the Sha Na Na story. The
group appeared in the 1979 musical, as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers, and
contributed to the original music score with six Sha Na Na versions of rock
classics and one original song, “Sandy,” co-written by Screamin’ Scott Simon for
John Travolta to sing. (Between takes, Travolta also sang a little doo-wop with
the group.)
The accompanying “Grease” soundtrack album was a major hit, Grammy-nominated and
certified eight times platinum.
Grease
still makes an impact for Sha Na Na…
Recalls Marcellino: “Whole new generations get swept up in the
nostalgia craze, effectively becoming our potential audience.”
“For example, Sha Na Na played the immense Los Angeles County Fair in front of a
special audience – 20,000 girl scouts! They were too young to have seen our TV
show, but they had seen ‘Grease’ on video. We played a 90-minute set and they
knew the words to every song from the movie.”
Working for the past three decades throughout the world – from Carnegie Hall to
the Grand Ole Opry, in Asia and in Africa, Paris to London to Tokyo – Sha Na Na
has had some interesting unknown performers opening for their show, such as:
Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Jay Leno!
Live performances remain at the heart of Sha Na Na. Whether it is those girl
scouts or their baby boomer parents, the reaction to the group is the same – the
discovery of a common joy in the music from a time when part of the world was
“greased and ready to rock.”
Broadway Show Theater Tour…
Sha Na Na starred in a national tour of
LEADER OF THE PACK, the Ellie Greenwich Musical. Along with a company of
over twenty performers, Sha Na Na played themselves as well as other roles and
performed all the music in Ellie Greenwich’s autobiographical journey featuring
some of the greatest hits of rock’n’roll written or co-written by Ellie
Greenwich: Da Doo Ron Ron, Be My Baby, Do Wah Diddy, Baby I Love You, River Deep
Mountain High, Chapel Of Love, Hanky Panky and Leader off The Pack.
Marcellino says, “As a band of musicians, actors, singers and dancers doing a
Broadway musical was a logical progression for us.” Simon adds,” And of course
Ellie’s musical legacy is legendary.”
Sha Na Na Rocks with Symphony Orchestras…
In addition to their
latest stint with Marvin Hamlisch and the Seattle Symphony, Sha Na Na, has also
performed with the symphony orchestras of Columbus OH, Louisville KY, Phoenix
AZ, Roanoke, VA., Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and the National Symphony and
Choir at the Capital Fourth Celebration in Washington, D.C.
The arrangements for up to a seventy- six piece orchestra range from the
staccato strings of RHYTHM OF THE RAIN, a lush rhythm and blues “wall of sound”
for SOUL AND INSPIRATION and a swinging arrangement of ROCK’N’ROLL IS HERE TO
STAY.
Of course Sha Na Na invites the orchestra to lose their tuxedos, open their
collars and roll up their sleeves. That, that is, to get greased and ready to
Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Recent Sha Na Na recordings…
SHA NA NA 40TH ANNIVERSARY
COLLECTOR’S EDITION joins the Sha Na Na catalogue which includes ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
DANCE PARTY, a collection of the greatest dance themes of the era (with THE
TWIST, THE STROLL, THE HAND JIVE), Sha Na Na’s first Holiday c.d. of their
career, ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS (with SANTA’S ON A DIET, YOU’RE ALL I WANT FOR
CHRISTMAS, BLUE CHRISTMAS and THE ROCKIN’ DREIDEL SONG ) and Sha Na Na’s first
completely original Rock “N’ Roll and doowop c.d., ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT
(including SANDY from Grease co-written by Screamin’ Scott, THE CAT IN THE P.T.
CRUISER co-written by Jocko and ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME by Donny). Sha Na Na
CDs are on Pat Boone’s Gold Label
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 Jocko
Jocko, now in his fifth decade with Sha Na Na, was the first to
walk onstage “greased and ready to rock ‘n’ roll” in 1969. That same year, at
age nineteen he appeared with the group at The Woodstock Festival. He holds the
distinction along with fellow Sha Donny of performing in both the most
successful music documentary ever (Woodstock) and the most successful rock &
roll film musical ever (Grease).Juggling his schedule around his touring, Jocko
earned both a B.A. from Columbia and a Masters in Drama from New York
University.
When not with Sha Na Na, Jocko is an actor, producer and a songwriter. His
acting credits include TV’s “Veronica Mars”, “NYPD Blue”, “Alley McBeal,” “The
Tiger Woods Story”,” “Herman’s Head,” “Good Advice,”, ”18 Wheels of Justice”,
“The Invisible Man”, “Amazing Stories,” and the “Gary Shandling Show,” and the
motion pictures RAINMAN, NATIONAL SECURITY and HOT TO TROT. He has written and
performed songs for the films RAINMAN, THAT’S LIFE and THE NIGHT OF THE COMET
and for the TV shows CASTLE, KATH & KIM and PARKS AND RECREATION. He also
performed and produced an arrangement of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” for the
motion picture BENCHWARMERS.
Jocko’s original rock & roll, children’s collection: KIDSVILLE, as well as his
original holiday music can be sampled and down loaded on iTunes. Jocko also has
a rock ‘n’ roll/ rhythm and blues band: Jocko and the Rockets who are always at
the ready to rock you in the So Cal area. For more information, go to
www.jockoandtherockets.com.
Jocko was born in Quincy, Mass. and toured New England with his high school
band, The Pilgrims. He now lives with his family in La Jolla, California.
 Screamin' Scott Simon
Screamin’ Scott Simon has been an integral part of Sha Na Na’s
popularity since 1970 as a charismatic performer, multi-instrumentalist musician
(from keyboards to guitar and bass) and prolific songwriter. His best-known
composition, “Sandy” was sung by John Travolta in the hit movie Grease.......
Two other songs of his have made the billboard Hot 100, “Top Forty” and “Only
One Song” both on the group’s “ Sha Na Na” (Gold Boots) album. Scott also wrote
“Wrestling Tonight” performed by Sha Na Na for the 1985 film Grunt, and recorded
a solo album on Rolling Rock Records, “Transmissions from Space.”
Raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Scott lives in Los Angeles, and can be seen
performing at blues clubs throughout the L.A. area as his alter ego Eddie “Hong
Kong” Tailor. “Boomer Humor” is the CD produced by Hong Kong Tailor and the Prom
Kings, available online at
www.eddiehongkongtailor.com
He is married and has two daughters, who are young adults in their own right.
 Donny
Donny York is a native of Idaho and a 1971 graduate of Columbia,
where he co-founded Sha Na Na. Donny penned a song on an early road tour, urging
establishment of a “Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.” He later performed the song on
Sha Na Na’s hit TV series. Finally, his prophecy came true with the opening of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1995.
These days, Donny lives an hour north of Los Angles with his wife, kids, dogs,
and horses and often provides animals for film and video productions. He’s also
on the faculty of the Vocal Power Institute, teaching singers from around Los
Angeles, and he sometimes substitute teaches in his local school system. His
students aren’t dazzled with who he is or where this square grown-up has been
until he tells them he performed at Woodstock. Says Donny, “Rock ‘n’ Roll has
nothing to do with a generation gap anymore. Nowadays, it’s really a generation
bridge.”
 Reggie
A native Chicagoan, Reggie Battise started out in the fine arts,
attending the school of the Art Institute of Chicago, before including the
performing arts in his repertoire. At age 20, he was a local TV celebrity,
hosting “Dancing with Robyn and Reggie.” Later, he toured as a member of the
rock band, “The Bus Boys.” He also sang in “Porgy and Bess” with the Houston
Grand Opera in Paris and on “Fantastico,” the #1 TV variety show in Rome,
singing R&B in three languages.
Reggie choreographed Billy Crystal’s “You Look Mahvelous” video; sang on the
soundtrack to the Civil War film Glory; appeared in “Moonlighting” with Bruce
Willis and in commercials for Coca Cola, Pepsi and McDonald’s; and worked with
Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Reggie was a principal dancer in Stayin’ Alive with
John Travolta, and was both actor and script consultant for, White Men Can’t
Jump. These days, between gigs with Sha Na Na, Reggie designs and builds
avant-garde furniture.
 Jim
Jim “Billy” Waldbilllig is Sha Na Na’s “Rockabilly Romeo.” Though
Jim is a man of few words, he’s always ready to rock. Jim, originally a
guitarist, is primarily the authentic bass guitar player on stage and, on most
nights, is very proud of his hair. He is also a skilled carpenter and building
contractor. Jim recently built his own vacation dream home on the shores of Bass
Lake in Sandstone, Minnesota.
Paulie
Originally from the Bronx, New York, drummer Paul Kimbarow now
lives in San Diego where he is one of the most sought-after musicians in the
area. With his diverse musical background he has performed with a myriad of
artists including A.J. Croce, the Ventures, Angela Bofill, Willie Colon, Robin
Henkel, Chuck Berry, Ashford and Simpson, the Platters and now Sha Na Na . His
television appearances include “The Tonight Show”, “The Today Show” and “Rock
Concert”..
 Gene
Gene Jaramillo knew that he wanted to play guitar as soon as he
saw the Buddy Holly Story when he was 4 years-old growing up in the southwestern
border town of Yuma, AZ. Since then he¹s achieved his dream by not only playing
with Sha Na Na, but with his role as ringmaster of the Los Angeles-based Eugene
Edwards Band. Flagship Records released his debut album My Favorite Revolution
in 2005 and it has received critical acclaim along with his bombastic live
shows. Starting in 2007 Gene began his ongoing radio career as "Antonio" on LA's
number one-rated K-EARTH morning show. That year also saw Gene perform as "Ian"
on AMC's hit show "Mad Men." For more information go to
www.eugeneedwards.com
 Michael
“Downtown” Michael Brown originally from Newport Beach in Orange County Ca.
now hails from Pahrump Nevada. The son of renowned jazz Pianist, Ronnie
Brown, Michael has played the saxophone since the age of nine. He started
out on a clarinet but quickly moved to saxophone because: 1. Clarinet
players were not allowed in the school jazz band at Hienze Kaiser Middle
School, and 2. His big brother said, “girls dug saxophone players a lot more
than clarinet players”.
A regular on the Las Vegas and national touring scene he has performed with
the likes of, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Platters, Lil’ Elmo and the Cosmos,
Shake Rattle and Roll, Launi Kristopher, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s,
the house band at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce Club inside Mandalay Bay Las
Vegas, and now Sha Na Na.
When not rocking, he is a racecar driver and the Executive director for the
Melanoma Education Foundation of Nevada.
Michael has a new solo cd: WITH ALL MY HEART, an original eclectic blend of
music from Pop-rock to Jazz-funk, punctuated by a ballad dedicated to
melanoma awareness and the memory of his wife Amanda. It is available on CD
Baby. (www.cdbaby.com/cd/downtownmichael) |
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