The year was 1968 and the weather was a bit chilly this December evening.
Sunday night at the Ed Sullivan Theater was a busy time for the crew that presented live shows featuring multitudes of talent.
On this particular evening, the 13th of December, Ed announced that a singing group was about to perform. The group, “The Brooklyn Bridge.”
A song they recorded earlier in the year shot to the number one position on Billboard Charts. That song was “The Worst That Could Happen.”
The unique aspect to this groups coming together is a major story. Johnny Maestro was well known having many hits with his former group, The Crests.The Del Satins were backup singers for Dion who wanted a rockier group than the Belmonts for his back-up and selected the Del Satins who Satisfied Dion’s requirements. The first hit they recorded with Dion was “Runaround Sue.” The Del Satins also were background for Jan and Dean and Len Barry.
We have a lead singer in Maestro, and a back-up group, the Del Satins. What part of the equation is missing here?? Musicians!!!
Betty Sperber, who was manager for Maestro and the Satins wanted to find some local musicians who would be part of the group. She was hosting her monthly “Battle of the Bands” contest at Cloud Nine held in Farmingdale. Action Talents' Vice President and General Manager Alan White suggested that Maestro be backed up that night by a seven-piece brass-filled group of youngsters called The Rhythm Method. That night's performance was such a success that the next day Sperber decided to combine the talents of Maestro, the four Del-Satins, and The Rhythm Method. The new group's name came about after White made the off-handed comment that "it would be easier to sell the Brooklyn Bridge" than book the proposed 11-piece act.
The Method consisted of the following Hicksville High School graduates; Tommy Sullivan, Carolyn Wood, Jimmy Rosica, Artie Catanzarita, Joe Ruvio, Shelly Davis and a good friend of the group, Richie Macioce, who lived in Valley Stream.
The group toured the country and parts of our world into 1972 performing other classics such as “Welcome Me Love, Blessed Is The Rain, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and Your Husband, My Wife.”
The Brooklyn Bridge was inducted into the “Vocal Group Hall of Fame” with the class of 2005 and subsequently into the “Long Island Music Hall of Fame” in October of 2006.
Their worldwide record sales are in excess of 10 million including LP’s.