Carl Giammarese Visits Dick Biondi for Christmas Toy Drive on WLS-FM, 11/27/09

Chicago's favorite videographer, known by just one name, McCrackin, has posted two new YouTube videos taken at the 2009 edition of the annual Dick Biondi Toy Drive, where WLS was broadcasting live to raise money and get new toys donated for UCAN. The community really responded and they were able to raise substantial dollars and now have toys to make Christmas brighter for so many Chicagoland children, who would otherwise be thinking Santa forgot them this year.

Carl dedicated his song, "Have a Little Faith" to all the men and women serving our armed forces, who have to be away from their loved ones during the holiday season. This song is from "The Joy of Christmas" CD by The Buckinghams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZ3DVP2iDE

Here is the holiday duet of Dick Biondi, who joked that people had offered him $60 NOT to sing, singing with Carl Giammarese on "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibnWZtHsKpY

Also on YouTube here's a blast from Christmas past, 2005, posted by videographer John Michaels of Lisle, IL, JMike100, from Biondi's 2005 Christmas Toy Drive. Featured in this video include WLS Chicago live music and concert icon, H. P. Bertram, better known as "The DanZman". Carl and Dick entertain the crowd with "Take Me Out to The Ballgame," reprising their performance from Wrigley Field, where they were joined by Ronnie Rice and Jim Peterik to sing "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" for the 7th Inning Stretch....accompanied by ukeleles, unforgettable.

For Dick Biondi's 15th toy drive in 2007, videographer John Michaels put together a 1-minute video montage, including Dick and Carl Giammarese. Here's the link for that montage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKqW_meYc2c&feature=related

Also appearing at these toy drives were the New Colony Six, Ronnie Rice, and The Ides of March, among other Chicago favorites.

Comments

Remembering Frank Tesinsky, Beloved Chicago Musician, Key to The Buckinghams' Characteristic Sound

Each time the opening notes to “Kind of a Drag” come on the air, whether it’s your car radio, your phone, or choice of streaming media, the first 23 notes you hear inform you immediately that not only are you hearing “Kind of a Drag,” but you are hearing The Buckinghams. That instant recognition, in turn, is thanks to the talent of musician Frank Tesinsky, who arranged the iconic tune for producers Dan Belloc and Carl Bonafede in a 1966 recording session in Chicago’s Chess Studios. The Buckinghams family was greatly saddened to learn of Frank’s passing on November 9. Catherine Johns, his wife of 32 years, was a beloved part of his life and part of Chicago radio as well. In February 1967 "Kind of a Drag" was #1 on the Billboard charts for two weeks, and it forever defined the sound of five young men from the northside of Chicago. Just 27 notes, right? And yet, it defined the magic of what would become known as “the horn sound” that The Buckinghams are b...

What Celebrating 50 Years Since Reaching #1 on Billboard Means in the World of The Buckinghams

Everyone who is a fan of the band The Buckinghams can easily name all the songs that were Top 10 hits, Top 20 hits, and Billboard Top 100 chartmakers. You have several songs that have personal, special meaning for you. But the song that took the native Chicagoans out of the basements of the band members' homes was the one USA Records released last, almost as an afterthought. "Kind of a Drag" has the distinction of being the song that took this band to the national level. Many wonderful bands are part of Chicago history, and they are as beloved today as they were in their time. But this one song, "Kind of a Drag" took flight and went to #1 on Billboard 50 years ago today, February 18, 1967. Imagine what it was like for five young men to hold a copy of "Billboard" in their hands. For a few years, Carl and Jon-Jon had gone to the newsstand each week, buying a single copy of "Billboard" and reading it cover to cover. These days you hear about ...

In Memory of John Poulos, March 31, 1947 - March 26, 1980

Five days before his 33rd birthday, we lost John Poulos, a dear friend who was like a brother to us, as well as The Buckinghams’ drummer. Often described as the heartbeat of our band, he was known to most Buckinghams’ fans of the 60s simply as Jon-Jon. To know John was to love him. With his outgoing personality, he never met a stranger. His talent is remembered best in the style he displayed on drum fills and riffs on our hits, including “Don’t You Care,” “Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song,” and “Kind of a Drag.” It’s not surprising that Jon-Jon was included as one of the Top 10 drummers in Modern Drummer Magazine. Contemporary MySpace profiles of aspiring amateur and professional musicians today include the name John Poulos among their musical influences. That’s an honor both fitting and accurate for a musician who was truly one of a kind. Nick and I recall that one of John’s own musical influences was Bobby Elliot, drummer for The Hollies, whose signature beret and tossing of his he...

The Buckinghams in Concert

Search This Blog