The Buckinghams in Concert

This picture is from Carl Giammarese’s personal photo album and it’s of a celebration of John Poulos’ birthday back in the late 60s/early 70s. The cake looks pretty good. Today John would have been 73 years old and without a doubt, he would be one of the most positive voices you looked to for affirmation that, no matter what was going on at the time, things were all going to work out just fine. It’s the basic nature of an optimistic person to want to make things better, to cheer people up when they’re sad, and to take a leadership role in turning a bad situation into a good one. To hear Carl tell stories of their early days together, John was someone whose personality really meshed with his. They had many interests in common and they didn’t fear what was coming tomorrow. Rather than being overly serious about long-term worries, instead John was able to enjoy the moment and capture the joy of being there, something many of us forget to do. Three rare, early photos of The Buckingha...

The Buckinghams looked like this in 1966, because of the influence of The British Invasion and, primarily, The Beatles. Rock and roll was never the same again! This week of February 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of when John, Paul, George, and Ringo, influenced by Elvis Presley and "Hound Dog" and a lot of American rock and roll, came over to America, for a date on the Ed Sullivan Show, and changed American music forever. NWI Times journalist Tom Lounges, who is also a popular radio host in the northern Indiana area, wrote a thoughtful column published Feb. 6, 2014 about The Beatles' influence. Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams is one person Tom interviewed. Click on the link to read Tom's complete story: http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/music/beatlemanie-impacted-today-s-music-makers-near-and-far/article_679c9efa-62c4-526e-80e0-aee66eb60147.html

Ever heard of The Screaming Wildman of Chicago Radio? Carl Bonafede was one of the 'most heard' voices in Chicago on any 50,000 watt station broadcasting across the country. Fast-talking, quick-witted, one-of-a-kind DJ, Bonafede was more than just a DJ. Carl Bonafede was the manager of The Buckinghams in the 1960s, among several other popular groups of Chicagoland. He and Dan Belloc also co-produced several records on the USA label for The Buckinghams, including the #1 "Kind of a Drag". The latest issue of Keep Rockin ' Magazine has a feature story on Carl Bonafede by Dawn Lee Wakefield, as well as a cover story on never-before-seen photographs of The Beatles, and the story behind them, written by Ian Wright. Chicago teens will also appreciate a feature by Kenn Petzke "Bandstand Matinee with Jim Lounsbury," with great nostalgic event tickets, bandstand matinee club cards, and a "I am a Jim Lounsbury Fan" pin-on lapel button. It's a great tr...