Skip to main content

Posts

New Keep Rockin' Magazine has Feature on Carl Bonafede and the Early Days of The Buckinghams, Plus Exclusive New Beatles' Photos

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

New Carl Bonafede Web Site Features both The Buckinghams and The Centuries

Carl Bonafede, original manager of The Buckinghams and The Centuries (Carl Giammarese, Nick Fortuna, Gerald Elarde, and Curtis Bachman) features musical memories from The Centuries and The Buckinghams on his web site, http://www.carlbonafede.com . Chicago radio fan favorite commercial track, " Get with the Go Group " that The Buckinghams recorded for Norm Kraus' Grand Spaulding Dodge (Mr. Norm) is included. Bonafede also produced and managed The Daughters of Eve, the Rail City 5, The Delights, Thee Prophets, among others, and booked bands, including Mickey, Larry & the Exciters, The Lost Souls, Lincoln Park Zoo, Ral Donner, Gene Pitney and more, into clubs across Chicago. If you heard or saw Carl and Nick as part of The Fabulous Centuries or The Buckinghams, anywhere in the Midwest in the early 60s, you saw firsthand the management and production of Carl Bonafede. Also check out two of Joseph Pytel, Jr's. blogs and learn more about Carl Bonafede's own vocal st

Blast from the Past--Get with the Go Group, See Mr. Norm, Jingle by The Buckinghams, featured in Kent Kotal's Forgotten Hits

Thanks to WLSClark and Kent Kotal, here is the cover art that goes with The Buckinghams’ jingle for Norm Kraus, also known as Mr. Norm. Carl Bonafede, original manager of The Buckinghams, booked them often at Mr. Norm’s Sport Club for Grand Spaulding Dodge. Mr. Norm gave the band a van in exchange for this jingle that was played across Chicago radio stations. The LP pictured is full of drag strip stuff at Ubly Dragway. The Buckinghams jingle is 20 seconds that show up on the end and beginning of the LP side which runs a full 13 minutes of drag stuff similar to the Capitol Records series of Lps. Note it sold for $1 then. Now, it would bring $100 probably. WLSClark “Get With the Go Group!” by The Buckinghams

Bloggers Start off New Year Noting The Buckinghams in Concert

Rogers Park-based blogger, Toni, showcased The Buckinghams in her first post of the new year, entitled: "Here's to Good Memories," and she links the title to The Bucks' web site, which is greatly appreciated. The blog, 24/7 north of howard watchers, noted how she and her friends and family "went to see The Buckinghams every chance we get." And, Toni and her friends are a major reason that The Buckinghams remain in demand in Chicago and around the country, because of faithful fans who spread the word to others, in blogs, on the phone, e-mails, and by ordering music from The Bucks' web site. Happy New Year to Toni, the 24/7 north of howard watchers readers, and everyone who enjoys great sounds of 60s music today. Great music will always stand the test of time. Read the entire blog post at: http://howardwatchers.blogspot.com/2010/01/heres-to-good-memories.html

Buckinghams to Play Two Shows at the Riverside Casino Resort Show Lounge. Riverside, IA

7 and 10 p.m. Saturday (12/26) Riverside Casino & Golf Resort Show Lounge, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside, Free, (319) 648-1234, www.riversidecasinoandresort.com From the Iowa City Press-Citizen online site: Riverside Casino Show Lounge, Riverside 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday Chi-town quintet pounded the charts and Midwestern ballrooms in the late-sixties (I saw 'em at The Surf with the Cryan Shames), hitting No. 1 in 1967 with "Kind of a Drag." Other hits include "Don't You Care," "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)," "Susan" and a vocal version of Cannonball Adderley's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." This re-formed edition, featuring two original members, has been on the road for some 25 years.

Carl Giammarese Appearing on WGN Radio's Steve and Johnnie Show, December 17th at 11pm

From the blog on wgnradio.com , Steve & Johnnie Schedule - Dec 17th - THURSDAY NIGHT / FRIDAY MORNING We get another musical treat for the holidays as Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams joins us in studio to perform songs from their holiday album The Joy of Christmas and other Buckingham hits. TUNE IN at 11 pm, on 720 WGN-AM or listen online at wgnradio.com . PLUS Missed something from this week? A comment you didn't get to share with us? We do our best to get to it all in our 3 AM Unfinished Bidnezz Hour. PLUS Where to chill out after all that holiday shopping? Who's in town? What's new on the big screen? We spill it all in our 4 AM hour as we present The Weekend!

Kent Kotal's Forgotten Hits Blog Features The Buckinghams' The Joy of Christmas Today

Kent Kotal, Chicago music lover and originator of the blog "Forgotten Hits," features Christmas music from Chicago bands in his daily blog. Today's post, available at: Forgotten Hits: More Christmas Music Excerpted here... And I was very happy to receive this note from another one of Chicago's legendary bands, The Buckinghams: Hi Kent, From "The Joy Of Of Christmas," I would like to feature the Buckinghams Christmas song "Have A Little Faith." It is a song of faith and hope and the promise that things will get better. I would like to dedicate it to all our fine men and women that are making the ultimate sacrifice by putting their lives on the line serving us in Iraq and Afghanistan with the hope and faith that they will soon be rejoined with there families ... our prayers are with them. Kent, your readers can also download the track by going to www.thebuckinghams.com/20081110 Have a blessed Christmas. Carl Giammarese Thanks, Carl. In fact, The Buck