I am very aware of you and your group.  In fact, I have many of your cd's.  Whenever you are in the area I bring a group and we sit about 8 rows back center.  I am also friends with you on Facebook.  You are really one talented cat especially when you do stand up on stage.  We always laugh at your jokes and wisdom.  I definitely will be including some of your tunes and even have some of your non-released recordings.  A very old dj gave me boxes of 45's that were promotional copies not for resale.  I have been digitizing them on to a hard drive and storing them for safe concerns.  These are treasures that I will never lose due to mishandling or abuse.

Your friend,

Al.......  aka Alphonic Al, aka Professor Al, aka Wax Man

Now, in all sincerity, when listening to Doo Wopp music produced by white Groups, after Dion and the Belmonts, in my mind the next most influential white Doo Wopp Pioneer Group was The Earls. Your material recorded on Rome was classic Doo wopp and not "bubble gum" sounding like many of the other white groups such as the Mystics, the Lydells, the Jamies, etc. None of the white groups possessed a lead singer having the power, range, quality, soul and showmanship of you. Further, in "Looking For My Baby", the sound successfully employed in the background ( Run Run Runado Runado Chickie Wah Wah) was a classic example of early  Black Doo Wopp nonsensical lyrics that subsequent white groups attempted to employ, although unsuccessfully. You were truly a major influence in the bridging of Black Doo Wopp harmony with white Doo Wopp harmony. You have NEVER received just recognition for your contribution to Rock and Roll vocal group harmony.

In my humble opinion, there were 3 great black male vocal groups in the early 1940's that served as the foundation of Doo Wopp music although they sang strictly pop. They were The Mills Brothers, The Delta Rhythm Boys and the Inkspots. Their harmony would evolve by the late 1940's into Rhythm and Blues which would be exemplified by groups such as The Orioles, Ravens, Five Keys, Clovers and Dominoes. Again in my opinion, this R&B sound would begin to change after 1950 and by 1953 ultimately became Doo Wopp Music. In 1953-54, the Cadillacs, Drifters and Spaniels became among the better known early Doo Wopp Groups. Later on, the Doo Wopp Music would become more commercialized and popularized by groups such as The Teenagers, The Five Satins and Dion and the Belmonts. However, we owe all of this music to The Mills Brothers and their peers.

Hey, Larry @ gang ,I took out my collection of Pbs recordings last night, & though it been several years since i have listened to them you were a standout Group performing that, night On the (rock rhythum& doo Woo=volume 2) & to my surprise the dvd was missing from the jacket---I have the time warner collection of 10 ) of those produced by j lubinsky & j Butler..So I went on line looking for Hits from the past "I did puchase One of your Albums" "Remember Then",& a Single,''You still a standout group, & Larry You Must have been sitting in On My Doo Wop" Corner sessions, Your Riffing & Timing is Impeccable' Got to be some Collard Greens & Neckbones In your DNA... We Love you & Remember, "The Songwriter Says' The Melody lingers On & On'..So don't Quit..OK?. Scoot from Chi -Town 

Monday, Aug. 27, 2012

Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News

Larry Chance & The Earls: Doo-Wop

                         Spanning from the late 50s into the new millennium, Larry Chance & the Earls have pleased audiences with their     flawless harmonies, ceaseless vitality and endearing dedication to their fans. The group represents the music  that helped define  rock and roll, the original doo-wop era that put the street-corner society onto the national charts.

Larry Chance was born in Philadelphia, raised in a neighborhood noted for its show-business roots that spawned such talents as Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Chubby Checker, Mario Lanza, Danny & the Juniors, Joey Bishop, David Brenner, and many more. It was here that Chance began his love affair with show business.

When his family moved to the Bronx, N.Y., in 1955, Chance discovered that vocal groups were found on almost every street corner. He developed one of his own in 1957 with five friends, The High-Hatters. By 1960 the group had evolved into “the Earls.” Through the years, the original members moved on to other things.

Bobby “T” Tribuzio is such a gifted drummer that one wonders if the “T” stands for “talented.” Born and raised in Little Italy in theBronx, Tribuzio was born with a drumstick in his hand. He spent most of his childhood listening to jazz and jazz drummers; Gene Krupa was a huge influence and is still his idol.

Tribuzio backed up Dion at neighborhood functions. Nightclubs were next on the agenda, when at 16 he joined a rock-and-roll group called “Richie and the Perfections.” Tribuzio joined the Earls in 1963. Never really liking the rock and roll he played before, he loved working with Chance. Tribuzio has backed up such luminaries as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Ruby and the Romantics, The Shirelles, Chubby Checker, The Flamingos, The Drifters, and Patti La Belle.

Bobby Coleman joined the Earls more recently on bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Coleman is also a fine songwriter and has teamed with Chance for many compositions on recent Earls albums. Earlier in his career, Coleman also worked with the Belmonts and the Regents.

Chuck Mearizo (guitar and vocals) is a fine sound engineer and has his own recording studio in Rutherford, N.J. In fact, two of the most recent Earls albums, “Back On the Streets of the Bronx” and “Moonlight Kiss,” were recorded at his studio.

Vitto Garcia is the most recent addition to the Earls. Garcia does bass, keyboards, guitar, drums, trombone, vocals, and more. He’s also a music instructor, arranger and composer.

The group has placed many songs on the charts, including “Life Is But a Dream,” “Never, I Believe,” and the classic “Remember Then.” They’ve recorded many other classics including “Looking For My Baby,” “Eyes,” “Kissin’,” and “Cry, Cry, Cry.” An Earls performance features audience participation and comedy. Chance’s comedy talents were featured on the Imus in the Morning show, where he performed, memorably, character voices for 10 years.

Larry Chance & the Earls were very honored to be inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame on June 21, 2008, joining such notables as Colin Powell, Regis Philbin, Danny Aiello, Red Buttons, Rita Moreno, Bobby Darin and Luther Vandross. This is the highest honor the borough bestows. Larry Chance & the Earls were also very honored to be inducted into the Wildwood, New Jersey Walk of Fame in 2008.