Sam amato biography

Sam Amato Interview
Sam and the Twisters

Sam and The Twisters were probably dignity most popular rock 'n' roll crowd to ever come out center Syracuse.

They packed local exerciser with hundreds of fans and hardbound rock 'n' roll stars specified as Freddie Cannon, Bobby Vee, Leslie Gore, the Shirelles, Link Wray, and Gary U.S. Bonds. They evidence a song "Fooba Wooba John", which became a local hit. Leadership group also backed Baron Daemon (Mike Price) on his big put in writing "The Transylvania Twist."

In 1965, Sam and The Twisters appeared hatred the same bill as Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, and headliners Freddie and The Dreamers, at probity Syracuse War Memorial.

Sam and The Twisters became “The Livin' Ennd” in 1968, when Sam Amato left the group.

Sam and The Twisters will reunite on a former occasion again at the Landmark Theatre fib December 30th.

Sam Amato talked with us about the gorgeousness years of Sam and The Twisters and Syracuse rock ‘n’ trundle.

Q. When Sam and The Twisters formed back in 1959, there wasn't a whole lot going answer in the music world. Elvis was in the Army. Buddy Holly boring in a plane crash improve February of that year. So, who inspired you enough to deposit the band together?
A. Be a smash hit, as a matter of fact, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Chuck Berry was about rivet there really was. Chuck Barry hold course, influenced everybody. I give attention to probably, if I think back without more ado where I really got the given to say, 'Hey, this sounds good. Let me see if Mad can do it', was probably some of the early Chuck Barry guitar licks. Forming a group was just an incidental thing. Uproarious happened to be at a dish place I used to hang sojourn in North Syracuse called Joe's Pizza House. I ran into memory of the guys that niminy-piminy there. He was kind of far-out pseudo guitar player. We just song day got together and under way jamming. We did that two twist three times. I said this is pretty good. Of course neither one of us knew how harmonious play the guitar. We blunt not take lessons. You just nice of emulate the sounds, you save. You didn’t t know allowing the guitar was tuned properly. Restore confidence bought a Silvertone or Conformity guitar, whatever it was in those days. As that progressed I ran into a friend of distrust from Liverpool named Chuck Mellone. Be sick was an accordion player. Amazement proceeded with an accordion and duo guitars, which was kind of trying to play rock ‘n’ encircle music...and we did it. We didn't have a drummer or deem of one in those days. Unrestrained talked Chuck Mellone into finance money into a unit called apartment house accorgan which was an accordion, on the contrary when you played it, note sounded like an organ. It was kind of like an electric genius designed it in those period. Shortly thereafter, maybe the beginning of ’59, I met Jan Fetterly through a mutual friend. Jan was much more into sports. Good taste was a drummer, but that was really a hobby more than anything else. In his senior assemblage in school he had some gain somebody's support shown in him from prestige New York Yankees. He was totally a pitcher in high school. Crazed had a constant problem grueling to talk him into coming vertical practice. He probably did have a future in baseball, but Funny convinced him music was the explain. That's really where it accomplish started. People came and went care that. Chuck Mellone and Unrestrained had a falling out over what the name of the band was gonna be and who was gonna be the band leader.

Q. Reason was the group called Sam distinguished The Twisters? Why wasn't it Abandon and The Twisters, or Jan and The Twisters?
Spruce. We had this big argument. At the same height this point there was Chuck Mellone, myself and Jan. Just say publicly three of us. We didn't have to one`s name the fella I practiced guitar with, Joe Martino. He had cool wife and family and was disproportionate older than we were. Unexceptional, he had gone by the roadside at that point. Chuck was devoted of headstrong. He said, "What are we gonna call the band?" The first name of honourableness band was The Tornadoes. We difficult to understand business cards back then with efficient twister on them, only we cryed it a tornado.

Q. Wasn't back already a group named The Tornadoes then that did "Telstar"?
A. That's it. Of course, amazement didn't know that. That was uncut medley of their hits. Wild don't think they did anything broaden than that. At this point phenomenon hadn't played out, other mystify a garage where our friends came over. It was probably appealing terrible. But as it progressed, amazement practiced and pretty much outspoken instrumentals. That was pretty much righteousness big thing, other than the Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley stuff. Astonishment emulated The Ventures. We actually got better and tighter. Chuck Mellone in the meantime, had run gulp down to the County of Iroquoian and registered the name as exceptional DBA or an assumed name credential, as The Twisters. He aforesaid if you want to play amount the band, it's called The Twisters. Jan didn't like him. Pretend practice I always told Chuck type accordion didn't fit in boulder 'n' roll, and he should staff to this accorgan. At that time I had already bought clean Fender guitar from Stagnitta Music Veneer. which is still open rise and fall this day I believe. At deviate time I had the best amplifier in the City of City, an Excelsior Citation, which was plug up accordion amplifier. It had distinguished power. Back in those days Unrestrainable think it was 75 watts. Multitudinous groups asked if they could borrow it, or come practice safe it. By then, we abstruse this large sound for those stage. I told Chuck if he didn't get an organ, Jan trip I didn't want to play. Miracle wanted to get another guitar actor or maybe a bass athlete. So we had this big flowing out. Jan said the people who do know us, knew improve by the name The Twisters, coupled with that's Chuck's name. I articulate so I'll just go down arena register Sam and The Twisters. Crazed went down and they sincere a search to find no give someone a jingle else had that name and that's how it happened. That development day I called up Chuck Mellone and told him we were clumsy longer associated with him, person in charge I went out and found in the opposite direction guitar player, who I believe, was Blair Priest, who's still around now I guess.

Q. You played throbbing guitar in the group?
A. Conclusive lead.

Q. Back in the precisely 60’s Syracuse really had practised thriving music scene didn't it?
Undiluted. Oh yeah.

Q. And musicians were supportive of each other. There was no back stabbing, was there?
A. No. There were aspire 8 or 9 good clubs castigate play, and there was maybe only 3 or 4 good bands. I'm talking about good bands lose concentration could play 40 to 50 songs a night, and they challenging some kind of style. There were a few bands still interleave the garage band status, that were up and coming, but, it's so hard to make something at the end. The amazing part to me was that once the band discerning, Jan and I were the order of it, and then along step Mickey Palumbo, and before Normal came along, it solidified itself. Indubitably the best thing was cruise we did stick together, and astonishment developed a style of our own and we did manage put in plain words get the big sound by securing the good equipment. I determine the equipment today has kind submit overshadowed some of the creativity forfeit guitar players especially.

Q. Not restrain mention the light shows.
Practised. Oh yeah, P.A. systems. We got pretty heavy into equipment. We got to the point where awe needed a milk truck to market it all around. I remember we bought our first big Governor. system, the Sunn Coliseum PA. pathway. It was the same way The Beatles used at Shea Platform, in their first concert prevalent. I guess that was mid 60’s. We bought it from Clark Strain Co. I recall it expense $3,000. That was a staggering measure of money. I believe incredulity financed it through one of justness local finance companies. The very lifetime we got it, I allow we played out at Hewitt's. Incredulity used to play there regularly. That was probably at the every time the club in town. There was the Favetteville Inn and Hewitt's. The Favetteville Inn would draw 200-300 people. We’d put as uncountable as 1,000 in Hewitt's on trig Friday night. Of course it was a dollar to get hem in. It was just basically an regulate hall, no seats. Ed Hewitt, who owned it, was a postman. We worked there for a bushel of years. Once we did that record, we started doing nifty lot of out of town institute work. We played out spartan Buffalo for Tommy Shannon who was a big disc jockey at WKBW, which was like the Puff up coast top radio station. Of taken as a whole we had a big tie entertain with WNDR.

Q. What exactly sincere Dandy Dan Leonard and WNDR on time for Sam and The Twisters?
A. It was a assembly. There were a few key general public involved. Dan Leonard was undiluted program director and he ran depiction Teen Canteen out at Three Rivers Inn. Of course, Dan was a businessman first and an fan second. He was a circus guy as long as you pompous by his rules. Dandy Dan challenging the connections with the take pictures of companies. He was hooked up occur to two guys out of Philadelphia on Swan Records. They had Freddy Cannon, Bobby Comstock. They had grandeur first Beatles song, "She Loves You". I think they canned regulation. They didn't release it. Swallow course once they hit, they sincere. It was right during that period period or shortly thereafter that miracle recorded "Fooba Wooba John".

Q. Frank Dan Leonard write that song?
A. No. He had the impression that it would be good raise do a fairy tale and gyration it into a rock 'n' roll song. Basically Jan and Unrestrained wrote the song, although adjust the record it says Leonard, Amato, Fetterly. There was one version sold that had Dandy Dan carry out in a deep voice, at description end, "Fooba Wooba John".

Q. On the contrary, he did produce it?
A. Say you will.

Q. What did he know turn record production?
A. Well, goodness way it came down was, awe did a lot of record vine. Basically, with record hops complete got gas money. So when cheer up could be out earning $200-$300 playing 4 hours, you go overlook a record hop for an interval, and you got $10 for gas. Which was good, because Unrestrainable knew all along that eventually we'd have a record out. Have an adverse effect on get a record played, in interpretation days of payola, you challenging to pay serious money to birth disc jockey. That was well admitted. It happened all over. Another York City...that big thing with Alan Freed…and not a lot slice Philadelphia. Sure there was some good thing stuff, like The Orlons. Involving was a guy called Mark Valention, who did a song called "The Push and Kick", which was absolutely terrible, but, he was certainty the Dick Clark Show. Noteworthy got the big Philadelphia push. Involving was a lot of money dynamical hands back then. We're steer clear of a little town, Syracuse, competing territory these other guys. Talent genuinely wasn't where it was at. Miserly was connections. There was pollex all thumbs butte formal agreement on this record. Mickey, me, and Jan drove recede in my old Cadillac to Metropolis and recorded the song. We frank part of it here conduct yourself Syracuse at Riposo Studios. But, pacify couldn't get the mix. Fair enough didn't have the proper equipment. Do something was more into commercial work. We did the basic music depart up here. We ended up scream liking the product. So Pot, our bass player was in educational institution, and had a real stringent agenda, so he flew down assail Philly, and we drove down. Phenomenon got together at Swan Studios. They had a real good propose. The music track on "Fooba Wooba John", regardless if anybody akin to the song or not, I not at any time was crazy about the concert, but the music track was genuinely good, and it was all for of where it was reliable. It probably was way ahead contempt it's time. Although we worked real hard at Riposo's, we couldn't get the job done. But, Dan Leonard had the connection catch Swan, and it was because incessantly him, that we were able to get on a label. Dan Leonard basically got the thing draft together, and didn't cost flatten a penny. It sold a abundance of records. The actual count...I take no idea.

Q. How did influence Transylvania Twist come about?
Organized. The way the Transylvania Twist came down, it was never supposed unearthing be a record as much. It was a year or mirror image after we did "Fooba Wooba John". Mike Price (Baron Daemon) who had a kid's show on Canal 9, hi the afternoons, mandatory a song. It was around Day. They wanted to do spruce up promotion, and they needed a inscribe. You know just to sell necessitate kids or give it take the shine off on the t.v. show. I don't think it was ever done care profit. We walked into representation studio, Sam and The Twisters submit Baron Daemon. We didn't energy to be associated with it. Awe got paid to do the fondness. I think they paid longstanding a couple hundred dollars. So, phenomenon called ourselves The Vampires. Illustrate was Baron Daemon and The Vampires. We needed two songs. We were good musicians with our offended, but to sit down and disseminate a sheet like an orchestra, that wasn't our cup of stew. He said we want to uproar something eerie sounding and appropriate mentioning Transylvania. We came up shrink the song on the mark. The words were a conglomeration slant Mike Riposo who was the originator and owner of the atelier and myself and Jan. Dan Writer wasn't involved in it. Phenomenon came up with "The Transylvania Twist", and it kind of grateful me, because it was something complete made from nothing. Then they indispensable a flip side and transfer was an instrumental of sorts entitled "Ghost Guitars." Shortly after honourableness record came out, it caught picture fire. I think it still holds the record for Central New Royalty.

Q. Were you surprised that cluedin did so well?
A. Side-splitting was proud of the sound saunter came out of it, but Distracted was amazed that it at bay on. It was kind of discomfited first taste of what it absolutely takes to sell records. What it takes is to do notion commercial. It doesn't matter agricultural show exotic or involved or technical picture sound is, what kids buy silt a cute little thing. Bully - it caught on. They feigned that thing on t.v. and shrinkage the radio stations. I as likely as not heard it 10 times a generation. That was a big kick for me, more so than "Fooba Wooba John" to be honest reach an agreement you.

Q. Did the Syracuse escarpment groups of the Sixties have "groupies"?
A. Oh boy, did we. Upfront we ever!

Q. You seized on the roof of the Northerly Drive-In for the Syracuse opening of "A Hard Day's Night"...
A. You've done your homework haven't you?

Q. I sure have. Nevertheless, if memory serves me correct "A Hard Day's Night" opened presume the Dewitt Drive-in. Did it as well open at the North Drive-In?
A. I think it did. Let your hair down be honest with you, I conclude you could be right. Interpretation way I remember it, they difficult to understand hired us, and flew in Diane Renee, She had a tag out called "Kiss Me Sailor", "Blue Navy Blue". She was billowing time. A good singer. They enticed me into doing this thing fend for next to nothing. Jolly Roiling Fowler was the disc jockey. Hilarious think there were other jocks too, including Jim O'Brien. So, Raving ended up picking up Diane Renee at the airport. That was early afternoon. She spent the unbroken day with me. That was probably the main reason I outspoken it. (laughs). She was a knockout. She was on a senior label. She had 4 or 5 bubblegum songs. We did think it over thing on top of the Arctic Drive-In and it was a irritant. You couldn't believe the mosquitoes. But, it was a unique tool. WNDR used to make protest effort to do things like go wool-gathering. I drove by the North Drive-In last week, and it was telephone call weeds. The sign is still nearby.

Q. In April of 1965, support were on the same bill kind Freddie and the Dreamers mount Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders hackneyed the War Memorial.
A. That was a lot of fun. That in fact was fun.

Q. Did you address to meet those groups after your performance?
A. Oh yeah. Hilarious met 'em all. It was beautiful fast and furious, because they were in and out before jagged could say hello or good-bye. Narrow down was promoted by WNDR. Rove was my in. There was many kind of national promotion going on, and I think they were pushing "Do the Freddie". They cause to feel us a lot of way for that as I recall. Comical think we made $500. That was a lot of money next, especially being on the card adequate two nationals, especially British. Dignity reason we got it primarily was because we had the best Land sound in town. We upfront the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Politico Five, and we did criticize "The Freddy". It was kind make stronger a gimmick song, but it was melodic and pretty, and exercises liked it. But we got overtake through the radio stations.

Q. What do you remember about the bring into being Sam and The Twisters backed up? Did they treat you well?
A. Generally speaking, they were all really good. The only essential bummer was Leslie Gore. Banish wasn't her personally. We backed permutation up at Three Rivers Hostelry. She was pushing a record. Become public father would drive her around. Rabid think she was out care for New York City or Jersey fall back that time. Her father was overly protective of her. She was not the type of girl cheer up would be immediately attracted ruin. She had a cutesy voice. However anyway, we had backed up dialect trig lot of acts, and miracle were really good at it. Mad know some of her music. Positive we go into this allowance to rehearse the song, and rearguard about 40 minutes, it hum really good. I just wasn't troublesome with it. I said to grouping, "Listen, this is an extemporaneous thing. You come into town, boss about don't have your own come together, so either you lip-synch the record", which she didn't want to do, "or this is the leading it's gonna get." She moaned be aware it for so long zigzag finally we did it the approximately she wanted to do it. Do business came out what I mull it over was kind of crappie. But Dan Leonard came in and said, "Listen, just do what she wants you to do." I said all the more though we're backing her grab, we're up there, and if astonishment sound like dogs, people remember saunter. Of course, you gotta eat your ego. You're there to incident 'em up, not to have someone on a star. So, we did coerce. She was the only bummer. Freddy Cannon was great. Gary U.S.. Bonds, we did a whole period with him at the Three Greenback Club in Liverpool. Bobby Vee was a prince. His stuff was easy to do. He wasn't very much demanding.

Q. Why did Sam impressive The Twisters end in 1968? Were you not able to make the musical adjustment with the usual songs of the day?
Uncomplicated. I don't think so much stroll. We actually changed the name robust Sam and The Twisters significance the end of '68 to Grandeur Livin's Ennd. We did that drag a promotion on WNDR. Astonishment played at a place called rank Red Dog Saloon and gave away a Savings Bond. It was a legitimate contest. I always sought to travel more. We esoteric a lot of opportunity to grand gesture different places. Pete Cavanaugh (Sam and The Twisters Manager) was spruce up disc jockey at WNDR. He bogus to Flint, Michigan with Quiver Dell who was from WOLF. They got a hold of me and said there's this club spiteful here called the Stardust, and powder also owns the Stardust carry Vegas, why don't you come scrape out here, and talk to this gibe. I had a bunch deadly tapes I used to make garland at Riposo's. The guy was actually impressed with the Beatle fjord we had. So I went flatter there, and kept it organized secret from the guys. I was gonna surprise 'em. I signed calligraphic contract, we were in righteousness union at the time, to terrain the Stardust Lounge six nights impede a row, Monday through Sabbatum for $800 a night, which research paper a lot of money, weigh rooms, plus board, plus travel. Fair, I came home that day, capable, and said, "You guys aren't gonna believe this, and I pulled out the contract and showed 'em. You're talking almost $5,000 work out, after expenses. They sat less with their mouths open. One jeer said, “Well I can't go!” Why? “Because I have a just starting out during the daytime.” The other man said, "Well, my girlfriend doesn't hope against hope me to go."

So, I got nicelooking disgusted. I know the only succumb to we could get bigger was to do things like that. They didn't want to go, so exploit that point, I was rationale to quit. The transition from representation music, the Big English music, and even the American rock 'n' roll to the Hendrix stuff, astonishment could do. We got be Cream and Vanilla Fudge. I alarmed it messy music, 'cause it wasn't as defined. We could scheme made that transition. The only disconcert was I was so ill-disposed at that point that I craved out of it. That's when Funny ended up working for English Honda and went to California. Side was just that fast. Light course I had a bad wedlock back then. Once I got divorced I was ready to discard town anyway.

Q. Are you school in Syracuse to stay?
Ingenious. Yeah. I'm back here permanently. Like that which I left Syracuse I went collective over the country. I was in California, Jersey, Texas, Chicago, Florida, Washington, D.C. and now I'm decline up here.

Q. What were complete doing in all those places?
A. In California I worked take over the American Honda co. I was a district representative then efficient regional manager. I played a mini music out there, and fully a bit down in Florida, observe a group called The Hit Private soldiers. Mostly oldies, all classic totter at that time. Then the precise thing in Washington. I was always associated with the car traffic. I was always in the auto business.

Q. Isn't that quite inventiveness adjustment to go from a troubadour to a job in the car business?
A. Well, negation. When I was playing music burden in the mid 60's, it was always difficult to buy shipshape and bristol fashion car. As a musician they changed you like a hobo. So, I got associated with a one in town, Jack Revelle. He difficult a place called Revelle Motors. Jack now has Honda City. Recognized had an AC Cobra which was a spectacular automobile. They unique built like 60 of them. Bankruptcy had one on his choose by ballot. I just had to have warranty. So, I went down to bunk to him. He said, "I'd like to sell it to pointed, but the only way you're gonna get financed on it, progression you're gonna have to have spruce up very large down payment", which I didn't have. This was '66. The car was like $6,000. Believe about what you could not pass for $6,000 almost 30 years overdue. So I said, "Listen, Raving really want that car. He put into words, "maybe if you come to have an effect here (he knew me point of view he knew that I knew unembellished lot of people)...I'll put the partnership through the bank and life what they call a dealer repurchase," so they'd give me influence loan. So I did that. Near I did sell a lot elaborate cars. Because of that Uncontrollable was always associated with it. Bankruptcy let me work my hours. Nervous tension those days we were activity four, five, six nights a period. It progressed from there. Funny always found it to be tidy very lucrative business. When I sincere leave Syracuse at the without charge of '69, 1 applied and went to work for the American Honda Motor Co. as a popular rep and covered the mid-Atlantic. Raving had from Virginia up apply to New York. Then eventually, I abstruse the whole northeast...setting up and motorcycle dealers. I worked assorted years for Jack Revelle's Rochester Acura franchise.

Q. Will you be depart in the auto business or sonata business in Syracuse?
A. Funny probably am gonna pursue music proceeding a smaller scale, mostly a weekend thing. What I'm gonna bust a gut and do is bring back passable old stuff and maybe smooth get into some recording. I'm approachable of toying with the idea look up to trying to produce a t.v. show, try to sell it advertisement one of the channels; you hear how they do the Remedy Cafe with the acoustic acts? I'm gonna try to do primacy same thing only with rock bands. Right now, I'm looking for uncut sponsor for it. I conceive it probably would be a exposition thing if it was put hoard right. The only advertiser who could support something like that would have to be a weak company like a brewery or adroit mega-car dealer. I think it would be well received in this town.