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Rockin’ Rebels
WILD WEEKEND
(Phil Todaro, Tommy Shannon)
Swan 4125
No. 8 March 9, 1963
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“I was a elementary school teacher; 30 years, now. I just retired [Fall 1997],” said Paul Balon, the Rebels’
(later billed the Buffalo Rebels, still later without their permission, the Rockin’ Rebels) rhythm guitarist,
in an exclusive interview. “If we’d got our money and another hit, I don’t know if it woulda been the best
thing. I’ve had a good life now, but I don’t know if me and the Kippers [Jimmy and Mickey] woulda done
so well, if things hadda happened different.
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“Look, on that thing [“Wild Weekend”] I played three chords–think I knew five–and I didn’t know why or
how they were put together; didn’t know anything. The drummer was the worst of us. We stunk! Listen
close, our instruments weren’t even in tune. If we could just record it again without the mistakes, it might
be a nice stupid tune.”
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Paul Balon and Jimmy (lead guitar) and Mickey Kipper (sax) and Tommy Gorman (drums)–no bass–were
the Rebels; hometown, Lackawanna, New York, just south of Buffalo. “We were together for about two
years. This is ’57, ’58. I was going to a Timon Catholic High; raised in a restaurant. Filet milan, lobster;
didn’t know what a hot dog was till I got married. My teacher, at Ruda’s Music School introduced me to
Jimmy and his brother Mickey; raised by this Hungarian grandmother. Tommy was an orphan.
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“In those days, local groups were able to put out records, by small companies and get played locally.
They’d sell 5,000 copies–if lucky–and get work from it. This disk jockey named Tommy Shannon owned
Mar-Lee with Phil Todaro. The label name had something to do with their girl triends; like Mary and Lee
Ann, or so. Tommy Shannon had a theme song and he was the weekend jock for WKBW, the top 40 station
in Buffalo. His theme went, ‘Tommy Shannon Show/KB radio…things get better/we’ll give you news and
weather/Tommy Shannon Show.’ The melody was what became ‘Wild Weekend.”‘
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Writing credits were given to Phil Todaro, a local record producer and Tommy Shannon Buffalo jock with a
night-time spot called “The Wild Weekend Show.” The shows theme was reportedly previously recorded
by a little known area act, the Russ Hallet Trio.
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“Now this is ’58 and Tommy [Shannon] was gonna have us do ‘Red River Valley,’ when he walked in on the
session we were playing his theme as an instrumental, and he says, ‘Record that.’ We did; and we recorded
‘Red River Valley,’ but somehow that got to this other group and they [Johnny & the Hurricanes] recorded it
and it became this big hit; exact arrangement as ours. Never figured that one out…”
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‘”Wild Weekend” was issued during the fall of 1959. “We did the local bandstands and got to do the ‘Dick
Clark Show,’ too,” said Paul. “Clark asked me–live on the air–why call yourselves the Rebels? Being young
and scared out of my gourd, I said, “Cause Duane Eddy’s our idol and we copied everything he does.’ Very
soon after someone told us the name had to be changed [Label credits then read, “The Buffalo Rebels”].
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“They told us it sold about 100,000, the first time around; but they didn’t give us any money so we were
gone by the time it became a major hit in ’62. Never got a penny, nope; not for the Mar-Lee record or the
reissue–got nothin’. Tommy Shannon, then a Buffalo State art major, got a new Corvette. We’re sure he
got the money, but he denies it to today. We were babes in the dark woods. Tommy [Gorman] didn’t have
no one and the rest of our parents didn’t know about the business; fact, my dad wanted me to go to college
or work his restaurant. No one directed us, or much cared that we made music.”
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Only one follow-up–“Buffalo Blues” b/w “Donkey Walk”- was issued by Paul and the original group,
before their attentions by necessity turned to the business of making a living. “That thing sold s-l-o-w, like
at a walk. We never got paid, so we never went back,” Paul said. “Another group promoted ‘Wild
Weekend,’ as the ‘Rockin’ Rebels;’ but the record was our record. Nothing was changed or re-recorded.
They made up something for the flip side and a whole album of stuff was put out. The only thing on that
album that is us, the Rebels, the Buffalo Rebels–is ‘Wild Weekend.’
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“Wild Weekend” sold top 10 and the public was cravmg for Rebel-rockin’ instrumentals. To flesh out an
album for a long dead group, unknown musicians were rushed into Swan’s studios to rework classics
like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” “Tequila,” and “Telstar.”
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The Rockin’ Rebels moniker was utilized for one further Hot 100 charting, a number called “Rockin’
Crickets” (#87,1963). The record was identical to an earlier release–also titled “Rockin’ Crickets”
(#57, 1959)–by a band known as the Hot-Toddys. These Toddy’s were a legitimate Canadian unit– Port
Colborne, Canada–that in the late ’50s consisted of Terry Gibsdon (lead vocals), Vaughn Jonah (guitar),
Garry Kelba (drums), Johnny “T-Bone” Little (bass), and Bill Pennell (sax). “I never heard of that
record,” said Balon. “That was our follow-up, huh?” Apparently Shannon and Todaro were involved
in the ownership of Shan-Todd label that originally issued the Tot-Toddys’ “Rockin’ Crickets.” Three
more Rockin’ Rebels singles are known to have been issued. All without the participation of Paul and
the original band. Paul went to University of Buffalo; flunked out. Thereafter he went on the road with
the Speedy Garfin band, worked steel mills, returned to college, graduated, married and was a elementary
teacher for 30 years. Paul retired in 1997. Mickey sold cars; Jimmy was a Army recruiter, stationed in
Buffalo.
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The Kippers remained music makers, becoming regulars, as the Rebels, at Ciro’s in Buffalo; later as the
Kippers, a jazz bar band outfit. The brothers worked the area’s theatre pit and TV sessions. Tom “got
into bad company” and his whereabouts for the last 30 years are unknown.
COPYRIGHT 1997 Wayne Jancik