The “Golden Hits Of The 60s”
Main MenuConcept Refinement The Author..Wayne JancikGolden Age Of The 50sGolden Age Of The 60s1970s and There After
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
“WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN”
(Jimmy Webb)
Buddah 75
No. 3 February 1, 1969
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Johnny Maestro (b. John Maestrangelo, May 7, 1939, New York City) shook the charts with the Crests on
such golden oldies as “Sixteen Candles” (#2, 1959), “Six Nights a Week” (#28, 1959), “The Angels
Listened In” (#22, 1959), “Step by Step” (#14, 1960), and “Trouble in Paradise” (#20, 1960). When
internal dissension and a decline in popularity set in, Johnny was pruned from the Crests. Groomed as
a teen idol, he had solo hits with “Model Girl” (#20, 1961) and “What a Surprise” (#33, 1961), but by
1962, the times they were a-changin.’
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Maestro tried to reform the Crests and cut more teen-dream disks. In the mid-’60s, when all else had
failed, he joined what remained of the Del Satins: Les Cauchi (b. 1945) and Fred Ferrara (b. 1945). The
Del Satins had never clicked on the national listings, but they did have a solid reputation on the East
Coast, and they had backed up ERNIE MARESCA and Dion on a number of their chart-toppers.
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One night in 1968, the Del Satins appeared in a Batthe of the Bands on Long Island. One of the
contending acts was the Rhythm Method, a coed seven-member unit fronted by the husband-and-
wife team of Tom Sullivan (b. 1946) and Carolyn Wood (b. 1947). After the contest was over, both
groups exchanged words of praise, and later that night, discussed the possibility of merging into one
big group.
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By April 1968, the two had indeed become one-a conglomeration of 11 members. The line-up featured
Maestro (lead vocals), Les Cauchi (vocals), Fred Ferrara (vocals), Tom Sullivan (sax), Carolyn Wood
(organ), Artie Cantanzarita (drums), Shelly Davis (trumpet, piano), Mike Gregorio (vocals), Richie
Macioce (guitar), Jimmy Rosica (bass), and Joe Ruvio (sax). When word got around that these
musicians were considering forming so huge a performing entity, someone exclaimed, “That is going to
be as easy to sell as the Brooklyn Bridge.” All members agreed that there was the name for them.
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Buddah Records caught the Brooklyn Bridge’s act at the Cheetah, then the ultimate in hip Big Apple
clubs. Brooklyn Bridge (1969), an album of pop and jazz-inflected numbers, was quickly produced by
Wes Farrell–known for his work with EVERY MOTHERS ON, Jay & The American’s & The McCoys–
packaged, and shipped. With the group’s second single, a cover version of a Fifth Dimension tune
written by Jimmy Webb–creator of RICHARD HARRIS’ “McArthur Park”–“Worst That Could Happen,”
the Bridge had found their groove. A second LP (The Second Brooklyn Bridge) was released in 1969,
and a mite-string of follow-up singles made the Hot 100: “Blessed Is the Rain” (#45, 1969) b/w
“Welcome Me Love” (#48), “Your Husband-My Wife” (#46, 1969), and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (#51, 1969).
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In the early ’70s, the group shortened its name to Bridge, and by mid-decade, the members had shrunk
en to a quintet. Maestro led a version of his pop-rock band through the ’80s, and Bridge may still be
performing.