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The family of Robert John DelGenovese uploaded a photo
viernes, marzo 23, 2018
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The family of Robert John DelGenovese uploaded a photo
viernes, marzo 23, 2018
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Bill De Pietro posted a condolence
domingo, abril 19, 2015
Looks like Del will be starting the Van Dels all over again. Carter Dosso, first tenor, was up there waiting for the rest of the group, now Del, baritone and lead is there. You are missed Del.
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Victor Tommarchi posted a condolence
sábado, abril 18, 2015
In 1949 at age 6, Robert DelGenovese (Del) and I met for the first time as classmates in the first grade in PS34 located in a predominantly Italian section called Van Nest in The Bronx, N.Y.
It must have been around age 11 (1954) that the DelGenovese Family moved to one of the end houses on "The Block" (Adams Street), where my family had resided since around 1924.
This street was nothing more that a row of 2 family wooden frame houses built around 1910. At the other end of the street where I lived above Carter Dosso ( a distant relative to Del) lived below.
It was a time when all the kids played together, and best of all, Adams Street was a great street to live on as a boy in the fifties, because the houses were only on on side of the street. Across the street was a vacant lot that occupied an entire block. That was separated by a street and then another lot known as "The Second Lot".
Here you could build huts, shoot BB Guns, and Dells favorite...play baseball. In the imagination of a boy of that era, the possibilities of a vacant lot like that were endless.
Van Nest was really like small town living in spite on being in a city with 8 million people.
But by 1958, and now going into out teens, our interests were shifting to Rock 'n Roll. We'd hang out on the corner in the evening. One night Del started singing and the rest joined all joined in. Del's cousin; Carl D'Angelo began teaching us the basic harmony parts and at times must have had 7 people singing at a time in the corner. The singing group started capture our interests. At some times there would be perhaps 50 people around us as we'd sing in front or the corner grocery store.
The harmony got tighter and tighter and we decided to make it a formal group with Paul Gerson as First Tenor, Carter Dosso as Second Tenor, Dell as Baratone and myself as Bass. Billy DePetro sang some of the leads, but he'd spend some time in Greenfield Mass., so we eventually we kept it the four of us. We named the band The Van Dells. (Van for VAN Nest and DEL cause he really was the founder and spokesman).
To our surprise by the summer of '59 we had become primarily a group to back up lead vocalists as they would need Demonstration Records (Demos), to bring around to try to get on a record label. We spent much time in New Yorks' now famous Brill Building usually on Sundays, and often up to17 takes for one song.
Dell and I also went to DeWitt Clinton High School Together, took 2 city busses together just to get there.
While in High School, Del's Family moved out of Van Nest, to 1953 Wallace Avenue about 3 miles away.
By 1964, with the "British Invasion" music took a big turn and what we today we refer to as DooWop was instantly dead.
Around that time Carter was thinking of getting married, I was moving out of Van nest to Laconia Avenue (Also in The Bronx). By now we all drove and Id still go see Del in his
new neighborhood until mid '65 when I went to Basic Training at Ft Dix.
As teens on the stoop we'd say; "when we 're 50, we should have a reunion".
I mentioned that to my wife one day, and the last time I saw Del was when we were all 50, and my wife threw us that party in Westchester County, N.Y.
I stayed in the music business all these years but not as a singer, as a Lead Guitarist / Bandleader, (along with having a day job). To this day (53 Years later) I continue to do about 75 -90 gigs a year. I have a 5 piece band (See; Naples Night Train on Facebook) we play banquets at Hotels and Country Clubs, also a few concerts and even 3 or 4 Sock Hops a year. The music I use on our dance set is still the same stuff we did with the VanDels, accompanied by the harmony that Carl D'angelo taught us back on the stoop in '58. As I look into the audience, I see all the 70 year olds dressed like the fifties complete with the pack of Luckys in the sleeve, and just for that show think their back in High School, in 1959.
Rest in peace Dell, and thanks for the memories. Vic Tommarchi
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Victor Tommarchi posted a condolence
sábado, abril 18, 2015
Victor Tommarchi is following this tribute.
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Victor R. Tommarchi posted a condolence
viernes, abril 17, 2015
The last time I saw and spent time with Robert "Dell" was when we were all 50 yrs old. My wife gave a party for us in Westchester County ,N.Y. that was in '93.I knew Dell.
I've known since we wereI 6 yrs old from the 1st grade elementary school, PS 34. At around age 11(I think), he moved on my block Adams Street in the Van Nest section of The Bronx. We all grew up together those of us who lived on "the Block". We went to the same High School (DeWitt Clinton), and during that time we had a singing group called the VanDells ( Van for VanNest and Dell for Robert) from '58-'63, and by 1959 we were the back ground voices for quite few Demo Records in the studios located in New York's now famous Brill Building. TodayThat music is often referred to as Doo Wop. In the early 60s the Genovese Family relocated to 1953 Wallace Avenue just a few miles away and we relocated to Laconia Avenue in the Pelham Parkway area. Perhaps a mile away from Dells new address and Id get to see him quite often. I stayed in the music business not at a singer but as a lead guitarist & Band Leader all these years (53). I currently have a 5 pc band, and a duo that does banquets and hotels and Country Clubs. We do about 80 gigs a year. At my very next gig, I'll do a song for Dell. Something he liked like; I Only Have Eyes For You (Flamingos) or perhaps the instrumental; Sleepwalk or Honky Tonk…….I'll think of something. Rest In Peace My Friend….You'll always be part of the memories of the best years on our lives.
Victor R. Tommarchi
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Anonymous posted a condolence
sábado, octubre 4, 2014
Beautiful in Blue was purchased for the family of Robert John DelGenovese.
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john dunning posted a condolence
viernes, octubre 3, 2014
liana, i was very sorry to hear of your dads death, we have been neighbors in bldg 31 in abbey. we hung at the pool together when he was well, he always spoke of you and the grand kids. may he rest in peace. jack dunning unit #205 bldg 31. if any thing i can do for you please call 716 432 9428.
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Sheldon Goldstein posted a condolence
viernes, octubre 3, 2014
Bobby,
Will miss you Rest in Peace my friend
will always be part of my memories
Shelly and Andrea Goldstein
Delray Beach Fl