The Three Chuckles

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The Three Chuckles were an early American rock & roll group from Brooklyn, New York, United States.[1]

Although designated rock & roll by contemporary observers, the sound of The Three Chuckles is closer to vocal pop, in hindsight.[2] They formed in 1949, naming themselves after a popular candy of the day, and played East Coast establishments. Original accordionist/keyboardist Phil Benti left the group in the mid-1950s and was replaced with Teddy Randazzo, then a teenager. In 1954, they recorded a song called "Runaround", written by a truck driver named Cirino Colacrai, and released it on Boulevard Records as the B-side to "At Last You Understand".[2] The single was picked up for national distribution by RCA Victor, and "Runaround" became a hit, peaking at No. 20 on the US national chart.[2]

With their newfound fame, Randazzo became the lead singer and songwriter. They scored two further hits on the new Billboard charts: "Times Two, I Love You" (No. 67, 1955) and "And the Angels Sing" (No. 70, 1956).[3] In 1956 the Three Chuckles performed the song "Cinnamon Sinner" in the movie, The Girl Can't Help It.[1] Also in 1956, Alan Freed offered them a spot in his movie Rock, Rock, Rock;[1] following this Randazzo left the group for a solo career. Jackie Farrell joined after Randazzo left, but the group did not return to record, and broke up by 1958.[2] Randazzo recorded solo.

In 1997, Collectables Records issued a collection of Three Chuckles songs on CD.

Russ Gilberto (real name Thomas J. Gilberto) died on February 28, 1981, at the age of 60.[4] Phil Benti (real name Philip Bentivegna) died in Nassau, New York, on January 10, 1983, at the age of 52.[5] Teddy Randazzo died in Orlando, Florida on November 21, 2003, at the age of 68.[6] Tommy Romano continued in the music industry, performing into the 1970s. He died on February 13, 2013, at the age of 84.[7]

Members[edit]

  • Tommy Romano - vocals, guitar
  • Tommy "Russ" Gilberto - vocals, bass
  • Phil Benti - accordion
  • Teddy Randazzo - accordion, vocals
  • Jackie Farrell - accordion

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 443. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Three Chuckles | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  3. ^ "The Three Chuckles Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  4. ^ "Thomas (Russ) Gilberto". New York, New York: Daily News. 2 March 1981. p. 48. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  5. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1960. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Teddy Randazzo, 68, '50s rock legend". Honolulu, Hawaii: The Honolulu Advertiser. 24 November 2003. p. 16. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Thomas Romano". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
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