The Earls: (New York City)
Biography:
The Earls are one of the New York City doo-wop success stories. Discovered singing on the street corner in front of subway station, the Earls took the original black doo-wop street corner harmony sound and refined and expanded it for new audiences.
Larry Chance was the driving force behind the group's formation and success. Chance grew up in Philadelphia and attended high school with Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, and Danny Rapp of Danny & the Juniors. But it was not until 1957 that he moved with his parents to the Bronx after high school, that his musical career took off.
Chance formed a group at the Tecumsa Social Club, known as the Hi-Hatters. The group was Chance, Bob Del Din, Eddie Harder, Larry Palombo and John Wray. Rome Records released the Earls' first record "Life is But a Dream" "It`s You" and in the late 1970s released with "Whoever You Are" as the B-side).
The group then performed with Murray the K and on Dick Clark's American Bandstand show. They released another record that year, "Looking For My Baby" b/w side Cross My Heart".
In 1962, the group hooked up with Stan Vincent and recorded "Remember Then" b/w "Let's Waddle". It was a hit, peaking at #24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963. Chance co-wrote the group's next single "Never" b/w "I Keep A-Tellin You" 1963.
The group scored another hit in 1963 on Old Town with "Eyes" b/w "Look My Way.). Later, a demo "I Believe" was released b/w "Don’t Forget". "I Believe" became a much bigger record from the 1970s onward as it received heavy airplay on NYC oldies radio.
From 1989-1993, the group consisted of: Larry Chance, Bobby Tribuzzio, Bob Coleman, Art Loria (formerly of The Belmonts) and T.J. Barbella. This roster continued a busy performance schedule and studio works. In 1989, they were on Broadway performing in the original production of A Bronx Tale, a one man play by Chazz Palminteri. They recorded the theme song of the production "Streets of the Bronx", which was slated to appear on the soundtrack of the motion picture A Bronx Tale, however a different version of the song was eventually chosen.
Two albums were released: Larry Chance and the Earls (Live!) and Earl Change. Another single released in 1989 was "Elvis: He’s Alive", which was warmly received by critics and received a BMI Award of Recognition of a Musical Work. They were nominated as "Best Musical Act" in Atlantic City for their eight-week run at The Claridge Hotel, starring with Sal Richards
Loria and Barbella left the group in 1993. Chance, Tribuzio and Coleman remain as the group’s core with a rotation of members rounding out the act. They continue to perform and record and are popular on the doo wop oldies revival circuit. In 2008, the group was honored with a place on The Bronx Walk of Fame.