Anthony and the Sophomores

In 1957, teenagers Ernie Funaro, Anthony Perri and John Donato sang on street corners in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Despite having minimal experience, Perri recruited his 13-year-old cousin Anthony Moresco, to create a group which became known as "Tony and the Teens." By 1958 the group was recording covers of songs, and had changed their name to "Tony and the Dynamics". A year later, they released their first record with the now defunct Herald Records. Shortly after, Tony Maresco left the Dynamics and formed a group known as "Tony and the Twiliters", around the same time John Donato left for the military. Maresco's new group released two songs in 1961, during which Donato returned from his service. Maresco reunited the original Dynamics group together, which would come to be known as Anthony and the Sophomores.[3] After a few recording sessions with other groups, Bob Finizio, who sang bass with Carlo and the Secrets, joined the original Dynamics group, ultimately creating a quintet. They auditioned for Mercury Records, and changed their name to "Anthony and the Sophomores" in 1963.[1]