The 40 Fingers began playing in the middle sixties in Springfield, New Jersey. The original group consisted of Teddy O’Connell, lead vocals and keyboard, Bruce Colandrea, lead and background vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, Bruce Gerstein (officially called the Slug), bass guitar, and background vocals, and Wayne Massiello, drums and background vocals.
The 40 Fingers appeared on such TV shows such as Clay Cole, and Zacherley, along with appearing [billed as the Forty Fingers] at Summit High School with Lou Reed’s Velvet Underground and the Myddle Class.
On or around 1968, the group decided to add high school friend Al Fridkis on B3 Hammond organ, and have Ted O’Connell on stand up vocals. Al does not appear on this 45 for the Venture label. The single has the 40 Fingers version of the Myddle Class and Blues Project’s “Don’t Let Me Sleep Too Long”. The flip “Low Sunday” has a “Stormy Monday” kind of thing Bruce put lyrics to.
Thanks to Arnold for sending in the sound clips, scans and history of the band, co-written with Lenny.
I grew up in Kenilworth in the late 60s. Station WOLD played one of your songs a few weeks ago and it brought back a memory of the band playing on the patio snack bar at the Union Drive In.
I knew the group pretty well as Bruce and Wayne were neighbors. These guys were pretty cool, no delusions of grandeur but worked their ass off starting up. Traveled to many gigs with them. It was blast as were the hours of practice. It was lemonade when the records were pressed!!
Have they got a cd