notice in the Courier-News, Thu, Sep 24, 1964Frank Jones was born in Plainfield, New Jersey and joined the Fabulous Strings at age 15. Frank wrote to me:
My band the Fabulous Strings won a talent show in Newark NJ and recorded two demos at Hertz Studio 38 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey. The tunes were “How High the Moon”, “Slow Hold It”, “Movin’ Up” and “Vibrating”. I would like to listen to them again.
Charlie Morton – lead guitar C.B. Hill – rhythm guitar R.D. Cunningham – bass guitar Frank Jones – drums
The Bridgewater Courier-News announced a benefit concert at Plainfield High School on Saturday, September 26, 1964 with 20 acts including Sammy and the Del Larks, the Conchords, Jimmy Gator, Mersey Johnson, the Plazas, Paradons, Jo Jo and the Admirers, the Tri Dells, Harry Ring and the Fabulous Strings, Parliaments and Parlets.
If anyone comes across any Hertz Recording Studio lacquer demos of the Fabulous Strings, please contact me.
Frank Jones has kept active in music, and can be found on facebook.
The Viscanes, from left: Al Martansic, John Ayers, Lou Dobrolosky, Jerry Hyde and Donald Jack Four song EP cut at Hertz Sound in Newark
The Viscanes came from Morristown, New Jersey, and included:
Donald Jack – lead guitar John Ayers – rhythm guitar Al Martansic – keyboards Jerry Hyde – bass Lou Dobrolosky – drums Billy King – vocals
They cut four unreleased songs at Hertz Recording Studio in Newark. From the songs on the acetate, the Viscanes had a style influenced by soul sounds of the day. There’s a cover of “Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo”, and two original songs, the uptempo “Windstorm” and a ballad, “Black and Blue”. They also recorded a loose jam of organ and guitar solos with some ad-libbed vocals.
The Viscanes played regularly at Danny’s Hideaway in East Hanover NJ, located on Route 10, attached to a bowling alley. Some silent 8mm footage of the band exists, with part of the recordings as the Front Row added for a soundtrack:
They also played at Idaho Pines in Parsippany NJ, Dude Ranch Inn in Dover NJ, and Aunt Kate’s on Rt 46 in Stanhope NJ, as well as the Boardwalk at Seaside Heights and Atlantic City.
The Viscanes on stage Danny’s Hideaway, April 1966
The Front Row perform “The World’s Fantasy”, produced by Marty Foglia at Regent Sound Studio
The Front Row
With a couple lineup changes the Viscanes became the Front Row:
Donald Jack – lead guitar John Arends – rhythm guitar Frank Knox – keyboards Jerry Hyde – bass Lou Dobrolosky – drums Al Martansic – vocals
As the Front Row they made two acetates at Regent Sound Studios on West 56th St in Manhattan. One has two vocals, “The Worlds Fantasy” b/w “Hey Little Girl”. The second acetate has backing tracks for both songs, but with “The World’s Fantasy” titled “Roaches” for some reason.
“The Worlds Fantasy” is well-crafted commercial pop, with a great opening guitar lick and pounding drums. It certainly is good enough to have deserved release, but I don’t think it ever was. I can’t find copyright information on either song, and wonder if “The World’s Fantasy” was a working title.
The Front Row perform on the backing track to “The World’s Fantasy” produced by Marty Foglia
“Hey Little Girl” is a slower ballad. Marty Foglia’s name is on the labels, probably as producer. In 1966, Foglia recorded an early Jim Croce song called “Sun Come Up” with an unknown group called the Clique that Laurie Records released.
Marty Foglia had been active in the late ’50s, running the Cecilia Records label with a handful of pop and doo-wop singles by the Criterions, Johnny Starr and Mike Figlio. He co-wrote “New Orleans Beat” with Michael Ralph Colicchio. Foglia also recorded the Viscounts, selling the masters to Madison Records which hit with “Harlem Nocturne” in 1959 and again in 1965. But I can’t find many credits for him after 1961. Some info from Pop Archives.
Donald Jack moved to Sunrise, Florida in 1975 where he opened D&J Chevron in Deerfield Beach. His sons Don and Steve contributed the photos and info on the band. Don passed away in 2001, and Jerry Hyde passed in 2006.
Thank you to Don and Steve Jack for sharing these great photos and history.
The Viscanes on stage Danny’s Hideaway, April 1966
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
