The Royals, from left to right: Dennis Villanucci, Jim Hideriotis, Joe Villanucci, Rick Krikorian and Robert Krikorian
Dennis Villanucci wrote to me about the Royals who had three singles in the mid-1960s:
This band was formed in Haverhill, Massachusetts during the mid/late 1950s. The original band members were Jim Hideriotis (drums), Rick Krikorian (guitar) Dick Gaiero (guitar), Ted Schiavoni (guitar), Bob Schiavoni (bass) and Joe Villanucci (keyboards).
Around 1961 or so, Dick & Bob left the band, and I (Dennis Villanucci, Joe’s brother) joined as their bass player. Rick’s twin brother (Robert) also joined shortly thereafter as a singer and also played tambourine. Later on I became their lead guitarist. The band card shown was made after Bob had left the band.
Lowell State Lounge poster, May 22, 1965
While the members of the Royals were attending college, we appeared at many fraternity houses and college concert venues (college dance mixers) on campuses throughout New England (mostly in Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Vermont locations). Typical venues were Lowell State College (MA), UNH (Durham NH), Dartmouth College, University of Vermont etc.
We had an agent by the name of Al Long. He handled about 25 bands from the New England area.
We were friends with a few of the bands shown on Al’s list … The Roadrunners (Mike Fedenyszen et. al.) and the Heard (Chuck Buzzell, Eric Mcfadden, Bob Fontaine and Mike Moustafa).
Another band that we were friends with (not on the list) was called Lazy Smoke. John Pollano was their leader. My brother Joe played keyboard on “Sarah Saturday”.
A “rival” band was the Del Phi’s.
While playing a fraternity house for Lowell technological institute, we met a fraternity member who, along with his friend, had a recording studio in Framingham Massachusetts. We accepted a one year recording contract that was offered to us at no cost to us.
The band made three 45 rpm recordings at Continental Recordings Inc. (CORI) in Framingham, Massachusetts. The first recording “The Lady’s Bad” / “I’m All Alone” bears the CORI label and was made in June 1965.
The other two were under the Croydon label; “Summertime in Maine” / “Teenage Dreamer” and “Slow Down Boy” / “Summertime in Maine”.
While recording our music during that year, we were connected with Gene Kilham. Gene presented his music to us, and we agreed to record for him.
1st label for this song, June 1966
June 1967 release
Towards the end of the 1960s we began playing regularly at local night clubs: The Cinnamon Lounge (Lowell), Three Copper Men (Lowell), The Bowery (Salisbury Beach MA) and many others.
When we appeared at the Bowery, the band had added a horn section, (Ralph Bennett – sax, Rick Hammett trumpet and Jerry Bergonzi – tenor sax). We also added a front man, Johnny C (John Colimere). We played eight (4 or 5-hour) shows a week for about 6 weeks during the summer of 1969.
The band broke up around 1970. Joe and Robert are still active in the music industry.
Q. I notice the writing credits on “Teenage Dreamer” read Leo Krikorian and Gene Kilham, and Gene is also sole writer for “Summertime in Maine”. I believe Gene owned the Croydon label. Was Leo another name for your brother?
Leo Krikorian was not related to the two Krikorian brothers that were with the Royals (Rick & Robert). It is just a coincidence that he has the same last name. Leo & Gene wrote “Teenage Dreamer” and Leo played lead guitar on the recording.
June 15, 1966 issue of Billboard
Two notices for “Summertime in Maine” appeared in Billboard, in June and August 1966.
Royals discography:
June 1965: “I’m All Alone” / “The Lady’s Bad”, both by Krikorian – Villanucci, Hyannis Music Co., released on Cori Records CR 31002.
June, 1966: “Summertime in Maine” (Gene Kilham) / “Teenage Dreamer” (Leo Krikorian and Gene Kilham), both Chriskil Music Publ. Co., ASCAP, released on Croydon ZTSP 122492/3, a Columbia custom pressing, probably from their Rockaway plant.
May, 1967: “Summertime in Maine” (Gene Kilham) / “Slow Down, Boy” (Robert Krikorian and Joe Villanucci), released on Croydon U4KM-6776/7, an RCA custom pressing probably from their Pittman, New Jersey plant.
Chriskil Music Publ. Co., ASCAP published all three songs on the Croydon singles, named for the company’s street address.
Kilham has written and produced a single by Barry Wilson & the Camelots “The Bug” / “Gonna Put You Down” Dot 45-16462, both by B. Wilson and Gene Kilham, that received notice in Billboard in September 1963.
Al Long agency booking list – any info on the bands listed here would be appreciated:
Name Groups: The Harlem Playboys (with Randy Madison) The King Cobras – “Maine’s No. 1 band” The Nickel Bag of Soul (“New Hampshire’s best) The Catharsis The Embers John Tropea and the Spendors (“Boston’s great band”)
Girl Groups: The Fabulous Frauleins (recorded “Practice Of Evil” / “Days Gone By” on Onyx 8601) The Ever Lovin’s What’s this Madness
Popular Groups: The Given Word The Crescendos The Royals The Tel-stars The Avengers The Blue Cloud The Jinx The Del Phi’s The Roadrunners The Deltas Annie and the Orphans (from the Lakes region) The Heard Underground Conspiracy Gray Shade of Blue
3 thoughts on “The Royals on Cori and Croydon labels”
Joe V played keyboards on the song Sarah Saturday ( Lazy Smoke Corridor of Faces LP) in the late sixties. What is Zhoe doing these days? I was trying to find a copy of “ I’m All Alone” by The Royals”.
Just to set the record straight on Leo Kricorian. He wrote “Midnight Dreamer” in the late 1950’s or early 60’s. I first met Leo in 1958 or 59 . We became good friends from that point on until he died from Covid 19 in 2020. We recorded Midnight Dreamer at Ace Recording Studio in Boston in the early 60’s, and “12th Street Rag” was on the flip side. I played piano on the session. As I recall, Leo spent his life trying to get a record deal for that tune and at one point he told me that it was now called: “Teenage Dreamer” and was on a record label. Gene Kilham, to the best of my knowledge, did not co-write the song. Perhaps to get it on a label some kind of a deal was made with Gene and the Royals. Later in the 60’s I played Piano and Organ on a song called: “Losin'” a song he wrote and also sang on. (It’s on You Tube if you’re interested in hearing it.) Leo was a unique guy who played (excellent) guitar with others and with me and my band “The Thunderbirds” on occasion. Leo was a very good friend and is missed. R.I.P. my friend.
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
Around 1961 or so, Dick & Bob left the band, and I (Dennis Villanucci, Joe’s brother) joined as their bass player. Rick’s twin brother (Robert) also joined shortly thereafter as a singer and also played tambourine. Later on I became their lead guitarist. The band card shown was made after Bob had left the band.
Chriskil Music Publ. Co., ASCAP published all three songs on the Croydon singles, named for the company’s street address.
Joe V played keyboards on the song Sarah Saturday ( Lazy Smoke Corridor of Faces LP) in the late sixties. What is Zhoe doing these days?
I was trying to find a copy of “ I’m All Alone” by The Royals”.
I have a digital recording of “I’m All Alone”.
Just to set the record straight on Leo Kricorian. He wrote “Midnight Dreamer” in the late 1950’s or early 60’s. I first met Leo in 1958 or 59 . We became good friends from that point on until he died from Covid 19 in 2020. We recorded Midnight Dreamer at Ace Recording Studio in Boston in the early 60’s, and “12th Street Rag” was on the flip side. I played piano on the session.
As I recall, Leo spent his life trying to get a record deal for that tune and at one point he told me that it was now called: “Teenage Dreamer” and was on a record label. Gene Kilham, to the best of my knowledge, did not co-write the song. Perhaps to get it on a label some kind of a deal was made with Gene and the Royals. Later in the 60’s I played Piano and Organ on a song called: “Losin'” a song he wrote and also sang on. (It’s on You Tube if you’re interested in hearing it.) Leo was a unique guy who played (excellent) guitar with others and with me and my band “The Thunderbirds” on occasion. Leo was a very good friend and is missed. R.I.P. my friend.