Grand Finale Aftermath of the Long Cool Summer

Grand Finale - Aftermath - The Summer of '65 Concludes

On the day after Labor Day, when the beach and boardwalk were quiet and only a few stragglers remained, Duncan left as he came, by air.

In early June, after USMC flight school, Duncan got a leave from his unit until the day after Labor Day, when he was due to report back to his squadron. 

The three helicopter formation that passed along the beach every day at 3 pm, the routine Quantico to Lakewood Naval Air Station flight momentarily hovered above the beach as a rope latter let Duncan off onto the beach. With his flight helmet under one arm Duncan walked up the boardwalk and into Mack & Manco’s Pizza where Bill Brumage the pie maker tossed him a pizza that he caught, twirled and tossed back in perfect synchronization.

Now he was heading out with flight suit on and helmet under his arm he looked like the space man in The Day the Earth Stood Still, saying goodbyes and handing the key to his Mustang to Bill the pie maker to keep for him until he returned.

Then as he walked down the boardwalk stairs you could hear the chatter of the three choppers coming up the beach from the south, two pulling up and one coming in low, letting down a rope ladder that Duncan stepped on and grabbed a hold of and waved as he was pulled up and onto the helicopter that took off and pulled into formation behind the others.

So as the summer of ’65 began with the roar of motorcycles it ended with the slowly fading sounds of departing helicopters.

When they came to the crossroads people went in different directions. 

Bob Dylan “went electric” and took folk music and rock and roll into a new realm, bringing the Hawks along with him for the ride; while Conway Twitty went in another direction, as they say he “went country.`

Jimi left the Starliters for London, Lynda VanDevanter and Duncan went to Vietnam and Tom Snyder became a talk show host mimicked by Dan Akroid on Saturday Night Live.

David Brenner became a comedian, Joe Walsh went to college in Ohio and started a new power trio band - the James Gang and later joined the Eagles. 

Stevie Nicks went with Fleetwood Mac, though she would return to Ocean City to visit her mother and grandmother on occasion.

With the money he made that summer Tido Mambo bought an Oldsmobile convertible that had been used by a contestant in the Miss America Parade on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He would stiff his band for their last week’s work at Bay Shores and then figure in another riot and arrest in Wildwood, where there was also an outstanding warrant for his arrest. 

Tido Mambo was last seen driving West on the Atlantic City Expressway in his convertible, his hair flying in the breeze, one of his bare feet up on the dashboard. And sitting on the back seat were a pair of Miss America’s shoes, a guitar with a parrot perched on it and a small Tom Thumb piano that came from the Anchorage Tavern, with Dutch Schultz`s map of where he stached the loot inside.  

Each character in this story would leave their mark on our culture and society, especially music, and is as accurate as I could make it. 

Dylan ends his autobiographical “Chronicles – Volume One” in early 1965, shortly before he “went electric” and took off with the Hawks and he concludes on the off-beat note:

“The folk music scene had been like a paradise that I had to leave, like Adam had to leave the garden. It was just too perfect. In a few years’ time a shit storm would be unleashed. Things would begin to burn - bras, draft cards, American flags, bridges, too – everybody would be dreaming of getting it on. The national psyche would change and in a lot of ways it would resemble the Night of the Living Dead. The road out would be treacherous, and I didn’t know where it would lead but I followed it anyway. It was a strange world ahead that would unfold, a thunderhead of a world with jagged lightning edges. Many got it wrong and never did get it right. I went straight into it. It was wide open. One thing for sure, not only was it not run by God, but it wasn’t run by the devil either.”

Nor was it run by Angels, but they had their affect and impact. 

And so it came to pass that the magical long,  cool summer of ’65 went out not with a bang but a whimper, though at the time, it seemed very similar to dozens of other memorable seasons, and did not seem like a watermark year as it was happening,

But now, in retrospect a half century after, is it clear that a lot of critical changes happened in that small place and time and it was a crossroads where many life’s choices were made, directions changed and destinies were determined.

The effects of that summer are still being felt as we are left with the unsolved and un-investigated murder of Harry Anglemeyer and the still missing nukes that hang by a thread and swing in the wind over our heads like the Sword of Damocles, and will someday come back to haunt us. 

FINIS 

COMING Next: 1969 - The Summer of Love Revisited. 

 Appendix One - Bibliography and Footnotes

Cavafy, C. P. – Waiting for the Barbarians – As archived by the Onassis Foundation

Dylan, Bob – Chronicles Part One (Simon & Schuster, NY 2004) p. 292

Thompson, Hunter, S. – The article from The Nation (August 1965) and book Hell’s Angels (1965)

Plato – The Republic – Classic literature  http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html

VanDevanter, Lynda – Home By Morning – The Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam (Beaufort Boks, 1983. Chapter 4. Dunes’till Dawn.

Henderson, David  - “'Escuse Me While I Kiss the Sky – The Life of Jimi Hendrix”  (Doubleday, NY, 1978 ) p. 71

“Jimmy Hendrix toured with Joe Dee and the Starliters near the end of 1965….This was the first time he had toured with a predominately white band. He had played with a few white bands in Seattle, but with Joey Dee he got to savor the ‘Twist’ craze right up close. The hysteria that the augmented rockabilly bat drove the myriad crowds to was amazing. It was like Joey Dee was a high priest, a messenger, bringing a sacred message to all. Right there he witnessed the power of word and music, especially as promoted by big-town machinery, but more so, as ordained by the people’s need for release. The Twist included all ages and all kinds of people, and it was not necessarily youth-oriented. The Beatle’s in ’65 were still kings of the English sound, but they were essentially a listening experience, a pleasant experience compared to the uncouth Twist parties.”

Author’s Note: I’ve seen undated Tony Marts advertisements that mention Joey Dee and the Starliters and Carmen Marotta has listed Joey Dee and the Starliters and the Pepperment Twist on their list of the music that made Tony Marts famous under 1964-65, and there are two photos of Jimi Hendrix with Joey Dee and the Starliters and a video of Hendrix in the band behind Joey Dee in a recorded live performance. So if Hendrix played with Joey De e and the Starliters for four months in the late summer and fall of 1965 he was with them if they played Tony Marts at that time.

Appendix Two - Characters Persona – What Became of? – (In the order of their appearance)

William Warren – Retired Ocean City Police Department 

Ralph Sonny Barger – Founder of the Hell’s Angels, currently lives in Southwest USA and is an anti-tobacco smoking advocate. Recently passed away. 

Tom Waldman – Retired Ocean City Travel Agent and Mayor, RIP.

Hunter S. Thompson – Committed suicide in Woody Creek, Colorado. 

William Shakespeare – Wrote The Tempest based on the story of Capt. Somers’ shipwreck on Bermuda.

Capt. Somers – Admiral of the Jamestown settlement fleet. Rebuilt a new ship from the wreckage of the old and returned to the Jamestown. 

John Somers – Quaker from White ladies England, established Somers Plantation that became Somers Point, New Jersey 

Harry Anglemeyer – Ocean City Fudge merchant, murdered at the Dunes nightclub, Labor Day, 1964. 

D. Allen Stretch – Ocean City Realtor and City Commissioner, Public Safety Director. RIP

John McLain – Building contractor and owner of the historic Gen. Wayne Inn in Pennsylvania, co-owner of Bay Shores nightclub in Somers Point, NJ. Daughter Susan sells Bay Shores t-shirts.

John McCann, Sr. – North Philadelphia prohibition beer baron, co-owner of Bay Shores, father of John McCann, Jr. 

John McCann, Jr. – Manager of the Dunes nightclub in Egg Harbor Township, site of the Anglemeyer murder, later Mayor of Somers Point, commuted for council meetings by private plane from Pittsburgh, Pa. where he was a resident when he and his family disappeared, fleeing federal drug charges for importing tons of cocaine through Panama. Arrested at Canadian border, pleaded guilty to get wife off, sentenced to life imprisonment, wife married his lawyer, he testified before Kerry Committee, testimony that is still classified today but implicates the CIA in cocaine drug trafficking and with Manuel Noriega, dictator of Panama. McCann died of a cancer in federal prison. 

LBJ – President of the United States, nominated at the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City.

Richard J. Hughes – Governor of the State of New Jersey, authorized the alert of the N.J. National Guard in response to biker threat to Ocean City. RIP 

Bob Harbough – Owner of Bob’s Grill. Still there today. 

Jiggs - RIP

Mrs. Shriver Schilling – Daughter of candy store founder, owner of the Ocean City boardwalk theaters and much of the retail space from 7th to 10th Streets. RIP

Mr. Charles Schilling – Husband of Mrs. Shriver, managed her business affairs. RIP

Joe Del – Owner of Del’s Grill on the Boardwalk between 9th and 10th Streets. Still there. 

Roger Monroe – Owner of bookstore, became real estate agent and developer. Still living. 

John B. Kelly, Sr. – Founder of Kelly Construction. RIP

Lake Brothers – Founders of Ocean City. Originally from Pleasantville.

Skyliters – Played Tony Marts – included Jimi Hendrix and Felix Cavalari of Rascals

Joey Dee – Leader of the Starliters – with hit song “Peppermint Twist”

Dion DeMucci  – Hit songs including “Runaround Sue” and "Abraham, Martin and John."

Little Stevie Wonder – Played Under 21 Club. Still Performing

Bill Haley – Leader of the Comets – Hit songs include “Rock Around the Clock,” “Shake Rattle and Roll” RIP

Conway Twitty – Rock and Roll star who “went country” after playing Tony Marts. RIP

Anthony Marotta – Mr. Tony Mart – Owner of Tony Marts Café in Somers Point, N.J. RIP

Len Carey – Leader of the Krackerjacks – First house band at Tony Marts RIP 

Col. Harold Kutlets – Toronto booking agent and promoter. RIP

Female Beatles – All girls band that played Tony Marts. 

Ted Schall – Gossip columnist and ad salesman for Press of Atlantic City Entertainment Section.

Doobie Duberson – Tony Marts bartender. Retired to Hawaii.

Elwood Kirkman – Owner of the Flanders Hotel, Seaview Country Club, Boardwalk Bank, Chelsea Title Company and motels along the Black Horse and White Horse Pikes. RIP

H. Hap Farley – Kirkman’s Georgetown Law School roommate, succeeded Nucky Johnson as political boss of Atlantic City. Responsible for construction of Atlantic City Expressway and the 1964 Democratic National Convention. RIP

Stumpy Orman – Underworld Boss of Atlantic City. RIP

Angelo Bruno – Underworld Boss of Philadelphia and South Jersey. Murdered. 

Mr. Oschlager – Manager of the Shriver chain of boardwalk theaters. RIP

Marlon Brando – Star of the Wild One movie. RIP

James Coburn – Bad guy star of Wild One movie. 

Roger Evoy – Photo – Friend of Carmen Marotta.

Kate Waldman – Composite character based on a number of persons known to the author 

Chris Waldman – Composite character based on a number of persons known to the author

Mike Pedicin, Sr. – Still playing sax on occasion, at time of writing.  Now RIP

Mike Pedicin, Jr. – Star jazz saxman 

Charlie Gracie – Still playing today 

Pete Carroll – Quit music to become a tractor trailer truck driver

Johnny Caswell – Became a music producer in California.

Robert Ridarelli – Became Bobby Rydel, popular singer still performing.

Tido Mambo – Disappeared, reported killed in knife fight.

Duncan – Retired founder of Yesterdays Bar and Restaurant, Columbia, South Carolina.

Buddy Tweill – Retired to run Florida beach concession, died of cancer.

Malcolm – Married Ruby Falls, became NYC police officer, retired

Levon Helm – Continued with The Band in backing Dylan and as The Band after the Last Waltz, played
Loretta Lynn’s father opposite Sissy Space in Coal Miner’s Daughter, and later as Vietnam era veteran in Sniper. Overcame throat cancer to play and sing again and released award winning solo LP Dirt Farmer, performed as the headliner at Borgata casino in Atlantic City and performed regularly in his barn studio in Woodstock, NY before he died of cancer.

The Hawks 

Robbie Robertson – Did soundtrack for Carney movie and released solo LPs including Storyville about the New Orleans neighborhood that was gutted by authorities. 

Rick Danko – Continued to perform with The Band after the Last Waltz, and performed as a solo act and duo with others and with his own band as he did at the Good Old Days picnic before he passed away.

Richard Manuel – Committed suicide in Florida motel bathroom while on tour with The Band.  

Garth Hudson – Backs many people as a studio musician, and lives in Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan – Continuing the Unending Tour

Albert Grossman – RIP 

Mary Martin – Fell off the face of the earth. Probably returned to her home in Canada or got married, so last name is no longer married. 

John Hammond, Jr. – Opened for Muddy Waters and the Nighthawks at Emerald City (Formerly Latin Casino) in early 1980s. Still performs solo today. 

John Hammond, Sr. - After signing Billy Holiday, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to Columbia, and calling Dylan’s attention to Robert Johnson, passed away in  

Andrew Cornaglia  – Retired in Somers Point.

Carmen Marotta – Continues to promote live music in Somers Point, Ocean City and Atlantic City. Now has own radio program. 

Grace Kelly – Princess Grace of Monaco died in a car crash two weeks after missing her family’s Labor Day beach party for the first time in her lifetime. RIP killed in a car crash in the only year she missed spending Labor Day in Ocean City. 

Chris Mathews – Former Chatterbox cook and singing waiter at Your Father’s Mustache is now a popular TV newsman and celebrity. 

Donald Goldstein – Former Chatterbox cook is now University of Pittsburgh historian and author of a number of bestselling books on Pearl Harbor including “At Dawn We Slept.”

John B. Kelly – Philadelphia bricklayer and Olympic oarsman RIP 

Mick Jagger – Leader of the Rolling Stones still performs

Keith Richards – Lead guitarist with the Rolling Stones still performs

David Brenner – KYWTV3 producer and director of many award winning TV documentaries including The Long Cool Summer, became a standup comic and comedian and popular Johnny Carson Tonight Show guest and guest host.

Tom Snyder – Became popular late night TV talk show host. RIP

Jack Murray – Bay Shores manager is believed to have retired to Florida.

Vince Rennich – Worked as Gregory’s bartender for over 25 years and retired before passing away.  

Frank Sinatra – Couldn’t get a job as a singing waiter at Long Comforts because he couldn’t sing loud enough, became leader of the Rat Pack and performed regularly at Skinny D’Amato’s 500 Club in Atlantic City.

LBJ  - President of the United States, succeeded murdered President JFK, and was denominated at the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City at Convention (now Boardwalk) Hall a week before the Beatles performed there.

Charles Carney – Somers Point bartender last worked for Andrew Carnaglia as the daytime bartender at the Anchorage Tavern.  

Bill Sailor – Still a member of the Tight End Club and laying carpets. 

John Hunt – RIP. 

Timmy Hunt – Disappeared, where abouts unknown 

Gary Duffy – Worked at old Anchorage bartender until it was sold. RIP 

Wayne Kline – May still be living in an assisted living facility. 

Michael Shurman – Retired newsman.

Mrs. Smith of Smith’s Pier – RIP 

Johnny Mayer – Sold Mayers, restored Ernie’s marina (Point Pub), retired to Florida. 

William Morrow – Former policeman and youth sports advocate has Municipal Beach named after him.
Gary Shenfeld – Retired to Florida

Sam McDowell – the Old Salt - Retired to Islands, now living in Carmel California. 

Dick Richards Bochelli - Still playing drums at 90 years old with his new band, a power trio Ready’s Rockers.

Joey Ambose – Original Comets sax man. 

Marshall Lytle – Original Comets standup bass player RIP

Glenn Ford – Star of Blackboard Jungle – passed away, son still alive. 

Dick Clark – RIP 

Ed Sulivan – RIP 

Donald Freed – Cleveland radio DJ who coined the term “Rock and Roll” while interviewing Bill Haley about “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” 

Dave Herman – Began Album Oriented Rock AOR at WMMR FM radio at Rittenhouse Square, 
 Philadelphia before moving on to New York City. RIP.

Lynda Van Devanter – Became Vietnam nurse, wrote book “Home Before Morning,” and died of Agent Orange induced cancer. 

Barbara – Lynda’s friend became a nurse.

Gigi – Lynda’s friend became a nurse.

J.J. – Lynda’s boyfriend from Tuckahoe, in Upper Township, New Jersey disappeared. 

Jim Croce – Became popular singer and songwriter, died in small plane crash on take off while on tour. 

Leroy Brown – Jim Croce’s Army drill instructor reportedly returned to the Southside of Chicago 

P.F. Kludge – aka Frank Ridgeway, “Wordman,” now teaches creative writing at Kenyon College, Ohio.

Walt Whitman – Died in Camden, NJ, buried at Farleigh Cemetery, Camden.

Patti Smith – Still visits Whitman’s grave on occasion, performs regularly 

Dr. Marcia Smith – Ocean City’s first women doctor passed away in nursing home. 

Chris Montagna – Passed away of natural causes 

Mrs. Parker Miller – Passed away of natural causes

Mrs. Somers – Sold her home at 819 Wesley to the Kellys, continued working at Copper Kettle Fudge, Passed away of natural causes.

Gary U.S. Bonds – Still performing today. Career resurrected by Bruce Springsteen. 

Judge Ed Helfant – Murdered by the mob while eating dinner with his wife in a booth at the Flamingo Lounge and Motel on Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City after agreeing to turn state’s evidence and testify against the Scarfo mob.

Lynn Bader – Became Chief of Police in Somers Point before retiring to Florida. 

Billy Bader – Left the Somers Point PD and became a Cape May computer guy

Bill Hamilton – Retired teacher 

Nucky Johnson – Served time in Federal Prison for tax evasion 1940-1944, turned reins of power over to his protégé H. Hap Farley and retired. 

Albert Brothers – Continued to host Saturday night jams at their cabin until one of them died and the other got too old to continue, so their friends chipped in and built Alberts Music Hall on donated land off route 9 in Waretown where the bluegrass players and pickers jam every Saturday night. 

Sonny McCullough – Former Tony Marts bartender now Mayor of Egg Harbor Township. 

Richard Dick Squires – Former Tony Marts bartender and doorman became Atlantic County Executive and Republican Party leader for many years, now retired. 

Buck the Bartender – Married and moved to Margate and disappeared.

Dutch Schultz – Arthur Fledgeheimer – Former Anchorage Tavern patron, left wallet and possibly safe at the bar, was killed shortly thereafter while eating in North Jersey. 

Daniel Antolini – Former Daniel’s owner, sold restaurant and retired, though he often assists Donny in the kitchen at the world famous and historic New Anchorage Tavern.

Bobby Chic – Retired piano player

Dan Davis – Suffered a stroke while retired in Ocean City and passed away. 

Dan’s Crazy Wife - Disappeared

Joe Walsh – Went to Kent State, Ohio, formed the James Gang, sold out three consecutive shows at Shea Stadium, joined the Eagles and has been sober for 20 years.

Stephanie Stevie Nicks – Continued waitressing until she joined Fleetwood Mac, returned to Ocean City to visit her mother who lived in 9th Street Watsons condo built at the location of the old Watson’s restaurant.
Fred Prinz – Still selling balloons on the Ocean City boardwalk

John Hall – Joined Darrell Oats to form Hall and Oats. Has popular music TV show filmed at his house with guest bands.

Darrell Oats – Still performing, often at Atlantic City casinos.

Todd Rundgren – Still performing, often at Atlantic City casinos.

Bob Scholkopf – Runs the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ with wife Sheila Dean.

Joel Fogel – Still riding his motorcycle, competing in athletic competitions, operating Water Watch International and has a book coming out soon. 

John B. “Kell” Kelly – Olympic and Henley rowing champion, died of heart attack while jogging on East
River Drive, now Kelly Drive, along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, where there is a statue of him rowing near Boat Row. 

Ronnie Hawkins – Retired, though still talking. 

Ian Fleming – Co-wrote Thunderball with Kevin McCarthy, and invented SPECTRE – the Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence Terrorism and Revenge, that is after the two nukes at the bottom of the sea.
Mitch Ryder – Sill performing 

John Lennon – Murdered at the Dakota Hotel lobby in New York City

Harland Holland – Convinced Conway Twitty to “go country” RIP.

Loretta Lynn – Still performing 

Mrs. Croce (Jim’s aunt, Pat’s mom) – Still lives in Ocean City

Mrs. Rundgrin – Still lives in Ocean City 

Mrs. Waldman – RIP 

Pittsburgh Paul – Still living and writing poetry in Pittsburgh 

Prince Rainier – RIP, making son Albert Prince of Monaco. 

Lizanne Kelly – RIP in Florida

Don Levine – RIP 

John Lehman – Became Secretary of Navy under President Reagan, member of the 9/11 Commission

Mike the Mechanic – Still fixing motorcycles 

Philly Steve – Relocated to Southwest, still riding.

Barbecue Jim Dewey Campbell – Lives in Media, Pa and Ocean City

Mrs. Campbell (his aunt-owner of the Chatterbox) – Sold Chatterbox retired RIP

Greg Gregory – Owner of Gregorys Bar and Restaurant 

Bill Brumage – Retired Pennsylvania teacher


Arthur's Note: Many thanks to the faithful readers - over 100 a day read the original as it was written and posted on line in the summer of 2015, especially my cousin Chris Kelly-Tyrell and Ocean City sidekick John Dean, as well as Silvio Modafferi in Italy, Jim Dwyer and Fred Prinz, and all the Facebook friends who tuned in.  You can still read the original, complete with typos, photos and graphics at: http://summerof1965.blogspot.com/

Appendix Three - Comments and Criticism

Reader Comments:

Saul Shocket here. Tito lives! Well, not actually, but it does seem his legend lives on. I've recently published a book that details some really crazy Tit stuff from my experiences with the band as we travelled around the East Coast, spending the Summer of "65" at Bayshores and the Dunes. Lynch Mobs, marriages to women in each town we travelled, Hells Angels, Fired and on the street because of Tito's arrest, NJ State Troopers and more...The last time I saw Tito was years later as a contestant on Chuck Barris's GONG SHOW. He still owed me money from Sept 1965-Wildwood, when he was arrested, withdrew the band's weeks pay, then jumped bail and disappeared. I, along with others writing to this site, would not change anything about my experiences with Tito (Athesus) and the Messiahs of Soul. The money that he owed us, well, I wrote that off as my "tuition" money. If you're interested, I have a great photo of Tito & the Messiahs of Soul, circa 1965. I'd also be willing to send Ken said...  I remember Tito at the pic 1965 when he sang the novelty song "Malasadas." I've tried to find someone who remembers that song without luck thus far. Do any of you remember that song? 

Billy Hancock said. I worked with Tito Mambo as early as 1964. He fronted a club called Tito Safari in Newport, RI. Can’t remember all of the band member’s names. I played bass and did a small amount of vocals. Mike was on guitar, a fellow by the name of Mark on Hammond organ, Ronnie on tenor sax and I believe the drummers name was Ray. At that time he called the band Tito Mambo and The Disciples. Tito was a wild and crazy guy alright. One night I was on stage with him when he clubbed a sailor over the head with an electro voice microphone. He really opened up the top of the guys head. He used to line beer bottles on the wall of the rooming house where I stayed and blast them off of my dresser with his pistol. When he wanted to, he could be very entertaining. Does anybody out there know what actually happened to Tito? I lost track of him when I left the band. Billy Hancock

Fairhaven Pete said...  This is crazy ! Just thought I'd look up this guys name on Google and here I am. Lived in the Fairhaven--New Bedford, MA area all my life and I remember this guy. It was around 1963-4, I can't remember, but I and four underaged girls (including myself) snuck in a place called the Piccadilly Lounge on Union street in New Bedford. I will never forget this guy, Long, long hair and a huge comb he had in his back pocket. These girls I was with went crazy. When we walked in the place, there was no door man or bouncer, it was just solid smoke, cigarette smoke, you could hardly see in front of you. We walked to the back where we found an empty booth and got some beers. We listened to this new kind of music, and watched this crazy guy perform. He was really ahead of his time. I also worked at a place called Fairhaven Mills, in the paint and wallpaper department, my High School job, with a real nice woman who told me she was his mother. My God, 50 years ago. I wish I....

Bob Brock said...  B4 you all came along about1958/9 Tito came from Waterloo Iowa with his band the Upsetters I believe they were called not sure? He left that group somewhere 1959/60 and took on a band called the Cyclones from Mass. booked by the Circle Artists Agency N.Y., a mutli faceted group consisting on Brian Souza on B3/Lead Guitar, Frank Perry on Bass,Guitar, Bob Brock... TenorSax/Lead Guitar and Paul Nunes Drums. The band traveled the road circuit doing club dates, amusement parks and the likes across the country. If you knew Tito then you know what I am saying he was a crazy ahead of our times pre Beatles and Hippies. With HIS long hair he did look like Jesus! He would use his hair to crash on the drummers cymbals in some of his antics, not much of a singer he did play keyboard and trumpet sometimes, but he did have a showman style that people came to see. For all I know I might be the last survivor of our band lost track over 40 years ago... If any of you have any info any on Episode 12 Conway Returns to Tony Marts and the Second Coming of Tito Mambo

Martin Palmer: My God I remember the day Tido dressed as Jesus and told everybody he would walk on water this certain day behind Bay Shores. Benonced 3 many was a long walkway at high tide it was covered by water so Tido proceeds 2 the back behind Bay Shores dressed as Jesus on the high tide followed by a few hundred fans watching this event and walks on this walkway covered by water. His fans went crazy!! Screaming and clapping for what seemed like hours but really five or ten minutes. Tido walked to the end and back giving the fasod he truly was walking on water. My band also played all those Jersey Shore clubs, Bay Shores, Dunes Till Dawn, Tony Marts, Gables, the Old Tavern, many clubs in AC. Oh the good old days! Johnny Caswell I worked opposite at Bay Shores. He was the headliner there for many years as was Ray Sharp and the Soul Set and many others I played with.

I remember Tito Mambo at Bay Shores on the weekends before the season even started in 1965. We worked at the College Grill and were asked to come down on the weekends before Memorial Day. Seems to me Tito was playing that early in the season. You could hear the music way out in the parking lot and over the bay. Very crazy guy....;o> And what a way to start the summer.....

Linda said...  I saw Tito Mambo at the Venus De Milo when I was 16 in 1964. He did that skit with the guy in the coffin. If my memory is correct he and 'Do the Bird'.

I worked with Tito in Boston in 1966. I was his B3 player. Never a dull moment with Tito. The band was called "Tito Mambo and the Voodoo Men". At one time he suggested to me that he wanted to call the band "Mambo's Muffins". Ron Santosucci    Ron Santosucci said...  I have been told that Tito died in Florida some years ago. As nutty as he was, I miss him, although Tito could be "set off" like a firecracker, I always got along with him, and saw myself as " the peacemaker" between him and the other band members. Ron Santosucci

While Tito Mambo was a little before my time, he was described as one of the most eccentric performers to ever play the Point by everyone who saw him. The legendary Vince Rennich, former Bay Shores bartender, said that Tito Mambo was one of the first hippies and actually before his time, dressed with long hair and looked like Jesus Christ. He even did a Jesus Chris act by trying to walk on water once, and also was carried into the bar in a coffin and rose from the dead.  At the end of one summer he bought, at discount, one of the convertibles used to ride Miss Americas down the Atlantic City Boardwalk

Saul: I love reading these posts on the Somers Point Clubs. I was the sax player for Tito Mambo & the Messiahs of Soul. We worked in the mid 60's at both Bayshores & the Dunes. As with the other posters here, I remember those times as some of the best. Great life for a young guy. Played every night/after hours/wknd afternoon sessions. Weight trained with bouncer Guy Borelli from Bayshores, Slept on the beach, ate lunch at the College Grill, & worked. Our band consisted of Tito/Vocals, BJ Stone/B3, Dick Sequino/Guitar, Paul Nunes/Drums, & Diz Lee & Saul Shocket/Tenor Saxes. This group was loaded with talent & it was an honor to work with them, especially Diz.  Saul Selitetrng If anyone out there remembers any of these names, please feel free to email me @ saulselitetrng@aol.com

                                                     Tito Mambo & the Messiah's of Soul
                                                                   End-of-the Road

We were doing a 2 week gig in Sept of "65".  The club was located in downtown Wildwood, and quite different from the college crowd at Bayshores where we had just wrapped up a successful Summer at Bay Shores.

I was sitting on a 2nd floor porch located over the cub we were working at. Curiously, next door, snuggled between recently built large buildings, was a small Cape with a fenced-in yard. I could see a rather large party in the backyard was going on. Tito then joined me on the porch. Looking down, he spotted a very hefty woman, and for some reason began mocking her with insults about her weight. After some back and forth name calling between Tito and maybe 100 partygoers, things seemed to subside.

Shortly after, I was confronted by  a large mob of angry people when I attempted to leave for a pre-gig sub.  I could see at that point  it wasn't funny anymore. I tried to apologize for Tito, but they wouldn't accept that. By the time I returned, the mob was no longer in sight, though I did warn Tito about it. He didn't seem particularly concerned.

Several hours later he attempted to get into his Olds top-down convertible when the mob suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. He was able to get the top up, but the fat lady stood directly behind his car, hands on hips and screaming 'you're not going anywhere. As a paniced Tito slammed the transmission into reverse, he hit the fat lady, sending her immediately airborn and cursing as she was in mid flight.

It was actually a pretty funny sight. Fortunately, she landed and immediately jumped up, apparently unhurt and cursing. At this point the crowd closed in and Tito now was in big trouble as the woman's husband now had Tito by the hair, neck pinned against the half closed window and choking. I watched the whole surreal thing go down, as I stood in the hotel doorway. With really no option, I found myself in the middle trying to free Tito's neck. I was able to do that, but then the Wildwood PD arried, arresting Tito. We lost our gig as I had mentioned, and I returned penniless to my SP motel That night there was a loud knocking at my door. I was greeted by 2 NJ State Troopers who took me back to a judges chamber in Wildwood. He was trying to determine if I had a role in the altercation. When he was satisfied that I didn't, he had the troopers return me to SP. There's more to this story, but I hope you get what's needed. If appropriate, would appreciate a mention of my book. 

Jim Glover: It’s tough hard work gigin' in bars on the Road. When they started backing Dylan they became stars. My old friend, Phyllis Schwartz, sent me Levon Helm's book, Wheels on Fire, which tells about how tough it is to stay on top. I am glad I am too old for the life on the road in smoky bars, just an old softy now.

Jim Dwyer: Billy, Don't you remember that there was a false rumor that Tito stabbed me.He & I were great friends but he was crazy as a loon.Keep Smiling.Peace Out,Jim Dwyer aka The 100% IrishRagnCajun.

Joe Walsh of the Nomads, James Gang and Eagles has been sober for 20 years and will receive Kennedy Center Honors this month at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts -

Here's the lyrics to his song Class of '65

"Class Of '65"

Well I got a letter from a high school friend
Who I never really know that well, he wrote me
And the mothball letter on a blue and white sweater
From the Class of '65 got me planning, planning

Standing in a room full of faces, I knew them all
But I could not place the names with the faces
Now converstaion makes me nervous
I just smile and nod along
When it comes to telling stories, I could go on and on

I went downstars to straighten my tie
Laid on a table I chance to pass by were some stories

On some notebook paper from some high school friends
And they all had tales to tell
And they all sent pictures of their families
And the stories read so well

I just stood there and pretended I had something in my eye
And the tears fell on the letters
I had to, sorry we missed ya, maybe next time
Tell everyone I said hi, hi

From the Class of '65, hi
From the Class of '65, hi