[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO THE PHILADELPHIA MURAL ARTS PROGRAM AND THE SOUTH PHILLY 
                            MUSICIANS MURAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 
Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, which will dedicate the new South 
Philadelphia musicians mural at 9th and Wharton Streets in my district 
on Saturday, October 8. As everyone knows, Philadelphia has long been 
one of the capitols of popular culture. This mural will honor seven of 
the icons of that culture, Jerry Blavat, Al Martino, Frankie Avalon, 
Fabian, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and Eddie Fisher.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that this mural will include one of the 
pioneers of rock and roll, my dear friend Jerry Blavat. Jerry was 
attracted to the music business because of his love for the music, not 
for fame or wealth. He was a dancer on the original Bandstand 
television program, hosted by Bob Horn. He became a favorite with the 
viewers and rose to the head of the coveted ``Committee,'' the group of 
teens responsible for aiding Horn in the direction of the show. Jerry 
got into radio in 1962 and soon was given the title ``The Geator With 
The Heator.'' He soon coupled his growing popularity on the air, which 
by 1963 resulted in regional syndication of his program on small 
stations throughout the Delaware Valley from Atlantic City to 
Allentown, with appearances off the air at dances, clubs and events. It 
was not unusual for Blavat to see 5,000 kids a week in person in the 
mid sixties, nor too much of a stretch to say he would remember 3,000 
of their names the following week. His appearances became so frequent 
that for a time he needed to use a helicopter just to make it on time 
from one gig to the next. Today the helicopter is gone, but the frantic 
schedule is still in place. Throughout the year, he can be found 
somewhere on virtually any night, and in the summer months he is in 
weekend residence at Memories At Margate, the New Jersey Shore's 
hottest night spot which he has owned and operated since 1972.
  Al Martino will celebrate his 68th birthday on October 7. The son of 
Italian immigrants, Martino worked as a bricklayer in his father's 
construction business before being encouraged to become a singer by his 
friend Mario Lanza. After singing in local clubs, and winning Arthur 
Godfrey's Talent Scouts, he recorded ``Here In My Heart'' for the small 
BBS record label. It shot to No. 1 in the U.S. chart, and sold over a 
million copies. This disc was also the first ever record to top the New 
Musical Express UK listings, inaugurated in 1952. He continued his 
illustrious career on both stage and screen.
  Frankie Avalon was the first and most successful of the teen idols 
from Philadelphia. He was encouraged to perform from the time he was a 
child, beginning from when he was tutored on the trumpet by his father. 
By the time he was 12, he had joined Rocco and the Saints, a dance band 
that featured another boy from the CR Club, drummer Bobby Rydell. The 
combo played parish bazaars, shows at the Sons of Italy Hall, weekend 
sock hops in school gyms, and weekend dances at teen clubs. ``Venus'' 
was Avalon's biggest hit selling more than a million copies in the 
spring of 1959. Three more million sellers in a row, ``Bobby Sox To 
Stockings,'' ``Just Ask Your Heart,'' and ``Why'' followed.
  In 1960, he co-starred with Alan Ladd in ``Guns of the Timberland'' 
and appeared in John Wayne's ``Alamo.'' Appearing in a number of other 
films Avalon did not have a starring role until 1963's ``Drums of 
Africa.'' In the early sixties there was a nationwide surfing craze and 
Hollywood did a number of movies on the subject. Avalon, along with 
Annette Funicello, were leading stars in these movies. Starting in 1963 
he appeared in ``Beach Party,'' ``Muscle Beach,'' ``Beach Blanket 
Bingo,'' etc.
  Mr. Speaker, Avalon's friend, Fabian was an overnight singing 
sensation, a film star with over 30 films to his credit and the 
producer of his own concert series. Fabian Forte was actually 
discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps in Philadelphia. 
At 15, he won the Silver Award as ``The Most Promising Male Vocalist of 
1958.'' By the time he was 18, he had recorded dozens of hit singles, 
eight albums and earned gold records for ``Turn Me Loose'' and 
``Tiger'' and a gold album for ``The Fabulous Fabian.'' In 1959, Fabian 
made his screen debut in ``Hound Dog Man'' opposite Carol Lynley. His 
role as a homicidal maniac in a TV production entitled ``A Lion Walks 
Among Us'' directed by Robert Altman solidly established his 
credentials as a versatile and powerful actor. His impressive acting 
credits include featured roles with John Wayne, James Stewart, Jack 
Palance, Tuesday Weld, George Segal and Karen Black.
  Chubby Checker was born in South Carolina, but grew up in South 
Philadelphia. By the time he entered high school, he had learned to 
play the piano at Settlement Music School. In June of 1959, Chubby 
recorded ``The Twist.'' Fourteen months later, in the summer of 1960, 
``The Twist'' was not only the No. 1 song but it introduced the concept 
of ``dancing apart to the beat.'' Mr. Speaker, Chubby Checker 
accomplished many ``firsts'' in the record industry. He is the only 
artist to have 5 albums in the top 12 all at once; the only artist to 
have a song to be No. 1 twice--``The Twist'' and the only artist to 
have nine double-sided hits.
  Bobby Rydell, unlike many of the other Teen Idols, was a genuine 
musician. At the age of 4 or 5, Bobby used to sit in front of the TV 
set trying to impersonate performers like Louis Prima, Milton Berle, 
and Johnny Ray. His father recognized Bobby's talent and encouraged him 
to pursue a show business career. At 5 he began taking lessons on the 
drums. Three years later he was an accomplished cabaret performer, 
playing drums and doing imitations. At 9, he was a regular on Paul 
Whiteman's television show that was broadcast from Philadelphia and 
performed on it for 3 years. By the time he was a teen, he was playing 
drums in a dance band Rocco and the Saints. Rydell's million seller, 
``Wild One'' was released in early in 1960. ``Swingin' School'' b/w 
``Ding-A-Ling'' was a springtime hit and third million seller. That 
summer ``Volare'' was released. The song had been pulled from a 
previous unsuccessful session of songs in a big band style to introduce 
Rydell to an older audience.
  Mr. Speaker, Eddie Fisher received his first wide exposure as 
frequent guest performer on Eddie Cantor's early-fifties TV broadcasts. 
Later responsible for million-selling records during the fifties, 
including ``Any Time,'' his signature song, ``O My Papa,'' and many 
others. In 1953 Eddie Fisher was given his own 15-minute TV show called 
``Coke Time,'' sponsored by the Coca-Cola company. This show proved to 
be so popular that Coke then offered Eddie a $1 million contract to be 
their national spokesperson. A deal of that magnitude was almost 
unheard of at this time and helped push Fisher towards being one of the 
most popular singers by 1954. At the height of his popularity, during 
the 1950s, Fisher was, along with Perry Como and Elvis Presley, RCA 
Victor's top-selling pop vocalist. His many hits during this period, 
all well remembered, include: ``Anytime,'' his first big hit, ``Oh, My 
Papa,'' ``Wish You Were Here,'' ``I Need You Now,'' ``Dungaree Doll,'' 
``I'm Walking Behind You,'' ``Heart,'' ``Games That Lovers Play'' and 
``Somebody Like You.''




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