Joey Dee & The Starliters - "Peppermint Twist" (1961)

Joey Dee and The Starliters is an American popular music team. Best known for their successful million selling recording "Peppermint Twist" (1961), the group was initated by Joey Dee.

With lead singer Rogers Freeman, Joey Dee and The Starliters' first single was "Lorraine," backed with "The Girl I Walk To School," during 1958, distributed by the company Little. That same year, Joey Dee recruited David Brigati for the team after meeting him during a gig at Garfield (New Jersey) High School. David and Joey would subsequently share lead vocal honors for The Starliters, with Joey ultimately becoming the primary lead singer. Another early single for the group was "Face of an Angel," with David as lead vocal, released on Scepter Records; the flipside was "Shimmy Baby." An album entitled The Peppermint Twisters and credited to "Joey Dee and The Starlighters" was subsequently released by the company Scepter as well.

Various members of The Starliters, such as vocalist Freeman and drummer Don Martin, came and went during the next few years; the most famous team of Joey Dee and The Starliters is considered to be Joey Dee, David Brigati, Larry Vernieri (vocals), Carlton Lattimore (organ), Sam Taylor (guitar) and Willie Davis (drums). Later members of the touring group would include Eddie Brigati (David's brother), Gene Cornish, and Felix Cavaliere - three-quarters of The Young Rascals - as well as guitarist Jimmy James (later known as Jimi Hendrix), Charles Neville of The Neville Brothers and a young Joe Pesci on guitar.

During 1960, The Starliters were noticed by agent Don Davis while performing at a Lodi, New Jersey nightclub called Oliveri's. The group was booked at an intimate venue on 45th Street in New York City called the Peppermint Lounge for what was supposed to be a one-time weekend gig. During their initial appearance at the nightclub, actress Merle Oberon and Prince Serge Oblinski were dancing much of the night there. This being related in print the next morning by columnists Earl Wilson and Cholly Knickerbocker, it took barricades and mounted police to keep the crowds in line, which had backed to Broadway, the next night. For several months, the craze would continue at the Lounge. Celebrity visitors continued to come and included Judy Garland, John Wayne, Jackie Kennedy, Nat "King" Cole, Shirley MacLaine, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Liberace. Dee and company made such a sensation that they ended becoming the house band for the Peppermint Lounge, remaining for more than a year. Dee wrote "Peppermint Twist," along with producer Henry Glover, as a tribute to the lounge and the song scored #1 on the U.S. charts during early 1962. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. By this time the team had contracted with Roulette Records.

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• Starliters
• Peppermint Twist
• (1961)
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[gordogreat74]

I like this vid, it's both swingin' & educational, hehe. =:p

[lindagrace1223]

Work like you don't need money, Dance like no one's watching , and love like you've never been hurt.

This weeks theme was dancing. Although our dance together was too short I still remember the melody. Very sweet memories for which I have to say Thank-you.

[TheBustedGut]

NOT ORIGINAL !!! BOOOOO!!!

[ThirstySkunk910]

My class had this song for the Sock Hop. I LOVED IT!! :D

[MrTreknation]

That was fun!!

[TheKennyKennyKenny]

Great video Joe!!!!

[PampersPete]

I agree. You couldn'r have picked a better song/video combo than this, Joe! Bravo. :-D

[dgenerated]

Video is a Dentist's wet dream! heh

[Mgarguemare]

I'll remember this song the next time I'm watching the food channel. Awesome job.

[431516020205]

fan f-ing tastic bud!! thanks!!!