Phil and Val Caltabellotta rocked dueling harmonicas.
Larry Hubbard turned funky.
And Melody Gardner hit all the right notes on “At Last.”
It was all part of another sellout “Showcase of Talent” show Thursday night at La Hacienda Recreation Center.
Joe and Diana Arlt started the talent showcases a couple of years ago and they just keep getting bigger.
“We keep growing and we keep bringing in new talent,” Diana Arlt. “Auditions are always open to everyone.”
The showcases raise money for music scholarships. In April, the Arlts will donate $5,000 to the Bob Washington Jazz Scholarship for high school students.
“Helping those kids is the best part of what we do,” Diana Arlt said.
It was “Sock Hop and Doo Wop” night for the showcase and the mood was definitely greasy. People came dressed in poodle skirts and leather jackets. The music was filled with oldies but goodies by such artists as Dion, Connie Francis and Little Anthony.
“We all love the ‘50s,” Diana Arlt said. “You’re never too old for the ‘50s.”
Phil and Val Caltabellotta, the husband and wife harmonica duo, rocked out in bluesy fashion on the old Wilbert Harrison tune, “Kansas City.”
Phil, who hosts a “Harmonica Happiness” club gathering every Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Mulberry Grove Recreation Center, was playing his normal sized chromatic harmonica.
Val, meanwhile, was toting a 48-chord harmonica, nearly two-feet long. Together, they complimented each other taking the familiar tune and giving it a new harmonica twist.
Phil is considered among the best harmonica players in the region. “I grew up as a poor kid and started playing harmonica,” said the onetime New York City fire fighter. “It’s not an easy instrument to learn, but once you do, it’s great.”
Phil Caltabellotta can play just about anything from classical to jazz to big band to rock.
“It’s something I love and we’re doing what we can to keep interest in the harmonica growing in The Villages and in this country.”
Larry Hubbard has been kicking around the music business for decades and said he played with national acts, including Bo Diddley. He took on “Mustang Sally,” and gave it a slow, funky R&B groove.
“I always put a lot of soul into that song,” said Hubbard, who hosts the Classic Rock and Roll Club Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center.
Hubbard and crowd singing and clapping along to “Mustang Sally.”
“I was just about ready to ask them to get up and dance,” Hubbard said.
Melody Gardner, meanwhile, did justice to the Etta James’ classic, “At Last.” She started off slowly, with a soft vocal that gradually gained power throughout the song and earned a loud ovation.
The music list was like a jukebox straight out of “Happy Days.”
Performances included, Philadelphia native Joe Baltzell bringing back the Bandstand sound of “At the Hop.” Ron Mezzano was a one-man version of the Del-Vikings, singing “Come Go With Me.”
Andy Malinosky made like Little Anthony and the Imperials with “Tears On My Pillow.” Joe De Leo put on a black mop-top wig and stomped his way through “Pretty Woman.” Classy Juanita Doyle offered some shimmering pop sounds to “One Fine Day.”
Diana Arlt brought back memories of Connie Francis with “Who’s Sorry Now.” Barbara Hanberry sang a more upbeat Francis hit, “Stupid Cupid” and Patrick O’Brien captured the adolescent pain of “Teenager in Love.”
The Off Broadway Dancers opened the show by tapping their way through “Keep On Dancing,” while the Encore Jazz Dancers closed with some cool choreography to the Four Seasons’ “Sherry.”