Hurricane season is heating up in the Atlantic and a twisting, rock and roll storm named Joey Dee hit the Savannah Center with full force Thursday night.
Joey Dee is best known for his 1960s’ days at the Peppermint Lounge. Back then, he helped turn the twist into an international dace fad with such songs as, “The Peppermint Twist.”
Dee is a lot older now but he proved Thursday at Savannah he can still rock with the best of ‘em. He was closing act for “Rocky’s Original Lead Singers of Pop ‘N’ Rock” concert.
Gerry “Rocky” Seader and the Rollers appeared with Ron Dante of the Archies, John Claude Gummoe of the Cascades, Johnny Farina of Santo and Johnny, and Henry Gross, formerly of Sha Na Na.
Put them all together and you have a nostalgic, rocking good time.
Dee, who appeared with his son –saxman Ronnie Dee – turned up the volume and energy. “He’s the Godfather of the twist,” said DJ Al Brady, who introduced the act. Brady also noted that such famous rockers as Jimi Hendrix, three of the Young Rascals, as well as the Ronettes worked with Dee’s band at various times.
Dee, wearing a chalk-white suit, looked vigorous and agile as he opened with the driving beat of “Peppermint Twist.”
Then he slowed things down a bit with a soft “What Kind of Love Is This.” Dee and his son, Ronnie, really blasted off paying tribute to Louis Prima on a thumping “Jump, Jive and Wail.”
Ronnie Dee teamed with guitarist Bruce Wallace of the Rollers to rip through the number at a furious pace. Joey Dee kept up the frenetic beat as he closed with the old Isley Brothers’ standard, “Shout.”
Ron Dante opened the show with some smooth rock and bubble gum sounds. Dante, looking spry and cool at 70, wore a beige jacket and black leather pants. He was the lead singer of the cartoon group, the Archies, and scored a No. 1 single with “Sugar Sugar.”
Dante, a seriously talented musical artist, has produced records for Barry Manilow and other singers. “I auditioned for the Monkees,” he told the crowd. “But Davy Jones beat me out. Davy once told me I could sing Monkees’ songs whenever I want.”
Then Dante sang and played guitar on “I’m A Believer.” He also sang another million-seller called “Tracy,” for Cuff Links.
Johnny Farina and his brother Santo teamed for a No. 1 hit with the iconic instrumental “Sleep Walk” in 1959.
“I wish it was 1959 again,” Farina said before stepping in front of a steel guitar. “Those were better days when people respected each other. Life was a lot more fun.”
Then he played “Sleep Walk,” with a kind of mellow majesty that brought back, peaceful, bygone memories.
The same could be said for “Tear Drop,” Santo and Johnny’s follow-up single to “Sleep Walk.”
“I grew up in Brooklyn,” Johnny said. “Sometimes I go back to the old neighborhood to rob a couple of hubcaps. It keeps me in shape, I like to run and you had to run fast in my old neighborhood.”
John Claude Gummoe offered a joyous version of “Rhythm of the Rain.” It went No. 1 in 1963, and Gummoe said it was rated as the No. 9 pop song of the 20th Century, according to BMI.
Henry Gross, an original member of Sha Na Na, had a hit single, “Shannon,” in 1976. He said he wrote the song after a visit with Beach Boy Carl Wilson. “Carl told me about his Irish setter named Shannon, who was killed when hit by a car,” Gross said. “I also had an Irish Setter. One day, I was at home with the dog, and the song just came to me.”
Gross then flashed his hard rocking style with a torrid oldies medley that included “Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Do You Wanna Dance.”
