The Mystics

The Mystics are a singing group which began in Brooklyn, New York, USA in the late 1950s. The group was known as "The Overons", a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici (b. 1937, lead), Albee Cracolici (b. 1936, baritone), George Galfo (b. 1939, second tenor), Bob Ferrante (b. 1936, first tenor), and Al Contrera (b. 1940, bass). Under the direction of their manager, Jim Gribble, The Overons became "The Mystics" when each group member wrote a name they liked on a slip of paper, placed the papers in a hat and Al Contrera's choice was drawn.

Biography

In late 1958, The Mystics soon recorded two songs for Laurie Records, "Adam And Eve", and the old Weavers' tune "Wimoweh". Unhappy with the results, Laurie Records commissioned Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman to write an original tune for the group. Their first effort, the song "A Teenager In Love", however, was given to labelmates Dion and The Belmonts. Pomus and Shuman were instructed to come up with something else for The Mystics. The next day, the writers returned with "Hushabye".

In May of 1959, Laurie Records released "Hushabye" b/w "Adam And Eve" and within a few weeks the record was a smash. Soon Alan Freed started featuring "Hushabye" as the closing tune on his televised Saturday night Big Beat Show. At its peak, "Hushabye" was Top Ten in most of the tri-state area, spending 9 weeks on the national charts that spring and summer, where it climbed to #20.

After Phil Cracolici left the group and beginning in 1960, the Mystics' lead singer changed several times. Paul Simon (aka Jerry Landis), who frequently hung around Gribble's office, became The Mystics' new lead. In January 1960, "All Through The Night" (with five voices singing together with no distinct lead), "I Began To Think Of You" and "Let Me Steal Your Heart Away" were recorded.

When Paul Simon left the group to pursue other projects, The Mystics chose John "Jay" Traynor, who later went on to form Jay and the Americans. On May 11th, 1960, The Mystics with Jay Traynor on lead recorded "White Cliffs Of Dover", "Blue Star" and "Over The Rainbow" at RCA Studios. Inspired by The Del-Vikings' version, they chose "White Cliffs Of Dover", (a song they often sang at live shows long before recording it). Backed with "Blue Star", "White Cliffs Of Dover" received only local play. "Over The Rainbow" remained unreleased until the late 80s when Ace Records issued a Mystics album.

Eddie "Shots" Falcone became their next lead singer, and The Mystics recorded "Star Crossed Lovers" b/w "Goodbye Mister Blues", with Falcone singing lead. This record failed to chart and shortly thereafter, a young Ralph Lizano led the group with a song he had written called "Darling I Know Now". "Sunday Kind Of Love" and "Again" also featured Ralph Lizano on lead. Unfortunately, the first two songs, though released, received no airplay. "Again" was not released until the Crystal Ball LP. [http://www.johnnytunes.com/mystics.htm Johnnytunes.com - Mystic Memories ] ]

In mid-1961, The Mystics stopped recording and performing. The nostalgia boom that began in 1969 brought the original five members back together and they began performing again on the rock and roll revival circuit. George Galfo and Bob Ferrante left the group after a few years, making the group the Cracolicis, Al Contrera, and new members Joe Esposito, Bruce Sudano, and Eddie Hockinson. Contrera was invited to California for a special project shortly thereafter; he declined, but sent Esposito. Sudano and Hockinson followed, and the three formed the group Brooklyn Dreams. [ [http://www.themystics.biz/history.htm The Mystics History ] ] Three new members came in- John Tarangelo (Johnny T), Joey Napoli, and Emil Stucchio. Stucchio is the original lead singer of The Classics, famous in their own right with their hit record "Till Then". The Classics and Mystics were acquainted, as they both came from Brooklyn.

By the early 1980s, the group was Phil Cracolici, Albee Cracolici, Al Contrera, and Johnny T. [ [http://www.zvents.com/performers/show/11270-the-mystics] see photo] In 1982, Bob Ferrante was in town when the group was set to record an album, so he joined them. The album was "Crazy For You" for the Ambient Sound label. It featured re-recordings of three Overons original tunes: "Prayer To An Angel", "Why Do You Pretend" and "The Bells Are Ringing". That year, [http://www.musicianforest.com/profile/7609/ Ken Filmer] joined the group. [http://www.musicianforest.com/profile/7609/ Musician Forest - Musician - Ken Filmer ] ] This quintet made up the Mystics until 1990, when Johnny T left the group.

In the late 1990s, the Mystics, the Classics and the Passions, who are all from the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn and have been friends since the 1950s, started performing together in the Brooklyn Reunion Show. This act emphasized their common roots and long-time friendships, and the fact that each group scored successive hit records. The Brooklyn Reunion Show proved to be a popular act, recording and releasing a CD and touring for almost ten years.

Phil Cracolici and Ken Filmer were featured with the Brooklyn Reunion in the pledge breaks of "Doo Wop 50" when the special broadcasted in May of 2000. Al Contrera and Emil Stuccio were also featured with their current group, "The Classics". Albee Cracolici later joined with his bother and Filmer, and the trio comprised the group in the early 2000s. [ [http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/mystics.htm The Mystics ] ] This lineup with Al Contrera performed as "The Mystics" for another PBS special, "Doo Wop Love Songs", filmed in 2007. Filmer and Albee Cracolici left the group in 2007, and Phil Cracolici performs with a new group.

George Galfo (the Mystics original second tenor and nephew of Phil & Albee Cracolici) leads another group, billed as "George Galfo's Mystics" (r) which includes members: Joe Neary, Anthony DeFontes (both toured with and can be heard on Dion's CD's) and Howard Sprotzer. There are currently 3 albums released by George Galfo's Mystics: "Hushabye Again", "Beautiful Lady", and "Another Time Around". All of these CD's were produced, arranged and recorded by Mike Miller a member of George Galfo's Mystics. "George Galfo's Mystics" (r) and have been actively performing since 2003.

It should be noted that there was another group in the early 1960s going by the name The Mystics. Based out of South Dakota The Mystics was a rock-n-roll band that played with other groups such as the Everly Brothers. Tom Lammon, the head of the band, went on to play with Joe Maphis, Barbara Mandrell, Charlie Pride, Little Jimmie Dickens.

ee also

* Brooklyn Dreams
* Alive N Kickin'

References

External links

* [http://www.originalmystics.com The Mystics with Phil Cracolici]
* [http://www.themystics.biz George Galfo's Mystics]
* [http://www.johnnytunes.com/mystics.htm Mystic Memories - www.johnnytunes.com]
* [http://www.destinationdoowop.com/mystics.htm Article @ Destination Do Wop]
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