In the movie “Grease” Sha Na Na, performed as Johnny Casino & The Gamblers for the Homecoming dance at Rydell High. That segment is one of my favorites in the movie, as it takes me back to the time of the Friday night dances at the local fire hall in my hometown of Montoursville, Pa. From the moment I turned the ripe old age of 12, the minimum age to get in the door, I attended the dances faithfully. It was there I got to know the local disk jockeys, and watch them apply their talent. I was what was called a “gofer,” meaning I would run errands for the disk jockey, such as run to the nickel Coca Cola machine, (the local bottler sponsored the dance), for liquid refreshment. Gee, I even got to help carry the equipment before and after the dance. Eventually I was allowed to “spin the stacks of wax” when the disk jockey took a break. The dance was three hours with the first two hours being “live on the air.” During that time I would help with music selection, keep track of the requests from the dancers, and once in the while I would even be allowed to run the equipment.

Having grown up in North Central Pennsylvania, I always felt I had the best of all the music possibilities. One one hand I was exposed to that great “Philly Sound” with an unbelievable array of talent from Bobby Rydell, The Crystals, The Ronnettes, to The Teddy Bears. On the other end of the state in Pittsburgh, Doo Whop was King! If you have watched the P.B.S. Specials from Pittsburgh, you have had the opportunity to see some of the best groups ever to record. Such artists as The Vogues, Perry Como, Lou Christie, and The Lettermen all trace their roots back to Southwestern Pa. One of my favorite groups was and still is The Skyliners. The history of The Skyliners dates back to 1958 when Jimmy Beaumont, Wally Lester and Jack Taylor, joined forces with Janet Vogel and Joe Versheran. Their name came from the classic big band song by Charlie Barnett. With out a doubt The Skyliner's biggest hit was “Since I Don't Have You.” The song was inspired by Joe's girlfriend breaking up with him. That song defined the Skyliner's sound. Jimmy told me that within 6 weeks of appearing on Dick Clark's Bandstand show, those days based in Philadelphia, it really took off. “We never got to number 1, as Frankie Avalon was in the top spot with Venus.” Since I Don't Have You actually went #1 on the Rhythm & Blues charts, and they were actually booked into New York's Apollo Theater as the promoters thought they were a black group. Jimmy said “ when we went on stage you could hear the collective gasp from the audience.” The Skyliner's hit the charts several time with such songs as Pennies From Heaven, This I Swear, and even Since I Fell For You. As happened time and time again, the British Invasion of the early to mid 1960's made it impossible for American Groups to have hit records.

As is the case with most of the groups from that era, The Skyliners have undergone numerous personnel changes over the years, due to retirement or death. The one constant being leader Jimmy Beaumont. On The Class Reunion I had the pleasure of talking with Jimmy and of course along the way some good natured kidding about his golf games. He and Chuck Blasko from the original Vogues are good friends and play often. As good friends Jimmy and Chuck always accuse each other of cheating when the other one wins. I asked Jimmy if time has caused him to change the key in which he sings, to that he laughed and said that he still can hit the high notes and always brings the house down when he does. Jimmy started out his music career as a bass, and told me “ I still enjoy singing bass.” The group has never wavered from their original sound, and that is apparent on even their latest CD. Today's group consists, of course, of Jimmy Beaumont, Second Tenor Dick Muse, Female Lead Vocalist Donna Groom, and Bass/Baritone Nick Pociask. Each of the members of the group have their time in the spotlight. Donna Groom, has according to Jimmy and Nick “Perfect Pitch,” and your can hear her on “One More Mountain”, the title song from their latest CD. Nick Pociask is the joker of the group, every one has to have one, but there is no lack of talent there. Nick has a 4 to 5 octave range and signs lead, he says “he loves to hurt himself when he sings falsetto.” Nick hits the high notes on the CD with “If You Want To”, and Jimmy said “during the show Nick sings some Frankie Valli, (Four Seasons) songs.” The Skyliner's have recorded two Christmas Classics “Your My Christmas Present” and “Another Lonely New Years Eve,” and both of those songs are on the CD.

Trivia: What other Pennsylvania group had a chart hit with “Since I Don't Have You?” It was The Vogues from Turtle Creek, Pa. Hugh Geyer told me they included the song on one of their albums as a tribute to The Skyliners.