The Brooklyn Bridge Live at The New Hope Winery

Originally lead by Johnny Maestro who began his career in 1957 as the original lead singer of the Crests, one of the first interracial groups of the recording industry. Then in 1967, another New York vocal group called the Del-Satins—who had become well known in the New York area as weekly performers on the local dance party program The Clay Cole Show, had made several non-charting recordings between 1959 and 1967 under their own name, and were also noted for backing up Dion on his post-Belmonts recordings—were looking for a new lead singer to replace original lead Stan Zizka. In 1968, Sperber was hosting her once a month Battle of the Bands talent search and brought Maestro along as the evening’s special guest.

It was suggested that Maestro be backed up that night by a seven-piece brass-filled group called The Rhythm Method. That performance was such a success that the next day Sperber decided to combine the talents of Maestro, the four Del-Satins, and The Rhythm Method. The new group’s name came after White made the comment that “it would be easier to sell the Brooklyn Bridge” than book the proposed 11-piece act.

Their first release, a version of the Jimmy Webb song “Worst That Could Happen” reached No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart. It sold over one and a quarter million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. The follow-up, “Welcome Me Love”, and its flip side, “Blessed is the Rain” each reached the Top 50. A dramatic version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and the controversial “Your Husband, My Wife” also reached the middle ranges of the charts. The group sold over 10 million records by 1972.

The Brooklyn Bridge was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame in 2005. They were inducted into the South Carolina Music (Rhythm & Blues) Hall of Fame in May 2006 and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006. Johnny Maestro died in 2010 from cancer at age 70 and Freddy Ferrara died in 2011 from a cardiac arrest. Following the deaths of Maestro and Ferrara, original member Joe Ruvio returned, and the group recruited new lead Joe Esposito. The Current Brooklyn Bridge Band consists of Joe Esposito, Les Cauchi, Joe Ruvio, keyboards and vocals Marty D’Amico, bass and vocals Jimmy Rosica, guitarist Jim Sarle and drummer Lou Agiesta.