Around midnight, as Friday was slipping into Saturday, I put on the recording of that magic moment in New Haven history. I heard, yes, “Sha-doo, shoo-be-doo…” This was the perfect way to commemorate it all, the amazing life of Fred Parris. He and the rest of the Five Satins continued to sing, with Fred in the lead: “In the still of the night, I held you, held you tight…”
Ironically I sent Fred a note and some pictures to autograph about a month ago to the address I had for him in Hamden. I met him years ago in the bank I worked at at the time. I was listening to him singing when my grandchildren stopped at our house, I was playing "In the Still of the Night" on 'Alexa'. One of my grandsons (18) asked about the song and I told him he recorded this legendary song in 1956 when I was a sophomore at Notre Dame. They were all curious about Fred so I printed some pictures off the internet and sent them out to him. I never received them back. I didn't know he was ill, maybe that's why, or I had the wrong address. In any case I wish I acted sooner. May he Rest in Peace and his song live forever.
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to him and to their music. In the still of the night was one of the biggest hits I grew up with and it is a song behind my first romance. I had no idea he lived in Hamden or were even from Connecticut. Our state our town really needs to do more to get the word out on people that have made major contributions in their respective fields. I wonder if I ever ran into him not knowing it was him I would have loved to have told him how meaningful his music was for me.
How I remember, I'm almost 80 now and being a kid in the "50's" with all of those beautiful songs playing on the radio every week and than along came In The Still of The Night ...WOW!
The most requested New Years Eve song for decades finally surpassed by The Beatles.
Went to St. Bernadette's when Fred an Vinny where there and stood right where the group sang the song it's all still the same, the piano, the alcove and the very walls.
Do "I remember" and every once in awhile the song just comes tumbling out and a big smile lights up my face.
Thanks for your memories. When I interviewed Vinny Mazzetta about 10 years ago, we went to that church basement and he played his solo for me! Still it was beautiful.
Thanks Randall for sharing the back story about the locale legend, Fred Parris. I remember- "In the still of the night..." I never knew the 5 Satins were from New Haven!
You have a knack for spotlighting our locale treasures. Thanks for celebrating Fred and his music.
Randall, thanks for the memories. Those were great days In New Haven.
Ironically I sent Fred a note and some pictures to autograph about a month ago to the address I had for him in Hamden. I met him years ago in the bank I worked at at the time. I was listening to him singing when my grandchildren stopped at our house, I was playing "In the Still of the Night" on 'Alexa'. One of my grandsons (18) asked about the song and I told him he recorded this legendary song in 1956 when I was a sophomore at Notre Dame. They were all curious about Fred so I printed some pictures off the internet and sent them out to him. I never received them back. I didn't know he was ill, maybe that's why, or I had the wrong address. In any case I wish I acted sooner. May he Rest in Peace and his song live forever.
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to him and to their music. In the still of the night was one of the biggest hits I grew up with and it is a song behind my first romance. I had no idea he lived in Hamden or were even from Connecticut. Our state our town really needs to do more to get the word out on people that have made major contributions in their respective fields. I wonder if I ever ran into him not knowing it was him I would have loved to have told him how meaningful his music was for me.
How I remember, I'm almost 80 now and being a kid in the "50's" with all of those beautiful songs playing on the radio every week and than along came In The Still of The Night ...WOW!
The most requested New Years Eve song for decades finally surpassed by The Beatles.
Went to St. Bernadette's when Fred an Vinny where there and stood right where the group sang the song it's all still the same, the piano, the alcove and the very walls.
Do "I remember" and every once in awhile the song just comes tumbling out and a big smile lights up my face.
Thank you Fred.
Thanks for your memories. When I interviewed Vinny Mazzetta about 10 years ago, we went to that church basement and he played his solo for me! Still it was beautiful.
Thanks Randall for sharing the back story about the locale legend, Fred Parris. I remember- "In the still of the night..." I never knew the 5 Satins were from New Haven!
You have a knack for spotlighting our locale treasures. Thanks for celebrating Fred and his music.