Take some oldies but goodies, mix in some modern day street corner harmonies and then stir it up with a contagious sense of fun, frolic and good times and you have the world-renown Showvinistics! This group of vocal-coinsures has been Rochester, New York’s premiere acappella groups for nearly two decades and is an experience filled with all the spirit and showmanship manifested by their favorite 50s R&B groups. Founding members, Dave DeLuca and Dan Guilfoyle assembled a group together to sing for a charitable event in 1982, and chose the name Showvinistics as a parody of early singing group names, the rest is Doo Wop ,Rock and Roll, and Acappella history.
Through the years, the Showvinistics have opened for a "Who's Who" of Rock 'N' Roll including the Beach Boys, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the Stylistics, Chuck Berry, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Danny & the Juniors, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Del Shannon, Bobby Rydell, Ricky Nelson, the Neville Brothers, Temptations, Persuasions, Isley Brothers, Drifters, Three Dog Night, Grass Roots, Manhattans, Chiffons, Cadillacs, Spaniels, Del Vikings, Shirelles, Otis Day and the Nights and many more.
Their repertoire of more than 140 songs from the 50s, 60s and 70’s has been performed at a variety of functions, festivals and fundraisers. From the openings of Frontier Field and the Rochester Convention Center, to the stages of the Lilac Festival, the Eastman Theater, Fingerlakes Performing Arts Center and Symphony Space in NYC; this all-male quintet has entertained audiences with their unique harmonies and style. Always a favorite at private parties and corporate functions, the Showvinistics have performed monthly for the last eight years at The Red Osier Landmark in Stafford, N.Y.
The Showvinistics released their first CD, "Heart of Saturday Night" in 1999 on the Forevermore Records (still listed at Mainly Acappella). They hit the Carolina Beach Music Top 10 in 2000 with a song from the album, "Maybe Baby". This song also ended up as the number 49 song on the year's ending Beach Music Top 50.
They have sung the National Anthem at Jacobs Field (Indians-Tigers), Camden Yards (Orioles-Toronto) and Ralph Wilson Stadium (Bills-Raiders) as well as the Canadian National Anthem at the 2001 International League Baseball All Star Game, and appeared on the PBS Special "Fifty Years of Doo Wop", which was aired locally in Rochester by WXXI TV.
In April 2000, their “Heart of Saturday Night” CD won Contemporary Acappella Society of America awards in two (2) doo wop categories: Best Single ("December '63" - "Oh What a Night") and runner up to the Persuasions for Best Doo Wop Album of 2000. These CARA (Contemporary Acappella Recording Award) recognitions earned the group an invitation to sing with the Bill Pinckney Drifters, the Contours and the Velvelettes at the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland for the Hall's "Tribute to Black Music". The group was also invited to perform at the Sing Acappella convention in Nashville, Tennessee.This three day convention featured groups from around the world, and a group from New Zealand paid tribute to the Showvinistics by performing songs from the Heart Of Saturday Night CD in their hotel lobby.
In 2002, the Showvinistics released a medley of Jimmy Reed tunes (Baby What You Want Me To Do/Bright Lights, Big City) which received enthusiastic air play on the Beach Music stations of the Carolinas and remained on the charts for nearly two years (it was featured on the Forevermore release “Going Back To Morehead City” FVR5017-2).
In 2003, the group opened for an enthusiastic audience at Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center at a show featuring Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, the Charlie Thomas' Drifters , Shirley Alston's Shirelles, Little Peggy March and Danny and the Juniors featuring Joe Terry.
In 2005 the group released their Sophomore cd entitled “My Heart” FVR 4617, which contains classic acappella renditions of “Tell Me Why”, “I Go To Pieces”, “Once In Awhile”, and “Tonight”, among others and new songs with instrumental backing such as the classic “Jimmy Reed Medley” , “Ms. Grace” (originally performed by the Tymes) as well as the title track “My Heart”. Each song features the intricate harmonies and ear-catching melodies that will have the listerner singing along to every song. 12 tracks in all of pure fun and enjoyment!
This group of talented guys, together for the last 19 years, consists of:
Brian McCarthy, lead singer, an Assistant U.S. Attorney whose outstanding vocal range complements his soulful interpretation of a song.
Dave DeLuca, an attorney, who sings the middle harmonies and delivers much of the personality and showmanship to a Showvinistics performance.
Don Stothard, a marketing executive with Eastman Kodak, and also a certified judge in the International Barbershop Singing Society, who contributes the high harmonies, occasional leads and years of barbershop quartet singing and judging experience to the group.
Tom Nasman, a recently retired Kodak engineer, who also brings extensive experience to the group from his many years with barbershop quartets and gospel ensembles, also with some leads, singing the low notes, the high notes, and whatever is left over.
Dan Guilfoyle, the bass, a radio advertising executive, long time disc jockey and music historian whose extensive knowledge of rock and roll history, especially doo wop and R&B is matched only by his extensive collection of over 150,000 records.
The Showvinistics www.showvinistics.com