Group Harmony Lives in Bergen County

From the mid-70’s until 2005, I regularly tuned in to Don K. Reed’s Doo Wop Shop on WCBS F.M., the station that kept the “oldies alive” by keeping them on-air. In the summer of 2005 when WCBS FM replaced the institution of D.J.’s, such as Don K. Reed and Cousin Brucie, with the DJ-Less formula of the “Jack Format,” the most revered of the tri-state area oldies stations was put to rest, and with it went its music. Into that void came D.J. Christine Vitale, host of WFDU FM’s Group Harmony Alley. Thanks to Chris, Doo-Wop is not only kept alive, it’s kept relevant.

What does this have to do with Fort Lee? Everything. I am proud to say that I attended Holy Trinity Elementary School in the Coytesville section of Fort Lee with Christine during the decade of the ‘70’s. When I recently caught up with her after all these years, it came as no surprise to discover that she is not only a D.J. (impressive enough) but a dominant force in a very male-oriented sector of the music industry.

In the mid-‘70’s, Christine was an integral force in helping me establish my musical taste. She turned my attention away from the Bee Gees and onto Blondie, whose dark undertones struck a chord in my impressionable mind. Christine taught that you don’t listen to Blondie, you feel Blondie. She predicted, rightly so, that the sound of Blondie, and other bands rising to the surface of my consciousness, bands that could not neatly be classified into disco or rock-n-roll, would change the sound of music forever.

It wasn’t until much later in my life that I came to realize, and appreciate, that the music Christine was turning me on to were bands coming out of the New York punk scene that lyrically and musically turned mainstream music on its head. Christine’s passion for music and her keen ear for recognizing new trends in music, trends that ultimately surmounted “trendiness,” was an amazing talent for a pre-teen. And a sign that at a very early age she had found her niche.

A true music connoisseur, Christine was always open-minded when it came to sound. Her immersion into Doo Wop began in the 1980’s when she listened to WCBS FM and wanted to learn about the origins of Doo Wop. Her quest led her to study with Doo Wop Master Ronnie Italiano, founder of United in Group Harmony Association, a group dedicated to keeping alive the rhythm and blues vocal groups from the 1940’s-1960’s.  Realizing the influence that the largely urban roots of Doo Wop had on the musical styles that followed, Christine began to teach seminars on the history of R&B Doo Wop to audiences of all ages, and to acappella groups who wanted to capture the sound of that musical era.

From 1989 to 1994 Christine served as Ronnie I’s co-host on his radio program Ronnie I’s R&B Party that aired on public radio WNYE/91.5 FM and on Ronnie I Just For U that aired on commercial radio WNWK/105.9 FM. This training eventually led Christine to WFDU where she currently hosts Group Harmony Alley.   

This past Thursday, Christine invited me to a fundraiser for WFDU that she organized at Mexicali Live featuring top Doo Wop, or Group Harmony, acappella bands The Vic Donna Group from Brooklyn, Quiet Storm from Philadelphia, The Larkings from Brooklyn, The Magic Touch from Westchester, The Expressions from Staten Island, and the Brooklyn legends, The Persuasions. Despite the torrential rain the house was packed to standing room only.

I was blown away by the harmonies each of these groups, all with their own signature style and sound, put forth.  On the wings of a capella the entire audience was swept back into another time and place; all that was missing was an empty lot with a fire burning from an oil drum around which all the guys sang. Talk about coming in from the rain to find a dry spot!

It’s easy to forget about music that has been displaced by the tastes of a new generation, but listening to Group Harmony is a powerful experience. In it you can see the roots of rap, a style that took the influence of R&B to an entirely new level. Because every voice in Group Harmony is its own instrument there is no barrier between the singers and the audience; it’s as close as you can come to musical purity. And thanks to Christine Vitale, these groups and their music have a home every Sunday evening on WFDU/89.1 FM.   

Not many of us have the courage, or wherewithal, to follow our young passions into an adult career, but Christine did. Some of us dream of a life in the arts, particularly music, but it takes true discipline and courage to actually stay with your passion, weather the slow climb up, and turn it into a career that has the power to infect a new generation with an old sound to ensure that it never goes out of style. To be heard is to be relevant.  

Tune in to Fort Lee’s own Christine Vitale and Group Harmony Alley every Sunday evening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on WFDU 89.1 FM, or streamline it on the web. You won’t be sorry.