Doo Wop Fundraiser Aims To Buy New Chairs For Senior Citizens On LI

BABYLON, NY — A doo wop show show is coming to Babylon's Tanner Park this summer as a fundraising effort to purchase new folding chairs for regulars at the Tanner Park Senior Center.

The show is slated for Monday, June 16, in Tanner Park and will feature food and live music by legendary doo wop group, the Del-Satins.

But the show isn't just a reason to enjoy good music outdoors, it's serving as a fundraiser to help the senior center purchase around 135 chairs for the seniors who spend time at the center.

At $60 each, 135 chairs add up quickly.

Rob Towey, who enjoys Tanner Park daily with his dog, has befriended members of the senior center and said he'd love to see the organization get the help it needs—and the seniors get the comfortable, quality chairs they deserve.

"Many of the seniors already have physical issues and they're sitting every day on the same old broken chairs. Having a good chair to sit on isn't asking too much," Towey said. "My dog and I have walked the park every single day for the last 10 years. My dog is 13 years old and is in amazing shape because of the park, so I like to try and give back as much as I can. It's such a beautiful place."

For many of the seniors who spend time at Tanner Park, doo wop will be a flashback to another time.

The Del-Satins have a storied past in American music history. The group was formed in the late 1950s, with teenagers Stan Zizka, Fred Ferrara, his brother Tom Ferrara, Leslie Cauchi and Keith Koestner.

They rose to fame when singer and songwriter Dion, who had 39 Top 40 hits in the late '50s and early '60s, recruited the Del-Satins to sing backup on some of his most iconic hits, including "Runaround Sue," "Donna, Donna the Prima Donna, and "The Wanderer."

The group also had several hit singles of their own, including the hit, "Teardrops Follow Me." The Del-Satins disbanded in the early '60s when two members were drafted, one left the band two others kept singing. They reunited in 2011.

The doo wop show fundraiser is slated for Monday, June 16, in Tanner Park. Food will be available at 5:30 when the doors open and the show will kick off at 7 p.m. Admission is $45. For more information, contact the senior center at 631-842-7773.