Johnny (John Charles) was born in the North Bronx, New York September 13, 1943.
He enrolled in Cliffside Park Junior High School, New Jersey and was
graduated in June of 1958.
Rock īnī Roll singer 1959 - 1978 with recordings:
RCA 1959-1960 1963-1964
Airmail, Boy Crazy, Breaks Of The Game, But I Love You, Collecting Girls,
Come Closer, Dear Someone, For Real! No Fooling, Free*, Girl Scout,
Give A Little Whistle, High School Play, I Am, I Canīt Take It, I Like Girls,
I Looked For Love, I Make The Love, Itīs A Breeze, I Wonna Play House With You,
Jealous, Last Night On The Back Porch, Letīs Go, Look Around, Love,
Our Wedding Day, Paper Doll, Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad, The Shape Iīm In,
The Thing, To Love (La Paloma), Two Crazy Kids, When Strangers Meet, Ya Ya.
* written by Johnny Restivo
20th FOX 1961
Doctor Love, Looka Here Now, Sweet Sweet Lovinī, The Magic Age Is Seventeen.
EPIC 1962
My Reputation, You Canīt Turn Back The Clock.
CBS
Go Go Eskimo, Smarty.
CAMEO 1966
Iīm Just A Boy (Looking For A Girl), Suzanne.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
RCA Victor in Alan Freedīs 5th Anniversary Show 1959
RCA Victor in The Billboard Music Sept. 28, 1959
RCA Victor in Lee Gordon presents All American Rock Spectacular! Jan. 27-28,
1960
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Alan Freedīs
1959
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The Billboard Sept. 28, 1959 |
Lee Gordon 1960 |
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BANNER:
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RCA Victor |
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FAN CLUB MEMBERSHIP CARDS:
MAGAZINE COVERS:
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| TRIM Aug. 1959 |
Music VENDOR
Aug.3 1959 |
Tomorrowīs Man Nov.
1959 |
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US |
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16 MAGAZINE
June 1960 |
Male MODEL
PARADE |
ecran Jan. 1962 |
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Chile |
PICTURES:
RCA Victor
PROGRAMS/POSTERS:
Alan Freedīs 5th Anniversary Show, 1959
The Performers Actors: Jackie Wilson, Lloyd Price, Jimmy Clanton,
Dion and The Belmonts, Bo Diddley, Jo-Ann Campbell, The Skyliners,
The Crests, Johnny Restivo, The Mystics, Johnny October, Bobby Lewis,
The Tempos, Valerie Carr, Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks and
the Rock īN Roll Orchestra featuring Sam (The Man) Taylor and Georgie Auld.
Alan Freedīs Christmas Jubilee, December 25, 1959
The Performers Actors: Jackie Wilson, Bobby Rydell, Bo Doddley, The Isely Brothers,
Santo and Johnny, The Skyliners, Johnny Restivo, Tommy Facenda,
Billy "Crash" Craddoch, Teddy Randazzo, The Wheels, The Knockouts, Linda Laurie,
The Passions, Georgie Auld, Earl Warren, Sam (The Man) Taylor and
The Big Beat Band featuring Sam (The Man) Taylor, Georgie Auld, Earl Warren
Lee
Gordon presents All American Rock
Spectacular! Jan. 27-28, 1960
The Performers Actors: Duane Eddy, Johnny Restivo, Billy "Crash" Craddock,
The
Diamonds, Eddie Cochran, Santo & Johnny Farina and Dig Richards.
The Biggest Yet! April 29, 1960
The Performers Actors: Johnny and the Hurricanes, Beatnik Fly,
Danny Valentino, Rod Lauren, Dick Caruso, Gary Stites, Johnny Restivo,
Nicky DeMatteo, Harold Dorman and The Midwest Caravan.
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Alan
Freedīs |
Lee Gordon |
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Australia |
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The Biggest Yet! |
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SHEETS MUSIC:
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| The Shape Iīm In |
The Shape Iīm In |
The Magic Age Is Seventeen |
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You Canīt Turn Back The Clock |
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RECORDS:
MASTER 45 r.p.m.
Audiodisc # L2PB 1203 US: High School Play - Jan.11, 1960
DEMONSTRATION 45 r.p.m.
RCA K2PB 3874 GB: The Shape Iīm In/-
RCA K2PB 5553 GB: Dear Someone/-
RCA K2PB 5556 GB: I Like Girls/-
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| RCA K2PB 3874 |
RCA K2PB 5553 |
RCA K2PB 5556 |
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GB |
GB |
SINGLE 45 r.p.m.
RCA Victor 47-7559 US: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 47-7601 US: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA Victor 47-7636 US: Come Closer/Our Wedding Day
RCA Victor 47-7697 US: High School Play/But I Love You
RCA Victor 47-7758 US: I Canīt Take It/Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad
RCA Victor 47-7818 US: Two Crazy Kids/Give A Little Whistle
RCA Victor 61-7559 Stereo US: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 61-7601 Stereo US: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA Victor 47-7559 Canada: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 47-7601 Canada: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA URC-1176 Canada: The Shape Iīm In/Love Or Let Me Be Lonely(by
Friends of Distinction)
RCA 47-7601 Denmark: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA 1143 GB: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA 1159 GB: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA 2722 GB: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA GOLD 003 England: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA GOLD 525 England: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA OG 9623 UK: The Shape Iīm In/Makinī Love(by Floyd Robinson)
RCA 47-7601 Germany: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA 61-7559 Stereo Germany: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA OLD-25024 Holland: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Italiana 45N 0890 Italy: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Italiana 45N 0907 Italy: I Like Girls/Dear Someone
RCA Italiana 45N 1003 Italy: Last Night On The Back Porch/Free
RCA Italiana 45N 1008 Italy: Come Closer/Our Wedding Day
RCA Italiana 45N 1061 Italy: But I Love You/High School Play
RCA 3-10060 Spain: Me Gustan Las Chicas(I Like Girls)/
Alguien Querido(Dear Someone)
RCA 3-10066 Spain: Ya Ya/Soy Asi(The Shape Iīm In)
RCA 3-10078 Spain: But I Love You/High School Play
RCA 3-10083 Spain: I Canīt Take It/Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad
RCA 10764 Australia: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA 10793 Australia: I Like Girls/Dear Someone
RCA 10836 Australia: Come Closer/Our Wedding Day
RCA 10860 Australia: High School Play/But I Love You
RCA 10915 Australia: Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad/I Canīt Take It
RCA 4/60142 New Zealand: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA 4/60183 New Zealand: Come Closer/Our Wedding Day
RCA 4/60187 New Zealand: But I Love You/High School Play
RCA 4/60210 New Zealand: Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad/I Canīt Take It
RCA Victor 41.710 South Africa: When Strangers Meet
RCA Victor 41A-2103 Argentina: Me Gustan Las Chicas(I Like Girls)/
Pero Yo Te Quiero(But I Love You)
RCA Victor 84-0084 Brazil: I Like Girls/Dear Someone
RCA Victor 84-0089 Brazil: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 47-7559 Chile: Mirame Como Estoy(The Shape Iīm In)/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 47-7601 Chile: Alguien Querido(Dear Someone)/
Me Gustan Las Mujeres(I Like Girls)
RCA Victor 61-7559 Chile: Mirame Como Estoy(The Shape Iīm In)/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 76-802 Mexico: Ya Ya/Come Closer
RCA Victor SS-1186 Japan: The Shape Iīm In/Dear Someone
RCA Victor SS-1199 Japan: Come Closer/Goodnight My Love(by Ray Peterson)
RCA Victor SS-1202 Japan: Boy Crazy/I Like Girls
RCA Victor SS-1208 Japan: Last Night On The Back Porch/Our Wedding Day
RCA Victor 47-7601 Philippines: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
20th FOX # 260 US: Looka Here Now/Sweet Sweet Lovinī
20th FOX # 279 US: Doctor Love/The Magic Age Is Seventeen
Ember EMB S135: Looka Here Now/Sweet, Sweet Lovin
EPIC 5-9537 US: My Reputation/You Canīt Turn Back The Clock
45 Columbia SCMQ-1610 Italy: My Reputation/You Canīt Turn Back The Clock
CBS SSC 435 South Africa: Go Go Eskimo/Smarty
CAMEO 416 US: Suzanne/Iīm Just A Boy (Looking For A Girl)
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RCA Victor 84-0089
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RCA Victor
SS-1199
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RCA Victor SS-1202
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Brazil
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Japan
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Japan
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RCA Victor SS-1208
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20th FOX #
260
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20th FOX #
279
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Japan
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US
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US
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SINGLE 78 r.p.m.
RCA 20-7559 Canada: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA 20-7601 Canada: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA 1143 GB: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA 71.273 South Africa: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA 71.281 South Africa: Come Closer/Our Wedding Day
RCA 71.290 South Africa: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA 71.311 South Africa: High School Play/But I Live You
RCA Victor 1A-2103 Argentina: Me Gustan Las Chicas (I Like Girls)/
Pero Yo Te Quiero (But I Love You)
RCA Victor 82-1337 Brazil: I Like Girls/Dear Someone
RCA Victor 82-1356 Brazil: Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad/I Canīt Take It
RCA Victor 82-1389 Brazil: Give A Little Whistle/Two Crazy Kids
RCA Victor 1A-2103 Uruguay: Me Gustan Las Chicas (I Like Girls)/
Pero Yo Te Quiero (But I Love You)
RCA Victor 20-6071 Philippine: Last Night On The Back Porch/Love
RCA Victor 20-7559 Philippine: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
RCA Victor 20-7601 Philippine: Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA Victor 20-7697 Philippine: High School Play/But I Love You
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| RCA 1143 |
RCA 71.281 |
RCA Victor 1A-2103
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South
Africa |
Argentina
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| RCA Victor
82-1337 |
RCA Victor
82-1389 |
RCA Victor 1A-2103
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Brazil |
Uruguay
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EP
RCA 75.542 France: The Shape Iīm In/YaYa/Dear Someone/I Like Girls
RCA 75.568 France: For Real! No Fooling/Love/Come Closer/Boy Crazy
Johnny Restivo With Friends RCA EPA-9674 Germany: The Shape Iīm In/
Ya Ya/The Ringinī And The Swinginī (by Budd McCoy)/
Makinī Love(by Floyd Robinson)
Oh Johnny! RCA EPA-9717 Germany: Last Night On The Back Porch/Love/
Look Around/Boy Crazy
Oh Johnny! RCA EPA30-373 Italy: Last Night On The Back Porch/Love/
Boy Crazy/But I Love You
Oh Johnny! RCA 3-20268 Spain: Amor/Ayer En El Porche/Mira Alrededor/
Acercate/Quiero Jugar Contigo
Oh Johnny! RCA Victor EP 20635 Australia: I Like Girls/
Last Night On The Back Porch/I Wanna Play House With You/
The Shape Iīm In
Oh Johnny! RCA Victor AVE-334 Argentina: Me Gustan Las Chicas (I Like Girls)/
Amor (Love)/Acercate (Come Closer)/
Quiero Jugar A Las Casitas Contigo (I Wanna Play House With You)
I Like Girls! (Gosto De Garôtas) RCA Victor 584-5076 Brazil: I Like Girls/
I Canīt Take It/Dear Someone/Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad
Oh Johnny! RCA Victor AVE-334 Uruguay: Me Gustan Las Chicas(I Like Girls)/
Amor(Love)/Acercate(Come Closer)/
Quiero Jugar A Las Casitas Contigo(I Wanna Play House With You)
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| RCA 75.542 |
RCA 75.568 |
RCA EPA-9674 |
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France |
Germany |
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| RCA EPA-9717 |
RCA Italiana
EPA 30-373 |
RCA 3-20268 |
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Italy |
Spain |
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| RCA Victor EP
20635 |
RCA Victor
AVE-334 |
RCA Victor
584-5076 |
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Argentina |
Brazil |
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RCA Victor
AVE-334 |
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Uruguay |
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EP COMPILATION
BMI 1826 Germany: The Shape Iīm In/Charmaine(by Bill Haley)/Blue Bayou
(by Roy Orbison)/Lana(by Roy Orbison)
LP
Oh Johnny! RCA LPM-2149 Mono US/Mono Canada (2 different LPs): I Like Girls/
Dear Someone/Love/Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/
Come Closer/I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/
The Thing/Boy Crazy/For Real! No Fooling
Oh Johnny! RCA LSP-2149 Stereo US: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling
Oh Johnny! RCA 430.314 Mono France: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling
Oh Johnny! RCA LPM-2149 Italy: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/ Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling
Oh Johnny! RCA L10832 Mono Australia: Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling/I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around
Oh Johnny! ultra 1029 Mono Australia: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/The Shape Iīm In/
I Canīt Take It/Come Closer/I Wanna Play House With You/
Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/For Real! No Fooling/Ya Ya/
Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad
Oh Johnny! RCA RPL. 3157 Mono New Zealand: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porsh/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling
Oh Johnny! RCA 31.303 Mono South Africa: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling
Spotlight on Johnny Restivo RCA 31.855 Mono South Africa: Airmail/To Love/
Letīs Go/When Strangers Meet/Paper Doll/I Make The Love/
Collecting Girls/Breaks Of The Game/Itīs A Breeze/I Am/Jealous/
Girl Scout
Oh Johnny! RCA LPM-2149 Mono Brazil: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The BackPorch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/
Boy Crazy/For Real! No Fooling
The Shape Iīm In Bear Family Records BFX 14171 Germany 1985:
The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya/ I Like Girls/Girl Scout/I Make The Love/
I Wanna Play House With You/The Thing/Thatīs Good - Thatīs Bad/
Last Night At The Back Porch/Come Closer/Dear Someone/
I Looked For Love/Our Wedding Day/High School Play/Boy Crazy/
Jealous
N. B. "Bear Family" writes that Girl Scout/I Make The Love/Jealous and I Looked For
Love would be unissued in 1984. This is not correct. The first 3 songs were issued
20 years earlier in South Africa at the LP RCA 31.855.
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| RCA LPM-2149 |
RCA LSP-2149 |
RCA LPM-2149 |
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US |
Canada |
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| RCA 430.314 |
RCA LPM-2149 |
RCA L10832 |
| France |
Italy |
Australia |
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| ultra 1029 |
RCA RPL. 3157 |
RCA 31.303 |
| Australia |
New
Zealand |
South Africa |
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| RCA 31.855 |
RCA LPM-2149 |
BFX 14171 |
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Africa |
Brazil |
Germany |
LP COMPILATION
Juke-Box Favourites Vol. 1 St*r-Shine 47 03 13 USA: #2:9 Love
24 Top Oldies Vol.4 RCA 43554 Germany: #1:4 The Shape Iīm In
20 Great Oldies Iīll always remenber Volume 3 REQUEST Records R.R.L.P. 003
Holland: #2:7 The Shape Iīm In
Club Records present... Solid Jive vol.2 SJLP002 Spain or England:
#2:9 The Shape Iīm In
Graffiti USA (Vol. 1) RCA CL 42347 Sweden: #3:8 The Shape Iīm In
Graffiti USA Vol. 2 RCA CL 42913 Sweden: #3:6 I Wanna Play House With You
3KZ Six oīcock Rock Album RCA VAL1 0340 Australia: #2:4 The Shape Iīm In
Rockīn Roll `60 RCA Victor Estereo 104.4081 Brazil: #2:2 I Like Girls
The Rocking-Jiving-King (vol.2) Be-Bop Records BB 0200: #2:5 For Real! No Fooling
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| St*r-Shine 47 03 13 |
RCA 43554 |
REQUEST
R.R.L.P. 003 |
| US |
Germany |
Holland |
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| SJLP002 |
RCA CL
42347 |
RCA CL 42913 |
| Spain or England |
Sweden |
Sweden |
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| RCA
VAL1 0340 |
RCA 104.4081 |
BB 0200 |
| Australia |
Brazil |
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CD
Oh Johnny! RCA Victor 74321 29858 2 EC: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling
Oh Johnny! South Bay 2149 Japan: The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya/I Like Girls/
I Wanna Play House With You/Thatīs Good, Thatīs Bad/
Last Night At The Back Porch/Come Closer/Dear Someone/
Our Wedding Day/High School Play/Boy Crazy/The Thing
The Shape Iīm In TEEN SOUNDS RECORDS Inc. TSR 59 633 Canada:
The Shape Iīm In/Love/I Like Girls/I Wanna Play House With You/
For Real! No Fooling/The Thing/Last Night On The Back Porch/
Dear Someone/Free/Come Closer/Look Around/Our Wedding Day/
Boy Crazy/I Make The Love/Thatīs Good, Thatīs Bad/Girl Scout/
I Looked For Love/Jealous/Ya Ya/High School Play/Give A Little Whistle/
Two Crazy Kids/The Magic Age Is Seventeen/Doctor Love/
The Shape Iīm In(Single Version)
Oh Johnny! RCA 31.303 South Africa: I Like Girls/Dear Someone/Love/
Last Night On The Back Porch/Free/Look Around/Come Closer/
I Wanna Play House With You/Our Wedding Day/The Thing/Boy Crazy/
For Real! No Fooling/The Shape Iīm In/Ya Ya
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| RCA 74321 29858 2 |
South Bay 2149 |
TSR 59633 |
| EC |
Japan |
Canada |
CD COMPILATION
The Jukebox Collection Oh Boy - The Sound Of The ī50īs Old Gold OG 3720
England 1989: #5 The Shape Iīm In
Letīs Go Jivinī To Rock and Roll Bear Family Records BCD 15533 Germany
1990: #10 The Shape Iīm In
Rock Era 3 RCA ECD 1083 Argentina 1993: #26 Acércate(Come Closer)
Jukebox Hits 1959 Vol. 4 Jukebox CD 9359/4 1993: #26 The Shape Iīm In
Rare "Boppin" Oldies And More... Volume 1 SVP 001 Belgium 1993 or 1994:
#19 Last Night On The Back Porch
Juke Box Party Vol.3 Century CDR 11134 Canada 1994: #13 The Shape Iīm In
Pirate Radio - 50īs Obscure US 1994: #6 The Shape Iīm In
40 Anos de Rock NīRoll RCA 74321 23453-2 Brazil 1994: #15 The Shape Iīm In
Hard To Get Hits Volume 3 Columbia 474997 2 Australia 1994: #3 The Shape Iīm In
Treasured Tunes Stardust CD-1015 Canada 1995: #8 The Shape Iīm In
Juke Box Party Vol. 3 Century 11128 Canada 1995: #13 The Shape Iīm In
RCAīs Greatest One-Hit Wonders RCA 07863 66881-2 US 1996:
#4 The Shape Iīm In
The Golden Age Of American Rock īnī Roll Volyme 6 ace CDCHD 650 UK 1997:
#14 The Shape Iīm In
RockīnīRoll Complete Volume 5 EMI Music Australasia 7243 8 1471920
Australia 1997: #10 The Shape Iīm IN
Rock īnī Roll Jive Set Discs 3&4 CD026 Holland 1997: #3:27 The Shape Iīm In
Lost Male Hits Of The 50īs Taragon TARCD-1038 US 1998: #13 The Shape Iīm In
Rock īNī Roll Hop teenage style CDCAR 200 Belgium 1999: #10 The Shape Iīm In/
#20 Love
Rock īNī Roll from the vaults Volume One: Rockabilly RCA Victor 74321 754062
EC 2000: #3 The Shape Iīm In
Rock and Roll Complete Volume 2 Disc Four EMI Music Australasia
7243 5 283922 3 Australia 2000: #16 I Like Girls
East Coast Teen Party Volume 2 ECM CD222 England: #15 The Shape Iīm In
Party - Fox Folge 5 BMG 74321 78542 2 EU 2000:
#2:8 Last Night On The Back Porch
Jerry Williams Väljer Århundradets Rocklåtar Volume 2 Stockholm Records
013 065-2 Sweden 2001: #22 The Shape Iīm In
Hits von Dambmannīs Raupenbahn Hamburg GEMA TT6002 Luxemburg 2004:
#23 The Shape Iīm In
Antología Sammy Salvo & Johnny Restivo BMG 82876 55371-2 Chile 2004:
#12 I Like Girls/#13 Dear Someone/#14 Love/
#15 Last Night On The Back Porch/#16 Look Around/
#17 Come Closer/#18 I Wanna Play House With You/
#19 The Shape Iīm In
Ljuva Rock 'N' Roll 1955-1963 Sony Music Entertainment (Sweden) AB COL 519314 2
Sweden 2004: #1:04 The Shape Iīm In
Teenage Love Vol 3 1003: # 27 The Shape Iīm In
The Singles - Original Single Compilation Of The Year 1959 Vol. 2 ARC records 5902
#11 The Shape Iīm In/#12 Ya Ya
Rock and Roll Dance Party Vol 4 RRDP 04: #2 The Shape Iīm In 2008-09-24
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| OLD GOLD OG 3720 |
BCD 15533 |
RCA ECD 1083 |
| England |
Germany |
Argentina |
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| Jukebox CD 9359/4 |
SVP 001 |
CDR 11134 |
| ? |
Belgium |
Canada |
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| Pirate Radio |
Columbia
474997 2 |
Stardust
CD-1015 |
| US |
Australia |
Canada |
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| Century 11128 |
RCA 07863 66881-2 |
ace CDCHD 650 |
| Canada |
US |
UK |
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| EMI 7243 8 1471920 |
JIVE SET CD026 |
TARAGON TARCD-1038 |
| Australia |
Holland |
US |
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| CAR 200 |
RCA Victor 74321 754062 |
EMI 7243 5 283922 3 |
| Belgium |
EC |
Australia |
THE STORY
Johnny and his 9 years younger brother Gerard were sons of Jack and Jeanette
Restivo. In 1959 Johnny was discovered by Joe Mulhall AKA Ken Griffin and
Paul Neff and in June 9, 1959 he recorded "The Shape Iīm In" and "Ya, Ya" at
RCA only 15 years old with Paul Simon AKA Jerry Landis playing his guitar.
Joe Mulhall studied applied public relations at Boston University and his task
was to create a concept or a product, market it and make it work if he want an
"A" in this course. Johnny was signed to a long-term $200.000 contract with
RCA Victor Records, the #1 label in the industry. Mulhall also booked Johnny
into Alan Freedīs 5th Anniversary Show for ten days - two shows a day and he
was "Special Guest Star Johnny Restivo" and Mulhall got his "A". Johnny was
neither "The Most Perfectly Proportioned Teenager in America, 1958" nor
"Junior Mr. America". This was only a component of Mulhallīs marketing.
Another erroneous news-item from this time was that Johnny would bought
his folks a home in Monroe, New York. Johnny didnīt buy the house for his
parents, but he just helped with the down payment in 1960.
In 1959 Johnny was also nominated for "Best New Artist" at 2nd Grammy
Awards along with Edd Byrnes, Bobby Darin, Mark Murphy and Mavis Rivers.
The magazine Hollywood Stars Annual had nominated for "Stardom" James
Darren, Andy Williams, Johnny Restivo, Rod Lauren, Paul Evans, Troy Donohue,
Mark Goddard, Frankie Avalon, Allen Case and Don Durant.
Now Johnny got Dee Anthony as his new manager but Dee handled Tony
Bennett too. Dee was so busy with Bennett so he barely had time for Johnny
and this was a bad mistake to Johnny.
In 1960-1961 Johnny was on tour in Australia. He played in Sydney, Melbourne,
Canberra and Perth as well as many other places while there. From there he also
had engagements in South America, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Belgium. While
in Argentina he hosted his own variety television show called "The Johnny
Restivo Show". The program was on the air for 3 years from 1961-1963 and was
sponsored by the Coca Cola Company and Johnny was very sucessful in Brazil.
In 1960 there was no singer male or female who could match him. Not even
Elvis. All the songs of "Oh Johnny!" album were hits on the radio, there were
many covers of his songs recorded by Brazilian artists. Between 1962-1964
even while doing the television program Johnny found time to play at the South
American "Copa Cabana" club in Rio and the Waldorf in Santiago, Chile. He
also performed in Uruguay and Brazil.
Johnny went on tour beginning in 1963. His first country of this multi-country
tour was South Africa. He visited Kenya, Southern Rhodesia and Johannesburg.
This part of the tour lasted about 6 months. While in Johannesburg during 1963
-1964 he recorded an album on the RCA label entitled "Spotlight On Johnny
Restivo". In 1965 he went on to London, England where he performed at the
London Palladium as well as many other venues. During the years of 1965-1966
London became Johnnyīs home base for the next leg of his tour. From there he
spent 2 months touring Israel. One of the places he performed at was the
Caliph Club in Jaffa. He also had engagements in Eilat. Then it was on to
Italy for a multi-city tour working through the "Johnny Pangazio Agency".
After completion of the Italian segment of his tour he went on to Paris,
France for a short stay. In 1967 the final leg of the tour took him back home
to the USA. Once back home in New York City Johnny was represented by many
different agencies including the William Morris Agency. He mostly worked
nightclubs, resorts and cruises throughout the USA.
In 1969 Johnny was drafted into the United States Armed Forces. He did his
basic training in South Carolina and Advanced Infantry Training in El Paso,
Texas. He was then stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. He inquired about Special
Services, auditioned and was accepted into the 7th Army Soldiers Chorus.
Touring again but now for the US Army. He visited Germany, Austria, Holland,
Belgium and Italy.
In 1971 Johnny took a European discharge and remained in Europe for the next
6 months, after which he headed back home to the USA. In that same year Johnny
and Gerard began working together, Gerard as his drummer and musical director,
as he attempted to get his career back on track. They did primarily club dates,
hotels and resorts throughout America. They also travelled to Mexico and Puerto
Rico as well as playing cruises in the Caribbean.
During many of the recording sessions that were done in New York City, Gerard
was allowed to stay in the recording studio with Johnny or sit with the
drummers where he quitely would watch, listen and learn about show business
and the recording industry. It was in those very early years that Gerard
decided he was going to be in show business and more importantly that he was
going to work with his brother making music.
In 1978 Johnny formally ended his career in show business after a performance
at the Nevelle Hotel in the Catskill mountains town of Ellenville, New York.
During these years and beyond, Johnny has been married and divorced 4 times
and has 3 children from oldest to youngest: Kelli Hope, Darin and Brandon.
He has been in business for himself since 1981 with "Rockland Mattress",
which sells bedding, headboards and beds.
Johnny loves all kind of sports either as a participator or as a viewer. He was
captain of the P. A. L. basketball team when he was 14 years old, he also played
football when he was in the ninth grade at Cliffside Park Junior High School.
Among his favourites are swimming, water ski-ing, horseback riding, archery
and bodybuilding.
And in 2002, Johnny finds himself preparing to retire and move permanently
to the state of Florida (he always wanted to be in a warm climate). He now
spends most of his time playing golf and winding down.
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John and Gerard |
Johnīs Motorcycle |
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Party |
Graduation |
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Eddie Cochran Band |
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Iīm in great debt of gratitude to John and Gerard Restivo along with Ken Griffin
for all supports indeed.
Åsmund 2005-11-03
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Griffin, Ken: A Great Face For Radio, 2002
Chapter 3: How To Create a Rock Star
E-mail: nordahl @ telia.com 2001 - 2008
