Sha Na Na

Sha Na Na

Company type	Musical ensemble
Industry	Music, entertainment
Founded	1969
Founder	George Leonard
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Live performances, albums, television series

Sha Na Na was a United States-based ensemble specializing in the revival of rock and roll and doo-wop music, established in 1969. They gained recognition for their renditions of 1950s chart-toppers that both celebrated and satirized the musical style and urban culture of that era. Their breakthrough came after performing at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, an opportunity arranged through their acquaintance with Jimi Hendrix. Subsequently, they hosted the syndicated variety program Sha Na Na from 1977 until 1981.

Promoting themselves as originating "from the Streets of New York," members frequently donned gold lamé or leather jackets complemented by iconic pompadour or ducktail hairdos. The group's name is inspired by the nonsensical vocalizations ("sha na na na, sha na na na na") found in the track "Get a Job" by the Silhouettes.

The final roster featured founding performers Donny York and Jocko Marcellino, alongside veteran member Screamin' Scott Simon, who joined in 1970. Other original participants and television cast members had exited by this time.

Sha Na Na issued their last standard studio album in 2006 and later released compilation records. , they declared an end to their touring activities.

Career

Originated by George Leonard, then a humanities graduate student who also served as the group’s initial choreographer, Sha Na Na emerged in 1969 during the height of the hippie movement. Within five months of Leonard presenting his idea, leveraging their connection to Jimi Hendrix, they secured a performance slot at Woodstock, appearing just before Hendrix’s closing set.

Their Woodstock appearance was a standout moment that captivated and surprised attendees. Concluding with the 1957–58 chart-topping hit "At the Hop," they received enthusiastic applause and an encore request. Their presence in Michael Wadleigh's acclaimed Woodstock film catapulted them to nationwide recognition and ignited a wave of 1950s nostalgia influencing other artists and productions like Grease, American Graffiti, and Happy Days.

Initially formed from Columbia University’s a cappella group, the Columbia Kingsmen, they adopted the name Sha Na Na to avoid confusion with the Pacific Northwest band The Kingsmen. During this rebranding phase, George Leonard’s brother, Rob Leonard, took on bass vocals and leadership duties; his rendition of "Teen Angel" was later included in the 2009 Director’s Cut of the Woodstock documentary.

Their first manager was Ed Goodgold, who had pioneered trivia contests and co-authored Rock 'n' Roll Trivia, guiding Sha Na Na’s career in partnership with the William Morris Agency.

From 1969 through 1971, Sha Na Na performed at prestigious venues such as Fillmore East and West, supporting prominent acts including the Grateful Dead, Mothers of Invention, and the Kinks. When headlining shows themselves, Bruce Springsteen occasionally served as their opening act. In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono invited them to participate in their One-to-One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden.

The group appeared in the 1978 film Grease and reached peak popularity between 1977 and 1981 with their syndicated TV series Sha Na Na, which featured guest spots from artists like James Brown, the Ramones, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, the Ronettes, and Chubby Checker.

The original ensemble consisted of twelve members: Robert A. Leonard (bass vocals), Alan Cooper (bass vocals), Henry Gross (guitar), Jocko Marcellino (drums), Scott Powell (vocals), Donald York (vocals), Elliot Cahn (rhythm guitar), Rich Joffe (vocals), Dave Garrett (vocals), Joe Witkin (piano), Frederick Greene (vocals), and Bruce Clarke (electric bass). Their performances showcased three lead singers clad in gold lamé jackets alongside nine others dressed in greaser-style outfits. The album The Golden Age of Rock and Roll features a live recording where the lead vocalist proclaims rock and roll's lasting vitality. Their concerts routinely concluded with multiple encores; their finale shifted from "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" to "Goodnight Sweetheart" for television broadcasts. Notably, during an August 16, 1977 show in Toronto—coinciding with Elvis Presley’s passing—they performed "Hound Dog" as a homage.

It is said that East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmão derived his nickname from Sha Na Na.

TV series

From 1977 until 1981, Sha Na Na served as the hosts of the syndicated variety program Sha Na Na, which became one of the highest-rated shows in syndication. The series, produced by Pierre Cossette and distributed through LBS Communications, combined performances of popular songs from the 1950s and 1960s with comedic sketches. The group transformed their original "tough guys" stage persona into a humorous, self-mocking act for television while preserving their trademark 1950s-style musical and dance routines.

Episodes commonly began with a concert segment, followed by scenes set in locations such as streets and ice cream parlors where both the band and guest artists performed. The show featured comedic tunes like "Alley Oop" and "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh," often concluding with slower-paced songs presented in a concert format.

The supporting cast over the seasons included Avery Schreiber, Kenneth Mars, Philip Roth (season one), Pamela Myers, Jane Dulo, June Gable, Soupy Sales (seasons two through four), Michael Sklar (season two), and Karen Hartman (season four). Notable guest stars were Jan & Dean, Fabian, Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, The Ramones, Ethel Merman, Frank Gorshin, Dusty Springfield, Barbara Mandrell, Stephanie Mills, Billy Crystal, Kim Carnes, Danny and the Juniors, Connie Stevens, Isaac Hayes, Rita Moreno, Del Shannon, Andy Gibb, Barbi Benton, Frankie Avalon, among others.

During the show's run, the lineup consisted of Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (vocals), Lennie Baker (saxophone/vocals), Johnny Contardo (vocals), Denny Greene (vocals), Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride (guitar/vocals; departed after season three), Jocko Marcellino (drums/vocals), Dave "Chico" Ryan (bass/vocals), Screamin' Scott Simon (piano/vocals), Scott "Santini" Powell (vocals), and Donald "Donny" York (vocals). Each member received solo vocal features introduced by Pamela Myers’ voice-over using their nicknames or first names.

Film

Sha Na Na appeared as themselves in the documentaries Woodstock (1970) and Festival Express (2003).

They also played the role of Johnny Casino and the Gamblers in the 1978 movie Grease. Their contributions to the film's soundtrack included two tracks from the original 1971 musical: "Those Magic Changes" and "Born to Hand Jive," as well as four classic early rock-and-roll covers: Elvis Presley’s renditions of "Hound Dog" and "Blue Moon," the Imperials’ "Tears on My Pillow," and Danny & the Juniors' "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay." Additionally, "Sandy," performed by John Travolta in the film, was co-written by Sha Na Na’s Screamin' Scott Simon specifically for this production.

Former members

Listed chronologically:

• Donald "Donny" York (1969–2022): founding vocalist
• John "Jocko" Marcellino (1969–2022): founding drummer and vocalist
• Frederick "Dennis" Greene (1969–1984): founding vocalist
• Scott "Captain Outrageous" Powell (1969–1981): founding vocalist
• Richard "Joff" Joffe (1969–1973): founding vocalist
• Elliot "Gino" Cahn (1969–1973): original rhythm guitarist
• Bruce "Bruno" C. Clarke (1969–1973): original bass guitarist
• Alan Cooper (1969–1970, 1971): original bass singer
• Henry Gross (1969–1970, 1971): original lead guitarist
• David Garrett (1969–1970): original vocalist
• Robert A. Leonard (1969–1970): original vocalist
• Joe Witkin (1969–1970): original pianist
• Screamin' Scott Simon (1970–2022): pianist and vocalist
• Lennie Baker (1970–1999): saxophonist and vocalist
• Jon Bauman ("Bowzer") (1970–1983): bass singer
• Larry Packer (1970): lead guitarist
• Grover Kemble (1970): vocalist
• Billy Schwartz (1971): lead guitarist
• Vinnie Taylor (1971–1974): lead guitarist
• Johnny "Kid" Contardo (1971–1983): vocalist and dancer
• David "Chico" Ryan (1973–1998): bass guitarist replacing Bruce Clarke
• Elliott "Enrico Ronzoni" Randall (1974–1975): lead guitarist
• Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride (1975–1980): guitarist
• Glenn "Guitar Glenn" Jordan (1980–1986): guitarist
• Dora Pearson (1984–1988): female vocalist
• Guerin Barry ("Tito Mambo") (1984–1988): bass singer
• Kal David ("Casual Kal") (1984): bass vocalist
• Bryan "Mighty Joe" Cumming (1987–1989): guitarist
• Jimmy "June" Hun (1987): keyboardist
• Reggie Battise ("Reggie de Leon") (1989–2010): bass singer
• Pamela Day (1989–1991): second female vocalist
• George Paulos (1989–1990): guitarist, bassist, vocalist
• Jim Waldbillig ("Billy") (1990–2011): guitarist
• Rob Mackenzie (1990–2001): guitarist; succeeded by Buzz Campbell
• Lisa Sunstedt (1993–1995): third female vocalist
• Louie King (1995): bass guitarist
• Frankie Adell (1999–2005): saxophonist and vocalist
• George Sluppick (1999–2000): drummer
• Paul Kimbarow ("Paulie") (2002–2013): drummer
• Buzz Campbell (2002–2006): guitarist; replaced Rob Mackenzie
• Michael Brown ("Downtown Michael Brown") (2005–2021): saxophonist and vocalist
• Tim Butler (2006, 2009, 2011–2022): bass guitarist
• Gene Jaramillo (2006–2022): guitarist; succeeded Buzz Campbell
• Randy Hill ("Rockin' Randy") (2008–2022): lead guitarist
• Ty Cox (2013–2022): drummer
• George Leonard: responsible for conception and choreography

Member information

Vinnie Taylor (1949–1974), who took over as lead guitarist from Billy Schwartz in 1971, passed away in 1974 due to a drug overdose. Notably, escaped child murderer Elmer Edward Solly assumed Taylor's identity and performed under his name, though not as part of Sha Na Na, which eventually led to Solly's apprehension.

Bass guitarist Dave "Chico" Ryan died in 1998. During his time with Sha Na Na, he also joined Bill Haley & His Comets for their final significant European tour in 1979.

Guitarist Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride (born Daniel Hatton, 1945) succumbed to heart disease in 2009.

Reggie Battise, who played bass guitar, appeared in the films Staying Alive (1983) and White Men Can't Jump (1992), as well as the TV show Moonlighting. He passed away from prostate cancer in 2010.

Rob Leonard, one of the founding members, transitioned into academia as a linguistics professor at Hofstra University and contributed his expertise as a forensic linguist on crime television programs.

Original guitarist Henry Gross launched a solo career and achieved a top-ten Billboard hit with "Shannon" in 1976.

Alan Cooper, the lead vocalist on "At the Hop" featured in the Woodstock film, moved into academic roles, holding professorships in religious and Jewish studies at institutions such as McMaster University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman succeeded Cooper as lead singer and became widely recognized for his energetic stage presence. In the 1980s, he hosted several game shows and later championed the Truth in Music Advertising laws to protect original musicians from unauthorized tribute acts.

Elliot Cahn, the group's original rhythm guitarist and arranger, went on to become the first manager of Green Day.

Joe Witkin, the original keyboardist and vocalist on "Teenager in Love", departed in 1970 to complete his medical education. He practiced emergency medicine in San Diego until retiring in 2013 while continuing to perform with local show bands.

Scott Powell, known on stage as "Santini," specialized in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine after leaving Sha Na Na in 1980. He served as a team physician for U.S. national soccer teams and holds a clinical professorship at the University of Southern California. During his tenure with the band, Powell performed most of their Elvis Presley tribute songs.

Frederick "Denny" Greene pursued legal studies at Yale Law School before becoming vice president of production at Columbia Pictures. He also taught at the University of Dayton before his death in 2015.

Bruce "Bruno" Clarke embarked on an academic path as an English professor at Texas Tech University.

Richard Joffe established a career as a class action attorney based in New York City.

Dave Garrett managed Earth Sound Research, an amplifier company located on Long Island during the 1970s, and is recognized as a businessman in New York City.

Screamin' Scott Simon passed away from sinus cancer in California on September 5, 2024.

Johnny Contardo studied voice, acting, and dance at the Boston Conservatory of Music, joining Sha Na Na in 1971. He featured with the band on their television series (1977–1981) and appeared in films such as Grease (1978), performing "Those Magic Changes," along with a cameo role in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). Contardo left Sha Na Na in 1983 to act in Scarface and subsequently became a professional vocal instructor and coach.

In popular media

Sha Na Na's songs have been featured extensively across various television shows and movies. The band's omission from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a frequent comedic element on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast, where the character Hot Dog, portrayed by Andy Daly, amusingly narrates his unsuccessful attempts to join the group. In the milestone episode 300, he establishes a band named Na Sha Sha, only to be removed by episode 400.

Studio and live releases

• Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay! (1969, peaked at US Billboard 183; reissued in 1973 with updated cover art)
• Sha Na Na (1971, reached US Billboard 122; Side A recorded live at Columbia University, Side B studio tracks)
• The Night Is Still Young (1972, US Billboard peak at 156)
• The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll (1973, achieved US Billboard 38; certified Gold by RIAA; double LP with live recordings on some sides)
• From the Streets of New York (live album, 1973, charted at US Billboard 140)
• Hot Sox (1974, peaked at US Billboard 165)
• Sha Na Now (1975, reached US Billboard 162)
• Rock 'n Roll Graffiti – Live in Japan (initially released in Japan in 1977; reissued in 1981)
• Rockin' in the 1980s (1980)
• Silly Songs (1981)
• 34th & Vine (1990; contains eight tracks)
• Live in Concert (late 1980s/early 1990s; available on CD, cassette, and DVD formats)
• Rock 'n Roll Dance Party (1996; re-released in 1999 with a reduced tracklist)
• Then He Kissed Me featuring Conny (1999, Japan release)
• Live in Japan with Conny (recorded November 1999; released in 2000 in Japan)
• Rockin' Christmas (2002; reissued in 2003 including an additional track)
• One More Saturday Night (2006)

Compilation collections

• Numerous compilations spanning from 1976 through 2019, including anniversary editions presenting previously unreleased material and expanded content
• Key compilations include: The Best Of Sha Na Na, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, as well as special anniversary releases featuring rare live performances

Soundtrack contributions

• Appeared on the Woodstock soundtrack album (1970), which topped the US charts
• Participated in several Woodstock anniversary compilation albums
• Six tracks featured on the Grease soundtrack (1978), another chart-topping release in the United States

Singles

Selected singles that charted include:

• "Remember Then" / "Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay" (1969, Cash Box position #114)
• "Only One Song" / "Jail House Rock" (1971, Billboard ranking #110)
• "Top Forty" / "Great Balls Of Fire" (1971, reached #84 on Billboard)
• "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" / "Circles Of Love" (1975, peaked at Billboard #55)

Video releases

• Sha Na Na Live in Germany (Musikladen TV performance from 1973; available on DVD/CD+VCD)
• Rock 'n Roll Concert & Party (1987 VHS release)

Additional appearances

• The track "Wrestling Tonight" featured in the film Grunt: The Wrestling Movie (1985)
• Performed multiple songs on the television series The Fall Guy, specifically in the episode titled "Beach Blanket Bounty" (1986)

External links

• Official website
• IMDb profile
• Discogs artist page
• AllMusic artist biography