Recently, a fella, Bill Sullivan, stopped into the Norwich Visitor's Center where I am a museum guide. As we talked, he informed me of his part in an early Norwich rock ’n’ roll band, The LaSalles, who performed around the East and recorded songs. I later met with the three surviving members to piece together a story.

Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, we kids were glued to our radios and phonograph records, listening to the latest rock and roll songs. Recording stars back then included Freddie Cannon, Joey D and the Starliners, Dickie Do and the Don’ts, Chubby Checker and more seasoned artists, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino and Diana Ross. Sharing the stage with these and others were The La Salles from Norwich.

The band began with the three Salvemini Brothers, Joseph (Joe, bass guitar), Angelo (saxophone), Anthony (Tony, drummer) and Don LaCombe (lead guitar). The brothers left New Jersey in 1955 and headed to Norwich where they were joined by Don LaCombe. The LaSalle name was derived from Don’s last name “La” and the brother’s “Sal.”

Angelo left, and the others were joined in 1956 by Bill Sullivan (front man-singer), Richie Wisneski (guitar) Walt Burgess (drummer) and Arty Baton (bass guitar). They were reputedly the first band in New England to have two drummers, Anthony Salvemini and Walt Burgess.

In 1960, Walt and Arty left and they added Ronny Bonkowski (guitar) and Al Yost (saxophone). The band played at various colleges including Wesleyan and University of Massachusetts, the Elks Club in Middletown, The State Theater in Westerly and SHABOO in Willimantic.

Tony mentioned they would get $4 each at various gigs but received $50 each at Shaboo on New Year’s Eve. Other venues they performed at were Lake Compounce in Bristol and the APOLLO Theater in Harlem, along with Ella Fitzgerald.

Local performances were at The Lamperelli’s Bar on Bank Street in New London, the Masonic Temple and The Midtown Theater in Norwich. The band also played six times a year at the Connecticut Bandstand at Ocean Beach, sponsored by WNLC Radio station.

Bill mentioned that he was on WJAR TV with Tony Bennett and sang in a talent show. He also sang with Gary Puckett and The Union Gap at Mohegan Sun in 2000. The band recorded a number of songs with New Britain’s MZ Records, including “Deep River” and “Rhythm and Rock,” written by Joseph Salvemini that hit the Top Ten in the South. “Darling, Yes, I Love You” is another song that Bill wrote and sang. MZ Records recorded some early songs by the “Rockville Rocket,” Gene Pitney. I was pleased to sit and chat with Tony, Bill and Don recently and hear all about their musical careers. Tony is still playing the drums with the popular group The Illusions.