About
The Dazzling DelRay's perform the best of doo wop, classic rock, beach and motown. With their musical roots in careers that began in the 1960s, the band can get any crowd singing and on their feet. Their repertoire includes Elvis, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Beatles, the Rascals, Four Seasons, Beach Boys, The Coasters and all your favorites. Over the years the band members have appeared in shows with Little Anthony and the Imperials, Jay and the Americans, the Boxtops, America, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge and many others. With Jim Farese on guitar and vocals, Larry Farese on drums and vocals and Jim Meade on bass and vocals, The DelRays have been entertaining audiences for over 40 years. We were actually going to say 30 years because we felt that would make us seem younger, but it is what it is.
The First 50 Years It was the summer of 1971. The country was experiencing a 50s revival, with the Broadway show Grease,
TV's Happy Days, American Graffiti on the big screen, and the success of the revival band Sha Na-Na. Three teenagers (Jim Farese, Larry Farese and Jim Meade), who were playing hard rock at the time - were asked if they would be interested in playing Oldies for Sonny Ray and the Dazzling Delray’s, so Sonny could capitalize on the Oldies Revival Wave. The boys said "yes" and traded in their jeans and tie-dyed shirts for tuxedos and sequined outfits. They then immerse themselves in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, learning all of the artists' classic hits, as well as those from the Doo-Wop street corner harmony groups from the tri-state area.
The Delray's spent the next few years either opening for or backing up some of the great acts of that era, such as Bo Diddley, the Drifters, Jay and the Americans, Tommy James and the Shondells, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, and Little Anthony and The Imperials When Larry left the band for law school, Jim F. and Jim M. continued full time for the next 15 years as "Challenger and Meade" ( with long-time drummer, Bobbie C.). After that, the band continued to play part time with Larry joining back in as both lead singer and drummer when needed. In 2007 Jim Farese and Jim Meade relocated to Naples, Florida (Larry Farese's home base for over 30 years), and resumed a regular schedule of performances for the large contingent of Oldies Fans who have retired in Southwest Florida
In addition to the classic oldies and party-dance music and given their tight vocal harmonies, The Dazzling DelRay’s specialize in performing material and artists that most bands would not attempt. With a repertoire of over 300 songs (with a special emphasis on artists from their beloved New Jersey), and never a written set list, no two shows are ever the same! Drummer, Kevin Dolan holds down the back beat, and multi-instrumentalist, Bruce Inman on sax, trumpet, flute and vocals, rounds out the Rhythm Section. The addition of female vocalist, Sharon Vath (Singer) in 2016 enabled the DelRay's to greatly expand their song selection to include the 50's and 60's 'Girl Groups, individual female artists, and together with Larry Farese, some of the best male/female duets of the rock ‘n’ roll era.
So, if you are looking for a tight, professional, fun (no one has more fun than the Band menbers themselves) presentation with great vocal harmonies be sure to catch one of their shows as they enter their 6th decade of performing together.
