Johnny Contardo
Encyclopedia
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
. In 1978, he appeared with Sha Na Na in the blockbuster hit movie musical Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. His song, "Those Magic Changes", was featured in the movie and on the soundtrack for Grease.
Johnny's early years
Johnny Contardo (born December 23, 1951) was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. His first singing experience was at the age of 6, in a Boston church choir.His mother took him into night clubs when he was a teen, to perform in front of an audience. She discovered that he had stage presence and personality, in addition to his singing talent.
After graduating from Brookline High School
Brookline High School
Brookline High School is a four-year public high school in the town of Brookline, Massachusetts, in the United States.As of the 2007-08 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,826 students and 136 teachers , for a student-teacher ratio of 13.4 to 1 teacher.-Education:Almost every senior in...
in 1969, Johnny attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, studying voice, acting, and dance.
At age 19, Johnny took a minor role in Boston production of the musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
. After six months, he played the lead role in the production. He then received an offer to be understudy for the lead role on Broadway, and an offer to join Sha Na Na.
In Sha Na Na and the following years
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
in 1971. The television show Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na (TV series)
Sha Na Na is a syndicated television variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981 for a total of 97 episodes, hosted by the popular rock & roll/comedy group of the same name. The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications. Sony Pictures Television currently...
, aired from 1977 to 1981.
The show was primarily made up of 1950s song covers, and featured musical and non-musical guests, and comedy sketches. Johnny performed many ballads, doo-wop, and rock and roll songs on the program, showcasing his vocal range, including his rich tenor and titillating falsetto notes.
In 1983, he left the group and began a solo career. He appeared in a minor role in the movie Scarface
Scarface (1983 film)
Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
, released two albums and did live performances.
Eventually, he left the business and worked in advertising for a number of years. He taught voice lessons, as well.
Current status
In 2005, Johnny returned to show business at the urging of his fans. He rehearsed in his garage, then made his comeback in a show in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, with headliner Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon is an American actor, singer, playwright, and former teen idol.-Career:By the time he was 12, Avalon was on U.S. television playing his trumpet. As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints...
, who had also appeared in Grease.
Johnny's comment about his return to the business was, "My fans are unbelievable. They pushed me to do this. When I got on that stage again, it was like I never left Sha Na Na."
In June 2007, Johnny did a reunion performance with Jon "Bowzer" Bauman
Jon Bauman
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's popular Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer" Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na,...
. He sang a few songs and a duet with Bowzer at Bowzer's Rock 'N' Roll Party Volume VI, held in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
As of July 2008, Johnny is performing as a solo artist in concerts around the U.S. He holds an occasional Meet and Greet, which consists of a performance, followed by a gathering of his fans. At these events, there are photo opportunities, a chance to get Johnny's autograph, and to talk with him.
Contardo also enjoys cooking and runs a catering business in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
His is also the host of a cooking show originating from southern California called "Rock and Roll Gourmet."
Awards
Johnny received a GrammyGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination, as well as a Platinum Album, for the soundtrack from the movie Grease. He also received a Gold album for The Golden Age of Rock n Roll.
Movie appearances
- 1972 - Dynamite ChickenDynamite ChickenDynamite Chicken is American comedy film from 1972, starring Richard Pryor.“A contemporary probe and commentary of the mores and maladies of our age... With shtick, bits, pieces, girls, some hamburger, a little hair, a lady, some fellas, some religious stuff, and a lot of other things” boasts the...
(with Sha Na Na) - as himself - 1978 - GreaseGrease (film)Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
(with Sha Na Na) - as Johnny, of Johnny Casino and the Gamblers - 1983 - ScarfaceScarface (1983 film)Scarface is a 1983 American epic crime drama movie directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone, produced by Martin Bregman and starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana...
- as Miguel Echevierra
External links
- Performance videos, 2005-2007 (requires Adobe FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
)