Steve Alaimo
Encyclopedia
Steve Alaimo was an American
teen idol pop singer in the early 1960s who later became record producer and label owner, but he is perhaps best known for hosting and co-producing Dick Clark's Where the Action Is
in the late 1960s. He had nine singles to chart in the Billboard
Hot 100 without once reaching the Top 40 in his career, the most by any artist.
, on December 6, 1939, and moved to Rochester, New York
, at the age of five. He entered the music business during his time as a pre-med student at the University of Miami
, joining his cousin's instrumental rock band the Redcoats, becoming the guitarist, and eventually, the singer. The Redcoats consisted of Jim Alaimo on rhythm guitar, Brad Shapiro on bass, and Jim "Chris" Christy on drums. After playing a Sock hop
held by local disc jockey Bob Green and label owner Henry Stone
, the band earned a record deal with Stone's Marlin Records. In 1959, "I Want You To Love Me" became a regional hit for the band. Green became Alaimo's manager, ultimately giving up the role to Stone. That same year, Dick Clark
's Caravan of Stars came to Miami needing a band to back up artists, so the Redcoats became that band.
, a subsidiary of Chess Records
, in 1961. There, he struck a minor amount of gold in 1963 with his single "Everyday I Have to Cry Some", peaking at 46 on the Billboard Charts. The song was also a top 5 hit in Miami, on local radio stations WQAM and WFUN
. Later that year, Alaimo left Checker for Imperial Records
, and ABC Records
, but the fame of his recording career would soon be eclipsed.
wanted to hire the band again for the music show Where the Action Is, but the Redcoats had broken up. Instead, Clark hired Alaimo as the male host and music director. As music director, Alaimo took the opportunity to promote his own records on air; however, he rarely had time to record new songs. Alaimo would also become co-producer of the show, which lasted from 1965-1966.
/Atco Records. In the mid-1960s, he began producing music for groups such as Sam & Dave
, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, and The 31st of February
, an early incarnation of the Allman Brothers Band
, for whom he co-wrote one of their best-known songs, "Melissa
". This became a very fertile period, with Alaimo producing many hit records. He also became a film actor during this time, although the films, such as Wild Rebels
, became forgotten fodder (although Wild Rebels is now known as an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
).
reunited with Alaimo, who set up Alston Records as an outlet for Alaimo's music. Alaimo quit performing to focus on running a record label. In 1972, Timmy Thomas
hit with "Why Can't We Live Together" for Stone's Glade Records, which released the single in partnership with Atlantic Records
. Stone then consolidated many of his labels under the TK Records
umbrella with Alaimo in 1973, releasing records independent of the major label system. In 1974, Harry Wayne Casey
and Rick Finch presented a demo to Stone and Alaimo, and they advised having George McCrae
sing the final version. The song, "Rock Your Baby", charted as a number-one single in 1974. Shortly afterward, the business partnership of Casey, Finch, Alaimo and Stone would achieve their greatest commercial success with the heyday of KC & the Sunshine Band.
closed in 1981, forcing Henry Stone
to seek out Morris Levy
for financial relief and forging a new partnership. Alaimo, edged out of the deal, had fallen on hard times. Come 1987, Alaimo was back on his feet, forming Vision Records with engineering producers Ron and Howard Albert. Vision specialized in top-notch recordings for stars who had once graced Criteria Studios
during the 1970s. The label also dabbled in the production and promotion of Miami Bass
records, including artists such as Beatmaster Clay D.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teen idol pop singer in the early 1960s who later became record producer and label owner, but he is perhaps best known for hosting and co-producing Dick Clark's Where the Action Is
Where the Action Is
Where the Action Is or ' was a music-based television variety show in the United States from 1965–67. It was carried by the ABC network and aired each weekday afternoon...
in the late 1960s. He had nine singles to chart in the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 without once reaching the Top 40 in his career, the most by any artist.
Early years and the Redcoats
Alaimo was born in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, on December 6, 1939, and moved to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, at the age of five. He entered the music business during his time as a pre-med student at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, joining his cousin's instrumental rock band the Redcoats, becoming the guitarist, and eventually, the singer. The Redcoats consisted of Jim Alaimo on rhythm guitar, Brad Shapiro on bass, and Jim "Chris" Christy on drums. After playing a Sock hop
Sock Hop
The sock hop was an informal sponsored dance at American high schools, typically held in the high school's own gym or cafeteria. The term sock hop came about because dancers were required to remove their shoes to protect the varnished floor of the gymnasium. These hops were a cultural feature of...
held by local disc jockey Bob Green and label owner Henry Stone
Henry Stone
Henry Stone is an American record company executive and producer whose career spans the era from R&B in the early 1950s through the disco boom of the 1970s to the present day. He is best known as co-owner and president of TK Records....
, the band earned a record deal with Stone's Marlin Records. In 1959, "I Want You To Love Me" became a regional hit for the band. Green became Alaimo's manager, ultimately giving up the role to Stone. That same year, Dick Clark
Dick Clark (entertainer)
Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark is an American businessman; game-show host; and radio and television personality. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years...
's Caravan of Stars came to Miami needing a band to back up artists, so the Redcoats became that band.
Solo career
The Redcoats broke up in 1960, and under Stone's tutelage, Alaimo became a "blue-eyed soul singer" with an all African-American back-up band. Alaimo and the group became the house band for a local club known as Edan Roc. Despite his rising local fame, he released two solo albums that didn't exactly earn him the national spotlight. During this time, Stone put Alaimo to work as a promotion man for Stone's Tone Distributors, which acquainted with the music industry at large.National recording career
Through his promotion job, Alaimo landed his first major record deal with Checker RecordsChecker Records
Checker Records is an inactive record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded Tape in 1969, shortly before Leonard's death.The label...
, a subsidiary of Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
, in 1961. There, he struck a minor amount of gold in 1963 with his single "Everyday I Have to Cry Some", peaking at 46 on the Billboard Charts. The song was also a top 5 hit in Miami, on local radio stations WQAM and WFUN
WAXY
WAXY is a radio station licensed in South Miami, Florida broadcasting on 790 kHz with a sports talk format. The station is owned by Lincoln Financial Media, which was previously known as Jefferson-Pilot Communications...
. Later that year, Alaimo left Checker for Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
, and ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
, but the fame of his recording career would soon be eclipsed.
TV host: Where the Action Is
Remembering the favor the Redcoats had done him, Dick ClarkDick Clark (entertainer)
Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark is an American businessman; game-show host; and radio and television personality. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years...
wanted to hire the band again for the music show Where the Action Is, but the Redcoats had broken up. Instead, Clark hired Alaimo as the male host and music director. As music director, Alaimo took the opportunity to promote his own records on air; however, he rarely had time to record new songs. Alaimo would also become co-producer of the show, which lasted from 1965-1966.
Music production and acting
After the show's end, Alaimo signed with Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
/Atco Records. In the mid-1960s, he began producing music for groups such as Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave were an American soul and rhythm and blues duo who performed together from 1961 through 1981. The tenor voice was Samuel David Moore , and the baritone/tenor voice was Dave Prater .Sam & Dave are members of...
, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, and The 31st of February
The 31st of February
The 31st of February was a rock and roll band formed by Jacksonville, Florida natives Scott Boyer, David Brown and Butch Trucks.All three were alumni of Englewood High School in Jacksonville, though they did not come together musically until Brown and Trucks found themselves living on the same...
, an early incarnation of the Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, for whom he co-wrote one of their best-known songs, "Melissa
Melissa (song)
"Melissa" is a song written in 1967 by Gregg Allman and Steve Alaimo. It was first recorded by The 31st of February – an early band comprising the Allman brothers, Gregg and Duane – in September 1968 at TK Studios, Hialeah, United States for the their second album produced by Alaimo, which was...
". This became a very fertile period, with Alaimo producing many hit records. He also became a film actor during this time, although the films, such as Wild Rebels
Wild Rebels
Wild Rebels is a 1967 film directed by William Grefe. It was featured as an episode of movie-mocking television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, and was released on the Collection, Volume 9 box set. The tag line for the movie was "They live for kicks... love for kicks.....
, became forgotten fodder (although Wild Rebels is now known as an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
).
TK Records
In 1969, Henry StoneHenry Stone
Henry Stone is an American record company executive and producer whose career spans the era from R&B in the early 1950s through the disco boom of the 1970s to the present day. He is best known as co-owner and president of TK Records....
reunited with Alaimo, who set up Alston Records as an outlet for Alaimo's music. Alaimo quit performing to focus on running a record label. In 1972, Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas is an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together".-Career:...
hit with "Why Can't We Live Together" for Stone's Glade Records, which released the single in partnership with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Stone then consolidated many of his labels under the TK Records
TK Records
TK Records was an American record label started by record distributor, Henry Stone in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s...
umbrella with Alaimo in 1973, releasing records independent of the major label system. In 1974, Harry Wayne Casey
Harry Wayne Casey
Harry Wayne "K.C." Casey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is most famous for his group, KC and the Sunshine Band, and as a producer of several hits for other artists.-Early years:...
and Rick Finch presented a demo to Stone and Alaimo, and they advised having George McCrae
George McCrae
George McCrae is an American soul and disco singer, most famous for his 1974 hit "Rock Your Baby".-Early life and career:...
sing the final version. The song, "Rock Your Baby", charted as a number-one single in 1974. Shortly afterward, the business partnership of Casey, Finch, Alaimo and Stone would achieve their greatest commercial success with the heyday of KC & the Sunshine Band.
Vision Records
TK RecordsTK Records
TK Records was an American record label started by record distributor, Henry Stone in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s...
closed in 1981, forcing Henry Stone
Henry Stone
Henry Stone is an American record company executive and producer whose career spans the era from R&B in the early 1950s through the disco boom of the 1970s to the present day. He is best known as co-owner and president of TK Records....
to seek out Morris Levy
Morris Levy
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
for financial relief and forging a new partnership. Alaimo, edged out of the deal, had fallen on hard times. Come 1987, Alaimo was back on his feet, forming Vision Records with engineering producers Ron and Howard Albert. Vision specialized in top-notch recordings for stars who had once graced Criteria Studios
Criteria Studios
Criteria Studios is a music-recording studio in Miami, Florida, started in 1958 by Mack Emerman.In 1999, The Hit Factory purchased Criteria Studios, revamping and reopening the studios under the new name The Hit Factory Criteria Miami.-Notable artists:...
during the 1970s. The label also dabbled in the production and promotion of Miami Bass
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
records, including artists such as Beatmaster Clay D.
Studio albums
- 1961: Twist With Steve AlaimoTwist With Steve AlaimoTwist with Steve Alaimo is a studio album recorded by Steve Alaimo and released in 1961. The name of the album and the most of the songs capitalize on the dance craze of the Twist.-Side 1:# "The Twist"# Let's Go! Let's Go! Let's Go!# Good Good Lovin'...
- 1962: Mashed PotatoesMashed Potatoes (Steve Alaimo album)Mashed Potatoes was Steve Alaimo's second album for Checker Records. Like his previous album, it capitalizes on a dance craze, only this time the Mashed Potato.-Side 1:# Mashed Potatoes, Part 1# Ooh Poo-Pah-Doo# She's My Baby# I Like It Like That...
- 1963: Every Day I Have to CryEvery Day I Have to Cry (album)Every Day I Have to Cry was Steve Alaimo's third album for Checker Records. Rather than capitalizing on dance crazes, this album is completely devoted to songs about crying...
- 1963: Steve Alaimo
- 1965: Starring Steve AlaimoStarring Steve AlaimoStarring Steve Alaimo is Steve Alaimo's fifth album and first for the label of ABC-Paramount.-Side 1:# I Don't Know# Ya-Ya# Nobody Loves Me# I Don't Wanna Cry# Sammy Dead# People Act Funny-Side 2:# Everybody Likes to Do the Ska# Stand by Me...
- 1965: Where the Action IsWhere the Action Is (Steve Alaimo album)Where the Action Is was Steve Alaimo's sixth album and second for the ABC-Paramount label.-Side 1:# Hitch Hike# Don't Let Go# Long Tall Sally# Sweet Little 16# 500 Miles# Papa's Got a Brand New Bag-Side 2:# Personality# Blowin' in the Wind...
- 1966: Steve Alaimo Sings and SwingsSteve Alaimo Sings and SwingsSteve Alaimo Sings and Swings was Steve Alaimo's seventh album and third for the ABC-Paramount label.-Side 1:# Cast Your Fate to the Wind# Lady of the House# Love Is a Many Splendored Thing# Let Her Go# Need You# Real Live Girl-Side 2:# Mais Oui...
Compilation albums
- 1996: Hits and Rarities
- 1997: AnthologyAnthology (Steve Alaimo album)Anthology is a 31-track collection of songs that Steve Alaimo recorded during the sixties and seventies.-Track listing:# Love's Gonna Live Here - - 1:57# I Don't Know - - 2:31# Happy - - 2:23...
- 2005: 50s-70s
Singles
- 1963: "Every Day I Have to Cry" (US #46) (from the album Every Day I Have to Cry)
- 1965: "Real Live Girl" (US #77) (from the album Steve Alaimo Sings and Swings)
- 1965: "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (US #89) (from the album Steve Alaimo Sings and Swings)
- 1966: "So Much Love" (US #92)
- 1971: "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (US #72)
- 1972: "Amerikan Music" (US #79)