The DooWop Doctors
One day in about 1964, Al Condeluci and John Pastin bumped into one another at Stowe High School. John stated that he wanted to start his own band and had a couple of people lined up to play in it, but was having trouble finding a bass player. John ask if he knew anyone. Al responded by saying, “Well, I’m a bass player.”
The first rehearsal took place on Condeluci’s Hill, with John on tenor sax, Al on his dad’s upright bass, Tony G. on accordion and Phil S. on drums. After they learned about twenty tunes, Sinbad, Al’s father, said he had a gig for the band! He always got called for gigs, but he was happy to turn gigs over to the newly formed band. At the first performance, no one knows how it came up, but someone shouted out, “The Chantels” as the band name. In the approximate 3-4 years that the group existed, they played for a lot of weddings, local club dates and were featured at many high school shows and events, such as the annual “Variety Show” at Stowe High School. By this time, group members were playing all of the pop tunes of the time, as well as the musical standards. They were in demand and worked multiple gigs each week. Not bad for four local kids.... As time passed and college approached, the four of them eventually went their own separate ways.
Al, John, and their families have remained close friends, more like family, through years. They have lived and traveled the world together on many occasions - and still continue to this day. When John returned to Pittsburgh, after 49 years, he and Al agreed to start up their band again.
Now, John and Al are both Doctors, John with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, and Al with a PHD in Psychology. They bring the sounds from the Chantels to those who remember the great music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s to their audiences, but with a twist, raising money for Pittsburgh non-profit organizations and charities.
In 2019, they formed the “The DooWop Doctors” as a charitable band, playing gigs around Pittsburgh to raise money for various charities including; The Stowe Rox Band, The Children’s Institute, The New Shakespeare Theatre Company, and many more.
Click HERE to view The DooWop Doctors’ website and find information on how to book a gig to raise money for your organization today!
