The group began singing as part of the longstanding Columbia University a cappella group "Kingsmen", but the ensemble changed their name due to the popularity of the Pacific Northwest rock band of the same name (see: "The Kingsmen"). Conceived by George Leonard, then a graduate student in Humanities, Sha Na Na began performing in 1969, at the height of the hippie counterculture. The guys achieved national fame after playing at the Woodstock Festival, where they preceded Jimi Hendrix. In fact, the ever friendly and genial Hendrix stuck out his neck for the group, insisting the band be allowed to take the stage even after festival’s promoters wanted to cut them from the bill at the last minute, and Sha Na Na members have since credited him for 'saving' them from obscurity almost single-handed.
Their ninety-second appearance in the popular Woodstock concert film brought the group national attention, and they were a part of the 50s nostalgia craze of the era. Similar artists both in the Americas and in the U.K. appeared (examples being Alvin Stardust and Gary Glitter). The Broadway musical 'Grease' and the TV show 'Happy Days' both also displayed the same ethos as Sha Na Na.
The degree to which their act was truly nostalgic, as opposed to the degree to which it was "invented nostalgia" for joking purposes has been called into question. Still, the group appeared in the movie 'Grease' (based off of the musical of the same name) as "Johnny Casino & The Gamblers", gaining them even more attention. Sha Na Na was also successful with the hit syndicated television show of the same name that the guys did from 1977 to 1982. The program featured guests with much 70s fame such as soul and funk star James Brown and the popular punk band Ramones; musicians from rock & roll's golden era such as Little Richard and Chubby Checker also appeared.
The original band line-up featured twelve performers: Alan Cooper (bass vocals), Rob Leonard (vocals), Frederick 'Denny' Greene (vocals), Henry Gross (guitar), John 'Jocko' Marcellino (drums), Joe Witkin (piano), Scott Powell aka Captain Outrageous aka Tony Santini (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals), Elliot Cahn aka 'Gino', (rhythm guitar), Rich Joffe (vocals), Dave Garrett (vocals) and Bruce 'Bruno' Clarke. The act has often involved three "up front" dancers/singers in gold lamé and the other nine in "greaser attire", such as rolled up t-shirt sleeves, leather jackets, tank tops, et cetera. During their long-running career, the ensemble has gone through multiple line-up changes. Most recently, co-founder John 'Jocko' Marcellino has served as the group's central frontman. Their latest release is 2013's 'Sha Na Na Greaser High School Hop', with them still touring even decades upon decades after their foundation.
Also that year, Sha Na Na was notably a part of the "Grease Sing-A-Long" event, which is held annually at the Hollywood Bowl. During the 35th anniversary of the beloved movie, they performed several of their tracks from the work's famous soundtrack. "This has become a family event," Marcellino remarked, "They all come dressed up greased with their Pink Lady outfits on, their T-Birds leather jackets, and it’s fabulous that a fourth generation is learning these songs and loving these songs."
Examples of former members:
Vinnie Taylor (1949 - 1974) (real name Chris Donald), who replaced Henry Gross as the lead guitarist in 1970, died from a heroin overdose on April 17, 1974, after a concert at University Hall at the University of Virginia.[citation needed] He was found in a Holiday Inn hotel room in Charlottesville, Virginia.[citation needed]
Former Sha Na Na bass player, from their television show lineup, Dave "Chico" Ryan, died in 1998.
Former Sha Na Na guitarist, from their television show lineup, Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride, died in 2009.
Founding member of the band Robert Leonard is a professor of linguistics at Hofstra University, and had an appearance as a qualified expert in linguistics for the murder case of Charlene Hummert in the episode "A Tight Leash" of the TV medical detectives series Forensic Files in 2004.[citation needed]
The group's first guitarist, Henry Gross, went on to become a solo performer, and had a hit single with "Shannon" in 1976. Another founding member, Alan Cooper, the lead singer in the group's performance of "At the Hop" in the Woodstock film, also went on to an academic career. He taught religious studies for ten years at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, was a professor of Bible studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, and now serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies and provost at the Jewish Theological Seminary.[citation needed]
Long time member Jon "Bowzer" Bauman replaced Alan Cooper and became a recognizable member of the group as he taunted audiences while he flexed his muscles, burped and spat in the direction of the bass player. For two years in 1983 and 1984 he served as the host of the game show Hollywood Squares between the retirement of longtime host Peter Marshall and the last host John Davidson. Today, Bowzer continues to tour under his own banner.
Elliot Cahn, the group's original rhythm guitar player and musical arranger, later became the first manager of Green Day. "Screaming" Scott Simon replaced Joe Witkin, the original keyboard player (and singer of Teenager in Love on their first album). Today, Witkin is an emergency room physician living with his family in San Diego, California and playing with a band called "The Corvettes"[3] doing an oldies revue. Witkin's son, Brian Witkin, went on to become the founder of Pacific Records.
Joe Witkin left the band in 1970 to finish medical school, and subsequently moved to San Diego in 1975 to do his internship and residency at the University of California in San Diego. He worked at Scripps Hospital East County from 1978 to 2000 as an ER physician, and currently holds the same position at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa.
Scott Powell today is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.[4] He performed on the TV show under the stage name "Santini" (which he changed from his previous alias, "Captain Outrageous"). Powell left the band in 1980 and returned to Columbia to take pre-medical courses.[citation needed] He is a member of the medical staff of U.S. national soccer teams, and is the team physician for the Federation Women’s National Team and an associate clinical professor at USC.[citation needed] While Powell was with Sha Na Na, he sang the bulk of the Elvis revival songs.
Frederick "Denny" Greene left the group to pursue studies in law.[citation needed] After graduating from Yale Law School, he became the vice president of production and features at Columbia Pictures.[citation needed] He is currently a professor at the University of Dayton. Greene was known for his skilled dancing, and sang the lead in "Tears on My Pillow", "Duke of Earl" and others.
Bruce "Bruno" Clarke is now a professor of English at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Rockin' Robin
Sha Na Na Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoppin' and a boppin' and a singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go "Tweet, tweet, tweet"
Rockin' robin
Rockin' robin
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
Ev'ry little swallow, ev'ry chickadee
Ev'ry little bird in the tall oak tree
The wise old owl, the big black crow
Flap their wings singing "Go bird go"
Rockin' robin
Rockin' robin
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
Pretty little raven at the bird bandstand
Taught him how to do the bop and it was grand
They started going steady and bless my soul
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a boppin' and a singing his song
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go "Tweet, tweet, tweet"
Rockin' robin
Rockin' robin
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
The Sha Na Na song "Rockin' Robin" describes a little bird that rocks and bops in the treetops all day long to the delight of all the other birds on Jaybird Street. The robin's catchy tune, represented by its repeated "tweet, tweet, tweet," inspires all of its fellow feathered friends to flap their wings and sing with joy. The chorus of the song urges the robin to keep on rockin' because they are all going to have a rocking good time that night.
The lyrics use multiple bird species to portray the diversity within the bird community and also give different birds their own unique identities. The wise old owl and the big black crow join in on the fun, suggesting that music has the power to bring animals together, despite their differences.
The verse about the raven at the bird bandstand teaches the robin how to bop and leads to the two birds starting a romantic relationship. This section suggests that music is not only inviting but can even be a way to establish love and social connection.
Line by Line Meaning
He rocks in the tree tops all day long
The robin stays perched on the branches throughout the day.
Hoppin' and a boppin' and a singing his song
The robin is energetic and, while it's singing its song, it hops and bops around.
All the little birds on Jaybird Street
Other small birds such as sparrows and finches on Jaybird Street enjoy listening to the robin.
Love to hear the robin go "Tweet, tweet, tweet"
The other birds find the robin's tweet sound pleasant and enjoyable.
Rockin' robin
This is a nickname for the robin, portraying it as a cool bird that is good at being energetic and rocking around.
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
The birds call on the robin to rock the night away with them.
Ev'ry little swallow, ev'ry chickadee
All the small birds like swallows and chickadees as well enjoy the rocking music and want to join in.
Ev'ry little bird in the tall oak tree
All the birds in the tall oak tree, even the ones who didn't enjoy the robin's earlier music, are now willing to join in.
The wise old owl, the big black crow
Even the wise old owl and the big black crow want to join in the fun.
Flap their wings singing "Go bird go"
These birds are excited and cheering on the robin to keep rocking.
Pretty little raven at the bird bandstand
At the bird bandstand, there is a pretty little raven.
Taught him how to do the bop and it was grand
The raven teaches the robin how to dance the bop, and it is very enjoyable.
They started going steady and bless my soul
The raven and the robin become a couple and it is delightful.
He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole
The robin is now a better bopper and dancer than even the other great musical birds like buzzards and orioles.
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
The birds are really excited and can't wait for the robin to start rocking tonight.
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
This is repeated to show how excited the birds are for the night's concert.
Blow rockin' robin 'cos we're really gonna rock tonight
This is repeated to show how much the birds want the robin to start rocking and to join in the fun.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jimmie Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind