Swingin' Doo Wop Band At Allaire

Doo Wop Oldies Band “Sounds of the Street” had a crowd of about 200 singing, clapping and dancing at a concert at the Historic Village at Allaire Saturday night.

The concert was planned as an outdoor event, but was moved into the village chapel when it started raining. The wet weather did not dampen the spirits of concergoers as the five-member band worked the room with oldie standards like “Tonight,’’ “Rockin’ Robin’’ and “Step by Step.’’

“They are fabulous,’’ said Susan Aaron, of Freehold. “I’m enjoying every minute of it.”

The five member band that consists of: John Sebastian, of Toms River; Frank DiRobella, of Lakewood; Eddie Gaudio, of Toms River and Eddie Velasquez, of Brielle.

The group sings five-part harmony to, blending Doo Wop style with oldies tunes, said group manager Linda Longo, of Lakewood.

Sounds of the Street was founded seven years ago, by DiRobella. The group’s current iteration has been together for three years, DiRobella said.

“We started getting a lot of work that came in. The other guys did not want to work so much so I found these guys three years ago,” said DiRobella who works as a conductor for NJ Transit when he’s not working with the band.

John Curtis, Allaire Village executive director, said the group sang at a car show at the village seven years ago and Curtis was impressed.

“They were so good, I said why don’t we do a concert?’’ Curtis said. “We have had them back every year since.”

Saturday's show was the second of a two-nite stint at Allaire. On Friday night it was held outdoors and several hundred people attended, according to Curtis.

Lindsay Zingaro, 21, Manchester, group home assistant of the Trinity Group Home in Toms River, brought out six residents from the group home to Saturday’s concert.

“They (the band members) are very personable and have very good voices,” Zingaro said. “Our residents are having a great time singing and dancing. The residents love them.”

DiRobella said the group has worked with some big names in oldies music like The Duprees, Lou Christie and The Harptones, among others.

“I never expected anything so professional,” said Aaron, a retired ESL teacher. “You can spend a lot of money on something like this in Manhattan -- no question about it -- this would run for $70 a ticket and this is just as good. It’s great that the county parks offer this kind of entertainment.”

For more information on the band and its upcoming shows, visit www.soundsofthestreet5.net.