PS - Forgot to mention that my mom was a teenager living in NYC across the river from you guys at the time. Catholic School girl by day, "Short Shorts" dancer at night. #LOL

Mom was a teenager when your group was coming out and she liked "Short Shorts". What happened with the girl Diana Lee? I produce dance tracks now and we owe it all to ground breakers like you guys. Amazing music.

Hi Al, and band. Al,
As well as being a lifelong Fort Leer, I deliverd your dad's mail up on I believe 8th Street. You guys sound really good tonight at the FLCC. I also was Billy's paper boy but his parents paid. See you next time.

How can I get a recording of "Was it a Dream" my co
favorite Royal Teens recording along with "Believe Me"?ni

Grew uup in Bergenfield, still have the 45 of short shorts and a tape of Open the door by the royal teens. I left BHS 62 joined the navy Still have great memories of the group.

Short Shorts is the ultimate 50's rock song. Assume the group still performs?

Ed

In July, 1963 Billboard wrote these: "Englewood Cliffs is the home town of a new disk firm, Sylese Records. First sides are by the Three Pals, former members of the Royal Teens."

This is the only information I have found on the subject of The Three Pals. I have not been able to find any info on Sylese Records either.

Who were these former members of the Royal Teens?

Were their 45 ever released and did they have more releases.

Would you please confirm who played the tenor sax on the original recording of "Short Shorts". Was it BILLY CRANDELL or Larry Qualiano. I know that your history indicates Billy and some websites refer to Larry. Thanks!

Great group. I grew up in the area and remember seeing Billy Crandall around. Why is he not listed as an original member of the Royal Teens? He recorded their first and biggest hit.

I'm the girl who sang Shorts Shorts and Big Name Button with the Royal Teens. I toured with the group, did the American Bandstand shows, The Dick Clark Show at the Little Theatre in NYC, made the movie Let's Rock from which the video on You Tube was copied...but no mention of me on your "history" page. It's my voice and my likeness over 50 years later that's still seen. I started singing with them in late 1957, as we all were in Leo Rodgers "stable" of teenage rock 'n' roll hopefuls...and we were working on a song I wrote
called "L-O-V-E Love" I have the 45 with the Royal Teens as the backup band on the record. Then the idea for "Short Shorts" came up and was released. It became popular very fast and I forgot about my career and my songs and joined the Royal Teens and toured througout Florida, and the mid west for many weeks, did appearances on local radio shows etc. I left the group after we recorded "Big Name Button"4. I was in touch with Bobby before he died, and I'm still in touch with Tom Austin the drummer. We appeared at a block party in New Jersey in 1957 before the group took off in early 1958.

It is with great sadness that I have just learned of the passing of Bill Dalton. Bill and I had a friendship from the mid fifties in Fort Lee ,thru the years. Unable to reach him, I guess I feared the worst. I am blessed to have many of his tapes, which I will treasure. Bill was a great guy, who will be sadly missed by all who knew him. My condolences to all his family.

We love you !!!!!!

Hi, I'm from Dumont, NJ and a really big fan! I went to my prom with Barry Christianson, a drummer in 1966. He always said he was a friend of the bands...who knows.

Anyway, thanks for the great tunes.

Cindy

I grew up in Bergenfield, NJ and was photo guy for the Bee Hive, the HS paper. We had a sock hop, and featured the Royal Teens. In 7th grade Bob Gaudio was the buzz word of sucess. He was then in 10th or 11th grade when we heard he left BHS. I recall doing photo shoots at the gym. Bob Gaudio I think drove a 1950 olds? I was too young to drive and now I'm 70. Super memories.

Bill Dalton died on Saturday, October 8, 2011, and he was buried in St. Patrick Cemetery in Rochelle, IL on his 71st birthday, October 13, 2011.

Bill Dalton (Midwestern Council Safety Team member, VSCDA Tech inspector & pace car driver, SCCA tech inspector, and Blackhawk Farms corner worker) passed away Saturday 10/8/2011 after suffering a heart attack at BHF.

Bill was one of the members of the 50's band "Royal Teens", who's music lives on today in TV commercials and the Broadway show "Jersey Boys" with the tune "Short Shorts". His guitar music from the camper late at night and early in the morning at the Safety compound will be missed.

If anyone wishes to hear some of Bill's music, he had a soundclick page. (Soundclick allows artists from all over the world to add their music together and create original songs, he plays the guitar on the tracks listed there.)

Bill was a valuable member of the Midwestern Council Safety Team. His knowledge, stories, music, and friendship will be missed by many.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at the

St. Patrick Catholic Church, Rochelle, with Rev. Steven Lange officiating.

Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5 - 8 PM at the

Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle.

Obituary posting and sympathies accessible online:

http://ungerhorner.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1282020&fh_id=10462

Memorials to the St. Patrick Catholic Church or the American Heart Association.

Burial at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Rochelle.

Regretfully writing to inform all that my friend, Bill Dalton, died on Saturday, October 8, 2011, doing what he loved: hanging around race cars at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Illinois. He will be deeply missed.

Friend of Bill Dalton. Sorry to inform you that he passed to a heart attack on Saturday, October 8, 2011. He was with many of his racing friends in Illinois. We will greatly miss him.

Sorry to report this but Bill Dalton, passed away Oct 8,2011. He will be missed.

In what year did Nair produce the commercial using your song, "Short Shorts"? Thanks!

How can I get a copy of "Was it a Dream"

Tom,
It was wonderful meeting you last evening at Charlie Horner's Doo Wop presentation at the Morristown Museum. Thank you for taking the time to give my husband and me some background info on the Royal Teens. I also appreciate your signing a copy of the group's picture. Hearing "Short Shorts" again brought back wonderful memories.

For Pete LaRosa,
Please call me about future wedding in Long Island. Lost your card. Hope all is well.

Greetings from Australia. At my work on Friday, a couple of the young staff mentioned "Short Shorts" and thought it was just a song used in a Simpsons episode. I told them about the Royal Teens and found a clip on Youtube.
It sparked my interest and through Google found your website.
Congratulations on such a great contibution to rock n roll history.

Tom,
It was great hearing you last night on WPAT 930AM. A forgotten song recorded by the Royal Teens recorded in '58 or '59, but you seldom hear it is "Big Name Button." It was a big hit in New York (I was and still live in Brooklyn), but unbelievably never hit Billboard's top 100. Although I Live in Brooklyn, I listen to New Jersey's AM stations 1250 and 1410, two true oldies stations AND did hear Big Name Button the other day on one of these stations, while driving in my car. What great memories!

I came across this website while exploring the Al Kooper connection! I'm 61, so I remember when "Short Shorts" came out.

I'm glad to finally find out that the squeal in the second verse is not an effect but from the sax! I'd forgotten about the wolf whistle on guitar. I'm sure it probably influenced Jimi Hendrix who used to mimic "Thank you" on with guitar.

One thing about your History page disturbs me.
The record CLEARLY says, "Dig THAT crazy CHICK." In your History you inaccurately quote it as "Dig THOSE crazy CHICKS." That inaccuracy has filtered down to Wikipedia, which is where I found your webite, used as a reference for that quote.

I understand (from your video) that you've changed that line in live performance to accommodate your two singers/dancers, but such an historic song deserves an accurate history!

I - and other nitpickers like me - would appreciate it if you would make the correction here and on Wikipedia.

Thanks for the music!

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the web site and the 10 minute video. I do a Doo Wop radio show down in Savannan, GA every Wednedsday night and it's not uncommon to hear Believe Me, The Moon's Not Meant For Lovers or My Memories Of You. thanks for the great music.

I lived on the same block as Joe Donato growing up in Woodside, Queens and we were in each others wedding parties almost 40 years ago for me and 39 for him. We recently made contact through another mutual friend who grew up on the same block. I'm amazed at how good Joe looks and sounds in your video and would like to see you play live.

I have always loved the song Short Shorts.
I still have the Harry K Smythe presents The Big Gold Records Stars in Person that I recieved in Florida from the tour.
Great Rock $ Roll
Bob

I'm so glad to see this tribute to my favorite group, The Royal Teens! I've loved their recordings (not just "Short Shorts") since I was a kid. Their recordings are as solid and entertaining as ever—and their range still awes me.

Hi!

I first saw your (Short Shorts) black-and-white video on TV.

Tom, a great website. Most people don't get to relive their youth. You get to do it all the time, and your band is better now than it was then.

Ben Anderson

Tom Austin is my uncle. He asks my grandma to be a background singer. She said no. I saw him a month ago.

Greetings~

I met you backstage in the midwest in the spring of 1958 - I believe it was at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. I was long-distance dating Phil Everly at that time.

I befriended Diana Lee and subsequently got in touch with her after moving to New York. I actually lived with her at her parent's home in Forest Hills, Long Island for a short period while I was starting my modeling career in New York. The Costellos were so nice to me, that my parents invited Diana to move to Minnesota to live with them where she finished high school in Emmons, MN.

MY life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. I eventually married a mega-moneyed international business man and lost touch with her. I am currently writing my memoirs and would love to re-connect.

I would greatly appreciate any information you would have on her. The Royal Teens are mentioned in my book. You are the best!!

Virginia Perl

Hi Joe - Saw your performance at Foxwoods. Awesome show!

Look forward to future dates!

xoxo - Laura

It is great to see where the music started, Enjoyed the music and photos!!!

The best information i have found exactly here. Keep going Thank you

Hi Tom,
I really enjoyed reviewing your web site and the history of the Royal Teens. It brings me back to the time when I used to hear Shorts Shorts on the radio when I was a kid. One of those great songs that has a life of it's own. Loved the videos! Keep rockin buddy!
Chad

Hi there Tom:

Wonderful wonderful “Short Shorts” is my time of the season. Learning to shave!!!! Wow!! back then life seemed very simple. And your sound remains FRESH to the mind. Those were the days, and the sound shall continue along the grassroots of America.
Enjoyed the New Site Tom
Your group will be Fab!again,and again for all to enjoy!
Joni

Great website. Looking forward to this summer at the Club.

Hi Tom, congratulations on the Royal Teens new web site.