History

Originating from Livonia, Michigan, The Shades Of Blue were:, Nivk Marinelli (lead vocals), Ernie Dernai (first tenor), Linda Allen (second tenor), and Bob Kerr (baritone).

In an exclusive September 1996 interview, lead vocalist Nick Marinelli recalled the early beginnings of tpe group: "We got started in the ninth grade at Junior High, singing Doo-Wop type things on street corners. Not long after, we formed a group called The Domingos, which consisted of a fellow named Dan Guise, Bob Kerr, Ernie Dernai, and myself. We sang at school, at Union Halls and even Elks-Clubs. Our sound was influenced by groups like The Flamingos and The Temptations".

The Domingos continued to refine their sound through High School, and even recorded an original Doo-Wop tune called, "Camel Walk", at a local basement studio. "I still have the original lacquer dub of that in my collection", laughs Nick Marinelli.

Shortly after High School graduation, Dan Guise left the group. His replacement was Linda Allen, a girl that Bob Kerr met while attending Ferris State College in Western Michigan.

In 1965, The Domingos landed their first recording audition with the help of another Livonia, Michigan based group, The Reflections (who had recorded the smash, "Just Like Romeo and Juliet" for the Detroit-based Golden World label. "We had known the members of The Reflections since High School. They liked our sound, so they put us in touch with a guy named Ed Wingate, who owned the Golden World label", adds Nick Marinelli Although Wingate refused to sign the group (stating that he "didn't want any more white acts on his label"}, the four continued to hang around the Golden World studios at nights and on weekends. It was here where they met engineer/producer John Rhys, who worked.for the label. Rhys thought the act needed a name that better suited their vocal style, and suggested, The Shades Of B1ue. Everyone agreed, and the name stuck. One day at Golden World, The Shades were introduced to Edwin Starr, (real name:Charles Hatcher), who recorded for the label. Starr showed the group a song he was writing called,"Oh How Happy". It was just the right kind of tune that the quartet was looking for. The Shades worked with Edwin to complete the song, (but never credited for it), and record- ed it at the Golden World studios in January 1966. Producer John Rhys was so impressed with the finished master that he immediately took the tape to Harry Balk, owner of the Detroit-based Impact label. Balk, who was responsible for Del Shannon1s early record success, Signed the Shades Of Blue to a multi-record contract.

On March 30, 1966, "Oh How Happy"(Impact-1007) made its public debut on Detroit radio stations WKNR and WXYZ, as well as Windsor, Ontario's 50,000 watt giant, CKLW. The platter took off like a "shot out of the blue", and blasted to the #1 spot on all three stations in less than three weeks. The record spread like wildfire into other major markets abroad, hitting #12 on the national pop charts, #7 on the R&B listings, and reaching the top ten in Canada.

The overnight success of "Oh How Happy" caught everyone by surprise, as Nick Marinelli remembers: "We literally hit the road running. All of us were still in college at the time, and suddenly, Harry Balk is calling us up saying, "I've got all kinds of bookings lined up for you guys". It was crazy!". In addition to a grueling cross-country tour schedule, the Shades TV appearances included several spots on Dick Clark's "Where The Action Is", and Jerry Blavat's Philly-based "Discophonic Scene" teen show. In the Detroit area, They were regulars on Robin Seymour's "Swingin Time".

July 1966 saw the release of the follow-up single, "Lonely Summer", (Impact-1014). Coming once again from the pen of Edwin Starr,. the song showcased a divine blend of satin-smooth soul and up-tempo pop. Sadly, the record was hampered commercially by its ill-timed, "late summer" appearance on the airwaves. Still, "Lonely Summer" caught on long enough to reach #25 in Detroit, and #72 nationally. Hot on the heels of "Lonely Summer" came the release of the third single, "Happiness"(Impact-1015). Both WKNR and WXYZ in Detroit jumped on the disc instantly, with the song appearing on both surveys for the first time on September 5, 1966. By all accounts, the record had the ingredients to make it a quick smash. Unfortunately, "Happiness" fell short of expectations, stalling at #21 regionally and #78 in Billboard.

On September 17, 1966, the LP, "Happiness Is The Shades Of Blue", (1mpact-lO1) hit the record store shelves. The album included the groups three previous singles, along with a wonderful group-written ballad called, "The Night". A September 1966 Billboard album review described the eleven-track offering as, "A well-performed, sure-fire winner".

In 1967, two final Shades Of Blue singles, "How Do You Save A Dying Love" (Impact-1026) and "Penny Arcade" (Impact-1028) were issued. Neither record received any promotion, and both died a quick death. "We saw that Harry Balk wasn't doing anything for us anymore, and our contract with Impact was running out, so we walked away from the label", says Nick Marinelli.

The Shades Of Blue concentrated on live performances through the end of the late sixties, but the end of the road was clearly in sight. Nick Marinelli explains: "Around 1967, the whole music scene started to change. Acid Rock was becoming becoming popular, and the four of us decided that we didn't want to get into that type of music. It was obvious that if we continued on with our own sound, we'd end up starving. So in 1970, we called it quits".

In 1976, Nick, Linda, Bob and Ernie reunited as The Shades Of Blue, and during their short time back together, recorded nearly an albums worth of brand new material. Unjustly, the songs were never released, and the group once again disappeared from sight.

Currently, Nick has finished a solo album of Positive Country songs, using the name, Nick Alan. The new CD is appropriately titled, "Out Of The Blue", and includes a "Christian-flavored" reworking of "Oh How Happy" .Linda Allen, Bob Kerr and Ernie Dernai still live in the Detroit area, but are no longer in the music business.

This "Golden Classics" compilation is proof that the Shades Of Blue created a sound and style that remains as timeless today as it was thirty years ago. Each song evoked a sublime sense of "Happiness" and honesty that only The Shades themselves were capable of delivering. But then again, "Happiness" is what The Shades Of Blue were all about.

Jerry Schollenberger